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sincerelymendacious's review against another edition
Not a lot happening. Loved the older woman protagonist but the other pov fell flat and i didn't really get the rolling cities
dsty292's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
thea's review against another edition
5.0
4.7 stars! i did not expect to love and enjoy this book as much as i did?? the worldbuilding was effortlessly fleshed out, the characters are all crackheads in their own way, and the plot had a firm foot on the neck of my short attention span. i'm definitely ready to buy my physical copy in august — and you should too! if you want to read a hilarious story about an exasperated war arts grandmaster that doesn't even know why she's here & a chaotic gay assassin that relentlessly flirts with a straitlaced warrior who would really benefit from tylenol, then look no further.
honestly, the synopsis doesn't do this story justice. reading this was immersive, with the distinct perspectives giving us a slice of every part of the world. i was filled with delight when i realized that there is no way i'm picking a side. how could i when the characters are so dumb and gay and lovable? some of them are not even explicitly gay, but [taps my forehead] i know these things. i screech with excitement whenever the characters on opposing sides interact (aka try to kill each other) because i am rooting for them at the same time! i gravitate towards stories where it separately, steadily builds up each main character's arc until it eventually weaves and connects all of them together in successful climax scenes that spike my adrenaline levels. and the art of prophecy? [chef's kiss] everything i wanted, it gave.
this story was fast-paced, knocked me out with plot twists, and made me laugh with its dry humor. and the characters are the heart. i literally adore all the side characters. everyone introduced has a story, so it never felt like anybody was insignificant, regardless if they had a small role in the story. and now the three main baddies: taishi is chaotic good (violent), sali is lawful neutral (fuck the authorities), and qisami is a chaotic neutral that borders on evil (kinda awkward when she asks people out). i'll focus on taishi here since she's given the traditional "mentor" role in hero stories, but with her own spice (!!) — she's such an asshole to the prophesized hero (jian) (as she should) but she's unfaltering, wise, and is human in her regrets and need to stomp idiots. she's a tough love, hilarious person that i fell in love with on the first page. jian is one lucky dude to have her as his mentor (found family).
there were some points where i did get whiplashed/ thrown off guard by some plot choices, but they've never been strong enough to make me deeply upset. it never took away from my enjoyment. overall, this first book was a strong beginning in the sense that it satisfied the foundational worldbuilding and overarching plot set-up for future books while providing readers with lovable characters we can easily get attached to and root for.
includes: disability rep, all-the-characters-are-crackheads, warrior boys that cry, top ten anime betrayals, and epic martial arts magic!!!
thank you to the publisher and netgalley for providing me an arc!
Merged review:
4.7 stars! i did not expect to love and enjoy this book as much as i did?? the worldbuilding was effortlessly fleshed out, the characters are all crackheads in their own way, and the plot had a firm foot on the neck of my short attention span. i'm definitely ready to buy my physical copy in august — and you should too! if you want to read a hilarious story about an exasperated war arts grandmaster that doesn't even know why she's here & a chaotic gay assassin that relentlessly flirts with a straitlaced warrior who would really benefit from tylenol, then look no further.
honestly, the synopsis doesn't do this story justice. reading this was immersive, with the distinct perspectives giving us a slice of every part of the world. i was filled with delight when i realized that there is no way i'm picking a side. how could i when the characters are so dumb and gay and lovable? some of them are not even explicitly gay, but [taps my forehead] i know these things. i screech with excitement whenever the characters on opposing sides interact (aka try to kill each other) because i am rooting for them at the same time! i gravitate towards stories where it separately, steadily builds up each main character's arc until it eventually weaves and connects all of them together in successful climax scenes that spike my adrenaline levels. and the art of prophecy? [chef's kiss] everything i wanted, it gave.
this story was fast-paced, knocked me out with plot twists, and made me laugh with its dry humor. and the characters are the heart. i literally adore all the side characters. everyone introduced has a story, so it never felt like anybody was insignificant, regardless if they had a small role in the story. and now the three main baddies: taishi is chaotic good (violent), sali is lawful neutral (fuck the authorities), and qisami is a chaotic neutral that borders on evil (kinda awkward when she asks people out). i'll focus on taishi here since she's given the traditional "mentor" role in hero stories, but with her own spice (!!) — she's such an asshole to the prophesized hero (jian) (as she should) but she's unfaltering, wise, and is human in her regrets and need to stomp idiots. she's a tough love, hilarious person that i fell in love with on the first page. jian is one lucky dude to have her as his mentor (found family).
there were some points where i did get whiplashed/ thrown off guard by some plot choices, but they've never been strong enough to make me deeply upset. it never took away from my enjoyment. overall, this first book was a strong beginning in the sense that it satisfied the foundational worldbuilding and overarching plot set-up for future books while providing readers with lovable characters we can easily get attached to and root for.
includes: disability rep, all-the-characters-are-crackheads, warrior boys that cry, top ten anime betrayals, and epic martial arts magic!!!
thank you to the publisher and netgalley for providing me an arc!
honestly, the synopsis doesn't do this story justice. reading this was immersive, with the distinct perspectives giving us a slice of every part of the world. i was filled with delight when i realized that there is no way i'm picking a side. how could i when the characters are so dumb and gay and lovable? some of them are not even explicitly gay, but [taps my forehead] i know these things. i screech with excitement whenever the characters on opposing sides interact (aka try to kill each other) because i am rooting for them at the same time! i gravitate towards stories where it separately, steadily builds up each main character's arc until it eventually weaves and connects all of them together in successful climax scenes that spike my adrenaline levels. and the art of prophecy? [chef's kiss] everything i wanted, it gave.
this story was fast-paced, knocked me out with plot twists, and made me laugh with its dry humor. and the characters are the heart. i literally adore all the side characters. everyone introduced has a story, so it never felt like anybody was insignificant, regardless if they had a small role in the story. and now the three main baddies: taishi is chaotic good (violent), sali is lawful neutral (fuck the authorities), and qisami is a chaotic neutral that borders on evil (kinda awkward when she asks people out). i'll focus on taishi here since she's given the traditional "mentor" role in hero stories, but with her own spice (!!) — she's such an asshole to the prophesized hero (jian) (as she should) but she's unfaltering, wise, and is human in her regrets and need to stomp idiots. she's a tough love, hilarious person that i fell in love with on the first page. jian is one lucky dude to have her as his mentor (found family).
there were some points where i did get whiplashed/ thrown off guard by some plot choices, but they've never been strong enough to make me deeply upset. it never took away from my enjoyment. overall, this first book was a strong beginning in the sense that it satisfied the foundational worldbuilding and overarching plot set-up for future books while providing readers with lovable characters we can easily get attached to and root for.
includes: disability rep, all-the-characters-are-crackheads, warrior boys that cry, top ten anime betrayals, and epic martial arts magic!!!
thank you to the publisher and netgalley for providing me an arc!
Merged review:
4.7 stars! i did not expect to love and enjoy this book as much as i did?? the worldbuilding was effortlessly fleshed out, the characters are all crackheads in their own way, and the plot had a firm foot on the neck of my short attention span. i'm definitely ready to buy my physical copy in august — and you should too! if you want to read a hilarious story about an exasperated war arts grandmaster that doesn't even know why she's here & a chaotic gay assassin that relentlessly flirts with a straitlaced warrior who would really benefit from tylenol, then look no further.
honestly, the synopsis doesn't do this story justice. reading this was immersive, with the distinct perspectives giving us a slice of every part of the world. i was filled with delight when i realized that there is no way i'm picking a side. how could i when the characters are so dumb and gay and lovable? some of them are not even explicitly gay, but [taps my forehead] i know these things. i screech with excitement whenever the characters on opposing sides interact (aka try to kill each other) because i am rooting for them at the same time! i gravitate towards stories where it separately, steadily builds up each main character's arc until it eventually weaves and connects all of them together in successful climax scenes that spike my adrenaline levels. and the art of prophecy? [chef's kiss] everything i wanted, it gave.
this story was fast-paced, knocked me out with plot twists, and made me laugh with its dry humor. and the characters are the heart. i literally adore all the side characters. everyone introduced has a story, so it never felt like anybody was insignificant, regardless if they had a small role in the story. and now the three main baddies: taishi is chaotic good (violent), sali is lawful neutral (fuck the authorities), and qisami is a chaotic neutral that borders on evil (kinda awkward when she asks people out). i'll focus on taishi here since she's given the traditional "mentor" role in hero stories, but with her own spice (!!) — she's such an asshole to the prophesized hero (jian) (as she should) but she's unfaltering, wise, and is human in her regrets and need to stomp idiots. she's a tough love, hilarious person that i fell in love with on the first page. jian is one lucky dude to have her as his mentor (found family).
there were some points where i did get whiplashed/ thrown off guard by some plot choices, but they've never been strong enough to make me deeply upset. it never took away from my enjoyment. overall, this first book was a strong beginning in the sense that it satisfied the foundational worldbuilding and overarching plot set-up for future books while providing readers with lovable characters we can easily get attached to and root for.
includes: disability rep, all-the-characters-are-crackheads, warrior boys that cry, top ten anime betrayals, and epic martial arts magic!!!
thank you to the publisher and netgalley for providing me an arc!
ehmannky's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
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
5.0
Every once in a while I'll have a couple DNF books in a row and I start wondering if I'm heading into a reading rut or if I am losing my love of reading and then I pull a book as well-written and fun as The Art of Prophecy and realize no, I just haven't been choosing good books. Everything about this was a delight--the characters were so compelling and delightful, the plot moves forward without any snags, it's genuinely funny, and the world is so interestingly built. The book took a turn early on that I wasn't expecting, and it just led to a really fun Old Lady Wuxia read. The book follows multiple POV characters as they navigate a seemingly broken Chosen One Prophecy and a world radically shifting after the end of a centuries' long war. I am so excited to read book 2.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Violence, and Colonisation
Minor: Slavery and War
alana_readsbooks's review against another edition
I couldn’t get it to it and didn’t really care
gemmie's review against another edition
5.0
Gave me everything I could have wanted. Bless this book.
cherri350's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
alysses's review against another edition
3.0
Read for Books With Brandie Shanae Book Club
The action was when it was on page was awesome. The funny moments were funny. Yet, there were moments that I felt as if something was missing. Certain decisions were made that didn't make sense to me and it would take me out of the world. It's not a horrible read. I will have to re-read this before moving on to the second installment.
The action was when it was on page was awesome. The funny moments were funny. Yet, there were moments that I felt as if something was missing. Certain decisions were made that didn't make sense to me and it would take me out of the world. It's not a horrible read. I will have to re-read this before moving on to the second installment.
olivialesan's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
4.0