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bydandii's review against another edition
2.0
So, some intriguing elements for a fantasy/alternate history world in this book. I want to like it, and nearly do, but it feels unformed and incomplete in the execution. Enough so that it will go on the shelf and I will not look for the sequel.
I will quickly highlight just a couple of points.
Other reviews have focus on the 'not-Christian' religion offering a skewed or imply an intentionally anti-Christian message. I disagree. The story presents a 'what-if' militant heresy of Christianity resulting from a world where it did not become the dominant religious-social construct in Europe. A fascinating idea to play with, and the heretical sect actually seems plausible - certainly militant Christianity even existed in this timeline. But barely any hints about how this, and what there are are too vague. The setting just is not explained enough. It is the core of the 'what if' of the story and it just is... as a blank a slate at the end as at the beginning.
It also suffers from mentioning Lollards (a mid-14th century Catholic heresy) which implies Christianity did stick, but then fell with little detail or structure presented on such a drastic and meaningful social upheaval. Or Lollardy developed particularly early? This grey area in the core of the premise is the major element that makes the story feel unformed.
It may be unfair, but the WWI the concept of fronts of static trench warfare in a swords, arrows, and catapult era seemed like a weak contrivance to me that jarred my investment in the story every time it was mentioned.
The larger geo-political situation was also too undefined, and I could not help feeling that it was not presented because it did not exist to present. Unfair, most likely, but my perception all the same.
Relationships also seemed loosely associated - someone would be mentioned as not liking someone else, then getting along with them in comfortable comradery, and then not liking them in rapid succession. The ending of the love interest was similarly jarring with a build of up 'passion and love' to be casually undercut with a first mention of negative feelings that had been there for a while, but out of the blue.
It all just felt like it needed a solid edit to polish the package. As it is, a near miss.
I will quickly highlight just a couple of points.
Other reviews have focus on the 'not-Christian' religion offering a skewed or imply an intentionally anti-Christian message. I disagree. The story presents a 'what-if' militant heresy of Christianity resulting from a world where it did not become the dominant religious-social construct in Europe. A fascinating idea to play with, and the heretical sect actually seems plausible - certainly militant Christianity even existed in this timeline. But barely any hints about how this, and what there are are too vague. The setting just is not explained enough. It is the core of the 'what if' of the story and it just is... as a blank a slate at the end as at the beginning.
It also suffers from mentioning Lollards (a mid-14th century Catholic heresy) which implies Christianity did stick, but then fell with little detail or structure presented on such a drastic and meaningful social upheaval. Or Lollardy developed particularly early? This grey area in the core of the premise is the major element that makes the story feel unformed.
It may be unfair, but the WWI the concept of fronts of static trench warfare in a swords, arrows, and catapult era seemed like a weak contrivance to me that jarred my investment in the story every time it was mentioned.
The larger geo-political situation was also too undefined, and I could not help feeling that it was not presented because it did not exist to present. Unfair, most likely, but my perception all the same.
Relationships also seemed loosely associated - someone would be mentioned as not liking someone else, then getting along with them in comfortable comradery, and then not liking them in rapid succession. The ending of the love interest was similarly jarring with a build of up 'passion and love' to be casually undercut with a first mention of negative feelings that had been there for a while, but out of the blue.
It all just felt like it needed a solid edit to polish the package. As it is, a near miss.
sarshu01's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I wanted to enjoy this more than I did. There were kernels of some thing interesting but many of those threads are left undeveloped (but not sufficiently explored for me to want to read more). The female characters are pretty one dimensional.
evsapsford's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
raetheraven's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
kayleigh_jm's review against another edition
2.0
It's taken me quite a while to write a review as I was left with a lot of negative feelings towards this book immediately after reading it and need time to identify what it was I disliked so much about 'The Left Hand of God'.
In the end I realised I felt really let down by this book. The premise is the best thing about this book, it sounded great and was intriguing but it is terribly misleading. The writing is poor, I didn't connect or care about any of the characters and was left generally bored throughout. Normally I wouldn't mind reading a story where the main characters are teenagers but these characters felt childish, they lacked a certain depth to them and the decisions which they made didn't really make sense to me. I also felt confused as to when and where the story was supposed to be taking place and wish that Hoffman had spent a little more time filling in the back story to 'The Sanctuary' and the 'Redeemers'. Maybe I missed it but I just didn't get their motivation or objective for their actions or maybe the 'One True Faith' they believed in needed more explanation for me to truly understand?
I wish this had been better as I think it could have been a great story, unfortunately it just isn't for me.
In the end I realised I felt really let down by this book. The premise is the best thing about this book, it sounded great and was intriguing but it is terribly misleading. The writing is poor, I didn't connect or care about any of the characters and was left generally bored throughout. Normally I wouldn't mind reading a story where the main characters are teenagers but these characters felt childish, they lacked a certain depth to them and the decisions which they made didn't really make sense to me. I also felt confused as to when and where the story was supposed to be taking place and wish that Hoffman had spent a little more time filling in the back story to 'The Sanctuary' and the 'Redeemers'. Maybe I missed it but I just didn't get their motivation or objective for their actions or maybe the 'One True Faith' they believed in needed more explanation for me to truly understand?
I wish this had been better as I think it could have been a great story, unfortunately it just isn't for me.
ladybellatrix's review against another edition
1.0
This actually started out relatively promising, but I did find the longer it went on the more it started to drag and I had to pull myself through the end.
The final battle is actually a little confusing and you're just confronted with a wall of text and battle strategy that doesn't really keep the reader involved in the story. You don't care much for the individual characters in the battle and I found myself just waiting for the actual result of the battle tactics rather than the actual goings on.
I can't say I was compelled to order the next in the series.
The final battle is actually a little confusing and you're just confronted with a wall of text and battle strategy that doesn't really keep the reader involved in the story. You don't care much for the individual characters in the battle and I found myself just waiting for the actual result of the battle tactics rather than the actual goings on.
I can't say I was compelled to order the next in the series.
harvskhails's review against another edition
5.0
I think my rating remains unchanged. Might write a review though.
that_one_mike_guy's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
library_hungry's review against another edition
3.0
The first half of the book, I would have given it two stars, because I had a lot of problems with the writing style. I felt like there were a lot of cliches and the third person omniscient point of view kept pulling me out of the story. But by the last half, I was hanging on the edge of my seat, staying up late to find out what happened, so I think I'd give that book four stars. It averages out to three--looking back I enjoyed it, but while I was reading it, I spent a lot of time annoyed.
Also, the female characters are all very one-dimensional. There are, I think four female characters who speak: one is sweet and sexy but not bright, one is beautiful and cold but innocent, one is rich and snotty, and one is a murderess. You now know, literally, everything I know about every woman in this book. I think that's the factor that ensures that I don't even give it the "wish I could put 3.5" nod.
Also, the female characters are all very one-dimensional. There are, I think four female characters who speak: one is sweet and sexy but not bright, one is beautiful and cold but innocent, one is rich and snotty, and one is a murderess. You now know, literally, everything I know about every woman in this book. I think that's the factor that ensures that I don't even give it the "wish I could put 3.5" nod.