Transformation (Rai-kirah Series #1)

I am now a slave to my nook andthis series

Wow I have found my new vice! I couldn't stop reading I had to force myself to bed in the middle, woke up thinking about it, spent the day trying to sneek off to get a little more. I felt every emotion the characters did from deep despair to soaring joy, frustration and horror, comforted and relieved, don' let your guard down this book keeps you addicted all the way to the end. And just when you get a moment of respite and sit back to exhale, just as you become comfortable you are plunged back into the soul crushing terror of....... only to be....... you'd better read it to understand, i'd hate spoil it for you.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Compelling and worthwhile read

Ms. Berg's characters feel realistic and the world they live in equally so. It's refreshing to read a fantasy novel that is set in a world which doesn't follow the ever-popular Generic Medieval Europe theme but rather occupies deserts and an empire that rose out of nomadic tribes. The relationship between the slave-narrator, Seyonne, and Prince Aleksander drives the narrative rather than the plot determining what happens.

Something I always appreciate about Ms. Berg's writing is that bad things happen to her characters and no magic wand is waved to make everything bright and shiny afterwards; wounds take a normal amount of time to heal and the dead stay dead. It adds a layer of realism by not ignoring the harsh realities of the type of world she has created.

For me, the book is very hard to put down and keeps me up well past bed time. I first read it in 2003 and recently decided I needed to purchase a copy and reread it. Worth the money and the time to reread, in my opinion.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Solidly written, with a pair of pitch-perfect lead characters.

This is a book the likes of which I have not come across in some time. It grabbed me within the first few pages and did not let go until I finished it. It hasn't quite let go of me yet, actually -- it was almost physically painful to stop myself from immediately picking up the next book in the series to instead come to the computer and write this review.

It was such an all-encompassing experience, as a matter of fact, that it's hard for me to summon up the distance to write a good review. Trying to think about it objectively, I don't think it was anywhere near a perfect book. The pacing was uneven, and the ancillary characters were no more than cardboard cutouts moving the plot along. Some of the more important ancillary characters' motivations were terribly unclear, and I didn't buy the small romance subplots for either Seyonne or Aleksander.

But none of that matters to me, because the heart and soul of the novel is Seyonne and Aleksander's relationship, and that is realized pitch-perfectly. They are both complex men with everything in the world working against any potential relationship they might develop and the fate of the world resting on the fact that they must learn to trust each other and work together. And wonderfully, they manage to do this, with neither useless angst nor unrealistic protestations of affection. Berg summoned some significant magic into this novel, and I am greatly looking forward to reading its sequel.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Mesmerizing -- a fantastic debut novel

'Transformation' is a stunning fantasy novel-- a truly original creation. From the very first pages I was drawn into the story, and couldn't put it down. The characters of Seyonne and Alexander are fascinating, as is the world the author has created for them. The book is filled with images of great beauty and heartstopping cruelty, ultimately leading to a thoroughly satisfying conclusion. Highly recommended-- you don't want to miss this one.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Compelling

If psychology were a form of magic this would be it.
A great story in which your inner demons are exactly that...demons

Could not put it down

I was bored and suffering from insomnia one night and picked this up to past the time. I started it at 10pm and did not put it down till I finished it a 7am...needless to say, I liked it very much. I twas all due not due to the plot...which while good was not too far off fro mmost fantasy plots, but due to the great and fully realized characters. They lived and breathed and you felt like you were going through everything with them, and standing right besides them. The writer has great skill in this department. If you love good, character driven stories...this is a good one.

Simply Amazing

This is one of the best books I have ever read. Not once did I feel bored with it, the characters were excellent, and the twists spectacular. Truly brilliant and very stirring, I could hardly put it down.

Absolutely astounding.

Out of the tons of books I've had the chance to stumble across, this is without a doubt the best that I have ever read. The character developement and growth throughout Transformation is absolutely amazing and completely captivating. As a reader I felt myself grow and change with each page and every experience Seyonne and Alexsander went through. Carol Berg is definitely a true inspiration for aspiring writers. I couldn't put this book down.

ONE OF THE BEST

This is absolutely one of the best books I've ever read. I couldn't put it down. Seyonne and Aleksander were amazing and kept me captivated. WOW!

TRUELY CAPTIVATING!

Carol Berg's 'Transformation' was truely incredible!I've long searched for moving inspirational hard-to-break-away-from books,and this does not disappoint! Seyonne and Aleksander's journey's through spirit and heart were truely beyond amazing as their differences sought to destroy them.Incredible plot,if you're a fan of magic and outstanding portrayal of characters,this book is most definately for you. I tip my hat to you, Carol Berg.

Completely worth it

This is the first fantasy book I have ever read. WOW! If they're all like this them I definatly need to start up my own collection. Carol Berg is one heck of an amazing writer. She really pulls you into the characters. I want to read more from her ASAP!

WOW

This book is a first novel?? Then I'm ready for more. Loved the lyrical descriptions and the exquisite use of language. I, too, want to know more about what happens to these characters, but even more I want to hear the words. This would make a great audio book. Even though I've read it, I'll read it again, and I'd listen to a tape, too, just for the joy of hearing the English language expressed so poetically.

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