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dkadastra's review against another edition
5.0
This was incredible. I think I enjoyed this one more than his main trilogy, which was still really good. The character work and story he was able to fit into a pretty short novel (grading on the fantasy curve) was amazing. Glad I read this after the main sequence, as having that knowledge really let this one sing.
mrbear's review against another edition
4.0
In many ways, this book was bizarre. The perspective was so unrelatable that the characterization never fully took off. However, in the context of the series and the world, it was well executed and an intriguing read. Recommended to people who like the main series.
mjporterauthor's review against another edition
4.0
EArc received through Netgalley.
So, like the reviewers below, I am new to the writing of Brian Staveley, but unlike the reviewers below, I found this book to be a slog from beginning to end, and in the end, it was only sheer determination that drove me to the end, and not a desire to know the ending of the narrative. The novel felt very much like the hot and muggy climate that the story takes place in, and which the author goes to great pains to constantly describe, it clung to you, the smell, the heat, the sweat, but a good shower and the whole thing was washed clean away with little remaining to remind you of the story.
There are moments in this book when I thought it was fantastic, but they were too short and too few and far between and sadly, were too often stopped abruptly by a complete change of pace by the author, or the ending of a chapter. And, my word, does the author like to 'world build'. I would have much preferred a style that didn't involve long and torturous 'backfill' when a character did something that the author was unable to explain away. I felt, almost like a bad joke, that if it needed that much explanation then, really, that scene shouldn't have happened or wasn't needed.
There were also moments when the plot made no sense whatsoever. There are too many 'gods' and too many events that seem 'forced'. There is no overriding narrative that holds the story together, and the author revels in using language that I've never heard of. Repeatedly I had to make use of the dictionary on kindle to understand the words - a strange occurrence as I've never had to do this before in any of the many books I've read. There are also, and this is a pet peeve, lots of silly sounding names for all the peripheral characters - Gods, people, places.
I very much tried to be open minded about the novel. From my own experience about writing side-stories to an already established universe, I know how hard it can be to find a storyline that doesn't depend on the other novels - one that truly stands alone - and from what I can gather, I think the author has done this. However, if the novel was intended to inspire me to read more of the 'world' that has been created, it has failed. While Pyrre may have been a bold and decisive character, ultimately, I found her to be too 'little'. There was little to love there, in fact, the characters who surround Pyree are far better - perhaps because we don't constantly have to listen to their self-doubt - Ruc Lan Lac, Kossal and Ela. They might be more one-dimensional - but they are easier to connect to and understand.
Yet, I still give the novel 4 stars - mainly because it is so detailed and confident in itself and I'm sure that fans of the series will love it.
So, like the reviewers below, I am new to the writing of Brian Staveley, but unlike the reviewers below, I found this book to be a slog from beginning to end, and in the end, it was only sheer determination that drove me to the end, and not a desire to know the ending of the narrative. The novel felt very much like the hot and muggy climate that the story takes place in, and which the author goes to great pains to constantly describe, it clung to you, the smell, the heat, the sweat, but a good shower and the whole thing was washed clean away with little remaining to remind you of the story.
There are moments in this book when I thought it was fantastic, but they were too short and too few and far between and sadly, were too often stopped abruptly by a complete change of pace by the author, or the ending of a chapter. And, my word, does the author like to 'world build'. I would have much preferred a style that didn't involve long and torturous 'backfill' when a character did something that the author was unable to explain away. I felt, almost like a bad joke, that if it needed that much explanation then, really, that scene shouldn't have happened or wasn't needed.
There were also moments when the plot made no sense whatsoever. There are too many 'gods' and too many events that seem 'forced'. There is no overriding narrative that holds the story together, and the author revels in using language that I've never heard of. Repeatedly I had to make use of the dictionary on kindle to understand the words - a strange occurrence as I've never had to do this before in any of the many books I've read. There are also, and this is a pet peeve, lots of silly sounding names for all the peripheral characters - Gods, people, places.
I very much tried to be open minded about the novel. From my own experience about writing side-stories to an already established universe, I know how hard it can be to find a storyline that doesn't depend on the other novels - one that truly stands alone - and from what I can gather, I think the author has done this. However, if the novel was intended to inspire me to read more of the 'world' that has been created, it has failed. While Pyrre may have been a bold and decisive character, ultimately, I found her to be too 'little'. There was little to love there, in fact, the characters who surround Pyree are far better - perhaps because we don't constantly have to listen to their self-doubt - Ruc Lan Lac, Kossal and Ela. They might be more one-dimensional - but they are easier to connect to and understand.
Yet, I still give the novel 4 stars - mainly because it is so detailed and confident in itself and I'm sure that fans of the series will love it.
coniferus's review
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
birte's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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
4.0
bl0ndekitten's review against another edition
emotional
slow-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
4.5
blankpagepanic's review against another edition
5.0
I don't know what I've been doing, but I hope I keep doing it because the last books I've read have all been either easy 5 stars, or close behind them.
This one, of course, stands proudly among my 5 star reads, and I couldn't be more satisfyed for having picked it up.
I will miss this story dearly.
This one, of course, stands proudly among my 5 star reads, and I couldn't be more satisfyed for having picked it up.
I will miss this story dearly.
valobooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5