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momreads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The writing was gorgeous but I was confused whenever characters went through portals or exactly what was going on. Some things could have been written more clearly but I felt for the characters and the concept of poetry and songs having power was interesting. Curious to see where this series goes.
moirwyn's review against another edition
4.0
This review originally appeared on my blog, Books Without Any Pictures:
http://bookswithoutanypictures.com/2019/12/31/year-end-mini-reviews/
Epic fantasy revolving around bards/poets. Last Song Before Night follows multiple point-of-view characters as they begin to realize that a plague caused by dark magic is about to reemerge, and they try to learn more about the history of bardic power to try to do something about it. I didn’t find the main characters to be particularly interesting, but I was fascinated by the minor characters such as Marilla and Rayen. I enjoyed Last Song Before Night, but I finished it several months ago and it isn’t the kind of book that stuck with me in a major way.
http://bookswithoutanypictures.com/2019/12/31/year-end-mini-reviews/
Epic fantasy revolving around bards/poets. Last Song Before Night follows multiple point-of-view characters as they begin to realize that a plague caused by dark magic is about to reemerge, and they try to learn more about the history of bardic power to try to do something about it. I didn’t find the main characters to be particularly interesting, but I was fascinated by the minor characters such as Marilla and Rayen. I enjoyed Last Song Before Night, but I finished it several months ago and it isn’t the kind of book that stuck with me in a major way.
saoki's review
2.0
Not a bad book, but not a good one. One of the hard ones to review, then.
I could praise Ilana C. Myer's writing and worldbuilding, say she's got what it takes to write a fantasy series that'll help take some of the darkness out of the genre (it's just not this book, something in her future. Consider me a Seer of sorts, if you will), or that she wrote a moving tribute to classic 80's fantasy. It's just that it would be only half of it, and I have to admit that the points where this book went wrong were far more interesting to me than the ones where it went right.
Let me explain. This is, indeed, an interesting novel, with some great lines, a great magical system (which could have been better explored, but, then, this is the sort of comment that says more about me than about the book) and worldbuilding that could have taken a few more chances.
On the other hand, the characters are such a group of well known tropes that no amount of worldbuilding could distract me from the fact that they all acted as if by rote, from their lines to their innermost feelings to the obvious changes of heart and loyalties.
It's like a play, in that. You know your players and story from the very start and, at first, I thought that was intentional. I kept expecting the plot to take a turn for the meta or the characters to fight their parts, but none of that happened. The story announced itself and ran exactly as you'd expect.
"But not every book needs to be mind-blowingly original!", you say. Yes, of course, I agree. But, once you decide to do away with originality in any point, you better have some twist prepared for one of the others. If the characters are tropes, than the plot mustn't or your setting must be more than Europe with serial numbers filled off. Even if the author writes well and the story is efficiently told, I can't really care about a story and characters I've already read/watched plenty of times.
And then there is the problem of class, since this is yet another fantasy book in which all palace servants are either too loyal or maybe had their tongues cut out, where there is a merchant class which seems to hold power, but is uninterested in actual politics, and where the nobles exist only in names and younger sons.
And then you get to the nothing farmers.
And the genre roles. Don't worry, I'm not touching the feminist issues presented with a 3 meter pole thank-you-very-much.
All of which to say: it's not a great book, but, if you're new to fantasy or willing to read a very long (but not really modern) take on the traditional epic fantasy, why not?
I could praise Ilana C. Myer's writing and worldbuilding, say she's got what it takes to write a fantasy series that'll help take some of the darkness out of the genre (it's just not this book, something in her future. Consider me a Seer of sorts, if you will), or that she wrote a moving tribute to classic 80's fantasy. It's just that it would be only half of it, and I have to admit that the points where this book went wrong were far more interesting to me than the ones where it went right.
Let me explain. This is, indeed, an interesting novel, with some great lines, a great magical system (which could have been better explored, but, then, this is the sort of comment that says more about me than about the book) and worldbuilding that could have taken a few more chances.
On the other hand, the characters are such a group of well known tropes that no amount of worldbuilding could distract me from the fact that they all acted as if by rote, from their lines to their innermost feelings to the obvious changes of heart and loyalties.
It's like a play, in that. You know your players and story from the very start and, at first, I thought that was intentional. I kept expecting the plot to take a turn for the meta or the characters to fight their parts, but none of that happened. The story announced itself and ran exactly as you'd expect.
"But not every book needs to be mind-blowingly original!", you say. Yes, of course, I agree. But, once you decide to do away with originality in any point, you better have some twist prepared for one of the others. If the characters are tropes, than the plot mustn't or your setting must be more than Europe with serial numbers filled off. Even if the author writes well and the story is efficiently told, I can't really care about a story and characters I've already read/watched plenty of times.
And then there is the problem of class, since this is yet another fantasy book in which all palace servants are either too loyal or maybe had their tongues cut out, where there is a merchant class which seems to hold power, but is uninterested in actual politics, and where the nobles exist only in names and younger sons.
And then you get to the nothing farmers.
And the genre roles. Don't worry, I'm not touching the feminist issues presented with a 3 meter pole thank-you-very-much.
All of which to say: it's not a great book, but, if you're new to fantasy or willing to read a very long (but not really modern) take on the traditional epic fantasy, why not?
kittykornerlibrarian's review
5.0
This is beautifully written, and the descriptions are lush and gorgeous. This is high fantasy, the kind with the map in the front, and music and a bardic existence are strong elements of the culture in this seaside kingdom. The poets used to be Seers long ago, and the enchantments are being called back through dark magical arts. Young poets are traveling to the capital city for a poet's contest to win the Silver Branch. Two of them are good friends who have completed their education at the all-male poets' Academy. One of them, a young woman from an aristocratic family, is on the run from her abusive brother in the North. Two of them grew up together in the capital city, and are expected by their families to wed. All five central characters are interesting and well-developed. This novel is rich in imagery, both beautiful and also dark and disturbing. And I found it troubling how completely sexist this imaginary society is. Beautiful and troubling. That about sums it up.
kami5's review against another edition
2.0
This could have been a really good book. There is a lot of potential and a strong plot despite the weak world building; the main problem is that there are too many moving parts, a mess of characters and a need to tie up all the threads at the end. Maybe her next work is a better showing.
antonism's review
3.0
3 / 5
Last Song Before Night, is a debut fantasy novel by Ilana Myer. It is a rather typical fantasy novel, with several protagonists and POVs and a standard plot.
Positives:
World-building: I'd say that the world building is quite well made and Myer tries to introduce many novel elements into the setting. Not everything works (most do alright) but it's commendable.
Characters: They are varied and interesting enough. As a plus, I'd say that the author does not hesitate to give pain (or worse!) to main characters.
Negatives:
Characters: Characters may be varied but at the same time, they come off rather one-dimensional and very same-y. I didn't really feel much for them and I though they were a bit bland (with maybe the only exception being the Amaristoths).
Plot: It's quite convoluted at some points and especially the final chapters are a bit messy. This is the area where Myer's inexperience shows a lot. A better editor would be a big step forward and I'm sure it will get better in subsequent works.
Pace: It's a bit slow, especially in the first half.
All in all, I enjoyed the book but its faults and shortcomings must be mentioned and taken into account. If there's a sequel I will probably read it, as Myer shows promise.
Recommended with reservations.
Last Song Before Night, is a debut fantasy novel by Ilana Myer. It is a rather typical fantasy novel, with several protagonists and POVs and a standard plot.
Positives:
World-building: I'd say that the world building is quite well made and Myer tries to introduce many novel elements into the setting. Not everything works (most do alright) but it's commendable.
Characters: They are varied and interesting enough. As a plus, I'd say that the author does not hesitate to give pain (or worse!) to main characters.
Negatives:
Characters: Characters may be varied but at the same time, they come off rather one-dimensional and very same-y. I didn't really feel much for them and I though they were a bit bland (with maybe the only exception being the Amaristoths).
Plot: It's quite convoluted at some points and especially the final chapters are a bit messy. This is the area where Myer's inexperience shows a lot. A better editor would be a big step forward and I'm sure it will get better in subsequent works.
Pace: It's a bit slow, especially in the first half.
All in all, I enjoyed the book but its faults and shortcomings must be mentioned and taken into account. If there's a sequel I will probably read it, as Myer shows promise.
Recommended with reservations.
scent_of_the_rain's review against another edition
4.0
I started this book without knowing anything about it. I did read the synopsis, but it was long ago and I didn’t remember much of it. At first I wasn’t impressed, the pacing was very slow and nothing interesting was happening. I powered through it and I’m glad because once I passed the ⅓ of it, the book started being interesting.
The plot is a little all over the place. Not every rule of magic or society are explained enough, at least in my opinion. There are also some big jumps between cause and its effect and may be a little hard to keep up in this moments. I didn’t mind, the overall plot was simple enough for me.
Most of the characters are well written. I especially liked Darien and Marlen, even though like all the men in this story are assholes, at least at first.
We also have nice and complex female characters that learn to change during the story.
The only thing that bothers me is the relationship between Rianna and Ned, they didn’t see each other for a long time and in very short time her feelings changed completely. Which is not really realistic.
Also I would like for this particular character be actually nice and not just pretending, but well, c'est la vie
I cried at the end of the book. A lot. But it was very bittersweet ending and I really liked this character and didn’t want them to die and the last chapter they appeared killed me.
The plot is a little all over the place. Not every rule of magic or society are explained enough, at least in my opinion. There are also some big jumps between cause and its effect and may be a little hard to keep up in this moments. I didn’t mind, the overall plot was simple enough for me.
Most of the characters are well written. I especially liked Darien and Marlen, even though like all the men in this story are assholes, at least at first.
We also have nice and complex female characters that learn to change during the story.
The only thing that bothers me is the relationship between Rianna and Ned, they didn’t see each other for a long time and in very short time her feelings changed completely. Which is not really realistic.
Also I would like for this particular character be actually nice and not just pretending, but well, c'est la vie
I cried at the end of the book. A lot. But it was very bittersweet ending and I really liked this character and didn’t want them to die and the last chapter they appeared killed me.
lyrrael's review against another edition
3.0
This is a standalone, not a series. I think this book defies my every attempt to encapsulate it into a single synopsis. Let’s break it down to a cast of very unreliable narrators, every one with secrets, in a land where music is magic. A band of poets, facing down an evil censor in a battle for truth and art in the face of a plague that tells them that evil magic has once more been resurrected. The book is beautiful and lyrical and the city is atmospheric in the same way that GGK often is, and the story’s many threads weave themselves together to create an epic whole. Myer’s background as a journalist and living abroad is definitely reflected in her writing.