Review of Nimue
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Review of Nimue
[Following is a volunteer review of "Nimue" by Ayn Cates Sullivan.]
"Nimue: Freeing Merlin" by Ayn Cates Sullivan is a fantasy novel that draws extensively from Arthurian mythology, intertwining ancient legends with a contemporary narrative. The protagonist, Nina, embarks on a journey of self-discovery, uncovering hidden gifts and innate powers she never knew she possessed.
My initial impression is of the meticulous research the author conducted prior to writing this book. This thoroughness is clearly evident in the pages, where the detail and precision of the descriptions are remarkable. The inclusion of a glossary was particularly beneficial, serving as a bridge that connects ancient myths to our contemporary understanding.
However, I must admit that despite the first-person narrative offering a certain intimacy to the story—an aspect I typically do not prefer—some elements detracted from my reading experience, rendering it less fluid than I had anticipated.
In the early chapters, I encountered a series of short, rapid sentences. This fast-paced rhythm left me feeling somewhat frustrated, as there was no tension or urgency to justify this stylistic choice. Fortunately, this feeling dissipates in the subsequent chapters.
The author tends to condense certain events too quickly, which would have warranted more attention, while lingering on details that ultimately lack significance in the narrative. A prime example is the episode involving Ganieda and her mysterious magical bottles in chapters 6 and 7. Initially, it appears that the bottles will play a fundamental role, but ultimately, they emerge as peripheral elements, introduced almost by chance and then discarded without further elaboration. What could have been a pivotal event is reduced to a scene devoid of consequence.
In my opinion, the topics shift too rapidly within a single paragraph. This approach results in characters and writing that lack the refinement and depth one would anticipate. Instead of presenting an engaging narrative, the text resembles a collection of facts intertwined in a convoluted plot.
From the chapter in which the protagonist enters a trance-like state and relives the past (12), the narrative becomes increasingly chaotic. It resembles a book within a book that diverges significantly from the initial events, leading the plot down a disorienting path. These chapters are flat and devoid of significant moments, obsessively focusing on Nimue and Merlin in the Goddess Hearth, where they constantly exchange expressions of love and practice spells. Nimue can think of nothing but her desire not to part from Merlin, a sentiment that is reiterated incessantly.
Another disappointing aspect is the dialogue, which is almost nonexistent as the verbal exchanges are brief and infrequent. Additionally, it was unclear to me why "Myrddin" and "Myrdinn" are used interchangeably at times, sometimes even within the same paragraph as seen on page 88 Kindle version.
The novel appears to have undergone professional editing, as I found only a minor grammatical error on pages 54 and 77 of the Kindle version, where "koi" is mistakenly written as "coy." It is important to emphasize that the book does not employ vulgar language; however, sexual encounters between the protagonists are depicted in a non-explicit manner.
An intriguing yet poorly executed aspect of the book is the fusion of Roman, Greek, and Celtic mythologies. For instance, it is stated that the goddess Diana returned to Olympus following the destruction of her temples. This is a captivating concept, if not for the fact that Diana is part of the Roman pantheon, while Olympus is the abode of the Greek deities (page 139 of the Kindle version).
Overall, I would rate this book 2 out of 5 stars. The basic plot possesses a certain charm and significant potential. There were moments, particularly in the early chapters that describe the arrival in England, where I felt genuinely engaged and eager to continue reading. However, the issues I encountered ultimately lowered my rating to 2 stars.
******
Nimue
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
"Nimue: Freeing Merlin" by Ayn Cates Sullivan is a fantasy novel that draws extensively from Arthurian mythology, intertwining ancient legends with a contemporary narrative. The protagonist, Nina, embarks on a journey of self-discovery, uncovering hidden gifts and innate powers she never knew she possessed.
My initial impression is of the meticulous research the author conducted prior to writing this book. This thoroughness is clearly evident in the pages, where the detail and precision of the descriptions are remarkable. The inclusion of a glossary was particularly beneficial, serving as a bridge that connects ancient myths to our contemporary understanding.
However, I must admit that despite the first-person narrative offering a certain intimacy to the story—an aspect I typically do not prefer—some elements detracted from my reading experience, rendering it less fluid than I had anticipated.
In the early chapters, I encountered a series of short, rapid sentences. This fast-paced rhythm left me feeling somewhat frustrated, as there was no tension or urgency to justify this stylistic choice. Fortunately, this feeling dissipates in the subsequent chapters.
The author tends to condense certain events too quickly, which would have warranted more attention, while lingering on details that ultimately lack significance in the narrative. A prime example is the episode involving Ganieda and her mysterious magical bottles in chapters 6 and 7. Initially, it appears that the bottles will play a fundamental role, but ultimately, they emerge as peripheral elements, introduced almost by chance and then discarded without further elaboration. What could have been a pivotal event is reduced to a scene devoid of consequence.
In my opinion, the topics shift too rapidly within a single paragraph. This approach results in characters and writing that lack the refinement and depth one would anticipate. Instead of presenting an engaging narrative, the text resembles a collection of facts intertwined in a convoluted plot.
From the chapter in which the protagonist enters a trance-like state and relives the past (12), the narrative becomes increasingly chaotic. It resembles a book within a book that diverges significantly from the initial events, leading the plot down a disorienting path. These chapters are flat and devoid of significant moments, obsessively focusing on Nimue and Merlin in the Goddess Hearth, where they constantly exchange expressions of love and practice spells. Nimue can think of nothing but her desire not to part from Merlin, a sentiment that is reiterated incessantly.
Another disappointing aspect is the dialogue, which is almost nonexistent as the verbal exchanges are brief and infrequent. Additionally, it was unclear to me why "Myrddin" and "Myrdinn" are used interchangeably at times, sometimes even within the same paragraph as seen on page 88 Kindle version.
The novel appears to have undergone professional editing, as I found only a minor grammatical error on pages 54 and 77 of the Kindle version, where "koi" is mistakenly written as "coy." It is important to emphasize that the book does not employ vulgar language; however, sexual encounters between the protagonists are depicted in a non-explicit manner.
An intriguing yet poorly executed aspect of the book is the fusion of Roman, Greek, and Celtic mythologies. For instance, it is stated that the goddess Diana returned to Olympus following the destruction of her temples. This is a captivating concept, if not for the fact that Diana is part of the Roman pantheon, while Olympus is the abode of the Greek deities (page 139 of the Kindle version).
Overall, I would rate this book 2 out of 5 stars. The basic plot possesses a certain charm and significant potential. There were moments, particularly in the early chapters that describe the arrival in England, where I felt genuinely engaged and eager to continue reading. However, the issues I encountered ultimately lowered my rating to 2 stars.
******
Nimue
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
Latest Review: Keys to Harmony by Margalit Jakob
