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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
1.5 stars. This book is really fucking bad. The only aspect that I enjoyed was the lush writing. The plot, characters, and world-building were lackluster and often left me questioning the logic behind certain parts. The character development was especially unbalanced, with Paul getting the most and Jennifer getting absolutely nothing. And Diarmuid, for fucks sake. Is he supposed to be a likable character? Because, he is the most obnoxious piece-of-shit of a character I have ever come across in a book. I haven't read much GGK, but this wasn't my first, so I was pretty surprised about how this one turned out. I have the omnibus version, so I'll probably still continue on with the series eventually. Hopefully, the next one will be better.
I didn't really vibe with it. Utter lack of any surprise or questioning what is happening to the protagonists was a very very strange way of writing the characters. Also maybe for me a bit too overdone prose. Will need to see if I will retry at some point.
I have been avoiding this book for a while, even though it is by one of my favorite authors. Portal fantasy just doesn't do a lot for me, and reading the first few chapters reinforces that. That being said, once they arrived in Fionavar and the plot there started I really enjoyed it. You can see the heavy Tolkien influence, but that kind of added to it for me. Looking forwaed to the next two!
(2.5) it was good enough until that last chapter that was absolutely gross
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book simultaneously felt ridiculous and excellent. The 5 main characters from our world feel like the author wanted to have people unfamiliar with the world as a vehicle for exposition, but wanted to get to his plot without having to deal with the characters reckoning with their new world. The light and dark conflict sometimes almost feels comedic in how stereotypical it is. I think I would have normally stopped reading after the first 100 pages, but I'm a sucker for worldbuilding, and this book has such a fascinating world.
At some point around a third of the way through the book, I'm not sure what happened, but I had become very invested. Something about the powerful sense of mythology and well done writing had hooked me. Although some of the characters remained flat and uninteresting, many of them began to show real motivations and tragedy that made me interested in their story. The peak of the book imo happens halfway through. There are multiple scenes with such powerful writing that I had goosebumps/tears. After that it doesn't quite reach that peak, but I knew I had to keep reading.
One side note is that this book has a slightly weird relationship with sex. I'm not sure how exactly to describe it but I think it has a weird way of interjecting sexual descriptions or comments in a way that feels unnecessary. There is also a sexual assault scene in the book near the end that just left me with a sour taste.
This book feels like stereotypical fantasy at both it's very highest highs and some of its lows. For those that like that, I think this book is excellent. Those looking for more character driven stories could come away disappointed.
At some point around a third of the way through the book, I'm not sure what happened, but I had become very invested. Something about the powerful sense of mythology and well done writing had hooked me. Although some of the characters remained flat and uninteresting, many of them began to show real motivations and tragedy that made me interested in their story. The peak of the book imo happens halfway through. There are multiple scenes with such powerful writing that I had goosebumps/tears. After that it doesn't quite reach that peak, but I knew I had to keep reading.
One side note is that this book has a slightly weird relationship with sex. I'm not sure how exactly to describe it but I think it has a weird way of interjecting sexual descriptions or comments in a way that feels unnecessary. There is also a sexual assault scene in the book near the end that just left me with a sour taste.
This book feels like stereotypical fantasy at both it's very highest highs and some of its lows. For those that like that, I think this book is excellent. Those looking for more character driven stories could come away disappointed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Sexual harassment
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
3.5/5 stars
I really wanted to love this one, however, that level of emotion simply wasn't there for me. I almost felt like it should have been at least 100 pages longer to allow more time for details and context. I felt too much was skimmed over and left unaddressed. Not my favorite thing to happen in an "epic fantasy." Also, throughout many parts of this novel, I felt like I was reading incoherent poetic journal entries, and while I do love Kay's writing style - this one went a bit overboard with the use of pronouns with the sole intent to be ambiguous. The overall story was great - the execution was not my favorite of Kay's.
I really wanted to love this one, however, that level of emotion simply wasn't there for me. I almost felt like it should have been at least 100 pages longer to allow more time for details and context. I felt too much was skimmed over and left unaddressed. Not my favorite thing to happen in an "epic fantasy." Also, throughout many parts of this novel, I felt like I was reading incoherent poetic journal entries, and while I do love Kay's writing style - this one went a bit overboard with the use of pronouns with the sole intent to be ambiguous. The overall story was great - the execution was not my favorite of Kay's.
challenging
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Love Guy Gav, and as this is his most popular series I had high hopes. The story is strong and the emotions in the characters and events feel true. Knowing his other work though you can absolutely tell that this is an earlier, slightly clumsier version of his voice. I absolutely enjoyed it and am looking forward to the rest of the trilogy.
There are books which draw you in with their huge cast of interesting characters and there are some whose magical systems leaves you speechless. There are books of war and death, of friendship and weasley brothers, of coming of age and well, of aged wizards (I'm looking at you Raymond Feist)
And then there are books which are poetry in motion. Beautifully structured, gracefully written which deserves the recognition of being an art in the world of fantasy. This is one such tale.
The first thing that comes to mind when you read this book is Dragons and Dungeons. The second thing would probably be Narnia or Harry Potter. But unlike the latter two, this isn't a world which exists within one nor you're as young as you'd like to be when you discover FIONAVAR.
Summoned to a world between worlds and the balance of the entire cosmos lies in the hands and fates of five young people. Five people, completely different from each other, each with their personal issues. And in the world of Fionavar, bonds are broken before they can be made. This is a spectacular tale of black vs white vs grey.
I love the way Guy Gavriel writes. He doesn't waste time in doling out words just for the sake of making it beautiful. Forget words, he skips out sentences and actions. Too often, I've found myself anticipating if something is going to happen only to turn the page and find oh well, it did.
Book 1 ended with a dire warning. The gongs have sounded, the Gods have spoken and the darkness has spread forth. Will these 5 be the catalyst and where their paths lie is yet to be determined.
And then there are books which are poetry in motion. Beautifully structured, gracefully written which deserves the recognition of being an art in the world of fantasy. This is one such tale.
The first thing that comes to mind when you read this book is Dragons and Dungeons. The second thing would probably be Narnia or Harry Potter. But unlike the latter two, this isn't a world which exists within one nor you're as young as you'd like to be when you discover FIONAVAR.
Summoned to a world between worlds and the balance of the entire cosmos lies in the hands and fates of five young people. Five people, completely different from each other, each with their personal issues. And in the world of Fionavar, bonds are broken before they can be made. This is a spectacular tale of black vs white vs grey.
I love the way Guy Gavriel writes. He doesn't waste time in doling out words just for the sake of making it beautiful. Forget words, he skips out sentences and actions. Too often, I've found myself anticipating if something is going to happen only to turn the page and find oh well, it did.
Book 1 ended with a dire warning. The gongs have sounded, the Gods have spoken and the darkness has spread forth. Will these 5 be the catalyst and where their paths lie is yet to be determined.
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
I've finished the audiobook on autopilot. It's not that it is bad necessary, but it did just completely failed to grab my attention in any meaningful way. There are too many nearly indistinguishable characters, wrapped inside of a very standard fantasy story.