Customer Reviews (1)

Ghosthunt the battle continues!
With the unusual talent she shows in her other Diadem novels, with the adventure's of Alytys', Jo Clayton has another winner on her hands. This novel catches our heroine working for an extraordinary group know as"Hunter,Inc.". Demands for Alytys' special talents have grown asher own understanding, of her powers, and limitations have evolved. Livingup to the reputation which precedes her across the galaxy, provides Alytys'with moments of self discovery. It gives her the strength to win throughbattles with tough adversaries, and succeed in hopeless situations.The enjoyment Jo Clayton provides the reader is endless in the continuingsaga of this mystical heroine. We learn to cheer, to cry, to laugh and tosecretly thumb our nose at the enemy. We know eventually Alytys' will findthe strength to over-come her own doubts, and the cunning traps set by herenemies. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Aleytys
Heroine is not the right word for Aleytys - attractive, telepathic, empathic, telekinetic, mystic might be closer to discribing this colorful and imaginative character. Jo Clayton weaves an engrossing tale, with abeautiful woman, a mysterious powerful artifact, hordes of half-humanmonsters, aliens, and the mental force of a madman of her own ancestralrace. In Star Hunters Alytes is conveyed to a distant world where she mustonce again battle the planets unnatural forces, overcome the inhumanenemies and "triumph on all or lose everything". With each newnovel in the Diadem series we are left waiting impatiently for the next newinstallment to enjoy. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Following the trails of Aleytys'
Having a heroine with extraordinary powers brings this story in line with Jo Claytons previous books on the adventures of Aleytys. Sold into slavery to insectoid owners, Aleytys discovers she is to serve as proxy-mother tothe old Queens successor. In short being both the bearer and food sourcefor the embryo she carried.

With her own enhanced abilities, and theadded mystical strength of the diadem, the story of Aleytys' gives us arousing adventure with unusual twists and turns. A tough, believable, swords and sorcery story to engage the imagination and satisfy the mostardent reader searching for fantasy and satisfaction. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The conclusion to the epic "Diadem" series
Aleytys has finally found her mother, but her quest is far from over.Now she must stake her claim as a member of the powerful Vryhh race, face her greatest enemy one-on-one, and free herself from the soul-stealing diadem.

This book also marks the beginning of Shadith's adventures as a heroine in her own right.A "must" for all Clayton fans. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

This is a Diadem Book!
Okay, so I read this out of order in the series! I got it from my Dad for Christmas last year with a bunch of other great Sci-fi/fantasy books.
I was unprepared for the depth and complexity of the story. Having no experience with Jo Clayton (major oversight in my reading history), I had no idea what I had. Great story. Stands alone well, but I want more Diadem info! Not sure where in the series this is, but I BELIEVE it may be as early as book two. Just a guess....

I liked it. Nuff said.

Best Regards All.~~Jana ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Effortless blending of Sci-Fi, Magic, and political theory.
Aleytys' quest for her mother's homeworld and her stolen son must wait, while she saves yet another world from its exploitative imperialists. "The Company" has recently changed its trade policies toward the cludair peopleof the rainforest and the cerdd of the plains. Aleytys must rely on herdiplomacy, psi ability, and the cast of characters in the diadem interwoveninto her head and mind. In a city where a woman's place is in the bed shemust contend with company spies, pimps, and a man who hunts the ancientparasite that could level the world of Maeve. ... Read more

Product Description
Emerging from her centuries-long imprisonment inside an alien artifact, Shadith learns that she has developed an empathic musical skill, and is called upon to delegate a mission with a musically communicating alien race. Original. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Heavy and exciting reading
This story starts with an impenetrable morass of alien words and phrases, without any exposition, that makes you want to send the book back in disgust.If you can plow through it though, the tale blossoms into arousing adventure of danger, fast action, sacrifice, and heroism.Thecontinuing alienness makes it a difficult read throughout, but it is worththe effort.

Shadow gets herself into the thick of it one more time...
After her last exciting adventure, Shadith has settled down on Universityto finally study music as she had planned.She has found this to beenjoyable, but the absence of any danger in her life has left her bored andlooking for a way out.Aslan offers an irrisistable chance to be a part ofan academic envoy to Beluchad, where she is to foster trust andcommunication between the interdependant native species and the offworldertrade companies with her harping and singing.She quickly gets sucked intotaking sides in the trade war that errupts between the Yakara an the Chavethat has jepordized the existence of the native culture.

Jo Clayton hasalways amazed me with the characters and worlds she creates.This book isno exception.I felt the same wonder as Shadow when she heard the Eoltsing.The references to past events and characters ties this story intothe overarching context of Shadow's adventures.Shadow's ability to laughat herself, and Jo Clayton's ability to spin that tale without gettingpreachy is what brings me back again and again to this particularcharacter.I find it easy to relate to Shadow and frequently live throughher eyes.I can't wait to read the next one. ... Read more

Product Description
Freed from ages of imprisonment in the Diadem, an alien artifact, Shadith discovers that she has the power to transfer her consciousness into any living creature, a talent that she uses to try to destroy a syndicate that creates civil wars as a tourist attraction. Original. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Good reading, if you can find a copy...
Moongather is book 1 in the Duel of Sorcery trilogy, and tells the story of Serroi, a "misborn of the windrunners", as both young girl and young woman (the two stories being told in parallel fashion throughout the book). For those readers who like strong female lead characters, this book would be a good choice.

The writing is very good and moves the reader along briskly. Some of the magic presented will seem familiar to D&D aficionados, not necessarily in specifics but rather in form. The tajicho, for example, an object which acts to hide its bearer from magical eyes, is created by removing an eggshaped growth in the center of the brain case of a monster called the Nyok'chui and calling down lightning on it. The various levels of Nor (or magicians) wield power through the calling and controlling of various types of demons. ... Read more

Product Description
In the epic conclusion of the Wild Magic trilogy, Faan journeys to the land of her birth, only to discover that her mother and her homeland are held captive by the Bee Goddess under a spell of timeless sleep. Original. ... Read more

Product Description
Hired to return an innocent creature to people who only wish to destroy it, psychic detective Shadith cannot bring herself to fulfill her mission and is forced to betray her strongest supporter while outwitting a smuggler. Original. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Very Good
I received my order within just a few days and the condition was as advertised.

A wonderful balance of character and plot
In some of Jo Clayton's books, the biggest shortcoming has been her tendency to design on a grand scale -- races, worlds, cultures and dialects in which you could literally get lost. The focus of the book was diminished as you were continually distracted by wondering what a particular word meant or what a particular religion was all about. In CRYSTAL HEAT, Clayton strikes a precise and enchanting balance as she presents, again, races and worlds on a grand scale, but simply presented and not at all a deterrent to an intricate plot with more twists than a roomful of Chubby Checkers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Skeen rocks
I loved the Skeen books when I was a kid and am sorry to hear they're out of print! They were truly unique and fun .... ... Read more

Product Description
Separated from the only home she has ever known, Faan embarks on a daring search to locate her true mother, a powerful sorceress trapped in a magic sleep. Original. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Jo Clayton, at her best and worst
This book has many of the author's strengths: vivid visual description, intensely detailed societies, interesting interpersonal relationships. It also has some of her weaknesses: overly exotic words and names, characters with too much power, characters speaking in nonsense syllables far too much of the time. The sequel to Wild Magic, Wildfire concerns Faan's ongoing search for her mother and her struggle to control her increasingly powerful firestarting magic. Some of the characters, particularly Sabuse and Varney, are not as well drawn as they probably deserve, and I got tired of Faan's adolescent temper. There's also a huge plot inconsistency concerning a black horse which does, or doesn't, get eaten by woodfolk. Despite all that, I found the book to be original, lively and generally a fun read. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Pure Fantasy
If you liked Drinker of Souls, you will probably like this book.This book stands alone though and you don't have to read Drinker of Souls to enjoy this one.It has been several generations since Bran's lastadventure when she is called to "remember the promise" she madeto the heirs of Harra Hazzani (a character from Drinker of Souls).Fromthere coincidence abounds as Bran runs into the current generation ofoffspring, from her previous companions of adventure.It does seem a bitfar fetched and tired (an easy way out of creating completely newcompanions for Bran) but after a few pages that feeling fades.Kori(the heir of Herra) is trying to save her brother Tre, who the Chained Godhas selected as his new priest.The threat comes not from the Chianed God,but from a powerful sorceror Settismaksim, who has forced the villagers toaccept the Goddess Amortis and her servant/enforcers into the villages,where they burn the priests of the Chained God.Bran is called byKori, from her sedintary life as a potter, to stop Settismaksim.The plotgets complicated as the reader (and Bran) realize that Settismaksim is nota completely vile and evil sorceror, rather a flawed man who is trying togive his people freedom.The Chained God, in his greed, really doesn'tcare much one way or the other and forces Bran, the changers, and DannyBlue into a battle with Settismaksim.Other Gods of Brans worldmanifest (the Godalau, and Tunjii) and there are parallel universes and allsorts of other plot twists to hold your interest.There isn't muchhigh-tech sci-fi in this book, but if you like fantasy, and magic, andimprobable things this will be right up your alley ... Read more