Book Log #9: Fall of Light, by Nina Kiriki Hoffman

[annathepiper]

I only realized partway into Nina Kiriki Hoffman’s Fall of Light that this was actually a sequel to a previous book: A Fistful of Sky. I elected to keep reading anyway, but I can’t help but wonder if I’d read the other book first, whether this one would have made more sense.

This one’s premise was promising, I thought: Opal LaZelle is a makeup artist working on a movie set, and she’s got a thing for the man who’s playing the monster of the movie. Only something awakens to possess him when Opal goes a little overboard on mixing her magical talent in with her gift for makeup artistry–and she discovers that the location where they’re shooting is no coincidence. Makeup artist is certainly something I hadn’t seen done before in a fantasy novel, and I wanted to give this one points alone for an unusual profession for the heroine.

Unfortunately I found the read disappointing, I fear. It was admittedly a bit of a relief to have most of the cast react surprisingly well to discovering that Opal is magically gifted–but on the other hand, all of them, including Opal herself, seem surprisingly casual about the fact that something else has invaded the consciousness of Corvus Weather. Also, there are several interesting concepts the plot toys with–is the invader of Corvus truly evil? Are Opal’s past flirtations with darker magics going to unleash part of her that should never have been given form? But these concepts seem thrown forward for the reader’s consideration, and none of them get any real resolution at all.

Which isn’t surprising, given that the book overall doesn’t get any real resolution, either. Without going into spoiler territory, I’ll say right out that the ending is a cliffhanger, and I’ll have to hope that Ms. Hoffman plans a followup, if nothing else just to give these characters some closure. If one isn’t coming, I have to take this book as a standalone experience, and ultimately as such, it doesn’t satisfy. Two stars.

Mirrored from annathepiper.org.

Comments

[miladygrey.livejournal.com]

A Fistful of Sky is more a companion novel to Fall of Light. You'll get a lot more backstory on Opal's family, their various talents, and some explanation as to why Opal's living so far away from them. I had the same issues with them both as you did--as much as I love NKH, sometimes the magic is a little too casual. It's hard to identify with Opal because she's so calm about everything. Dark spirit possession? Oh bother, let me call Mom, she's done this in the past...

NKH's books are better when the protagonist is a regular, non-magical human encountering the magical folks for the first time. If you can find a used copy of The Silent Strength of Stones or A Stir of Bones, those two just enthralled me.

[annathepiper]

I have those last two indeed and those were the first things I ever read of Hoffman's, as I recall. I quite liked them, so Fall of Light was a bit of a disappointment after reading them.

I've also got A Fistful of Sky, actually; I just hadn't gotten around to reading it yet. I shall have to get to it soon.

[penmage.livejournal.com]

I have to say that I am a huge NKH fan. I tend to adore her books and their weirdness, but I did not love Fall of Light at all. I thought it was frustrating and had very little by way of satisfying conclusion.

However, Fistful of Sky is one of my favorites of hers. (which is another reason Fall of Light let me down so badly.) I highly recommend Fistful.

[annathepiper]

Cool, glad to know Fistful was better. I'll look forward to popping that off my queue. :)