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Isles of Glory #1
The Aware
While searching for an enigmatic slave woman on the lawless Gorthan Spit island, Blaze, an outcast and agent for the Keeper Isles, employs her ability to sense magic and uncovers an evil plot that threatens the existence of the eleven nations of the Isles of Glory. Original.
318 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
31 people are currently reading
1294 people want to read
About the author
Glenda Larke
26 books376 followersGlenda was born in Western Australia, the daughter of a farmer. She was educated at government state schools and the University of Western Australia, where she obtained a degree in history and a diploma in education. Married to a Malaysian scientist, she has grown-up children, and now lives in Malaysia, where she is actively involved in rainforest conservation.
Author of The Isles of Glory trilogy (The Aware, Gilfeather, The Tainted); The Mirage Makers trilogy (Heart of the Mirage, The Shadow of Tyr, Song of the Shiver Barrens) and, writing as Glenda Noramly, a stand-alone book Havenstar.
Author of The Isles of Glory trilogy (The Aware, Gilfeather, The Tainted); The Mirage Makers trilogy (Heart of the Mirage, The Shadow of Tyr, Song of the Shiver Barrens) and, writing as Glenda Noramly, a stand-alone book Havenstar.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
August 22, 2016
This review was originally posted on Young Adult At Heart
SUMMARY
Blaze Halfbreed has been sent on a mission to retrieve the Cirkasian Castlemaid from Gortham Spit, a barely hospital strip of sand where only the lowest of the low and the most desperate congregate. There she discovers the filthy stench of evil dunmagic and realises a great evil has returned to threaten the whole of the Isles of Glory.
PLOT
Blaze Halfbreed is citizenless in an island archipelago where citizenship means everything and there are strict rules on island-interbreeding, leading her to be an unwanted outcast. Gorthan Spit, the desolate land of criminals and unwanteds, is the only place she can legally stay longer than three days. It is also the place where she has tracked a princess from another island who is to play a key role in the Keeper’s plans on taking control of the Isles of Glory. Blaze is ‘Aware’ – she can see sylmagic and dunmagic, and it doesn’t affect her. The Keepers find her useful, and have promised her citizenship after twenty years of service. But if she fails to find the Castlemaid, she won’t get her citizenship. Meanwhile, she befriends a Cirkasian with a secret past who claims she knows where the Castlemaid is – only this beautiful ‘Flame’ is attacked by a powerful dunmagicker. It’s up to Blaze to save the day, multiple times, as she uncovers Keeper secrets, Gorthan Spit secrets, Castlemaid secrets, and secrets about sylmagic and dunmagic that threaten to take over her world.
CHARACTERS
Blaze Halfbred: tall, swordfighter, sassy, fierce, and totally and completely magnificent. She’s a survivor. Not many abandoned halfbreeds make it in a world harsh to the citizenless. Blaze is brave, resourceful, smart, and caring. She’s got loyalty coming out the wazoo for those she loves, and she’ll do anything to save them. Her primary motivation is to earn enough money to live in peace and earn a citizenship for the same reason, and for this she is a sort of bounty hunter for the Keeper sylvs, although she’s also a mercenary who will do what it takes to earn some coin. Although she develops strong bonds with several men in this book, it’s her sudden and very sisterly love for Flame that I adore. Blaze is ‘Aware’ – she can see magic as it’s used, which other magickers and normal folk can’t. Magic doesn’t affect her so she’s the perfect one to send off to assassinate an evil dunmagicker. Her Awareness makes her useful to the sylvs of Keeper island, and she depends on them for work and her eventual citizenship.
Flame is a sylv from Cirkasecastle and as the incredibly beautiful one of the story she’s also somewhat of a damsel in need of rescuing. She’s also brave and loyal and fierce and once she makes a decision she has no time to regret it. She returns Blaze’s love fiercely and she isn’t afraid to step back into a lair of horror she barely escaped the first time just to try to save her friends.
Tor Ryder is a fellow Aware and although he can fight, he’s a man of religion and I wouldn’t exactly call him a warrior like Blaze. He’s gentle and calm and has deep intelligence, and he’s on Gortham Spit babysitting a runaway royal. He and Blaze find a past in common and eventually fall in love although Blaze believes they can’t be together because of her halfbreed status and his religion.
WRITING
I adore this book so much. Although much of it takes place on Gorthan Spit, we get some flashbacks in Blaze’s life. The framing of the novel is that when Blaze is an elderly woman, all magic and the harsh citizenship laws have vanished from the Glory Isles and they are discovered by another race who are studying them, much like in Wuthering Heights Nathan turns up at the house only to be told this incredible story about its previous inhabitants. So Blaze’s story is essential a compilation of a bunch of interviews given to help this new race study them. I think the worldbuilding is phenomenal, I love the characters, I love that even the supposedly ‘good’ sylvs have shades of grey in them because they use their magic to confuddle normal folk. Love how every character has their own motivation and backstory which really enriches the narrative and makes the world so much more believable.
PACING
The pacing is good with this book. Because it’s such an original adult fantasy, there’s a lot of worldbuilding and culture and backstory to tell. I feel like this was always put in at the appropriate moments. While it’s not a break-neck pace, it is steady. Sometimes it slows right down, for example when Blaze has been taken prisoner or is being kept alone for some time. I think the slower pace works well then because you start to feel her helplessness and lonliness.
OVERALL
This is one of my absolute favourite fantasy books of all time. I literally cannot think of a single thing I don’t like about it. I give it ALL THE STARS. But warning - it is an adult book and it does cover subject matters such as rape and forced sterilisation.
The Aware (The Isles of Glory)Actually, I did think of one thing. For some reason Larke decided to republish this with another publishing company instead of self-publishing, and the cover of the new version is AWFUL. DON’T LET THE COVER FOOL YOU THIS IS AN AMAZING ORIGINAL INCREDIBLE PIECE OF ADULT FANTASY.
SUMMARY
Blaze Halfbreed has been sent on a mission to retrieve the Cirkasian Castlemaid from Gortham Spit, a barely hospital strip of sand where only the lowest of the low and the most desperate congregate. There she discovers the filthy stench of evil dunmagic and realises a great evil has returned to threaten the whole of the Isles of Glory.
PLOT
Blaze Halfbreed is citizenless in an island archipelago where citizenship means everything and there are strict rules on island-interbreeding, leading her to be an unwanted outcast. Gorthan Spit, the desolate land of criminals and unwanteds, is the only place she can legally stay longer than three days. It is also the place where she has tracked a princess from another island who is to play a key role in the Keeper’s plans on taking control of the Isles of Glory. Blaze is ‘Aware’ – she can see sylmagic and dunmagic, and it doesn’t affect her. The Keepers find her useful, and have promised her citizenship after twenty years of service. But if she fails to find the Castlemaid, she won’t get her citizenship. Meanwhile, she befriends a Cirkasian with a secret past who claims she knows where the Castlemaid is – only this beautiful ‘Flame’ is attacked by a powerful dunmagicker. It’s up to Blaze to save the day, multiple times, as she uncovers Keeper secrets, Gorthan Spit secrets, Castlemaid secrets, and secrets about sylmagic and dunmagic that threaten to take over her world.
CHARACTERS
Blaze Halfbred: tall, swordfighter, sassy, fierce, and totally and completely magnificent. She’s a survivor. Not many abandoned halfbreeds make it in a world harsh to the citizenless. Blaze is brave, resourceful, smart, and caring. She’s got loyalty coming out the wazoo for those she loves, and she’ll do anything to save them. Her primary motivation is to earn enough money to live in peace and earn a citizenship for the same reason, and for this she is a sort of bounty hunter for the Keeper sylvs, although she’s also a mercenary who will do what it takes to earn some coin. Although she develops strong bonds with several men in this book, it’s her sudden and very sisterly love for Flame that I adore. Blaze is ‘Aware’ – she can see magic as it’s used, which other magickers and normal folk can’t. Magic doesn’t affect her so she’s the perfect one to send off to assassinate an evil dunmagicker. Her Awareness makes her useful to the sylvs of Keeper island, and she depends on them for work and her eventual citizenship.
Flame is a sylv from Cirkasecastle and as the incredibly beautiful one of the story she’s also somewhat of a damsel in need of rescuing. She’s also brave and loyal and fierce and once she makes a decision she has no time to regret it. She returns Blaze’s love fiercely and she isn’t afraid to step back into a lair of horror she barely escaped the first time just to try to save her friends.
Tor Ryder is a fellow Aware and although he can fight, he’s a man of religion and I wouldn’t exactly call him a warrior like Blaze. He’s gentle and calm and has deep intelligence, and he’s on Gortham Spit babysitting a runaway royal. He and Blaze find a past in common and eventually fall in love although Blaze believes they can’t be together because of her halfbreed status and his religion.
WRITING
I adore this book so much. Although much of it takes place on Gorthan Spit, we get some flashbacks in Blaze’s life. The framing of the novel is that when Blaze is an elderly woman, all magic and the harsh citizenship laws have vanished from the Glory Isles and they are discovered by another race who are studying them, much like in Wuthering Heights Nathan turns up at the house only to be told this incredible story about its previous inhabitants. So Blaze’s story is essential a compilation of a bunch of interviews given to help this new race study them. I think the worldbuilding is phenomenal, I love the characters, I love that even the supposedly ‘good’ sylvs have shades of grey in them because they use their magic to confuddle normal folk. Love how every character has their own motivation and backstory which really enriches the narrative and makes the world so much more believable.
PACING
The pacing is good with this book. Because it’s such an original adult fantasy, there’s a lot of worldbuilding and culture and backstory to tell. I feel like this was always put in at the appropriate moments. While it’s not a break-neck pace, it is steady. Sometimes it slows right down, for example when Blaze has been taken prisoner or is being kept alone for some time. I think the slower pace works well then because you start to feel her helplessness and lonliness.
OVERALL
This is one of my absolute favourite fantasy books of all time. I literally cannot think of a single thing I don’t like about it. I give it ALL THE STARS. But warning - it is an adult book and it does cover subject matters such as rape and forced sterilisation.
The Aware (The Isles of Glory)Actually, I did think of one thing. For some reason Larke decided to republish this with another publishing company instead of self-publishing, and the cover of the new version is AWFUL. DON’T LET THE COVER FOOL YOU THIS IS AN AMAZING ORIGINAL INCREDIBLE PIECE OF ADULT FANTASY.
December 28, 2021
Glenda Larke needs more people to read her books. There. I said it. When comparing her to other "household names" in the genre, I just can't figure out why she isn't one as well. Her Stormlord series is still one of my all-time favorite fantasy series, but this one has a lot to offer as well.
First of all, I have to applaud the uniqueness of the way this story is told. It's all supposed to be written down by a man doing research on a batch of islands where the elder natives claim there was once magic. Something is supposed to have happened when the islands were "discovered" to make the magic disappear. Of course, the man doesn't believe there ever was magic, but he writes the entire story down as told to him by an elderly woman who lived through some wild times.
But none of this is your typical fairytale, my friends. Or maybe it is because fairytales were originally pretty dark, and Glenda writes a grittier style of fantasy, which I am totally there for it. This book is filled with criminals, psycho wizards, cursed birds, torture, amputated limbs, and fair maidens on the run. There are also some pretty kick-ass female characters too, including but not limited to the MC.
There is a point where things drag a bit in the middle, and certain things follow typical fantasy tropes, but if you muscle through to the end you will not be disappointed and all will be forgiven. There's enough originality here that it makes me neeeeed to read the next book.
First of all, I have to applaud the uniqueness of the way this story is told. It's all supposed to be written down by a man doing research on a batch of islands where the elder natives claim there was once magic. Something is supposed to have happened when the islands were "discovered" to make the magic disappear. Of course, the man doesn't believe there ever was magic, but he writes the entire story down as told to him by an elderly woman who lived through some wild times.
But none of this is your typical fairytale, my friends. Or maybe it is because fairytales were originally pretty dark, and Glenda writes a grittier style of fantasy, which I am totally there for it. This book is filled with criminals, psycho wizards, cursed birds, torture, amputated limbs, and fair maidens on the run. There are also some pretty kick-ass female characters too, including but not limited to the MC.
There is a point where things drag a bit in the middle, and certain things follow typical fantasy tropes, but if you muscle through to the end you will not be disappointed and all will be forgiven. There's enough originality here that it makes me neeeeed to read the next book.
August 7, 2016
Ahoy there me mateys! This book was part of the Maine book haul. I had never heard of the author or this book. Apparently this author is Australian. Hooray for non-US authors! The lovely cover is what drew me in:
I mean seriously – a kick-ass woman holding a giant sword and riding on a pearlescent sea creature for only 25¢. I had to have it. And I really really liked it. Interestingly, it was Shortlisted for the Best Fantasy Novel in 2003 at the Aurealis Awards for Fantasy and Science Fiction.
This book is the first of a trilogy called the Isles of Glory. The main character is a woman named Blaze Halfbreed who is attempting to find a slave woman which will get her closer to her goal of citizenship. I liked this lady. From an orphan on the streets with an unusual upbringing to a competent adult who is independent and relies only on herself, Blaze is bad-ass. I mean, yes she likes to take the easy way out for survival but when push comes to shove she is more than willing to fight back.
Besides the magic in this world which was fun, I also enjoyed watching Blaze makes friends and learn to trust other people. There are non-humans in the world like ghemphs (awesome!), Fen lurgers, and of course the sea-ponies! (Side note: I have a thing for ponies and the term sea-ponies reminds me of a certain childhood movie whose song is now stuck in me head). I loved the island setting and all the references to the sea. The side characters of Tor and Flame and Ruarth were wonderful.
There were a couple of downsides of this novel like the use of rape in the plot (not graphic at all but present), some periods of action happening off the page while the main character waited, and some odd/slow plot points that didn’t float me boat. Oh, and though the bad guy has a reason to be bad, he seemed very two-dimensional. But overall I liked the book so much that I just ordered the second book to read. So if ye can find a copy and want a fantasy that is fluffy but fun . . . check this one out.
If ye liked this review see me others at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordp...
I mean seriously – a kick-ass woman holding a giant sword and riding on a pearlescent sea creature for only 25¢. I had to have it. And I really really liked it. Interestingly, it was Shortlisted for the Best Fantasy Novel in 2003 at the Aurealis Awards for Fantasy and Science Fiction.
This book is the first of a trilogy called the Isles of Glory. The main character is a woman named Blaze Halfbreed who is attempting to find a slave woman which will get her closer to her goal of citizenship. I liked this lady. From an orphan on the streets with an unusual upbringing to a competent adult who is independent and relies only on herself, Blaze is bad-ass. I mean, yes she likes to take the easy way out for survival but when push comes to shove she is more than willing to fight back.
Besides the magic in this world which was fun, I also enjoyed watching Blaze makes friends and learn to trust other people. There are non-humans in the world like ghemphs (awesome!), Fen lurgers, and of course the sea-ponies! (Side note: I have a thing for ponies and the term sea-ponies reminds me of a certain childhood movie whose song is now stuck in me head). I loved the island setting and all the references to the sea. The side characters of Tor and Flame and Ruarth were wonderful.
There were a couple of downsides of this novel like the use of rape in the plot (not graphic at all but present), some periods of action happening off the page while the main character waited, and some odd/slow plot points that didn’t float me boat. Oh, and though the bad guy has a reason to be bad, he seemed very two-dimensional. But overall I liked the book so much that I just ordered the second book to read. So if ye can find a copy and want a fantasy that is fluffy but fun . . . check this one out.
If ye liked this review see me others at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordp...
July 6, 2009
Adult. Some innuendo and mention of past sexual relationship.
The Aware is the first in The Isles of Glory trilogy by Australian fantasy author Glenda Larke. It tells the story of Blaze Halfbreed, citizenless in a world where citizenship is everything, abandoned by her parents as an infant, despised for her half-breed status, hired by the Sylvtalents as a spy-come-assassin-come-protector - for she is one of the Aware, one of the few people in the world who can actually see magic, and is thereby immune to its effects.
That's why she's the one who's sent to track down a Circasian slave who's much more than she seems, and why she's the one who sees the foul red dunmagic spilling across the floor of the inn where she's staying in the pirate settlement on Gorthan Spit. And why she's the one who everybody wants - dead, or alive.
First Impressions
Hmm. The first half a chapter didn't immediately grab me; it wasn't terrible by any stretch of the imagination, but it wasn't fast-paced or action-packed. It's been a while since I've read slower books, and I put this one down after a few pages.
HOWEVER.
Once I picked it up again, I couldn't put it down. This is a GREAT book that develops wonderfully, with a nice complex plot, character growth, action scenes - and even an explosion ;) I've been telling people it's like a slower paced Magic Lost, Trouble Found.
Pros
Great main character with voice and attitude, set in a very rich, rounded world. You can sense that there is so much more to both the world and the story than what you're shown in this first book. The story is framed by letters, and is 'told' as a transcript of conversations between a 'native' and an anthropologist - and although in the beginning the anthropologist's letters leave you kinda thinking, "Huh?", by the end they leave you insatiably curious as to the why and wherefore behind the anthropologist's mission. This is not only a fun romp through a shiny fantasy world, it's rich and meaningful too.
Cons
The slow beginning. It's not intensely action-packed, so it might not be for everyone. And there is a bit of innuendo - though I don't think it's enough to prevent the more tender readers involved in this blog from reading ;)
Overall, a great book that's left me dying for the next in the trilogy. I give it 4.5 stars :)
The Aware is the first in The Isles of Glory trilogy by Australian fantasy author Glenda Larke. It tells the story of Blaze Halfbreed, citizenless in a world where citizenship is everything, abandoned by her parents as an infant, despised for her half-breed status, hired by the Sylvtalents as a spy-come-assassin-come-protector - for she is one of the Aware, one of the few people in the world who can actually see magic, and is thereby immune to its effects.
That's why she's the one who's sent to track down a Circasian slave who's much more than she seems, and why she's the one who sees the foul red dunmagic spilling across the floor of the inn where she's staying in the pirate settlement on Gorthan Spit. And why she's the one who everybody wants - dead, or alive.
First Impressions
Hmm. The first half a chapter didn't immediately grab me; it wasn't terrible by any stretch of the imagination, but it wasn't fast-paced or action-packed. It's been a while since I've read slower books, and I put this one down after a few pages.
HOWEVER.
Once I picked it up again, I couldn't put it down. This is a GREAT book that develops wonderfully, with a nice complex plot, character growth, action scenes - and even an explosion ;) I've been telling people it's like a slower paced Magic Lost, Trouble Found.
