Reviews for Dreams of Soccer

The average rating for Dreams of Soccer based on 2 reviews is 5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2011-10-11 00:00:00 Jonathan Dickey Book Info: Genre: Fantasy Reading Level: I’d recommend this for any age that can read it Recommended for: I’d recommend this for anyONE that can read it Trigger Warnings: Some minor violence My Thoughts: The language in this book is lyrical and lovely, comprising a montage of stories and legends about the world of the Compass Rose. It’s a fascinating exercise in true world building, from the ground up. Not only are the parameters of the world culture being built through these loosely connected tales, but we’re also seeing the physical world being built up, literally before our eyes. The story itself is sort of disjointed, but as you read the various legends and fables, it all starts to come together. All the stories connect in the end, although you need to be paying attention as you read to keep track of each level. However, it is well worth it. The stories are each wondrous gems, brilliant and scintillating, and absolutely lovely to experience. Definitely a book to be savored and enjoyed over and over. Highly recommended. Disclosure: I won a copy of this e-book through the LibraryThing Members’ Giveaway program in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Synopsis: When a young warrior of a dark race finds himself bound in servitude to a beautiful, cruel princess, his loyalty becomes entwined with something more horrifying and mysterious than endless night falling over the ancient desert. When a courageous young servant reveals her hidden wisdom to the madman conqueror of the world, her fate is joined to a nightmare suspended beyond death and the universe. The destinies of two souls become connected through ancient truths that lie buried in an island between worlds. Both souls become enslaved through dream and desire in an endless conflict between truth and illusion. They can only be set free by the wonder of the Compass Rose.

Review # 2 was written on 2007-06-08 00:00:00 Lisa Vanschuyver This is a good book. How good, you ask? After reading the first few chapters, I set the book aside and e-mailed Vera Nazarian, asking if she would consider writing a Compass Rose story for an anthology I was editing for DAW. This isn't a traditionally structured novel which moves from A to B to C. Rather, it moves from Z to G to 16, then comes back to B and C. All of the stories are set in the richly developed world of the Compass Rose, and all of the stories do interweave to tell a larger story, though you don't see the fullness of the story until the very last page. When you finish reading, you want to flip back to the first page and start over again. This is not only a book that can be read twice; it demands it, and it rewards you for doing so. Vera's worldbuilding and description are like a really good chocolate mousse: so rich it's almost too sweet, but so good you want more. And the mythological feel of the world feels real and true. Here's a quick example: A spurting fountain of hueless water began to pulse from her vein, and she offered it to the queen. "Take my Water and drink, for even Ris drank once from my wrist. For that act of quenching, Ris has given me Water in exchange for my mortal blood." Maybe it's just me, but the depth of those two little paragraphs blew me away. And the whole book is like that, building a mythology, an entire world with a deep, genuine sense of history. Because it took me a while to read this one, I sometimes lost track of characters as they disappeared and reappeared in the narrative. If you're into plot-heavy, fast-paced books, this may not be the one for you. Bottom line: Vera's a good writer. I've read her book Lords of Rainbow, and it was good. Dreams of the Compass Rose is great. Go buy them.