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rolstew's review against another edition
4.0
It was better than the second one, but I keep saying this can’t be the end. There has to be more. So many characters that were brought in don’t have typical resolutions, but that being said, I am still satisfied with the ending. After all the chaos of the series, it was a calm ending that was enjoyable.
emiann2023's review
4.0
While I didn't absolutely love this one like I did the first two, I did love most of it. Particularly the ending. A solid 4 star book tipping into 5. And while it's taken me time to get used to the different perspectives each book offers, I find myself entertained by the breadth and depth of characters we are introduced to.
That ending (as always) was a serious cliff hanger. I'll be very interested to see where we go from here.
That ending (as always) was a serious cliff hanger. I'll be very interested to see where we go from here.
liamcalnon16's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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? Yes
5.0
mullane45's review
4.0
The Black Iron Legacy is probably my favourite ongoing series right now. The world that Hanrahan has conjured up is remarkable, and the level of imagination on display is dizzying throughout. So when I say that The Broken God is my least favourite of the series so far, it’s still far-and-away some of the most jaw-droppingly brilliant weird fantasy out there.
This is the longest instalment so far, and I don’t think it needed to be, as both plots seemed to stall in places and become a touch repetitive, spinning their wheels. I’m never sad to spend time in this dazzling, mesmeric world, but there were periods when I wished this one would get on with it a bit.
And while last time I was fascinated to learn more about the half-undead civilisation of Haith, I didn’t find the dragon-mafia of the Ghierdana to be as captivating. It was also tricky to get a firm grip on some of the new characters, as our two POVs in the Guerdon half of the story seemed a bit inconsistent in their demeanours and desires. Without giving too much away, it was the manner in which a previous character was woven into that strand which kept my interest bubbling away.
The other side of the novel was probably stronger on the whole; more compulsive, it follows our ostensible heroine Cari’s quest to the other side of the world to find something that can save her friends. Cari is a great character to read, and her journey out into the wider world allowed Hanrahan’s outrageous imagination to flourish, and bring us even more strange wonders (although even this strand stalled for too long at one point).
I’m also not sure the climax delivered quite the punch I expected, but perhaps that’s only because the first two novels finished in such world-alteringly epic style. Special shout-out to the section in Gissa, which was the highlight for me.
Anyway, yes, probably my least favourite of the three, but I still devoured it, and I’m already hungry for the next one.
This is the longest instalment so far, and I don’t think it needed to be, as both plots seemed to stall in places and become a touch repetitive, spinning their wheels. I’m never sad to spend time in this dazzling, mesmeric world, but there were periods when I wished this one would get on with it a bit.
And while last time I was fascinated to learn more about the half-undead civilisation of Haith, I didn’t find the dragon-mafia of the Ghierdana to be as captivating. It was also tricky to get a firm grip on some of the new characters, as our two POVs in the Guerdon half of the story seemed a bit inconsistent in their demeanours and desires. Without giving too much away, it was the manner in which a previous character was woven into that strand which kept my interest bubbling away.
The other side of the novel was probably stronger on the whole; more compulsive, it follows our ostensible heroine Cari’s quest to the other side of the world to find something that can save her friends. Cari is a great character to read, and her journey out into the wider world allowed Hanrahan’s outrageous imagination to flourish, and bring us even more strange wonders (although even this strand stalled for too long at one point).
I’m also not sure the climax delivered quite the punch I expected, but perhaps that’s only because the first two novels finished in such world-alteringly epic style. Special shout-out to the section in Gissa, which was the highlight for me.
Anyway, yes, probably my least favourite of the three, but I still devoured it, and I’m already hungry for the next one.
llmacrae's review
4.0
This is… a different review than I thought I would be writing. For 3/4 of the novel this was an easy 5 star. I ADORED The Gutter Prayer. It is one of my favourite reads of all time. The second book I was less enamoured with. But this one seemed a return to form and I really enjoyed the new situations.
It had been quite a while since reading book 2, though, so my memory of certain details was somewhat fuzzy, but it didn’t affect my enjoyment at all. We have Cari as a main POV character again (YAY!) outside the infamous city of Guerdon (also YAY!), and her chapters were brilliant. Like settling down under a warm blanket.
I mean, she goes through hell, of course. There are unspeakable terrors out there and she faces them all with gusto.
The Godswar is still very much going on. There are saints and miracles and destruction everywhere (this is NOT a world I ever want to visit), and the vividness of these are beyond incredible.
The new POVs we have are back in the city - Rasce and Baston. For the most part, I enjoyed Rasce’s chapters. He is chosen of the dragon (oh yes, did I mention we have dragons featuring prominently in this book!?), a sort of arrogant prince. I won’t go into details due to spoilers, but he makes a connection with Spar (another character I love), and those parts of the book were some of my favourites. The descriptions of a mind unravelling, genuinely lost in thought, were absolutely brilliant. I get goosebumps even now just thinking about them.
Baston was a kind of…neutral party? He’s mostly on his own side. Until he isn’t. He was okay. I didn’t love him, I didn’t hate him. He was just kind of… there, doing stuff for Rasce. I’m still not entirely sure why he does some of the things he does, and this is why I’m giving this four instead of five stars.
The about-turns of characters seems… very abrupt. And confusing? Perhaps it’s me, missing something in the text, but in the last quarter of the book or so, certainly in the final 100/150 pages, all the characters seem to behave in ways that are unexpected? It felt almost like they were just making these random changes to be in certain places for various plot stuff to happen.
Even Lord Rat, whose appearance I loved, was treated in a similar way.
I’m not sure whether there will be four or five books in this series. I will read the next one and I am looking forward to it, but I am a little more tentative.
Still a very enjoyable read. The prose is hauntingly beautiful and twisted in equal measure. There are horrors in these pages, undeniably so. But they are fed by an incredible story with excellent world building and characters. I do recommend this series!
It had been quite a while since reading book 2, though, so my memory of certain details was somewhat fuzzy, but it didn’t affect my enjoyment at all. We have Cari as a main POV character again (YAY!) outside the infamous city of Guerdon (also YAY!), and her chapters were brilliant. Like settling down under a warm blanket.
I mean, she goes through hell, of course. There are unspeakable terrors out there and she faces them all with gusto.
The Godswar is still very much going on. There are saints and miracles and destruction everywhere (this is NOT a world I ever want to visit), and the vividness of these are beyond incredible.
The new POVs we have are back in the city - Rasce and Baston. For the most part, I enjoyed Rasce’s chapters. He is chosen of the dragon (oh yes, did I mention we have dragons featuring prominently in this book!?), a sort of arrogant prince. I won’t go into details due to spoilers, but he makes a connection with Spar (another character I love), and those parts of the book were some of my favourites. The descriptions of a mind unravelling, genuinely lost in thought, were absolutely brilliant. I get goosebumps even now just thinking about them.
Baston was a kind of…neutral party? He’s mostly on his own side. Until he isn’t. He was okay. I didn’t love him, I didn’t hate him. He was just kind of… there, doing stuff for Rasce. I’m still not entirely sure why he does some of the things he does, and this is why I’m giving this four instead of five stars.
The about-turns of characters seems… very abrupt. And confusing? Perhaps it’s me, missing something in the text, but in the last quarter of the book or so, certainly in the final 100/150 pages, all the characters seem to behave in ways that are unexpected? It felt almost like they were just making these random changes to be in certain places for various plot stuff to happen.
Even Lord Rat, whose appearance I loved, was treated in a similar way.
I’m not sure whether there will be four or five books in this series. I will read the next one and I am looking forward to it, but I am a little more tentative.
Still a very enjoyable read. The prose is hauntingly beautiful and twisted in equal measure. There are horrors in these pages, undeniably so. But they are fed by an incredible story with excellent world building and characters. I do recommend this series!
pezski's review
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
5.0
I first encountered GRH as a designer and writer for table-top roleplaying games, and you can see that background in the care with which he constructs the environments his story takes place in. The city of Guerdon - initially, in the earlier books, one of the few places in the world not ravaged by the Godswar, although that has now taken over here too - is a fully realised city, with districts and factions, history and legends, families and culture.
Playing "spot the gamer" is one of my hobbies, as I think you can sometimes tell in the world-building or construction of plot or characters or magic systems if that is in the background. Both Mark Lawrence and Charles Stross have confirmed that they played in their youth, but haven't in years, for example, while Mary Gentle, Justina Robson, Neil Gaiman, Alistair Reynolds and Steph Swainston either play currently or did so beyond their teen years. Although I somehow doubt Gaiman has the time for it these days.
With some writers from a game-design background, you can see their working - the same fault as writers who feel the need to show off how much research they've done by including too much of it in the finished story. One that comes to mind is Brandon Sanderson (although I don't know if he has a gaming background, either playing or designing) but you can see the construction, the work that has gone into putting it together - although I confess I've only read some of his earlier stuff.
Ryder-Hanrahan is far too good a writer for this. The build is utterly organic and believable, the world and, vitally, the characters superbly realised. He pulls off the trick of making the absurd both believable and horrifying - his alchemical Tallowmen, condemned criminals that have been literally remoulded into living wax puppets, psychotic all-but-unstoppable sentient candles complete with flaming wick, brought to mind the cactus people in China Mieville's New Crobuzon books, something that should be laughable but somehow works within the reality of the story.
GRH uses this setting both as a canvas for the action but, as in the best writing, the city is very much a character(view spoiler), a dark alchemical steampunk fantasy dystopia filled with politics (both low and high), crime, piracy, familial relationships, honour, war - all in a world where the Gods are real and powerful and present, and demand worship.
The end of The Broken God suggest there is more to come, and I can't wait.
vaderbird's review
4.0
5 star - Perfect
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish