- Hardcover: 624 pages
- Publisher: Gollancz; New edition edition (15 Mar 2001)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0575072423
- ISBN-13: 978-0575072428
- Product Dimensions: 23.8 x 16.2 x 5.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,207,477 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
There is a freshness and inventiveness to Elizabeth Haydon's first novel Rhapsody that is not especially common in quest fantasies any more. Manipulated by a time-editing savant in her far future, minstrel Rhapsody escapes from the sinister love-making of a brutal warlord to the almost equally threatening companionship of a tusked, giant warrior and his hideous assassin companion. Plunging beneath the earth, among the roots of the world-tree, she finds herself singing to sleep a dragon whose awakening would crack the world like an egg-shell. When she and her companions emerge, it is on the other side of the world, and centuries away from home--their adventures are just beginning.
The occasionally foolish, sometimes sluttish Rhapsody, and her power, literally to remake the world by changing the name and rhythm of things, is one of the most interesting heroines of recent years, and her companion, the hulking Grunthor and the sinister charming Ahmed, long enslaved to the worse of evils and hardly believing his new freedom, are fascinating variations on some old themes. Haydon's inventiveness, and preparedness to push things to the limit, make her one of the more delightful discoveries of recent years. --Roz Kaveney
Review
"The debut of a great new fantasy talent. With "Rhapsody", Elizabeth Haydon begins an epic saga worthy of Eddings, Goodkind, and Jordan.... A spell-binding storyteller with the rare ability to manage memorable characters with both intimacy and power."--"Romantic Times "(4-1/2 stars out of 5)
"A stunningly told tale by a new fantasy author who is sure to go far."--Anne McCaffrey
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
"A stunningly told tale by a new fantasy author who is sure to go far."--Anne McCaffrey
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I bought the whole trilogy on rabid recommendations from the Amazon US site. I have to admit it didn't meet up to my expectations. It's not in the league of Raymond E. Feist's Magician as a first effort, nor even Robin Hobb's Liveship series. This is not a book to revise your standard of what is possible in this genre.
I do agree with most comments, concerning such points as a lack of editorial control, under-developed characters and the 'seamless' shifting of plot-lines (which I always find irritating - so few authors are able to do this well). However I do think the story to be an essentially good one and different enough to hold the attention. The very elemental nature of the created world and the resulting magical and religious systems are intriguing. Most importantly, the plot drawns you along and you want to know what is going to happen next.
The first part of the book is excellent and really builds up the anticipation for what is to follow. Unfortunately what follows is an interminable journey through the Root. The story does pick up again - but it's more a coasting along upon the established themes, with little or no variation on them. Drama turns into melodrama.
Rhapsody is built up into this incredible, gargantuan figure far too soon. You just know that there aren't going to be any problems that will give her too much trouble. And to be honest, I don't really find her character to be wholly sincere. Like the sword she wields, Daystar Clarion, she's extremely pretty to look at and extremely powerful. However, whereas a sword has a singular purpose, Rhapsody is unable to fathom her own goals and as such is portrayed as a sort of passive cypher for others to impose their will upon. Worse, she lacks an essential self-knowledge of exactly how incredibly potent a character she is and the myriad possibilities that are now open to her.
Achmed's reunification of the Firbolg is far too easy, quick and requires too much suspension of belief. Rhapsody could have played a far more pivotal part in this but is reduced from being a Joan of Arc character to Florence Nightingale.
The main 'threat' of the evil F'dor, Tsoltan and his nefarious plan of waking the World Serpent, the only part of the story that provided any real dramatic tension, is in the end, dealth with without any climatic struggle.
Like the reel of film at the end of the story, the story burns out and flaps around rather uselessly.
I can only hope things start to improve in the next book of the trilogy.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Rapsody is one of those books that once you pick it up it's almost impossible to put down. The story follows a girl called Rapsody on a mad journey with two warriors. Im not saying this books perfect in fact in parts it gets stightly repetetive but if you like pure fantasy this is perfect for you . Theres prophecys to intrige and the story really keeps you hanging on. The discrptive language pulls you in and makes you feel part of this amazing girls life.
If you love stories that exercise your imagination and you see yourself as a heroine fighting evil then book is deffinatly for you.
If you love stories that exercise your imagination and you see yourself as a heroine fighting evil then book is deffinatly for you.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I loved this book from the moment I picked it up! The story of how different characters (Rhapsody, Grunthor and Achmed) are brought together and escape from the Old World into the new is a compelling read! Yet behind all of this lies a love story between Emily and Sam and a higher purpose bringing them all together.
I enjoyed the idea of Singers and Namers and thought that the autor had great skill in keeping interest up during a trip along Sagia's root through the centre of the world!!
I enjoyed the idea of Singers and Namers and thought that the autor had great skill in keeping interest up during a trip along Sagia's root through the centre of the world!!
Elizabeth Haydon's own knowledge of music and herb lore really shows in this great first book in the Rhapsody trilogy.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Epic Fantasy of the highest calibre
I can't believe I've overlooked this author for so many years. Within a few pages I was completely hooked with the developing story and the introduction of the characters. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Di
Highly recommended
Somewhere about midnight, I went onto the computer to read the reviews here hoping to get an idea of what would happen next so I could go to sleep and finish this book the... Read more
Published on 23 Jan 2009 by AnetteF
(3.5 stars) super bad reviews are unnecessary for this ok book
Rhapsody child of the blood is not a very bad book. Before reading it, I read many reviews on amazon. Read more
Published on 31 Dec 2007 by Lilly Flora
Rhapsody
Well what can i say! Rhapsody has got to be one of my all time favourites and i can't wait to read the rest of the series! Read more
Published on 16 Nov 2005 by Amy Mitchell
Filled with imagination
I recently re-read this trilogy after about a year, and I found it much more enjoyable the second time round. Read more
Published on 9 Aug 2004
Never-Ending Story
From the outset, Rhapsody starts out well enough, a little different from your standard fantasy fare. Read more
Published on 11 Mar 2004 by Mr. D. M. Brown
Musical magic that works...
Take David Eddings's approach to "sweet" characters (like the cat-thief relationship in Athalus). Take Terry Goodkind's slightly more "adult" flavoured romance scenes (Kahlan &... Read more
Published on 6 July 2003 by "culture_mind"
Fantasy Average
Elizabeth Haydon creates another fantasy to add to the the bookshelf. Be warned that she tends to overuse a complex vocabulary, which does not correspond to the actual situation in... Read more
Published on 6 Jun 2003 by "forgotten_destiny"
Addictive Saga
From the start I was deeply absorbed into this book. The openeing tells the tragic but beatiful love story of Emily and Gwydion, only for that to be forgotten and the focus of the... Read more
Published on 6 Mar 2003 by "slh200280"
Marvellous
From the very outset of this book I was absolutely enthralled by the vivid and beautiful world that Haydon has managed to create around the central characters. Read more
Published on 24 Feb 2003 by "alex458"
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