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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Easily the best book in the series thus far in my opinion. However, at this point the series can take a nasty dip into the not-so-great realm. The beginning of the story lands you with Alfred instead of Haplo (unless you count the VERY beginning, in which case you're technically reading the journal of a completely new character) and dives you directly into the action. Best way to do it in my opinion.
BUUUUTTTT with that being said, the same basic story has been told in four ways now. We have visited all four of the worlds that Haplo was supposed to visit, and in each he finds the races are in turmoil with one another, he debates following orders on not interfering with what's going on, he interferes anyways, and he tells himself next time he will do better. Same shit, different world. I have seriously enjoyed each telling, but it's been used up. Done. Fizzled out. Where the series goes next will make or break the rest of the story arc.
Overall, the world building was as solid as the prior volumes, the characters were interesting, and it seems that MW and TH enjoy creating a love connection and then The water dragons were probably the least cool dragon so far...my favorite was the MOTHER EFFING LAVA DRAGON!! Not that it much matters. The dragons have had little to no part of the story all the way through, excluding this particular book, in which case they were the antagonist.
Solid, enjoyable read. Curious/nervous about the path the story will follow from here on out. Excited to start the next volume. Ready.... GO!
BUUUUTTTT with that being said, the same basic story has been told in four ways now. We have visited all four of the worlds that Haplo was supposed to visit, and in each he finds the races are in turmoil with one another, he debates following orders on not interfering with what's going on, he interferes anyways, and he tells himself next time he will do better. Same shit, different world. I have seriously enjoyed each telling, but it's been used up. Done. Fizzled out. Where the series goes next will make or break the rest of the story arc.
Overall, the world building was as solid as the prior volumes, the characters were interesting, and it seems that MW and TH enjoy creating a love connection and then
Spoiler
killing off the character(s). Literally every book so far....Solid, enjoyable read. Curious/nervous about the path the story will follow from here on out. Excited to start the next volume. Ready.... GO!
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This one was a bit of a mixed bag, I suspect the series peaked at Fire Sea but we shall see. The good parts of this book were really good: Haplo and Alfred's friendship/rivalry remains the best thing in this series but I am also very much here for Haplo's fear of water in this book as well as his fake it till you make it scheme to get the dragon snakes to do his bidding. I just really like watching Haplo try to be evil while hilariously out of his depth and fail.
However, what I do not enjoy is Haplo making eyes at a teenager??! I somehow forgot just how big a portion of the book was taken up with the Haplo/Alake subplot and oh wow was it painful to slog through. I can't think of much I would want less than to see a man in his late twenties (ish) get involved with a fifteen year old and while things don't go too far they really do consider it a LOT. Alake's character was just done so dirty in general because of her attraction to Haplo and I feel like she had a lot of wasted potential. I guess this is just further proof and Weis and Hickman struggle to write women in a non-insulting manner unless they are dwarves (Grundle is best girl!).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Suicide, Suicide attempt
The adult/minor relationship is one-sided and doesn't go far but features heavily in some sections of the book.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
re-read
5 star - Perfect
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
5 star - Perfect
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
This book and the next book are both sort of bridges to the larger story, and less stand alone books.
I liked the world of this story, and watching a lot of the story through the girls and Devon (sp?).
Alfred annoyed me, though. I mean, everything with Samah and Alfred would start to grow a backbone and then suddenly he'd retreat to his blithering idiot role again.
It was interesting to see Haplo without the dog (and I did like the dog and Alfred together, that was interesting), and I thought it was interesting to see snippets of
I liked the world of this story, and watching a lot of the story through the girls and Devon (sp?).
Alfred annoyed me, though. I mean, everything with Samah and Alfred would start to grow a backbone and then suddenly he'd retreat to his blithering idiot role again.
It was interesting to see Haplo without the dog (and I did like the dog and Alfred together, that was interesting), and I thought it was interesting to see snippets of
Spoiler
Haplo's humanity even without the dog, though often stunted because of that lost connection.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Suicide
Almost as enjoyable as the previous two, with some of the best Alfred and Haplo stuff in the series so far. But the Chelestra natives' narrative is largely uneventful and I was hoping all of the first four books would stand on their own, and Serpent Mage is the first one that doesn't (really). Still a good read, and recommended if you liked any of the first three.