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crimsoncor's review against another edition
3.0
The weakest of the trilogy, I think. It does bring in the dragons, which was fun. And also I think done really well, resisting the often used exoticism tropes associated with eastern magics in fantasy. The through-line of European colonization runs through this world just like it does through real life, and the destruction, before personal and cultural that leaves behind, are not things the books shy away from. And the dragons, while having some philosophical differences from the angels, are just as "human" and failable as anyone else. But the plot of this is the swampiest of the trilogy and definitely drags at times.
Spoiler
Losing Isabella in the first novel really hurts the Phillipe parts and Madeleine just isn't all the fascinating to me.spacedlaw's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
frasersimons's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
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
3.25
I still really like the setting in this, and it only gets more interesting in this one. I didn’t really remember the first book, other than it had a fun murder mystery, which this did not have, relying on the intrigue between houses and other powers to drive the narrative. It mostly succeeds at doing so, but does also have some dragging points, for me, since I was not that interested in that angle of the setting.
emilyrandolph_epstein's review against another edition
5.0
An excellent follow-up to The House of Shattered Wings that builds, expands, and deepens the story, characters and mythology the first book established. I can't wait to read more in this series.
irobarte's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
sarabz's review against another edition
4.0
Even better than the first book in the series, this was a lot of fun. You get to spend a lot of time in the dragon kingdom, which was so cool. And I especially liked the complexity in portrayals of good and bad - I don't think there were any characters that were good or evil in a unqualified way. Some were more sympathetic than others, but de Bodard uses the mutiple perspectives in the story very effectively to show the ways in which individual actions affect others, often in ways the actors aren't thinking about.
eol's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
the_discworldian's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
azu's review against another edition
4.0
Finished this one with the imperative need to read the next instalment in this series so yeah, I liked it. I was bored by Madeleine's POV but I'm super fond of Thuan.
daniewho's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5