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jessann's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
xsea's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
tabitha_miscellania's review
4.0
I have such mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, I loved it. On the other hand, it frustrated me so much. I'm not sure if some of it is just me not understanding it, or getting confused, or if it's the book. I can't really explain it without spoilers, but I will say the first half is amazing and the second half has some plot issues that were hard to get through. However, I'm definitely going to read the next one when it comes out, because now I have to know what happens. (I don't even think the issues are with the author; I think the editor was not great. There were typos and inconsistencies that I don't personally think can be put on the author.)
highlanderajax's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Solid book in some respects. It's a refreshing twist on a familiar story, and Hanrahan has hit on something good by picking up where most tales leave off. The plot is compelling, if a bit jumbled at times, and the different viewpoints come together nicely for the climax.
The big downside, for me, is that for all there's an interesting lot of folks mentioned or introduced, half of them are barely used. A handful get focus, which is great and all, but there's so many that would have been so much fun to hear about and see in action.
While the story is interesting, there's a certain amount that kind of drags. Where most stories would have bursts of action to break up some of the intrigue and prophecies, this one just...doesn't. It's sort of an inbuilt problem with the type of narrative, that it's set after the bulk of the fighting is done. Nevertheless, it does slow things down a bit.
Overall, it's a good story and I'm fairly tempted to read book 2, but it's not a home run. It's a little slow at times, some plot points sort of come from nowhere, and I can't help but feel like some characters are a bit one-note to the point of being wasted. Good but not fantastic.
The big downside, for me, is that for all there's an interesting lot of folks mentioned or introduced, half of them are barely used. A handful get focus, which is great and all, but there's so many that would have been so much fun to hear about and see in action.
While the story is interesting, there's a certain amount that kind of drags. Where most stories would have bursts of action to break up some of the intrigue and prophecies, this one just...doesn't. It's sort of an inbuilt problem with the type of narrative, that it's set after the bulk of the fighting is done. Nevertheless, it does slow things down a bit.
Overall, it's a good story and I'm fairly tempted to read book 2, but it's not a home run. It's a little slow at times, some plot points sort of come from nowhere, and I can't help but feel like some characters are a bit one-note to the point of being wasted. Good but not fantastic.
bookfanlife4's review
3.0
This book i enjoyed I think that it was done well, but I don’t think that it was wanted when I pick this arc. But that does not mean that I did not find it enjoyable or others might find it fun. So yes this book I will give a 3 stars to this, and I think that this book had great world building. And that this book also had great characters, and great dialogue.
darklaix's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
dawn_marie's review
4.0
The Sword Defiant by Gareth Hanrahan is like many fantasy books: there are dwarves, elves, changelings, dragons and other mythical creatures, magic, and prophecy, and when a dark power threatens the world, a group of unlikely companions band together to defeat the enemy. However, unlike other fantasy books, The Sword Defiant focuses on the band after they’ve vanquished the foe and saved the world. It’s twenty years later and they’re older, jaded, cynical, and have gone their separate ways in pursuit of their own dreams/desires. When Sir Aelfric, a member of the famed Nine that defeated the necromancer Lord Bones, receives a vision of a new threat he decides it’s time to get the band back together again.
The story is told mostly through the viewpoints of Sir Aelfric the Lammergeier (Alf to his friends) and his widowed sister, Olva. Olva’s protected/sheltered worldview nicely contrasted with Sir Aelfric’s world weary one. When Olva’s son (Derwyn) learns that he is related to “heroic” Sir Aelfric, he runs away to Necrad in hopes of joining his uncle. Olva, determined to save her son from his own stupidity, recruits Bor, a rather surly and highly suspect individual, to be her guide and assist her journey to Necrad. While Olva is dealing with the dangers of the road, treachery, and devious elves, Sir Aelfric is making his own way to Necrad to warn the city council of the impending danger. Along the way he deals with several monsters and struggles to contain the powers of his magical sentient sword, Spellbreaker. Well, not so much magical as demon, but still. Sentient. Sword. I liked that when Spellbreaker became too obnoxious or blood thirsty, Sir Aelfric quickly shut it down.
The character work was a mixed bag. I thought Sir Aelfric was nicely developed, I enjoyed reading about the aging hero and his day-to-day struggles. Olva was mostly okay, though she became a bit one note (I’m a mother, here to save my son) near the end of the novel. When she wasn’t used to give the reader a glimpse into world, she was a means for the reader to learn about Sir Aelfric before he was The Lammergeier and what the Nine were like (though I would have preferred if these were flashbacks instead of exposition dumps). Everyone that Sir Aelfric and Olva met during their travels were little more than caricatures, serving to either provide the reader with information or give the characters a reason to move from point A to point B or to act in a certain way.
The world created by Mr. Hanrahan is wonderfully imaginative, from the sleepy hamlet where the reader first meets Olva, to the dark forests, to the decaying magical city of Necrad – with Necrad being the most fully realized. Although the magic system was a little squishy, it helped create the creepy atmosphere.
The prose was lovely, especially the poems and myths, and made for an enjoyable read. For a 600+ page book, I thought the pacing was mostly good with only a few draggy sections (whenever Olva gave the reader an exposition dump).
The story is told mostly through the viewpoints of Sir Aelfric the Lammergeier (Alf to his friends) and his widowed sister, Olva. Olva’s protected/sheltered worldview nicely contrasted with Sir Aelfric’s world weary one. When Olva’s son (Derwyn) learns that he is related to “heroic” Sir Aelfric, he runs away to Necrad in hopes of joining his uncle. Olva, determined to save her son from his own stupidity, recruits Bor, a rather surly and highly suspect individual, to be her guide and assist her journey to Necrad. While Olva is dealing with the dangers of the road, treachery, and devious elves, Sir Aelfric is making his own way to Necrad to warn the city council of the impending danger. Along the way he deals with several monsters and struggles to contain the powers of his magical sentient sword, Spellbreaker. Well, not so much magical as demon, but still. Sentient. Sword. I liked that when Spellbreaker became too obnoxious or blood thirsty, Sir Aelfric quickly shut it down.
The character work was a mixed bag. I thought Sir Aelfric was nicely developed, I enjoyed reading about the aging hero and his day-to-day struggles. Olva was mostly okay, though she became a bit one note (I’m a mother, here to save my son) near the end of the novel. When she wasn’t used to give the reader a glimpse into world, she was a means for the reader to learn about Sir Aelfric before he was The Lammergeier and what the Nine were like (though I would have preferred if these were flashbacks instead of exposition dumps). Everyone that Sir Aelfric and Olva met during their travels were little more than caricatures, serving to either provide the reader with information or give the characters a reason to move from point A to point B or to act in a certain way.
The world created by Mr. Hanrahan is wonderfully imaginative, from the sleepy hamlet where the reader first meets Olva, to the dark forests, to the decaying magical city of Necrad – with Necrad being the most fully realized. Although the magic system was a little squishy, it helped create the creepy atmosphere.
The prose was lovely, especially the poems and myths, and made for an enjoyable read. For a 600+ page book, I thought the pacing was mostly good with only a few draggy sections (whenever Olva gave the reader an exposition dump).
lara_lucretia's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
tense
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
5.0