Warprize

ORIGINALLY POSTED AT Fantasy Literature.

First, let me say that I don't like romance novels and I didn't realize when I picked this one up that it was a romance. If you like romance novels, you can add a hypothetical star to my 2 stars.

Actually, the story was pretty good for a romance. The writing was lively and active, the characters were interesting, deep, and well-done. Ms. Vaughan has a way of making them come alive with well-described mannerisms and facial expressions. The main female character is feisty and likable, the main male character is a barbarian warlord (how hot is that?). The story was interesting though it didn't have many fantasy elements. I suppose we call this “low fantasy,” but my speculation is that some romance authors call their work fantasy so they can use a completely made up world which requires very little historical research. (I'm not accusing Ms. Vaughan of this in particular, it's just an aside.)

But now I know what it is I don't like about romance novels. It's not that I don't like romance. I DO like romance, I consider myself a fairly romantic person, and I like romantic sub-plots in my fantasy – they aid characterization and help us to empathize. What I DON'T like is that romance novels all have the same goal. We're just waiting... and building tension... and getting all hot and bothered... until finally... The hero and heroine hit the hay. It's always the same climax. (Sorry for the bad pun, but I hope you appreciated the alliteration).

In a romance novel, the romance is the main plot (I guess that's why they call it a romance novel, eh?) and everything is written around it just to provide a context for the physical relationship. So, as a rule, romance novels are not known for being excellent literature, and this novel doesn't break the rule. But it does break several grammar rules, and elementary ones, too. For example:

Incorrect usage:
“But experience had been a hard teacher, harder then Eln had ever been.”
“His broad, round face was grim, and while not as dark as the man on the cot, he was darker then most.”
“The expressions ran the gauntlet from pity to amazement to mirth.”

Run-on sentences:
“It was early enough the market was not crowded.”
“The tent seemed to glow it was so bright.”

Verb tense changes:
“After I passed Anna's inspection, and been given a quick hug,...“

There are other issues: spelling errors, pronouns missing their direct objects, possessives missing apostrophes... I could go on, but I won't. (You're welcome.)

No matter how high-spirited the heroine, or how hunky the hero, I can not forgive these sorts of mistakes. They are too distracting and it's inexcusable. How does it happen that a published author doesn't know basic fourth grade grammar? Perhaps the mistakes are just typing errors, but why didn't Tor's editors catch them?? Unbelievable! SHAME ON YOU, TOR! I will not be reading any more Tor romances.

Read this review in context at Fantasy Literature