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dromwald's review against another edition
5.0
I stumbled upon this gem of a trilogy quite by accident and have absolutely no idea why this isn't on more people's radars/recommended reading lists for this genre. Really superb story with lots of unique concepts and interesting characters. Genuinely unique enough to keep me interested throughout and with great world building I'm now interested to find out what else this author has written.
bookbirder's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
This may be a controversial statement, but I believe this book has the potential to be the next Lord of the Rings.
Both are too long in the first read-through (this one could have easily been split into at least two books) but both also have a rich fantastical world with complex characters and plenty to analyze and explore further. The major difference that I can see is that The Way of Thorn and Thunder incorporates a far more diverse array of characters and perspectives than The Lord of the Rings.
Both are too long in the first read-through (this one could have easily been split into at least two books) but both also have a rich fantastical world with complex characters and plenty to analyze and explore further. The major difference that I can see is that The Way of Thorn and Thunder incorporates a far more diverse array of characters and perspectives than The Lord of the Rings.
charlieleelee's review
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
jacehan's review against another edition
4.0
More of a 3.5, rounded up. This book took a long time to find its footing. Seeing that it was originally a trilogy, I would say the first third gets really lost in its worldbuilding and is hard to follow. But once Tarsa and Tobhi make it to the capital city, things pick up, and it goes from there. The section on the Darkening Road (analogous to the Trail of Tears) was particularly harrowing.
Justice also has a habit of skipping to the aftermath of an event and then backfilling, which is a fine technique sometimes but not as often as he used it. Also, for a book that is described as queer, a lot of it felt awfully straight. (The Kyn have a third gender but there’s only one character of note of that gender, and they aren’t very prominent at all. There’s a character you could say is trans, but that’s only revealed in the glossary. There’s a sapphic relationship, but it comes in pretty late in the book.)
Justice also has a habit of skipping to the aftermath of an event and then backfilling, which is a fine technique sometimes but not as often as he used it. Also, for a book that is described as queer, a lot of it felt awfully straight. (The Kyn have a third gender but there’s only one character of note of that gender, and they aren’t very prominent at all. There’s a character you could say is trans, but that’s only revealed in the glossary. There’s a sapphic relationship, but it comes in pretty late in the book.)
thesundevourer's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
4.0
ccallan's review against another edition
4.0
A wonderful take on the age old clash between cultures, between societies that hold everything in balance vs. the ambitious/rapacious cultures that chew up both their own people and those around them, in a never ending quest for more more more.
Great characters, including some more badass females that are appearing more and more in fantasy and science fiction. There was a bit more telling and a bit less showing than I would have liked, but at least characters didn't sit around explaining the laws of physics to each other.
An author I'll be reading more of, I hope.
Great characters, including some more badass females that are appearing more and more in fantasy and science fiction. There was a bit more telling and a bit less showing than I would have liked, but at least characters didn't sit around explaining the laws of physics to each other.
An author I'll be reading more of, I hope.
ericgaryanderson's review against another edition
5.0
Magnificent. Originally published as a trilogy, then later melded into a single volume, this novel held me spellbound from beginning to end. Wonderful characters, steady and powerful writing, beautifully evoked interrelationships between people and home places, and (very much related) smart, urgent politics. I can't recommend Daniel's novel enough.
balsamicmoon's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
5.0
bennysbooks's review against another edition
This is actually very good, and I'm confident I will love it one day, but I'm not in a place where I can read it right now. It is epic in scope, with so many characters and perspectives introduced right off the bat. It throws you right into the world without anything to hold onto, slowly filling in the gaps. My brain is struggling to piece everything together right now, and I'll return when I can give it more time and attention.
jennieartemis's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
slow-paced
3.75
TL;DR: Fantasy from a marginalised perspective that brings the influences and experiences of that viewpoint, but doesn't quite cohere as a narrative
The Way of Thorn and Thunder is ultimately a solid fantasy narrative, and at points, particularly in the later stages, it shows some sparks of being great, but I was so prepared for this book to be special and I was a bit disappointed. The world was fascinating, but this resulted in a ton of description and exposition relative to plot. The characters also had a lot of potential, but some major figures felt like non-entities, and the developing relationships between them were often rushed, so it was hard to feel any emotional connection. It also wasn't as radical with gender or sexuality as I was expecting despite some interesting ingredients. It's great to see a fantasy with these influences, and there is a good message to the overall narrative, but I shan't rush to reread this one.
6/10 in personal rating system
The Way of Thorn and Thunder is ultimately a solid fantasy narrative, and at points, particularly in the later stages, it shows some sparks of being great, but I was so prepared for this book to be special and I was a bit disappointed. The world was fascinating, but this resulted in a ton of description and exposition relative to plot. The characters also had a lot of potential, but some major figures felt like non-entities, and the developing relationships between them were often rushed, so it was hard to feel any emotional connection. It also wasn't as radical with gender or sexuality as I was expecting despite some interesting ingredients. It's great to see a fantasy with these influences, and there is a good message to the overall narrative, but I shan't rush to reread this one.
6/10 in personal rating system