Product Description
"I am greatly impressed with Ms.MacAvoy's Damiano. Her style is masterly and her sorcerous duels hold one spellbound. You seldom find such telling evocation of striking witchcraft scenes, and the weaving of the whole tale is like viewing one five-hundred-year-old masterpiece just about to be cut finished from an artists's loom. I recommend it highly."-Andre Norton"Damiano is a treasurable read. Roberta MacAvoy is undeniably a writer to watch."--Anne McCaffreySet against the turbulent backdrop of the Italian Renaissance this alternate history takes place in a world where real faith-based magic exists. Our hero is Damiano Dalstrego. He is a wizard's son, an alchemist and the heir to dark magics. But he is also an innocent, a young scholar and musician befriended by the Archangel Raphael, who instructs him in the lute.To save his beloved city from war, Damiano leaves his cloistered life and sets out on a pilgrimage, seeking the aid of the powerful sorceress Saara as he must walk the narrow path between light and shadow, accompanied only by his talking dog. But his road is filled with betrayal, disillusionment and death, and Damiano is forced to confront his dark heritage, unleashing the hellish force of his awesome powers to protect those he loves.The further volumes of this tale are Damiano's Lute and Raphael. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

airheaded
I thought this trilogy was pretty great when I was about 14, but I recently decided to read it again.It hasn't held up well.

While MacAvoy certainly did a serviceable job of researching the background to this tale, I wish I could go back in time and snatch this out of the hands of the 14-year-old me.Toss him some Lovecraft.Or Leiber.Or Doc Smith.

Sigh.

First, the good:atmosphere.MacAvoy's good with her atmosphere, and her writing here is very disciplined.It's very convincing: you do sort of feel like you're in Renaissance Tuscany.

The problem:the story itself is so eff'ing corny.It's lame.

These books kind of remind me of Moorcock's Elric in that way:the stories have a great setup.Great character, very workable premise.You've got this sort of apprentice magician who's cast out on the world before he's quite ready.

But despite the intriguing premise, as soon as the action starts, the whole thing is impossibly silly.This happened with Elric too.In MacAvoy's case, the whole thing with the angels was unforgivably dumb.(Not to mention the sassy talking dog.)

This is from the back of the 3rd book:"Weakened by his contact with mortals, the Archangel Raphael falls prey to his brother Lucifer, who strips him of his angelic powers."

This plot line made no sense at all.For some reason I was willing to overlook it when I was 14, but I can't anymore.This is the kind of book I would hide under my desk whenever anybody came by, so that nobody would catch me reading it.

What I wish MacAvoy would do is simply ditch that angle, return to the character of the lute-toting Damiano, and have him getting in various scrapes and adventures in a slightly magicalized Europe right about the time of the Western Schism.That would be plenty.

Did I mention it had a sassy talking dog?

FROM BACK COVER
He was called Damiano Delstrego: wizard's son, alchemist, heir to dark magics.Yet he was also innocent, a young scholar and musician befriended by the Archangel Raphael, who instructed him in the lute.

To save his beloved city from war, Damiano left his cloistered life and set out on a pilgrimage, seeking the aid of the powerful sorceress Saara.But his road was filled with betrayal, disillusionment and death, and Damiano was forced to confront his dark-heritage, unleashing the hellish force of his awesome powers to protect those he loved.

Among 1983's most highly praised first novel, R.A. MacAvoy's Tea with the Black Dragon was called a "wonderful book" by Elizabeth Lynn and a "delight from cover onward" by Analog.With Damiano, MacAvoy begins the masterful saga of a man who must walk the narrow path between light and shadow.Be sure to read the two concluding volumes, Damiano's Lute and Raphael to complete the adventure!

It has left an impression on me for a decade and more
I recently stumbled across Damiano's Lute and it all came flooding back...being taken to another world from that of my teenage years...so beautifully written.I was immersed completely and wonderfully.Now I will revisit MacAvoy and read anew.Theres just one thing knawing at me - I am not sure where I read about transformations into a tree, eagle and other life-forms..I read other, similar books in the 80's, including The Prince of Hed whose author I can't quite recall??

A great trilogy by a writer who does not get enough credit
A string buzzed against his fingernail; the finger itself slipped, and the beat was lost. Damiano muttered something that was a bit profane. "The problem isn't in your hand at all. It's here," said Damiano's teacher, and he laid his ivory hand on the young man's right shoulder. Damiano turned his head in surprise, his coarse black ringlets trailing over the fair skin of that hand. He shifted within his winter robe, which was colored like a tarnished brass coin and heavy as coins. The color suited Damiano, whose complexion was rather more warm than fair. "My shoulder is tight?" Damiano asked, knowing the answer already. He sighed and let his arm relax. His fingers slid limply across the yew-wood face of the liuto that lay propped on his right thigh. The sleeve of the robe, much longer than his arm and banded in scarlet, toppled over his wrist. He flipped the cloth up with a practiced, unconsdous movement that also managed to toss his tangle of hair back from his face. Damiano's hand, arm, and shoulder were slim and loosely jointed, as was the rest of him. 'Again?" he continued. "I thought I had overcome that tightness months ago." His eyes and eyelashes were as soft and black as the woolen mourning cloth that half the women of the town wore, and his eyes grew even blacker in his discouragement. He sighed once more. Raphael's grip on the youth tightened. He shook him gently, laughing, and drew Damiano against him. "You did. And you will overcome it again and again.

Unique and Memorable Fantasy Trilogy
I think the reason Roberta MacAvoy's fantasies are not better known isthat they are so hard to classify.Is the Damiano trilogy an alternatehistory of a time when the pope was exiled in Avignon, and the Black Deathand the condottiere made life miserable, brutish, and short for almosteveryone else?Is it the story of a witch who wanted to be a musician, andhis little talking dog?Is it the tale of a struggle between two brothers,who happen to be the Seraph, Raphael and Lucifer, Prince ofDarkness?

MacAvoy has a way of bringing me into every scene, usingprecise language and memorable detail:

"His mind was flooded withthe memory of this very pasture in the green of summer, when his fatherwould treat the sheep with tar poultices and incantation.Grass up to hishalf-grown knees, except where the flocks had cropped it.It had been coolthen, in the mountains, but pleasant.Sheep's milk.Napping at midday,surrounded by curious, odorous, half-grown lambs."

I wish MacAvoyhadn't killed off my favorite characters, one by one, but it is a tributeto the power of her writing that I kept reading, anyway.I was hooked.Ihad to know how her trilogy ended.

If history is fair to fantasy authors,Damanio and his lute and his little, talking dog will outlast all of theoverblown 'ologies' of Brooks, Goodkind, and Stephen King. ... Read more

Product Description
An unusual and original work of fantasy from the acclaimed author of .A contemporary man, John Thornburn (a meek, non-violent and unpredictable artist) and woman, Derval (his tough, confrontational, strong and warrior-like lover) time travel to ancient Ireland to avenge a Viking attack. Packed with fascinating details of historical time and place in Irish history and delicately balanced on the border between realism and fantasy, the story centers around one of the most famous and beautiful illuminat ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

An excellent reread...but for the typos
My copy of this book (published 1985, ISBN 0-553-25260-7) is so full of typos that it initially made the reading very difficult.Add to this the many variations on names - especially Derval O'Keane, who is sometimes referred to as the daughter of "Chadhain" and sometimes the daughter of "Cuhain" and various other things...Luckily the context is pretty straightforward in most of these cases.Anyway, I first read this book when it came out, and have reread it about once a year since then.It's a good read and a quick one.

The only flaw in the story is that MacAvoy frequently writes commentary that is like unexplained foreshadowing (and it's never something that's resolved).For example, John draws a picture of a woman and a bird in a decorated missal, and everyone in the room "wondered if there were something ominous or at least portentious about the sketch."That's the last reference to this drawing (and no, it's not in the Book of Kells).If this event is some subtle reference to a part of Irish history, it's too darned subtle for me.There are 3-4 of these sprinkled throughout the book.I suppose Irish scholars might get it.

Not MacAvoy's best, but enjoyable. The title is misleading.
I loved R.A. MacAvoy's writing since I first read Tea with the Black Dragon. That story is terribly dated now -- it essentially takes place in the world of the personal computer before DOS took over -- but it's engaging, well-written, and (for its time) a believable fantasy. That is, I could easily buy into the author's view of the world.

R.A. MacAvoy wrote several other novels, of which the Damiano trilogy is most memorable. While rating them so that Amazon could give me ever-more-useful recommendations, I realized that I owned the Book of Kells, and I knew that I'd read it... but I could no longer remember what I thought of it. I grabbed it off the shelf, realizing that I'd first read the story in the late 80s, when it came out. And I found that it made a great paperback to take along on a plane trip to a conference that was just a little TOO real.

An easy summary, in a way: our hero is a distracted artist in current day Ireland, accompanied by his sometime lover, a university professor. By a curious device (hey! a literal use of an artistic license!), he opens a portal back to the Ireland of 985 just when a sweet young thing is escaping a horde of bad guys. Hero and Heroine end up back in 10th Century Ireland, and they do their best to (a) save the heroine's honor and (b) find their way back home.

It's all very predictible, really, but MacAvoy makes the tale an enjoyable one, throws in some authentic history, and brings these people to life. The artist is a little bit of a wuss, and the professor is a bit too bitchy at times; it slowed down my engagement with the book, but I still did finish re-reading it in only a couple of days (with a conference mixed in there, too).

Unfortunately, the one thing that the author (or her publisher) screwed up was the title. The Book of Kells is only vaguely related to the story, and it doesn't show up until the final act. Even then, it's far from the linchpin to the story. If you've found this book because you love that piece of art or history... well, I won't say that this isn't the book for you (you'll still like it, I think), but you'll be annoyed and wonder, "where the heck is the Book already?"

Even though it's a reflection of its time, I've re-read Tea with the Black Dragon at least five times in the 20+ years I've owned that slim little paperback. Somehow, I never got around to re-reading this one until now. It'll go back onto my shelf, not into the giveaway pile; on the other hand, I'm not going to press it into the hands of a friend who simply MUST read it.

Fun and intelligent adventure.
Way back in the 1980's, I picked this up at a grocery store for a relaxing beach read.As a teen, I was a cynical bookworm, so I didn't expect much beyond the typical paperback fluff.Hence, I was more than surprised to find this a thoughtful and entertaining novel.What a fun and intelligent romp through Irish culture and history!It's so descriptive, that you can almost smell the pungent characters and surroundings.Very few books make it onto my list of those worth a second read, but I can't even count the ridiculous number of times I've read this book.MacAvoy's balance of adventure, action, horror and humor makes this a novel that keeps me up until the wee hours of the morning every time I read it. If I'm down, it always picks me up. Very realistic characters make this fantasy feel nearly plausible.I don't typically enjoy fantasy, so that's a high compliment from me.

A shame this is out of print -- a fun fantasy
This is a superior time-warp fantasy. If you can get one at your used book store, I'd highly recommend it.

A magical tour of ancient Ireland!
John Thomburn was a quiet man, drawn to Ireland by its mystery and majesty, and by the solitude it gave him for his art. But then one day, as Celtic pipes played, John opened a portal through time to an Ireland a thousand years earlier, an age of magic, turmoil and bloodshed. There he lost his' heart to Ailesh, a lovely young woman who had seen her family and village ravaged in a Viking raid. Accompanied by Derval, a friend and sometime lover from the present, and Labres MacCullen, a roguish but gifted poet from Ailesh's time, John embarked on a quest for justice that would take him from a miraculous encounter with an ancient goddess, to the barbaric splendor of the court of the King of Dublin, to a holy place at the edge of the world where he would discover an awesome destiny. Filled with vivid history and magical wonder The Book of Kells is a stunning, resounding work, at once earthly and divine, a towering tour-de-force by one of the most acclaimed new names in fantasy. ... Read more

Product Description
Ewen Young is just another up and coming young artist leaving one of his art shows when he is accosted by three Chinese thugs. After he fends them off, they leave him with a message: tell your uncle Jimmy Young we were here and we could have done much worse to you.

The next day Ewen goes to visit his uncle, and finds him lying in a pool of blood amidst the smell of gunpowder. As Ewen rushes to him, the thug emerges from the shadows to shoot Ewen too. Uncle Jimmy has died, but Ewen has just started his journey through the In Between. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Beautiful, short, not exactly what I expected
This is more of a novella than a novel, and it is MacAvoy, not someone else.It reads like a MacAvoy, not what you might expect from the teaser, and was just beautiful, ending when the story ended, not before and not after.

