There are dozens of fairy tale retellings in the fantasy market nowadays, but none better than this one - it is my favorite. (I'm including Robin McKinley!) It's wonderful, so read it if you can find it.

I first read this book in highschool, but have since read it a number of times. The story of Cinderella will never get old to me, and this is much like the original only a little more indepth than the version most of us heard as children. I fell in love with both of the main characters, spent my time wanting nothing but the best to work out for them, and was so thrilled when like every good story it had a happy ending. Well worth reading!

I first read this in high school and am sad to see it's out of print, now. It starts out like Cinderella, but the plot takes a very unexpected twist from there with unique and memorable characters. It's nice to see that the main character is not portrayed as perfectly sweet and good but actually has a real personality. It's well worth it if you can find a used copy.

...and that's just the beginning. This book continues the adventures of the Cray family, stranded in the past in a parallel world where the desert of California is the land Rhadaz. Emerson's books never fail in characterization, adventure, or world-building. In SWORD, Chris Cray has started a trading business, seeking new technology for Rhadaz. He is also fishing for information about Zero, a deadly drug being smuggled into his adopted home country. When he offends the wrong drug lord while in the Caribbean, his punishment is marriage and then death. But Ariadne is a clever woman who knows of her father's evil deeds--and has a secret life of her own. Certain death averted, together they will seek the puzzle pieces of Zero manufacture and transport--even as they slowly build a friendship. Meanwhile, Chris's mother and aunt search for answers back in Rhadaz, as the drug cartel attempts to addict or kill the ruling families of the desert. The intrigue never lets up, and "night-threads", the unique magic of Rhadaz, continues to fascinate. Don't miss this series!

this was one of my first rue emerson book. a wonderfull story, a great female hero. a very ingrossing story. also great for cat lovers.

this was a great book!! a wonderful ending to a three book series. rue emerson has written one of my favirot collections of books and if you liked "to the haunted mountains" and "the caves of exile" you will love this book.

Someone is poisoning the heart & soul of Rhadaz, and it is up to the outlander Cray family and their loved ones to stop it. Mortal danger awaits them all--Chris & Ari fight drug dealers in the Carribean, Robyn & Duke Aletto face kidnappers and addiction, Lialla risks execution while spying on a traitor, and Jennifer & Davhan seek clues to economic slavery.

This time, Rhadaz has a great advantage--the Crays know their own history, and will fight to keep a Boxer Rebellion from the shores of their adoptive home. Rhadaz also has a great danger blooming at its heart--the traitor Vulhem has nurtured a Triad--young, amoral wielders of Light magic, hungry for power.

This is classic Emerson, full of great charactization and world-building. The growth of the characters is rare and wonderful in modern adult fantasy novels. Nothing in this world remains the same, and in the end some must pay the ultimate price of freedom. Fantasy fans, THE SCIENCE OF POWER won't disappoint. I've read this series more than once, and it remains on my shelf. Try the Night-Threads world today!

An intriguing story of a Princess surviving in a world of chaos. A personal favorite that has a mix of action, grief, hardship and the triumph of hardshipd overcome. Not to be missed out on, this story will keep you reading, and wondering til the very end.

i am rereading this book right now! rue emerson continues with jennifer, chris and robin in this great book of action and stratagy. if you enjoyed the first book you must read this one to!!!

The previous reviewers seem to really enjoy this book, and I found it a quick, easy read. However, I don't agree that it's a classic, or great writing. In this review, I'll try not to give away the story, as I believe many readers will continue to enjoy it, but I have to mention that the tale is full of inconsistencies that not only detract from the credibility of the story but also distract from the reading of the book. For example, a pivotal character is injured on the right side. Then for two-thirds of the book, it's the left side. Then in Chap 17 it reverts again to the right side. There are similar errors throughout which I won't itemize, but they constantly niggle, like a sliver or a papercut that breaks your concentration. They're so blatant, I'm amazed the editor(s) didn't catch them.

