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eh1736's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Moderate: Slavery, Child abuse, and Child death
massivepizzacrust's review
adventurous
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
I'm still trying to find a Martha Wells book I really love and maybe I just have to admit I'm not on the same train as everyone else. I love the characters in her book, and that was the case here as well. I could have spent so much more time exploring their relationships and the world around them, it was just so fascinating. I loved Kai and the rest of his crew so much.
But giving both timelines the same amount of pages didn't really work for me and I ended up not getting enough from either timeline. We spent time with the characters as they were establishing their relationships, and then again when they had been together for hundreds of years when what I had wanted was to see them grow close.
I'm really surprised this is a standalone because there are so many open questions that I thought we would get answers to. The plot resolution ended up being much smaller than I expected for a book over 400 pages.
But giving both timelines the same amount of pages didn't really work for me and I ended up not getting enough from either timeline. We spent time with the characters as they were establishing their relationships, and then again when they had been together for hundreds of years when what I had wanted was to see them grow close.
I'm really surprised this is a standalone because there are so many open questions that I thought we would get answers to. The plot resolution ended up being much smaller than I expected for a book over 400 pages.
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Child death
ruthlessreads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Lots of interesting things about this book but, as a whole, it didn't really stand out to me in the fantasy genre. I found the story dragging, despite my initial interest in the characters and the world that was being built. I didn't fully understand what was going on until about halfway through the book. I don't normally stick around that long if I'm not feeling a story but I really like this author so I wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt. Overall, I did enjoy it and there were some events at the end of the story that made the narrative much more interesting but, ultimately, I wish it had been constructed differently or not been quite so long. I *would* read another book in this world but maybe I'd prefer it as a novella.
Graphic: Body horror, Murder, War, Confinement, Colonisation, Violence, Kidnapping, Genocide, and Death
Moderate: Classism, Child death, Grief, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, and Torture
crownoflaurel's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Genocide
Moderate: Murder, Confinement, and Slavery
Minor: Animal cruelty, Body horror, and Child death
trippyotter's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
An epic start to a genderfluid high fantasy full of rebellion uprising, betrayal, and adventure.
The Witch King takes you through the past as our present-day characters set forth to find their missing friends and discover who betrayed them.
My only wish would have been further progression in the present storyline, but with a complex world and history, I'm not sure that would have been possible. I can't wait to see what lays ahead of our characters as the story progresses.
The Witch King takes you through the past as our present-day characters set forth to find their missing friends and discover who betrayed them.
My only wish would have been further progression in the present storyline, but with a complex world and history, I'm not sure that would have been possible. I can't wait to see what lays ahead of our characters as the story progresses.
Graphic: Confinement, Grief, Physical abuse, Blood, Gaslighting, Gore, Murder, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, War, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Child death
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