The other reviews will tell you more about details, I just wanted to remark on the style and execution.

At last!
Fans of Bertie MacAvoy have been waiting a long time for a new novel, especially those of us outside the US who couldn't purchase 'The Go-Between.'

In Between tells a story about Ewen Young, a young artist (both visual and martial). At only 104 pages it's a quick read, but a good one - managing to cover life and death, Buddhism, and lots of character. She has stated in the past that "Language and character interest me. Plot does not, but I understand I'd better have one if anyone's to read my book." In this book she's certainly leaned away from a traditional plotline which takes us from here to here with a big and sudden climax at the end, but I certainly felt emotionally satisfied at the end. It should particularly interest fans of her Lens of the World series. ... Read more

Product Description
The haunting conclusion of a magnificent fantasy trilogy, which began with Damiano and continued with Damiano’s Lute.“MacAvoy is undeniably a writer to watch for!”– Anne McCaffrey Set against the turbulent backdrop of the Italian Renaissance this alternate history takes place in a world where real faith-based magic exists. Weakened by his contact with mortals, the Archangel Raphael falls prey to his brother Lucifer, who strips him of his angelic powers. Sold in the Moorish ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Exquisite and Painful
Reminescent of The Man Who Fell to Earth and Tale of the Body Thief, Archangel Raphael is rendered human by Lucifer.Guided by Damiano and a feisty fellow slave, he struggles to find his place, stranded in a mortal body.He discovers his physical senses and love, in an enlightening journey of wonder and sorrow.

A fine conclusion to this fantastic trilogy
Two young people sat quite comfortably on the grassy bank of a stream, leaning against a willow whose ancient body seemed designed for leaning. Plangent water reflected the little green leaves of the willow, including even the tiny round crystals of dew which hung from the leaves, with only artistic distortion, while below the line of the water cool fish brooded, wearing coats of bright enamelwork. On either side of the stream a lawn spread out, tended by cloudy sheep. Other beasts, too, roamed at their graceful will across the landscape: the ox and the wide-horned aurochs, the slouching camelopard, the corkindrill-each animal as fat as a burgher and similarly complacent. None were ragged, none scarred. None raised its elegant head except in wonder at the sweetuess of the air. Of course there were birds, and even in the lacv mass of the willow they sang, regardless of the presence of two or three sleek and platter-faced cats who meditated while resting upon the largest branches, their white, gray, or manystriped tails curled below them like fishhooks trolling the air. Although there were aurochs and a camelopard, and it has been said that these are wary beasts and unsocial, this park which contained them had not the appearance of wilderness. Beyond the copse of fruiting trees on the far side of the river rose a white palace of intricate shape and exquisite proportion, though through distance and the balmy air its exact lineaments were confused. Another more homey sort of house tose closer to hand, on the bank of the stream itself This edifice was square, three stories tall, and also white-sparkling white-except for a roof of red tile and certain tasteful borders of red and gold about the windows. ... Read more

Product Description
Martha Macnamara knows that her daughter Elizabeth is in trouble, she just doesn't know what kind.Mysterious phone calls from San Francisco at odd hours of the night are the only contact she has had with Elizabeth for years.Now, Elizabeth has sent her a plane ticket and reserved a room for her at San Francisco's most luxurious hotel.Yet she has not tried to contact Martha since she arrived, leaving her lonely, confused and a little bit worried.Into the story steps Mayland Long, a distinguished-looking and wealthy Chinese man who lives at the hotel and is drawn to Martha's good nature and ability to pinpoint the truth of a matter.Mayland and Martha become close in a short period of time and he promises to help her find Elizabeth, making small inroads in the mystery before Martha herself disappears.Now Mayland is struck by the realization, too late, that he is in love with Martha, and now he fears for her life.Determined to find her, he sets his prodigious philosopher's mind to work on the problem, embarking on a potentially dangerous adventure. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (33)

Delicious!
Martha Macnamara travels to California to visit her daughter, only to discover that she is missing. She meets an unusual and mysterious man by the name of Mayland Long. Together they try to find Martha's daughter.

This book was compelling. It was beautifully written and it just sucked me in. Written in the early 80's, it's computer references were obscure and dated to me. But that's not a bad thing for me. I enjoy reading books that are a little dated because it is interesting to see how the author moves around the story without cell phones, etc. This book was clearly written by a master. It's short, but packs a real punch. The characters were very real. The character of Mayland Long reminded me a lot of Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child's character, Pendergast. I am not quite sure why, but he is one of my favorite literary characters, so it's a good comparison. It's going on my permanent shelf and I am highly recommending it to any fellow fantasy lovers out there.

"Dragons are not social by nature. (I am the exception.)"
1983's urban fantasy TEA WITH THE BLACK DRAGON is the only book I've read by R.A. (for Roberta Ann) MacAvoy, so I really have no frame of reference with which to compare her other stuff. But if her other stuff is as engaging as this one, then she's a heck of a writer. I definitely plan on getting hold of this book's 1986 sequel Twisting the Rope.

TEA WITH THE BLACK DRAGON is a low key fantasy set in modern day San Francisco. When middle-aged and free spirited musician Martha Macnamara comes to the Bay Area at her daughter Liz's behest, she learns that Liz has alarmingly vanished. Luckily Martha makes the acquaintance of Mayland Long, a mysterious man of Eurasian persuasion whom she encounters at a posh hotel. Mayland Long, quite more than what he seems, is very much taken with Martha and offers his assistance in locating her daughter. Not that there's a lot of leads. And, as they track each slim trail, it gradually dawns on them that Liz had become embroiled in something deadly. Then, things take a further turn for the worse as, abruptly, Martha also disappears.

166 pages, and they sped by for me. But, word to the wise, going by this book, R.A. MacAvoy isn't your typical fantasy writer. Readers looking for a consistency of rousing action might be in for a hard time. Those anticipating the usual fantasy elements might have their expectations dashed. Don't get me wrong now, there are some action sequences and several supernatural demonstrations, and they do serve to energize the pace. And, yes, absolutely, there's an ancient and scholarly Chinese dragon here - a Black Dragon, in fact - although his presence is understated.

