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jems_'s review
3.25
I‘m honestly not sure how to rate this.
Within the first half of this book, I switched from the physical German copy to the English audiobook and I‘m honestly not sure if I could’ve even finished it if I hadn’t done that.
The story was interesting and I am considering continuing this series especially with how it ended.
However, as a mostly character driven reader, I didn’t find myself particularly liking or caring about most of the characters (except for Baby).
None of them were particularly likable to me and I don’t think that was the intention. They either acted in ways I disliked, where I was glad for the audiobook as it kept going without me having to actively continue, because I might not have or I just never started caring about them at all.
In particular the relationships between the characters went way too damn fast and conflicts between them were solved easily to the point that it felt a little stupid. I think, without the audiobook this might’ve felt like too much of a drag for me to actively read because of the character problems I had.
As I said, I still think the story was decent (albeit a little uh too abstract in some regards imo) and I might just continue, but who knows.
Within the first half of this book, I switched from the physical German copy to the English audiobook and I‘m honestly not sure if I could’ve even finished it if I hadn’t done that.
The story was interesting and I am considering continuing this series especially with how it ended.
However, as a mostly character driven reader, I didn’t find myself particularly liking or caring about most of the characters (except for Baby).
None of them were particularly likable to me and I don’t think that was the intention. They either acted in ways I disliked, where I was glad for the audiobook as it kept going without me having to actively continue, because I might not have or I just never started caring about them at all.
In particular the relationships between the characters went way too damn fast and conflicts between them were solved easily to the point that it felt a little stupid. I think, without the audiobook this might’ve felt like too much of a drag for me to actively read because of the character problems I had.
As I said, I still think the story was decent (albeit a little uh too abstract in some regards imo) and I might just continue, but who knows.
peterkeep's review against another edition
5.0
First and foremost, I am a very big fan of Brian McClellan. Part of that is probably because I read and enjoyed his debut, Promise of Blood, soon after it came out, and have got to feel like I discovered his books before other people or something silly like that. Obviously that's not even really true (since his debut was extremely popular). He's also a nice guy that I've gotten to interact with a bit. So let's get that out of the way.
But yah, this book rules.
I was excited to see what Brian would do outside of the Powder Mage world, and he really brought it. I think he does a great job here or keeping this book similar enough to his Powder Mage books that it feels like he's created a kind of identity for himself as an author: we can know what to expect from him!
1. There is a cool magic system that allows for not only neat action-y/fight scenes, but also has a real influence on the way that society has evolved to incorporate that magic.
2. There is a mix of industrialization behind the magic and some more pure sorcery, and those two things have interesting conflicts with each other.
3. The plot is fast paced and action-oriented with a mix of military battle stuff and also some cool intriguing investigation type stuff. He seems to balance the mystery/investigator/detective stuff with the military and politics stuff really well.
4. He writes a big brute with some great character depth into the story.
This book checks all of those boxes, and honestly he might have done all 4 of these things better than ever here.
The story itself is super: a public assassination forces a failed prodigy to come home and take over the responsibility that he left and investigate the death, while a seemingly stable source of industrialized magic starts to mysteriously disappear, and local city politics bleed into larger-scale conflicts away from home. But the subplots with other characters are done really well too: an investigator that is trying to balance allegiances to her family that has kept her in the margins and her closest friend, an engineer trying to save the magic from dying, and a military man with a debt to pay.
Without spoiling anything, I want to end this by saying that it's fun to see Brian trying new things as well. From the review so far, it might seem like this is just another Powder Mage book set in a new world with glass magic instead of gunpowder magic. And like, it is in the ways I mentioned.
But it's also clear that Brian is trying new stuff, has different kinds of characters that exist in a different kind of society with different kinds of norms. There is one specific instance of a fight between a man and a woman that stems from a lack of communication, and Brian wraps it up in about 2 pages because these characters value communication! They stop, figure out their own issues and sort them out quickly, and then talk to each other. The immediate conflict is resolved, even if there are deep-seeded issues to work out. I loved seeing this: he is writing a very mature cast of characters where the big conflicts aren't petty squabbles.
He also has some really cool new things in this book that he's not done much of before that I am not mentioning...it was a ton of fun to read the build up to some of the reveals he has and then be completely surprised at the direction the books took.
So yah, this book is comfortable for those who have read Brian McClellan's stuff before, but super fresh and exciting.
I'll be a release-day reader for any other books in this series.
But yah, this book rules.
I was excited to see what Brian would do outside of the Powder Mage world, and he really brought it. I think he does a great job here or keeping this book similar enough to his Powder Mage books that it feels like he's created a kind of identity for himself as an author: we can know what to expect from him!
1. There is a cool magic system that allows for not only neat action-y/fight scenes, but also has a real influence on the way that society has evolved to incorporate that magic.
2. There is a mix of industrialization behind the magic and some more pure sorcery, and those two things have interesting conflicts with each other.
3. The plot is fast paced and action-oriented with a mix of military battle stuff and also some cool intriguing investigation type stuff. He seems to balance the mystery/investigator/detective stuff with the military and politics stuff really well.
4. He writes a big brute with some great character depth into the story.
This book checks all of those boxes, and honestly he might have done all 4 of these things better than ever here.
The story itself is super: a public assassination forces a failed prodigy to come home and take over the responsibility that he left and investigate the death, while a seemingly stable source of industrialized magic starts to mysteriously disappear, and local city politics bleed into larger-scale conflicts away from home. But the subplots with other characters are done really well too: an investigator that is trying to balance allegiances to her family that has kept her in the margins and her closest friend, an engineer trying to save the magic from dying, and a military man with a debt to pay.
Without spoiling anything, I want to end this by saying that it's fun to see Brian trying new things as well. From the review so far, it might seem like this is just another Powder Mage book set in a new world with glass magic instead of gunpowder magic. And like, it is in the ways I mentioned.
But it's also clear that Brian is trying new stuff, has different kinds of characters that exist in a different kind of society with different kinds of norms. There is one specific instance of a fight between a man and a woman that stems from a lack of communication, and Brian wraps it up in about 2 pages because these characters value communication! They stop, figure out their own issues and sort them out quickly, and then talk to each other. The immediate conflict is resolved, even if there are deep-seeded issues to work out. I loved seeing this: he is writing a very mature cast of characters where the big conflicts aren't petty squabbles.
He also has some really cool new things in this book that he's not done much of before that I am not mentioning...it was a ton of fun to read the build up to some of the reveals he has and then be completely surprised at the direction the books took.
So yah, this book is comfortable for those who have read Brian McClellan's stuff before, but super fresh and exciting.
I'll be a release-day reader for any other books in this series.
tosmith's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
inspiring
mysterious
tense
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
Political intrigue hinting at even bigger mysteries, immersive world building with a fun and unique magic system and a cast of characters from all walks of life to show off this well-crafted world from all angles.
brendalovesbooks's review against another edition
3.0
This was fairly good, but there just wasn't anything very exciting about it. I didn't care very much for any of the characters, the plot was a bit boring a lot of the time, and the ending was a bit lackluster. I would potentially read the next book in the series, but it depends on how much I've forgotten, because I definitely wouldn't re-read this.
There were some interesting ideas here, and it really wasn't terrible, but I was never anxious to pick it up and read it, and it was way too easy to put down.
There were some interesting ideas here, and it really wasn't terrible, but I was never anxious to pick it up and read it, and it was way too easy to put down.
georgiacat's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
- 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
sandysanchez33's review against another edition
5.0
I was a big fan of the two Powder Mage trilogies by Brian McClellan, his world building strikes a great tone with me. It’s a level below in depth to Sanderson (but who isn’t ya know?), but still McClellan does an amazing job at keeping the scope focused on a few characters yet his worlds feel large, lived in, and believable. I also have to mention if magic systems are your thing, his books are top tier!
Shadow of Lightning is equally as strong of a start as Promise of Blood in my opinion and I can’t wait for the remaining installments. I loved how intimately we get to know the characters in this story; I’ve seen reviews slamming the character development and I hear what they are saying but in my opinion it’s clear we just at the starting point and McClellan has set up a beautiful arc for us to experience in this series. My favorite part of the book was the last 20%, the climax was utterly satisfying and just enough was dangled in front of us to blow the world wide open, it took my mind in a million directions and I haven’t been as excited to read a next installment in quite awhile.
Shadow of Lightning is equally as strong of a start as Promise of Blood in my opinion and I can’t wait for the remaining installments. I loved how intimately we get to know the characters in this story; I’ve seen reviews slamming the character development and I hear what they are saying but in my opinion it’s clear we just at the starting point and McClellan has set up a beautiful arc for us to experience in this series. My favorite part of the book was the last 20%, the climax was utterly satisfying and just enough was dangled in front of us to blow the world wide open, it took my mind in a million directions and I haven’t been as excited to read a next installment in quite awhile.
andcourtney75's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
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
4.75
Really, really loved this for the most part. I love political intrigue and this book had so many layers and twisty bits, I was absolutely delighted when I realized how good this was going to be for me. Obsessed with Demir and everything he does, and the fact that there's a character named Baby Montego who is a hulk of a man. Baby Montego!! Not quite a 5 star for me because I am deeply unsure of the last major twist/characters introduced. I'm reserving judgment for now but I think the aliens/monsters are so out of place and unnecessary for the story. I don't particularly like that they were revealed so close to the end and it makes me wonder if the glass knife can't serve its purpose the author intends for it with just human characters? Idk but the little side trip from what had been fantasy for a majority of the book into sci fi has me unsure what happens next
lthankins94's review against another edition
2.75
This book took me a long time to read, and I love magic systems and political plots. This had such an interesting framework, but I was disappointed by how easy most things were resolved chapter by chapter. I was never really worried about any characters chances. The timing seemed too fast for all of what took place, the pace/flow was off.
I loved the author's Powder Mage trilogy, but this wasn't it for me. Pretty disappointed.
SPOLIER BELOW:
******
Aliens and magic don't work for me. Not saying the big baddies are aliens, but they're aliens and its just a copout. Let the baddies be humans, not some other race of monsters never once mentioned as even old folklore. The idea of new God glass that alters appearance was better than a race of aliens manipulating all events. Just lame.
I loved the author's Powder Mage trilogy, but this wasn't it for me. Pretty disappointed.
SPOLIER BELOW:
******
Aliens and magic don't work for me. Not saying the big baddies are aliens, but they're aliens and its just a copout. Let the baddies be humans, not some other race of monsters never once mentioned as even old folklore. The idea of new God glass that alters appearance was better than a race of aliens manipulating all events. Just lame.
tshim's review against another edition
4.0
Solid, with potential to become excellent as the series continues.
Rose: The characters have a depth and charm to them; it's easy to fall in love with them.
Thorn: The stakes - there's often a mismatch between protag power level and obstacle. Nothing egregious, but enough to break immersion sometimes.
Stem: The world - interesting and vibrant, lots of depth and emotional resonance, but my gut doesn't quite buy that it's a living, breathing world with other stories in it besides the one we're party to, yet.
Rose: The characters have a depth and charm to them; it's easy to fall in love with them.
Thorn: The stakes - there's often a mismatch between protag power level and obstacle. Nothing egregious, but enough to break immersion sometimes.
Stem: The world - interesting and vibrant, lots of depth and emotional resonance, but my gut doesn't quite buy that it's a living, breathing world with other stories in it besides the one we're party to, yet.