Book Review
Copyright (c) 1995, Tommy Van Hook
All rights reserved



Fire In The Mist by Holly Lisle
Baen Books, Copyright 1992
ISBN 0-671-72132-1
1st Printing, August 1992
Cover Art by Stephen Hickman
Map by Ellen Kostyk
Pages:  291


Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have some latent
magickal power suddenly awaken within you?  Have you ever thought
how hard it would be to control such a power without adequate
training?  Obviously Holly Lisle has, since this is part of the
opening premise of the novel "Fire In The Mist."

Mercedes "Misty" Lackey (my favorite writer) described Holly
Lisle as "one of the hottest writers I've come across in a long
time."  I figured that if Miss Lackey had lumped such heavy
praise on Miss Lisle, that I had better check out her first
offering as soon as I could.  It was not a disappointing
excursion to say the very least.  As a matter of fact, I came
away from the book having felt every single emotion there
was....and then some that I never even realize existed!

Miss Lisle's characters in this book are very well-written.  The
reader starts off with a shell of what the character is about and
then gets to fill in the missing pieces through the character's
actions throughout the book.  This gets the reader very involved
in the characters and really adds to the enjoyment of the story. 
This simple manner of "evolving" her characters is woven around
an exquisite plot that will have you thinking on several levels
at once.  She really works some magick with this novel.

I highly recommend this novel.  At times, the story-line plods
along, but for the most part it hurls you through the action at
break-neck speed.  Be sure that you keep your hands inside the
cart during this ride.

Grade:  A-