MacAvoy doesn't focus on blood-and-magic pyrotechnics as much as on developing an involving character study of her two leads. And Martha and Mayland are interesting and wonderfully eccentric. I found the two intriguing, not because of their artsy-farsty dialogues, but because of their inherent personalities. Martha Macnamara tends to come across as unconvential and a bit ditzy. But she exhibits surprising insight amidst the quirkiness. Mayland Long himself is not without his peculiarities. On the surface, he's the unflappable and exquisitely cultured gentleman. But, when tipsy, he claims to be an ancient Chinese dragon. There might be something to it. Mayland Long's eyes glow in the dark, he's abnormally strong, and his hands are...unusual.

R.A. MacAvoy nicely plonks her scholarly dragon in the modern computer age (modern for 1983, that is). The setting certainly makes sense in the context of the story as the black dragon's longtime quest has been for truth, and, nowadays, the computer has become a vital and preeminent source for research and learning. Speaking of computers, one other character I liked in this book is Fred Frisch, an unassuming computer technician and a hell of a decent fella, whose interactions with Mayland are key to the story. I'm hoping Fred's in the sequel.

One thing. Philosophical musing is not my bag. Sucks for me, but I suspect I'm not that deep a person or that introspective a thinker. When Mayland had his big moment of epiphany ("Symbol? What's a symbol? This is a rose."), I was left scratching my head. I wasn't quite sure I'd gotten the point, and I wish MacAvoy had gone into it more. Second thing. I had an inkling that romance was in the works for the two leads, but why was it that, when Mayland finally did declare his love for Martha, it still seemed out-of-the-blue sudden and a bit contrived?

In TEA WITH THE BLACK DRAGON, the fantasy elements are mostly repressed, and this works to lend an added dimension of realism and groundedness to the narrative. Even though MacAvoy throws in fantastical hints and teases regarding Mayland's past, there's a sustained down-to-earth pace to the book. At times, it even felt like I was reading strictly a procedural mystery. But, yeah, it's pretty gratifying when that old dragon finally goes into action. I'm quite curious to see what the sequel TWISTING THE ROPE has in store.

Tea With the Black Dragon
Most reviewers seem focused on the fantasy/romance element of the book, which seems to miss the point. This is Zen fiction, with Zen Mistress (Martha), Zen student (Long) and an extended sangha of musicians and computer geeks. It builds to a shining Zen ending in the present moment. If this appeals to you, don't miss it.

Style without substance
It's difficult to like or dislike Tea with the Black Dragon. While it is well-written, the reader begins to realize about halfway through that the story is going nowhere. That impression is born out by the anemic plot, which basically serves as a backdrop for characterization. Characterization is a wonderful thing, particularly in the hands of R.A. MacAvoy - yet one longs for a more conclusive encounter with her fascinating protagonists. Wandering without thematic anchor, Tea with the Black Dragon is a short book but a long ride. The passage of paragraphs is alternately streamlined and stymied by MacAvoy's writing: on one hand, her prose is very sleek; on the other, it can be dull when she slides into introspective rambling. Thankfully, the book tends generally towards a sort of lyric simplicity reminiscent of Frank Herbert. MacAvoy invents concise, marvelously accurate means of describing complicated visuals; her specialty is quantifying the interplay of light and shadow on various surfaces. And yet perfectly simple images seem to defy her trim articulacy. I have never encountered a writer who is simultaneously so adept at defining small details and so inept at painting broader swaths. Overall, MacAvoy's descriptions are conducive to wonderful worldbuilding. Like Frank Herbert, she excels at constructing indoor settings: her hotels, apartments, and high-rises all coalesce naturally in the reader's imagination. Equally realistic are the characters. Every individual who appears in the book, no matter how briefly, is both colorful and believable. Even their physical appearances correspond convincingly to their personalities. More importantly, these people are genuinely charming, loveable in a fashion one seldom encounters in adult literature. They bounce off one another easily, and their dialogue is very evocative of their mannerisms. Mayland Long, the titular dragon, is reserved and erudite, qualities reflected in his formalistic lines. The characters' internal narratives are quite affecting; their transformations are subtle and organic yet deeply powerful. The psychology of every action is explored sensitively. Unfortunately, that psychology is explored at entirely too much length. The characters undergo moving changes and seem primed for some explosion of fervor...but they continue to sit on the page. They are still very alive, yet they're frustratingly static. And MacAvoy doesn't juggle her players very adeptly. One character is effectively removed from the story so early in the book that her significance to the plot is undercut. Others are featured so sporadically that their relevance is negligible. The few characters who do appear consistently don't accomplish anything of great importance. The reader feels cheated of an emotional payoff that ought by rights to have occurred but never solidifies. The framework plot, minimal as it is, retains its direction but loses its focus. It (barely) concludes within the final pages, and despite some momentous occurrences and much character development, the bulk of the preceding narrative feels totally extraneous. The characters do change, the central mystery is solved - but those developments could have transpired over the course of a short story without any of the tedious detective work which dominates the central chapters of the book. Fantasy elements are virtually nonexistent. Yes, there is a dragon. He tells us he's a dragon in the opening chapters and never manifests any extraordinary powers to validate that claim besides superhuman stamina and strength. Actually, he doesn't even have a reptilian form; he's a Chinese man with unusually broad hands and a high body temperature, that's all. When asked to explain his transformation into human form, he offers only the cryptic (and rather inane) analogy that dog breeders come to resemble their dogs. Don't tell me he lost his scales simply from spending so much time around humans! The character's lack of dragon-ness is especially vexing because one would expect his magical qualities to be central, or at least important, to the plot. They aren't, except that they allow him to survive some sticky situations. The story actually revolves around computer science rather than mysticism, which makes the presence of a dragon distinctly superfluous. Now, MacAvoy has patently done her research, because said science is very credible. But what is a mythical creature even doing in a story about high-technology crime? That placement is comparable to randomly inserting a reincarnated Norse warrior into a British spy novel just because you can. Such incongruities don't build atmosphere; they destroy it unless they serve some practical purpose. Poor dragon doesn't even get to do very much. He experiences the only action scenes in the book (which are written with great sensory force but aren't particularly exciting) and still doesn't manage to accomplish much more than some pedestrian investigative work. In addition, while he is an intelligent individual, the sense in his actions depends largely on plot development: he can accurately guess the functioning of an elaborate computerized crime ring based on the slightest evidence - because the plot requires that he uncover the crime; but he breaks into a house without considering the risk of burglar alarms - because the plot requires that he get caught. At least the narrative acknowledges that it was stupid of him to forget such basic home-security precautions, but the affair feels improbably convenient. So, too, his insistence on not involving the police. Dear readers, can you spell "deus ex machina"? That's a rather low-brow technique from such a staggeringly intelligent writer. In the end, the story falls flat on its face, and the reader moans in betrayal. One wants so intensely to like Tea with the Black Dragon, but in the final judgment, it amounts to an enjoyable exercise in high style with no substance as a novel.

