I received, to review, the first three books of the Green Stone Healing series from the author, C L Talmadge. I have admitted to her and to others that I do not generally read fantasy or sci-fi. I am a non-fiction, self-help, Christian romance type reader. So one might ask why I decided to even accept the books to review. Well, I honestly must say that I wondered too when I first started! I struggled through the first few chapters. I put the book down over and over again. I would say to my husband, "I don't know why I said I would read these." But I was committed to giving the books an honest review.

About The Vision, a bits and pieces summary from the author's press package:

Lt. Helen Andros is an illegitimate, presumed orphaned physician with a gift for healing. She always wears about her neck a green gemstone from her mother with hidden potentials that Helen does not yet know about, although she frequently touches the stone for reassurance and comfort. Helen is also a despised half-breed: unusually tall, black-haired like the dominant Toltecs, the race of her unknown father, pale-skinned and blue-eyed like the conquered and oppressed Turanians, her mother’s people.

.......

While Helen manages to save Prince Harnak’s life, the Lord Protector, angered by her insolence, reviews her service record. At first he is appalled to find out how many times Lieutenant Andros has been put on report and is determined to discipline her for unsatisfactory performance as an officer. When he sees an image of Helen wearing the green stone, Lord James is shocked, and immediately suspects that she is his daughter. He gave that very same stone and necklace more than thirty years ago to his secret love: a Turanian woman named Miriam Andros.

.......

Lord James’ tough decision to acknowledge a daughter he never knew he had touches off a political firestorm between warring factions striving for power and dominance during the mental incapacity of the Exalted Lord, Kefren Poseidon. It also leaves Lord James extremely vulnerable to his political enemies, who include the heir to the Kingship, Prince Seti Poseidon, and the prince’s primary supporter, Ezekiel Malachi, Supreme Lord of the Temple of Kronos.

.......

Nor is Helen happy. She and her father both have been profoundly wounded by her mother’s secretive behavior. Not even wise counsel from Judith Altair, best friend of Helen’s mother and a much sought-after advisor to the powerful, can keep the two from clashing out of pain and fear instead of coming together in love and friendship.

And that's not even the half of it; there are so many neat and intricate details to sort through and that intrigue the reader.  I am really enjoying the process and seeing the pieces fall into place while others lay the groundwork for the next "puzzle".  I could say it this way - the foreshadowing is very very well done!

What were my issues with the book and series?  Well, the genre was a huge hurtle but there were other things.  A new language was thrown in from time to time.  The characters were numerous and have titles I'm not used to reading or talking about.  Our apparent differences in religion and beliefs (reincarnation vs. Christianity) caused me some concern as well.  Lastly, each character could be referred to by any number of names - their job title, their given names, or other titles of royalty and such.  I just can't keep them all straight even at the end of the first book, I don't know who belongs to which title or titles.

What do I love about the book and series?  I love that the new language that I had trouble figuring out at first is easy once you get into the mind-set.  For example, the characters have a drink called caf.  Well, that's coffee.  They have this thing called a link; to me that's a form of the internet or a network of computers.  There are other words that aren't as easy to follow, but I think I'm getting there. I love the parallels I see between my world and the world of Helen Andros.

I love the detailed descriptions of both the people and the landscapes.  I don't know about you but the idea of royalty - princes and princesses, lords and ladies, and their servants - has always intrigued me!  The author tells of and explains rituals in such a way that I can see each step and bend and nod and bow.  I wanted to be a princess when I grew up; I wanted to do and see those rituals when I grew up.

I went exploring the Green Stone of Healing website and found a wealth of information that will help with reading the other two books.  I found family trees including titles and who belongs to what and whom!  I love the family trees.  Here's a link to the Andros Family Tree.  There is also some pre-information given about some of the characters; I found that here and here.

I don't know what it was or when even (sometime after chapter seven of The Vision which is the first book) that got me hooked but now I have trouble putting it down.  The other titles in the series so far are: Fallout, The Scorpions Strike, and Outcast (due out October 1, 2009).  Look for reviews of Fallout and The Scorpions Strike here on Simply Sensational Divas Review in the future.

An excellent work of fiction!  I think I may have found a new genre to add to my joy of reading.  Thank you, C. L. Talmadge for the opportunity to review this wonderful book!

Written by LaDonna on Tuesday, September 1st, 2009 at 11:27 pm
Filed under Book Reviews, C. L. Talmadge, Launch Party, Launch Party Reviews, Posts By LaDonna, The Vision.
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