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3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
Fresh and original! A fantasy world set in 19th century America, woven around frontier types and the folklore of American witchcraft and superstition.
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-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
I'm not a big fan of Card's work, but this is one of the exceptions. It builds a creative alternative world, with much that is familiar, but much that is different. Among these are "talents" that are akin to magic, and Alvin Maker is so endowed. What follows is an intriguing view of this alternative world with fairly obvious symbolic or allegorical connections with our own world and the issues we face. This is the first in a series of six books. Though I read the others, I can't say I thought they were as insightful or engaging as this one.
Seventh Son is engaging. I loved the language that Card gave his characters. There’s a prevailing dialogue on how magic and religion might be reconciled in an alternate colonial America. The plot is very simple and even a bit dull, but I feel this first book in the series demands that. I'm not going to rush to read the next in the series, but I'll eventually get to it.
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This did not feel like it should be a stand alone novel, perhaps when originally published epic fantasy didn't sell as well with the voluminous length. Still, it is a good beginning. I love Card's use of Appalachian myth and folklore as the foundation for this world's magic. The world building is glimpsed but not really explained... i.e. we know George Washington was beheaded, but we don't know a whole lot more.
I only read the first three in this series when I was in school, but I remember loving every one of them. This was my first experience with fantasy fiction and I devoured it. I'm planning on purchasing the entire series for my son to read when he's older...if I can find them. Maybe then I'll finally find out what became of Alvin Maker :)
dark
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Had promise. Poorly organized as if there was no plan.
A decent start for a fantasy saga, but honestly I didn't feel this one was up to Card's usual standards of enthralling story and vibrant characters. A lot of important events to the larger story happen before one is deeply invested in the characters, and so they don't leave the impression they otherwise might. The colonial vernacular of the dialogue is a bit jarring at first, although necessary for the flavor. This book was solid enough to keep me interested, but nowhere near as compelling as Ender's Game or The Memory of Earth.