Green
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3.8 • 26 Ratings
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- $12.99
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- $12.99
Publisher Description
Acclaimed author Jay Lake has created a remarkable character in Green, and evokes a remarkable world in this novel. Green and her struggle to survive and find her own past will live in the reader's mind for a long time after closing the book.
She was born in poverty, in a dusty village under the equatorial sun. She does not remember her mother, she does not remember her own name—her earliest clear memory is of the day her father sold her to the tall pale man. In the Court of the Pomegranate Tree, where she was taught the ways of a courtesan…and the skills of an assassin…she was named Emerald, the precious jewel of the Undying Duke's collection of beauties.
She calls herself Green.
The world she inhabits is one of political power and magic, where Gods meddle in the affairs of mortals. At the center of it is the immortal Duke's city of Copper Downs, which controls all the trade on the Storm Sea. Green has made many enemies, and some secret friends, and she has become a very dangerous woman indeed.
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Lake (Escapement) makes a shift from steampunk to lush fantasy filled with exotic locales and exquisite descriptions. Sold as a child, raised and educated as a courtesan and secretly trained as an assassin, strong-willed Green retains her unyielding sense of independence, leading her to make drastic, unwise choices. Often used as a pawn and occasionally betrayed, she perseveres in trying to gain a measure of control over her life and a place to call home. Her goals become harder to reach when she's caught up in the machinations of immortals and power games of meddling gods. Despite an occasionally episodic feel and some rocky pacing that suggests it might have worked better split over several installments, the story is nicely powered by strong mythic undertones and a fresh take on the relationship between gods and mortals.
Customer Reviews
Great book
I very much enjoyed this book and would eagerly read a sequel. The protagonist is intriguing and the world is full of nuance.
Begins transcendent but descends to banal
The first sections are full of breathtaking imagery and compact description and fully pulled me in. The first half kept my interest even as the power of the language waned. But the second half became a slog, filled with obvious plot twists and a lack of passion. Left me wishing I'd stopped after Green's first fully realized memories.
Great start, poor end
First half of book was wonderfully written but last half went bad quickly. It's like the editor went on vacation and left the author to finish forgetting that it probably took a lot of work to get the first half done so well.
I did enjoy the writing style and was intrigued at several points. I think this may be a first book so I'm willing to give Lake another chance to win my readership.