OH, The Potential
Several people told me to read this book and I did, but, I must admit to a bit of disappointment.
The story line was original and the plot worked but it didn't have the flesh to it. It wasn't satisfying at all. I understand that the next in the series is better but this one fell a bit flat for me.
Also the constant description of the physical attributes of the main characters got to me a bit. I would love to see it re-released but with much more about the Black Dragon and much more interaction between the characters. I didn't hate it, but I expected much more from it. ... Read more

Product Description
“I found Damiano’s Lute very absorbing. The author’s ability to bring to vivid life the general background of this period of history, and yet interweave it with the type of fantasy which was actually accepted in that day of positive faith is truly amazing. I really found this book to be more compelling than the first. The scenes of the Black Death—dreadful as they were—come through as if taken from eyewitness accounts. This is fantasy at its highest point. Ms. MacAvoy’s talent is a strong, flowing one.” ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Unsatisfying unless you read the first volume
I didn't realize this book was the second in a series when I grabbed.Like most second books, most of the character development occurred in the first volume, so you don't become hugely attached to the characters.

The characters move about without any real sense of motivation.There is no driving force behind the first half of the book, so despite being well-written, it is a very slow read.

Cursing:None, although one character is referred to several times as a [...].
Gore:None, although a character does get whipped harshly and there are several plague deaths and the bodies are described.
Sex:Nothing overly descriptive, but sex scenes are described in the book.

Very well written, but vaugely unsatisfying
This book is an excellent continuation of Damiano's story. However, I was very unimpressed with the way Damiano was portrayed in the beginning of the book.At the end of the first novel, we find Damiano striding happily away with Raphael near him.All in all, I believe that the autor has not given us a good explanation of Dami's sudden change of mood.I found the first part of the book rather boring, and found Saara the much more interesting charachter.As I got farther in to the book, I found the next part far more interesting.

Even so, this trilogy is still a very good read, although the second book let me down a little.It wasn't at all like what I had envisioned, but it was still an interesting read.I still think, however, her first and third books are much better.

A very satisfying book, great trilogy
Saara turned, and her green eyes widened. "You" she whispered, half to herself. "Dark boy. Damiano!" One hand, small, pink and slender, made a circling gesture. And the lute player knew her as well: Saara of the Saami, barefoot girl who was the greatest witch in all the Italies. Damiano knew her powers as well, having hoth suffered them and stolen them. But now all the strength was hers and he had none at all. Damiano felt himself step closer to the witch, though he did not know how he did it, not having a body with which to step. "I knew you would come at last, Dami" said Saara softly. "Part of your soul is waiting here." He reached out one doomed, immaterial hand. "Saara," he whispered. "Pikku Saara. You should not be so beautiful.

"I found Damiano's Lute very absorbing. The author's ability to bring to vivid life the general background of this period of history, and yet interweave it with the type of fantasy which was actually accepted in that day of positive faith is truly amazing. I really found this book to be more compelling than the first. The scenes of the Black Death dreadful as they were, come through as if taken from eyewitness accounts." -Andre Norton

Lyrically written fantasy
It is difficult to categorize this book, and its companion volumes "Damiano" and "Raphael."Each is a "period piece," focused on Europe during the years of the Black Death, andwritten as an inside look at alternate history. The author's gift forbringing one into the story makes this trilogy suitable for any and allreaders. Damiano is a paradox, an apprentice magician who believes in Godand speaks with the archangel Raphael.This juxtaposition is made possibleby his avocation, playing the lute-- which apparently pays the bulls betterthan sorcery.He meets a variety of medevial characters throughout thestory, some fanciful and some mundane, some historical and some used ashistorical samples of everyday life, and all richly portrayed.Damiano'shumanity is his best weapon in the fight to survive the fourteenth century,a chaotic period brought to life in non-fiction by Barbara Tuchman's"A Distant Mirror."His guardian angel provides a superbcounterpoint to his earthly concerns, and reminds the reader of the purityof spirituality.

This trilogy is an unconventional, utterly captivatinglook at the conflict between good and evil, told in a style that makes allof the characters easily accessible to any reader.

Enjoy. ... Read more

Product Description
Original and provocative science fiction from an author famed for her fantasy writings.

Subtitle: Lessons Along a Minor String When the warrior Wanbli came of age, he cast his lot among the stars and left the world where he-d been born. Left it, he thought, forever. His odyssey led him to one ship, then another, and to another still. It brought him face to face with the far-flung members of the universe-s Seven Sentient peoples.

And, finally, it brought him to the colony ship Commitment. There, Wanbli learned the true purpose of his life-a mission so vital that it required risking the lives of everyone on the ship and the future of his home world. His mission meant returning to that world-but only if he could survive the deadly machinations of those who sought to stop him. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Sci-Fi...
When the warrior Wanbli came of age, he cast his lot among the stars and left the world where he'd been born. Left it, he thought, forever. His odyssey led him to one ship, then another, and to another still. It brought him face to face with the far-flung members of the universe's Seven Sentient peoples.

And finally, it brought him to the colony ship Commitment. There, Wanbil learned the true purpose of his life...a mission so vital that it required risking the lives of everyone on the ship and the future of his home world. His mission meant returning to that world...but only if he could survive the deadly machinations of those who sought to stop him.

