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The Still David Feintuch 9780446605519 Books

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The Still David Feintuch 9780446605519 Books

If you like reading about s***ty people trying to be good, you will love this book. Yes, as the other reviews say, the main character, Roddy, is a selfish, insolent, and generally contemptible person. He proves this repeatedly throughout the first half of the book. If you can stop comparing him to that douchebag you dated or the conniving witch you worked with, you'll see that unlike most terrible people you know, Roddy reaches rock bottom and actually starts to change. Because he is human, he fails quite a bit more along the way. It's painful to witness, but the author leaves you sprinkles of hope to nibble between redeeming actions. If you enjoy characters with interesting mixes of vice and virtue (like in G.R.R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire series), this has plenty of them.

Roddy does have a lot to deal with at once: he basically grew up without a father, his mother, the Queen, has just died, his power-hungry uncle assumes the regency and leaves him out of everything, he's locked in the castle, and he's a teenage boy with raging hormones he can't do anything about because he has to remain a virgin to someday wield the mysterious power that will help rule the kingdom. None of that is excuse for him to be the ass that he is. Actually, you almost cheer when something bad happens to him early in the book. It's fun, really.

Yes, there's quite a bit of homo-eroticism. The definition of "virgin" used here excludes same-sex relations, which is never really explained. Maybe it's to prevent the monarch wielding the power from creating too many heirs--I don't know. Roddy finds release from his demanding desires in his friend since childhood, Rust. It's never graphic, and it's actually tightly integrated with the plot, as Rust is obviously motivated by this new facet of their friendship. Watching them hurt each other in their evolving relationship is probably the most difficult part you'll encounter in this part of the story. They're teenagers, the most terrible people on the planet, so they're pretty awful to each other at times. It's so relatable though, and seeing how they learn from their mistakes makes it worthwhile.

It's obvious after a few chapters that there is going to be a dramatic character arc. Roddy is an absolute beast, so I doubted whether the author would be able to believably elevate him. Don't worry--he's always a jerk, but he becomes the loveable kind you can't possibly write off.

The book ends totally open, and there is a sequel (The King), which I now have to read because I just really want to see this kid screw up some more. If you can just be satisfied with a character arc, you might be fine reading just this book, but I need to know what happens.

This was a surprisingly refreshing fantasy read, recommended by a friend who knows I get bored with the typical conquest/hero's journey carbon copies. The unique coming-of-age elements in The Still made this much more original and enjoyable.


Tags : The Still [David Feintuch] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Compelling...charged with plenty of action. -- Publishers Weekly<BR><BR> A complex, unconventional fantasy from a writer who isn't afraid to take risks . -- Peter Heck,David Feintuch,The Still,Aspect,0446605514,Fantasy fiction,Fantasy,Fantasy - General,Fiction,Fiction - Fantasy,Fiction Fantasy General,Fiction-Fantasy,MASS MARKET,Modern fiction,Science Fiction - General

The Still David Feintuch 9780446605519 Books Reviews

The Still by the talented David Feintuch left me just a little disappointed. But, that could be because I was so acclimated to his style of writing in the Seafort Saga books. However, it tantalized me enough that I couldn't wait for the next book in the series. And, believe me, I wasn't the least disappointed.
The Still introduces us to a young prince who is destined to take over his kingdom before he has the maturity to do so. He makes a pact with an young man several years older and more mature to guide him. The Still itself is a magical power that the prince is able to wield. It can be self-defeating if not used properly. I don't want to give away the plot by saying too much. I do strongly recommend this book. It is merely the beginning of a terrific new fantasy saga. Move over Robert Jordon.
Carol Kluz, author of The Prophecy Unfolds
About at the 1/3rd point I almost gave up but kept reading because, by George, I'd bought the darn book. It was sort of OK by the end, but I'm not totally convinced the conclusion justifies the trip. I was very torn between two stars and 3 stars. I decided I didn't at all like Roddy at the start. I wasn't much fonder of him at the end in spite of his supposed personal growth. The story line repeats itself adnauseum. Maybe I really should have given it TWO STARS! With all the really good books out there, I wouldn't recommend this one to anybody, unless you've read everything else and have lots of empty time on your hands.
(I am not a native speaker, please overlook my style)

Fantasy novels used to be one of the most escapist fiction genres, second perhaps only to cheap romances I eagerly seek solace from daily toils in this kind of books and I expect many people do the same.

This is perhaps why so many reviewers find this book disappointing though their comments do not mention this point at all they all seem to be outraged with its plot and characters. In some way they are right no impossibly evil demon is to be found in this supposedly alternative medieval world and no courageous knight either.

Mr Feintuch is a distinguished writer, he plots well and uses a pleasant language. Few minor inconsistencies, a few redundant pages, some occasional flaws here and there such as the insisted examples of Rodrigo's weaknesses hardly diminish the value of this long novel.
Yet, as much as this book be very hard to put down, all I felt while reading it was sorrow and irritated bitterness I am not sure I shall be willing to read it again.

The medieval world outlined by Mr Feintuch is much too akin to ours war, greed, misery and death lurk everywhere; characters are moved only by their selfish needs, none of them is free from pain or failings.
The two main characters are another problem who is Rodrigo after all if not a vermin, a cruel, useless, stupid, selfish scoundrel who soils the very earth he walks upon? He is the villain of this novel; hard a thing to swallow for any fantasy reader, I admit, especially because Mr Feintuch achieves real genius in creating this so to say "hero". How can a reader seeking entertainment be willing to identify with such a god forlorn creature unless he/she is ready to take a trip to the meanest, darker side of his/her own human nature and teenage memories and recognize them as his/her own?
Rodrigo grows up in the second half of the novel but his taints, though lessened and more disciplined, are still there and the ugly scar that disfigures half of his formerly very handsome face seems only a fitting outward representation of the rottenness within.
Again, what about his relationship with beautiful, amiable, valiant Justin? How can any reader be pleased with this masochistic love where roles switch swiftly and the torturer easily becomes the victim?
Once more the author's characterization is masterly at first sight Justin seems the noble fellow, the good natured older mentor any fantasy novel hero needs to complete his quest. He is NOT. Out of a love where very little is noble he allows Rodrigo to injure and abuse him again and again. Rodrigo acknowledges no real love to Justin, he spits repeatedly in his (Justin's) face that he only makes love to him (to Justin) instead of girls because he has no other choice. Justin accepts it all, meekly, or possibly unleashes his temper and slaps Rodrigo silly.
How can a reader cherish such a soul rending love, where the pain of the blows the two men deliver each other surely outbalance the few moments of real intimacy?

I am not sure whether Mr Feintuch meant his novel to be so harsh and painful or whether he was aware of the outcome, I would think he was not. It is nonetheless a masterpiece which easily trespass the border of genre fiction a crude one, for sure, unfit for youngsters and for young at heart.
If you like reading about s***ty people trying to be good, you will love this book. Yes, as the other reviews say, the main character, Roddy, is a selfish, insolent, and generally contemptible person. He proves this repeatedly throughout the first half of the book. If you can stop comparing him to that douchebag you dated or the conniving witch you worked with, you'll see that unlike most terrible people you know, Roddy reaches rock bottom and actually starts to change. Because he is human, he fails quite a bit more along the way. It's painful to witness, but the author leaves you sprinkles of hope to nibble between redeeming actions. If you enjoy characters with interesting mixes of vice and virtue (like in G.R.R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire series), this has plenty of them.

Roddy does have a lot to deal with at once he basically grew up without a father, his mother, the Queen, has just died, his power-hungry uncle assumes the regency and leaves him out of everything, he's locked in the castle, and he's a teenage boy with raging hormones he can't do anything about because he has to remain a virgin to someday wield the mysterious power that will help rule the kingdom. None of that is excuse for him to be the ass that he is. Actually, you almost cheer when something bad happens to him early in the book. It's fun, really.

Yes, there's quite a bit of homo-eroticism. The definition of "virgin" used here excludes same-sex relations, which is never really explained. Maybe it's to prevent the monarch wielding the power from creating too many heirs--I don't know. Roddy finds release from his demanding desires in his friend since childhood, Rust. It's never graphic, and it's actually tightly integrated with the plot, as Rust is obviously motivated by this new facet of their friendship. Watching them hurt each other in their evolving relationship is probably the most difficult part you'll encounter in this part of the story. They're teenagers, the most terrible people on the planet, so they're pretty awful to each other at times. It's so relatable though, and seeing how they learn from their mistakes makes it worthwhile.

It's obvious after a few chapters that there is going to be a dramatic character arc. Roddy is an absolute beast, so I doubted whether the author would be able to believably elevate him. Don't worry--he's always a jerk, but he becomes the loveable kind you can't possibly write off.

The book ends totally open, and there is a sequel (The King), which I now have to read because I just really want to see this kid screw up some more. If you can just be satisfied with a character arc, you might be fine reading just this book, but I need to know what happens.

This was a surprisingly refreshing fantasy read, recommended by a friend who knows I get bored with the typical conquest/hero's journey carbon copies. The unique coming-of-age elements in The Still made this much more original and enjoyable.