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4.26 AVERAGE
4.26 AVERAGE
A richly realized world with complex and interesting characters. Everyone's disparate beliefs shape their actions and relationship but are all eventually shown to be incomplete as the truths that were lost over a millennium resurface.
Very enjoyable. Despite the epic story, we stick close to our characters the entire time with the drama in their life having equal importance with the apocalyptic main threat of the book
Very enjoyable. Despite the epic story, we stick close to our characters the entire time with the drama in their life having equal importance with the apocalyptic main threat of the book
adventurous
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
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
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:
Complicated
Ik heb al een hele tijd geen fantasy meer gelezen, en had echt de hoop dat dit boek me terug de genre in zou trekken. Na 2 jaar stof ophopen in mn boekenkast eindelijk gelezen! Helaas stelde me het nogal teleur. Het boek las heel makkelijk en was zeker vermakelijk, maar ik vond het niet goed uitgewerkt. Zit zelfs te twijfelen om er maar 2 sterren aan te geven….
Definitely a slow start and it took me a while to get invested in the characters, but it pulled me in slowly but surely. At the end, I truly did care about all the characters and seeing their happy endings made me very happy. I don’t know what the sequel could be about and I’m not even sure if I would read it, but this book was pretty good. I confess my eyes did start skimming near the end of the battle, but this book was still worthwhile to finish. If I think about it too much, I might lower the rating. I did feel oddly emotional today so maybe that affected my level of interest in the book, but regardless, I’ll leave it at a 4.25 for now.
adventurous
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:
Complicated
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
slow-paced
The mathematics of my one star DNF:
Let me start off by saying I have read three Samantha Shannon books and enjoyed them immensely. I’m well aware of her complex style of worldbuilding, I've enjoyed it before, and looked forward to Priory of the Orange Tree.
I DNF after chapter 2. More specifically after TWO attempts, the first where I DNF after chapter 1.
I have never been more angry at the beginning of any book. I decided to channel my rage into confirming the math. I literally hit my head against this brick of a book after nearly every paragraph because the same thing kept happening, so here it is, the numbers:
The first two chapters span just 18 pages (softback hard copy version).
In 18 pages, the author introduces no fewer than FORTY SIX CHARACTERS.
FORTY SIX.
- 11 have first and last names.
- 12 have first/last names AND titles. Of these 12, 6 of them are split-introduced, where their names and titles appear in different parts of the chapter (e.g ‘Lady Trudye,’ ‘Marchioness of Zeedeur,’ and ‘Lady Trudye oot Zeedeur’ all appear separately for the same character).
- 17 characters/groups of people are named by titles only (e.g. Warlord of Seeiki, or Twelve Knights of the Body).
- And 6 religious figures are named, though which religion they each belong to is unclear.
It should also be noted the character guide is at the end of the book, not the beginning.
She also introduces:
- 11 lands/countries/territories (generally unclear which is which),
- at least 5 peoples, and 5 languages
- 17 named buildings (!). This one really rankled, to see building after building with its own important proper noun. SEVENTEEN NAMED BUILDINGS FOR GOODNESS SAKE. WHY
- And 9 capitalised Customs/Rituals/Historical Events
Again, that’s all in 18 pages, which do not contextualise most of these characters, their background, place in the story, or relationship to one another. Honestly, these chapters just felt like one giant list of names, place names or proper nouns with no indication of how necessary it actually was to cram them all in. Once I saw chapter three name two MORE new characters and three new freaking buildings on its first page, I gave up.
I’m borderline impressed; I don’t think I’ve ever read something get so overwrought so quickly. I'd be interested to know what the record is for most characters in under 20 pages (that didn't use actual lists), because this has to be a contender. All in all, it seems particularly egregious to write a book so absolutely massive and make the first two chapters such an unforgiving, thankless slog- not exactly encouraging to keep trying to conquer it.
Let me start off by saying I have read three Samantha Shannon books and enjoyed them immensely. I’m well aware of her complex style of worldbuilding, I've enjoyed it before, and looked forward to Priory of the Orange Tree.
I DNF after chapter 2. More specifically after TWO attempts, the first where I DNF after chapter 1.
I have never been more angry at the beginning of any book. I decided to channel my rage into confirming the math. I literally hit my head against this brick of a book after nearly every paragraph because the same thing kept happening, so here it is, the numbers:
The first two chapters span just 18 pages (softback hard copy version).
In 18 pages, the author introduces no fewer than FORTY SIX CHARACTERS.
FORTY SIX.
- 11 have first and last names.
- 12 have first/last names AND titles. Of these 12, 6 of them are split-introduced, where their names and titles appear in different parts of the chapter (e.g ‘Lady Trudye,’ ‘Marchioness of Zeedeur,’ and ‘Lady Trudye oot Zeedeur’ all appear separately for the same character).
- 17 characters/groups of people are named by titles only (e.g. Warlord of Seeiki, or Twelve Knights of the Body).
- And 6 religious figures are named, though which religion they each belong to is unclear.
It should also be noted the character guide is at the end of the book, not the beginning.
She also introduces:
- 11 lands/countries/territories (generally unclear which is which),
- at least 5 peoples, and 5 languages
- 17 named buildings (!). This one really rankled, to see building after building with its own important proper noun. SEVENTEEN NAMED BUILDINGS FOR GOODNESS SAKE. WHY
- And 9 capitalised Customs/Rituals/Historical Events
Again, that’s all in 18 pages, which do not contextualise most of these characters, their background, place in the story, or relationship to one another. Honestly, these chapters just felt like one giant list of names, place names or proper nouns with no indication of how necessary it actually was to cram them all in. Once I saw chapter three name two MORE new characters and three new freaking buildings on its first page, I gave up.
I’m borderline impressed; I don’t think I’ve ever read something get so overwrought so quickly. I'd be interested to know what the record is for most characters in under 20 pages (that didn't use actual lists), because this has to be a contender. All in all, it seems particularly egregious to write a book so absolutely massive and make the first two chapters such an unforgiving, thankless slog- not exactly encouraging to keep trying to conquer it.