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moggle's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
It was ok! Interesting world. I did not like the protagonist. I would read another book in the series, though, to see how I like it.
elyse_ellis's review against another edition
The author couldn't pull me into the boom and when I tried I found the storytelling a little sporadic and jumpy.
The story plot seems like a good one, but it also seems rushed. I couldn't really connect with the characters because there wasn't a lot of character building.
Perhaps the story gets better later in the book, but I'd prefer not to commit to this book any further.
The story plot seems like a good one, but it also seems rushed. I couldn't really connect with the characters because there wasn't a lot of character building.
Perhaps the story gets better later in the book, but I'd prefer not to commit to this book any further.
katyanaish's review
5.0
I didn't review this originally, other than the rating. Probably because I just plowed straight into the second book. So I'll give it a little bit of a review now, having just finished a re-read.
I came into this after reading the 2 books of Severn's prequel - it made me want to keep going again from the beginning. They don't segue together super well, mostly because Severn is such an asshole in the beginning. But now, with his prequel books under my belt, as well as all 17 books in the series, I recognize it as the defensive wall it really is. What a horrible road he has walked. What horrible choices he's been forced to make ... as a CHILD! No good options, only horror in every direction.
I love this series, it is a firm favorite. But as I said in my review of the latest book, it isn't for everyone. There's a real stream-of-consciousness flow to the narrative that I love - I don't pause and analyze it, I flow with it like I'm floating in a river. It is a unique style, at least in my experience, and I love it... but I also get that other will find it offputting. The primary downside to it is that it can feel like it slows the action down. Like, you're in Kaylin's head as she's thinking / intuiting her way through the battle, and it can be pages of narrative ... literally mid-battle. But again, it works for me (most of the time) because in those high-adrenaline situations, with your blood pumping and your brain over-firing, seconds can stretch into what feels like hours. I know, I've been there. And so these pages of Kaylin's inner narrative are happening in a fraction of a second, but it is like we're there with her, flowing down the path of her intuition as she makes rapid decisions in the battle.
YMMV, but I love it, and I can't believe it has taken me this long to re-read.
I came into this after reading the 2 books of Severn's prequel - it made me want to keep going again from the beginning. They don't segue together super well, mostly because Severn is such an asshole in the beginning. But now, with his prequel books under my belt, as well as all 17 books in the series, I recognize it as the defensive wall it really is. What a horrible road he has walked. What horrible choices he's been forced to make ... as a CHILD! No good options, only horror in every direction.
I love this series, it is a firm favorite. But as I said in my review of the latest book, it isn't for everyone. There's a real stream-of-consciousness flow to the narrative that I love - I don't pause and analyze it, I flow with it like I'm floating in a river. It is a unique style, at least in my experience, and I love it... but I also get that other will find it offputting. The primary downside to it is that it can feel like it slows the action down. Like, you're in Kaylin's head as she's thinking / intuiting her way through the battle, and it can be pages of narrative ... literally mid-battle. But again, it works for me (most of the time) because in those high-adrenaline situations, with your blood pumping and your brain over-firing, seconds can stretch into what feels like hours. I know, I've been there. And so these pages of Kaylin's inner narrative are happening in a fraction of a second, but it is like we're there with her, flowing down the path of her intuition as she makes rapid decisions in the battle.
YMMV, but I love it, and I can't believe it has taken me this long to re-read.
embereye's review
3.0
Ok. So... I took this out of the library once because I wanted something cheesetacular and then promptly failed to actually read it. This time I took it out of the library and actually read it! Woo! I think part of my problem with this book was the cover. WHY do female urban fantasy authors have the cheapest looking covers? I mean, I guess this is ok, but it screams Romance genre to me. And that is not what this book is! I guess I'm just a cover snob.
Aaaanyway, this was not bad! I kinda liked it! I actually found myself leaving my desk at work during lunch to go sit outside so I could read it! Who knew? Sadly the library doesn't carry any of the newer novels of this series. I'm half tempted to go buy them... maybe. Overall there's a bit of overdramatic hooey going on with the main character in some of the plot. Information that is hinted at and then comes out in a big sodden mess of emo... and a lot of avoidance by the main character in actually looking at her feelings about various things... aaaand... somehow that's ok. It was perfect for what I was wanting at the time.
