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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
I wasn't sure when I started this book, whether I would like or ever enjoy the book. And I am so happy that I have read this book, as I really enjoyed it. With how the characters were written made it interesting and helped the story develop. With the way the characters developed throughout the story they all had to go through challenges. The way in which the story was written also made it very intriguing to read. Especially with how it has ended I am curious with what's going to happen next.
adventurous
challenging
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The first half was a slog … but that second half was fantastic, and the last 10% I’d break-neck! Looking forward to #2.
Yep.
This is the longest I have taken to read a book. I read dozens between it and i must say, it was
ehhhh
Kind of meh, all things considered.
This is the longest I have taken to read a book. I read dozens between it and i must say, it was
ehhhh
Kind of meh, all things considered.
This book is a mess. Does the story line have way too many characters that only overlap in the most trite ways? Sure does! Is the magic totally lacking in internal physics and a rip off of better written books? You bet! Are the people an overlapping swamp of western and eastern traditions pieced together with no rhyme or reason, and does one (and only one) drop in random Italian words? Hey why not!
Add to this a level of grammatical errors that screams “self published”.
Add to this a level of grammatical errors that screams “self published”.
Wow... I picked this up based on the interesting premise and I'm so glad I did. Despite being 700 pages, I flew through it and that was down to the excellent pacing, as I never once felt bored.
In short we follow three main characters - A training mage, a mercenary hired to spy on the royal family and a market girl greeted by an unusual man. (Definitely read the synopsis though, as that's what hooked me)
These 3 main story arcs are each unique, having their own twist and turns and various intrigue. The way they slowly start to interweave with each other is beautifully crafted and doesn't feel at all forced.
There's 4 types of magic (or 'gnosis') in this world, each split up into 4 sub categories. As the book continued the magic system continued to get more and more interesting. While being slightly confusing at first, I quickly got a grasp of the capabilities of each type of gnosis and how some mages naturally suit certain types better.
This is also the first Epic Fantasy I have read, where there are huge influences from both eastern and western cultures from our world. It was so interesting how the conflict was created, using these cultural differences in a fantasy setting, through this diverse cast of characters.
I recommend this book to any Epic Fantasy lover or even for people looking to get into the genre, as it certainly got me back into reading Epic Fantasy. On to book 2! :D
In short we follow three main characters - A training mage, a mercenary hired to spy on the royal family and a market girl greeted by an unusual man. (Definitely read the synopsis though, as that's what hooked me)
These 3 main story arcs are each unique, having their own twist and turns and various intrigue. The way they slowly start to interweave with each other is beautifully crafted and doesn't feel at all forced.
There's 4 types of magic (or 'gnosis') in this world, each split up into 4 sub categories. As the book continued the magic system continued to get more and more interesting. While being slightly confusing at first, I quickly got a grasp of the capabilities of each type of gnosis and how some mages naturally suit certain types better.
This is also the first Epic Fantasy I have read, where there are huge influences from both eastern and western cultures from our world. It was so interesting how the conflict was created, using these cultural differences in a fantasy setting, through this diverse cast of characters.
I recommend this book to any Epic Fantasy lover or even for people looking to get into the genre, as it certainly got me back into reading Epic Fantasy. On to book 2! :D
WHAT. WHAT. WHAT.
Calm down, Sebastian. Calm down. It was just a book. Just a book.
WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK DID JUST HAPPEN I CAN'T EVEN BELIEVE IT!
Okay. I seriously have to calm down.
So, to actually start this review in a serious matter, I really liked it.
The first half of the book was good. There were some chapters I really liked, some chapters that were okay and some chapters that were just plain boring.
Ramita's chapters were the boring ones, at least in the beginning of the first half. I didn't really connect to her and it was just all about love... Not really what I was interested in.
Kazim was actually my least favorite character in this novel. He is just unbelievably terrible. I didn't like him as soon as he almost hit his sister. That was a complete and utter no-go. And he didn't change a bit.
Alaron's chapters were fine. I mean, in the beginning, they were mostly used for info-dumps. But as they progressed, they got more interesting.
Elena's chapters in the first half were amazing. I loved every single bit of it. She was my favorite character actually. She was so badass.
Then the second half just casually came along and BLEW MY FUCKING MIND!
Ramita's chapters became so interesting, as long as Kazim wasn't involved. I actually found myself really enjoying her! But her story was pretty dramatic though.
Elena's chapters did calm a bit down though. Not enough to bore me, not at all. But the last three or four chapters just absolutely had me SCREAMING. It was so intense.
Alarons chapters were very intense too! What started out as a bit confusing in the beginning became so fucking suspenseful that I almost fell off of my chair.
It's been a long time that I've read a finale that was so intense like the finale in this book.
So yeah, did I tell you I loved this book? No?
I think that's all I have to say right now.
Calm down, Sebastian. Calm down. It was just a book. Just a book.
WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK DID JUST HAPPEN I CAN'T EVEN BELIEVE IT!
Okay. I seriously have to calm down.
So, to actually start this review in a serious matter, I really liked it.
The first half of the book was good. There were some chapters I really liked, some chapters that were okay and some chapters that were just plain boring.
Ramita's chapters were the boring ones, at least in the beginning of the first half. I didn't really connect to her and it was just all about love... Not really what I was interested in.
Kazim was actually my least favorite character in this novel. He is just unbelievably terrible. I didn't like him as soon as he almost hit his sister. That was a complete and utter no-go. And he didn't change a bit.
Alaron's chapters were fine. I mean, in the beginning, they were mostly used for info-dumps. But as they progressed, they got more interesting.
Elena's chapters in the first half were amazing. I loved every single bit of it. She was my favorite character actually. She was so badass.
Then the second half just casually came along and BLEW MY FUCKING MIND!
Ramita's chapters became so interesting, as long as Kazim wasn't involved. I actually found myself really enjoying her! But her story was pretty dramatic though.
Elena's chapters did calm a bit down though. Not enough to bore me, not at all. But the last three or four chapters just absolutely had me SCREAMING. It was so intense.
Alarons chapters were very intense too! What started out as a bit confusing in the beginning became so fucking suspenseful that I almost fell off of my chair.
It's been a long time that I've read a finale that was so intense like the finale in this book.
So yeah, did I tell you I loved this book? No?
I think that's all I have to say right now.
Mage's Blood is a superb novel that takes quite a bit to get into. (Frankly, I ended up putting it down and picking up the Audio book version - but mostly because I'm in the car so much)
Ultimately, however, it's are richly detailed world in which the major plot of the story isn't readily apparent until the threads start pulling together about the end of the first 1/4th of the book. This isn't to say the first 1/4th is bad - it's just that you don't know what to expect and where the story is going. it seems fairly mundane....but big events are starting in those mundane events.
The story has several protagonists. Aladon, the student, Ramita the woman sold by her family to a Mage, her (ex)lover and Elena, the ex assassin turned body guard. How do these characters relate? Where does the story go? Well, in many ways, they are all moving towards a central theme of the Crusade vs the Jihad... but seem to be pawns (except Elena, who is more a knight/bishop using that analogy) in a world full of folks much stronger and wiser than they.
The novel has a strong middle eastern flavor. Without really knowing that culture, it felt that way to me. But those cultures, while possibly derived from our world, seem truly drawn out and unique unto themselves. Ultimately, the novel is building to the Moontide - the time when the bridge between continents will be above water and crossable. The last time this happened, there was war. There will be war again - hence the Crusade/Jihad reference.
There are many strong supporting characters as well, plus a 20 year old 'puzzle' that must be resolved.
Ultimately, the story felt like disparate threads being pulled together to lay a strong under pinning to a much larger epic story. And of course, as this is book 1 of 4, that makes sense. But it's also very strong in the tale its telling of our pawns and the different threads each become very enjoyable and unique by themselves.
Overall, I very much enjoyed Mage's Blood and look forward to reading book 2.
Ultimately, however, it's are richly detailed world in which the major plot of the story isn't readily apparent until the threads start pulling together about the end of the first 1/4th of the book. This isn't to say the first 1/4th is bad - it's just that you don't know what to expect and where the story is going. it seems fairly mundane....but big events are starting in those mundane events.
The story has several protagonists. Aladon, the student, Ramita the woman sold by her family to a Mage, her (ex)lover and Elena, the ex assassin turned body guard. How do these characters relate? Where does the story go? Well, in many ways, they are all moving towards a central theme of the Crusade vs the Jihad... but seem to be pawns (except Elena, who is more a knight/bishop using that analogy) in a world full of folks much stronger and wiser than they.
The novel has a strong middle eastern flavor. Without really knowing that culture, it felt that way to me. But those cultures, while possibly derived from our world, seem truly drawn out and unique unto themselves. Ultimately, the novel is building to the Moontide - the time when the bridge between continents will be above water and crossable. The last time this happened, there was war. There will be war again - hence the Crusade/Jihad reference.
There are many strong supporting characters as well, plus a 20 year old 'puzzle' that must be resolved.
Ultimately, the story felt like disparate threads being pulled together to lay a strong under pinning to a much larger epic story. And of course, as this is book 1 of 4, that makes sense. But it's also very strong in the tale its telling of our pawns and the different threads each become very enjoyable and unique by themselves.
Overall, I very much enjoyed Mage's Blood and look forward to reading book 2.
I still kick myself for having started so late on this series. Great story lines, good characters (some more interesting and relatable than others), intrigue and inspired by crusades.
The best companion for a long flight. Absolutely impressive.
The best companion for a long flight. Absolutely impressive.