I read the first part of this when it first came out in Interzone, way back in the day. At that time, I thought I had read the rest since, but as it turns out, this was mostly new to me. I generally enjoyed it, which is a relief. You see, I bounced off a couple of other books by Gwyneth Jones that I tried in the meantime.

I also suspect that I would not have enjoyed it as much when it first came out. The disintegration of the United Kingdom's structure of government doesn't seem either as improbable or as unwelcome as it did in 2001. The setting is a near-future England where Scotland and Wales have become independent and Ireland has reunited. The counterculture takes over the government, so senior political figures are also playing in their own bands. In fact, they are perhaps a bit better known for the latter than the former.

Our heroine, Fiorinda, undergoes a gruesome sexual initiation in the first section of the book. One of the plot strands is her personal quest to come to terms with it. Other strands involve the machinations of various factions, some more believable than others. It's a really impressive vision of what a future England could look like, even if it's now twenty years old. It's slightly dystopian but also with a tinge of optimism. https://nwhyte.livejournal.com/3639413.html

A brutally, beautiful and lyrical novel that casts its shadow far and wide. It is not just an ordinary piece of literature but a work that has a profound impact.

As a science-fiction novel, it predicts a plethora of events and inventions that are yet to come to pass. In terms of concepts and delivery, it is like a finely tuned machine. It holds up a mirror to our ugly times and reflects the truth in a way that is both震撼 and eye-opening. What William Gibson did for science-fiction, Jones has achieved for science fiction-fantasy, and she did it a decade and a half ago.

Perfectly paced and intelligently written, "Bold as Love (Bold As Love #1)" is such an evocatively and well-crafted work. I must emphasize that I write this without any hyperbole or pretension. I am simply a discerning and impartial judge of writing.

I had numerous other thoughts and ideas about this novel, but since I enjoyed it so thoroughly, I believe it is best to let you discover its wonders for yourself.

Wow!

This is the first book in a long while that I have read and felt an immediate urge to get my hands on the next one.

The cliffhanger at the end definitely played a part in this, but it's so much more than that.

This is a truly astounding near-future post economic collapse fantasy.

I initially picked it up because of the Arthurian tropes it promised, but I was completely blown away by the entire package.

The world-building is vivid and detailed, painting a picture of a society in turmoil after an economic collapse.

The characters are complex and well-developed, each with their own motives and desires.

The story is fast-paced and full of action, keeping me on the edge of my seat from start to finish.

I can't wait to see what happens next in this exciting series.

I simply couldn't bring myself to finish this book.

Generally speaking, I have a penchant for envisioning a dystopian future, but this particular one just didn't click with me.

I found myself completely disengaged from the characters. Their stories failed to tug at my heartstrings or make me invested in their fates.

The context within which the plot unfolded also held no allure for me. It seemed lackluster and uninteresting, failing to draw me into its world.

Moreover, the writing itself was a major letdown. It didn't have the power to captivate my attention and hold it firmly.

In fact, I'm even resentful of the $.50 that it will cost me for returning it late to the library. It feels like a waste of both my time and money.

Overall, this book was a disappointment and not one that I would recommend to others.

A really hard book to like.

This statement implies that the book in question presents significant challenges or qualities that make it difficult for the reader to develop a positive attitude towards it.

It could be due to a variety of reasons. Perhaps the writing style is overly complex or convoluted, making it a struggle to understand the author's intended message.

The plot might be slow-paced or lack engaging elements, causing the reader to lose interest.

Additionally, the characters could be unlikable or not well-developed, making it hard for the reader to form an emotional connection.

Despite these difficulties, it is important to note that everyone's reading preferences are different. What one person finds hard to like, another might appreciate for its unique qualities.

It is possible that with further exploration or a different reading approach, the book could reveal hidden gems and become more enjoyable.

However, initially, the perception of it being a really hard book to like remains a valid observation.

The characters and setting presented in this work seemed extremely contrived, as if they were plucked from some fantastical MTV wonderland. Perhaps it's a characteristic specific to Londontown. While reading, my mind constantly wandered, and I had to reread several passages to regain the flow of the characters' oh-so-hip and oh-so-transgressive misadventures. However, to me, it felt like an amphetamine rush, and truth be told, I've never really been a fan of speed.

I'm using a fair amount of slang here, just as I noticed Jones did.

I found the text to be overly wrought, overwritten, and far too over-the-top. Consequently, by page 90, my reading of this novel had come to an end. I craved something more substantial, but unfortunately, I couldn't find it. Apparently, though, others did manage to discover something of value within its pages.

Apparently, this particular item isn't actually available in the US.

It's quite a pity as it seems to have caught my interest.

So, for the time being, it might well sit on this to-read shelf for a while.

I can only hope that at some point in the future, it becomes accessible here.

Maybe it will be due to a change in distribution or an increase in demand.

Until then, I'll have to content myself with looking at it on the shelf and imagining what it might be like to read.

Who knows, perhaps when it finally does become available, I'll have forgotten all about it.

