I keep going back to this story time and time again.

I've just embarked on my sixth reading in a decade, and it remains as captivating and impossible to put down as it was the very first time.

Unlike the majority of Adam's other novels, this is a sensuous narrative set in another world. The characters are richly developed, and the story is filled with fascinating details and a certain largesse.

It's almost like watching a car wreck; one knows they probably shouldn't, but they simply can't look away.

To truly become immersed in Maia's world, one has to set aside their present political and gender biases. Her world is so vastly different from our own.

This book is well worth the read and the purchase. It's one of those rare gems that feels brand new with each successive reading.

It has a charm and allure that keeps drawing me back, and I have no doubt that it will continue to do so for many more readings to come.

Incredible writing!

Richard Adams is truly a past master storyteller.

He has the remarkable ability to keep you on the edge of your seat, constantly thinking that something wonderful is about to occur, even though it never quite does.

As you turn each page, you find yourself saying to yourself, "Now she'll do something."

And yet, she (Maia) waits until the very last fifty pages to actually take action.

It's this masterful build-up and anticipation that make Adams' writing so engaging and captivating.

You can't help but be drawn into the story, eager to see what will finally happen.

His use of pacing and the art of withholding key moments add an extra layer of excitement and mystery to the narrative.

Richard Adams truly knows how to keep his readers hooked from beginning to end.

Read this two decades ago, and I have found myself reading it again periodically. This has caused some distress to those living with me, as whenever I crack it open again, I seem to disappear for a period of two or three days. Maia is the kind of blissful innocent that I sometimes envy. While others pause to think, she simply plunges in, and somehow manages to benefit herself in the end. The cast of characters surrounding Maia is diverse and interesting. In fact, they capture my interest more fully than Maia herself. There are a few vivid scenes that make this an oddly compelling read, especially for those who wish to escape their own thoughts in the midst of financial and other meltdowns. It offers a brief respite from the chaos and allows the reader to lose themselves in a different world.

I don't recall exactly when I read this book. Was it twenty years ago? Or perhaps twenty-five? Nor do I remember who recommended it to me. But one thing is for sure, it was huge and had an irresistible charm.

It was an enthralling epic that told the story of a young girl who was forced to grow up quickly. She traveled across an ancient and brutal land. I think this might be a sort of prequel to _Shardik_, although it's not really a series, just set in the same empire. The characters and the twists and turns in the story were so captivating that they still reverberate with me today.

After I gave away my copy to someone I hoped would enjoy it as much as I did, I bought a second copy.

Now, I find myself thinking that I need to read it again. Could it really have been that good? The answer is a resounding yes. This book has left an indelible mark on my heart and mind, and I'm eager to experience its magic once more.

I first read this book a long time ago when I was approximately 18 years old. I picked it up at the library due to my great love for Watership Down. As all the reviews have indicated, this book is very distinct and might not appeal to the same audiences. Nevertheless, I found it to be completely absorbing and captivating. Adams is an outstanding storyteller.

His fantasy world描绘了一个正从某种封建主义向更基于金钱的商业/资本主义社会过渡的帝国。一群腐败的阴谋家利用商人对旧贵族的不满，发动政变并统治帝国以满足自己的利益。这个群体（被称为“豹党”）在女主人公玛雅被卖为奴隶并被带到城市作为妾时掌权。通过她年长且更有经验的朋友奥库拉的影响，玛雅学会利用自己的美丽和魅力在奴隶/妓女的身份中取得成功，然后被迫成为豹党政权的间谍。然而，通过一次极其英勇的行为，她成为了公众崇拜的焦点，这（具有讽刺意味的是）使她的生命处于危险之中，她必须冒着一切风险才能获得更有意义和幸福的生活。

I was surprised to see how many readers commented on the novel's sexual content, as the actual sex scenes, in my view, are not that erotic. I suppose what disturbs people is the way Adams explores the 'dark side' of sexuality, including masochism and sadism, in connection with the corrupt Leopards - especially the two most evil, Sencho and Fornis. Consider this in terms of the corrupt decadence of the Roman Empire, and you won't be far off. The exploits of Caligula and Nero actually make those in this novel seem rather tame.

In response to the novel's supposed'sexism,' I'll admit that there are a few lines that irritate me as they are, indeed, sexist. For example, Adams states at one point that a man's mind is a "ruled kingdom," while a woman's mind is somewhat a reflection of natural chaos. Grrrr. However, as others have argued, this novel has extremely powerful and interesting female characters, including Occula, Fornis, Meris, and even Maia herself. In my opinion, Maia does achieve heroism as her youthful selfishness, when confronted with the reality of suffering and injustice, evolves into a more compassionate and courageous womanhood.

In the late 1980s, I received an invitation to an amazing sailing vacation.

I boarded a flight and headed to a minuscule island in the Bahamas. There, I was greeted by friends who were spending the winter sailing around the islands.

I was instructed to pack light and soft items. We were set to tour numerous small islands and relish the beautiful Caribbean for an extended period - at least a week, as I remember.

I was well aware that I couldn't go on this adventure without a book. So, I decided to get a substantial one to ensure I wouldn't run out of reading material on some idyllic paradise without a bookstore.

I had previously enjoyed the works of Richard Adams. Therefore, I purchased a paperback book that consisted of over 1200 pages. And I wasn't let down! The vacation was truly fantastic, and I had an abundance of story to share during the drive home from the airport.

It was an unforgettable experience that combined the beauty of the Caribbean with the joy of reading a captivating book.

This book doesn't feel like anything I've ever read before.