Not worth it.
This is one of the few SF novels I quit reading before reaching the end... when I reached page 200 or so and still nothing interesting or significant had happened, I said, "That's it." ... Read more

Product Description
Lens of the World is the story of a prodigious life.It recounts the coming of age of Nazhuret, an outcast and orphan who rises from his lowly estate as a ward of the Sordaling military school to become a mighty warrior, philosopher, and confidant of the King of Vestinglon.As he grows, the young man receives outlandish knowledge and is prepared for an entirely exceptional destiny far beyond the narrow confines of his kingdom.In Lens Of The World, master storyteller R.A. Macavoy spins a narrative web packed with nuances and mysteries, feverish dreams and unlikely rewards."LENS OF THE WORLD IS A WORK OF SOARING IMAGINATION." - Bestselling author Morgan Llywelyn"THIS BOOK IS WORTH OWNING IN HARDCOVER AND PULLING OUT ON A REGULAR BASIS." - Locus Magazine"IT'S STYLE RIVETS ATTENTION, AND THE STORY IS ONE WHICH REMAINS IN THE MIND."- Andre Norton ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

One of the best fantasy books ever written
I have enjoyed this genre for over 20 years and when I stumbled upon this little book on the rack of a dollar store I picked it up on a whim... it changed the game completely for me. The tale is all about the journey and not some standard cliche story arc. The writing is as good as you will ever find, the characters are mind-blowing, and the only downside is it will ruin your ability to suffer through long-winded tomes of standard fare fantasy. I admit it may not be for everyone due to the lack of said standard fare, but if you want your fantasy batteries recharged this is the one to turn to.

MacAvoy's other offerings are all enjoyable as well but they don't quite measure up to this masterpiece. I can't say the entire trilogy is required reading because this first novel alone stands just fine, but to take the whole journey with your new-found companions is very satisfying even if it does falter a bit at times. I only wish these characters could return in more journeys and tales. Easily in my top 10 fantasy books of all time. read52in52

Marvelous
I read this book so many years ago, yet the memory of it is still with me.It could easily be dismissed as a somewhat unusual fantasy novel, yet it exceeds the genre.This is a deeply intriguing story of mind and morality, with an undercurrent of Zen that seems to run through several of MacAvoys novels.As a coming-of-age story, it is superb.Nazhuret, small, ugly, outcast,could be compared to Miles Vorkosigan. His gentle nature and strength of heart are an inspiration.

Lens of the World... much better than I expected!
A great read!

This book, the first in a trilogy, turned out to be a well written fantasy that increasingly held my interest and by the end of it, left me eager to get to the next installment.

The story revolves around the main character, Nazhuret (an interesting gnome like figure who is a lot more that he appears), his travels and his interaction with people and things he meets on his journey. There are several other important people in this tale and Macavoy does a stellar job in developing and introducing them into the plot.

My only niggling complaint is a lack of a map of the area that would have let us to track the adventures of our hero.

All in all, a good fantasy adventure and I'm looking forward to more.

Highly original work from a master of the genre!
In this series, MacAvoy has created a highly complexfantasy world with very little sorcery but plenty of sword play, science, philosophy, and mysticism. It is the story of Nazhuret, a strange looking orphan ofmysterious origins who finds himself the pupil of an equally mysterious man known to him only as Powl.
Once his time with Powl is done, he sets off on his own and quickly finds himself embroiled in the affairs of others; something Powl has cautioned him to avoid if he wants to be truly free. Nazhuret tries his best to heed this advise after his first encounter with the outside word leaves a bad taste in his mouth. But what kind of fantasy hero would he be were he not somehow the catalyst of major events and circumstances? In his wandering he finds romance with an ambiguous stranger of questionabe morals. He also earns the love and respect of the young king and the contempt of the king's highest ranking noblemen. By the end, the secret of Nazhuret's origins is revealed and the enigma of Powl unraveled in arefreshingly unpredictabe manner.

Powerful start to a beautiful trilogy
Lens is the first book of a trilogy entirely set in a "non-Earth" pre-industrial world, and arguably R.A.MacAvoy's best work to date. She creates a powerful story with realistic characters and situations and wastes no words in her elegant storytelling.

The story is about the coming of age of Nazhuret, a natural scientist who is dogged by mysterious happenings that he doesn't particularly want to believe in, as he is converted by his (rather bizarre) mentor into the Lens of the World (a concept that's rather hard to explain). He is let loose on society and becomes a nexus, altering what he come in contact with.

It's hard to spell out why this book is so good, but it's a real original in the Fantasy genre and definitely my favourite series (I read an awful lot of F/SF). ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

I can't believe this is out of print!!!
This triology is one of the freshest, most human and evocative historical fantasies I've ever read. MacAvoy does such a great job giving the reader insight into the late medieval mind, and her characters are so dimensional. Even Satan, in his stale realm, is a most realized entity. What a great spiritual/historic/magical work!!!!Even though it's been a few years since I've re-read it, it still haunts me.

A dog and his witch
I think the reason Roberta MacAvoy's Damiano novels are not better known is that they are so hard to classify. Is the Damiano trilogy collected in this volume ("Damiano," "Damiano's Lute" and "Raphael") an alternate history of a time when the pope was exiled in Avignon, and the Black Death and the condottiere made life miserable, brutish, and short for almost everyone else?

Is it the story of a witch who wanted to be a musician, and his little talking dog?

Is it the tale of a struggle between two brothers, who happen to be the Seraph, Raphael and Lucifer, Prince of Darkness?

MacAvoy has a way of bringing me into every scene, using precise language and memorable detail. If history is fair to fantasy authors, Damanio and his lute and his little, talking dog will outlast all of the overblown 'ologies' of Brooks, Goodkind, and Stephen King.

She is an amazing writer
Plot, characters, setting -- she is a superb story-teller. I don't understand why RA MacAvoy isn't on more must-read lists. There's magic but it's good substantive stuff, not just showy nonsense and the characters (human and otherwise) come first.

My All-Time Favorite Novels, NOT Just My Favorite Fantasy
The three novels by R.A. MacAvoy that were issued in _Trio for Lute_ as an omnibus edition are _Daminao_, _Damiano's Lute_, and _Raphael_. I read each of these when they were first published in the early '80's, and they have remained my favorite books for two decades now. Ms. MacAvoy's writing is, well, _luminous_. Her descriptions of settings and landscape have that spare but beautiful quality that you see in the backgrounds of Gothic and Renaissance paintings. Her characters are real people (even the nonhuman ones,) and you become involved and engaged in what happens to them. I won't spoil one of the oddest and most unexpected twists of plot I've ever read by telling you what happens at the end of _Damiano's Lute_, but let's just say that few writers could pull it off. As you'll discover in _Raphael_, "Bertie" MacAvoy did it with astonishing grace. I read a lot of fantasy, and I can't say much of it could move me to tears. These books do. If you like he-man swashbuckling fantasy heroes, these aren't the books for you. But, if you like thoughtful, well-written books where the characters are more important than the magic and derring-do, try to find either the omnibus or the individual books. I believe all but three of her books are out-of-print, although those 3 (not the Damiano books, alas) are available now as both print and ebooks. I've seen Ms. MacAvoy's name on many fantasy fans' lists of favorite authors, yet many readers have never heard of her. She's a "lost" master who deserves to be better known.

