Lovely but somewhat slight coming-of-age novel of a queen-to-be in an all-female Amazonian society. I’m not sure exactly why I want to call it “slight”—perhaps because the narrator keeps us at somewhat of a distance (she keeps her emotions at a distance for most of the book as well) and the story at times seems spare in terms of what we actually get to see and feel. But plenty happens in the story, and it feels complete and worthwhile by the end. The writing is beautiful and obviously carefully crafted, and the whole novel has a poetic/mythic feel. ( )

A story about the Amazon culture of women. A young girl must find strength to become Queen one day, despite confusion and misgivings about her life and her own mother's sorrow over her birth. A lovely read, filled with all of Alice Hoffman's gifts: the power to create magical worlds on paper and transform characters with strength and love. ( )

Reviewed by Me for TeensReadToo.com

In this intense yet complicated fantasy story, Rain attempts to gain her mother's notice and acceptance by being the best of warriors in their Amazonian tribe. The product of a rape when her mother, Alina, wasn't much more than a child herself, it is hard to gain the Queen's approval. Although Rain knows that she's been raised by Deborah, the wise priestess, to one day be Queen herself, she also pays attention to Deborah's promises of a much grander destiny.

Rain doesn't totally understand the Queen's desire to so thoroughly destroy her enemies, even though her own cousins, Astella and Asteria, are two of the fiercest warriors in the tribe. When Alina takes Penthe as her companion, and Penthe's daughter Io seeks to be Rain's sister, matters become even more complicated. Rain wants nothing more than to ride her horse, Sky, to garner her mother's approval, to earn the place as rightful Queen that will someday come upon her.

On her first journey alone, Rain comes upon a bear cub, which she takes back to camp. She names him Usha, and together with Io the two girls raise the cub as if he were a horse. Although Rain and Io soon discover the mistake of doing so, it's too late--Usha is killed in battle, and Rain still doesn't have the love and acceptance of her mother.

THE FORETELLING is a coming-of-age story set in a fantastical land of the Amazons. Rain is a compelling character who, although she tries so hard to be vicious and fierce like her fellow tribe-members, always leans more towards peace for all men and compassion towards her enemies.

Not to be missed by lovers of fantasy stories! ( )

This book was really scary! Well, not scary but really creepy and weird! I think that Rain, the main character, is definitely different from all the other people in her, sorta village. Definitely unique! I knew that from the beginning! This book was sorta predictable though... ( )

Yeah, yeah, once upon a time we were all Amazons, blah, blah, blah. YA, which may account for it being rather trite and unsatisfying. ( )