Pros
Great main character with voice and attitude, set in a very rich, rounded world. You can sense that there is so much more to both the world and the story than what you're shown in this first book. The story is framed by letters, and is 'told' as a transcript of conversations between a 'native' and an anthropologist - and although in the beginning the anthropologist's letters leave you kinda thinking, "Huh?", by the end they leave you insatiably curious as to the why and wherefore behind the anthropologist's mission. This is not only a fun romp through a shiny fantasy world, it's rich and meaningful too.
Cons
The slow beginning. It's not intensely action-packed, so it might not be for everyone. And there is a bit of innuendo - though I don't think it's enough to prevent the more tender readers involved in this blog from reading ;)
Overall, a great book that's left me dying for the next in the trilogy. I give it 4.5 stars :)
February 16, 2011
I read the Last Stormlord before this, so it felt like a bit of a let down. Larke's writing has improved tenfold since this book. I almost gave up around page 200 or so, but a cyclone locking me inside encouraged me to finish the book in a day a week later. I think I'm glad I did. It gets better as it goes along, but still very cliche, pointing out the obvious, praising the lead role too much for little reason, telling instead of showing... etc
I have the rest of the series, so shall probably read on in due time. I adore Glenda's Stormlord series, and adore her as a person - love her blog and loved her at WorldCon, so I shall do my best to read on and enjoy it more :)
I have the rest of the series, so shall probably read on in due time. I adore Glenda's Stormlord series, and adore her as a person - love her blog and loved her at WorldCon, so I shall do my best to read on and enjoy it more :)
April 14, 2011
This book was amazing. it's one of those books you think about and "ponder" the storyline for days after....or is that just me? i was kind of let down though when i saw the next book in the series wasn't about blaze (i hate side series) but i thought i'd still buy the book and give it a try. so far i have read 8 pages of feather and cannot get past it, even though i bought the book a year ago. i'm just wondering if anyone has read both the aware and gilfeather and thinks it's worth reading gilfeather or just move on and mourn the disappointing sequel to the amazing, extraordinary, the aware
March 20, 2014
Very enjoyable fantasy. I haven't come across Glenda Larke before, but will definitely read more. I liked the way she took a more nuanced view of magic than is usual, with the recognition that it places non-magical people at a serious disadvantage, and that even 'good' magic creates a two-tiered society and is open to abuse (for all the best reasons, of course!). The trilogy seems to be aiming towards a point where the islands have lost their magic altogether - which in most fantasy would be mourned, but here seems a liberation.
August 29, 2016
Really great world building. I loved the characters immensely. It took roughly half the book to truly get invested, but when I did, I couldn't put it down.
The characterizations and reasoning behind some of the characters can seem lacking, but that is in part because of the style in which the story is told: as a series of interviews and recollections of some of the chief characters.
Larke created a very wonderful world that seemed very real, and her characters are very lovable while being very flawed and very human. They will frustrate you as much as they will make you love them.
The characterizations and reasoning behind some of the characters can seem lacking, but that is in part because of the style in which the story is told: as a series of interviews and recollections of some of the chief characters.
Larke created a very wonderful world that seemed very real, and her characters are very lovable while being very flawed and very human. They will frustrate you as much as they will make you love them.
April 11, 2008
It took me ages to get into this book - the setting, the evil dunmagic, the swashbuckling lead character (who is at least a woman, which makes the genre a little fresher), but I kept going with it, and it grew on me. It's a little cliched in places, and the evil is a little too utterly evil for my taste, but I enjoyed it enough by the end to think about getting the second book in the trilogy.
October 27, 2022
3.5/5, rounded up.
As a fan of Glenda Larke, I was excited to dive into her first trilogy (and second published book, as far as I know), with The Aware. Based off the Irish isles, it seemed to have a neat premise with the promise of Glenda's excellent worldbuilding, which I've come to expect from her work.
Here's what I liked:
- The worldbuilding, as usual, was a highlight. The story is actually broken up in parts by letters written by an ethnographer studying the Glory Isles fifty years after the events of the trilogy, with Blaze recounting the events that led to something called 'The Change.' These letters actually give us hints about the culture the ethnographer is from, as well as some small elements of his own storyline. I thought it was a neat touch, and a pretty interesting way to show how early anthropology was used, before the cultures being studied were truly shown as being human and equal. I thought it was a neat touch.
The culture was also very well fleshed out, which is something that Larke has done exceptionally well in all the books by her that I've read. The creatures and races, as well, were unique and distinctive.
- I liked the characters, and some of their backstories were downright tragic. I look forward to learning more about them in the other books of the trilogy.
- The magic system was cool. I liked the dynamic between sylvmagic and dunmagic.
What I didn't like:
- There were a few parts of this that got...uncomfortably sexual in this.
Larke's work generally has heavy sexual tones, but this one felt a lot stronger than her later trilogies. There were some scenes that just felt uncomfortably sexual, there was A LOT of reference to rape, that kind of thing. It doesn't normally stand out to me, but something about the way it was done in this book just made me uncomfortable rather than making me feel like it was a natural part of the worldbuilding.
- I just didn't feel particularly engaged through the whole book. Maybe it was just a me thing, but I struggled to really connect with the story. Part of it is probably due to the nautical/marine nature of the setting, since that's not a setting I really vibe with, but it was still a detractor for me.
As a fan of Glenda Larke, I was excited to dive into her first trilogy (and second published book, as far as I know), with The Aware. Based off the Irish isles, it seemed to have a neat premise with the promise of Glenda's excellent worldbuilding, which I've come to expect from her work.
Here's what I liked:
- The worldbuilding, as usual, was a highlight. The story is actually broken up in parts by letters written by an ethnographer studying the Glory Isles fifty years after the events of the trilogy, with Blaze recounting the events that led to something called 'The Change.' These letters actually give us hints about the culture the ethnographer is from, as well as some small elements of his own storyline. I thought it was a neat touch, and a pretty interesting way to show how early anthropology was used, before the cultures being studied were truly shown as being human and equal. I thought it was a neat touch.
The culture was also very well fleshed out, which is something that Larke has done exceptionally well in all the books by her that I've read. The creatures and races, as well, were unique and distinctive.
- I liked the characters, and some of their backstories were downright tragic. I look forward to learning more about them in the other books of the trilogy.
- The magic system was cool. I liked the dynamic between sylvmagic and dunmagic.
What I didn't like:
- There were a few parts of this that got...uncomfortably sexual in this.
Larke's work generally has heavy sexual tones, but this one felt a lot stronger than her later trilogies. There were some scenes that just felt uncomfortably sexual, there was A LOT of reference to rape, that kind of thing. It doesn't normally stand out to me, but something about the way it was done in this book just made me uncomfortable rather than making me feel like it was a natural part of the worldbuilding.
- I just didn't feel particularly engaged through the whole book. Maybe it was just a me thing, but I struggled to really connect with the story. Part of it is probably due to the nautical/marine nature of the setting, since that's not a setting I really vibe with, but it was still a detractor for me.
August 28, 2020
2 Stars
DNF’d at page 210.
I wanted to like this book, I really did. I loved that the author was from the same place that I was, and I liked her using things that are unique to that place in her stories.
I found Blaze interesting to begin with, but her personality seemed to devolve as the book went on. Mainly due to the “romance”.
And that brings me to why I DNF’d this book. The romance between Blaze and Tor came so out of left field. They had barely spoken to each other up to that point, and Blaze’s narration of him did not indicate he would be a romantic interest. And then suddenly they are sleeping together and declaring their undying love for each other...even though Blaze herself said she knew nothing about him she still trusted him completely. I didnt make it to the end of the book to find out if that trust was warranted or not. The interplay between the two from that point forward was filled with ‘my love’ and ‘beloved’ and the whole thing rang so hollow I just couldn’t continue on. Blaze seemed like a heroine who kept her guard up and was slow to trust and she instantly changed when Tor came along.
Sadly, I won’t be finishing this series, but I did enjoy the authors writing and this was her first novel, so I am open to reading some of her other works in the future.
DNF’d at page 210.
I wanted to like this book, I really did. I loved that the author was from the same place that I was, and I liked her using things that are unique to that place in her stories.
I found Blaze interesting to begin with, but her personality seemed to devolve as the book went on. Mainly due to the “romance”.
And that brings me to why I DNF’d this book. The romance between Blaze and Tor came so out of left field. They had barely spoken to each other up to that point, and Blaze’s narration of him did not indicate he would be a romantic interest. And then suddenly they are sleeping together and declaring their undying love for each other...even though Blaze herself said she knew nothing about him she still trusted him completely. I didnt make it to the end of the book to find out if that trust was warranted or not. The interplay between the two from that point forward was filled with ‘my love’ and ‘beloved’ and the whole thing rang so hollow I just couldn’t continue on. Blaze seemed like a heroine who kept her guard up and was slow to trust and she instantly changed when Tor came along.
Sadly, I won’t be finishing this series, but I did enjoy the authors writing and this was her first novel, so I am open to reading some of her other works in the future.
August 16, 2017
Not a real review, just some bullet point reactions:
• Larke has managed a story which has strong and believable female (main) characters while working within a somewhat feudal world setting.
• The romance sub-text is kept firmly under the carpet, and not allowed to take over any of the storyline.
• Both the first person narrative, and the interspersed letters from the ethnographer worked, individually and in their interaction.
• Despite there being a fair number of characters, keeping the narrative to two viewpoints very much helped my ability to keep track, and increased my enjoyment. I suspect that there is also some very clever writing happening that is cueing which chacters is involved, rather that requiring detailed exposition (of which there is some, scattered through, but mostly for the filling in of backstory) every time someone appears on the scene.
• Larke has managed a story which has strong and believable female (main) characters while working within a somewhat feudal world setting.
• The romance sub-text is kept firmly under the carpet, and not allowed to take over any of the storyline.
• Both the first person narrative, and the interspersed letters from the ethnographer worked, individually and in their interaction.
• Despite there being a fair number of characters, keeping the narrative to two viewpoints very much helped my ability to keep track, and increased my enjoyment. I suspect that there is also some very clever writing happening that is cueing which chacters is involved, rather that requiring detailed exposition (of which there is some, scattered through, but mostly for the filling in of backstory) every time someone appears on the scene.
July 24, 2020
I very much enjoyed this book, a new author for me. I did find that it was hard going at times with the violence described, and the fact that the story was being told to an "ethnographer" when the main character was over eighty years old put me off a bit (too much foreshadowing in the storytelling). But it's a well written story and quite different in many ways from the "usual" fantasy. Recommended.
February 15, 2025
Love the series and the book.
The back and forth between the invaders who "discovered" the islands, followed by their disbelief in the stories they are told, makes it even more interesting.
Blaze, the main character, is a great story teller and very biased with her views of the world. Watching that change across the book is a wonderful journey. Looking forward to the next book!
The back and forth between the invaders who "discovered" the islands, followed by their disbelief in the stories they are told, makes it even more interesting.
Blaze, the main character, is a great story teller and very biased with her views of the world. Watching that change across the book is a wonderful journey. Looking forward to the next book!
January 1, 2018
Another imaginative start to a series by Glenda Larke. Rapidly becoming one of my favourite authors.
November 11, 2017
The MC started as a badass woman which got me really interested, but then she developed those relationships that were so weird - too quick and deep for that character. Not sure I'll pick up the next.
January 31, 2019
Jury is out. For the most part I really enjoyed; then, in the latter pages we got very YA. Redeemed itself, hence the “hung” jury. Blaze; blazing mistake towards the end there girl!
February 12, 2019
Nota Geral: 3.6/5
Escrita: 3.5
Cenário: 3.5
Originalidade: 4
Personagens: 3.5
Suspense: 3.5
Humor: 3.5
Romance: 3
Capa: 5
Aditivo: 3.5
Previsível: 3
Escrita: 3.5
Cenário: 3.5
Originalidade: 4
Personagens: 3.5
Suspense: 3.5
Humor: 3.5
Romance: 3
Capa: 5
Aditivo: 3.5
Previsível: 3
May 21, 2020
It took a while to get into this book, it was strange. But once the story started moving and making sense I really enjoyed it.
June 28, 2024
Refreshing fantasy. I swear I feel a sea breeze now.
September 17, 2019
I loved this book for its fantastic worldbuilding, unique magic system, and interesting characters - even secondary and background characters have personality and feel real. The world is rich with details and mysteries, leaving me wanting more. The Isles of Glory felt like real places that you could visit. The maps at the beginning were a fun and interesting touch.