Rich and engrossing
This volume is an omnibus of R A Macavoy's gorgeous trilogy: Damiano, Damiano's Lute and Raphael.

Damiano is a renaissance witch (although a Christian - magic use is hereditary in his family, and he fears that he is automatically damned). He uses his powers to grant speech to his Dog Macchiato (Spot)and to call an angel, Raphael, who gives him music lessons on the lute. At least, that is how the story begins. War comes to his sleepy Italian town, and drives him out into the world, which is rather ill prepared for.

The story is written freshly and the characters are all real and well rounded out.

The Black Dragon (from "tea with the...") also makes a nice cameo appearance in the third part in his dragon form. ... Read more

Product Description
R.A. MacAvoy is a truly gifted author who has no need to rely on the conventions of the science fictioni genre in order to hold the reader's attention. Her highly original debut novel, Tea With the Black Dragon, combined elements of mystery and fantasy along with a fascination with computer technology, and was highly praised by critics, while her Lens of the World trilogy appeared on many "best of the year" lists in the national news media. In this sequel to Tea With the Black Dragon, Mayland Long is once again thrust into a maelstrom of mysterious happenings. The peaceful relationship he has established with Martha Macnamara is being threatened. A wild psychic force is loose in the world, while Martha's granddaughter has been kidnapped and one of her Celtic musician friends has been found dead, hangingby a rope of twisted grass. Now the Black Dragon must use his wits to hunt for the killer...even if it brings him to a horrifying realization. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Whatever the proofreader was paid was too much.
After reading "Tea With the Black Dragon", I was looking forward to more adventures with Oolong and Martha.The story "Twisting the Rope" was a pretty good sequel, but all the errors made it an extremely disconcerting read.It was as if this were just a first draft which had not been sent to the editors for proofreading yet.There were misplaced punctuation marks, spelling errors along with words capitalized that shouldn't have been and vice versa.If this had happened occasionally, it wouldn't have been so disruptive to the story but it seemed that almost every page had some kind of mistake on it.I feel that some kind of price adjustment should be made to make up for all the errors.That having been said, I do wish there were more black dragon stories.I would be happy to read more despite the errors!

Disappointing sequel
Tea with the Black Dragon was a wonderfully subtle book. This sequel gets lost in it's own meanderings.A disappointing work from one of my favorite authors.(Actually the only book of her's that I have ever been disappointed with!)

nice read - poorly proofed
This book is a nice follow-up to Tea With The Black Dragon. I didn't expect it to match the first one - and it didn't - but it didsatisfy my curiosity about Martha's life with Long.

That being said, and this is no fault of the story or the author,this book is one of the worst edited and proofed I've ever read -full of disconcerting typos. It should be discounted as a damaged product.

I Liked It, but Preferred the Precursor Book
Tea with a Black Dragon.Much better in my opinion.I read both of these books about 20 years ago, and was not disappointed with my re-read of the Dragon.However I remembered too late I was disappointed in the sequel.For me, personally, it was too much about the music mileau.

One thing I regret is that Ruth doesn't explain the reality behind the mysterious happenings either logically or mystically.I'd like to know why and how, not just who and when in the 'mystic' of it all.

I Liked It, but Preferred the Precursor Book
Tea with a Black Dragon.Much better in my opinion.I read both of these books about 20 years ago, and was not disappointed with my re-read of the Dragon.However I remembered too late I was disappointed in the sequel.For me, personally, it was too much about the music mileau.

One thing I regret is that Ruth doesn't explain the reality behind the mysterious happenings either logically or mystically.I'd like to know why and how, not just who and when in the 'mystic' of it all. ... Read more

Product Description
An attack by paid assassins sets diminutive philosopher Nazhuret and his lady, Arlin, on the road to Rezhmia, a fearsome neighboring kingdom to which Nazhuret is tied by ancient blood. Reprint. K. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Good work continues.
The second book of a trilogy is always difficult, but MacAvoy does a good job as she continues the tale of Nazhuret.I really like how she develops the maturing character of her hero.He finds the truth of his heritage and begins to understand & connect with both sides of his background.The book has much to say about love, loyalty & loss in many permutations.I just reread all three and Book 2 certainly holds its own.

Pleasant, nothing special
Much like the first book in this 'Lens' trilogy, 'King' is well-written and has one or two fairly interesting characters.Unlike 'Lens', this volume has a plot.

Once again the center of the novel is Nazhuret,reducing everyone else to stick figures.The character of Arlin stays inthe background.For the purposes of this book all you need to know is thatshe's a woman and she'll fight for Nazhuret.Nothing else. The mostintriguing character, Powl, is hardly seen.

MacAvoy makes some bafflingcharacter decisions.The eunoch whose name I can't remember at one pointappears to be in love with Arlin...but it's never revisited.It's neverrelevent.

I suppose I don't care for MacAvoy's writing.The dustjacket shows several rave reviews for these books.I just don't see it.Ican't fault her mechanics, only the intangibles. ... Read more

Product Description
Living in exile with his daughter, a now aged Nazhuret learns of King Rudof's death and journeys back to his homeland to intercede in a rebellion led by an old rival. 15,000 first printing. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Doesn't disappoint but could have been developed more.
I've been a fan of MacAvoy's since reading Tea With the Black Dragon in highschool 20 years ago. I fell in love with the Damiano trilogy shortly thereafter and have read it many times since. I even managed to get my then-future husband, a very reluctant reader, to read all three. I've just finished re-reading the Lens of the Word trilogy which I had actually checked out of the library for my daughter who had asked me to pick her out something interesting.

