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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
stuck on 50%, not anywhere close to the books she wrote with Raymond E. Feist :(
adventurous
slow-paced
3.5 stars. This books starts out decently well, drags for a while in the middle, and then ends very well. The prose is archaic and wordy, which at time benefits the writing and the atmosphere while at others pulls the reader out to examine odd word choice or squanders dialogue. Some of the world building was well done, while much of it left more to be desired. Characters were interesting, but it took much of the book to really grow attached to them. Overall, a good (if slow) read that sets up for a series that hopefully will continue to read more like the end of this book than like the middle.
Music descriptions read like they were written by a deaf english major.
I found the first half of the book very difficult to read. I had to keep rereading parts to make sense of the rapid plot twists & very descriptive writing style. I was at times extremely frustrated with this book but at the same time strangely compelled to keep reading. I am glad that I did because the second part of the book was a lot more enjoyable & easier to read I became totally absorbed in the characters and fate of Arithon & I am looking forward to reading more about him & Lysaer.
Chapter 1 promised a swashbuckling adventure with two rival brothers, which I was on board with. But the focus soon shifted to more general epic fantasy elements (which don’t inherently grab my attention) and the brothers were barely in it anymore. The wizards and the methsnakes were the last straw. Someone who loves old school worldbuilding would love this book.
This book was like a solid dose of nostalgia for me. An old-style epic-high magical world with magic left and right, mages and high mages, legendary creatures - so Tolkienesque and yet not Tolkienesque. In fact there is quite a bit of stuff that can act as a critical commentary of Tolkien
If this book has one fault, it is that its a bit too slow. But that is understandable. I felt like 70% of this book was setup for the future series. Meanwhile there is some meticulous worldbuilding and painstaking character arc construction. I often got the feeling that the primary importance of the things I was reading was to create a juxtaposition to showcase future changes and developments.
Overall the feeling I got from this book was awe as I gradually understood the scope of the series and the world. I am eager to get into the later books
If this book has one fault, it is that its a bit too slow. But that is understandable. I felt like 70% of this book was setup for the future series. Meanwhile there is some meticulous worldbuilding and painstaking character arc construction. I often got the feeling that the primary importance of the things I was reading was to create a juxtaposition to showcase future changes and developments.
Overall the feeling I got from this book was awe as I gradually understood the scope of the series and the world. I am eager to get into the later books
adventurous
challenging
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
First off, the writing is dense - it’s not necessarily a bad thing, but I had to go over passages multiple times until I figured out just what I was reading. With a book this thick, combined with slow prose, I finished this book much slower than I originally anticipated. do prefer my prose more streamlined and efficient, where less is more and we get to the point faster.
That’s not to say the story was great. I did enjoy it, although it irked me that the brothers weren’t really the ones driving things forward. There’s a whole bunch of prophesying, a whole bunch of internal yelling at the Fellowship of Sorcerers, and a whole bunch of swearing at the brothers - I appreciate stories that pull me in that way.
That’s not to say the story was great. I did enjoy it, although it irked me that the brothers weren’t really the ones driving things forward. There’s a whole bunch of prophesying, a whole bunch of internal yelling at the Fellowship of Sorcerers, and a whole bunch of swearing at the brothers - I appreciate stories that pull me in that way.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, War
I was so ready to enjoy this book but ended up putting it down for good half way through when I realised I was never going to care about this world or any of the characters in it. I wasn't prepared to wade through the many pages of sometimes overly flowerly prose to find out what happened to characters who totally failed to capture my interest.
adventurous
slow-paced