But for now, it remains a tantalizing mystery on my to-read shelf.

This book is truly extraordinary.

Its premise is highly original: In a near-future England, during the summer when the UK breaks up voluntarily, a group of rock stars unexpectedly find themselves attempting to hold the country together after a coup topples the power structure.

At first, it might sound a bit ridiculous. However, Jones manages to draw you in with her inventive yet entirely believable worldbuilding and vivid characterizations.

This novel is the unlikely but enthralling lovechild of dystopian sci-fi, Arthurian legend, an environmentalist protest rally, and a rock festival.

It is both serious and scary, yet it also loves to party and holds out hope amid all the heartache.

Unfortunately, it's not readily available in America. But after stumbling upon Bold as Love in a used bookstore while abroad, I simply had to order the rest of the series from the UK.

Believe me, they are definitely worth it.

Gwyneth Jones is an outstanding writer. Her works are generally highly readable, although often they are just one-time reads. However, this is not the case with "Bold as Love". I have read and re-read this book dozens of times.

It is a near future science fantasy with a chilling motif that borrows significantly from the fairytale type where the king attempts to marry his own daughter. Child abuse and endangerment are recurring themes, and some scenes and situations are extremely disturbing.

The story starts with Fiorinda, a singer who arrives at a music festival celebrating the Dissolution of the Act of Union. She hears rumors that her father, a famous and wealthy musician, will be there and plans to confront him. After overhearing a conversation, she assumes they are talking about her father, but instead, she meets Ax Preston, a guitarist with big ideas and a desire to change the world for the better. Disappointed, Fiorinda goes to meet her friend, Sage Pender, a performer also known as Aoxomoxoa.

The three are invited to participate in a "Counter-Cultural Think Tank" organized by the Home Secretary. The purpose is to give the appearance that the government is listening to the concerns of the Counter Culture, which is extremely unhappy with the state of the world. They take part, although it seems more about looking good than doing anything. Then a shock-rocker named Pig stages a violent coup, and Fiorinda, Ax, and Sage are forced to go along with what he wants. Sage and Ax are made to be Pig's henchmen while Fiorinda and other members of the former Think Tank are held hostage. This causes significant strain between Ax and Fiorinda, who had been in a relationship.

One of the main reasons I like this book is the relationships between the three main characters. Instead of a traditional love triangle, we have a love-triad. Over the course of the story, Sage and Ax become closer as friends, and they both grow closer to Fiorinda. I enjoyed watching their relationships develop as they worked together. It was one of the brighter aspects of this grim yet strangely hopeful book.

Gwyneth Jones presents a captivating tale of three rock frontpersons. There is a fairy-like and enchanting young woman, a powerful lead singer/guitarist with a political bent, and a dangerously hypnotic soundscape wizard. These individuals are thrust into a nation-wide intrigue.

Jones delves into the myth of rock/pop as a revolutionary force capable of transforming the surrounding society, similar to a not-so-rosy version of the hippie generation's dream in a predominantly modern world with touches of magic.

The book explores the semi-realistic manifestation of this dream of rock music ascending to the national forefront, incorporating a comprehensive collection of rocklore, partially drawn from the annals of rock history. Given its close connection to rock mythos, a certain degree of over-legendarization can be overlooked. However, in the end, the story either fails to fulfill the dream it explores or does so too faithfully to the fantastical all-has-happened world of rock. The narrative seems implausible in almost every aspect, such as rock stars effortlessly becoming perfect soldiers, politicians, and leaders. Despite some fine writing at times, the novel disappoints in terms of meeting my expectations of the best aspect of urban fantasy: the sense of fantastic realism.

I have just closed this book, and to be honest, I'm truly at a loss as to whether I liked it or not.

I must admit that I did enjoy the characters. They were well-developed and had their own unique personalities that made them quite engaging. Additionally, I actually grew to like the dystopian near-future setting. It was an interesting concept that added an element of intrigue and mystery to the story.

However, the book had its flaws. It was just so... rambling and plotless. There were a bunch of incidents that occurred, but they were quickly dealt with, and the narrative just shuffled on. In fact, nothing really happened in over 250 pages. It felt like the author was just going through the motions, without really having a clear direction or purpose for the story.

Overall, I'm left with a sense of disappointment. I had high hopes for this book, but it just didn't deliver. I'm not sure if I would recommend it to others, as it may not be to everyone's taste.

This was truly very odd.

It was a futuristic dystopian fantasy that incorporated rock stars, which made it far too strange for me to truly enjoy it, unfortunately.

As the political structures of England crumble and fall apart, violent coups take place, and alternative regimes emerge. In the midst of this chaos, our Arthurian-inspired trio, Fiorinda, Ax, and Sage, rise to the occasion and lead the people. Along the way, they not only give concerts but also inspire the masses.

Certainly, it's not a dreadful book. I quite appreciate Jones' writing style and her unique and quirky characters. However, the plot of this story was simply too vast and weird to fully draw me in and hold my attention. It left me feeling a bit lost and confused at times.