A sweetly pleasant read, this.
I haven’t read an awful amount of books this year, something I’m thoroughly ashamed of. But I’ve vowed to do better next year, so here’s to a more bookish New Year for me!
High Fantasy is what I turn to when I’m struggling to read, and I’m pleased to say that my appetite is now as voracious as it was before the start of this frustrating lull. I’ve had Kristen Britain’s Green Rider on my TBR for many years. Having enjoyed Margaret Weiss and Tracy Hickman early this year, I am searching for some good High Fantasy with the same clichéd themes. Then I realized I hadn’t touched anything by this particular author before. I had to delve.
Green Rider is a coming-of-age fantasy of a heroine who comes to terms with her strengths and has an adventure similar to Frodo’s in the LoTR. She has a lovely name (Karigan), although the author doesn’t dwell too much on her physical features. Karigan is tasked with carrying an urgent message to the realm’s king; success or failure will determine the realm’s fate. Very clichéd, don’t you think?
It’s enjoyable, nonetheless. That the main character is female gives the story a unique twist, and the adventures she has along the way are fun and thrilling to read. The magic isn’t very clearly defined at this point, but it works well with the lore.
I have a feeling that the world-building will be even better in the next one because this one seemed rather rushed. It’s a happy ending, though, even if there’s not much to make you anticipate reading the next one.
The best parts of this book are in the first two-thirds, where the heroine is in “flight.” The climax and conclusion are far from satisfying, but I suppose no book is perfect.
Still, this is a book I’d recommend to lovers of traditional High Fantasy.
