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ariel790's review against another edition
adventurous
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? No
3.5
Eye of the World seems inspired by The Lord of the Rings. There are many similar elements, with some areas that the band of protagonists visit seeming like it was plucked right out of TLoR world and rebranded. I don't mind this so much. I am of the opinion that a creator is better off taking bits and pieces, building their own world with what they enjoyed previously. Their own characters, with their own take of what choices they would have made instead in what may be in a 'familiar' setting. Over what more and more seem to do, more so now a days, and that is to overtake a current, popular IP. Calling it the same to take advantage of possible popularity and love for it, but change everything.
That said and out of the way, I read this book because of the Amazon TV series. In watching, I joined discussion threads about it, and came across one citing how different the books were. My interest piqued. If there is a book, I want to read it. Even if it is just to spot the differences. So I borrowed the book from my local library and here we are. There are many between the two... but I'm not here to discuss that, even though I could, but this is a book review, so I'll only really cover from now how I've felt about the book.
Possible spoilers beyond this point..
The book does cover familiar fantasy, adventure tropes. If you're into either, it is a safe story to read. The main protagonist is a boy who pretty much knows nothing of the world he lives in. You discover it as he does. He's joined by other characters that fit into other familiar character types. An Aes Sedai (elite of the magically inclined, mages, or 'witches and wizards'), the best friend who many not have the best of intentions, the romantic interest who has other interests to pursue, a Warder (ranger/warrior) leading the way, a Wisdom (healer/cleric), and a friend with an unexpected power. Each with their own strengths and weaknesses that eventually contribute to plot points within the story. This or that creature or persons of other powers added as needed.
The antagonist, The Dragon, is pretty much ominous, dark, and foreboding, without being delved much into until the end. He isn't directly chasing our characters, so minions are the primal driving force of pushing the characters to where they're needed. I assumed more so because this was intended as the start of a series. Final defeat of the greatest power being in the final book. As that comes to resolution with this story as its own; not every mystery opened up is solved, but biggest, first source of strength of The Dragon is confronted.
Overall, a decent read, but wouldn't put at the top of my all time favorites list. Each character on their own was interesting, I made a few favorites, together, I don't know. The pacing to keep them going was too slow so when I did set the story down, I wasn't super excited about returning to it unless a character I really liked was in the middle of being developed. Perrin or Thom in particular for me. I will probably continue with the series, but only when I have a few other reads I'm more enthralled about out of the way.
That said and out of the way, I read this book because of the Amazon TV series. In watching, I joined discussion threads about it, and came across one citing how different the books were. My interest piqued. If there is a book, I want to read it. Even if it is just to spot the differences. So I borrowed the book from my local library and here we are. There are many between the two... but I'm not here to discuss that, even though I could, but this is a book review, so I'll only really cover from now how I've felt about the book.
Possible spoilers beyond this point..
The book does cover familiar fantasy, adventure tropes. If you're into either, it is a safe story to read. The main protagonist is a boy who pretty much knows nothing of the world he lives in. You discover it as he does. He's joined by other characters that fit into other familiar character types. An Aes Sedai (elite of the magically inclined, mages, or 'witches and wizards'), the best friend who many not have the best of intentions, the romantic interest who has other interests to pursue, a Warder (ranger/warrior) leading the way, a Wisdom (healer/cleric), and a friend with an unexpected power. Each with their own strengths and weaknesses that eventually contribute to plot points within the story. This or that creature or persons of other powers added as needed.
The antagonist, The Dragon, is pretty much ominous, dark, and foreboding, without being delved much into until the end. He isn't directly chasing our characters, so minions are the primal driving force of pushing the characters to where they're needed. I assumed more so because this was intended as the start of a series. Final defeat of the greatest power being in the final book. As that comes to resolution with this story as its own; not every mystery opened up is solved, but biggest, first source of strength of The Dragon is confronted.
Overall, a decent read, but wouldn't put at the top of my all time favorites list. Each character on their own was interesting, I made a few favorites, together, I don't know. The pacing to keep them going was too slow so when I did set the story down, I wasn't super excited about returning to it unless a character I really liked was in the middle of being developed. Perrin or Thom in particular for me. I will probably continue with the series, but only when I have a few other reads I'm more enthralled about out of the way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War and Death
Minor: Animal death
wogslandwriter's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book is a classic for a reason. This was my second time reading it, after watching the new TV show and it holds up relatively well. It is very slow at the beginning and the focus Robert Jordan puts on the divide between men and women is extremely stilted and old fashioned. However, the exciting story, rich characters, and deep world building shines through it all. It would not be published in it's current form in modern day, but it is a good story for modern audiences all the same.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Murder, Gore, Death, Genocide, Animal death, and Animal cruelty
Moderate: Mental illness, Misogyny, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Injury/Injury detail, War, and Vomit
Minor: Cursing, Child death, Death of parent, Drug use, and Excrement
It is a relatively violent fantasy book that does not stray away from the harsh details of a battle and death. However there is no sexual violence or even discussion of it. However, it is not Game of Thrones level gory and violent. I would rate it around a PG-13 for most people.therainbowshelf's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
If you love epic fantasy like Lord of the Rings or The Sword of Shannara, you'll probably enjoy this book. It took about 400 pages for this book to start developing its own personality, or for the characters to stop being quite as flat. The girl never stopped being flat, though. Overall, not a bad book but it just didn't stand out to me.
๐The Gist ๐: Several young men and a young woman from a rural town follow the advice of a woman they're all inexplicably afraid of to leave their village after it is attacked by creatures of legend. They then travel for a long time trying to avoid notice.
๐Representation๐: three female main characters (but they're all pretty flat)
๐ For readers looking for ๐: A hero's journey fantasy, an 800+ page book, books like Lord of the Rings and Sword of Shannara
๐The Gist ๐: Several young men and a young woman from a rural town follow the advice of a woman they're all inexplicably afraid of to leave their village after it is attacked by creatures of legend. They then travel for a long time trying to avoid notice.
๐Representation๐: three female main characters (but they're all pretty flat)
๐ For readers looking for ๐: A hero's journey fantasy, an 800+ page book, books like Lord of the Rings and Sword of Shannara
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Death, War, Body horror, Violence, Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Mental illness
Moderate: Xenophobia, Physical abuse, and Confinement
summerb's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gore, Misogyny, and Violence
Minor: Death, Vomit, Alcohol, Animal death, Blood, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Misogyny, Murder, Sexism, Sexual violence, and Torture
readandfindout's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
3.5
On first read: DNFed, then restarted and gave 5 stars
Reread: 3.5 stars. I enjoyed this more than most 3.5 star reads, but I think that's because I know the arc of the whole story. I'm also just always going to love these books.
Style/writing: 4 stars
Themes: 3 stars
Characters: 3.5 stars
Plot: 3 stars
Worldbuilding: 3.5 stars
Reread: 3.5 stars. I enjoyed this more than most 3.5 star reads, but I think that's because I know the arc of the whole story. I'm also just always going to love these books.
Style/writing: 4 stars
Themes: 3 stars
Characters: 3.5 stars
Plot: 3 stars
Worldbuilding: 3.5 stars
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Death, Gore, Blood, Religious bigotry, War, and Murder
Minor: Sexism, Vomit, and Animal death
totallyshelfaware's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Watch me completely neglect the rest of my TBR just to get through this series.
Help, I'm hooked. This was so good.
Help, I'm hooked. This was so good.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Religious bigotry
Minor: Sexism
nodogsonthemoon's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal death, Blood, and Violence
maiagaia's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
2.5
This is a perfectly average book. There were some parts I really enjoyed and others I either didn't care about or actively disliked. The climax was anti-climactic, but the actual ending (I'm talking about the last line) saved it for me. I will definitely continue in the series because there was enough good stuff going on for me to be interested in the world and characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Religious bigotry
Minor: Animal death
idksamiguess's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism and Violence
Minor: Animal death
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