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4.13 AVERAGE
4.13 AVERAGE
incredibly disappointing after the first book. sali's plotline especially didn't grab me which sucks bc she was so interesting in book 1... i'm not really sure what it was about the storylines, though i think taishi/jian's pov introduced too many new characters
my main problem w this novel is i can't believe this was actually line edited. there is so much repetition, so many awkward or run-on sentences and some actual mistakes, and the ballooned-out length makes me think this got an extremely light touch compared to the first book
my main problem w this novel is i can't believe this was actually line edited. there is so much repetition, so many awkward or run-on sentences and some actual mistakes, and the ballooned-out length makes me think this got an extremely light touch compared to the first book
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This series is brilliant – Wesley Chu somehow manages to balance humour, emotion and heart-pounding action all at once. I loved every minute of The Art of Destiny, and I can't wait to read the next book.
The thing that really lets this series down, which isn't the author's fault, is the editing. My copy was full of typos and even continuity errors – there's a whole scene towards the end where a character ceases to exist (In Chapter 48, nine characters need to escape the ship but only eight are mentioned – Sonaya is completely forgotten. I thought it was deliberate at first but the text even gets confused about how many riders there are on the donkey with Bhasani and Hachi: "Taishi leaped from Jian to the two drowned fists’ side and helped him keep Bhasani upright on her donkey." There is only one drowned fist warrior on that donkey, plus Hachi – Sonaya isn't there! ) and sometimes characters would suddenly be holding something out of nowhere, or dialogue felt like there was a sentence missing. I really hope the author's future works get a better editorial team.
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Nothing important happens for the first 19 hours of the audiobook version, except one chapter where Sali learns something important. I would almost say the entire book can be skipped, because it’s mostly just a check-in with the main characters before the series can reach its resolution, but there are a few things you’d miss. Unfortunately, I felt like the story really dragged on.
I skipped most of Sali and Qisami’s chapters because I didn’t want to read their stories, and also because the author tried to spice up the narrative by switching characters just before the climax of a scene. The chapter breaks and ordering really didn’t land well with me. And frustratingly for me, everyone is kindof dumb in this book. Even Sunri acts kindof dumb, going through some needlessly elaborate scheme with Qisami that felt like it just wasted our time and that she could have gotten the same thing without it.
I didn’t like the ending either.
Overall, for me, this book was worse than the first.
I skipped most of Sali and Qisami’s chapters because I didn’t want to read their stories, and also because the author tried to spice up the narrative by switching characters just before the climax of a scene. The chapter breaks and ordering really didn’t land well with me. And frustratingly for me, everyone is kindof dumb in this book. Even Sunri acts kindof dumb, going through some needlessly elaborate scheme with Qisami that felt like it just wasted our time and that she could have gotten the same thing without it.
I didn’t like the ending either.
Overall, for me, this book was worse than the first.
adventurous
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Some parts in the last 150 pages really could have used a continuity reader. Especially the flight from the sinking ship. I swear Sohn went from injured to fine to injured, the seating order on the donkeys changed multiple times and suddenly Hachi was implied to be the drowned fist disciple while Sonaya was nowhere to be seen?
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
medium-paced
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
We follow Jian the once believed prophesied hero training under the amazing Taishi. With the world in major change Jian’s destiny is in question. At the same time The skilled assassin Qisami, is on a secret mission to protect a noblewoman. Salminde or Sali who was exiled and cursed now seeks a cure for a disease tied to the Eternal Khan’s spirit. This book had more wit and well timed humor then the first. One of my favorite lines, “I mean, don’t get me wrong, I was hoping for either an actual bookstore or a sex shop, but instead, we got a temple. What can you do?” Just had me chuckling to myself.
There are times in this novel where there is set up between book 1 and the final book in the trilogy and I have noticed in a lot of trilogies that book 2 can be seen as slow or cumbersome due to all the information. In this case I think Chu did an amazing job of balancing all that information with still maintaining a nice flow while still holding the readers interest. I still did enjoy the first book more but in my humble opinion this is another strong addition to the trilogy and I look forward to the final installment.
This was sloppy. Who was the editor and why were they asleep?
I'm not actively angry and I didn't have the worst time reading it but, damn, I expected more.
I read the first book in 2023 and I remember really loving it. Going into the second book 2 year later was a mistake on my part as I could only recall bits and pieces of the first book and was unable to find any workable summary of book 1 online.
That being said, this book was messy, the writing wasteful. I caught at least 2 instances where the wrong name was mentioned when referring to a different character. I don't like that so many characters made a decision that seemed like it would greatly impact the plot only to go full 180 on it just a few moments later. It really really deflated any tension that they managed to build.
This book has a tonal issue. As often as they deflate built up tension, there are also so many moments where they FAIL to build any tension at all.
A lot of things happened offscreen. I wish we could've seen the kids of the war arts masters bonding so that their relationships and devotion to each other would feel more realistic. I also wish we could've at least gotten hints that Qisami's troop were planning to betray her. Jian's growth as a character and as a war arts disciple also seemed so abrupt. Sometimes it seems like he was very powerful but more often he was a bumbling amateur. And we're supposed to believe he's ready for the final test? Get real.
Many moments in this book just felt like "Sure, I guess that happened."
ALSO, my biggest gripe. Sohn NEVER faced the consequences for his stupid decisions. I needed that man DEAD.
/end rant.
I'm not actively angry and I didn't have the worst time reading it but, damn, I expected more.
I read the first book in 2023 and I remember really loving it. Going into the second book 2 year later was a mistake on my part as I could only recall bits and pieces of the first book and was unable to find any workable summary of book 1 online.
That being said, this book was messy, the writing wasteful. I caught at least 2 instances where the wrong name was mentioned when referring to a different character. I don't like that so many characters made a decision that seemed like it would greatly impact the plot only to go full 180 on it just a few moments later. It really really deflated any tension that they managed to build.
This book has a tonal issue. As often as they deflate built up tension, there are also so many moments where they FAIL to build any tension at all.
A lot of things happened offscreen. I wish we could've seen the kids of the war arts masters bonding so that their relationships and devotion to each other would feel more realistic. I also wish we could've at least gotten hints that Qisami's troop were planning to betray her. Jian's growth as a character and as a war arts disciple also seemed so abrupt. Sometimes it seems like he was very powerful but more often he was a bumbling amateur. And we're supposed to believe he's ready for the final test? Get real.
Many moments in this book just felt like "Sure, I guess that happened."
ALSO, my biggest gripe. Sohn NEVER faced the consequences for his stupid decisions. I needed that man DEAD.
/end rant.