Aaaanyway, this was not bad! I kinda liked it! I actually found myself leaving my desk at work during lunch to go sit outside so I could read it! Who knew? Sadly the library doesn't carry any of the newer novels of this series. I'm half tempted to go buy them... maybe. Overall there's a bit of overdramatic hooey going on with the main character in some of the plot. Information that is hinted at and then comes out in a big sodden mess of emo... and a lot of avoidance by the main character in actually looking at her feelings about various things... aaaand... somehow that's ok. It was perfect for what I was wanting at the time.
lanica's review
2.0
I found the first several pages confusing, having entered into reading it on a recommendation with little to no background. I got the title from a friend, read the back, then started to read the book.
Races: There are several races introduced almost immediately, but they are not well differentiated by the author. One's a hawk-like race, another a lion-like race, then later a third dragon-like race. Above these mortal races are a dark features immortal race. They all get confused in the first few pages and so I have introduced them here so that when the main character touches the wings of a person she meets (without the author explaining that the person is from the hawk-like race) it might make more sense to you than it did to me.
Character Interaction: I like the idea behind the story, but was really annoyed by the way it was written. The reader goes in knowing nothing and fed the plot bit by bit. We are in the mind of the main character; however, the main character shields her thoughts. It's frustrating to have an interesting idea introduced, then pulled away as the character decides that it's not something she wants to think about. It's painful to get intersting characters introduced, then readers are not told anything about them becuase the main character hates them and would rather not think about their history together.
There is also a possibly interesting relationship between the narrator and one of her superiors, but it's only hinted at until the end of the book, then very little is revealed. I wanted to know more about their history, but didn't like this book enough to read the next in the series for that single aspect.
Writing: The author does a good job of creating a detailed fantasy world with interesting characters and a rich history. The dialogue fits into the world nicely, until the main character, whose thoughts we are sharing, thinks to her self a slang term or a very age specific phrase. Example: 'as if', The narrator disagreed with something someone suggests she do, so she thinks to herself. "As if." (Think of this coming out of the mouth os a young teen, Valley Girl style.) and then drops back into the genre. This happened several times and each time I was annoyed at the author.
Plot: I liked the villians and enjoyed the storyline. I wanted to know what would happen next, but I never got into the story because the above issues kept pulling my out of the world she was trying to create.
Races: There are several races introduced almost immediately, but they are not well differentiated by the author. One's a hawk-like race, another a lion-like race, then later a third dragon-like race. Above these mortal races are a dark features immortal race. They all get confused in the first few pages and so I have introduced them here so that when the main character touches the wings of a person she meets (without the author explaining that the person is from the hawk-like race) it might make more sense to you than it did to me.
Character Interaction: I like the idea behind the story, but was really annoyed by the way it was written. The reader goes in knowing nothing and fed the plot bit by bit. We are in the mind of the main character; however, the main character shields her thoughts. It's frustrating to have an interesting idea introduced, then pulled away as the character decides that it's not something she wants to think about. It's painful to get intersting characters introduced, then readers are not told anything about them becuase the main character hates them and would rather not think about their history together.
There is also a possibly interesting relationship between the narrator and one of her superiors, but it's only hinted at until the end of the book, then very little is revealed. I wanted to know more about their history, but didn't like this book enough to read the next in the series for that single aspect.
Writing: The author does a good job of creating a detailed fantasy world with interesting characters and a rich history. The dialogue fits into the world nicely, until the main character, whose thoughts we are sharing, thinks to her self a slang term or a very age specific phrase. Example: 'as if', The narrator disagreed with something someone suggests she do, so she thinks to herself. "As if." (Think of this coming out of the mouth os a young teen, Valley Girl style.) and then drops back into the genre. This happened several times and each time I was annoyed at the author.
Plot: I liked the villians and enjoyed the storyline. I wanted to know what would happen next, but I never got into the story because the above issues kept pulling my out of the world she was trying to create.
jackiehorne's review
The writing was so often obtuse I found it difficult to follow the plot, never mind feel any investment in the characters. Tried for 150 pages, then gave up.
artmajorese's review
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
mary_soon_lee's review against another edition
5.0
This is the first book in a lengthy and ongoing epic fantasy series. This pleases me considerably as it proved to be exactly what I wanted.
This isn't in the top tier of my favorite fantasy ever--not Le Guin, Tolkien, or Guy Gavriel Kay--but it delighted me in a hard time.
4.5 out of 5 hawk stars.
About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved).
Spoiler
I found the main character, Kaylin, very likable, and I loved the strong elements of found family and friendship. The secondary world fantasy, the supporting cast, the magic, and the various races of beings are well drawn and fascinating. All that said, be advised that the plot contains some very dark elements, wherein children are in peril and hurt.This isn't in the top tier of my favorite fantasy ever--not Le Guin, Tolkien, or Guy Gavriel Kay--but it delighted me in a hard time.
4.5 out of 5 hawk stars.
About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved).