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peterkeep's review
5.0
If you're not reading this series, then it seems a bit silly from the outside looking in...maybe that's not the right word. Definitely weird.
That's what I thought when I started the series. Even after finishing [b: Three Parts Dead|13539191|Three Parts Dead (Craft Sequence, #1)|Max Gladstone|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1333049511s/13539191.jpg|19101555], I just kept thinking, "What a weird book." I really liked it, though. It was new and fresh and exciting. And every other book in the series has continued that. And now I'm here, four books deep, and it all seems normal. It's a series where characters range from skeleton kings to witch lawyers to warrior priests without any gods left (kind of), where everything is an analogy to modern life, where it's hard to tell the difference between great realism and cutting satire...and it's all pretty normal feeling at this point. I'm sold completely.
Anyways, in a series of good books, this is the best yet. We get to see a bunch of old characters (before they were old) in a relatively familiar setting, and in a really interesting time period. There's a really great dynamic between Temoc, Elayne, and Kopil, which really adds to the series as a whole, since those characters show up elsewhere as well. So that's pretty great. The story and themes were great, as usual in this series. It's always fun to see how Max Gladstone can use modern-day, real-world professions in his fantasy, and having Elayne work as a lawyer hired to help negotiate a stand-off over what is essentially a zoning issue (with a heaping dose of gentrification) is really cool. How is that even remotely interesting? I don't know how he does it. He's made lawyers and actuaries and investment bankers seem super interesting and get involved in some really great stories without stretching anything too far. In all of that kind of stuff, this book is right on par with the rest.
The only noticeable difference to me was the actual writing, the prose. It seemed like there was a decent shift in the style of writing here, and I liked it. It felt a little more poetic, and a little more sleek...Gladstone essentially added some really top-notch writing into his already impressive worldbuilding and characters and plotting.
This is easily one of the coolest series in fantasy right now, and if you're not reading it, you're missing out. It's way too weird to not read.
That's what I thought when I started the series. Even after finishing [b: Three Parts Dead|13539191|Three Parts Dead (Craft Sequence, #1)|Max Gladstone|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1333049511s/13539191.jpg|19101555], I just kept thinking, "What a weird book." I really liked it, though. It was new and fresh and exciting. And every other book in the series has continued that. And now I'm here, four books deep, and it all seems normal. It's a series where characters range from skeleton kings to witch lawyers to warrior priests without any gods left (kind of), where everything is an analogy to modern life, where it's hard to tell the difference between great realism and cutting satire...and it's all pretty normal feeling at this point. I'm sold completely.
Anyways, in a series of good books, this is the best yet. We get to see a bunch of old characters (before they were old) in a relatively familiar setting, and in a really interesting time period. There's a really great dynamic between Temoc, Elayne, and Kopil, which really adds to the series as a whole, since those characters show up elsewhere as well. So that's pretty great. The story and themes were great, as usual in this series. It's always fun to see how Max Gladstone can use modern-day, real-world professions in his fantasy, and having Elayne work as a lawyer hired to help negotiate a stand-off over what is essentially a zoning issue (with a heaping dose of gentrification) is really cool. How is that even remotely interesting? I don't know how he does it. He's made lawyers and actuaries and investment bankers seem super interesting and get involved in some really great stories without stretching anything too far. In all of that kind of stuff, this book is right on par with the rest.
The only noticeable difference to me was the actual writing, the prose. It seemed like there was a decent shift in the style of writing here, and I liked it. It felt a little more poetic, and a little more sleek...Gladstone essentially added some really top-notch writing into his already impressive worldbuilding and characters and plotting.
This is easily one of the coolest series in fantasy right now, and if you're not reading it, you're missing out. It's way too weird to not read.
blitzjess's review
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
craftybookwyrm's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
shalini_gunnasan's review
4.0
Fantastic world-building, like all its predecessors... which is funny because this is the first book, chronologically. The protagonist was one I absolutely hated when he appeared in Two Serpents Rise, and that's why I hesitated to start this. This is a Start of Darkness, or perhaps a Start of Madness. You understand his motivations clearly, even if you don't condone it. Gentrification marches on...
scottsofbohemia's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
caphaloralb's review
5.0
Reading them in a slightly different order (The Hidden Schools’ Choice Sequence) and really enjoyed this look at Elayne Kevarian in the 'past'.
The tension I felt throughout the book was immense and doesn't exactly ebb in the second half of the book. Characters are vibrant again and so is the city and the currents that move it.
Love this series and already started Four Roads Cross.
The tension I felt throughout the book was immense and doesn't exactly ebb in the second half of the book. Characters are vibrant again and so is the city and the currents that move it.
Love this series and already started Four Roads Cross.
iceman76's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0