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noranne's review against another edition
3.0
This book started out really strong. I couldn't put it down, and I was engrossed in the tales of Raif and Ash. Mace Blackhail was the kind of villain that made my blood boil and I just had to keep reading to see him get his comeuppance. Then as the story unfolds and widens, it started to lose me. Ash's father, the Halfman, and Marafice Eye are all cardboard stereotype villains. As Ash and Raif's storylines come together, it's mostly just annoying. And the whole resolution isn't really explained very well, nor does it set up that great of a launching into the next books. It's never really shown what is at stake, and at a certain point the danger just doesn't feel very compelling. Feels like very little risk, which makes for a somewhat boring finish.
That makes it sound like I didn't like the book, but I did. I just wish the second half had lived up to the promise of the first and it hadn't turned into such a cliched story. I am hopeful that as the story continues it can become engrossing again.
That makes it sound like I didn't like the book, but I did. I just wish the second half had lived up to the promise of the first and it hadn't turned into such a cliched story. I am hopeful that as the story continues it can become engrossing again.
thealissd's review
adventurous
dark
reflective
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
maheshmanutd's review
4.0
This book gave me a real surprise. It far exceeded my expectations. Ever since reading A Saga of Ice and Fire, I have been on the search for epic fantasies of such grand scale and vivid, crystal clear imagination. I did find some gems along the way, that's true, Abercrombie and Sanderson standing out from the rest. But after that, there were more misses than hits. Some stories started in an ingenious manner, but kind of faded somewhere along the way. But not JV Jones. This is a well-constructed, brilliantly written epic fantasy novel, one to be treasured and cherished for the future generations as well. JV Jones is a crafty and gifted writer. Her words are like music; you will be left wondering how she can conjure up such amazing prose from that pen of hers. I recommend this book to each and every fantasy aficionado out there. I have an inkling that you just might like it.
mcfade28's review against another edition
4.0
I've accidentally started another fantasy series that looks like it will never ever get finished. The series has been on hiatus since 2010, and although the author seems to be getting back on track,it could still be a few years before we get the next book.
Never mind- I actually found this novel works pretty well as a standalone. It's a fantasy novel featuring a young clansman,Raif, and an girl named Ash who was adopted as a baby by a powerful and sinister man. The pair both have magical powers brewing within them that can really only lead to trouble.
The book takes a long time to get going,and we get fully aquainted with both Raif and Ash separately before they meet later in the novel. I liked this approach as I felt we really got to know them as individuals, and understood their motivations before the main plot kicked in.
The full cast of characters was very likeable and they all had fleshed out, distinct personalities. The only characters that persistently bored me were the two Severance brothers Raif and Drey and it was unfortunate they were both given so much focus. Ash was a much more compelling and likeable lead than Raif but for whatever reason he ended up with the bulk of the point of view chapters.
I thought the villans of the piece were exceptionally well done. I always enjoyed the chapters when Ash's adoptive father Iss was the focus. His henchman, The Knife, was just the right amount of ruthless, with underlying loyalty to his men. The different clan chiefs were all written in a very balanced way as well.
I have every confidence that fans of A Song of Ice and Fire would love this.
Never mind- I actually found this novel works pretty well as a standalone. It's a fantasy novel featuring a young clansman,Raif, and an girl named Ash who was adopted as a baby by a powerful and sinister man. The pair both have magical powers brewing within them that can really only lead to trouble.
The book takes a long time to get going,and we get fully aquainted with both Raif and Ash separately before they meet later in the novel. I liked this approach as I felt we really got to know them as individuals, and understood their motivations before the main plot kicked in.
The full cast of characters was very likeable and they all had fleshed out, distinct personalities. The only characters that persistently bored me were the two Severance brothers Raif and Drey and it was unfortunate they were both given so much focus. Ash was a much more compelling and likeable lead than Raif but for whatever reason he ended up with the bulk of the point of view chapters.
I thought the villans of the piece were exceptionally well done. I always enjoyed the chapters when Ash's adoptive father Iss was the focus. His henchman, The Knife, was just the right amount of ruthless, with underlying loyalty to his men. The different clan chiefs were all written in a very balanced way as well.
I have every confidence that fans of A Song of Ice and Fire would love this.
sarahmadams's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A completely immersive and engaging read. I don't think I've ever read anything where cold and winter and frost and ice is described and encountered in so many ways.
The story is brutal, at times, and especially so during one scene, but there is hope.
Looking forward to reading the next one in the series!
The story is brutal, at times, and especially so during one scene, but there is hope.
Looking forward to reading the next one in the series!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Child death, and Murder
abigcoffeedragon's review against another edition
1.0
This did not do it for me at all - the characters were unoriginal, the plot boring, and there was no driving force other than the characters going from place to place, fighting, but the fighting started on page, and ended without our seeing what happened. I have read another book where the character starts to fight, begins losing, goes into some sort of rage, and then you see the character again, alive, covered in blood, with the character (and the reader) clueless as to what happened. Everyone else around is scared of the hero, and eludes to what happened. But, in a fantasy novel things have to happen, not everything can been assumed. There must be some reward for the pages of exposition. This is non-rewarding in any regards, and I quit at 70& of the book read. I put it down for a three day weekend, and did not miss the characters, the story, nor did I care who lived or died. Period, the end, this is NOT for me.
wayward_bird's review
AMAZING. Somehow this book manages to be so good that even the intense grimness doesn't manage to tarnish my experience while reading.
Every single character is interesting and well-written, even those that only play a minor role add color and texture to the world with just a few well chosen words from the author. The villains are particularly despicable and infuriating, but still feel tangible and never cartoonish. (Mace Blackhail in particular incites a deep, primal rage within me)
The tension is finely tuned throughout the book and will probably keep you up reading far past what you know is good for you!
J.V. Jones seems to be massively underrated! If you want to read good (and grim) fantasy, read this book!
Every single character is interesting and well-written, even those that only play a minor role add color and texture to the world with just a few well chosen words from the author. The villains are particularly despicable and infuriating, but still feel tangible and never cartoonish. (Mace Blackhail in particular incites a deep, primal rage within me)
The tension is finely tuned throughout the book and will probably keep you up reading far past what you know is good for you!
J.V. Jones seems to be massively underrated! If you want to read good (and grim) fantasy, read this book!
shellycampbellauthor's review against another edition
5.0
Gorgeous descriptions and settings
The characters in this story go through the wringer. There’s some quite graphic torture and hardship, but the settings and emotions are gorgeously rendered. I fell in love with the prose. Beautifully written.
The characters in this story go through the wringer. There’s some quite graphic torture and hardship, but the settings and emotions are gorgeously rendered. I fell in love with the prose. Beautifully written.
rg9400's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
lenajgib's review
5.0
I read this about ten years ago when it was new and loved it. I was waiting for the sequels to be out before reading it again, and now I have three of them to read.