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4.11 AVERAGE
4.11 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Enjoyed the worldbuilding and Bane’s development, but found the other characters — Githany, the other Sith Lords etc, a bit lacking. Enjoyed the beginning but then it dropped off in quality.
fast-paced
Finished with a bit of a sigh. I hope the rest of the series is better. I'll be brief. Too much telling, not enough showing.
I loved the beginning. Des is established as a tough and rough man, as severe as his life. A classic setup. A beaten down person wanting more from life than exploitation. Des is drily funny, though scathing. He gets this big break when he escapes his home planet and joins the Sith army. Chapter break: suddenly we're months later. The author keeps EXPLAINING how close Des has become with his comrades, that he considers them friends; instead of demonstrating this over the span of a couple chapters. Same goes for his training at the Sith Academy. We skip to Bane being ready to challenge a peer; the author just states how powerful he has become, and that the force is strong. It's exhausting to get told these details so matter-of-factly, when the better writing choice would be to storytell.
I'm paraphrasing brutally here, to press a point about the iterativeness: 'Githany walked in the room, her beauty taking the breath from everyone. She was incredibly beautiful. Though, it was more than just her physical beauty, but how she carried herself that made her so beautiful.'
Why not spend the time to show us her beauty and seductiveness over time? You could even pepper in such phrases like "her shining hair whipped as she left the room" or "Qordis sat up straighter as she approached, a warm sensation filling his stomach, which he hadn't felt since a young man." Something like that? Githany's character is awfully clunky (which is often how men write women characters, especially when they're hot).
ON THE PLOT (this one is just opinion):
I was getting bored with Bane's effortless transition into the Sith world. Then we saw him conflicted about his killing of Fohargh, his peer. Finally! A glimmer of character depth. This whole section was intriguing. Then he failed for the first time in his duel with Sirak - and badly. I was thinking: now it's getting good!
From this, we taper off into pure darkness and destruction. Not nearly as interesting. I'm perhaps biased; I grew up on the Anakin story and find the rise and fall of Vader one of the most tragic and beautiful tales; complicated and epic. Darth Bane , on the contrary, is too simple for my taste. He was a damaged man (with potential) who stumbled into the guidance of the Sith, and only got stronger and more overpowered as time went on. The conflict by which I was intrigued was hastily dispatched. I understand the dark side can be one dimensional at times; and I loved when Bane was exploring its history and lore, and when he finally decided how best to embrace the dark with his 'rule of two'. It still fell flat, however. Bane barely struggled in the second half of this book. Not even a wince from (not arguably) the worst thing he had ever done: the savage murder of an innocent family to feed his dark side healing.
I suppose the author wanted to get all the backstory out of the way quickly in this first of the trilogy and didn't have enough time to drag the details out. I'm hoping the next two are more compelling character development.
The epilogue, however, WAS compelling and promising. I can't wait to see what's next for the Rain and Bane duo. As long as the author doesn't start Book II with another time jump, and Rain is already grown and trained... *Eye roll*. I'm not too optimistic.
I loved the beginning. Des is established as a tough and rough man, as severe as his life. A classic setup. A beaten down person wanting more from life than exploitation. Des is drily funny, though scathing. He gets this big break when he escapes his home planet and joins the Sith army. Chapter break: suddenly we're months later. The author keeps EXPLAINING how close Des has become with his comrades, that he considers them friends; instead of demonstrating this over the span of a couple chapters. Same goes for his training at the Sith Academy. We skip to Bane being ready to challenge a peer; the author just states how powerful he has become, and that the force is strong. It's exhausting to get told these details so matter-of-factly, when the better writing choice would be to storytell.
I'm paraphrasing brutally here, to press a point about the iterativeness: 'Githany walked in the room, her beauty taking the breath from everyone. She was incredibly beautiful. Though, it was more than just her physical beauty, but how she carried herself that made her so beautiful.'
Why not spend the time to show us her beauty and seductiveness over time? You could even pepper in such phrases like "her shining hair whipped as she left the room" or "Qordis sat up straighter as she approached, a warm sensation filling his stomach, which he hadn't felt since a young man." Something like that? Githany's character is awfully clunky (which is often how men write women characters, especially when they're hot).
ON THE PLOT (this one is just opinion):
I was getting bored with Bane's effortless transition into the Sith world. Then we saw him conflicted about his killing of Fohargh, his peer. Finally! A glimmer of character depth. This whole section was intriguing. Then he failed for the first time in his duel with Sirak - and badly. I was thinking: now it's getting good!
