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4.38 AVERAGE
4.38 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
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
adventurous
dark
hopeful
reflective
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:
Complicated
Ugh.. there was loss and great satisfaction in this conclusion of OF BLOOD AND BONE series. I look forward to rereading this series and reading THE FAITHFUL AND THE FALLEN series.
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
adventurous
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
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
medium-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
A fitting conclusion to a series I have grown to love!
adventurous
dark
emotional
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:
No
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
John Gwynne has a solid track record of delivering fast-paced fantasy, and A Time of Courage continues that trend while adding more complexity to the plot. From the start, the action picks up, with each conflict building on the last. The threads from the previous books are brought together well, leading toward a big climax that feels earned.
This book stands out for its deeper motivations and more nuanced conflicts. The Ben-Elim, with their rigid ways and antagonistic beliefs, are not simply evil; they are more complex, which adds a lot to the story. If the Kadoshim weren’t so bad, you could almost root for the Ben-Elim to succeed. It’s a rare dynamic in fantasy where the "good guys" aren’t completely clear-cut, and it makes for a much more interesting story.
The two characters who really stood out for me were Jin and Riv. While Dram is still my favorite overall, these two added a lot to the book. Their uniqueness and the way they developed throughout the story gave it an extra layer of depth.
I also really appreciated the portrayal of the Order of the Bright Star. It’s not often you see an organization that is clearly good without the usual internal conflict or backstabbing. It was refreshing to see a group take after its founder Corban it seems like the organizational equivalent to him, who was a genuinely good person, without the usual drama that comes with “morally gray” factions.
The battles in this book are, of course, well-written and intense. The final fights are epic, though at times it felt like there were a lot of near-misses and twists before anything significant happened. It’s not a major issue, but it does make you wonder how many more surprises are left before the end.
The increasing pace and shortening length of the chapters, swapping points of view really add a lot to that final battle. This move helps speed up the pace and gives the story a sense of forward momentum, which kept me engaged. I don’t see this approach often, but it worked well here.
As for the ending, Gwynne tends to wrap things up quickly after the last battle, and this book is no exception. It doesn’t feel like a major problem, but I did find myself wanting a little more about the characters' futures.
Overall, A Time of Courage is another solid installment in the series. It keeps up the strong pacing, the action is engaging, and the characters are still compelling. Gwynne continues to deliver in this series, and fans of epic fantasy will find a lot to like here.
This book stands out for its deeper motivations and more nuanced conflicts. The Ben-Elim, with their rigid ways and antagonistic beliefs, are not simply evil; they are more complex, which adds a lot to the story. If the Kadoshim weren’t so bad, you could almost root for the Ben-Elim to succeed. It’s a rare dynamic in fantasy where the "good guys" aren’t completely clear-cut, and it makes for a much more interesting story.
The two characters who really stood out for me were Jin and Riv. While Dram is still my favorite overall, these two added a lot to the book. Their uniqueness and the way they developed throughout the story gave it an extra layer of depth.
I also really appreciated the portrayal of the Order of the Bright Star. It’s not often you see an organization that is clearly good without the usual internal conflict or backstabbing. It was refreshing to see a group take after its founder Corban it seems like the organizational equivalent to him, who was a genuinely good person, without the usual drama that comes with “morally gray” factions.
The battles in this book are, of course, well-written and intense. The final fights are epic, though at times it felt like there were a lot of near-misses and twists before anything significant happened. It’s not a major issue, but it does make you wonder how many more surprises are left before the end.
The increasing pace and shortening length of the chapters, swapping points of view really add a lot to that final battle. This move helps speed up the pace and gives the story a sense of forward momentum, which kept me engaged. I don’t see this approach often, but it worked well here.
As for the ending, Gwynne tends to wrap things up quickly after the last battle, and this book is no exception. It doesn’t feel like a major problem, but I did find myself wanting a little more about the characters' futures.
Overall, A Time of Courage is another solid installment in the series. It keeps up the strong pacing, the action is engaging, and the characters are still compelling. Gwynne continues to deliver in this series, and fans of epic fantasy will find a lot to like here.
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-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