You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
To be honest, the learning curve was just way too high for what ended up being the ending of this book! The scenes at the Academy I totally loved, and just about half of the character perspectives we were given were actually interesting, but the rest just fell a bit flat for me. I'm tempted to keep going with the second one along with my buddy readers, but we'll have to see how the months play out!
I thought this book was just ok. It just wasn't really my kind of book to be honest.
I did like this. I didn't love it. I think I went into it expecting it to be much more fast paced and action packed, but it's definitely a much slower paced book. It took me quite awhile to make sense of all the names and to get a handle on who was who and what meant what. I don't really understand the point in fantasy books to come up with insanely complicated new names for things that already have perfectly useful names that one can pronounce and doesn't need a glossary to understand. That's not just strictly a criticism of this book, but of a lot of sprawling fantasy books in general.
Overall I found I became really attached to a handful of characters and I am definitely interested enough to pick up the next book and see where the story goes. But it's not something I'm just running to get to right now.
Overall I found I became really attached to a handful of characters and I am definitely interested enough to pick up the next book and see where the story goes. But it's not something I'm just running to get to right now.
När man läst över 160 sidor och inte kommer in i boken. Då får man ge upp på en bok har jag nu beslutat. Den verkade spännande och så men eftersom jag slutade och började läsa kom jag aldrig i den o glömde hela tiden saker och fastnade inte för någon så var den inte för mig.
I'm torn between giving this book three or four stars. I did like parts of it, but a lot of it was a slog.
First, the good --- the world-buiding was interesting. The characters also had potential (although they didn't really live up to it all, probably because this is book one of a series).
The worst point was the names. I spent the first hundred pages or so trying to figure out who in the world everyone was. The trouble is that every person in the book has a first name, a last name, a nickname, and a title (all in fantasy language), and they could be called by any one of these names at any time. And, of course, the nicknames can change, as can the titles. I have enough trouble keeping track of characters with only one name!
I also didn't like how this was one of those books where things happen to characters rather than characters actively doing something. And there was no ending. Plus, the cover looks like a woman, but the few women in the book are minor characters. To be honest, I liked the story Mark made up based on the cover rather than the one actually between the pages.
First, the good --- the world-buiding was interesting. The characters also had potential (although they didn't really live up to it all, probably because this is book one of a series).
The worst point was the names. I spent the first hundred pages or so trying to figure out who in the world everyone was. The trouble is that every person in the book has a first name, a last name, a nickname, and a title (all in fantasy language), and they could be called by any one of these names at any time. And, of course, the nicknames can change, as can the titles. I have enough trouble keeping track of characters with only one name!
I also didn't like how this was one of those books where things happen to characters rather than characters actively doing something. And there was no ending. Plus, the cover looks like a woman, but the few women in the book are minor characters. To be honest, I liked the story Mark made up based on the cover rather than the one actually between the pages.
What a phenomenal book to end the year on. It took a little while to get its hooks in me, but once set they never came loose. I loved this.
Absolutely could not put it down. Then I whined until I was able to get the second book. Best dollar spent at a Flea Market EVER. Definitely wish I could do more to support the author. This was one of the most vivid, well-thought-out, imaginative books I've had the privilege to read in a long time.
Reading Banner of the Damned led me to start re-reading the Inda series. I own the first three books, but the last time I was on a read-through I lost track halfway through King's Shield due to RL intervening.
Elements I adore: intricate worldbuilding, culture clashes, different languages, fish out of water scenarios, pirates, politics, royalty, women being amazing, and playing with gender/sexuality.
Off to start The Fox now!
Elements I adore: intricate worldbuilding, culture clashes, different languages, fish out of water scenarios, pirates, politics, royalty, women being amazing, and playing with gender/sexuality.
Off to start The Fox now!
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes