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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
A solid entry with all of the great imagery of the rest of the series. Some erratic pacing and misplaced focus of characters take a star off but definitely a well-deserved read if you liked the first three books.
I love this series. But this instalment did not click with me as well as the previous books. Maybe because in this novel you are moving out of the fantasy world and into cold dark history (which usually I would not complain about). The Portuguese, the guns, the Emperor gave the book a date. What I liked about the other novels is they could have been set at any time in history. But i would still read it again. And very much worth it, if you have read the other novels.
slow-paced
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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:
No
It seriously disappointed me. I came to love its characters and admired Lian Hearn's writting throughout all of her books, so I was seriously disappointed by the rushness with which she handled the ending of the book. I did not like the fact that the ending had to be this tragic, but if that was what the author desired at least it should be more meaningfull. None of the characters got what they deserved, it wasn't justice it was simply mean! And the narration, although throughout the book amazing, in the end rushed and unsatisfactory. It resembled a greek tragedy, without having its profound meaning in the end thus simply depressing. Disappointing ending, that left me frustrated, wanting more. Finally, for me, one of the main themes of the series was love and its power and still in the end, all lovestories went up in smoke. Especially Shigeko's who was the new main character. I don't want to sell it short, the advancment of the plot up until the end was excellent. You couldn't imagine what whould happen yet everything happened for a reason. Yet, for me, the ending left all this credible developement of the character's motives hanging in thin air.
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I loved the trilogy, but knew if I started this that would really be the end of Takeo's story and this book destroyed me, as I knew it would. Lots of intrigue and paced well, as is all of the others, this really is the final conclusion to the tale.
The book drags on in a way that felt progressively less interesting and compelling. I thought I’d read it previously, but realizing I probably didn’t finish it then either.
I read all 5 books too fast they blurred into 1 story I can't remember what is what anymore but overall good story. Will be my favorites for a long time.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes