Maia

Before Game of Thrones, there was Maia. Dynastic struggles between warring provincial lords? Check. Armies marching out to die in the dust? Check. Central degenerate city jam-packed full of slaves, whores, dodgy fat spymasters and noble bastard sons? Check. Feisty women on the run? Check. Plenty of gratuitous sex and acts of barbarism? Check. A really difficult-to-cross river? Check. There is no equivalent of the Freys or the Boltons, thank goodness.I loved this book as a teenager and am thrilled it's now out for Kindle (I already have the hardback first edition). Maia, Occula and Bayub-Otal are like old friends and despite the occasional ludicrousness of the plotting and the very old-fashioned gender politics and social stereotyping, I still love it. Vivid, memorable characters and locations, sumptuously depicted set-pieces like the Rains Banquet, two heroines you really care about, and a doomed and haunting romantic subplot featuring a captive noblewoman.

I have had the book for years and knew what to expect. I bought the Kindle version for convenience. There are quite a few typos e.g. 'Balds' for 'Baltis'. Otherwise, it makes reading easier.

I have now read this book several times over many years, and enjoyed it each and every time. Brave Maia and Occula are to be admired as people turning every roll of the dice to work eventually in their favour.

Read it years ago, and still as good on re-reading

This book felt outdated. I didn’t find the characters likeable and found the tone of the story to be soap opera like.The world building in the book was quite good though.

Read this as a kid and really liked it. Very interesting story, and well crafted world. Enjoying reading it again as an adult - from the author of Watership Down.

Needs some significant editing and an original storyline. Very predictable ending and the use of its own slang added nothing. Read on a recommendation.

Read this book in my late teens.... Loved it..... It's an excellent story.... Very long and intricateThe book was as described by the seller and came almost immediately - very happy with the service and the price of the item