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dollarsignimp's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, Gaslighting, Colonisation, War, and Classism
nikkihill22's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
inspiring
mysterious
slow-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? It's complicated
3.75
i really liked the plot and characters of this book. i hated the pacing of it. i cant decide if i hate the pacing of it more as a stand alone, or more as the first part of a trilogy. i listened to the audiobook, which i think was majorly helpful in finishing the book. the chapters are very long, which i don't mind in audio format, but if i were reading a physical book i think it would have been difficult to convince myself to pick it up as i typically like to make sure i have enough time to read at least one chapter any time i sit down to read. The audiobook was nearly 25 hours long (no complaints about long books, i love big books), and for whatever reason, the last 30 minutes of it were an epilogue? this makes me think the book was written as if it may never get a sequel. because a 25 hour book with a 29 hour sequel and a 27.5 hour sequel after that one in no way shape or form needs a 30 minute epilogue.
But the characters were utterly charming, i definitely started and ended the book for them, and i'm so excited to see where they go in the rest of the story. My one complaint about characterization is about the minor romance in the book, i don't fully understand why the character we follow falls in love with someone as quickly as they do, but love is love and it happens like that sometimes i suppose. I just don't think this character would have necessarily.
Sometimes i like to play "spot the mormon" when i read a book by a mormon author, and i definitely think you can find Sanderson's mormon background all throughout this book, especially with the log book entries and the Lord Ruler, as well as some of the importance stressed around family structures. But it wasn't quite as bad as some other mormon authors' works are.
But the characters were utterly charming, i definitely started and ended the book for them, and i'm so excited to see where they go in the rest of the story. My one complaint about characterization is about the minor romance in the book, i don't fully understand why the character we follow falls in love with someone as quickly as they do, but love is love and it happens like that sometimes i suppose. I just don't think this character would have necessarily.
Sometimes i like to play "spot the mormon" when i read a book by a mormon author, and i definitely think you can find Sanderson's mormon background all throughout this book, especially with the log book entries and the Lord Ruler, as well as some of the importance stressed around family structures. But it wasn't quite as bad as some other mormon authors' works are.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Slavery, Violence, Abandonment, Colonisation, and Classism
Moderate: Physical abuse, Racism, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Death of parent, and Alcohol
spencelikesreading's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
had I read this book in 2006 or idk even 10 years ago, I probably would have enjoyed a lot. Most likely a 5 star read. But I didn’t I read it now. In 2024 and I just don’t think this book hit like almost everything I saw about it said it would. And truly I think it’s themes of a revolution and the oppressed rising up just does not hit the same from someone who has not had the experience of it overtly. There are surface level aspects about it I think are fun and really good. I enjoyed the storytelling for the most part, pace didn’t really bother me. I did find all side characters far more interesting than both our two main protagonists. I’d say one day I’ll probably see where this series goes but it did not leave me feeling like I just HAD to continue it immediately. Overall, I can see why someone would love it, it was alright to me. But I’d be willing to see how he’s grown as an author and read more recent works than these.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Physical abuse, Racism, and Slavery
Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault
lizdon's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Slavery, Violence, Grief, Murder, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
tilo's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This was my first book by Brandon Sanderson and I understand the praise. The magic system is fascinating and I love that you do not only learn along with the protagonist(s) but discover that there are many mysteries revolving around it that even the characters have not figured out yet. Every storyline is intriguing and by the end, when all of them came together, the plottwists - some of them excruciatingly casually dropped (in a good way) - had me audibly gasping. The plot unfolds in such a clever and seamless way - truly inspiring for my own creative writing!
I enjoyed the characters. For a good first part of the novel, I found them not very likeable (which is not something I need in a novel, anyway) but that made them seem more real and complex. From the first page, I wanted to learn more about them and became very attached to their plans and hopes.
The ending finished the main story line of the book but kept so many mysteries open and introduced new problems that I cannot wait to read more about in the second novel.
I enjoyed the characters. For a good first part of the novel, I found them not very likeable (which is not something I need in a novel, anyway) but that made them seem more real and complex. From the first page, I wanted to learn more about them and became very attached to their plans and hopes.
The ending finished the main story line of the book but kept so many mysteries open and introduced new problems that I cannot wait to read more about in the second novel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Infidelity, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Body horror, Infertility, Suicidal thoughts, and Grief
Minor: Rape and Sexism
rhogosch's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
inspiring
mysterious
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
5.0
Der fulminante Auftakt der Trilogie der ersten Ära auf Scadrial.
Die Welt fühlt sich dunkel und hoffnungslos an. Und allein die Tatsache das ich beim lesen eines Sandersons nicht eben jenes klassische Gefühl von „Epochalität“ gefühlt habe, sondern die Verzweiflung der Figuren, steht schon für sich. Der Ideenvorrat des Sanderson scheint unerschöpflich zu sein. So bekommen wir in diesem Buch nicht eins sondern direkt zwei Magiesysteme, oder vielleicht auch mehr, die sich nicht natürlicher in die Welt einfügen könnten. Wie immer gleichen sie einer Wissenschaft und erscheinen zu keinem einzigen Moment unlogisch.
Die Figuren sind gewohnt mit viel Liebe zum Detail ausgearbeitet und jede für sich ist iconic. Wieder einmal kann man ihnen beim Wachsen und Überwinden ihrer Schwächen und Vergangenheit während des Lesens zuschauen, bzw. wie sie trotz aller Fortschritte wieder fallen und erneut am Abgrund stehen.
Das Buch wird zu keiner Sekunde langweilig weil es immer wieder Wendungen gibt die ich nicht vorhergesehen habe und schlussendlich zu einem ganz anderen Abschluss kommt als man am Anfang dachte. Und auch wenn das Buch scheinbar in sich geschlossen scheint ist die Saat für etwas viel größeres mit diesem Buch gesät worden.
Kurzum auch dieses Buch ist mal wieder ein Meisterwerk.
Die Welt fühlt sich dunkel und hoffnungslos an. Und allein die Tatsache das ich beim lesen eines Sandersons nicht eben jenes klassische Gefühl von „Epochalität“ gefühlt habe, sondern die Verzweiflung der Figuren, steht schon für sich. Der Ideenvorrat des Sanderson scheint unerschöpflich zu sein. So bekommen wir in diesem Buch nicht eins sondern direkt zwei Magiesysteme, oder vielleicht auch mehr, die sich nicht natürlicher in die Welt einfügen könnten. Wie immer gleichen sie einer Wissenschaft und erscheinen zu keinem einzigen Moment unlogisch.
Die Figuren sind gewohnt mit viel Liebe zum Detail ausgearbeitet und jede für sich ist iconic. Wieder einmal kann man ihnen beim Wachsen und Überwinden ihrer Schwächen und Vergangenheit während des Lesens zuschauen, bzw. wie sie trotz aller Fortschritte wieder fallen und erneut am Abgrund stehen.
Das Buch wird zu keiner Sekunde langweilig weil es immer wieder Wendungen gibt die ich nicht vorhergesehen habe und schlussendlich zu einem ganz anderen Abschluss kommt als man am Anfang dachte. Und auch wenn das Buch scheinbar in sich geschlossen scheint ist die Saat für etwas viel größeres mit diesem Buch gesät worden.
Kurzum auch dieses Buch ist mal wieder ein Meisterwerk.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual violence
myrini's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Vomit, and Classism
nflamel's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
If the single female character (and protagonist) was not the only one who is subject the male gaze, this would be a much better book.
It is still fun though.
It is still fun though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, and Xenophobia
nyquilla's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Murder, and War
Moderate: Gore and Violence
Minor: Rape and Vomit
i_write_on_occasion's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
inspiring
mysterious
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
3.5
Had a very strong start with an interesting premise and characters. Unfortunately slowed in the middle and didn't entirely regain its momentum. Some plot points were given unsatisfying conclusions and ended quite underwhelmingly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Slavery, and Abandonment
Moderate: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Violence, and Classism
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, and Trafficking