Helen Hollick

sweetpotatoboy · Post by **sweetpotatoboy** » Wed March 11th, 2009, 5:54 pm

OMG, they're dreadful, aren't they? I read somewhere Helen wasn't that drilled with some of her earlier covers, but these must be far worse. What's such a shame is the covers suggest they are fantasy fiction - when these books are definitely not that.

Misfit · Post by **Misfit** » Wed March 11th, 2009, 6:10 pm

I'm glad its not just me, I rather liked the older covers. They're showing up over at Amazon US as well.

Carla · Post by **Carla** » Wed March 11th, 2009, 6:34 pm

[quote=""Misfit""]I see new covers for the books, at least over at UK. What do the rest of you think of them?
[/quote]

Not much. The Sourcebooks US cover for the first one is much better - hope they keep it up for the others.

nona · Post by **nona** » Wed March 11th, 2009, 9:22 pm

I love her The Kingmaker cover for the US and I agree EC that does look a little like Frodo, maybe a cousin?

Tanzanite · Post by **Tanzanite** » Thu March 12th, 2009, 12:30 am

I noticed these the other day as well but they have a 2006 date associated with them so maybe they aren't the new ones(?).

rex icelingas · Post by **rex icelingas** » Wed April 1st, 2009, 1:35 pm

Ive read a few of her books

I enjoyed the first Arthurian one but then it became all Romance filled and fantastical so i didnt bother with any more of the series

Are they still trying to make that film of her Harold the King book?

Carla · Post by **Carla** » Wed April 1st, 2009, 3:23 pm

[quote=""rex icelingas""]Ive read a few of her books

I enjoyed the first Arthurian one but then it became all Romance filled and fantastical so i didnt bother with any more of the series

Are they still trying to make that film of her Harold the King book?[/quote]

I believe so. Last time I looked at Helen's website it was still there as a live project. I wish them luck with it.

I enjoyed her Arthur trilogy, though I did feel the first book was the strongest of the three and the last was the weakest. It's interesting that I thought the same about Mary Stewart's Merlin trilogy (The Crystal Cave, The Hollow Hills, The Last Enchantment). Have you read those? I have a theory that stories about Arthur allow the author plenty of freedom in his early career, but tend to get squashed by the sheer weight of legend once they get to the bit where Arthur is High King.

Margaret · Post by **Margaret** » Wed April 1st, 2009, 7:46 pm

I agree about Mary Stewart's Merlin trilogy - loved The Crystal Cave, liked The Hollow Hills, was disappointed by The Last Enchantment - except that there's a 4th one, The Wicked Day, that would fit in the series except that it doesn't focus on Merlin. It's a sympathetic novel about Mordred, and I think it's the best of all.

Carla · Post by **Carla** » Thu April 2nd, 2009, 10:19 am

I really liked The Wicked Day, too. I always think of it as a standalone, although it follows on from the Merlin trilogy.

Ludmilla · Post by **Ludmilla** » Thu November 5th, 2009, 2:17 pm

Can anyone elaborate on how Emma is portrayed in A Hollow Crown? I am reading Harold the King right now and there's something niggling me about her portrayal of several of the major players in this (although I'm only 100 pages in, so I could feel very differently by the end of the novel). I find them competently portrayed but something is missing beyond what's on the surface (perhaps Dorothy Dunnett has spoiled me, because my image of some of these characters comes directly from Dunnett). I'd be interested in A Hollow Crown if Hollick has given the psychological insight into Emma's character that a strong, scheming survivor like her deserves. Just curious as I'm debating whether to pursue that one.