Kate Elliott

[Alia]

Originally Posted by dwndrgn

Well, see, now you guys have got me wanting to read her books and I can't find any of them at the library. I'll have to peruse the second-hand store next chance I get.

A good place to start looking dwndrgn is eBay, that's where I have bought most of my Kate Elliott books. They are pretty cheap over there.

I am a Crown of Stars JUNKIE!!! That's where I took my user name was from one of the characters in the series.
I have read the series twice now. Once for pleasure and the second time searching for answers to nagging questions. If you like intrigue you'll find plenty in these books.
Kate has a web site: http://p199.ezboard.com/bkateelliott where people discuss her books. The Crown of Stars Series is a hot area. Everyone is trying to figure out who and what Alain is. If you figure it out dwndrgn let me know.

AHH... just think only 2 books left due mid year and early next year Yipee!!

I agree Gollum!!! I think you can preorder on Amazon, I haven't done it yet, but I think I will.

As far as her other works, I have read Jaran, the first book in the Jaran series and now I'm on the second one, An Earthly Crown. There is a big difference in writing styles. She still has that intrigue going on, but it's not at the same level as the Crown of Stars Series.

[GOLLUM]

Ahoy there Alia!

I've had that Kate Elliott discussion board added to my favourites for about 3 years now. It's really good because Kate logs on and informs us mere mortals of here latest updates on the books. They're the kind of authors I like the best, fan friendly!

HMM..didn't know you were that "Alia" WOW you're a bit of a legend IMHO, certainly a Kate Eliott expert!

Speak again soon..

[Alia]

you're a bit of a legend

Yeah right! I'm too... well, I have to think of the word and get back to you.

So Gollum what do you think Alain is? lol
I'm serious dwndrgn, or anyone else, if you figure it let me know.

And your right about Kate posting things on the website. She just recently posed chapter 1 of the next book and parts of chapter 2. Also, she has answer questions on the threads, not any of mine. (I wonder why?) lol

[Andyhug]

This has gotten me quite interested, but I need a little more. I need to know..well.. I don't know! Is there anything more well known that you can compare this series to? I will my likes and dislikes in hopes that it will help you decide wether or not these books are really for me (I am not a huge reader I have possibly read about 60-70 books in the 9 years that I have been reading). First of all my dislikes... I dislike Terry Goodkind, Terry Brooks, David Eddings, R.A Salvatore, Robin Hobb...those are just off the top of my head. I enjoy George RR Martin, Stephen Donaldson, David Gemmill, Bernard Cornwell, Clive Barker. One thing I have worked out is that themes do not bother me, so the whole religion thing isnt a problem. I think (I say think because I am not entirely sure what makes me enjoy a book) I am more interested in the characters and writing style. So do you think (If it is even possible to make a decision based on the information that I posted) that I will enjoy these books? And please don't just say yes ! heh ^^ Thanks in advance

[Teresa Edgerton]

Well, I'd say that Kate Elliott has more in common with the last group than with the former, for whatever that's worth. Of course, if we knew what you like/dislike about each of those authors it might be helpful.

She doesn't go easy on her characters. Her worldbuilding is excellent and her knowledge of medieval societies formidable. She keeps you guessing about what is going to happen next.

[Alia]

Okay Gollum, I got it. They call me a Goddess at the Crown of Stars discussion board, oh wait... That was a slip... they say 'OH GOD, not another post' or 'she's a pain in the ass!', or 'what a irritating scatterbrained idiot'. Yeah, I know what they groan about me over there... lol
I don't care... I speak what's on my mind and most of the time regret it. It's fun to stir the pot up over there. I sure hope your not Mac! lol
I'm really going to hate life when the last two books come out and I'm dead wrong with all of my predictions. Of course, I won't like it too much if I was right.

Andyhug, if you like battles, war, intrigue and fantasy you'll like the books. Kelpie describes Kate's books really good. I'm bias, so I would HIGHLY recommend you read them.

Alia

[GOLLUM]

Hi again Alia!

I'm not an activre memebr of Kate's discussion group just one of those lurkers..

Andyhug,

Like the others have said if you enjoy EPIC storylinde in a high fantasy setting you'll enjoy this. I'd venture to say that her writing style reminds me a little of Tad William's Memory, Sorrow and Thorn and his current Shadowmarch book. The prose is quite nice and the characters engaging, which is one of the main things I judge a sereis on. Her wordlbuilding and ideas are not bad either.

