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4.05 AVERAGE
4.05 AVERAGE
«First thing you learn travelling the long roads, kid: language is as much in the way you speak as the words you choose»
{English}
Okay. Firstly, I’m strongly disappointed with this second instalment of [b: Spellslinger|25181955|Spellslinger (Spellslinger #1)|Sebastien de Castell|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1500507094s/25181955.jpg|43507223] series… But why am I that much disappointed? Mainly because I had really high expectations into this book when I read the first —you can read my full review of Spellslinger here— and also because the things that I had enjoyed most when reading the first instalment… I didn’t enjoyed them in Shadowblack.
We still follow Kellen in his new adventure being an outsider, an outlaw away from his home, a stranger in the vast world —oh, Ancestors, this book needs a world map!— facing his new path and being insufferable. We all know you’re suffering, kid, but GROW UP. I don’t think he actually evolved a bit in the whole book. Alongside boring-Kellen, we have his two only friends: Ferius, who I still think could be better developed as a character because I do believe we could see her full potential… if the author dared, and Reichis, the character who saves this book with his witty sense of humour. He saves all the scenes. ALL. Without him, I’d surely abandoned this book.
Among all the things I haven’t liked, the least was the use of the same pattern and plot development as in Spellslinger. Also, we still have the same POV (1st person - Kellen) that although I loved in the previous book, I didn’t like it that much here. I’d hoped to have different POVs (at least Ferius’), I’d hoped to get into new cultures —okay, we got into a new one culture but it wasn’t expanded as much as I expected—, I’d hope to meet new interesting female characters —we met Seneira and Rosie but they ended up meaning nothing to the whole story. IDK—. All the amazing plot twists that we faced in the previous book don’t work here and the final chapters have totally expectable resolutions. We have a lot of clichés, such as instalove and that 'kind’ of fast and predictable ending that are really (and sadly) common in YA books.
Anyway, I’m surely going to read the third instalment (mainly because of Reichis) and because I truly hope this series could improve and I don’t give up on my expectations: better character’s development (specially the female ones), new cultures and a f*** world map.
P. S. I'm not English, so if you see any mistakes let me know so I can correct them, please
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{Español}
En primer lugar, deciros que estoy muy decepcionada con esta segunda entrega de la saga [b: Spellslinger|25181955|Spellslinger (Spellslinger #1)|Sebastien de Castell|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1500507094s/25181955.jpg|43507223]. ¿Y por qué estoy tan decepcionada? Principalmente porque tenía grandes expectativas con este libro cuando leí el primero y también porque las cosas que más había disfrutado al leer la primera entrega no las disfruté con Shadowblack.
Volvemos a seguir a Kellen en su nueva aventura siendo un forastero, un forajido lejos de su hogar, un extraño en el vasto mundo —oh, Ancestros, ¡este libro necesita un mapa!— enfrentándose a su nuevo camino y es insufrible. Todos sabemos que estás sufriendo, chico, pero CRECE. No creo que este personaje haya evolucionado ni un poco en todo el libro. Además de nuestro amigo Kellen el aburrido, tenemos a sus dos únicos amigos: Ferius, que todavía creo que podría desarrollarse mejor como personaje porque creo que podríamos ver su potencial completo... si al autor simplemente le importara, y Reichis, el personaje que salva por completo este libro con su maravilloso sentido del humor. Él salva todas las escenas. TODAS. Sin él, seguramente habría abandonado este libro.
Entre todas las cosas que no me han gustado, la que menos ha sido el uso del mismo patrón y el mismo desarrollo de la trama que en Spellslinger. Además, todavía tenemos el mismo punto de vista (primera persona - Kellen) que, aunque me encantó en el libro anterior, no me gustó tanto aquí. Esperaba tener diferentes puntos de vista (al menos el de Ferius), esperaba encontrarme con nuevas culturas —vale, sí, conocemos una cultura nueva pero no creo que se haya desarrollado de la forma que yo esperaba—, esperaba encontrar nuevos personajes femeninos interesantes —conocemos a Seneira y Rosie pero terminaron sin significar nada para el conjunto historia—. Todos los sorprendentes giros argumentales que había en el libro anterior no funcionan aquí y los capítulos finales tienen resoluciones totalmente esperables. Tenemos muchos clichés, como el instalove y ese 'tipo' de final rápido y predecible que es realmente (y lamentablemente) común en los libros YA.
De todas formas, seguramente voy a leer la tercera entrega (principalmente por Reichis) y porque realmente espero que esta serie puede mejorar y no renuncio a mis expectativas: un mejor desarrollo de los personajes (sobre todo los femeninos), nuevas culturas y ¡un maldito mapa-mundi!
I loved the first book.
I loved this one even more.
Kellen has become easily one of my fav characters of all time. Why might you ask? Well, mainly because he is the opposite to almost every single character we see nowadays. He isn't the hero, he isn't the best at what he does and basically, well, he isn't very good at anything at all. And I love him for that very reason alone. You expect him to suddenly become great at something, and yet, he fails time and time again. But he never truly gives up. Yes, he does whine, but then again, he is only 15 years old. I do exactly the same and I'm 27.
And that's another thing I love about this character. I see myself in him. I bet many of us do. How many of us have tried to do something and failed miserably at it? How many of us have tried and tried and tried, and realised that maybe, just maybe, we weren't meant to do it in the first place. But we keep trying, 'cos you never lose hope. And Kellen never loses hope either.
