Reviews

Red Sister by Mark Lawrence

ilona1453d's review against another edition

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I'm just not interested at this point in time, might pick
It up later.

_ottavia_'s review against another edition

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3.0

3.5

Partiamo dalla nota negativa: il ritmo è altalenante, con spezzoni molto belli e adrenalinici e altri meno interessanti e più lenti, alcuni veri e propri WTF da "ma perchè succede sta roba?".

Il ritmo però infastidisce poco se si tiene conto dei molti pregi.
Mark Lawrence sa scrivere e la cosa mi ha colta di sorpresa. Avevo già letto un suo libro anni fa, e lo avevo trovato freddo, lento, scritto insipidamente, violento per il solo piacere di spingere le cose all'estremo. In Red Sister invece la scrittura è a tratti poetica, sempre molto evocativa, a volte violenta ma mai gratuitamente.
I personaggi sono il cuore del libro, con Nona che sale senza sforzo in cima alla classifica dei migliori personaggi fantasy di cui abbia mai letto; un cast complesso e affascinante di Suore (e non), dalle insegnanti alle allieve compagne di Nona. Sullo sfondo un'ambientazione evocativa, simil Nord di Martin, neve e vento e gelo a volontà.

Insomma, non è un libro perfetto ma mi è piaciuto molto, è ancorato da una protagonista che perfetta invece lo è e lancia una trilogia promettente.

dembury's review

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5.0

A thoroughly excellent fantasy novel that reminded me of other magical school-setting stories such as "The Name of the Wind" and "The Poppy War". I'm totally enamored with the main characters, a group of young girls who are learning at a convent run by badass mystic nuns. I loved seeing their relationships form and grow with one another; Lawrence is also getting extra points by me because of the beautiful ways he wrote these girls - they're so well fleshed out and flawed and just plain amazing. The handful of scenes that flashed forward to the future (I think?) were slightly confusing but took nothing away from the book. I'm reallyyyy looking forwards to reading the rest of the trilogy!

k_shanahan's review against another edition

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5.0

4.5*
A little confusing at times- I was still working out which nun was which in the final chapters of the book. But aside from that the story is incredible and the characterisations are so detailed. Can't wait to start the next book.

shani0101's review against another edition

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2.0

I wanted to love this book, I really really did. But sadly, I don't. I brought the second book, Grey Sister, on a whim because of the back cover blurb in 2019. I held on to the book for years until I was able to buy the first and last book in 2023.
But now that I have read the first book, I don't know if I want to move on to the second. Red Sister was such a let down. There was pages and pages of information dumps which was so boring. When the scenes started to become interesting, there was a break in the scene for nonstop internal monologues or because of her connection with Hessa. This would make the chapters so unnecessarily long and drawn out.
Nona's secret as to why she was really given away was not surprising at all, although I still don't understand why soldiers would come after her at such a young. I think it was mentioned that she did something to someone when she was young. But at the time, Nona was just a poor outcast in her town, I don't think soldiers coming after her was necessary.

I did enjoy the world building. I was able to picture each setting(the towns, the convent of Sweet Mercy, the trial, and etc). Although, I still don't understand the whole Ice thing that is happening with the world.

hannahhbic's review against another edition

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5.0

This book took over my brain until I finished it. Very violent magical murder nuns school book! Yay! I loved how Nona is independent to a fault and how it routinely gets her into trouble. Hessa lives in my brain rent free. Best girl. Can't wait for book two.

rdawnl's review

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adventurous challenging dark inspiring mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75


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brendalovesbooks's review against another edition

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4.0

I really liked this. The story kept my interest the whole way through, even though it took me longer than usual to finish. I was actually a little sad when it ended, I wanted to keep reading.

d3vilxl3gacy's review against another edition

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4.0

A harsh world breeds just as harsh people when the nuns turn out to be the feared warriors and rogues in an intense power struggle for too little land. A prophecy that breaks cliches sets the stage for some of the best written children and teenage characters I've read as of late with real emotion and actions that make perfect sense. Nona is a great POV character to experience this bleak world through as she evolves and comes into her own, not letting the world, or herself, change who she really is. Just shy of a prefect score and I'm excited to continue this series.

joana_stormblessed's review

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3.0

oh boy do i have thoughts. review to come