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chris_nz's review
3.0
Quite by accident I just finished reading The Black Company before I started this book. This one seems like a pale imitation of it, with a dumb Mary Sue protagonist. I did quite enjoy the first third but it progressively slowed as it lumbered towards the finish. It stops fairly abruptly but I have no desire to ever read the next book in the series! Shame because it felt like it had potential but wow was it dated.
astrochem's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
fast-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? No
3.5
jmoses's review
4.0
I've read this series before, ages and ages ago. I still like them. The world is neat, and Paks' experiences are interesting and varied. I feel (still feel) that Paks as a character is simple. Not stupid, but simple. Her motivations are clear cut, and she never has any motivations that aren't out where you (and everyone else) can see. One the one hand, it makes her a little bit underwhelming, as a main character. On the other, it fits my mental model of what she eventual becomes.
a_shelf_of_books's review
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
andy1992's review
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
tani's review
5.0
Wow, this is hard to summarize without sounding as flip as the official summary (which doesn't convey the tone of the book at all, by the way). Paks was born the daughter of a sheepfarmer, and her father expects that she'll marry one of the neighborhood men, and continue a life of similar drudgery. However, Paks doesn't think she ever wants to marry, and she knows that she doesn't like farming, so rather than be forced into something that will make her miserable, she strikes out on her own, and joins a mercenary group to learn to be a soldier.
This is touted as being one of the best fantasy series of all time, and so far, I totally get that. Elizabeth Moon is already an author that I enjoy, and this just cements that. She takes something that another author might make very sensational and action-packed, and turns it into something very detailed and character-oriented. There are no pleasant illusions about the kind of work it takes to become a soldier, and no romanticization of life as a mercenary. I really liked that she took the whole endeavor seriously, and although Paks does have certain natural gifts that aid her in her success, the vast majority of her progress is due to hard work.
Speaking of Paks, I really loved her. She may seem kind of flat to some readers, but that's because she's very much the type of character to mull over an issue, express her thoughts only obliquely, and then show her mettle through her actions instead. She is deeply honorable, and although she can be impulsive, she is always willing to learn. The bonds she forms with other characters are deep and true, and I found myself getting just as attached as she did. I'll admit it, I actually had to take a break from this book for a little while, because it had me crying like a baby for a good stretch in the middle.
I'm also extremely excited to see where the rest of the series will go. It's certain that Moon has big plans for Paks, and although I don't want to say too much, it seems like those plans are quite different than your average fantasy about a soldier character. I'm also very excited at the thought of seeing more of the world. Although this book only shows a limited subset of the world, there's definitely talk of other races and different locales, which I'm pretty certain will play a much bigger role in the next two books. I'm really looking forward to seeing where it all goes!
This is touted as being one of the best fantasy series of all time, and so far, I totally get that. Elizabeth Moon is already an author that I enjoy, and this just cements that. She takes something that another author might make very sensational and action-packed, and turns it into something very detailed and character-oriented. There are no pleasant illusions about the kind of work it takes to become a soldier, and no romanticization of life as a mercenary. I really liked that she took the whole endeavor seriously, and although Paks does have certain natural gifts that aid her in her success, the vast majority of her progress is due to hard work.
Speaking of Paks, I really loved her. She may seem kind of flat to some readers, but that's because she's very much the type of character to mull over an issue, express her thoughts only obliquely, and then show her mettle through her actions instead. She is deeply honorable, and although she can be impulsive, she is always willing to learn. The bonds she forms with other characters are deep and true, and I found myself getting just as attached as she did. I'll admit it, I actually had to take a break from this book for a little while, because it had me crying like a baby for a good stretch in the middle.
I'm also extremely excited to see where the rest of the series will go. It's certain that Moon has big plans for Paks, and although I don't want to say too much, it seems like those plans are quite different than your average fantasy about a soldier character. I'm also very excited at the thought of seeing more of the world. Although this book only shows a limited subset of the world, there's definitely talk of other races and different locales, which I'm pretty certain will play a much bigger role in the next two books. I'm really looking forward to seeing where it all goes!
jmkemp's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-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? It's complicated
5.0
Kept me awake longer than I'd planned, and I have ordered the next one in the series about half way through.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Sexual assault, Gore, Blood, and Violence
jodque's review
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
suzemo's review
4.0
This is one of those books that I really wish I had read as a kid/teenager.
It's a very "old skool" military fantasy, with the exception that the bad-ass warrior hero happens to be a heroine. The narration starts sometime in the future and tells the story of Paksennarion, a headstrong girl who joined a mercenary outfit to escape an arranged marriage. Along the way we get a lot of training, details of camp and marching life, pretty good descriptions of war and pillaging, and discover that Paks has some sort of magical talent or ability. We're not sure how the magic system works, because Paks herself isn't sure of what's going on, but as this is the first part of a three part story, we might learn more later.
The characterizations weren't really strong, but it's not a character driven novel, in my opinion. The world building is solid, the plot was good, although it did get a little bit dry/slower with the training (and other) narratives. To be honest, I thought it was interesting and did not make me feel like I was slogging through it.
I think the biggest weakness is Paks, herself, which while being headstrong, is painfully naive and is a passive character much of the time and could be classified (pretty solidly) as a Mary Sue.
It is refreshing to have a non-heteronormative character (she's asexual) who is simultaneously breaking gender norms, and that there is a little bit regarding gender norms in the novel itself (this mercenary company, or at least the land where it is located does not consider women mercenaries to be noteworthy, whereas later they do do go to another land where it is unusual).
I can see why many people didn't love this book, but I really liked it, and will probably get around to reading/listening to the rest of the books in this... book.
It's a very "old skool" military fantasy, with the exception that the bad-ass warrior hero happens to be a heroine. The narration starts sometime in the future and tells the story of Paksennarion, a headstrong girl who joined a mercenary outfit to escape an arranged marriage. Along the way we get a lot of training, details of camp and marching life, pretty good descriptions of war and pillaging, and discover that Paks has some sort of magical talent or ability. We're not sure how the magic system works, because Paks herself isn't sure of what's going on, but as this is the first part of a three part story, we might learn more later.
The characterizations weren't really strong, but it's not a character driven novel, in my opinion. The world building is solid, the plot was good, although it did get a little bit dry/slower with the training (and other) narratives. To be honest, I thought it was interesting and did not make me feel like I was slogging through it.
I think the biggest weakness is Paks, herself, which while being headstrong, is painfully naive and is a passive character much of the time and could be classified (pretty solidly) as a Mary Sue.
It is refreshing to have a non-heteronormative character (she's asexual) who is simultaneously breaking gender norms, and that there is a little bit regarding gender norms in the novel itself (this mercenary company, or at least the land where it is located does not consider women mercenaries to be noteworthy, whereas later they do do go to another land where it is unusual).
I can see why many people didn't love this book, but I really liked it, and will probably get around to reading/listening to the rest of the books in this... book.
suzemo's review against another edition
4.0
This is a reread/re-listen, I wrote a review previously that's much better thought out/written.
So, it's essentially "Mary Sue went to bootcamp... and then war.". But it's fun, is a relatively easy read, and the worldbuilding is really good. I do enjoy it, and the audio narrator is really good, too.
My only issue is the not!rape story line. I don't think it added much, if anything, to the story.
So, it's essentially "Mary Sue went to bootcamp... and then war.". But it's fun, is a relatively easy read, and the worldbuilding is really good. I do enjoy it, and the audio narrator is really good, too.
My only issue is the not!rape story line. I don't think it added much, if anything, to the story.