The Temple at Landfall (The Celaeno Series) Paperback – November 1, 2005

Unlike Jane Fletcher’s other series, The Lyremouth Chronicles: The Exile and the Sorceror , The Traitor and the Chalice , The Empress and the Acolyte , The High Priest and the Idol ,which was written and published in chronological order, The Celaeno Series was NOT, and according to the ads, Ms. Fletcher actually managed to fool her own publisher on the correct chronological reading order (rarely a good thing to do) so for the curious, I will layout the five existing books in the correct order based upon their starting dates:9 July 519:  Shadow of the Knife ,16 September 533:  Rangers at Roadsend ,1 March 536:  The Temple at Landfall ,24 August 553:  The Walls of Westernfort ,23 February 561:  Dynasty of Rogues .(There are much earlier dated appendices in “Rangers at Roadsend” and “The Temple at Landfall” but there is no need IMHO to bother reading them in chronological order.)“The Temple at Landfall” is the third book in the series, but the first one written and having been tricked into purchasing and reading it first, I can see some logic in that… because one of the basics of homosexuality is that it does not produce children. Homosexuals can either adopt or use “some other method” to acquire children, and Ms. Fletcher uses both methods in her two fantasy series. In The Lyremoutn Chronicles, adoption is used because a combination of sorcerer provided advanced magical healing and a peaceful form of government results in heterosexual characters having more children than they can possibly raise, providing adoption opportunities for homosexual couples; however, in the all-female population of The Celaeno Series, “some other method” is required. For animals that other method is a psychic talent called “Cloning”, but for humans, that other method is a much rarer advanced psychic talent called “Imprinting”, a special power that allows a woman so gifted to combine the DNA of the Birth mother and the Gene mother to produce a child in a similar way to how it is naturally done by heterosexuals with a man in place of the gene mother (without the sex, of course).Lynn is an imprinter,... a very good imprinter, who can produce a healthy child in one quarter the time of a more average imprinter, which puts her in very high demand. Now, you might think that being a very good imprinter would give Lynn great power but because of the way the local religion is set up, she is basically a glorified slave that the Sisters fight over the control (ownership) of because they can charge high imprinting fees for her activity. The story opens with Lynn basically being seized from the temple at Fairfield in order to be transported to the temple at Landfall, which Lynn is OK with because she figures it will give her a good last look at the mountain wilderness she grew up with. What she has absolutely no desire to see more of are snow lions, vicious women-killing creatures that thanks to the death of her aunt when she was a child she, unfortunately, knows a lot more about than either the Sisters or the armed Guards accompanying her know. Worse, neither bunch is willing to listen to the members of the Rangers, who are actually tasked with hunting down and killing snow lions. (You can see where this is going.) Yes, thanks to stupidity all around they are attacked by snow lions while crossing the mountains but Lynn’s life is saved by Ranger Lieutenant Kim Ramon’s sacrificial bravery. Lynn says to Kim that she has fallen in love with her and (to her surprise) Kim says that she has fallen in love with Lynn, but rules for imprinters are a lot more strict (celibacy is supposedly required): Kim is busted down to private and flogged a hundred times, but thanks to Lynn’s insistence on assuming all the blame she possibly can, is not executed. Then Lynn hears that Kim has died….Fortunately, Kim has not. As it turns out Kim has run into a bunch of heretics, women who have fled the teachings of the sisters and are trying to live their own lives separate from the government off in the wilderness. As it turns out they already have just about everything they need in order to survive and thrive but they’ve only got a senior citizen Cloner so unless they are willing to switch to a plant-based diet they will eventually be in trouble.Except that Kim thinks she knows where they might be able to get not just a younger cloner but an imprinter, who would open up the possibility of a multi-generational future….This novel was a hoot and a half, and I instantly decided I would love this series, though as it turned out that abject love only extended to volumes 2-4 and not 1 or 5. In addition, the 22-page Appendix at the end, spelling out exactly how this world began was also very interesting. I’d still recommend reading it in chronological order; just don’t skip volumes 2-4.

I love this series. Some people have written some well through out reviews so I'm not going to say much but I still wanted to get my positive rating in on this series. I've read each book numerous times, except The Shadow of the Knife which I just can't get into. I like the characters, the plot of each story and the overall story of the series. Also I highly recommend reading the appendix. My kindle will often show the story has ended but there is still the appendix and it adds so much to the story's setting. I would recommend not reading them in order of publishing date instead read them in this order.The Rangers at RoadsendThe Temple at LandfallThe Walls of WesternfortDynasty of RoguesI like the characters so much that I want to know what they're doing now.

Now, yes, this book does have the element of romance in it. When looking for a new lesbian book to read, I found this series. It seemed promising with all these 5 star reviews. However, it feels like they were looking at a different book than I was. Here are my reasons this book just doesn't do it for me.Such a huge percentage of the book was dedicated to understanding the "sisterhood" and temple life. When the two characters finally meet, it is incredibly rushed and we are made to believe that they have fallen in love. However, WE DON'T GET TO SEE IT! We are only told that they have spent day after day together. Then it goes into a lot of the rangers and military issues. The end is rushed. It is a PLEASANT ending. But it leaves you questioning things.The MOST interesting part was the end when we get to read diaries and find out how the whole world came to be. Sadly, THAT should have been the book. Not sure if I will ever read another one of her books. It was relatively good. But there are elements that just don't match up for me and detract from the story. Like these "imprinters" who live in a time that I would consider middle earth over here are talking about DNA and genetics...Make your own decision. But I thought I'd let people know that the book isn't exactly "Perfect" as other reviews have made it to be.

As a long time science fiction fan and a lesbian, I must say this book and the whole series is fantastic!The story is hopeful and optimistic, yet mined with real intrigue. Jane Fletcher has done a great job of weaving romance, science fiction, and the fantasy of a woman only world together.Characters such as Gina Renamed and Kim Ramon were strongly written. Gina's story of the discovery of Celaeno's origin is convincing and fascinating. It's a dream to read about romance between women, pure and unsullied, in a society of all women.I wish that Jane Fletcher would continue the series. I would buy every single book. I wonder what would happen if the heretics somehow managed to release the contents of the temple library to the public. Or what if Celaeno's origin arrived at Landfall (trying not to give spoilers here)? What happened to the other ships? There's lots more science fiction to be mined.This is a great book. You won't regret buying it.

I am always sad to reach the end of a Jane Fletcher novel... I want the story to go on forever. Jane Fletcher, my gratitude to you for your amazing talent, art, heart and soul.

The characters are probably the best feature in this book. The author puts an inward perspective to the reader in just a few relatable words.The rest, however, loses its flow and clarity. Story line is very predictable. Dialogue sections and environment description can be confusing and jagged.

Enjoyed the books so much I have physical copies. I re read them all the time. The characters are amazing

Jane Fletcher is one of those rare authors whose stories draw you into the plot, the characters and the setting from the first paragraph. In other words, a born storyteller; a quality which is so easy to recognise but so hard to define (or we would all be doing it). I have read very book in the Celaeno series and enjoyed them all but have a special affection for the Temple at Landfall. The world building is imaginative, detailed and consistent but never intrusive. The characters are most enjoyable, whether they are delightful, as in the two main protagonists, or are splendidly evil. Interestingly, though there is some violence the author always draws illuminates the pity and the anger of it so it becomes emotionally involving despite being far less graphic than is the case with many adventure novels.The world of the series is all female so inevitably the romantic interest is lesbian. it would be a shame if the mainstream reader were to be put off by this. The explicit sex scenes are a small part of the novel and for the heterosexual easily read through at speed. The romantic elements satisfy in a way that is not necessarily gender specific; these are just couples in love and as such well described.I have a low tolerance for sorcery and magic so the process of imprinting could be a problem if you are the same however the scientific approach to it just about allows the suspension of disbelief.

It takes a little time to get used to this single sex world and the consequences of that. How the inhabitants have developed a complex culture based on religion and hierarchy forms the core of the story. The characters are very interesting .

Fantastic book - captivating, well paced, imaginative, well thought through, original. Looking forward to the next one.

What can I say, Jane Fletcher has quite the imagination, each of the Celaeno series is a stand alone book, good in it's own right. Each book in this series explores different aspects and view points of individuals around a central community. The Cover says:"Lynn is an imprinter, one chosen by the Goddess to receive her greatest gift, that of creating new life. So why does she feel like a prisoner in the temple?When Lynn learns that she is to be relocated to the temple at Landfall, the arduous journey seems more like a gift - her last chance to see something of the outside world. She does not appreciate the dangers and temptations she will encounter along the way, nor does she expect Lieutenant Kim Ramon, an officer in the squadron of Rangers assigned to protect her. Despite all prohibitions forbidding it, attraction grows between the two women.Against them stand the powerful religious Sisterhood and their holy warriors - the Temple Guards. In a world ruled by the Church, what chance is there that Lynn can escape?"

Jane Fletcher est une auteur fantastique. Tous ces livres nous transportent. C'est exactement ce que je cherchais. Je suis vraiment très satisfaite. Merci