Many people are familiar with "Watership Down" which significantly enhanced Adams' career. However, this other book is equally remarkable. The astonishing fact is that one would never suspect that the two books were penned by the same author. One book delves into the world of bunnies, while the other focuses on a girl who is tragically sold into prostitution by her mother. The former is about the quest for a new and better home, while the latter is about realizing that what one has left behind can sometimes be superior to what one initially thought they desired. If you are a fan of the author, there is a high probability that you will enjoy this book. Even if you didn't have a liking for "Watership Down", there is still a good chance that you might find this one captivating!

This is my third Adams book. The first was Watership Down, then Shardik, and now this one.

While Maia takes place in the same fictional world as Shardik, it feels like a very different kind of book compared to the other two. Watership Down follows a group of rabbits, and there's really not much else that matters to the story except what happens to our little group. Shardik follows Kelderek, the strange fisherman whose rise and fall are closely related to the great bear and who is the central character, not just for the book but for the entire empire during that time. However, Maia, the only character we really follow throughout this book, would barely be considered a main character from the perspective of the main events happening at the time. She might more conventionally be seen as a side character who pops up at different important points in the story but is not constantly central to it.

But Adams, here, didn't write a conventional story with a conventional protagonist, and that's one of my favorite things about this book. We get to see the massive upheaval of an empire through the life and eyes of an admittedly important side character who is swept along by the currents of the real movers and shakers.

In my opinion, the level of detail Adams goes into is just right. He thoroughly describes not only the physical landscapes we travel through but also the social and political landscapes as we move from town to town and from the lower to the upper class. He gives the sense of having actually created in his mind a real world with a plausible history and a convincing society that draws us into the idea that this whole story might not be made up at all.

The character and development of Maia are thoroughly described and explored throughout the book. She is certainly a well-made and believable character. As a hero, she may leave much to be desired, but as a young person caught up in the torrent of events beyond her control, she is both believable and admirable. The secondary and supporting characters add a lot of depth to the relationships and the story as a whole. But since we are seeing things from Maia's perspective, no one else is nearly as well developed as she is.

The main events initially happen far from Maia while she is a young girl in a small village on the outskirts of the empire. There is political intrigue, maneuvering, and betraying going on in the capital. Slavery is rampant, and she ends up as a slave being carted to the center. Throughout the story, her status rises and falls, rarely due to her own proactivity. But although she is swept along and is a naive and impulsive young girl, she behaves honorably, if shortsightedly, throughout.

I loved this book because of the world Adams builds and because he gives us a fairly unique perspective. I also really like the character of Maia, who through no fault of her own consistently has great opportunities presented to her but who consistently chooses, not greatness, but goodness.

Be warned, this book is very long, and for the first 700 pages, it moves rather slowly.

This 1984 novel is a prequel to Shardik, and it significantly expands Adams' portrayal of the quasi-feudal world of Bekla.

It draws more from his in-depth knowledge of medieval social, economic, and cultural practices than from his inclination for creating fantasy-like worlds.

The eponymous heroine and her friend and occasional lover are slaves who find themselves embroiled in the contentious power struggles between the landed nobles and the imperial military powers of their world.

There is a适度 amount of sex, a great deal of jostling for royal favor, and a strong emphasis on the need for popular support.

I vividly remember reading it with an insatiable appetite that I rarely experience.

Ultimately, it led me to The Girl on the Swing, a novel that demonstrated Adams' ability to write about the contemporary world with as much sincerity and captivating power for his readers as he did in his more imaginative creations.

Highly recommended, especially for those who enjoy immersing themselves in a long work filled with engaging scenes and diverse characters.

This book is truly remarkable.

It centers around Maia, a girl who experiences an extensive character growth. She is sold into sex slavery by her mother and then manages to rise to become a spy for the military general of the Beklan Empire. Through her virtuous deeds, she ultimately becomes the idol of everyone in the land.

The book delves into numerous issues such as slavery, female sexuality, prostitution, war, and love. At times, it can be quite erotic, so it may not be suitable for those who are not into that. However, the character writing is excellent. Maia evolves from a timid and shy girl to a worldly and knowledgeable woman, although she is almost controlled by her love for Zen-Kurel.

Another aspect that makes this book great is the arc between Zen-Kurel and Maia. Initially, they have a great connection and fall in love. But Maia, being kind-hearted, risks her life to cross the river Valderra to notify the general of the Beklan Empire about Karnat's invasion plans. This leads to Zen-Kurel's capture and him developing a hatred for Maia, despite still loving her. Even when Maia saves him from imprisonment, he wants to kill her. But as Maia journeys to Katria, she saves Zen-Kurel's life multiple times, and he realizes that her intentions were pure. The conclusion is wonderful, and I won't spoil it completely, but it's truly lovely.

In conclusion, if you enjoy a love story, a tale of cunning and intrigue, or simply appreciate the literary quality of books (which Richard Adams' books definitely possess), then this book might be for you. It's long, but it's really good.

There's really nothing inherently wrong with this book.

The prose is indeed quite skilled, although perhaps not to my personal taste. The political plots are dense and have been well-developed, which is quite impressive. Additionally, I found the worldbuilding and the general idea to be quite engaging.

Unfortunately, Maia is my least favorite type of character. She is naive to the point of being stupid, beautiful, always good-hearted, and beloved by everyone she meets. I found her to be completely boring and was actually hoping that she would die and allow Occula to take over the narration. At least Occula had a personality that extended beyond just "yay please have sex with me oh I love you".

I've often heard this book contrasted with the Kushiel's Legacy books, of which I'm a huge fan. However, aside from the whole god-touched sex machine aspect, Maia and Phèdre have absolutely nothing in common. For example, Phèdre has agency and is intelligent, which Maia... well, she doesn't quite measure up in those departments.

That being said, if someone doesn't mind that particular character archetype, I think they would likely enjoy this book. So, take this review with a grain of salt.

Boy, I am truly astonished by the number of people here who have given this book a low rating and asserted that it is "social commentary on women" or that the author clearly has a low opinion of women or portrays them negatively. Seriously? Did we all read the same book? This book is replete with strong and highly admirable female characters. Even those female characters who may not be entirely admirable still cannot be accurately described as dumb, small-brained, solely interested in sex, or any other misrepresentation as slung about in these reviews.

Maia is a fantasy novel in the sense that it is set in an imaginary place, but that is where the fantasy elements essentially conclude. Otherwise, it is far more likely to appeal to fans of historical fiction, with its intense focus on political intrigue, convoluted plots within plots, and the fates of rulers and their concubines. (Perhaps this is precisely why I found it so enjoyable. Instead of perceiving it as some form of condescension towards women, it strikes me as fitting perfectly within the realm of the historical fiction that I adore reading.)

The book is rather lengthy, and Adams occasionally tends to be long-winded, going off on meandering digressions about the various characters' histories. However, the characters are so captivating and Adams' writing is so characteristically vivid and picturesque that it never bothered me enough to prompt me to remove this book from my shelf. (In fact, I had three hardcover copies of this out-of-print gem, and I cherished them deeply, but unfortunately neglected to rescue them from my ex-husband's house when I moved out. :( )

The great strength of this book lies in its diverse array of characters, all of whom are exquisitely painted and highly memorable. Contrary to what other reviewers believed, I found Maia to be not dumb or simplistic but rather compelling in her innocence and sweetness. She is at times naive, but she is also earnest and kind. When confronted with a truly terrible situation (such as, for instance, being sold into sexual slavery), rather than withering away and succumbing, she adapts to her new world with the most positive attitude she can possibly muster. As the novel progresses, she grows a little older and a little wiser, and ultimately blossoms into a heroic, brave young woman, willing to risk her life to save innocent lives. She is a main character well worth rooting for, even if she is not without her flaws.

Occula is yet another female character who exudes confidence and power from the very first moment she appears on the page. She is intelligent, cunning, and possessed of great inner strength and patience that would envy even a monk. In my opinion, Occula is one of the most memorable characters in all of fiction. For reviewers to completely disregard her obvious importance by stating that this book presents a poor view of women is simply absurd. This book would not be what it is without Occula. She is integral to the plot and to the development of numerous other characters and their subplots. I find it extremely difficult to envision a sexist author incorporating such a character into his book. Or at the very least, a sexist author would "punish" such a character in some manner for the mere fact of her greatness. But on the contrary, Occula arrives in Bekla on her own terms, serves where she intends to serve, and, in the end, obtains precisely what she desires in precisely the way she wants it, and ultimately ends up fabulously wealthy and as happy as a clam. This does not seem to be the creation of a sexist writer.

Maia is a long, sensuous, in-depth journey through Adams' fictional world, and the reader is guided by a host of fascinating characters. Do not pass this one up, especially if you love Adams' other works or if you are a fan of character-rich historical fiction.

I could not get past page 28 of this book.

To be honest, I didn't initially realize that it was an Erotica Fantasy. It was given to me, and as I started reading, I found that I really didn't feel comfortable with the whole scenario of a child and a stepfather involved in what seemed like statutory rape.

After reading other reviews, it appears that the content only gets worse as the story progresses.

Well, that's it for me. I do like fantasy, but I need a proper story with engaging characters and a well-developed plot, not just smut.

I guess this particular book just wasn't for me. I'll be looking for something else that can satisfy my love for fantasy without crossing those uncomfortable boundaries.

Maybe there are other great fantasy novels out there that can offer both entertainment and a good story. I'm determined to find them.

What a phenomenal read!

Even after more than a 1000 pages, I'm quite sad it's over. Maia is the story of a girl (Maia), who gets sold into slavery, and everything that happens to her afterwards. The adventure she embarks on, the development she experiences, I found it all highly enjoyable.

The story is divided into 4 acts. The first and the third act have a somewhat slower pace and mainly serve as scene-setting for the more action-packed second and fourth act. There is great detail in the locations of the Beklan Empire, and a few memorable characters. However, the characters are also a point of criticism. Richard Adams loves to go into great detail with locations, but the majority of character descriptions don't go beyond height and hair colour. Considering the length of the book and the number of returning characters, this means that a lot of the characters aren't that memorable, even with a list of characters at the beginning of the book. But Maia, Fornis, and most certainly Occula, to name a few, are completely unforgettable.

While I can understand some of the criticism related to Richard Adams' writing on the female mind, I think the vast majority of the female characters come across as very strong in this book. What's lovely is that this trio of females (Maia, Fornis, and Occula) are all strong characters in their own unique way.

The book is marked on the back as a romance novel, but it's much better to view it as an adventure novel. And in that sense, I really can't recommend it enough. As someone who is into a lot of other media, I would love to see this adapted, or even just use the Beklan Empire as a setting, into a television series, movie, or certainly a video game. I think the world is also a fascinating setting, and I'm very excited to read Shardik and gain some insights into the cultures that weren't as prominently featured in this book.

Richard Adams is perhaps most renowned for his classic work Watership Down. However, in my opinion, the second book of his Beklan Empire series stands as his true Magnum Opus.

While it may not possess the same profound sociological impact as Watership Down, the world that Adams has crafted in Maia and Shardik is truly remarkable in its simplicity. The detailed and vivid descriptions of the characters, their emotions, and the landscapes they inhabit draw the reader in and create a sense of immersion that is truly captivating.

I must admit that these two books, when taken together, have touched me in a way that the story of the rabbits in Watership Down never could. They offer a unique and thought-provoking exploration of human nature, power, and the consequences of our actions.

Overall, I believe that Richard Adams' Beklan Empire series, and in particular Book 2, is a hidden gem that deserves to be discovered and appreciated by a wider audience.

Just another masterpiece from the pen of Richard Adams.

A prequel of sorts to Adams' second novel, Shardik, Maia (written ten years later) does include many of the same characters from Shardik, although the plots of the two novels have little relation to each other.

Both works, based in Adams' richly detailed world, including the Beklan empire and some adjoining territories, are long-format epics, with plots that span periods of a few years.

Although Shardik, with its exploration of religion, its ambiguities and abuses by opportunists, must be considered the more ambitious work, Maia is more than an adventure lark.

It is a coming-of-age story, in which its protagonist's wealth of experiences result in her meteoric growth in emotional maturity from an innocent girl living in the moment to a worldly-wise woman, sure of what she wants from the world.

The changes are pleasingly subtle; Maia loses nothing of her fun-loving nature or spontaneity, but does grow by leaps and bounds in her understanding of and thus her ability to deal with the people she encounters in her adventures.

The sexual elements of the story are trumpeted a bit too much by many reviewers. This is a work of fiction, so there is no call to be offended by Maia's seduction by her stepfather or her subsequent abduction and lifestyle as a slave "bed girl."

I'm amazed that there are those prudish enough to be deterred from continuing by these plot elements. Sex is one of the most important motivating factors among humans, so it stands to reason that in the primitive Beklan cultures especially, it should play a major role in religion and lifestyle.

Conversely, although Maia's sexual escapades are titillating and endear Maia to the reader, this novel is far more than a work of erotica.

Once Maia is free and falls in love, the sex becomes quite sparse. So readers mostly focused on the sex are bound to grow disappointed.

However, I don't see why a tale like this one would fail to draw in most any reader. It's chock-full of interesting characters, sub-plots, intrigue, romance and, of course, swashbuckling adventure.

Most importantly, it is written with a mastery of language that is undeniable. A must for anyone who enjoys a good fantasy adventure novel.

It took me a significant amount of time to precisely figure out the reason why I didn't have a liking for this book. After all, I had a profound love for Shardik, which was set in the same world, and Adams was known for writing some extremely good erotica. So, the question remained: why didn't Maia appeal to me?

Upon re-reading Shardik, I came to the realization of what was lacking in Maia. Maia was a character who merely observed and experienced, but never took any actual action. Her presence led to major events, yet it seemed to be only by default. In fact, any other character placed in her position could have triggered the same events. Ultimately, Maia had as much self-determination and personality as a surveillance camera equipped with a vagina.

In contrast, each of the major (and many minor) characters in Shardik had fully-developed personalities. They were (usually) actively striving towards their own goals, rather than being pushed around by fate (or due to plot requirements). This鲜明的对比highlighted the不足之处of Maia and made me understand why it failed to capture my interest as Shardik had.

Pornography disguised as science fiction. It was truly a disappointment. I couldn't even bring myself to finish it.

I don't necessarily have an issue with sex being present in a book. In fact, if it is executed skillfully enough, I can even find enjoyment in it. After all, I am a guy.

However, sex cannot be the sole element of a book. This particular book lacked any real action and had almost no coherent story. Instead, it was filled with an excessive amount of sex scenes.

I somehow managed to make it about three-fourths of the way through before I finally gave up. Reading about sex continuously for a couple of hundred pages becomes incredibly boring. Life is far too short to waste on such uninteresting and lackluster books.

It's a shame that some authors choose to rely solely on titillation rather than creating a well-rounded and engaging narrative. There are so many other aspects that can be explored and developed to make a book truly captivating. It's time for readers to demand more from the literature they consume.