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andcourtney75's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
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
4.75
Really, really loved this for the most part. I love political intrigue and this book had so many layers and twisty bits, I was absolutely delighted when I realized how good this was going to be for me. Obsessed with Demir and everything he does, and the fact that there's a character named Baby Montego who is a hulk of a man. Baby Montego!! Not quite a 5 star for me because I am deeply unsure of the last major twist/characters introduced. I'm reserving judgment for now but I think the aliens/monsters are so out of place and unnecessary for the story. I don't particularly like that they were revealed so close to the end and it makes me wonder if the glass knife can't serve its purpose the author intends for it with just human characters? Idk but the little side trip from what had been fantasy for a majority of the book into sci fi has me unsure what happens next
lthankins94's review
2.75
This book took me a long time to read, and I love magic systems and political plots. This had such an interesting framework, but I was disappointed by how easy most things were resolved chapter by chapter. I was never really worried about any characters chances. The timing seemed too fast for all of what took place, the pace/flow was off.
I loved the author's Powder Mage trilogy, but this wasn't it for me. Pretty disappointed.
SPOLIER BELOW:
******
Aliens and magic don't work for me. Not saying the big baddies are aliens, but they're aliens and its just a copout. Let the baddies be humans, not some other race of monsters never once mentioned as even old folklore. The idea of new God glass that alters appearance was better than a race of aliens manipulating all events. Just lame.
I loved the author's Powder Mage trilogy, but this wasn't it for me. Pretty disappointed.
SPOLIER BELOW:
******
Aliens and magic don't work for me. Not saying the big baddies are aliens, but they're aliens and its just a copout. Let the baddies be humans, not some other race of monsters never once mentioned as even old folklore. The idea of new God glass that alters appearance was better than a race of aliens manipulating all events. Just lame.
tshim's review
4.0
Solid, with potential to become excellent as the series continues.
Rose: The characters have a depth and charm to them; it's easy to fall in love with them.
Thorn: The stakes - there's often a mismatch between protag power level and obstacle. Nothing egregious, but enough to break immersion sometimes.
Stem: The world - interesting and vibrant, lots of depth and emotional resonance, but my gut doesn't quite buy that it's a living, breathing world with other stories in it besides the one we're party to, yet.
Rose: The characters have a depth and charm to them; it's easy to fall in love with them.
Thorn: The stakes - there's often a mismatch between protag power level and obstacle. Nothing egregious, but enough to break immersion sometimes.
Stem: The world - interesting and vibrant, lots of depth and emotional resonance, but my gut doesn't quite buy that it's a living, breathing world with other stories in it besides the one we're party to, yet.
polarbbp's review
dark
tense
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
4.5
emthatwonders's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
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? It's complicated
5.0
Damn! or I means Glassdamn!
This is a good book.. Like a really, REALLY good!
I added it to my favorites list half way through reading it.
I had bought it right when it came out and it just stayed on my shelf until recently.
I should have read it earlier!
It reminds me of Discovery of Witches and that book is one of my absolute favorites.
There is love, a magic system that is easy to understand, war, amazing loveable characters, a mysterious murder, and so much more.
Demir, Baby, Thessa, Kissa, and Idirian are all complex characters with great stories.
I did not have a hard time reading this story. There were little to no slow points. When the story did slow the next chapter would be of a new character doing something dangerous or progressing the story in an important way.
And the ending eluding to ancient beings living amongst us, so good!
Everyone go read this book right now!
This is a good book.. Like a really, REALLY good!
I added it to my favorites list half way through reading it.
I had bought it right when it came out and it just stayed on my shelf until recently.
I should have read it earlier!
It reminds me of Discovery of Witches and that book is one of my absolute favorites.
There is love, a magic system that is easy to understand, war, amazing loveable characters, a mysterious murder, and so much more.
Demir, Baby, Thessa, Kissa, and Idirian are all complex characters with great stories.
I did not have a hard time reading this story. There were little to no slow points. When the story did slow the next chapter would be of a new character doing something dangerous or progressing the story in an important way.
And the ending eluding to ancient beings living amongst us, so good!
Everyone go read this book right now!
itsybitsydino's review
DNF'd at 33% so I refrained from rating. Good world-building. Characters are meh.
It irked me that Demir left his position for 9 years, effectively disappeared from everyone's lives (or at least I think he did??? not clear if he still had most of his connections), and suddenly everything is seemingly back to normal when he has to take up his position because of his mother's death. Other characters only seemed mildly surprised at his re-appearance. Demir himself didn't seem to have any of his own identity issues.
None of the characters appealed to me, and their motives either weren't clear or they felt aimless. The beginning was very good because Demir seemed like such a good character trying his best to avoid needless deaths and even resorting to outcasting himself. But then it's unclear what he might have struggled with in those 9 years, if he even struggled at all.
At some point, he was sidelined. Part of the reason, I think, is that it paced too fast after his mother's death. He is immediately questioning who, why, how, and then immediately throwing himself into recruiting his friends to unearth some mysteries. We don't really spend much time getting to know any of the characters-- but they're all very quick to comply with Demir's commands.
I didn't see the point in seeing it through.
It irked me that Demir left his position for 9 years, effectively disappeared from everyone's lives (or at least I think he did??? not clear if he still had most of his connections), and suddenly everything is seemingly back to normal when he has to take up his position because of his mother's death. Other characters only seemed mildly surprised at his re-appearance. Demir himself didn't seem to have any of his own identity issues.
None of the characters appealed to me, and their motives either weren't clear or they felt aimless. The beginning was very good because Demir seemed like such a good character trying his best to avoid needless deaths and even resorting to outcasting himself. But then it's unclear what he might have struggled with in those 9 years, if he even struggled at all.
At some point, he was sidelined. Part of the reason, I think, is that it paced too fast after his mother's death. He is immediately questioning who, why, how, and then immediately throwing himself into recruiting his friends to unearth some mysteries. We don't really spend much time getting to know any of the characters-- but they're all very quick to comply with Demir's commands.
I didn't see the point in seeing it through.
shenyinyin's review
adventurous
dark
fast-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
4.25
aaliyahm's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
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
4.0