However, I have minor quibbles with how one of the main characters [Flame] ends up on the receiving end of a lot of violence; she is, perhaps, a bit too passive. At the end of the book, I found myself thinking that she suffered so much at the whims of others. She and the main character Blaze both experienced sexual violence – it isn’t described, just mentioned. Nonetheless, I think all of the characters were well-rounded and all of them grew and changed by the end of the story.
However, I have minor quibbles with how one of the main characters [Flame] ends up on the receiving end of a lot of violence; she is, perhaps, a bit too passive. At the end of the book, I found myself thinking that she suffered so much at the whims of others. She and the main character Blaze both experienced sexual violence – it isn’t described, just mentioned. Nonetheless, I think all of the characters were well-rounded and all of them grew and changed by the end of the story.
December 9, 2015
Trigger warning for sexual assault
The Aware is the first book in a second world fantasy series about Blaze Halfbreed. Blaze is searching for a mysterious Circasian woman on the spit, a lawless stretch of sand where the Isles of Glory send their unwanted. Along the way she encounters enough dunmagic, an evil form of magic that corrupts other magic users, to pose a threat to the entire Isles.
Blaze is one of the aware, people who can see and sense magic even if they cannot use it themselves. She is of mixed race, her parents coming from different islands. This heritage makes her despised and citizenless. She survives by working as a spy and assassin for the Keepers, the “good” magic users who have almost uncontested control over all the islands.
What I found most interesting about The Aware was the use of a framing device. The book starts with a letter written by a young anthropologist from a culture that seems sort of like Victorian England. He’s done some studies in the Islands of Glory which included interviewing Blaze as an old woman. The events in the book is what Blaze told him about her life. He is doubtful about her claims of magic and otherworldly creatures – in the present day, there is no magic in the islands. Unlike so many stories of magic returning to the world, it looks like this series will be about magic leaving it.
The Aware had some good world building ideas, but it fell flat in places. I loved the idea of a bunch of interacting islands, and I liked some of the creatures and magics Larke invented. However, I just never felt as intensely involved in the world as I would have liked. It lacked the vivid quality I find in the best built worlds.
Blaze is a fairly familiar character type – tough female mercenary, but she was well enough constructed even if she never exactly wowed me. I did like that she had an important female friend. However, I did feel that she became friends with everyone else a bit too quickly. She goes from being the friendless, hardened mercenary to making connections and caring about people within the span of a few days? It felt too sudden.
There was also something about Blaze and Flame, the female friend that bugged me. They are continually mistaken for lovers, and Blaze will then go on to assert her heterosexuality, except for once where she plays along and gives a speech about accepting gay people. However, there are no textual LGBTQ characters in the book. Something about all of this felt really off to me.
In reference to the trigger warning at the start of the review, the sexual assault that takes place within the main events of the story does not happen to Blaze and it is not explicitly shown. However, given that it does have a significant presence in the story and that Blaze herself has sexual assault in her backstory, I figured I’d err on the side of warning people in advance.
I did like The Aware, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to recommend it to anyone. In all likelihood, I won’t read the next one in the series.
Originally posted on The Illustrated Page.
The Aware is the first book in a second world fantasy series about Blaze Halfbreed. Blaze is searching for a mysterious Circasian woman on the spit, a lawless stretch of sand where the Isles of Glory send their unwanted. Along the way she encounters enough dunmagic, an evil form of magic that corrupts other magic users, to pose a threat to the entire Isles.
Blaze is one of the aware, people who can see and sense magic even if they cannot use it themselves. She is of mixed race, her parents coming from different islands. This heritage makes her despised and citizenless. She survives by working as a spy and assassin for the Keepers, the “good” magic users who have almost uncontested control over all the islands.
What I found most interesting about The Aware was the use of a framing device. The book starts with a letter written by a young anthropologist from a culture that seems sort of like Victorian England. He’s done some studies in the Islands of Glory which included interviewing Blaze as an old woman. The events in the book is what Blaze told him about her life. He is doubtful about her claims of magic and otherworldly creatures – in the present day, there is no magic in the islands. Unlike so many stories of magic returning to the world, it looks like this series will be about magic leaving it.
The Aware had some good world building ideas, but it fell flat in places. I loved the idea of a bunch of interacting islands, and I liked some of the creatures and magics Larke invented. However, I just never felt as intensely involved in the world as I would have liked. It lacked the vivid quality I find in the best built worlds.
Blaze is a fairly familiar character type – tough female mercenary, but she was well enough constructed even if she never exactly wowed me. I did like that she had an important female friend. However, I did feel that she became friends with everyone else a bit too quickly. She goes from being the friendless, hardened mercenary to making connections and caring about people within the span of a few days? It felt too sudden.
There was also something about Blaze and Flame, the female friend that bugged me. They are continually mistaken for lovers, and Blaze will then go on to assert her heterosexuality, except for once where she plays along and gives a speech about accepting gay people. However, there are no textual LGBTQ characters in the book. Something about all of this felt really off to me.
In reference to the trigger warning at the start of the review, the sexual assault that takes place within the main events of the story does not happen to Blaze and it is not explicitly shown. However, given that it does have a significant presence in the story and that Blaze herself has sexual assault in her backstory, I figured I’d err on the side of warning people in advance.
I did like The Aware, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to recommend it to anyone. In all likelihood, I won’t read the next one in the series.
Originally posted on The Illustrated Page.
March 3, 2017
The Isles of Glory have strict citizenship laws, and halfbreeds like Blaze aren’t welcome anywhere but the lowest of the low: Gorthan Spit, the lawless island where criminals go to hide. On top of being tall and lethally skilled, Blaze is also “Aware.” She can sense the magic of others and is immune to sylv and dunmagic. With her Awareness and fighting skills, Blaze is a powerful force to be reckoned with, and her years growing up in the street have hardened her. She works for the Keepers, the self-appointed guardians of order and peace for the Isles of Glory, in hopes of earning legitimate citizenship, and they’ve sent her to Gorthan Spit to find a runaway Circasian slave.
I liked Blaze as a character. Larke presented her as a hardened badass, and unlike similar heroines I’ve read, she lives up to this characterization. She doesn’t go through a novel and find friends or romance and become a completely different person. She’s resourceful and despite the numerous dangerous situations she finds herself in, she never succumbs to fear. Note: This is definitely one for the “adult fantasy” category. Blaze is beautiful and confident, and she has no shortage of men interested in keeping her company.