I don't know if I can really describe how unique it is. It has a strange, dreamlike quality to it, yet at the same time, it is hugely epic. There are parts that are almost like something out of The Chronicles of Narnia. They seem almost parable-like, bittersweet, and dear. Then there are other parts that remind me of Gone With The Wind. There are huge and sweeping wars that change an entire way of life in the empire, as seen through the effects on the lives of just a few characters.

My favorite part of this book is the searing clarity with which Maia can intuitively see people and understand their motives, as well as the intricacies of their desires and fears. Adams's description of character in these moments is some of the most empathetic and psychologically astute writing I've ever had the pleasure to read. It not only makes even the minor characters come alive but also imparts a sense of understanding others that feels very valuable. It inspires compassion to break through the hardened shell that I've grown around me.

This book is truly a remarkable and unforgettable read.

Maia is an incredibly detailed and richly written fantasy novel that spans over 1000 pages. It tells the story of a peasant girl who transforms into a concubine, spy, heroine, and finally a housewife. The pacing is lushly slow, which made it take me a long time to read, but not just because of its length. Overall, I had a great appreciation for this book, especially in the following aspects:

1. The writing is truly outstanding. It is so vivid and detailed that I easily became immersed in the setting, perhaps even more so than in the story itself. In most fantasy stories, the settings often seem generic and recycled, but that is definitely not the case with Maia.

2. The story of politics and intrigue is engaging, although it doesn't really pick up until around the 40% mark.

3. Some of the secondary characters are fascinating, especially Occula, who is by far my favorite fictional heroine this year. It's a pity that Adams didn't write a sequel focused on her. I also liked Maia herself, despite her naivete and passivity, which made me want to slap her at times.

However, the book is not without its flaws. I must admit that I loved it almost against my better judgment because I found some of the content a bit off-putting. It's not the sex scenes, which are mostly tastefully done, or the fact that Maia is a sex slave for much of the narrative. My issue lies with things like the fact that her first lover is her own stepfather, and the author presents this as somewhat acceptable. To me, that is not only yucky but also morally repulsive, and it was difficult to get past that part. There were a few other missteps as well, such as a case of insta-love and some chapters about the tales of the goddess Lespa that involved another uncomfortable incident with a goat. But despite these flaws, I still found this book to be highly entertaining and one that I won't forget anytime soon. The writing is simply lovely.

I read Maia mainly because I have a deep love for "Watership Down". However, to my disappointment, this story turned out to be quite different from what I had expected.

Adams constructs a world that is somewhat parallel to ours, yet he has liberally sprinkled his own unique terms and words in place of our familiar ones. This makes it rather difficult for me to fully understand and appreciate the story.

Moreover, I find the exploration of the main character's sex and discovery to be rather strange and unconvincing. It seems as if these elements were forced into the narrative without proper development or justification.

Overall, while I still have a certain amount of respect for Adams as an author, I cannot say that Maia was a particularly enjoyable or satisfying read for me.

Occasionally, the journey can be a bit tedious. However, it remains an absolutely fantastic adventure. Along the way, we encounter some truly memorable characters. Each one adds a unique flavor to the story, making it all the more engaging. Their personalities, quirks, and experiences intertwine with ours, creating a rich tapestry of memories. Despite the moments of tedium, these characters keep us entertained and intrigued. We find ourselves drawn to their stories, eager to learn more about them. They become an integral part of our adventure, and we will surely remember them long after the journey is over.

This is an astonishing piece of work. It clocks in at five hundred thousand words long. Five hundred thousand words! That's an astronomical figure, far exceeding the length of the entire Lord of the Rings. I'm truly bowled over, staggered, and find myself in a state of unbelief and incomprehension. I had anticipated it would be long, perhaps around 300k words, but this is on a whole other level. It's completely fucked up and crazy. I still can't believe I managed to read through this entire tome. It's no wonder it took me months to get through it.

Initially, I was going to rate this work 4 stars. However, after reading the Occula-in-Urtah chapter (no spoilers here), I had to bump it up a whole star. That chapter alone was worth the entire read of this book. The callbacks to Shardik were just mind-blowing. It added a whole new layer of depth and excitement to the story. I'm so glad I persevered and made it to that chapter. It's moments like these that make reading such a rewarding experience.

This is one of my absolute favorite books. I have read it countless times, and each time I do, I am thoroughly immersed and enjoy it to the fullest.

The heroine in this book is not your typical one. She is extremely naïve and young, yet this does not mean she is dumb. She submits to the world, much like a slave must, but is still able to hold onto her true nature and basic character, remaining uncorrupted by a predominantly hedonistic society.

I believe a significant part of what makes me like Maia as a character is that despite the bad and traumatic things that happen to her in real life, she chooses not to be victimized by them. Instead, she finds a way to incorporate these experiences into who she is. She is forced to face some hard truths that other people or characters might shy away from, but she embraces them, knowing that there is a bit of the beast in all of us. She is by no means the most assertive character, but her endurance requires a kind of strength that is often undervalued. There is a particularly powerful scene in the book where she is being swept toward a waterfall and has three options: 1) save herself without any inconvenience or hardship; 2) save some of her companions with notable inconvenience and stress; or 3) struggle to save them all, knowing that she probably won't succeed and may even lose her own life. These questions and decisions permeate the last three-quarters of the book, making it an incredibly engaging read and clearly defining her character.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who doesn't mind a story that contains a fair amount of erotica (although it's nowhere near as extreme as Anne Rice or 50 Shades) and features an atypical yet genuine heroine set in a richly detailed and vividly imagined fantasy world that reminds one of the Roman Empire. The scope of the story, as well as the depth and detail of the world, are truly riveting and make it a highly enjoyable and readable book.