The story is an odd mix of genres that puzzled me even though I'm quite tolerant of multi-genre art forms and experimental works. It suggests a fantasy book at the beginning, then turns into a detective story which isn't especially original then reverts back to a fantasy story right at the very end. The fantasy is alluded to throughout the story, but in a sort of irrelevant, unconvincing way. It should have formed a stronger warp to the fabric of the tale rather than being a fringe tacked on at the beginning and the end.

I read this book because I was growing tired of books in which the male characters get to have all the lead roles and exciting adventures and the female characters get left behind or relegated to being not much more than the love interest, a situation common to many science fiction/fantasy books. I was hungry for stories with good strong female characters and my friend recommended this one. Alas, it didn't satisfy me in that respect either. It's basically another book in which women are victims and the man is the strong, wise Prince Charming who rescues them.

Classic fiction? I don't think so. An enjoyable tale for those who love to read? Sure, it satisfies that niche and probably also would be a delight to younger readers who may not be as distracted by technical inaccuracies as those of us who have been reading for a long time. Will I read the sequel? Probably, because I like the main character, but were it not for the potential and intrique of that character, I would look elsewhere.

This is a story anyone could fall for. It's just delightful. At first glance it seems to be a fantasy novel, then you think it might be a hard-boiled detective story, but in reality it is a love story. It is fairly typical of MacAvoy's work, all of which is superb.

You will find the main characters a little out of the ordinary. On the one hand we have a, middle aged musician, worried Mother and on the other we have a centuries old Chinese dragon transformed into approximately human form.

That's as far as I am willing to go into the details. Suffice to say that it is a quirky, delightful and warm story from a writer who knows and thoroughly enjoys the business of writing. And if you love this book, as I know you will, you may also want to try the sequel "Twisting the Rope".

If you are expecting a traditional fantasy novel, skip this one and its sequel "Twisting the Rope." If, however, you are interested in a beautifully written book with wonderful characters that has just a touch of fantasy, I cannot recommend this too highly. I am devastated that it is out of print--I was hoping to buy a replacement copy for my paperback that is falling apart from multiple re-readings. One of my favorite books.

Just when you think you've got it figured out all hell breaks loose. A book of long awaited revenge involving magic, deciet, cunning and plenty of suprises. I liked the suspense and intrigue. Nothing in the story is average, it's a new land, people magic and keeps you on the edge of your seat.

This book combines the complexities of Tarot reading with land wars, civil insurgencies and a magic talent restricted to Royal blood and the clergy. This is a very restricted summary and does no tribute to the depth of characters and intersting plotline. What can I say? I liked it.

If I could I would actually give this book 3 1/2 stars, but it doesn't quite rate four. I love cats and love Starbridge novels, so in many ways this should be right up my alley. I did in fact think it was a decent read, and after a few false starts (the Starbridge novel before this one really disappointed me, so I was slow getting into this one) it managed to hold my attention well. I appreciated the various issues brought up because of the romantic interest between the two lead characters. I have no idea what would happen in real life if two alien species became attracted to each other, but in some ways at least this seemed to do a decent job of considering that. Some of the story did seem a bit too... predictable, maybe? However, the end still held some surprises, which I appreciated. This isn't the best book I've ever read, but (particularly for Starbridge fans) it's not bad.

The latest addition to the StarBridge universe is a tale of a young human translator sifting through complex undercurrents in an alien culture where lying is a political art form. Caught in a cultural crossfire of numerous factions fiercely protecting their own interests, Magdalena Perez has only her friendship with Khyriz, a member of the royal Arrekhi family, and her sixth sense about people lying to her, to help her ride out a civil war. For the Arrekhis have an old secret--the oppression and degradation of the Asha, a race visually different, yet as sentient as their own. Well-written, forbidden romances point up differences and similarities between sentients as Magdalena and Khyriz fight for the lives and freedom of a literally silenced race. Good alien culture, and the StarBridge frame supports rather than interferes with the space adventure. One of the best StarBridges yet.

This book brought many great ideas to light... not all the problems that we face today, have been stopped in the future... there are still cults, and there are still problems medicine can not erase. The characters were very well done, and the descriptions allowed me to visualize the scenes. I think Magdalena Perez was a very believeable character, and that having her overcome such problems, brought more dimension to her character.