The Hidden Stars - Madeline Howard (review)

[Mark Robson]

What a wonderful debut novel! I stand in awe of Kelpie's storytelling abilities - this is far beyond anything I can conceive of writing in the next twenty years.

Imagine, if you will, a story that begins with three wise men following signs and portents in search of a woman due to give birth to a special child - a messiah of royal blood. They come to a lowly place, far from the palaces of the ruler of this land to witness the birth. The wise men know that the ruler has heard word of the child, and will send men to kill the child, so they arrange for it to be secretly taken to a far off land. Sound familiar?

If Madelaine Howard has drawn parallels at the start of her debut novel to the most well known biblical story of them all, then it serves to give the reader fair warning that this is a story of immense scope. Much like the bible, this is a book with depth, and great characters who sport equally unpronounceable names to those of biblical times!

Despite my dislike of difficult names in fantasy books, I loved this story. It has intricacies that feel as if they are only just beginning to twine their fingers around my mind. I have my suspicions that not all of the characters are who they seem, but maybe I'm seeing things that aren't there. If so, it gives some indication of how I have been drawn into Madelaine's world of magicians, dragons, wyverns, warriors, magic-wielding mutant priests of evil and ghostly armies seeking to fulfil vows.

Never mind what you're reading at the moment. Drop it and buy this. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

[Teresa Edgerton]

Mark, you and any one else who might have read the book may be interested to know that -- due to popular demand (well, OK, a handful of people asked) -- a map of the world of "The Hidden Stars" has just been added to my website. (Which can be reached by clicking on the link below.)

[Lacedaemonian]

Sounds awesome!

[Teresa Edgerton]

For those who have been wanting a guide to pronouncing some of the more challenging names (waving to dwndrgn), I am happy to announce that one now exists at the following location:

http://thehiddenstars.com/mh-pronunciation.htm



(Note to Mark and Lace -- I just corrected the misspellings of my name in the title of the thread and your posts up above, simply because I suddenly realized that I could!)

[Mark Robson]

Originally Posted by Kelpie

(Note to Mark and Lace -- I just corrected the misspellings of my name in the title of the thread and your posts up above, simply because I suddenly realized that I could!)

Oh good! I was heartily embarrassed when I noticed too late to be able to change it myself.

[steve12553]

I was killing time in a bookstore yeaterday waiting for my nephew to get done bowling and wandering through the Science Fiction Fantasy stacks . I thought I might look for a Heainline book that I hadn't read when my eye caught a familiar name. I now own a copy of the hidden star and it is now officially in my "to be read" pile. It will be interesting to read something by someone I've actually communicated with online. Albeit time lagged posts. I don't know any writers personally. New experience.

[Lunatic]

I've read this book, and I enjoyed it thoroughly. I'm looking forward to more from you Theresa/Madelaine.

[Teresa Edgerton]

Well, I hope you enjoy it when it makes its way to the top of the TBR pile, Steve. A heavy responsibility being your first writer-acquaintance. But there are quite a few of us here (see Mark Robson above), so you'll probably become utterly blasé about these experiences very soon.

Hi, Lunatic! I'm glad you liked the book. I think you said you were from Tennessee in your introduction thread? You wouldn't live anywhere near Knoxville would you?

[Lunatic]

I live about 2 hours away from Knoxville, about 45 minutes south of Nashville.
Funny you should ask about Knoxville, because I've been contemplating finishing college there.

[Teresa Edgerton]

The reason I asked was because I have a writer friend who lives in Knoxville -- the kind of friend (so valuable to other writers) who is in the habit of thrusting my book into people's hands and demanding that they read it. I thought I might be able to chalk you up as one of her "catches."

[Lunatic]

No, I found your book in a Barnes and Noble. I go there rarely so I make sure and spend time combing through everything I'm interested in, to see if there is something I might like that I've never heard of. Your book happened to be one of those. I liked the cover art, but the reason I bought it was from reading a bit of the beginning. I was intrigued, and most certainly not let down.

[steve12553]

Originally Posted by Teresa Edgerton

Well, I hope you enjoy it when it makes its way to the top of the TBR pile, Steve. A heavy responsibility being your first writer-acquaintance. But there are quite a few of us here (see Mark Robson above), so you'll probably become utterly blasé about these experiences very soon.

Very good point. I need to be aware that most writers aren't James A. Michener or Stephen King. Also that there are many people who make a living writing but don't have 20 bestsellers and that some of them might actually be real type people who might visit a forum or two that a frustrated wanabe writer like me might also. I was impressed as all-get-out, years ago when I had a letter published in the newspaper. I'm still impressed with published writers.


Man, that had some awkward sentences.

[steve12553]

I feel like I have to add in here. The Hidden Stars made it to the top of my to be read pile and I finished it. It was not a quick read. It took me some time although I am more of a thorough reader rather than a fast one. I enjoyed the book completely. It brought with it a complete universe that fit together as neatly as Arrakis or Middle Earth. You learn to care about the characters and when you put that all together that makes a very good novel.Teresa, I don't know what the status of the sequel is but I, for one, am interested.

[Teresa Edgerton]

Originally Posted by steve12553

It brought with it a complete universe that fit together as neatly as Arrakis or Middle Earth.

Thank you, Steve. I do work very hard at achieving just that effect (without, you know, boring the readers with everything I know about the place), so that's a very gratifying compliment.

[steve12553]

Well deserved. When you start a book you tend to think: "where is this?" By 50 or so pages in I felt it just was. It was a place. It had natural laws and it existed. Believing the setting goes a long way in a fantasy of this sort.