I actually finished this novel about two weeks ago, and I intended to post on it when Raven had finished with Truancy, but life got in the way last week, so here I am.
The later middle part of Griffin's Daughter seemed to suffer from a lack of direction. Before, Jelena had been focused on the goal of finding her elven father, but she became sidetracked when she met a cute elf, a lord's younger son named Ashinji. Since elves don't approve of marriage between a half-breed (Jelena) and a true elf (Ashinji), they are kept apart. It has all the makings of a great love story, but the big reason it didn't work for me was the vast age difference between Jelena and her love. She's only 18 and he's in his 30s. (I know, I know--Jane Austen did this in Sense and Sensibility. But ya know, it didn't really work for me there either, even though the Colonel is one of my favorite Austen heroes. But I digress.) Part of this can be accounted for by the long life-span of elves. Perhaps mentally, he is only 25 or so. However, presumably Jelena will have a longer lifespan as well, since she is half-elven.
Anyway, that's the only real problem I had with the love story, and it is probably mostly a matter of personal taste. And despite my problems with it, I really liked the way it worked out in the end.
After a digression with Jelena's cousin and traveling companion Magnes going off and doing some very unexpected things, the story came back to Jelena and found direction once again. The Dark Lord from the prelude begins to become quite active, acting through animal surrogates. I don't want to give the ending away, but it was fairly satisfying, insofar as the first novel of a trilogy can ever be satisfying. Moore has obviously thought things through and has set the stage well for future books.
Except for some sex scenes, this novel almost seemed like a young adult novel. Moore has a natural flair for language. Her work comes across as literary without being affected, and is highly readable. I would definitely be interested in reading her future works.
Here is my first Post and my second Post on Griffin's Daughter.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Griffin's Daughter by Leslie Ann Moore
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3 comments:
uhm... I was surprised to see discrimination on the part of elves re half-breeds. Generally, aren't they a bit more open about that kinda thing? I was reading Judith Tarr...so I guess I'm so in her world that I'm thinking humans as being more inclined to prejudice than elves.
Ah come on! 18 and 30. Not bad really especially considering ...as you say...elven lifespan. Haven't older male and young female been the par for many earth marriages throughout the centuries? (Elves are a little different of course) but same age lovers are a relatively new thing in romance and life...i think. And only became the norm in the west within the past 400 or so years.
Not that I'm for these older male younger women pairing. While they're believable enough for me, I just don't like the subtle wealth, status, age issue going on. (Heck, why didn't the guy choose an older woman his age? Are older women non-sexual? That kinda thing.) But I know what you mean about how certain romantic pairings get in the way of one's ability to believe and enjoy a book. I know it's my own personal issues/expectations getting in the mix but it's a hurdle for me. Oops, I've rambled. Great review. -C
Thanks, Carole. My issue was that if he was young for his age due to elven blood, then she should have been as well.
The elves were more tolerant than the humans, who thought of elves as demonic.
::smile::
Yeah, elves are always more tolerant.
Uhm... the elven gene... pure and half-caste. I know it well.
-C
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