The renewal of Ash's life and world, from disasters she had a hand in creating, is told in deceptively low-key language, which grows to be compelling. After revolution with mixed resilts, plague and famine, the lands along the Madeena River are, like Ash herself, in a world class funk. The story opens in spring, with the first muddy thaw in the ground and in Ash's heart. The "Dancing Jack" of the title is a toy, whose effect on events.like so much else, is not obvious, yet may be considerable. The world is not a standard stereotype. Steamboats combine with potato farmers and clock-makers to divert attention from wonders building out of the corner of the eye. Conclusion: the book is much better than my review of it. It you have any tolerance for understated beauty, and have a chance to get it, try it.

Ara's Field is about- oops, I can't tellyou what it's about in case others who haven't read it don't want me to spoil it for them. Anyway, it's a great book, although sometimes it can be very gross and confusing (sometimes boring too, cuz you may not know what's going on) otherwise, this gal's a great author!

Though this book is the third in the trilogy, it is undoubtedly the best, and can be read separately (though it helps to have the background given in the first two books). Marks has outdone herself with Ara's Field, expanding and detailing the rich world she created. This book is the only one of the trilogy written in third person rather than first person, and IMHO, Marks's prose is greatly improved for it. The fragile peace built between the four races of the world is shattered by the brutal murders of both the Walker and Aeyrie leaders in this novel. The people of Triad must discover who is to blame, and why, before their world is destroyed by war...

The land of Shaftal was ruled by an earth witch, but with his death and no apparent heir, it was an easy target for the invading Sainnites. Those remaining Shaftali paladins have grouped together as a guerrilla army to do what they can against the mighty Sainnites. Zanja is the last survivor of a peaceful tribe eradicated by the Sainnites, and her fire witch powers give her glimpses into the future. Emil is a paladin and also a fire witch, but his powers make him more of an excellent judge of character, although working in tandem with Zanja brings luck. Karis is an earth witch whose powers are stifled by her drug addiction, but she can't help but be drawn inexplicably to Zanja. The two women find events moving beyond their understanding and between them, they might just be able to save Shaftal, if they can save themselves first. Peppered with political intrigue, powerful magic, and personal struggles, "Fire Logic" wants to be a potent story, but it just doesn't make it. The first eighty or so pages flit through fifteen years of story, and this disconnected feeling never disappears. The love stories (between Zanja and Karis, between Emil and a young man who's a Sainnite) are told to us, more than shown, so we never fall in love with the characters as they fall in love with each other. The complex characters and the fascinating magic-laden world kept me reading and interested, and for that the book is recommendable, but overall it lacks.

The Shaftali nation has been left leaderless and is under attack by invading Sainnites. Bands of guerillas fight back, but without the magical power of their leader, the Shaftali seem helpless. And even magic seems insufficient. Certainly Zanja's fire magic is inadequate to prevent the complete destruction of her people. Rescued by a giantess, Zanja joins the guerilla movement, but even here she finds enemies and secrets.

Author Laurie J. Marks creates an intriguing world with a magic system based on cryptic glyphs and upon the elements of air, earth, fire, and water. Law has always been used to constrain and control these magics, yet the magics remain the center of the civilization--a contradiction that threatens to destroy what is left of the nation. Marks may also please or upset readers through her frank discussions of the gay and lesbian relationships between many of her characters--relationships that are perfectly understood and accepted within her fantasy world.

FIRE LOGIC is enjoyable reading, yet Marks falls short of delivering the full emotional intensity deserved by her subject matter. The physical and social suffering that Zanja survived shoud have been powerful and compelling--instead, it was matter of fact. The love between Zanja and Karis was described, but not really felt. This was almost a truly wonderful novel.

Laurie J. Marks is an undiscovered treasure of a writer. Her plots are some of the most original I've ever read -- see also Dancing Jack -- and her characters feel, if alien, like real, whole people. She has mastered the trick of letting her readers figure out the rules of her world while never resorting to "As you know, Bob..." creakiness. I did not give this book 5 stars only because I found the ending very confusing. But I look forward to re-reading it and anxiously await the rumored Earth Logic, the second book set in this world.

Delan the Mislaid is one of the few book that has a keep value to it. Laurie Marks did a good job of putting the reader into the main character's role. The emotions throughout the book mimics real life. Delan, an aerie in a world of 3 races, is phisically and emotionally abused by the "master" Tekan. It is during this time Delan goes through the changes that makes the walkers int the town hate him. Only by the love and help from another aerie, does he find the way to defeat Tekan from destroying the whole aerie race. I consider this to be a classic no-one should miss.