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unavezmas's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
"We are all pawns in the Shapers' war. The difference is that some of us know it and some do not."
It's a story about perspective. It's a story about gods and mortals who find themselves their pawns. It's a story about prejudice and hate. It's a story about love and sacrifices.
It's an epic fantasy from the Dark Lord Satoris perspective. He really does not want to harm anyone least of all his siblings but he isn't given a choice. And he cares for his people as best as he can. This review is gonna discuss the setup and themes so not much spoilers but beware.
Satoris has three emissaries also called the Branded because they wear his brand.
"It is Ushahin's choice to wear this broken face, these crippiled hands. He was not denied. He chose to keep his pain and his madness. Again and again he has chosen."
Ushahin is halfbreed who's a result of a war crime and who has been treated horribly because of it. Now he takes in all the unwanted people in Darkhaven and makes them servants of the Darkhaven. Also he's the spymaster with ravens. Person who has every reason to hate the world but chooses not to is my favorite trope ever.
Tanaros is the war general who upon finding out his king slept with his wife had killed then both and fled from Darkhaven. Some 1000 years later he still misses her every day.
Vorax is the simplest character in this book. He is responsible so supply lines and money. And in his free time he drinks and enjoys pretty things.
I couldn't put this book down I NEED TO KNOW IF MY FAVES ARE OKAY PLS. 😠I loved every second of it.
P. S. You know thr book's been written by a woman when she mentions people begging for death because giving birth is really painful.
It's a story about perspective. It's a story about gods and mortals who find themselves their pawns. It's a story about prejudice and hate. It's a story about love and sacrifices.
It's an epic fantasy from the Dark Lord Satoris perspective. He really does not want to harm anyone least of all his siblings but he isn't given a choice. And he cares for his people as best as he can. This review is gonna discuss the setup and themes so not much spoilers but beware.
Satoris has three emissaries also called the Branded because they wear his brand.
"It is Ushahin's choice to wear this broken face, these crippiled hands. He was not denied. He chose to keep his pain and his madness. Again and again he has chosen."
Ushahin is halfbreed who's a result of a war crime and who has been treated horribly because of it. Now he takes in all the unwanted people in Darkhaven and makes them servants of the Darkhaven. Also he's the spymaster with ravens. Person who has every reason to hate the world but chooses not to is my favorite trope ever.
Tanaros is the war general who upon finding out his king slept with his wife had killed then both and fled from Darkhaven. Some 1000 years later he still misses her every day.
Vorax is the simplest character in this book. He is responsible so supply lines and money. And in his free time he drinks and enjoys pretty things.
I couldn't put this book down I NEED TO KNOW IF MY FAVES ARE OKAY PLS. 😠I loved every second of it.
P. S. You know thr book's been written by a woman when she mentions people begging for death because giving birth is really painful.
Content Warnings
Minor: Physical abuse, Violence, and Xenophobia
tedy608's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
silvernfire's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
kat_macwhirter's review
5.0
A deliberately derivative mythology that has remarkable, unique elements of its own; a shadow tale of the Tolkien quest that gives us the hearts and minds of every side, most significantly that of the Enemy. This is a heavy, portentous read that nonetheless carries you along, aching all the while.
darkcrystal1839's review
4.0
I think this is one of the most interesting stories I’ve read in a while. It’s your basic Good v. Evil story, but it really focuses on each side’s reasons. We’re given insights into both the good guys and the bad guys, and the intriguing thing you discover is that both sides are pretty much the same. The only reason one is considered ‘bad’ is because of a very old grudge and what basically boils down to a big misunderstanding. But with the misunderstanding diluted and the grudge concentrated over centuries, what we get is what must be a Bad Guy. Everybody’s always said he’s bad, so he must be. And legends also say that if we do such and such, we can destroy him. Why are we destroying him? Do we know for sure he has some evil plan? Well, he must, because he is a Bad Guy. Now we’re thrown back into the Evil camp, where we learn that the Bad Guy’s not really that bad. He’s not necessarily the Muffin Man either, but you try keeping a good temper when you’ve had the mass majority of the population wishing fervently for your destruction for centuries. Some of his actions can easily be seen as Evil by the good guys, but this is because he’s trying to thwart their plans. So he doesn’t die. Understandable. Really, the good guys kind of started it. It puts a whole new twist on the classic Good v. Evil battle you find in so many fantasy stories, and it was extremely interesting. Definitely a good read.
katostano's review
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape
winterreader40's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars. The world building here is interesting, most of the characters are as well. I found Tanaros to be pretty boring about half the time which is unfortunate. I'm hoping things pull together in an interesting way in the sequel.
julieabe89's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book was interesting. I found the idea of the gods using mortals as pawns in war to be highly interesting. I am looking forward to reading the sequel.