Reviews

A Gilded Iron Blade by Kai Butler

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matos's review

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adventurous emotional 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

effy_reads_too_much's review against another edition

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The main character keeps doing impulsive, reckless things that he KNOWS will hurt him. His partner tries so hard to get him to stop being so impulsive and he won’t listen. At one point his partner tells him not to do something because it’s a bad idea and the MC says he does it anyway just because he’s “contrary” I just couldn’t take it anymore

feye's review

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adventurous medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

louloureadsbooks's review

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3.0

This one didn't keep my interest. It might have been my mood.

Most of it Parker seemed to spend whining and/or avoiding stuff. Got on my nerves after a while.

Not certain if I'll continue with this series.

teresab78's review

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5.0

There is something about audio books with a great narrator that just improves on the story. I loved reading this book but listening to it brought another layer. Greg Trembley was perfect for Parker’s voice! I had tears streaming down my face near the climax of the book. I can’t wait for the next book in Parker’s saga. <3

write_of_passages's review against another edition

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3.0

A fun continuation of this series. I find this to be a wonderful ‘beach read’/‘low key emotional intensity’ that allows me to just wander a really neat world. I’m most impressed not by the plot, but all the details that are used to create the world that the plot then focuses on. My biggest hang up would be the stakes. I do not, in any way, ever feel like there will be any repercussions from the conflict. The characters will overcome everything without anything bad happening to them. As a personal preference, this is something I’d prefer to have, but it doesn’t make this series a boring read.

Would I go back in time and still read this book, knowing what I know now?
Sure. If I’m looking for a way to pass the time by being in another world, this is an excellent series for that.

See below for the four criteria I use to decide whether and when to read a book

CHARACTERS: Parker continues to grow into his role, which is fun to watch. I appreciate that he and Nick also have a relationship that feels healthy as well. And if/when there is conflict, they’re smart about their priorities and how they handle them. Parker is still quite unique when it comes to his character voice, and I love experiencing how he and Nick interact. It’s a joy to read and my favorite parts most definitely involve the both of them together.

PLOT: Exactly what would be expected based on the first two books. More mystery, more suspense on the whodunit. The conflict would be escalating (following a main arc of the series), but again, because the stakes aren’t there (re: no lasting repercussions or true scares that they won’t succeed/survive), it’s more of the same. Again, not a bad thing if you’re looking to read something without a high emotional investment.

EMOTIONAL INTENSITY: There is no good/bad here. Sometimes I just want a low-investment entertainment read whereas other times a high-stakes 'I need a therapist to recover' is what I need.

1 out of 5/low. An enjoyable read that isn’t super fast-paced and doesn’t delve too deeply into any of the themes.

CATHARTIC FULFILLMENT: Is the emotional journey worth it? Do I finish this book feeling that I've crested the wave of the climactic moment and everything has been settled, leaving me settled and fulfilled?

75%. In terms of actually feeling a catharsis, there isn’t much of one. But everything does get wrapped up neatly. There aren’t any stakes and I never fully expect that they won’t win, so it’s a fulfillment without the catharsis, really.