In the final installment of this series, MacAvoy does the unusual (and some would say unthinkabe) by killing off two of her main characters before the story even begins. Nazhuret is living a peaceful scholarly existence with his grown daughter Nahvah in Canton, far from Velonya.Stillmourning his soul mate Arlin, four year's dead (presumably from illness which the author chose not to elaborate on), he learns of the death of his friend, King Rudof. This same day Nazhuret and Nahvah escape an assassination attempt (Nahvah's skill is medicine and hand guns) and flee Canton on a Felonk vessel. Here they meet up with a nobleman of Lowercanton, famous as a brilliant artist and deadly duelist. I don't think I'm spoiling anything for the astute reader who will quickly see what Nazhuret does not---that the Duke has romantic designs on him. Contrary to what an earlier reviewer stated, this kind of thing isn't uncommon at all in fantasy, although it is unusual for MacAvoy who generally only hints at homosexual tendencies in minor characters.

A homoerotic attraction is not out of character for Nazhuret since he was never certain of his own inclinations. If homoeroticism is something you enjoy, you will not encounter much in this novel. There are some blushes, elusions, a few catty comments but nothing steamy or overt. That Nazhuret and the Duke become companions is only hinted at at the end of the book athough in a way that leaves no doubt in the reader's mind.

I was a bit unsatisfied with the ending which seemed a bit hasty and pat. I noticed that this installment was quite a bit thinner than the first two books in the series. I would have liked if she had developed the burgeoning relationship between Nazhuret and the Duke a bit more. Also, MacAvoy introduces some potentially interesting characters without really fleshing them out. One of these is Timet , a young initiate of the sect which has grown around Nazhuret's writings in his absence. There are encounters between him and Nazhuret which ultimately lead nowhere and he winds up merely as a love interest for Nahvah in the penultimate page of the novel. As I said, just a little too pat.

Considering the depth that went into the first two installments, this one seemed a bit sketchy. That said, a sketchy novel from MacAvoy is still excellent reading!Had I been reading the work of a less talented writer it is doubtful I would have been engaged enough by secondary characters to care to know more about them.

Another beauty byMacAvoy
Those who have read the reviews I posted for the first two books in this series know that I have not been overwhelmed, citing reasons such as bland characterization and lack of plot for my opinion.This third volumechanges all that.MacAvoy gives us a good plot and finally developsNazhuret into a rich character.

MacAvoy gives us a treat, letting thereader watch Nazhuret age from a child to a man of 55 years throughout theseries.Here, Nazhuret tries to save Velonya from itself while strugglingwith personal demons.He looks for other options besides seizingleadership.He comes to terms with the loss of his late wife.A treat forthe reader.

MacAvoy explores Nazhuret's sexuality.First, he paired offwith a woman who always dressed like a man.Now we see a potential romanceblooming with Dinaos (which is hinted on the last page that it did happen). It doesn't fit with my political leanings, and I'm not convinced itbelongs in books (if I wanted sex I'd pick up one of those Harlequins), butit's a perspective rarely seen in fantasy.

MacAvoy grasps the delicate wonder dwelling somewhere in all
Pick up any work of MacAvoy's and you enter a strange realm where you get to share her appreciation of the somewhat mystical nature of our existance.She allows you to easily slip into the universe she creates and her characters come alive with their strengths and weaknesses ... Read more

Product Description
Set against the colorful and magical backdrop of Ireland, The Grey Horse chronicles a time when the Irish people suffered under harsh English overlords who sought to destroy their culture and way of life. Into the Irish town of Carraroe, a magnificent, completely grey stallion appears. The horse brings with him the promise of better times and magical happenings, for he is actually the shape-shifted form of Ruairi MacEibhir, journeyed to such a time of danger in order to win the hand of the woman he loves. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

The Grey Horse
This is a great book. Human interest stories, great love story, and a very earthy pooka.

A nearly perfect cozy Celtic fantasy.

The Grey Horse is another reread in my recent trend of going through the fantasy and science fiction novels of my youth to see if any of them are still really worth keeping. I had only a very dim idea of the story before I started. I remembered it much more clearly once I had read the opening. By the end of the book, I had a hard time remembering that I had ever forgotten.

The novel is an extremely satisfying fantasy cozy. Fairies are real. Supernatural men, at least, have good taste in women. Politics can be overcome by communication correctly applied. True love is possible in the face of any barrier. Magic is as familiar as it is frightening. Wrap the whole thing in smooth and very readable writing and tie an Irish flavor around the package, and you have a very nice way to spend a few hours.

MacAvoy's books seem to be largely forgotten these days. That's a shame, and I will keep an eye out for second-hand editions.

Charming fantasy with "horse sense"
I first read R.A. MacAvoy's "Tea with the Black Dragon" many years ago, and it remain one of my favorite books. So I was so glad to see some of her other books being reissued.

The Grey Horse is a lovely, charming fantasy that works on so many levels. Set in an 1881 village in Ireland, it is the story of a fairy horse, Rauri, who falls in love with a village girl and wants to marry her. And yet it is so much more than that!

What could have been a trite, two-dimensional story by another writer comes alive in the hands of R.A. MacAvoy for her characters are alive and vivid. Rauri is not an elegant, ethereal fairy, but an earthy, sometimes confused man who shares much of the stubborness and behavior of the sturdy Connemara pony he often turns into. Not innately clever, he has "horse sense" and a good nature that is very appealing. His heart's desire, Maire, is likewise not the usual fairy tale heroine. She is a big girl, stubborn, and full of fire, not as pretty as her petite sister, but of infinitely more worth.

Underneath the romance between Rauiri and Maire lies the struggle of the Irish people to assert their independence against the English overlords. The struggle of the Irish peasants to keep their connection to their land while dealing with a foreign culture (English) and the struggle of the fairy to fit into a foreign culture (Human) while retaining his deeper and more ancient connection to the land gives the book an interesting dynamic tension.

This book is one of the more interesting fantasies, and will retain a place on my bookshelf for future reading!

From a Connemara Pony enthusiast
Not only an engrossing tale, the author's style of writing and word play captivate you from page one and makes you wish for more at story's end.In the middle of my second reading,I find it even more enjoyable the second time around.

Highly recommended.

Wonderful Story for All Ages... 9 to 90 will enjoy
this ultimate 'horse' story.Didn't want the story to end...the sign of a good tale.thank you Ruth! ... Read more