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4.11 AVERAGE
4.11 AVERAGE
This one sucked me in quite quickly. It was an thoroughly enjoyable read, that kept me well entertained all the way through.
There are quite a few POVs, and therefore the story can get a bit complex at times, but over the course of the book the different story lines start to run together and it becomes a lot easier to follow all the characters.
I give 4 stars, because the end is packed full of a lot of action, and at times the changes in those scenes felt a bit rough. It was still good, but not as fluent in transition, as it was in the first 85% of the book. Also I found some characters to be a bit cliché. Not a lot of them, and not all the time, but some scenes where a bit predictable.
Other than that it was a really great book and a fantastic read! I was told the sequels are even better, and I fully intend to read them also!
There are quite a few POVs, and therefore the story can get a bit complex at times, but over the course of the book the different story lines start to run together and it becomes a lot easier to follow all the characters.
I give 4 stars, because the end is packed full of a lot of action, and at times the changes in those scenes felt a bit rough. It was still good, but not as fluent in transition, as it was in the first 85% of the book. Also I found some characters to be a bit cliché. Not a lot of them, and not all the time, but some scenes where a bit predictable.
Other than that it was a really great book and a fantastic read! I was told the sequels are even better, and I fully intend to read them also!
This is EXACTLY what I look for in a high fantasy book series. Omg. So excited to continue.
From the characters, to the prose, to the plot, to the action, to the betrayals; it was perfect. So glad I read this and am looking forward to continuing to the next book very soon.
I loved Corban, Cywin, Gar, Edana, Rowan. They were absolutely s a delight to read about and I was always sad when their chapters ended. I loved their plot. Also, Corban and Gar reminded me so so much of FitzChivalry and Burrich from The Farseer Trilogy (and I absolutely loved both set of characters). When Rowan, died, I actually did too. I was SO SO loving and looking forward to the Cywen and Rowan and adored the tiny little bis we got of them and was hoping they would survive till the end but no, I can't have form of happiness (I will admit i cried when he died cuz it's literally not fair). I cried even more when Corbans dad, Thannon, died (I predicted that he would but still it was so sad).
I am not the biggest fan of Kastell and Veradis but I don't hae them either. I am interested in their story but I am not fully attached and don't trust them completely, and even more so when Kastell sided with Evnis (literally yucky) to kill Thannon. I loved when Alycon the giant got Kastell a literal dragon (now imagine my shock and happiness when I found out this book series includes dragons I LOVE). I am so looking forward to where this plot goes now with the dragon in play. Also really enjoyed the fight action scenes (including dragons). Also King Romars' death (Kastells' uncle) was so unexpected but added so much to the plot. Kastell and Jaels hatred for each other is so fun to read about and am hoping we get Jaels point of view in the next book.
Lowkey this book series so far reminds me the Farseer Trilogy and the Game of Thrones (and I adore both of them immensely). So excited to continue but am sad this series doesn't have a show to go along with it because it definitely deserves it!!
From the characters, to the prose, to the plot, to the action, to the betrayals; it was perfect. So glad I read this and am looking forward to continuing to the next book very soon.
I loved Corban, Cywin, Gar, Edana, Rowan. They were absolutely s a delight to read about and I was always sad when their chapters ended. I loved their plot. Also, Corban and Gar reminded me so so much of FitzChivalry and Burrich from The Farseer Trilogy (and I absolutely loved both set of characters). When Rowan, died, I actually did too. I was SO SO loving and looking forward to the Cywen and Rowan and adored the tiny little bis we got of them and was hoping they would survive till the end but no, I can't have form of happiness (I will admit i cried when he died cuz it's literally not fair). I cried even more when Corbans dad, Thannon, died (I predicted that he would but still it was so sad).
I am not the biggest fan of Kastell and Veradis but I don't hae them either. I am interested in their story but I am not fully attached and don't trust them completely, and even more so when Kastell sided with Evnis (literally yucky) to kill Thannon. I loved when Alycon the giant got Kastell a literal dragon (now imagine my shock and happiness when I found out this book series includes dragons I LOVE). I am so looking forward to where this plot goes now with the dragon in play. Also really enjoyed the fight action scenes (including dragons). Also King Romars' death (Kastells' uncle) was so unexpected but added so much to the plot. Kastell and Jaels hatred for each other is so fun to read about and am hoping we get Jaels point of view in the next book.
Lowkey this book series so far reminds me the Farseer Trilogy and the Game of Thrones (and I adore both of them immensely). So excited to continue but am sad this series doesn't have a show to go along with it because it definitely deserves it!!
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I’m disappointed how flat this fell. There is huge scope for this setting and I enjoyed the set up of the world building & characters. However, it was too confusing with so many character POVs. Also swapping between so many characters meant the plot moved so slow.
I get it was to ‘set up’ the plot but as it’s a chunk of a book it just dragged on too much and I lost interest.
I still think it has lots of potential for the rest of the series, it’s just not the best introduction to this world.
The setting & imagery was lacking from other books of John’s I’ve read so little let down on that too.
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
adventurous
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
2.5
Man I tried REALLY hard to like this book.
I just felt like everything was moving at a snails pace and I would find myself skimming. There’s so much dialogue that is just characters spitting out world lore and very few interesting interactions.
I just couldn’t connect with the characters at times because I felt like they were just so… dumb? You as the reading know everything that is going on but the characters struggle to pick up on things that are so blatantly obvious it was infuriating me
Man I tried REALLY hard to like this book.
I just felt like everything was moving at a snails pace and I would find myself skimming. There’s so much dialogue that is just characters spitting out world lore and very few interesting interactions.
I just couldn’t connect with the characters at times because I felt like they were just so… dumb? You as the reading know everything that is going on but the characters struggle to pick up on things that are so blatantly obvious it was infuriating me
I'm an idiot who deleted the paused book instead of dnf'ing, so deleted the reason I stopped reading.
Writing style. Far too much of a certain construction. Which I can't be arsed to demonstrate now.
I paused, because I thought I might switch to audio, which would move on instead of me focusing on what I didn't like. But I didn't start the audio for a group read, so for now at least, I'm just quitting.
It seemed interesting, so I can only hope that someone makes a tv show out of it
Guessed at end date. Was before July, anyway
Writing style. Far too much of a certain construction. Which I can't be arsed to demonstrate now.
I paused, because I thought I might switch to audio, which would move on instead of me focusing on what I didn't like. But I didn't start the audio for a group read, so for now at least, I'm just quitting.
It seemed interesting, so I can only hope that someone makes a tv show out of it
Guessed at end date. Was before July, anyway
Plot was pretty predictable, unique use of overdone fantasy tropes, felt very YA like, dialogue was too bland for my taste
3.50/5.00
Malice by John Gwynne is a good book. "Good" is the best way to describe this book, for many conflicting feelings clashed within me to arrive at this compromise. Malice shines in establishing good characters, with clear motivations and traits. Malice tells a very good story, finishing with an ambitious and shockingly awesome ending. Malice employs its characters to great effect to produce a very enjoyable story. We see clear inspirations from ASOIAF and traditional epic fantasy roots and a fresh take on the time tested tropes of prophecy, hero's journey, chosen ones, and good vs. evil themes.
However, John Gwynne's "Banished Lands" fails to land within the upper echelon of fantasy worlds. Founded on uninspired retro-Christian lore, with limited thematic complexity and disappointing cultural world building, Malice fails to intrigue. The focus of the story quickly moves away from the world and zeroes in on the plot and characters, spasming to ride the coattails of ASOIAF. John Gwynne's dialogue is clearly the weakest link of this book. Most characters say exactly what one would expect them to say, in the most basic and plain way possible. While significant events take place in this book in terms of plot and characters, it feels like a recital of a screenplay where no prosaic beauty exists. During slower parts of the book, this lackluster prose almost caused me a DNF.
In summary, its a good book. A dollar-store version of "A Game of Thrones".
Malice by John Gwynne is a good book. "Good" is the best way to describe this book, for many conflicting feelings clashed within me to arrive at this compromise. Malice shines in establishing good characters, with clear motivations and traits. Malice tells a very good story, finishing with an ambitious and shockingly awesome ending. Malice employs its characters to great effect to produce a very enjoyable story. We see clear inspirations from ASOIAF and traditional epic fantasy roots and a fresh take on the time tested tropes of prophecy, hero's journey, chosen ones, and good vs. evil themes.
However, John Gwynne's "Banished Lands" fails to land within the upper echelon of fantasy worlds. Founded on uninspired retro-Christian lore, with limited thematic complexity and disappointing cultural world building, Malice fails to intrigue. The focus of the story quickly moves away from the world and zeroes in on the plot and characters, spasming to ride the coattails of ASOIAF. John Gwynne's dialogue is clearly the weakest link of this book. Most characters say exactly what one would expect them to say, in the most basic and plain way possible. While significant events take place in this book in terms of plot and characters, it feels like a recital of a screenplay where no prosaic beauty exists. During slower parts of the book, this lackluster prose almost caused me a DNF.
In summary, its a good book. A dollar-store version of "A Game of Thrones".