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Green

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Green

By: Jay Lake
Narrated by: Katherine Kellgren
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About this listen

She was born in poverty, in a dusty village under the equatorial sun. She does not remember her mother, she does not remember her own name, her earliest clear memory is of the day her father sold her to the tall pale man. In the Court of the Pomegranate Tree, where she was taught the ways of a courtesan and the skills of an assassin, she was named Emerald, the precious jewel of the Undying Duke's collection of beauties. She calls herself Green.

The world she inhabits is one of political power and magic, where Gods meddle in the affairs of mortals. At the center of it is the immortal Duke's city of Copper Downs, which controls all the trade on the Storm Sea. Green has made many enemies, and some secret friends, and she has become a very dangerous woman indeed.

Acclaimed author Jay Lake has created a remarkable character in Green and evokes a remarkable world in this novel. Green and her struggle to survive and find her own past will live in the readers mind for a long time.

©2009 Joseph E. Lake, Jr. (P)2009 Audible, Inc. Classics Fantasy Fiction

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Critic reviews

"Lively and thought-provoking...Lake effectively anneals steampunk with geo-mechanical magic in an allegorical matrix of empire building and Victorian natural science." ( Publishers Weekly)
  • 2009 Recommended Reading (Locus Magazine)
All stars
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If this book had finished half way through, it would have got 4 stars. We had followed the main character through her kidnapping and escape - if it loose ends had been tied up there, the story would have been pretty good.

However, the character now had to discover she was a lesbian and become an assassin for a group of lesbian nuns (for want of a better word). Since she's only 13 this is a little distasteful. The writing also seems to becomes more graphic, gruesome (and tedious) at this point.

The final straw is the narrator's pronounciation - a minor point, but why does somebody with an apparently British accent in all other ways pronounce 'passengers' as 'parssengers', 'passage' as 'parssage' and (for want of an example I can remember) eg 'oddment' as 'orddment'.

I can't see me finishing this.

Good at half the length

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Starting small, Jay Lake provides an impressively intricate portrait of an engaging character and unfolding world. The first person narrative lends itself brilliantly to Katherine Kellgren's reading, which is smooth and self-assured. Occasionally the story seems to stumble, but always regains it's footing cleverly to reveal another breathtaking vista in this at once innovative and familiar fantasy world. There are echoes of Dickens, of Treasure Island and Lankhmar, but this is also a strongly feminine story. I can't wait to start the next one.

Worldbuilding, Godkilling and Great Potential

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I found that the start of Greens journey had more potential then was delivered. It all felt a little disjointed after Greens initial story of being raised and I found myself enjoying small sections of the story and then getting disappointed with the rest. I did not enjoy all the sections about the gods but found the pardins and the sisters of the lily (minus the god stuff) interesting.

The best part about the book was the narration. It was first class and I found her voice a joy to listen to.

Although I did finish the book I don't think I would recommend it. It wasn't awful but wasn't great either. If I could I would give it a 2 1/2 but Audible doesn't allow this so I would say its a 2 star as I can't recommend it.

Had more potential then it delivered

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I was searching for a Fantasy novel, and this is a very good one, but don't be expecting dungeons and dragons, it is more unstated than that, but no less powerful or enjoyable because of it. As long as you know what to expect.

The world is well imagined with a rich background and some strong characters, I also liked the place names as I find it deceptively difficult to come up with good names for stories!

The reader is very good, she doesn't have a wide range of voices but it doesn't cause much confusion.

possible minor-ish spoilers------
My Caveats would be that I am unsure about the physical abilities of some of the younger characters if it is possible to be so fast / strong when so young. And the sex made me a little uncomfortable, but the scenes are handled well and sensitively, but might not be for everyone given that there is a certain amount of incest and underage lesbianism

Very good but with caveats

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It took me a long while to get into the story and personally I did not enjoy it. For me, the story sort of stops and starts but with no real or satisfying conclusion. I was left think what's the point of that. I also narrator slightly irritating, but I think she was only trying to embody the character, Green, who was arrogant and annoying. Not a great heroine.

Not sure about this one

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What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

Listening to a different book would have made this a better listening experience.

What could Jay Lake have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Less use of the term 'sweet pocket'! I think he had great intentions and then let the sex get in the way, it was overdone, tasteless and a bit hypocritical.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

I would also say that the narrator for the audio book was terrible, she kept trying to put on oldy worldy london street urchin voice on alongside a posh brit accent, just slipping between the two randomly.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Disappointment, definitely. The cover looks great and the blurb looks make the book very appealing. The first hour of listening to this audio book made me a determined to keep listening to see if it would improve, then I just kept going out of morbid curiosity. I couldn't wait to remove this from my iPod.

Felt disappointed so much as the book could have been concluded much earlier, probably at the end of the first part. Less going on about bells, the ox and the mistresses.

Any additional comments?

The first part of the book was a little whingey and that darned ox and bells drove me bonkers. The second part seemed so disconnected from the storyline. The third part comes back to the first part and finishes off the story. I had to take a break for a while during the second part. Just hated the term sweet pocket and found myself grinding my teeth in frustration.

I found this book a bit ridiculous, the fact that man/man relationships are frowned on but girl/girl was fine. And every girl was throwing themselves at the lead character, no matter their age and she was accepting it.

This book felt like it wanted to compete with Jacqueline Carey's Kushiel Series, in fact I was hoping it would. But it doesn't even come close.

Absoloutly Disappointed!

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At first I thought this was going to be a bad choice as at the start it does not seem to go anywhere fast and I think it takes a while to get settled into the story.

After I was firmly planted into my seat I realised more and more I had to keep on listening. I totally enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone who has a little too much time on their hands.

I almost found this book slightly erotic in some places as well as fast paced with a few suprises chucked in for good measure.

Very good indeed.

Well written and highly recommended!

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I have been highly recommended this audio book, not only did it sound like a plot that would interest me, it was also from an author I hadn't come across before and was keen to give it a go.

I found the plot was trying to be more complicated than it actually was. I kept forgetting that Green in only a Child/Young Adult for the main of this book, as the plot is certainly of a more adult nature.

I found it really odd that the story tends to conclude at just before the half way point. It then goes off on another tangent and one not to my tastes.

This is the first time that I have ever stopped listening to an audio book because it's crude and poorly written charachters. The adult tone doesn't bother me or the lesbian lead, I think it's more the age of the main charchter in relation to this.

It's a shame as this had the promise to be an exciting listen, the suggestion was it would be similar to Jacqueline Carey's Kushiel Legacy, with a deep plot and complicated charachters appealed to me, but it did not live up to the expectations. And if I ever hear the word 'sweet pocket' again.... grrrrr!

Disappointing

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