I appear to like/dislike similar sereis to you, so have you checked out Steven Erikson's Malazan series yet? The'ye the best fantasy series I've read in 25 years, George RR Martin sitting at No 2 on my all time hit parade. The magic concepts are pretty complex and amazing for me and the storyline and worldbuilding is opeerlees IMHO other thasn Tolkien himself. Has been compared to Homer of ancient times and EPIC in the truest sense! Also his plot twists cannot even begin to be guessed at, unlike a number of fantasy authors out there. Girtty with plenty of "grey" characters along the lines of George RR Martin, a millitary fantasy but a lot more than just that! Stephen Donaldson complains because Erikson doesn't write the books fast enough for him to consume and calls him a great writer! I concur.

Bye for now...

[Andyhug]

Thanks for the input Kelpie yes it does help =) Alia I like all of those but only if written by someone who I enjoy reading ^_- Gollum, Epic scope or a short tale, either one does me fine. I read the first Malazan book and it was excellent! There is just one thing that niggled me though which stopped me reading the second one (Only for the time being though). It is the whole "most powerful beings alive" usually preceded by "one of the most" (Obviously those arent the exact words). That is one of the things I didnt like about Raymond E Feist, for some reason it just annoys me. It is one of the thing's I like about the Thomas Covenant series I think, many of the characters weild great powers but it is never discussed in such blunt terms as whom is more powerful than whom, as if we need to be in awe of it (It reminds me of Dragonball Z and their "power levels" If you have ever heard of it). Please let me know that I am making sense? 0.o Anyway thanks for the input I may check them out!

[GOLLUM]

Andyhug,

I know what you mean BUT the whole God thing is only one major theme in the overall storyline, there are others. The magic ideas as the books progress are truly amazing and the world building is really only enhanced or built upon with each book!

Dont' forget Book 1 is the weakest. From Book 2 onwards the writing and world buidling goes up a notch or three and never comes down. Give Book 2 a go, great storytelling!

I'm a big Stepehn Donaldson fan. Enjoying Runes Of The Earth but it takes you the first 100 pages or so until we retrurn to The Land.

All for now.

[Amber]

Hm. Actually being the strange person I am, I have read only one book by her- a collaboration with Jennifer Roberston/ Melanie Rawn, called the Golden Key which was most impressive indeed. Anyone else a fan?

Btw I'm almost sure it was Kate Elliot so please don't kill me if it wasn't lol.

[GOLLUM]

No you're defintely right about Kate Elliott as a thiord author of The Golden Key.

UM.. I haven't actually read this in full yet so can someone remind me what it's about please *Shame Shame*..

[Alia]

Here's a brief summary from the back of the book:
"In the duchy of Tira Virte fine art is prized above all things, both for its beauty and as a binding legal record of everthing from marriages and births to treaties and inheritances. And although the Grand Duke is aware that there is more to the paintings of certain limners than meets the eye, not even he knows just how extraordinary the art of the Grijalva family truly is. For certain males of their bloodline are born with a frightening, magical talent- the ability to manipulate time and reality within their paintings, a Gift which enables them to alter events and influence people in the real world."
I did not like the first part of the book, the last 2/3 of it was wonderful. I think each writer, Jennifer Robertson, Kate Elliott and Melanie Rawn each wrote a 1/3. The reason why I didn't like the first 1/3 was because it repeated it self over and over and the repetition was annoying. It's my personal view and once I was done with the first third I was able to enjoy the rest of the book.
Alia

[Teresa Edgerton]

I wasn't so fond of the middle third. Anyway, I happen to know that Kate Elliott wrote the last section.

[Alia]

Really, I didn't know that Kelpie, thanks for sharing. I thought, and I was guessing, that she wrote the middle section. Makes me wonder who wrote the first and second then.
Anyways...
I was just over on the Kate Elliott website. Book release dates are available for In the Ruins, Sept 2005 and June 28, 2005 Barnes and Noble and they have a picture of the cover. Also you can preorder the book there too.
Kate also left a post that she would be at the AutumnCon 2005 during Oct 28-30 this year. Here's the URL www.autumncon.org Check out her post. Utah is a 12 hour drive from here, I wonder...

[Teresa Edgerton]

I know the third section is by Kate Elliott, and I'm guessing that the second section is Melanie Rawn, based on internal evidence. That would leave Jennifer Roberson for part one.

I love the overall concept for the book, and the setting. It's nice when someone is able to shake off the standard Medieval northwestern European influences, and get away with it.