Cynthia Felice

The book starts out strong -- interesting world with interesting characters, well told. But then the middle grinds to a halt as the author really focuses one aspect of the world and main character. The end picks up, but almost too late, and then is rushed and ends very abruptly, with many of the main characters not even getting a 'final scene' of any kind.

I really wish Cynthia had shortened the middle angsty stuff to make more room to flesh out the ending and let it breathe.

I also thought it might be a bad idea that this was a first person story that never leaves the one character's POV. I can understand near the beginning as we are introduced to the world in a certain way. But, with such an interesting world that Cynthia created we are then limited our view of it. Not to mention the main character often comes off as unlikable, and since it is first person you are stuck with her view and can only infer others feelings of her and the world situation.

I still enjoyed it even though I was rolling my eyes and some of the quick-developing plot points near the end.

I feel like this was a 4-5 star book that fell flat in its delivery.… (mer)

This book is really by Cynthia Felice AND Connie Willis, despite what Goodreads lists above. Deza is a con artist trying to pass herself off as a water witch, someone with a supernatural ability to detect, control, and communicate through water, which is a big deal on this dry, poisonous planet. But her con isn't going well as her father has just died and his spirit has been transmuted into this goat-like creature that is sending her telepathic messages.

BTW, I liked this book about 100 times more than Light Raid by the same authors, and yet I give them both four stars. Go figure.… (mer)