The plot in this second book was amazing. Even though the first book had an amazing plot, I really did find this one so much more fun and entertaining. Why? Because in the first book it's mainly Kellen fighting with everyone from his clan, trying to become something that he isn't, whereas in this story, it's more about him helping others. I don't know, I just found it so much more exciting. It was a page-turner.
The romance in these books (if we can call it that because there isn't really much romance) to me is unnecessary. I do hope the author doesn't give Kellen a romantic interest in each single book because I think that would irritate me a little. Even though it isn't a main topic in the books, and I get that Kellen is 15 and he's going to find romance along his journeys, I would like a few books to have a bit of a breathe from romantic interests. It's not important to the story, it doesn't really add anything in my opinion. I must prefer the friendships that are being built between the different characters and the crazy situations they get themselves into. I feel like many author and publishers feel that they need to include romance or if not the readers won't be interested. But I believe it's probably the opposite. For books like these, romance isn't necessary. At least not always.
I cannot wait to get my hands on the 3rd book of this series and see what happens next.
I loved this one even more.
Kellen has become easily one of my fav characters of all time. Why might you ask? Well, mainly because he is the opposite to almost every single character we see nowadays. He isn't the hero, he isn't the best at what he does and basically, well, he isn't very good at anything at all. And I love him for that very reason alone. You expect him to suddenly become great at something, and yet, he fails time and time again. But he never truly gives up. Yes, he does whine, but then again, he is only 15 years old. I do exactly the same and I'm 27.
And that's another thing I love about this character. I see myself in him. I bet many of us do. How many of us have tried to do something and failed miserably at it? How many of us have tried and tried and tried, and realised that maybe, just maybe, we weren't meant to do it in the first place. But we keep trying, 'cos you never lose hope. And Kellen never loses hope either.
The plot in this second book was amazing. Even though the first book had an amazing plot, I really did find this one so much more fun and entertaining. Why? Because in the first book it's mainly Kellen fighting with everyone from his clan, trying to become something that he isn't, whereas in this story, it's more about him helping others. I don't know, I just found it so much more exciting. It was a page-turner.
The romance in these books (if we can call it that because there isn't really much romance) to me is unnecessary. I do hope the author doesn't give Kellen a romantic interest in each single book because I think that would irritate me a little. Even though it isn't a main topic in the books, and I get that Kellen is 15 and he's going to find romance along his journeys, I would like a few books to have a bit of a breathe from romantic interests. It's not important to the story, it doesn't really add anything in my opinion. I must prefer the friendships that are being built between the different characters and the crazy situations they get themselves into. I feel like many author and publishers feel that they need to include romance or if not the readers won't be interested. But I believe it's probably the opposite. For books like these, romance isn't necessary. At least not always.
I cannot wait to get my hands on the 3rd book of this series and see what happens next.
this is four months on from book 1. kellen adventures continue. I enjoyed this book it is a fun quick read and I read in one sitting 😀
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Will come back to this, a little slow to start book 2, but I think I would enjoy it.
For a book where people fought and blackmailed and murdered, the ending is so wholesome.
My name is Kellen Argos. I am the Path of Endless Stars.
This alone pulls off an extra star to my otherwise 3 star rating.
The book is fine, and though it has faults, it kept me entertained and was an enjoyable read.
The story wasn't really coherent, but it kept me hooked and reading all the same. Some scenes does feel unnecessary and redundant, and it drags a little, the action scenes not as satisfying as the first book... But well, now we get to know the characters a bit better. I'm slightly annoyed by Kellen too, but Reichis really is growing on me. He steals the show. Seneira was an improvement from the previous love interest, so that's fine by me. I wonder though, if poor Kellen is destined to fall for a girl each book then have to move on. Ah, how sad if it is.
I knew Dexan isn't quite right from the start. Turns out if you read enough, you can tell if a character is fishy.
My name is Kellen Argos. I am the Path of Endless Stars.
This alone pulls off an extra star to my otherwise 3 star rating.
The book is fine, and though it has faults, it kept me entertained and was an enjoyable read.
The story wasn't really coherent, but it kept me hooked and reading all the same. Some scenes does feel unnecessary and redundant, and it drags a little, the action scenes not as satisfying as the first book... But well, now we get to know the characters a bit better. I'm slightly annoyed by Kellen too, but Reichis really is growing on me. He steals the show. Seneira was an improvement from the previous love interest, so that's fine by me. I wonder though, if poor Kellen is destined to fall for a girl each book then have to move on. Ah, how sad if it is.
I knew Dexan isn't quite right from the start. Turns out if you read enough, you can tell if a character is fishy.
These books are super fun.
This has a couple brutal scenes, but the book is really great.
This builds on foundation of the previous book and explains the world in interesting ways.
I'm burning thorough this series and highly recommend it.
This has a couple brutal scenes, but the book is really great.
This builds on foundation of the previous book and explains the world in interesting ways.
I'm burning thorough this series and highly recommend it.
I loved this so much. It was such a fun and engaging read. I loved seeing the twists and turns of the plot. The magic system. The new characters. It was all very exciting to read and I inhaled it despite having 2 kids.
I immediately want to jump into the next book but I don't have it. Yet. An error that I will correct.
I immediately want to jump into the next book but I don't have it. Yet. An error that I will correct.
The second book in this YA fantasy series is even more fun than the first. Having failed to become a mage like his own people, Kellen finds he is not much of an outlaw either, but with his old and new friends, he manages to find a great deal of trouble. A little bit Wild West, lots of magic, violence, adventure, humour and heart.