The White Hart / Nancy Springer

The White Hart

(Book of Isle #1)

by Nancy Springer

fantasy, chicklit

copyright 1979

read in August 2017

rated 6/10: read to pass the time

This book is... sweet. Mostly harmless, slightly tedious. Not so much building, as meandering, to a somewhat satisfying conclusion.

The cover claims, "In a class with... Thomas Covenant." That's nonsense. Inside, a reviewer compares this book with Tolkien's Middle Earth. That's more like it. Much of Hart is a direct steal from Tolkien.

There's the immortal elder race, they sailed off to the west, long ago. The characters are all Men (that is, human men and women), with the odd dragon and passing reference to dwarfs. The setting is a bucolic though occasionally dangerous version of southern Britain. With a looming threat from the east.

There is, however, the compulsory-for-its-era reference to the good old days when women ruled all, in peace and harmony. And a slightly stronger role for a couple of women. The standard magic sword does have a down-side, it encourages violence. In the absence of orcs, the human lords battle each other.

The book is somewhat tedious because the conflict is mainly internal. The major -- physical -- battle and minor skirmishes are ended quite quickly. Only the internal battles -- conscience, greed, betrayal -- last more than a few pages. Perhaps that's the claimed similarity to Covenant? Except that Covenant battles internal demons with a massive thesaurus and a metaphorical chainsaw.

The White Hart is fairytale-lite. It's pleasant, it's enjoyable, it is hardly gripping. I like the various characters, I can understand their decisions. I'm glad when things turn out well. I'm also glad to reach the unexpected yet fitting conclusion.

The conclusion is solid, there are no cliff-hangers. Book one of a trilogy yet it can be read as a standalone novel. I like that.

This book is lightweight fantasy. Perhaps an early chicklit fantasy. I'll be interested to see where the Isle goes in book two. But I won't miss it if I never find out.

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Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper
Agamedes Consulting / Problems? Solved.
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"Lawyers pay for their mistakes, doctors bury them, architects grow ivy on them. And consultants charge for them."

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