The world-building in this book was as well. I’m always interested in magic systems because Brandon Sanderson’s are so intricate. While this isn’t as developed as his, it has limitations, and it makes sense. Awareness, Sylv talent, and dunmagic don’t have all the answers and the characters have to rely on their other talents and a lot of luck to not die all the time. Larke developed the relationship between the different magics very well. She also paid very close attention to the interaction between the peoples of different Isles. Citizenship is a big deal, and the Keepers have no authority to do the things they do, yet the majority of people accept their rule without protest because they have cut down on piracy, keep the streets safer, and facilitated trade among the Isles. Of course, they also use their power to get their way, and that’s not always the best thing.
On the whole, I found The Aware to be a very strong novel and a highly enjoyable read. I’ve already started the next in the series! Definitely one I recommend if you like high fantasy like Sanderson and Rothfuss.
I liked Blaze as a character. Larke presented her as a hardened badass, and unlike similar heroines I’ve read, she lives up to this characterization. She doesn’t go through a novel and find friends or romance and become a completely different person. She’s resourceful and despite the numerous dangerous situations she finds herself in, she never succumbs to fear. Note: This is definitely one for the “adult fantasy” category. Blaze is beautiful and confident, and she has no shortage of men interested in keeping her company.
The world-building in this book was as well. I’m always interested in magic systems because Brandon Sanderson’s are so intricate. While this isn’t as developed as his, it has limitations, and it makes sense. Awareness, Sylv talent, and dunmagic don’t have all the answers and the characters have to rely on their other talents and a lot of luck to not die all the time. Larke developed the relationship between the different magics very well. She also paid very close attention to the interaction between the peoples of different Isles. Citizenship is a big deal, and the Keepers have no authority to do the things they do, yet the majority of people accept their rule without protest because they have cut down on piracy, keep the streets safer, and facilitated trade among the Isles. Of course, they also use their power to get their way, and that’s not always the best thing.
On the whole, I found The Aware to be a very strong novel and a highly enjoyable read. I’ve already started the next in the series! Definitely one I recommend if you like high fantasy like Sanderson and Rothfuss.
July 28, 2010
An excellent book. In many ways a pretty straightforward fantasy novel, but with enough variation and coarseness to give it some edge. The word 'gritty' is often associated with this novel (e.g. on the front cover of my copy), and while I've seen grittier, it's an authentic, believable grittiness that adds some much-needed depth to Glenda Larke's mercenary world of back-alley politics.
I believe the Isles of Glory and Gorthan Spit in particular are portrayed exactly as Glenda Larke wanted. It's obviously been thought through very well and with plenty of imagination, and resultantly you get a really good sense of the place. It's easy to immerse yourself in the world, and this, for me, is a particular strength. Other than that, the plot progresses at a good pace and keeps calling you back if you set it aside.
Now, some MINOR criticisms, just because it's easier to pick holes in things than write about why they're good... The romance element annoyed me at first, because it felt rather contrived and uncharacteristic... Occasionally, I felt as though the pages were being used as a medium to air the author's views about religion and morality in a way that didn't particularly add to the story... There's never really any explanation offered for why Dunmagickers are evil - they just are, and they love hurting people, and there is not a shred of good in them... And finally, I think the aftermath was a little too protracted, although I suppose it was necessary to set up the next book.
Speaking of the next book, I can't wait to get my hands on it. Unfortunately, I live in the UK and it is proving rather difficult to come by... X(
I believe the Isles of Glory and Gorthan Spit in particular are portrayed exactly as Glenda Larke wanted. It's obviously been thought through very well and with plenty of imagination, and resultantly you get a really good sense of the place. It's easy to immerse yourself in the world, and this, for me, is a particular strength. Other than that, the plot progresses at a good pace and keeps calling you back if you set it aside.
Now, some MINOR criticisms, just because it's easier to pick holes in things than write about why they're good... The romance element annoyed me at first, because it felt rather contrived and uncharacteristic... Occasionally, I felt as though the pages were being used as a medium to air the author's views about religion and morality in a way that didn't particularly add to the story... There's never really any explanation offered for why Dunmagickers are evil - they just are, and they love hurting people, and there is not a shred of good in them... And finally, I think the aftermath was a little too protracted, although I suppose it was necessary to set up the next book.
Speaking of the next book, I can't wait to get my hands on it. Unfortunately, I live in the UK and it is proving rather difficult to come by... X(
July 4, 2017
I bought 'The Aware' because I was impressed by Glenda Larke's other book 'Heart of the Mirage'. This one doesn't quite live up to the same standard, but it's a solid read that makes an effort at creative world-building instead of the usual medieval fare.
Larke has chosen a useful way of telling the story; from the perspective of a main character eighty years in the future to an outsider unfamiliar with their traditions. It takes some of the suspense out - we know the character is going to survive her adventure - but it's a premise that allows her to explain cultural attributes like citizen tattoos or sea-ponies without breaking the rhythm of the story.
I had some issue with a few points; for example, I had difficulty buying that a survivalist like Blaze would so quickly befriend the mysterious Flame, or make the sacrifices for her that she did within such a relatively short time frame. The male love interests tended to blur a bit into each other and I had to flick back to refresh my memory about who was who (considering I finished this book within a day, that's saying something).
However, Blaze is tough and physically confident the way I like to see my heroines, Flame is just the right mix of innocence and courage to be interesting, and the romance occupies a pleasant sideline that doesn't interfere with the main plot. I'm not salivating to pick up the next installment, but if I'm ever looking for something to fill an afternoon, it will definitely be on my list.
Larke has chosen a useful way of telling the story; from the perspective of a main character eighty years in the future to an outsider unfamiliar with their traditions. It takes some of the suspense out - we know the character is going to survive her adventure - but it's a premise that allows her to explain cultural attributes like citizen tattoos or sea-ponies without breaking the rhythm of the story.
I had some issue with a few points; for example, I had difficulty buying that a survivalist like Blaze would so quickly befriend the mysterious Flame, or make the sacrifices for her that she did within such a relatively short time frame. The male love interests tended to blur a bit into each other and I had to flick back to refresh my memory about who was who (considering I finished this book within a day, that's saying something).
However, Blaze is tough and physically confident the way I like to see my heroines, Flame is just the right mix of innocence and courage to be interesting, and the romance occupies a pleasant sideline that doesn't interfere with the main plot. I'm not salivating to pick up the next installment, but if I'm ever looking for something to fill an afternoon, it will definitely be on my list.
