Book reviews

Kirith Kirin
Jim Grimsley Book Review

Read a book review online (click here to search reviews)
Books Movies  
Sci-Fi/Fantasy Mystery/Thriller Literature Romance Biography History
Jim Grimsley Books
New book search
Jim Grimsley Message Board
Get more information about this book
Plot Summary of Kirith Kirin
"Jim Grimsley, a writer of "literary" fiction, turns to fantasy in this story of Jessex, a farmboy who becomes a great magician and saviour of the world. Jessex leaves his home to serve the legendary king Kirith Kirin and discovers a lot in the process - his aptitude for magic, for one thing, and his love for Kirith Kirin, for another. Eventually, Jessex must use his abilities to free his land from a reigning tyrant - and, in the process, risks losing everything that is important to him. "
Ivy, Resident Scholar

"Jessex is a normal boy who grew up as all little boys do, but he soon was called upon to enter the service of the exiled king. There he fulfilled prophecy after prophecy and was trained to be a wizard or Thaanarc. When his training is complete, he is immediately thrust into battle against an evil wizard who has ruled the kingdom for far too many lifetimes. At his side are the king, Kirith Kirin, and the other twice-named. The twice-named can be killed, but if they are not killed in battle, poisoned, etc., then they live forever. This is the story of their battle to regain the kingdom of Arthyn for Kirith Kirin.

Jim Grimsley does a superb job on crafting a completely different world. He creates a richly textured land complete with details as to how magic works, how different races came to be and how the land is ruled. The details really make this world come alive and helps the reader understand all of the subtle ramifications that come from one small act.

This book is written as a type of personal history that Jessex wrote long after all of this happened and, as such, is written in third person instead of the more active first person. This is a bit disorienting at first, but the reader soon adjusts and is captivated all the same.



"

Debbie, Resident Scholar

Review Analysis of Kirith Kirin
Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot

Composition of Book
Descript. of chases or violence - 20%
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 30%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 40%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 10%




FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - fantasy world/fantasy past
Coming of age Yes
Youngster becomes - a powerful magician
Romance Yes
Political power play Yes
Political plotlets - overthrowing govt/kingdom
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Profession/status: - mage/magician
Age: - a teen
Has magical/special powers? Yes
Magical/mental powers of main character: - can talk to animals - fire/lightning/weather cntrl - telekinesis - mind reading - mind control - clairvoyant - can cast many different spells - is very quick
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events? Yes
How sensitive is this character? - sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters - Very much smarter than other characters
Physique - very athletic - average physique

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male - Female
Age: - long-lived adults
Profession/status: - mage/magician
Has magical powers? Yes
Magical/mental powers of main antagonist: - can talk to animals - fire/thunder/weather cntrl - telekinesis - mind reading - mind control - can cast all sorts of spells - Invisibility - can read emotions - is very quick
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a moderate amount - throughout most of the book.
How sensitive is this character? - mean, arrogant
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Average intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - very athletic - average physique

Setting
Terrain - Mountains - Forests
Earth setting: - general past
A substantial portion of this book takes place on a non-Earth planetary body: - humans in a primitive/fantasy society
Takes place on Earth? Yes
Planet outside solar system? Yes

Style
Person? - mostly 1st - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - moderately detailed references to deaths
Sex in book? Yes
What kind of sex: - vague references only - descript. of private male anat.
How much dialogue? - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog - significantly more descript than dialog
Most similar books to Kirith Kirin
Covenants by Lorna Freeman
Master and Fool - The Book of Words 3 by J.V. Jones
The Black Beast by Nancy Springer
Wielding a Red Sword - Incarnations of Immortality 4 by Piers Anthony
Sorcery Rising - Fool's Gold 1 by Jude Fisher


Click here for more information about this book


Jim Grimsley Resident Scholar Profiles

TOP SCHOLAR:
  
Harriet Klausner  

SCHOLARS:


Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
Three ways to search for Science Fiction books!

1) One-click plot searches! Simply click on a plot or subplot below!

Animal Story

Clones

Coming of age

Cultural problems, alien culture

Explore/1st contact/ enviro story

Family relations

GIANT monster(s)

Horror story?

Inner Struggle

Lifeform altered?

Mental/magical powers focus

Parody

Political power play

Religious overtones?

Repressive society story

Robots, Computers, VR

Romance

Spying & Investigations

Tech./$$$/Info hunt

Time Travel story?

Training/Apprent.

War or Invasion



or 2) Simple lookup
(title or author)

or
3) Even more search options available with a Detailed Booksearch (click here)

Use our site!
Feedback
About us
Bribe your congressman!
Rudy Giuliani



Most recent discussions:

General Book Talk
Book writing discussion
Off-topic message board
.
Terry Goodkind 7:22:26 AM
Isobelle Carmody 5:19:11 AM
Norah Lofts 12:26:00 AM
Diana Gabaldon 10:32:23 PM
Ivan Cat 9:23:05 PM
Scott Westerfield 9:20:54 PM
General Discussion (All Topics) 7:10:00 PM
Jude Deveraux 5:56:12 PM
George W. Bush 4:34:34 PM
Ray Bradbury 4:27:50 PM
Karen Armstrong 2:13:10 PM
Thomas Kinkade and Katherine Spencer 1:53:39 PM
Karen Armstrong 12:58:19 PM
Lana Wood 6:06:13 AM
Lynn and Gilbert Morris 12:20:20 AM
David Pelzer 10:32:56 PM
Max Shulman 8:44:04 PM
Kate Brian 5:25:02 PM
Ruth Minsky Sender 3:34:26 PM
Charlaine Harris 2:46:27 PM

More message boards