Stranger at the Wedding

Title: Stranger at the Wedding
Author: Barbara Hambly
Published: 1994
Genre: fiction - fantasy

started: Feb.15/12
finished: Feb.29/12

Hmm...this book is difficult to comment on mainly becuase it is fairly typical of fantasy of it's time or so it seems when I read books from this period. It was not a bad story and was a mystery set in a fantasy world for the mots part, but the style of writing didn't do much for me. There was to a degree a sense that being a fantasy realm it could be a little more loose about it's approach. The story wasn't bad and I may have enjoyed it more had I known more about the world it was set in.

I did feel, as I was reading, that she put a little too much emphasis on appearance than was really necessary. The eyes in particular seemed to be a key focus though there was rarely anything that was really of any true importance to the story itself.

The plot itself I enjoyed. I think the story could have been executed better and I may have thought of rereading this story were that the case. Unfortunately it's not something I would pick up again though I may read more of this author's works in the future though before I make a final decision about how I feel about her writing style.



Would I recommend it?
Maybe. Perhaps as an intro into traditional fantasy novels since it is fairly easy to read.

Who I would recommend it to.
Readers who are making their first forays into fantasy. It is easy to read and approachable. The world itself is interesting and complex though it is not fully explored in this particular story and it definitely is the sort of novel that can draw a new reader into the world the author as created (much like Mercedes Lackey) Fans of mystery might also enjoy this.

Who i would not recommend it to.
Those who are looking for a more complex and involved story. Fans of Jordan or Martin may find this story too short and lacking in detail though that is not likely the fault of the author so much as the length of the story itself.