July 12, 2016
It took me a while to work my way through this book. It had a decent enough premise - magic is outlawed and only outlaws use magic. Unless of course they happen to work for certain government factions, in which case magic is perfectly okay. I'm not sure if this was meant as a political statement, but it read like one.
Overall a decent story, even if the main character can't seem to think for herself. She has been cheated, mistreated and abused all her life and seems to think it normal. Not only that, she feels that she has no right to a true life. Again, not sure if the author meant this as a statement of the mindset of an abused child or woman, but that is the way it read.
I enjoyed the story of Blaze Halfbreed, told as a series of short bursts of information gathered by a young scientist as part of a supposed ethnographical study. Wrapping around the various writings about Blaze are personal tidbits which make the scientist appear more real, thus enhancing the story as real, as he deprecates his work, shares his mistakes and also his appreciation of the boons his aunt and uncle, who are his de facto parents, grant him.
The story ended well, but I suspect that if there isn’t a sequel yet, there is one in the works, as the writing definitely allows for a follow up.
Overall a decent story, even if the main character can't seem to think for herself. She has been cheated, mistreated and abused all her life and seems to think it normal. Not only that, she feels that she has no right to a true life. Again, not sure if the author meant this as a statement of the mindset of an abused child or woman, but that is the way it read.
I enjoyed the story of Blaze Halfbreed, told as a series of short bursts of information gathered by a young scientist as part of a supposed ethnographical study. Wrapping around the various writings about Blaze are personal tidbits which make the scientist appear more real, thus enhancing the story as real, as he deprecates his work, shares his mistakes and also his appreciation of the boons his aunt and uncle, who are his de facto parents, grant him.
The story ended well, but I suspect that if there isn’t a sequel yet, there is one in the works, as the writing definitely allows for a follow up.
April 10, 2010
Blaze Halfbreed has spent the last twenty years as an agent for the Keepers, working towards the dream of one day becoming a citizen. Her Awareness, an ability to sense magic, has granted her some measure of importance for the Keepers.
On assignment, Blaze's travels have taken her to Gorthan Spit, a lawless island where the worst of the criminals go, and where she's hoping to find a slave woman the Keeper's are looking for. Instead of finding the Castlemaid and earning herself quite a bit of cash in the process, Blaze finds the workings of powerful dunmagic, and a potential threat not only to all the Isles of Glory, but to Blaze's life as well.
This was a wonderful read. Part political intrigue, part adventure with a good dash of romance, and a world completely believable and fully realized, I enjoyed every minute reading it.
I recommend this to fans of fantasy who tired of the usual fantasy sword and sorcery formula. This book is unique and stands on its own, while still providing the best parts of the genre.
On assignment, Blaze's travels have taken her to Gorthan Spit, a lawless island where the worst of the criminals go, and where she's hoping to find a slave woman the Keeper's are looking for. Instead of finding the Castlemaid and earning herself quite a bit of cash in the process, Blaze finds the workings of powerful dunmagic, and a potential threat not only to all the Isles of Glory, but to Blaze's life as well.
This was a wonderful read. Part political intrigue, part adventure with a good dash of romance, and a world completely believable and fully realized, I enjoyed every minute reading it.
I recommend this to fans of fantasy who tired of the usual fantasy sword and sorcery formula. This book is unique and stands on its own, while still providing the best parts of the genre.
June 26, 2015
Rather enjoyed this debut novel. :) Will write a review soon.
Edit: I was really surprised with this book, and it's so awesome that the author is from Western Australia (mah home state!) and is doing rainforest conservation...
Anyway trailing off aside, this book was really good. The lore and magic system was great and fairly simple to understand, the world was a little different than what I am used to reading in fantasy and the main characters were quite interesting and well developed throughout the story.
Only real gripes I had about this book was the narrating as it came off clunky many times, and the letter writing chapters were a little vague. I wanted to know more about the scholar writing letters to his uncle, although it seemed more like a plot device for the main protagonist Blaze to tell her story.
I am definitely looking forward to reading the second book in this series, as this book is such a great debut to a fantasy series.
4/5 stars
Edit: I was really surprised with this book, and it's so awesome that the author is from Western Australia (mah home state!) and is doing rainforest conservation...
Anyway trailing off aside, this book was really good. The lore and magic system was great and fairly simple to understand, the world was a little different than what I am used to reading in fantasy and the main characters were quite interesting and well developed throughout the story.
Only real gripes I had about this book was the narrating as it came off clunky many times, and the letter writing chapters were a little vague. I wanted to know more about the scholar writing letters to his uncle, although it seemed more like a plot device for the main protagonist Blaze to tell her story.
I am definitely looking forward to reading the second book in this series, as this book is such a great debut to a fantasy series.
4/5 stars
June 26, 2017
I've been reading a number of fantasy and science fiction novels lately that place a high emphasis on female friendship, and this is one of them. Such books are not many, and they are to be treasured.
Strengths: a wonderfully complex and intriguing protagonist with a distinct first-person narrative voice; superb world-building; a romance subplot that does NOT make one gag; and, of course, the aforementioned friendship between the two central female characters.
Weaknesses: well, there are a few scenes of brutality -- but they need to be there, so I couldn't really call that a weakness.
So why four stars? There are very, very few books to which I would give five stars. For me, three means like and four means love, while five is reserved for life-changers. When rating books I love, I do tend to take off one star for "margin of error."
Strengths: a wonderfully complex and intriguing protagonist with a distinct first-person narrative voice; superb world-building; a romance subplot that does NOT make one gag; and, of course, the aforementioned friendship between the two central female characters.
Weaknesses: well, there are a few scenes of brutality -- but they need to be there, so I couldn't really call that a weakness.
So why four stars? There are very, very few books to which I would give five stars. For me, three means like and four means love, while five is reserved for life-changers. When rating books I love, I do tend to take off one star for "margin of error."
July 1, 2008
I read this a few years ago. It had so little impact I can barely remember it now. You have a world composed of several islands, and everyone needs citizenship. The main character is a warrior woman with some kind of magic (I don't even remember how it works). She is sort of a slave to some kind of society that uses her for her gifts and has offered her citizenship at the end of her service. She's tracking some evil magic user who's hiding in this pretty nasty city. Not the worst book I've read, but pretty lousy. It was a strain to get through it.
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