The Ambassador's Mission: Traitor Spy Trilogy, Book 1

It has been a while since I read Trudi's Black Magician series which I remember I really enjoyed. I probably should have reviewed this series predecessor because it took a little extra concentration to recall details from the former novel. I felt the start went a little slower start that I would like to have seen. Also, I would have liked to see Sonea's son go through some training. Lorkin is instead to be introduced to us after his graduation ready for his mission as an ambassador's assistant. However, things pick up and get good near the end leaving us with solid conclusions but several things that need to be resolved.

This story starts out really slow and I was getting real bored with it.However, I stuck with it and found it interesting. I was glad i did listen to it on audio.Because I would of not made it to the end.
Without giving too much away there is Romance; beginning and ending, Family; Lost and Found, and Alliances with old and new enemies. The way that Canavan expresses these different relatinships from different viewpoints not only brings the characters vividly off the page, but also stirs the emotions and feelings of the reader. They yearn for love. They miss their children (Even if they have none). They are confused by their old enemy. Because Sonea's relationships become the readers. Lorkin's relationships, Dannyl's and Ceryni's too.

gay and lesbian

i dont know it i will listen to her again, especially if she is going to pack her books with gay and lesbian rights instead of fantasy story line.

all the redeeming qualities of the first trilogy (action and actual magic use) were not present in this one. i cant express how disapointed i am in this trilogy.

the first trilogy had a tolerable amount of the gay right plugs in it. but this series is chuncked full of the "go homo!!!" theme. its not a story of fantasy with magic around every corner, its a story of a political statement with gays and lesbians around every corner and hederosexuality is an after thought.

I found this book under Mysteries and Thrillers. Perhaps it was mislaid in there for a little while or something, but it's definitely NOT a Mystery or a Thriller in the genre-definition sense. Still, I'm not adverse to a good fantasy novel and I bought it because I'd read Trudi Canavan's Black Magician Series.

This, however, is written in simpler language and, frankly, I found it very infantile. I think it would make a very good young adult fantasy read.

Absolutely, it's a great story and the narration is first class. The book was a joy to listen to.

Laughed out loud at several points in the book (got some odd looks from other commuters) and ended up feeling like I know the characters, I need book 2!

I read the Black Magician's Trilogy and enjoyed it very much. However I fear that in switching to an audio book for the follow up titles I have messed with the pictures and sounds that I developed in my head for this world.

The narration simply did not fit well with my preconceptions of what the story should be about and I found myself being annoyed with the telling of the story.

The writing and story line in this next instalment of the series is not as strong as the first trilogy. Introducing some of the characters sexual preferences has been done rather clumsily and struck me as tokenism.

I will pursue this second trilogy but think I will switch back to the written word to complete the story.

This trilogy starts out very weak, although the next book gets a little better. The characters are difficult to believe, being very transparent and untroubled with 'darker' thoughts. It's also a bit of a 'journey' story, which I love, but this one is not particularly engaging.

So, we're back and following the continuing adventures of Sonea in this follow-up to Canavan's Black Magician Trilogy. Got it. But the story seems to rely too much on the previous trilogy. Anyone picking this series up without having read it will probably feel lost about exactly why Sonea is feared as a Black Magician. The reader is simply, bluntly, told that she is feared and distrusted and then thrown right into this new tale.

The story, as my title for this review states, is pretty much average. It feels, I am sad to say, like the author understood that she had to fill three (sizable) books for this trilogy and took to that task with eagerness. Unfortunately, the story tends to drag because of the vast amounts of stuff (for lack of a better word) included. It's one big pacing fiasco in my opinion.

The problems really arise from the fact that out of all the POV characters we are treated to (Sonea, her son Lorkin, Ambassador Dannyl, or Cery) none of them have a truly compelling narrative and make a play for the story's lead protagonist. At the same time, this muddles the story's antagonist to the point where, when it ends, leaving us hanging for book two, you really are left wondering who (or what) was the overall force driving the story. There are sub plots galore, and they all seem to be possibly intertwined, but the antagonist is just simply ill-defined.

I also felt like the story was simply flat from start to finish. There really did not seem to be a true rise in the action towards a climax of any significance. And once we were treated to what I guess was the climax, it was short and almost not even a real test for the character(s) involved.

I had been prepared, going in, to read the entire trilogy. Now I am not so sure. I will have to let it sit and stew for a little while and ponder if the slowly developing plot is really something I am interested in moving forward.

No i had to back up over and over could not keep my intrest was very boring.

could not keep my interest

put me to sleep, borring

disappointment, sounded good but flopped

Modern, Intrigating, Captivating

Dannyl and the complexity of his character

the way he sets voices t the different people

the end that let you waiting for more

to be recommended