This fantasy is solid and complex with it's world building, but not too hard to follow or "fall into". I liked that L. didn't try and feed me all the historical context or rules to her world, but immersed me in her world and slowly built me up to understanding it.

The setting plays such a great role in the story, and yet you aren't pounded over the head with it. L. found the balance between setting and using the surroundings to enhance the action and mood without going into huge descriptive passages. Truly an art!

I liked Kate from the very beginning. She's thrown into a situation without knowing why other than the Elect told her she must go. Obedient, and yet strong willed, she makes a great character, as do the others.

The hardest part about reading this book is knowing it's a four part series. I sat and read the whole book in about four hours and wanted to immediately email L and say, "send me the other three drafts!" She's done an excellent job with the edits as well. There was nothing to trip me up or remind me that I was reading at all. ( )

This fantasy is solid and complex with it's world building, but not too hard to follow or "fall into". I liked that L. didn't try and feed me all the historical context or rules to her world, but immersed me in her world and slowly built me up to understanding it.

The setting plays such a great role in the story, and yet you aren't pounded over the head with it. L. found the balance between setting and using the surroundings to enhance the action and mood without going into huge descriptive passages. Truly an art!

I liked Kate from the very beginning. She's thrown into a situation without knowing why other than the Elect told her she must go. Obedient, and yet strong willed, she makes a great character, as do the others.

The hardest part about reading this book is knowing it's a four part series. I sat and read the whole book in about four hours and wanted to immediately email L and say, "send me the other three drafts!" She's done an excellent job with the edits as well. There was nothing to trip me up or remind me that I was reading at all. ( )

I’m a bit conflicted about this book. I really liked the ideas and the story in general, but there seems to be something missing. The beginning is a bit confusing, but that’s ok, because our main character, Kate, doesn’t know what’s really happening either. So even though I wasn’t quite sure what was going on, I was ok with it, because I thought all would be explained later on. But that’s just it, it wasn’t, really. We do get bits of explanation here and there, but it’s not enough to help create a solid image in the reader’s head. You know, when I’m reading a book, it’s like a movie is playing in my head. When bits and pieces are missing, the movie just doesn’t make sense and has some holes in it.

I did really enjoy the ideas behind this story, such as the notion of “kir”. It’s some sort of magic/life force that flows through everyone’s body and of which you have a daily portion to use. For example, when you’re in pain (let’s say: a headache), the kir is all knotted and tangled up. A physician, like Kate, our main character, can untie those knots with her abilities and give you some relief. I think that’s very imaginative and a really great idea.
Also the “Blessings” were a great contribution to this story. There are people who have Blessings (speed, memory, strength) they can use to serve their country. Especially the way these Blessings manifest themselves physically was a very bold choice: they can be seen as ridges of the same material as sheep or goat horns on the body. Scar tissue and all. Not very attractive but it gives a certain edges to the way I imagine the characters in my head, they don’t look like normal people, which is great in a Fantasy story.

As for the writing, it certainly wasn’t bad. I felt for the characters and the connection I value so much when reading a book was there. Though the story was, in my opinion, very character driven, there was a bit of worldbuilding, which I liked, but I wouldn’t have minded a little bit more of it. It seemed like all the scenario’s went by a little fast, like I was scanning a landscape without letting the details soak in, more like a glimpse.

The rating: I would give this book 4 dragons based on the story alone, but with the gaps in explanation, I had to pull it down to 3 dragons. This is one of those books that has great potential, but hasn’t really gotten there yet.
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This book started off confusing, not really explaining anything. Didn't really care for the characters, I found Kate to be rather dull. It did finally pick up but not enough to hold my interest. I received this from the author for an honest review. I really did try to finish this book but in the end just couldn't ( )

Note: I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Everything Kate Carpenter knows is being tested. As a lowborn country girl her talents exceed her station and Kate moves up the ranks right into the middle of war. The measure of her talents and magic will be tested and not only against the monsters that seem to be surrounding her but also from the people in her mists.

Thrown into a world that is not fully explained, Blakenship takes the reading right into the mists of the journey. Confronted by a confused Kate who does not really know her place and dragged into a world where everyone knows magic, I admit I was a little lost in the beginning. Even though the story kept me delightfully entertained I kept banging my head wanting more explanation of why everything was happening. This is definitely a darker side of the fantasy land full of killing and betrayal. I did not think that the characters were well-rounded, there were very few character flaws and a lot of the characters were more black and white then mixed with a little gray.

Also on http://lrjohnson13.blogspot.com/2012/10/review-disciple-part-i-by-l-blankenship.... ( )