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riskyduck's review
3.0
Alberich is a great character, and I enjoyed his journey.
This is a book that covers over 5 years worth of events, with lots of interesting events going on. But the writing is incredibly cerebral. Something exciting happens! Then Alberich thinks and ruminates for a chapter or so, and decides that something is so. Someone suggests something exciting! Then Alberich thinks and ruminates for a chapter or so, and decides to do it. It's a slow book for that reason.
Reading these books from a non 10 year old girl's standpoint makes me realize how much of a problem I have with Valdemar and the perfection that is their world. Especially when thrown into contrast with Karse. Guess that's why it's fantasy.
After I read this book the first time, I didn't know what a Mary Sue was until someone mentioned the term about Myste. Now I can't read about her without hating it. The character was seriously annoying. In my opinion, incredibly out of place and jarring with Alberich's whole character. The only thing I can buy about them together is that she speaks Karse and it's a comfort.
The second half gets bogged down a bit, but it moves along at a mildly interesting rate the whole time.
This is a book that covers over 5 years worth of events, with lots of interesting events going on. But the writing is incredibly cerebral. Something exciting happens! Then Alberich thinks and ruminates for a chapter or so, and decides that something is so. Someone suggests something exciting! Then Alberich thinks and ruminates for a chapter or so, and decides to do it. It's a slow book for that reason.
Reading these books from a non 10 year old girl's standpoint makes me realize how much of a problem I have with Valdemar and the perfection that is their world. Especially when thrown into contrast with Karse. Guess that's why it's fantasy.
After I read this book the first time, I didn't know what a Mary Sue was until someone mentioned the term about Myste. Now I can't read about her without hating it. The character was seriously annoying. In my opinion, incredibly out of place and jarring with Alberich's whole character. The only thing I can buy about them together is that she speaks Karse and it's a comfort.
The second half gets bogged down a bit, but it moves along at a mildly interesting rate the whole time.
claire_loves_books's review
2.0
Honestly this just felt a bit repetitive and as I already knew what happened (from reading the Arrows of Valdemar and the other three books in that trilogy) there wasn't really any tension, knowing the bad stuff that was on it's way was just frustrating. I also found the way Aldrich spoke really jarring, it was difficult to understand him sometimes and I'd find myself going back over the sentences to figure out exactly what he meant, it just slowed everything down.
rainbowdragonz's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
A great entry point to Valdemar if you'd prefer an adult protagonist from the onset.
This is a slightly different view of Valdemar, through the eyes of a Karsite herald. There are so many good points to this book but one of my favourite little bits is when Alberich speaks Valdemaran his grammar is all wrong, but when he speaks Karsite its correct. Its these little details that are beautiful (since the writing is all in English it's such a clever little addition). Heart wrenching ending however, even though I knew it was coming. I definitely recommend this, especially if you you're interested in reading about the Tedral wars as there is lots of strategy planning and tactics.
This is a slightly different view of Valdemar, through the eyes of a Karsite herald. There are so many good points to this book but one of my favourite little bits is when Alberich speaks Valdemaran his grammar is all wrong, but when he speaks Karsite its correct. Its these little details that are beautiful (since the writing is all in English it's such a clever little addition). Heart wrenching ending however, even though I knew it was coming. I definitely recommend this, especially if you you're interested in reading about the Tedral wars as there is lots of strategy planning and tactics.
kindlereads's review
adventurous
dark
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
I liked the book over all but there were sections that were just tedious to read. There were parts that just felt like info dumps and minute by minute play by plays that the story just dragged along.
berlinbibliophile's review
3.0
It was great to read a Valdemar novel with a slightly different perspective: not an awestruck teenager, but an adult, and an outsider in Valdemaran society. I also really enjoy the plots of these books, and the new characters who are introduced.
woad674's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
_fletchr's review
2.0
I haven't read anything else by the same author so some of my opinions may be colored by not being familiar with the greater series here.
I found this pretty lacking. Valdemar and its leaders are presented as one dimensionally good, just, and fair. That despite their system of government being a divine-right-of-kings monarchy (just how concepts of plurality, equality before the law, and so on, could develop under such a system is never explored unless we are to assume the Valdemarans' magic telepathic horses are responsible).
The protagonist's central dilemma is whether to ally with Valdemar, which has taken him in, at the risk of hurting people from his home country Karse, but don't worry Karse hires some sub-human mercenaries so it's never a problem.
Speaking of dehumanizing people, the sections where Alberich writes off anyone who patronizes drinking establishments in certain parts of the city as "scum" and works out his frustrations by getting in fights with them left a bad taste in my mouth. As for that matter did the casual throwing around of the word "whore" and the dismissal with that term of any woman who'd spent more than a certain amount of time as a captive of the mercenaries.
It's full of stock characters; the upstanding king, the feisty princess, the stern older warrior, none of whom are developed beyond those simple sketches. Amidst all the pseudo-archaic names, one character being named "Myste" (pronounced "Misty" by the audiobook narrator) made me laugh out loud. She's tentatively presented as a potential love interest for the protagonist, but (like so many things in this book) that never goes anywhere.
The Karsite priests use invisible night-stalking demons we are told. Great! Sounds interesting. But we never see them, and they are never a factor in the story. Perhaps those are explored in other novels in the series. This definitely bears all the hallmarks of being a prequel exploring the origins of characters, and hemmed in by what has already been established about them.
All in all, simplistic and forgettable, unfortunately.
I found this pretty lacking. Valdemar and its leaders are presented as one dimensionally good, just, and fair. That despite their system of government being a divine-right-of-kings monarchy (just how concepts of plurality, equality before the law, and so on, could develop under such a system is never explored unless we are to assume the Valdemarans' magic telepathic horses are responsible).
The protagonist's central dilemma is whether to ally with Valdemar, which has taken him in, at the risk of hurting people from his home country Karse, but don't worry Karse hires some sub-human mercenaries so it's never a problem.
Speaking of dehumanizing people, the sections where Alberich writes off anyone who patronizes drinking establishments in certain parts of the city as "scum" and works out his frustrations by getting in fights with them left a bad taste in my mouth. As for that matter did the casual throwing around of the word "whore" and the dismissal with that term of any woman who'd spent more than a certain amount of time as a captive of the mercenaries.
It's full of stock characters; the upstanding king, the feisty princess, the stern older warrior, none of whom are developed beyond those simple sketches. Amidst all the pseudo-archaic names, one character being named "Myste" (pronounced "Misty" by the audiobook narrator) made me laugh out loud. She's tentatively presented as a potential love interest for the protagonist, but (like so many things in this book) that never goes anywhere.
The Karsite priests use invisible night-stalking demons we are told. Great! Sounds interesting. But we never see them, and they are never a factor in the story. Perhaps those are explored in other novels in the series. This definitely bears all the hallmarks of being a prequel exploring the origins of characters, and hemmed in by what has already been established about them.
All in all, simplistic and forgettable, unfortunately.
justiceofkalr's review
4.0
Having already read the Arrows of the Queen books, I pretty much knew where this story was going. It focuses on the older characters from Arrows and their time as heralds, especially Alberich as well as a fair amount of Selaney. Others like Talamir and Jadus put in a fair amount of time too. While I already knew basically where the plot was going, it was still enjoyable to see these characters fleshed out. Whereas they were more minor and background in Arrows, they become real people here. Also interesting to see more about Karse through Alberich.