Scan barcode
dankolar's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
marklpotter's review against another edition
4.0
There are times you worry about how an author is going to moving ahead in a series. You know that point, six or seven books in and you wonder why the series is still going. That's not going to be a problem here. I've talked about how good this series is in my reviews of Low Town and Tomorrow The Killing and this book is no different. So I'm just going to cut to the chase...
Polanksy skips the fantasy trope where the hero keeps getting more powerful. Well, firstly he skips the whole hero idea completely, but ignoring that The Warden has been tearing himself up physically, mentally, and emotionally for quite some time before we're ever introduced to him. He had to die, it couldn't have gone any other way. This series is wrapped up very neatly in someone else's skin with nice intestine bow on top and it was very satisfying.
Suffice it to say that this is not a series where you can start at any point. It's three books and you have to start with the first or you'll be lost. Every book in the series is good, I couldn't pick a favorite if I wanted to, but it's not for everyone. If you're not a fan of the dark and gritty then skip this whole story. I am and I truly enjoyed all three of the books and will be reading anything else Polansky puts out.
Spoiler
The Warden's death had to happen, one way or another. In the end there was no redemption and to be honest, had there been, I think would have been disappointed. Low Town will keep being Low Town and there's no doubt that with The Warden gone that it will be worse but this was the right time and the right way to end this series.Polanksy skips the fantasy trope where the hero keeps getting more powerful. Well, firstly he skips the whole hero idea completely, but ignoring that The Warden has been tearing himself up physically, mentally, and emotionally for quite some time before we're ever introduced to him. He had to die, it couldn't have gone any other way. This series is wrapped up very neatly in someone else's skin with nice intestine bow on top and it was very satisfying.
Suffice it to say that this is not a series where you can start at any point. It's three books and you have to start with the first or you'll be lost. Every book in the series is good, I couldn't pick a favorite if I wanted to, but it's not for everyone. If you're not a fan of the dark and gritty then skip this whole story. I am and I truly enjoyed all three of the books and will be reading anything else Polansky puts out.
antonism's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 / 5
She Who Waits, by Daniel Polansky, is the conclusion of the Low Town trilogy and is a great one at that! If you have been following my reviews, you probably know that I loved and raved about the first one but was slightly let down by the second.
Well, good news, the third and final part is as good as the first! It has excellent writing and dialogues as is characteristic and expected from Polansky, a very interesting and multilayered plot with twists and reveals, and an amazing cast of characters, most prominent of which is the Warden; a bastard which you can't help but love at the end.
If I had to nitpick, then I would say that the "past" chapters during the middle part of the book felt a bit jarring and unnecessary but other than that I can't come up with any more negative criticism. I'm not sure if the ending will satisfy everybody but I think it works.
In conclusion, giving both this book and the whole series a recommendation and a high rating is easy. If you're a fan of modern fantasy, with a lot of realism and grimdark elements but low on fantastical elements, then this should be a priority read, if you haven't done so already.
4.5 / 5
She Who Waits, by Daniel Polansky, is the conclusion of the Low Town trilogy and is a great one at that! If you have been following my reviews, you probably know that I loved and raved about the first one but was slightly let down by the second.
Well, good news, the third and final part is as good as the first! It has excellent writing and dialogues as is characteristic and expected from Polansky, a very interesting and multilayered plot with twists and reveals, and an amazing cast of characters, most prominent of which is the Warden; a bastard which you can't help but love at the end.
If I had to nitpick, then I would say that the "past" chapters during the middle part of the book felt a bit jarring and unnecessary but other than that I can't come up with any more negative criticism. I'm not sure if the ending will satisfy everybody but I think it works.
In conclusion, giving both this book and the whole series a recommendation and a high rating is easy. If you're a fan of modern fantasy, with a lot of realism and grimdark elements but low on fantastical elements, then this should be a priority read, if you haven't done so already.
4.5 / 5
ailium's review against another edition
5.0
A spectacular finish. I find a few 1or 2 star reviews odd in saying the first two books were better. I felt the opposite, while I enjoyed the two previous books they didn't have that certain quality that takes a book from good to truely great.
This conclusion to the trilogy was nothing short of brilliant. The characters, motives and actions were brutally honest. The dialogue, plot, settings and structure were crafted beautifully.
Not for the sensitive soul nor one looking for sunshine and pretty flowers. Violent and dark but not for the sake of it or simply to be shocking. More a reflection of the lengths people can go to for power driven by greed.
This conclusion to the trilogy was nothing short of brilliant. The characters, motives and actions were brutally honest. The dialogue, plot, settings and structure were crafted beautifully.
Not for the sensitive soul nor one looking for sunshine and pretty flowers. Violent and dark but not for the sake of it or simply to be shocking. More a reflection of the lengths people can go to for power driven by greed.
pavram's review against another edition
5.0
Ako me je prva knjiga upoznala sa nečim novim, a druga mi pokazala da i fantastika može (i treba) da te zamisli, treća me je naterala da marim i brinem i besomučno okrećem stranice.
Na to se sve svodi na kraju. Oproštaj od jedne divne trilogije, od jednog divnog lika, na jedan divan način. I nikakva mana to ne može da umanji.
5
Na to se sve svodi na kraju. Oproštaj od jedne divne trilogije, od jednog divnog lika, na jedan divan način. I nikakva mana to ne može da umanji.
5
mel_d's review against another edition
4.0
This was a great end to the Low Town trilogy. It was a dark descent to the end of Warden's story, a game of chess with no winners. I have many thoughts on the book, but I am afraid that I would spoil too much by simply mentioning them. So, please go read this yourself.
jasonoffer's review
5.0
There is simply no other author out there who combines the complexity of plot over a few short days, the witty interchange between characters, the world building and atmosphere, to such a potent brilliant level.
I just cannot say enough superlatives about this book, the main protagonist, the world it is set in...I won't go on just to finish it is fabulous. If you like fantasy you simply have to read it.
I just cannot say enough superlatives about this book, the main protagonist, the world it is set in...I won't go on just to finish it is fabulous. If you like fantasy you simply have to read it.