Scan barcode
eon29's review against another edition
3.0
A come down from The Red Knight, displaying clear middle book syndrome. Where The Red Knight had narrative momentum for the whole book, The Fell Sword begins setting up sub plots for the future novels and as a result grinds to a halt more than once. Still an entertaining read on the whole though.
spinescens's review against another edition
"Blanche rose, her duty done, and slipped away. And an hour later, when a Gallish squire tried to pin her to a wall and get his hand down her kirtle, she thought, we will bury you. She tried to put a knee in his groin but his wrestling master had covered that. So she settled for letting him put his hand into the top of her dress, and then rammed the index finger of her left hand into his nostril and ripped with her nail as her mother had taught her. Then she slipped through his arms before the fountain of his blood could foul her nice gown. She skipped a little as she went down the long palace corridors to the kitchen. A good day." -pg 496
The rampant sexism in this book made it almost unbearable to read, but this paragraph was the straw that broke the camel's back. The fact that the author wrote this so nonchalantly makes me sick.
There was sexism in the first book, but nothing more than what I'm used to. This book turns it up to 100 and I couldn't take it anymore.
Also, too many POV's. Why does the Red Knight only have like 2 chapters in the first 70% of the book when he's the main character?
The rampant sexism in this book made it almost unbearable to read, but this paragraph was the straw that broke the camel's back. The fact that the author wrote this so nonchalantly makes me sick.
There was sexism in the first book, but nothing more than what I'm used to. This book turns it up to 100 and I couldn't take it anymore.
Also, too many POV's. Why does the Red Knight only have like 2 chapters in the first 70% of the book when he's the main character?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment
jettye's review
4.0
I finished this book and immediately downloaded & read The Dread Wyrm (Book 3), so it must be good! My only complaints were the rather sudden ending (what about the Princess?) and it was never quite clear what a "Fell Sword" was (it was explained a bit more in book 3). Otherwise, a great read, with lots of twists & turns and some really great characters. Who wouldn't love a book with a character named "Willful Murder"?
lvh's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
daaan's review against another edition
5.0
The first book was an intense, protracted siege, which through it's focus on a single event served as an excellent introduction to the world and the key characters. In this one the lens has panned out and we take a far greater stretch of the known world and we have plots within plots. It's like some horrifying piece of clockwork where the gears keep turning on each other. Quite simply put, this thing is masterful, and I can assert that this is better than game of thrones.
fantasyreader67's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
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? No
3.75
macindog's review
5.0
The adventures of the company of the Red Knight continue to the East of Alba, across the mountains to Morea and Thrake, to put down what appears to be a local rebellion.
In this tale Gabriel meets a beautiful princess and seriously needs to be rid of Harmodius; the Galles and Jean de Vrailly pursue their ambitions for the conquest of Alba; Sister Amicia's powers grow while the Church comes under very puritan/anti-hermetic influence; the Wyrm of Erch lends a hand; we meet the Black Knight and a mysterious entity known only as - Ash!
And still there's the Wild with its Irks, Wyverns, Golden Bears, Giants, trolls and Boglins aplenty. We also get to know the Outwallers and Jacks a bit better as well as the Faerie Knight, Tapio Haltija.
The sorceror Thorn, once a man and now ensconced over a well of power on the Sacred Isle, continues to exert his dark influence over the world of man and Wild or is he himself under the control of a far more powerful being?
The Fell Sword, however mismatched the title or book cover is to the story, is another cracking read from Miles Cameron and a worthy sequel to the Red Knight and a medieval reenactment fan's dream with more colourful descriptions of armour, weapons, dress and battle tactics.
The story has so many interwoven characters and plots that it can sometimes be difficult to keep track of who is who and what's going on but it's worth the effort and I'll be in the queue to get hold of the third instalment, The Dread Wyrm.
In this tale Gabriel meets a beautiful princess and seriously needs to be rid of Harmodius; the Galles and Jean de Vrailly pursue their ambitions for the conquest of Alba; Sister Amicia's powers grow while the Church comes under very puritan/anti-hermetic influence; the Wyrm of Erch lends a hand; we meet the Black Knight and a mysterious entity known only as - Ash!
And still there's the Wild with its Irks, Wyverns, Golden Bears, Giants, trolls and Boglins aplenty. We also get to know the Outwallers and Jacks a bit better as well as the Faerie Knight, Tapio Haltija.
The sorceror Thorn, once a man and now ensconced over a well of power on the Sacred Isle, continues to exert his dark influence over the world of man and Wild or is he himself under the control of a far more powerful being?
The Fell Sword, however mismatched the title or book cover is to the story, is another cracking read from Miles Cameron and a worthy sequel to the Red Knight and a medieval reenactment fan's dream with more colourful descriptions of armour, weapons, dress and battle tactics.
The story has so many interwoven characters and plots that it can sometimes be difficult to keep track of who is who and what's going on but it's worth the effort and I'll be in the queue to get hold of the third instalment, The Dread Wyrm.
rtn's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0