Reviews

Noonshade by James Barclay

marcelozanca's review against another edition

tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

llona_llegaconlalluvia's review against another edition

2.0

anche in questo volume l'autore ne ammazza/elimina più di G.R.R.Martin!!!!

quel che resta della banda salva il mondo dai draghi cattivi aiutando i draghi buoni

non mi piace la scrittura, deve essere quello, perchè gli elementi per piacermi ci sono tutti e invece leggerlo è talmente una fatica che a volte salto pagina

ailsaod's review against another edition

adventurous dark sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

I expected this book to suck but it really surpassed my worst expectations. The first book was very much a case of so bad its good but in this book every element I was enjoyed was carefully removed and everything I didn't like in book one expanded on. Really the only reason I finished it was spite and I will not be continuing the series. Literally the only nice thing I have to say about this book is that I think the title is cool and fits well.

The main thing that kept me interested in this series after book 1 despite it being a disaster from the beginning was the characters - in particular Denser - but this book is the Hirad show and Hirad is a giant manchild who struggles to find a brain cell on a good day. I am once again asking why anyone thought he was a good choice to be the leader. To make things worse Denser is now depressed because he has completed his life's goal (casting the world ending spell Dawnthief) and now has nothing to live for (an opinion that his pregnant girlfriend is unsurprisingly not very chuffed about!). Not only is this a stupid reason to be depressed (may I remind you that the complete success of the spell would have ended the world!? Why is he depressed about failing to end the world????) but the way Denser's depression was portrayed was bad and was made even worse by Erienne basically asking if he has tried not being depressed and then getting upset when he takes this poorly. Wow, this is definitely how mental health works!

Another thing that I found annoying is that while this book is about stopping a world ending event there is a subplot (which takes up a full half of the book) which is handled in the least satisfying way possible. We spend literally HUNDREDS of pages trying to resolve the situation and every possible option is explored and in the end

everyone just dies anyway - except the Raven of course!

It is presented as a victory ultimately because 'at least the Raven get out' but I don't like the raven particularly and seeing them get a happy ending at the cost of

thousands of people's lives

was depressing. I also found it incredibly insensitive how when faced with all these desperate people wanting their help they refuse to provide the information others require unless it is on their terms because it is 'raven business'. Like guys you do realise we are in a potentially world ending situation here that is kind of everyone's business? The audacity!

I haven't even gotten to the dragon dimension nonsense yet! While there were some interesting worldbuilding ideas in this part of the book there were some weird pro-slavery things going on. There are people in the dragon dimension (who are described as being shorter and less intelligent than regular humans) who are basically slaves of the dragons. This in itself is alright as a worldbuilding thing but why does Hirad have multiple moments where he admires a fancy building that the slaves have built and thinks to himself that his own world could do with being more like the dragon dimension? I'm sorry what was that??? You think the world would be a better place if most of the population lived in fear and spent all their efforts making mansions for the 1%? Also the author may think he has made the people in the dragon dimension sound not like humans enough that them being enslaved is OK but that just sounds like racism to me. Like does he not realise this is how slavery was justified historically?? I found it bizarre how the Kaan dragons were portrayed as good and nice and all the other dragons were nasty but they are literally no different! Also also the author still has not managed to clear up my confusion from the last book about whether the Wesmen are supposed to be intrinsically evil or the 'good guys' are just very racist sooooo this book is not giving off good vibes.

To summarise: don't bother reading this book, there is nothing enjoyable here and it is too long.

 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism, War, Death, Genocide, Violence, Mental illness, and Slavery

brian's review against another edition

4.0

Follows on directly from [b:Dawnthief|469208|Dawnthief (Chronicles of the Raven, #1)|James Barclay|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1348334346s/469208.jpg|2225392].
It doesn't spend any time on a refresher, so if it's been a while since reading that book then it might be an idea to re-read that first.
Even saying that, you soon get up to speed on who's who, and what their roles re.

Following the casting of the Dawnthief spell, there is now a rip to the dragon dimension in the sky above Balaia. The Raven (a mixed group of fighters and wizards) have to travel there to fix it, or else the land will be invaded by dragons. The only problem is the various Wesmen armies betwen them and where they need to be.

Lots of action, and interesting characters. Well written and the pace keeps everything moving along.

razgon's review against another edition

2.0

meh...not that great.