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brendalovesbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Why I read it: netgalley review copy
The Plot: I'm not quite sure how to describe the plot, it's quite complex, and I don't think I could do it justice, so I will give you the synopsis from the author's website:
Venice 1407
The city is at the height of its powers. In theory, Duke Marco commands, but Marco is a simpleton so his aunt and uncle rule in his stead. They seem all powerful, yet live in fear of assassins better than their own.
On the night their world changes, Marco's young cousin prays in the family chapel for deliverance from a forced marriage. It is her misfortune to be alone when Mamluk pirates break in to abduct her – an act that will ultimately trigger war.
Elsewhere Atilo, the Duke's chief assassin, cuts a man's throat. Hearing a noise, he turns back to find a boy drinking from the victim's wound. The speed with which the angel-faced boy dodges his dagger and scales a wall stuns Atilo. He knows then he must hunt him. Not to kill him, but because he’s finally found what he thought was impossible – someone fit to be his apprentice.
The Characters: There were a few main characters here, and although I think the book is supposed to be mostly about Tycho (the previously mentioned angel-faced boy), there were a few other characters that took center stage as well. And I didn't really love any of them. Don't get me wrong, the characters are all interesting, but I feel like they kind of took a backseat role to the setting.
The Setting: If the characters didn't feel completely fleshed out, it's because the author spent his time fleshing out the setting instead. In every chapter, it seems there are detailed descriptions of Venice--the smells, the sights, the sounds, the history. The main character in the story really is the setting.
Who Should Read This? Fans of gritty, darker fantasy. It's definitely not for the faint of heart, or those who like lighthearted fantasy.
Final Thoughts: The Fallen Blade started out with a bang, and I was really excited about reading it. But somewhere in the middle I felt like it faltered a bit, to the point where I wasn't even sure what the story was supposed to be about. But then it seemed to pick up at the end in a huge battle scene. All in all I really liked this one, and will definitely continue on with the series, but feel like it had more potential than what is seen in the book.
Grade: B
Cover Thoughts: The cover is very well designed, from the picture to the font used for the title and author, and I think goes well with the feel of the story.
The Plot: I'm not quite sure how to describe the plot, it's quite complex, and I don't think I could do it justice, so I will give you the synopsis from the author's website:
Venice 1407
The city is at the height of its powers. In theory, Duke Marco commands, but Marco is a simpleton so his aunt and uncle rule in his stead. They seem all powerful, yet live in fear of assassins better than their own.
On the night their world changes, Marco's young cousin prays in the family chapel for deliverance from a forced marriage. It is her misfortune to be alone when Mamluk pirates break in to abduct her – an act that will ultimately trigger war.
Elsewhere Atilo, the Duke's chief assassin, cuts a man's throat. Hearing a noise, he turns back to find a boy drinking from the victim's wound. The speed with which the angel-faced boy dodges his dagger and scales a wall stuns Atilo. He knows then he must hunt him. Not to kill him, but because he’s finally found what he thought was impossible – someone fit to be his apprentice.
The Characters: There were a few main characters here, and although I think the book is supposed to be mostly about Tycho (the previously mentioned angel-faced boy), there were a few other characters that took center stage as well. And I didn't really love any of them. Don't get me wrong, the characters are all interesting, but I feel like they kind of took a backseat role to the setting.
The Setting: If the characters didn't feel completely fleshed out, it's because the author spent his time fleshing out the setting instead. In every chapter, it seems there are detailed descriptions of Venice--the smells, the sights, the sounds, the history. The main character in the story really is the setting.
Who Should Read This? Fans of gritty, darker fantasy. It's definitely not for the faint of heart, or those who like lighthearted fantasy.
Final Thoughts: The Fallen Blade started out with a bang, and I was really excited about reading it. But somewhere in the middle I felt like it faltered a bit, to the point where I wasn't even sure what the story was supposed to be about. But then it seemed to pick up at the end in a huge battle scene. All in all I really liked this one, and will definitely continue on with the series, but feel like it had more potential than what is seen in the book.
Grade: B
Cover Thoughts: The cover is very well designed, from the picture to the font used for the title and author, and I think goes well with the feel of the story.
emms_across_formats's review against another edition
1.0
DNF DNF DNF DNF DNF DNF
In short, ABSOLUTELY NOT!!
The subpar writing, the flat characters, the boring plot... but most egregious is the glaringly obvious disdain for women. Every female character is young, attractive, has a huge bosom, and is nothing more than a "slit". Add in the gratuitous defecating and disturbing focus on the sexual assault, torture, and murder of the aforementioned "slits".
The only people that I could see possibly enjoying this drivel are INCELS.
I wouldn't touch another book by this author even if I were paid to read it.
Gross Gross Gross
In short, ABSOLUTELY NOT!!
The subpar writing, the flat characters, the boring plot... but most egregious is the glaringly obvious disdain for women. Every female character is young, attractive, has a huge bosom, and is nothing more than a "slit". Add in the gratuitous defecating and disturbing focus on the sexual assault, torture, and murder of the aforementioned "slits".
The only people that I could see possibly enjoying this drivel are INCELS.
I wouldn't touch another book by this author even if I were paid to read it.
Gross Gross Gross
mamday's review against another edition
5.0
I think this book is probably only worth about a four, but it is so chronically underrated on Goodreads, so I gave it a five. I think I understand why so many people can't get into it easily though. Grimwood doesn't really ever feel the need to explain anything to the reader. If you can't follow all the plot points that he is inferring then too bad. People have also complained about the way the author uses periods where most people would use commas. I don't really think it is that distracting honestly, though maybe if you are a grammar purist you should stay away for that reason.
Also, if you come to this book looking for another vampire romance type novel, you will be greatly disappointed. This is much more a dark, realistic take on the 1400s than a vampire novel. I think if the supernatural elements were completely removed, the plot of the book would barely change. So if political intrigues, betrayals, complicated love stories and assassins don't interest you, don't pick up the book just for the vampires. You are bound to be disappointed. If you like an author like Joe Abercrombie, you will probably like this series also.
Also, if you come to this book looking for another vampire romance type novel, you will be greatly disappointed. This is much more a dark, realistic take on the 1400s than a vampire novel. I think if the supernatural elements were completely removed, the plot of the book would barely change. So if political intrigues, betrayals, complicated love stories and assassins don't interest you, don't pick up the book just for the vampires. You are bound to be disappointed. If you like an author like Joe Abercrombie, you will probably like this series also.
hpstrangelove's review against another edition
4.0
I listened to the audiobook, which gives me a slightly different perspective of the book. The male narrator did an excellent job, especially with the female voices. It's very irritating when a narrator reads the female characters with a falsetto voice - I can hardly stand to listen.
That said - it was difficult at times to follow the plot. I had to go back and replay certain chapters before I could finally work out what was going on.
One thing that did cause distraction - the author's seeming fascination with bodily functions when a character was frightened. One or two mentions of a character pissing or defecating in fright gets the point across; I don't need twenty or thirty (at least it seemed that many) examples of it happening.
Other than that, I did enjoy the book and look forward to 'reading' the next one.
That said - it was difficult at times to follow the plot. I had to go back and replay certain chapters before I could finally work out what was going on.
One thing that did cause distraction - the author's seeming fascination with bodily functions when a character was frightened. One or two mentions of a character pissing or defecating in fright gets the point across; I don't need twenty or thirty (at least it seemed that many) examples of it happening.
Other than that, I did enjoy the book and look forward to 'reading' the next one.
majkia's review against another edition
Interesting variation on Venice history. With fallen angels and werewolves!
nyxshadow's review against another edition
3.0
http://www.nyx-shadow.com/2016/02/assassini-t1-lame-damnee-jon-c-grimwood.html
Pas mal, de bonnes idées et une franche inspiration de Brent Weeks et Assassin's Creed, Anne Rice en revanche je cherche un peu pour le tome 1...
Mais des soucis de mis en page qui perturbent la compréhension du récit (on saute plusieurs mois d'un coup sans changement de mise en page...c'est chiant), de légères erreurs d'impression (sur de l'italique ou des espaces rien de vraiment gênant je chipote) et une intrigue un peu trop dispersée pour le moment...avec en prime plus de la moitié du livre qui fait office d'introduction.
Néanmoins, maintenant que l'auteur a enfin tout posé, je suis curieuse de savoir ce qu'il va faire de ses personnages qu'il ne laisse pas vraiment au milieu d'un cliffhanger...
Pas mal, de bonnes idées et une franche inspiration de Brent Weeks et Assassin's Creed, Anne Rice en revanche je cherche un peu pour le tome 1...
Mais des soucis de mis en page qui perturbent la compréhension du récit (on saute plusieurs mois d'un coup sans changement de mise en page...c'est chiant), de légères erreurs d'impression (sur de l'italique ou des espaces rien de vraiment gênant je chipote) et une intrigue un peu trop dispersée pour le moment...avec en prime plus de la moitié du livre qui fait office d'introduction.
Néanmoins, maintenant que l'auteur a enfin tout posé, je suis curieuse de savoir ce qu'il va faire de ses personnages qu'il ne laisse pas vraiment au milieu d'un cliffhanger...
amandelirium's review against another edition
1.0
DNF after ~50 pages. Every single female character's introduction included a description of her breasts, sometimes more than once, sometimes in the same sentence, e.g. "She was full-breasted, plump, and buxom."
BUT WHAT WERE HER BOOBIES LIKE THO.
-_-
I finally gave up where a woman was described as "just a slit."
Hey Publishers! Big thanks for giving this guy so many book deals. JK, fuck you forever.
BUT WHAT WERE HER BOOBIES LIKE THO.
-_-
I finally gave up where a woman was described as "just a slit."
Hey Publishers! Big thanks for giving this guy so many book deals. JK, fuck you forever.
aelurus's review against another edition
3.0
http://letmentertainyou.com/2019/08/14/assassini-t-1-lame-damnee/
vaderbird's review against another edition
2.0
5 star - Perfect
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish