Lyonesse: Madouc

From Amazon:  The World Fantasy Award-winning third volume of the LYONESSE trilogy brings attention to the faerie changeling Madouc. Where princess Suldrun once meekly endured the proprieties of Castle Haidion, Madouc defends herself with rotten fruit. Vexed, King Casmir arranges a contest to marry her off, but Madouc has other ideas, and enlists the stableboy "Sir Pom-pom" on an impromptu quest to find her father. During their travels, they encounter swindlers, faeries, trolls, ogres, a knight in search of his youth, and a relatively pedestrian item known as the Holy Grail. As the sorcerers Shimrod and Murgen investigate portents of cataclysm in the world of magic, Casmir plans a murder that will bring all the lands under his iron rule; however, his ambitions will be complicated by one small but important oversight—he's failed to allow for Madouc! 

I found this series in my quest to learn what 'non-Tolkien' fantasy was all about.  It is something I hear all the time - that so and so author is just another Tolkien rip-off but I've never actually seen it.  This, likely because I only read LOTR in the last few years, well after I'd read plenty of modern fantasy books.   I really enjoyed the series, although the greatness of the books seemed to decline with each book.  The first was fantastic and amazing and wonderful.  I loved the scope of the book, the is a great history built into the story and it reads more like history than fiction.  I enjoyed the fact that Vance uses a broad vocabulary and really put my Kindle's dictionary to good use for this one!  The world of Lyonesse is one that I would have been thrilled to see more sequels and prequels for.  I'd like to know more about various magicians and to see how Madouc and Dhrun got on in the world.  I don't know if it's really answered any questions for me as to what is Tolkien fantasy and what isn't, but I certainly enjoyed the read.

Lyonesse: The Green Pearl - Jack Vance

From Amazon:  In this second volume of the Lyonesse trilogy, THE GREEN PEARL, King Aillas of Troicinet defends the peace of the Elder Isles against both the Ska marauders who once enslaved him and the wicked King Casmir. While organizing the unruly barons in the frontiers of his land, Aillas goes out of his way to capture the lovely Ska noblewoman who once stung him with her disregard. When he gets separated from his men, his dream of forcing the lady's recognition becomes the toil of dragging an obstreperous captive across lands governed by Casmir's henchmen. Meanwhile, the world of magic has gone on the move. The concentrated malice of the witch Desmei has manifested as a green pearl, breeding lust and envy and death; and a sorcerer in Casmir's employ abducts the princess Glyneth, in a bid to draw Aillas and friends on a hopeless rescue mission across a bizarre and deadly alternate world. 

My thoughts:  I'll comment on all three together in the post for the last book.

Fevre Dream - George R. R. Martin

From Cover:  When struggling riverboat captain Abner Marsh receives an offer of partnership from a wealthy aristocrat, he suspects something's amiss. But when he meets the hauntingly pale, steely-eyed Joshua York, he is certain. For York doesn't care that the icy winter of 1857 has wiped out all but one of Marsh's dilapidated fleet. Nor does he care that he won't earn back his investment in a decade. York has his own reasons for wanting to traverse the powerful Mississippi. And they are to be none of Marsh's concern--no matter how bizarre, arbitrary, or capricious his actions may prove.

Marsh meant to turn down York's offer. It was too full of secrets that spelled danger. But the promise of both gold and a grand new boat that could make history crushed his resolve--coupled with the terrible force of York's mesmerizing gaze. Not until the maiden voyage of his new sidewheeler Fevre Dream would Marsh realize he had joined a mission both more sinister, and perhaps more noble, than his most fantastic nightmare...and mankind's most impossible dream.
Here is the spellbinding tale of a vampire's quest to unite his race with humanity, of a garrulous riverman's dream of immortality, and of the undying legends of the steamboat era and a majestic, ancient river.

Fantastic vampire book!  This was a really great spin on the classic vampire myth - made me remember how great vampires were before the Twilight books came along and made them sparkly emo wet dreams for teenage girls.  I read a review saying this book was a bit of Mark Twian meets the horror genre and I have to agree.  This was a page turner and I was so disappointed when it ended.  I would love to know more about Joshua York's story - sequals and/or a prequal would be great.  Would have loved to have known more about Damon Julian's story as well. 

Lyonesse: Suldrun's Garden - Jack Vance

From Amazon:  A monument of fantastic literature to stand beside such classics as DUNE and THE LORD OF THE RINGS, LYONESSE evokes the Elder Isles, a baroque land of pre-Arthurian myth now lost beneath the Atlantic, where powerful sorcerers, aloof faeries, stalwart champions, and nobles eccentric, magnanimous, and cruel pursue intrigue among their separate worlds. In this first book of the trilogy, Suldrun's Garden, Prince Aillas of Troicinet is betrayed on his first diplomatic voyage and cast into the sea. Before he redeems his birthright, he must pass the breadth of Hybras Isle as prisoner, vagabond, and slave, an acquaintance of faeries, wizards, and errant knights, and lover to a sad and beautiful girl whose fate sets his bitter rivalry with the tyrant Casmir, King of Lyonesse.

My Thoughts:  to be edited in