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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was a MISERABLE READ
DNF. Couldn’t get into it. I loved the Dance of Blade books but this world wasn’t for me
adventurous
dark
fast-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
Dalglish is a new author to me and I happened to pick this up on a whim while at the bookstore and I'm so happy I did! I found the world Dalglish created to be unique and both fun and dark. Devin is a wonderful character and Puffy...well come on, is there really anything bad that can be said about this adorable guy? The story kept me interested and waiting for the next shoe to drop, and while multiple POVs aren't normally my thing, Dalglish made it enjoyable to experience the world and the events through different eyes. I'm looking forward to the next in the series and will have to make a trip to the bookstore again here soon for this!
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book has such great reviews and I so wanted to love it but I didn't........at ALL. It started off so interesting which is why it got a two star and not a one but about half way through I debated DNFing. I forced through and then skimmed the last 100 or so pages. The most interesting character was the 'bad guy.' There was something about the language and tone. It just felt so stilted to me and could have been edited down. The characters were just all so SWEET and blushing at everything. I guess I just need a good morally gray character. I am not done with this author, though. I plan to try out the other series at some point.
adventurous
dark
funny
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I liked this. It’s an enjoyable old-fashioned adventure heavily influenced by D&D (random encounters; a party including a Mage, an Assassin, and the Paladin who is the main character; plot frequently driven by the characters’ impulsiveness, which in my experience is often the only way things get done in a D&D game). The characters could do with being a little more fleshed out and there is little sense that the world exists beyond what is necessary for the plot, but I’m hoping that this will be fixed in later books. What worldbuilding there is is well done with good original ideas.
I'm just going to come out and say the world/world-building is my favorite part of this book. I think this is the area where the author truly excels. The world we are introduced to is mysterious, creative, and frightening all at the same time. The monsters here aren't ones you have seen before, and they play by entirely different rules. Also, I appreciated how unique this world's culture was. I thought the religion and how the church operated as fascinating.
Now that being said, here come the things I have a problem with. Mainly, it's the characters. I can't get behind them; each one seems so very unrealistic and flat. There is one character who lives her entire life without a soul and then wakes up one day. This character then goes on about her life, seemingly having no trauma or repercussions from getting her soul back. That- I don't know- it seems way unrealistic to me. There were a few (rare) instances where we were able to see some consequences, but those seemed very forced and unrealistic. Also, a lot of the humor didn't work for me, and most of the time, I was just uncomfortable instead of amused.
Next, we have the plot. This is where it gets weird to me because Dalglish has a real problem with pacing. The first 100 pages of the book flew by, but the next 300 seemed to take forever. Now granted, the things happening in these pages had different levels of intensity, I get that. But it still felt slow to me around the middle of the book, but who knows that might just be me? It honestly feels sloppy and inexperienced. My favorite parts of the plot were the first and last 100 pages. This is where the story shines through and where things get fun!
Finally, we have the villain. The entire book felt like one long introduction to the villain. Granted, the void-dragons seem like awesome villains, but I would have liked to see a bit more from them. Janus was okay as a stand-in, but he just seemed like an overdramatic child. Still, I will say that I love their motivations. The idea that the villains think they are freeing humanity and that what they are doing is necessary is a trope I enjoy if done correctly. We don't see a lot of the real villains, but they become more fascinating the more you learn about them.
I'm just going to come out and say the world/world-building is my favorite part of this book. I think this is the area where the author truly excels. The world we are introduced to is mysterious, creative, and frightening all at the same time. The monsters here aren't ones you have seen before, and they play by entirely different rules. Also, I appreciated how unique this world's culture was. I thought the religion and how the church operated as fascinating.
Now that being said, here come the things I have a problem with. Mainly, it's the characters. I can't get behind them; each one seems so very unrealistic and flat. There is one character who lives her entire life without a soul and then wakes up one day. This character then goes on about her life, seemingly having no trauma or repercussions from getting her soul back. That- I don't know- it seems way unrealistic to me. There were a few (rare) instances where we were able to see some consequences, but those seemed very forced and unrealistic. Also, a lot of the humor didn't work for me, and most of the time, I was just uncomfortable instead of amused.
Next, we have the plot. This is where it gets weird to me because Dalglish has a real problem with pacing. The first 100 pages of the book flew by, but the next 300 seemed to take forever. Now granted, the things happening in these pages had different levels of intensity, I get that. But it still felt slow to me around the middle of the book, but who knows that might just be me? It honestly feels sloppy and inexperienced. My favorite parts of the plot were the first and last 100 pages. This is where the story shines through and where things get fun!
Finally, we have the villain. The entire book felt like one long introduction to the villain. Granted, the void-dragons seem like awesome villains, but I would have liked to see a bit more from them. Janus was okay as a stand-in, but he just seemed like an overdramatic child. Still, I will say that I love their motivations. The idea that the villains think they are freeing humanity and that what they are doing is necessary is a trope I enjoy if done correctly. We don't see a lot of the real villains, but they become more fascinating the more you learn about them.