From this, we taper off into pure darkness and destruction. Not nearly as interesting. I'm perhaps biased; I grew up on the Anakin story and find the rise and fall of Vader one of the most tragic and beautiful tales; complicated and epic. Darth Bane , on the contrary, is too simple for my taste. He was a damaged man (with potential) who stumbled into the guidance of the Sith, and only got stronger and more overpowered as time went on. The conflict by which I was intrigued was hastily dispatched. I understand the dark side can be one dimensional at times; and I loved when Bane was exploring its history and lore, and when he finally decided how best to embrace the dark with his 'rule of two'. It still fell flat, however. Bane barely struggled in the second half of this book. Not even a wince from (not arguably) the worst thing he had ever done: the savage murder of an innocent family to feed his dark side healing.
I suppose the author wanted to get all the backstory out of the way quickly in this first of the trilogy and didn't have enough time to drag the details out. I'm hoping the next two are more compelling character development.
The epilogue, however, WAS compelling and promising. I can't wait to see what's next for the Rain and Bane duo. As long as the author doesn't start Book II with another time jump, and Rain is already grown and trained... *Eye roll*. I'm not too optimistic.
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I don’t know, i had a few qualms about this book. It was recommended read so i expected for it to be at least really good but i was kinda disappointing.
The main character, Darth Bane was very bland and not convincing in being “evil” to me. He was very one dimensional to me and yes he did some evil deeds but they felt hollow.
The rest of the supporting cast also felt one dimensional in the way they acted and honestly i’m glad they all died lmaoo they did nothing for the story except be in Bane’s way.
I’ll try to keep up with the rest of the books but i won’t make any promises with myself.
The main character, Darth Bane was very bland and not convincing in being “evil” to me. He was very one dimensional to me and yes he did some evil deeds but they felt hollow.
The rest of the supporting cast also felt one dimensional in the way they acted and honestly i’m glad they all died lmaoo they did nothing for the story except be in Bane’s way.
I’ll try to keep up with the rest of the books but i won’t make any promises with myself.
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
The beginning of the book was slow but strong. Bane's upbringing was harsh and dreary but Karpyshyn did a good job making the dread interesting. His time as a soldier was described briefly but hinted at his force potential and was called back to several times. Bane's time at the Sith Academy was the highlight of the book. The elaborate hierarchy of the Brotherhood of Darkness is fully explored as Bane's potential is quickly unlocked. Karpushyn takes the time to explain the mental barriers Bane has to overcome as he embraces the darkness, as well as explaining how Bane was able to masterfully manipulate those around him as he rises to power.
Once Bane leaves the academy behind, the book quickens its pace. Each chapter is a new discovery as Bane attempts to learn from Sith Lords long passed, as he has completely given up on learning from the Brotherhood. Bane knows he must destroy them if there is any hope for the Sith to last. While this portion of the book is thrilling, it almost moves too quickly. The pace set at the Academy is abandoned and replaced with a pace that is almost too fast to fully grasp. Bane goes through trials that could easily take 2 chapters, in 2 pages.
The supporting characters of Sith Lords and Acolytes are fully characterized and endlessly interesting. Between cunning love interests, loathsome lords and over confident students, the supporting cast makes the time spent at the academy truly come alive. Acting as seamless foils to Bane, we learn more about the depths of Banes cunning and ability to prevail when all cards are stacked against him.
Despite the last quarter of the book moving too quickly, Path of Destruction is excellent and extremely entertaining. You feel as though you are inside Bane's head as he unravels the plots against him and manipulates them into his own gain.
Once Bane leaves the academy behind, the book quickens its pace. Each chapter is a new discovery as Bane attempts to learn from Sith Lords long passed, as he has completely given up on learning from the Brotherhood. Bane knows he must destroy them if there is any hope for the Sith to last. While this portion of the book is thrilling, it almost moves too quickly. The pace set at the Academy is abandoned and replaced with a pace that is almost too fast to fully grasp. Bane goes through trials that could easily take 2 chapters, in 2 pages.
The supporting characters of Sith Lords and Acolytes are fully characterized and endlessly interesting. Between cunning love interests, loathsome lords and over confident students, the supporting cast makes the time spent at the academy truly come alive. Acting as seamless foils to Bane, we learn more about the depths of Banes cunning and ability to prevail when all cards are stacked against him.
Despite the last quarter of the book moving too quickly, Path of Destruction is excellent and extremely entertaining. You feel as though you are inside Bane's head as he unravels the plots against him and manipulates them into his own gain.