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metaphorosis's review against another edition
2.0
The Left Hand of God was a disappointment. Even allowing for over-hyping, I expected more from a book hailed as ' "Ender's Game" meets the Inquisition.' In truth, while it does deal with harshly, highly trained children, Daniel Abraham recently covered the same ground better (A Shadow in Winter).
Overall, Left Hand could have benefited from a more aggressive editor. There were occasional well-turned or strking phrases, but they were mixed in with a greater amount of awkward phrasing, typos, poor or even incorrect word choice, inconsistent narrators, and inappropriate context.
Left Hand tells the story of three boys who've grown up almost entirely in an inland monastery, and a girl from a similar convent. The setting appears to be a post-apocalyptic North America, given references to Memphis, the Appalachians, and dollars. The universe here is very small - a couple of neighbouring kingdoms (essentially) - and the known world appears to extend no more than several hundred miles. Society has regressed to a standard fantasy/medieval level where siege engines are an innovation. Yet at one point, a lady blithely sends someone off to the Middle East, and there is mention of a Jerusalem campaign a couple of hundred years back. It's hard to see how such a minor empire can so easily cross the Atlantic.
The book is full of similar inconsistencies or improbabilities. For example, while our world is still restricted to four children with very limited experience, a colour change is compared to color changes in an octopus - a creature none of the children will have heard of, and which likely no one in this entire world has heard of or observed. Similarly, while our protagonist is described as the youngest ever to enter the monastery, at about age 6, the author later describes crowds of 5 year olds chanting.
The story itself is interesting, with some novelty, though also with some enticing threads left almost completely unexplored by the end of the book. However, the inconsistent writing prevents it from being convincing, and tired stereotypes make matters worse - for example, Jews suddenly enter late in the story, purely to describe a class of moneylenders.
All in all, interesting, but hard to recommend, like a fantasy written by someone with only a passing familiarity with the genre. Some new things happen, but the errors more than overset the freshness.
Overall, Left Hand could have benefited from a more aggressive editor. There were occasional well-turned or strking phrases, but they were mixed in with a greater amount of awkward phrasing, typos, poor or even incorrect word choice, inconsistent narrators, and inappropriate context.
Left Hand tells the story of three boys who've grown up almost entirely in an inland monastery, and a girl from a similar convent. The setting appears to be a post-apocalyptic North America, given references to Memphis, the Appalachians, and dollars. The universe here is very small - a couple of neighbouring kingdoms (essentially) - and the known world appears to extend no more than several hundred miles. Society has regressed to a standard fantasy/medieval level where siege engines are an innovation. Yet at one point, a lady blithely sends someone off to the Middle East, and there is mention of a Jerusalem campaign a couple of hundred years back. It's hard to see how such a minor empire can so easily cross the Atlantic.
The book is full of similar inconsistencies or improbabilities. For example, while our world is still restricted to four children with very limited experience, a colour change is compared to color changes in an octopus - a creature none of the children will have heard of, and which likely no one in this entire world has heard of or observed. Similarly, while our protagonist is described as the youngest ever to enter the monastery, at about age 6, the author later describes crowds of 5 year olds chanting.
The story itself is interesting, with some novelty, though also with some enticing threads left almost completely unexplored by the end of the book. However, the inconsistent writing prevents it from being convincing, and tired stereotypes make matters worse - for example, Jews suddenly enter late in the story, purely to describe a class of moneylenders.
All in all, interesting, but hard to recommend, like a fantasy written by someone with only a passing familiarity with the genre. Some new things happen, but the errors more than overset the freshness.
yesteres's review against another edition
5.0
This was so good it deserves a big boy review, but for the meantime, I will just say that the warnings about pride peppered throughout the book made the ending that much better. Debating on whether I move onto the next book or wait until after the last is published I can finish the rest story in one week.
aidenseeyathere's review against another edition
1.0
Okay so I don't often hate a book since usually a book has some redeeming qualities. But this book is way better in theory than it is in practice. An incredibly interesting premise that was poorly executed with just random misogyny sprinkled in there. If I ever have to hear about Riba's """plumpness""" or Arbell "Swan-Neck" who many men have tried to imagine naked.... I might actually commit a war crime.
Granted, the first 10 chapters were enjoyable. They were dark and gritty and described awful living circumstances and grotesque stuff happening, but as the book progressed the entire tone shifted and it became a hot mess. I would've rather the gang stayed in the Redeemer's monastery for the entire book than whatever nonsense happened in Memphis.
The romance is by far the most unbelievable romance I have ever read. When the basis of your romance is that the person you might like is cold and heartless, but deep down probably a good person, it's probably good to ditch the romance plot and find a different way to have leverage on Cale.
Speaking of - Cale is by far the most insufferable protagonist to read about. He's good at everything, can defeat war veterans without so much as a scratch (despite being described as a half-malnourished yet dorito-shaped 15-year old) and the best generals in town, and barely gets any problems for it. In fact, he manages to get a seat as a top strategist even though he killed one of the most important generals in the Materazzi army. It's absolutely ridiculous and not in the good way. There's no grain of empathy in this man, and I have no grain of sympathy for him. However, somehow he manages to get the girl and be one of the most important people in the entire city. It reads as someone's first rogue character and follows all the tropes.
And then we aren't even talking about how the writing is slow, filled with unnecessary detail, and has awful pacing. Most of this book could've been condensed so it would've been 150 pages shorter and it would've covered the same ground. There are many long paragraphs that describe the size of cavalry or lore and worldbuilding that is never touched upon ever again. The dialogue is supposedly filled with "dark humour" that falls flat on its face.
Also, where does this book take place? Why is there mention of York, but also Memphis? Why are the Norwegians mentioned? Why is there a section about how Jews always take the short end of the stick in war??? Why was Jesus mentioned despite the fact that this book spends a good 5 chapters setting up a different religion system?? I thought we were in a fantasy universe???
I was planning to read the second and third book in this trilogy but after looking at some of the reviews it apparently only gets worse and doesn't deliver on the premise, so I'm not going to bother. Such a pity, though.
Granted, the first 10 chapters were enjoyable. They were dark and gritty and described awful living circumstances and grotesque stuff happening, but as the book progressed the entire tone shifted and it became a hot mess. I would've rather the gang stayed in the Redeemer's monastery for the entire book than whatever nonsense happened in Memphis.
The romance is by far the most unbelievable romance I have ever read. When the basis of your romance is that the person you might like is cold and heartless, but deep down probably a good person, it's probably good to ditch the romance plot and find a different way to have leverage on Cale.
Speaking of - Cale is by far the most insufferable protagonist to read about. He's good at everything, can defeat war veterans without so much as a scratch (despite being described as a half-malnourished yet dorito-shaped 15-year old) and the best generals in town, and barely gets any problems for it. In fact, he manages to get a seat as a top strategist even though he killed one of the most important generals in the Materazzi army. It's absolutely ridiculous and not in the good way. There's no grain of empathy in this man, and I have no grain of sympathy for him. However, somehow he manages to get the girl and be one of the most important people in the entire city. It reads as someone's first rogue character and follows all the tropes.
And then we aren't even talking about how the writing is slow, filled with unnecessary detail, and has awful pacing. Most of this book could've been condensed so it would've been 150 pages shorter and it would've covered the same ground. There are many long paragraphs that describe the size of cavalry or lore and worldbuilding that is never touched upon ever again. The dialogue is supposedly filled with "dark humour" that falls flat on its face.
Also, where does this book take place? Why is there mention of York, but also Memphis? Why are the Norwegians mentioned? Why is there a section about how Jews always take the short end of the stick in war??? Why was Jesus mentioned despite the fact that this book spends a good 5 chapters setting up a different religion system?? I thought we were in a fantasy universe???
I was planning to read the second and third book in this trilogy but after looking at some of the reviews it apparently only gets worse and doesn't deliver on the premise, so I'm not going to bother. Such a pity, though.
treeswerepens's review against another edition
2.0
I would describe this book as just okay. It was interesting and fast paced enough that I breezed through it and was never really bored. But it also wasn't very good. The writing was rather poor, and even though it was an obviously foreign fantasy world, he kept throwing in random every-day jargon and history, and it didn't mesh well. His main character was also relatively unsympathetic.
I didn't know this book was part of a trilogy when I picked it up, and I really don't feel compelled enough to pick up the next in the series.
I didn't know this book was part of a trilogy when I picked it up, and I really don't feel compelled enough to pick up the next in the series.
busdjur's review against another edition
3.0
First off: Warning - some people who are religious might take offence of content in this book.
I liked how this story didn´t start with setting all things clear and instead let the bigger picture slowly grow and sorting out things I wondered along the way.
After reading the full trilogy:
I haven´t read books by Paul Hoffman but was intrigued by the unusual writing style. The books in this series are filled with dark humor and they keep you guessing. I still have missing pieces in the puzzle and find the books to be bigger than one might think at first glance. I feel no longing for re-reading them now but I think that I´ll figure out new things and notice more details when I do.
I liked how this story didn´t start with setting all things clear and instead let the bigger picture slowly grow and sorting out things I wondered along the way.
After reading the full trilogy:
I haven´t read books by Paul Hoffman but was intrigued by the unusual writing style. The books in this series are filled with dark humor and they keep you guessing. I still have missing pieces in the puzzle and find the books to be bigger than one might think at first glance. I feel no longing for re-reading them now but I think that I´ll figure out new things and notice more details when I do.
birchjilguero's review against another edition
3.0
This book was a roller coaster. I am torn between liking it and despising it.
The problem was, there was very rarely anything 'in the moment'. The events all seemed detached - from the reader and from each other. Events in the book sometimes didn't make sense or have anything to do with each other. And because the events themselves were talked about like they happened way off in some other time, you were rarely there for the action. Battles were technical and other times very simple so it was either a hit or miss. Violence was a bit shocking but nothing overdone.
The characters were also hard to reach. It seemed like actions and dialogue were heavily relied on for characterization and this was a definite miss (in my opinion, not enough internal dialogue). They all fell flat. Somehow I was still able to develop fondness for them just by what they said - Kleist and IdrisPukke come to mind.
Overall this was an amazing idea but a rather bland execution.
The problem was, there was very rarely anything 'in the moment'. The events all seemed detached - from the reader and from each other. Events in the book sometimes didn't make sense or have anything to do with each other. And because the events themselves were talked about like they happened way off in some other time, you were rarely there for the action. Battles were technical and other times very simple so it was either a hit or miss. Violence was a bit shocking but nothing overdone.
The characters were also hard to reach. It seemed like actions and dialogue were heavily relied on for characterization and this was a definite miss (in my opinion, not enough internal dialogue). They all fell flat. Somehow I was still able to develop fondness for them just by what they said - Kleist and IdrisPukke come to mind.
Overall this was an amazing idea but a rather bland execution.
elisasophie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
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
4.0
carmenna's review against another edition
2.0
La mano sinistra di Dio è un libro scritto abbastanza bene, con un inizio intrigante: in un monastero da cui sembra impossibile scappare, dei monaci folli, crudeli ed invasati educano alla guerra bambini rapiti alle loro famiglie, perché possano un giorno combattere contro gli Antagonisti, che non credono in nessun Dio.
Tuttavia, più si va avanti nella storia, più questa risulta noiosa: i personaggi non hanno spessore, lo stesso Cale, il protagonista, è tratteggiato male, e non si riesce a provare per lui nemmeno un pò di simpatia; le battaglie non emozionano; la storia d'amore tra il giovane e la bella Arbell è piatta e insignificante.
Si tratta palesemente di un libro per ragazzini, ed ho fatto molta molta fatica ad arrivare alla fine.
Il romanzo purtroppo non trasmette nulla, e nulla lascia, è solo un lunghissimo prequel a quella che - credo - sarà la storia vera e propria (vedi Le quattro cose ultime). Alla famosa "mano sinistra" si accenna infatti solo alla fine, e comunque il tutto potrebbe rivelarsi il frutto della mente deviata di un monaco, e risolversi in un nulla di fatto. Alcuni interrogativi restano, come il motivo per il quale uno dei monaci sezionava ragazze vive, ma non sono abbastanza per invogliare il lettore a proseguire con il secondo volume.
http://iltesorodicarta.blogspot.it/
Tuttavia, più si va avanti nella storia, più questa risulta noiosa: i personaggi non hanno spessore, lo stesso Cale, il protagonista, è tratteggiato male, e non si riesce a provare per lui nemmeno un pò di simpatia; le battaglie non emozionano; la storia d'amore tra il giovane e la bella Arbell è piatta e insignificante.
Si tratta palesemente di un libro per ragazzini, ed ho fatto molta molta fatica ad arrivare alla fine.
Il romanzo purtroppo non trasmette nulla, e nulla lascia, è solo un lunghissimo prequel a quella che - credo - sarà la storia vera e propria (vedi Le quattro cose ultime). Alla famosa "mano sinistra" si accenna infatti solo alla fine, e comunque il tutto potrebbe rivelarsi il frutto della mente deviata di un monaco, e risolversi in un nulla di fatto. Alcuni interrogativi restano, come il motivo per il quale uno dei monaci sezionava ragazze vive, ma non sono abbastanza per invogliare il lettore a proseguire con il secondo volume.
http://iltesorodicarta.blogspot.it/
annasirius's review against another edition
2.0
Positive things first: this is well written, and the characters are fleshed out well enough to fulfil their function.
On the downside, this brims with clichés. Strict religious convents led by fanatics, political leaders that are seriously called 'Gauleiter' (ouch, ouch, this hurts!), tough guys who can take a beating vs. soft girls who've been pampered all their lives, and heavy-handed, cloiteringly sweet foreshadowing. "How different history would have been had Cale not encountered her inside the great wall that afternoon, or lacked the deftness in that dark and slippery place to pull her back and, as certainly would have been the case, she had broken her oh-so-beautifully long and elegant neck on the flagstones below." (p. 184) Sigh. Beside the fact that this is bad story telling style, how does a boy who has not seen any female being since the age of seven even know what in his culture constitutes a beautiful woman? And why would someone as guarded as the main character develop fixed ideas about romance from such a short encounter when his mind is bent on fleeing the place?
I read a lot of recently published fantasy, and I am surprised how few authors come up with original ideas and make an effort to overcome fantasy tropes and develop complex, deep characters. :/
On the downside, this brims with clichés. Strict religious convents led by fanatics, political leaders that are seriously called 'Gauleiter' (ouch, ouch, this hurts!), tough guys who can take a beating vs. soft girls who've been pampered all their lives, and heavy-handed, cloiteringly sweet foreshadowing. "How different history would have been had Cale not encountered her inside the great wall that afternoon, or lacked the deftness in that dark and slippery place to pull her back and, as certainly would have been the case, she had broken her oh-so-beautifully long and elegant neck on the flagstones below." (p. 184) Sigh. Beside the fact that this is bad story telling style, how does a boy who has not seen any female being since the age of seven even know what in his culture constitutes a beautiful woman? And why would someone as guarded as the main character develop fixed ideas about romance from such a short encounter when his mind is bent on fleeing the place?
I read a lot of recently published fantasy, and I am surprised how few authors come up with original ideas and make an effort to overcome fantasy tropes and develop complex, deep characters. :/