Scan barcode
annika2304's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
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
4.0
qalminator's review against another edition
2.0
At first, I was enjoying this much more than Book 1, as the writing was tense and tight, and it didn't have the lackadaisical meandering that annoyed me in the first book. But the further I got, the less I wanted to keep reading, and I'm rather relieved to be finished. The first book focused on Herewiss and his struggle to become the first male in a century to be able to use "Fire" (the strongest form of magic). This book focuses on Segnbora, who, despite being very strong in the Fire, has never managed to focus it. So, naturally, this book is largely about her journey to do just that, and ... um. Very overused trope (see spoiler for more), and I'm sad to see a female author using it. Then she compounds it symbolically with a horribly disgusting mental sequence. I can think of ways of accomplishing the same inner mental growth without THAT.
Observations: I keep seeing parallels between this series and Wheel of Time. The gender-differentiated magic system. The strong character blocked from using her power. The Dark One. Pretty sure Jordan must have read this series and been inspired by it.
Spoiler
So, Segnbora was blocked because she'd been raped as a child by a male relative. While that's horrible, it's worse that it completely defines her character for most of the first two books. That's the reason she's blocked. That's the reason she has intimacy issues. Etc, etc, etc. Then at the end, she has to mentally forgive her rapist (by symbolically kissing and embracing his image in her mind) in order to move on. Really? Seriously? WTF.Observations: I keep seeing parallels between this series and Wheel of Time. The gender-differentiated magic system. The strong character blocked from using her power. The Dark One. Pretty sure Jordan must have read this series and been inspired by it.
breakery's review
2.5
love love love segnbora and duane's lofty writing style. otherwise, nothing to be said that other reviewers haven't already.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
poetic_liz's review
3.0
As in the first book, this book is a winner for it's fantastic world building, it's beautiful writing style, and the casual queer representation. (Also dragons).
Unfortunately however, the pacing in this one made it super hard to read for me, there was just so much happening, every other page something new happened. It was exhausting. Also unfortunately, Segnbora was just not the character I cared most about in the first book and reading a book simply from her pov was lowkey annoying.
And, as all the other reviewers said,using rape as a plot device just felt unnecessary especially considering the graphic details of it as described by a child
Unfortunately however, the pacing in this one made it super hard to read for me, there was just so much happening, every other page something new happened. It was exhausting. Also unfortunately, Segnbora was just not the character I cared most about in the first book and reading a book simply from her pov was lowkey annoying.
And, as all the other reviewers said,
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Rape
wazbar's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
It's incredible just how much happens in the door into shadow. Every chapter of this book could be like 30-50% of the main plot of a more cowardly book.
I love almost everything about this book but I do not love the extremely graphic review of Segnbora's repressed memory. It was both disturbing in its own right and narratively disappointing because it is exactly the same twist as in the Door into Fire. However, that repressed memory was so outlandish it was reasonable to assume no reader would have experienced it. Here, however, it's child abuse and springing a detailed description of that on the reader sucks!
In brief comparison to the Door into Fire: way more dragons, only slightly less gay.
I love almost everything about this book but I do not love the extremely graphic review of Segnbora's repressed memory. It was both disturbing in its own right and narratively disappointing because it is exactly the same twist as in the Door into Fire. However, that repressed memory was so outlandish it was reasonable to assume no reader would have experienced it. Here, however, it's child abuse and springing a detailed description of that on the reader sucks!
In brief comparison to the Door into Fire: way more dragons, only slightly less gay.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Rape
wetdryvac's review against another edition
5.0
I keep re-reading this series, and every time am reminded why Duane is one of my favorite authors. Well executed characters, system of magic, and most important of all: A strong feeling of connection to every aspect of the tale.
kittenscribble's review against another edition
3.0
I think I read the prequel when I was in high school and was enthralled by the societal gender-blindness, not to mention the cool entropic anti-deity. Now I'm a jaded fantasy reader and the tropes are more familiar (and the character-redemption can be seen coming a mile away). Still, a decent read.
toopunkrockforshul's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Not grabbing me like the previous book did and I know I'm not going to finish it at this time. May return in the future
Overall an enjoyable book, the worldbuilding is very detailed and immense and I especially enjoyed the dragons in this. I think I find that it focused a bit too much on the political and battle tactics for my liking, but I am glad that I went back to finish the book! I will probably read the rest of the series eventually.
Overall an enjoyable book, the worldbuilding is very detailed and immense and I especially enjoyed the dragons in this. I think I find that it focused a bit too much on the political and battle tactics for my liking, but I am glad that I went back to finish the book! I will probably read the rest of the series eventually.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Murder, Suicide, War, Rape, Incest, and Death of parent
valhecka's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
5.0
Pacing's a little weird but the dragons are weirder and I love them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Child abuse
kaa's review against another edition
1.0
I love Segnbora (love love love Segnbora). I love dragons. I love like 95% of this book. But there are maybe 5 pages that just destroyed the story for me. You can look at other reviews for more details, as I am far from the only person to have this issue. (CW for discussion of in those other reviews and the rest of mine.) And look, I wouldn't have LIKED it, but I could have sort of gotten through The part that was, for me, unforgivable, was
Absolutely none of this was necessary for Segnbora's storyline, nor was it at all relevant to the rest of the plot except as it affected Segnbora. There are other types of betrayal and sources of trauma - yes, even for women. And there are other ways to deal with past trauma. You could have had almost the same story, except not terrible and ruined, if that one tiny part had been changed. Have not decided yet whether I will continue with the next book, which I already own.
CW for the book, with page numbers:
Spoiler
rapeSpoiler
Segnbora's motivating trauma being her childhood rape by a family member. Even if I do really hate it when rape is described in more detail than any of the consensual sex scenes.Spoiler
making Segnbora's forgiveness of her rapist a pre-condition of her coming into her own power. Fuck no. Nope. And then we start to get into "this is why I have issues with omnipotent deities" territory.Absolutely none of this was necessary for Segnbora's storyline, nor was it at all relevant to the rest of the plot except as it affected Segnbora. There are other types of betrayal and sources of trauma - yes, even for women. And there are other ways to deal with past trauma. You could have had almost the same story, except not terrible and ruined, if that one tiny part had been changed.
CW for the book, with page numbers: