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3.94 AVERAGE

icelore's profile picture

icelore's review

3.0

While the story was as compelling in this book as it was in its predecessors, unfortunately the way the authors chose to tell it was a bit of a derailing element for me. But using a journal of a lesser character, the story kind of hick-uped along, disturbing the flow. By the end of the book, the style was back in full force though, finishing off with a solid ending.

So, not quite as good as it's predecessors, but it did wrap up the 4 beginning 'separate' books and give a good push off point for the final trilogy. Still a good story, and again, another unique world! I really like the stability and depth of the characters throughout the books so far as well.
adventurous mysterious tense slow-paced

sasifras's review

4.0

Haplo is certainly growing on me.

that_stormy_reader's review

4.0
adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated
reading_ryn's profile picture

reading_ryn's review

3.0
adventurous funny medium-paced

3.5. This is a much slower pace than the others in the series so far. There is some great information being learned within it but it does take a while to get to any type of real action.
adventurous funny inspiring sad medium-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: Yes

Multiple magical systems, characters that grow slowly, and general lore that all start off with numerous lovely but individual strands... which then weave together more and more, tighter and tighter, until they're all so skillfully linked that it's startling to remember that the first few books were mistaken as so standalone, and you're looking at a completed tapestry which is a beautiful and heart touching fantasy epic. 

Zifnab, Fizban,  Zanfib, my buddy, my pal, our eternal savior and pain in the ass... you are the ultimate goat. May you always find your hat. 

billymac1962's review

3.0

This fourth book in the series is the first one to have a weaker hold
on my interest. Once again, though, a very unique world is created. Having said that, I had a real hard time visualizing the durnai with respect to where the living areas were in relation to the water and mountains. This even after the illustrations of cross sections and the descriptions in the Appendix.

The story with respct to the characters of Chelstra wasn't all that captivating, but there are revelations to be had in how the four worlds interrelate.

This is still a very interesting series, and I'm still enjoying Halpo and Alfred a lot. I'm still with it, but here's hoping the next book will be more gripping.

mnyberg's review

4.0

The 4th of the world's in the death gate visited. We learn more about the overall creation and characters continue to develop with the Sartan people introduced. Still trying to figure out, what's with the dog?
davidsandilands's profile picture

davidsandilands's review

5.0
adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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

disastrouspenguin's review

4.0

The series really starts to get good, build up here. I enjoyed this book much more thoroughly than the previous three. It was full of suspense and really interesting characters.