Books like Firebird

Lots of people had a hard time reading this book because it doesn't have a lot of action, and because it doesn't follow a traditionally gripping narrative. Both of those facts are true. But there is an important note that needs to be made here: Firebird is not a novel. It is a fairy tale. And it is a superb one. Lackey incorporates many traditional fairy tale tropes in Firebird (I.E. the Fool) but does so in a way that does not bore me. Ilya was a captivating character in that he was flawed from the very beginning (his treatment of women) and yet he is still one of the more redeeming characters in the tale. I found Lackey's animal characters to be the most wholesome and true -- which speaks to the true nature of our world in so many ways. None of the humans were blameless, as a nice foil to the humans. The pacing was solid, the descriptions vivid, and the tale itself was vibrant and new. All in all, this fairy tale comes highly recommended from me.