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4.13 AVERAGE
4.13 AVERAGE
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
This book has been very conflictive for me as I reflect on it after finishing the novel. It has some stuff I like and some I wished was explored more.
As usual Wesley Chu has written some of the best action scenes I’ve seen on paper. With the most impressive final act that left me on the edge of my seat. His ability to draw these separate story lines to one interwoven conclusion will never cease to amaze me.
We follow the four heroes of The Art of Prophecy and how their journey has progressed since we last saw them. We have martial arts, old masters passing on their knowledge to their students, and surprisingly political intrigue. If you were hoping for Jian to have a training arc it is not the focus of his story arc. Taishi’s arc is full of the martial art action readers are looking for and the threat of fate looming over her. Sali has some world altering revelations that will surely influence the third book. And sweet sweet Qisami is taken from her comfort zone and placed in a tense situation.
I would say Taishi’s storyline while full of action and master martial artists was the least impressive of the four. While it is action-packed I felt her character was pulled all over the place when she should have stayed still for moments longer, but that might actually be the intention. Jian’s, while I have liked a training arc has some satisfying personal reflection and mentors and friends to help him in his journey. Sali, while I felt slightly bored has some of the biggest world lore drops of the story that is amazing setup for times to come not to mention the most hyped action scene of the book. Qisami, with bias attached once again stole the show. The choice to take the fish out of water was absolutely perfect for our ruthless assassin.
Not to mention the one who stood out being the Lioness herself. Politics, assassins, and being cornered by three haughty men who want to claim the throne. She held our beloved characters by the throats and stole the show despite her sparse actual presence.
Overall, I would not rate this book higher than The Art of Prophecy but if this is the weakest book in the series it is built on good foundations to make a jaw-dropping third.
This book has been very conflictive for me as I reflect on it after finishing the novel. It has some stuff I like and some I wished was explored more.
As usual Wesley Chu has written some of the best action scenes I’ve seen on paper. With the most impressive final act that left me on the edge of my seat. His ability to draw these separate story lines to one interwoven conclusion will never cease to amaze me.
We follow the four heroes of The Art of Prophecy and how their journey has progressed since we last saw them. We have martial arts, old masters passing on their knowledge to their students, and surprisingly political intrigue. If you were hoping for Jian to have a training arc it is not the focus of his story arc. Taishi’s arc is full of the martial art action readers are looking for and the threat of fate looming over her. Sali has some world altering revelations that will surely influence the third book. And sweet sweet Qisami is taken from her comfort zone and placed in a tense situation.
I would say Taishi’s storyline while full of action and master martial artists was the least impressive of the four. While it is action-packed I felt her character was pulled all over the place when she should have stayed still for moments longer, but that might actually be the intention. Jian’s, while I have liked a training arc has some satisfying personal reflection and mentors and friends to help him in his journey. Sali, while I felt slightly bored has some of the biggest world lore drops of the story that is amazing setup for times to come not to mention the most hyped action scene of the book. Qisami, with bias attached once again stole the show. The choice to take the fish out of water was absolutely perfect for our ruthless assassin.
Not to mention the one who stood out being the Lioness herself. Politics, assassins, and being cornered by three haughty men who want to claim the throne. She held our beloved characters by the throats and stole the show despite her sparse actual presence.
Overall, I would not rate this book higher than The Art of Prophecy but if this is the weakest book in the series it is built on good foundations to make a jaw-dropping third.
adventurous
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I can’t wait for book 3! A very fun read
adventurous
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I have been putting this book off since it came out (pre ordered it) as over on goodreads everyone was slating it. Well they were wrong and I wish I had read it back then!!
Apart from Jian this book is full of middle story character development. I actualy liked Kiki this time. The reason for not a 5 star is because the main guy of this book Jian is just a wet tea towel, like pleaseer i hope the next book he is improves.
Apart from Jian this book is full of middle story character development. I actualy liked Kiki this time. The reason for not a 5 star is because the main guy of this book Jian is just a wet tea towel, like pleaseer i hope the next book he is improves.
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
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:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
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
Very enjoyable sequel to [b:The Art of Prophecy|58409712|The Art of Prophecy (War Arts #1)|Wesley Chu|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1639381078l/58409712._SY75_.jpg|93906934], that once again managed to surprise me several times. It's obviously a middle book with a lot of setting up for the finale, rather than resolving any story arcs, but you know that going in; it's the curse of the middle book. The main character POVs were more disparate here than in book one, but the upside was that I actually enjoyed all of them about equally, which was less so in the first book. Somehow, either the passage of time or the writing in this book, made Qisami less annoying to me. I was happy to read her chapters this time.
Chu is writing a really good, layered story that is gripping and entertaining. The writing style, to me, feels a little uneven at times. Like he's making fun of grandiose statements and gestures in one chapter, but then seems to pull out a grand statement completely unironically the next. And while most of the narrating is solidly 3rd person POV, the omniscient narrator pops up here and there for a paragraph.
For a trilogy called War Arts that features several different types of deadly fighter classes it should not come as a surprise that the number of pages dedicated to detailed fighting scenes is quite high. Probably plenty people enjoy that, but I have had always had trouble picturing fights or battles when reading about them, and I've kind of given up long ago in trying to make sense of them. My brain automatically goes into skim mode when they start, especially when we are pulling out named moves, like Eagle Soaring Above Waterfall, or what have you. Most of the story happens just before the fighting starts, I noticed, but I could be wrong, maybe I skimmed over some important bits.
Anyway, this in no way hampered my enjoyment of this book. I'm really looking forward to seeing how Chu is going bring all story lines together in the next book.
Chu is writing a really good, layered story that is gripping and entertaining. The writing style, to me, feels a little uneven at times. Like he's making fun of grandiose statements and gestures in one chapter, but then seems to pull out a grand statement completely unironically the next. And while most of the narrating is solidly 3rd person POV, the omniscient narrator pops up here and there for a paragraph.
For a trilogy called War Arts that features several different types of deadly fighter classes it should not come as a surprise that the number of pages dedicated to detailed fighting scenes is quite high. Probably plenty people enjoy that, but I have had always had trouble picturing fights or battles when reading about them, and I've kind of given up long ago in trying to make sense of them. My brain automatically goes into skim mode when they start, especially when we are pulling out named moves, like Eagle Soaring Above Waterfall, or what have you. Most of the story happens just before the fighting starts, I noticed, but I could be wrong, maybe I skimmed over some important bits.
Anyway, this in no way hampered my enjoyment of this book. I'm really looking forward to seeing how Chu is going bring all story lines together in the next book.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes