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dapper's review against another edition
3.0
This was good. Well written and kept me enthralled the entire time. Definitely not YA, it was dark in the way of having gross horror aspects. Like worms crawling out of people, teeth melting out of peoples mouths etc. definitely a grimdark dystopia
lilyelement's review against another edition
4.0
Hope and Red is book one in the Empire of Storms trilogy. This book revolves around two main characters and the POV shifts between them all throughout the story. I haven't read a straight up fantasy novel in awhile, so but I was pleasantly surprised to slowly get addicted to the story. The first part was a bit slow, due to both characters childhood being explained but it's well worth seeing why they are the way they are.
We start off meeting Bleak Hope (aka Hope) as a child, her village was destroyed by biomancers testing their latest experiment. The biomancers work for the emperor and they seem to have magical abilities and everyone fears them. I can see why since their testing wiped out the entire village occupants. Hope was the only survivor and gets rescued by a Vinchen warrior and taken back to live with him at the monastery. While not everyone at the monastery was open to a woman living in their presence, she lives there for several years and secretly trains to be a warrior with the man who rescued her. This is a big rule breaker, and she eventually leaves when things get bad at the monastery. She then starts her new journey on the sea and meets quite a few interesting people along her way.
Then we have Red, a young man that lost his family at a young age and basically raised himself on the streets with some local thieves. It doesn't take long before Red and his thief friend take control of a boat and decide to become pirates. They don't hold back, and start off by taking from the rich, then move on to cargo ships. I kept hoping that Red's path would cross Hope at some point while he and his crew were pirates, but that didn't happen. However, their paths do cross later in the story and that's when I felt the story take off at a quicker pace. There's more action when they team up which I enjoyed. Hope is a well-trained warrior, and with Red by her side they handle the trouble that comes their way easily.
Hope and Red turned out to be an addicting story that had me rooting for both of the main characters. I'm honestly not sure which character I enjoyed more, Hope or Red. They're both fleshed out well, and have a tinge of sadness from their childhood that shaped the way they've become. There wasn't a ton of biomancer scenes but have a feeling they will be more present in the next book. If you're a fan of the fantasy genre, I'd suggest you pick this one up.
We start off meeting Bleak Hope (aka Hope) as a child, her village was destroyed by biomancers testing their latest experiment. The biomancers work for the emperor and they seem to have magical abilities and everyone fears them. I can see why since their testing wiped out the entire village occupants. Hope was the only survivor and gets rescued by a Vinchen warrior and taken back to live with him at the monastery. While not everyone at the monastery was open to a woman living in their presence, she lives there for several years and secretly trains to be a warrior with the man who rescued her. This is a big rule breaker, and she eventually leaves when things get bad at the monastery. She then starts her new journey on the sea and meets quite a few interesting people along her way.
Then we have Red, a young man that lost his family at a young age and basically raised himself on the streets with some local thieves. It doesn't take long before Red and his thief friend take control of a boat and decide to become pirates. They don't hold back, and start off by taking from the rich, then move on to cargo ships. I kept hoping that Red's path would cross Hope at some point while he and his crew were pirates, but that didn't happen. However, their paths do cross later in the story and that's when I felt the story take off at a quicker pace. There's more action when they team up which I enjoyed. Hope is a well-trained warrior, and with Red by her side they handle the trouble that comes their way easily.
Hope and Red turned out to be an addicting story that had me rooting for both of the main characters. I'm honestly not sure which character I enjoyed more, Hope or Red. They're both fleshed out well, and have a tinge of sadness from their childhood that shaped the way they've become. There wasn't a ton of biomancer scenes but have a feeling they will be more present in the next book. If you're a fan of the fantasy genre, I'd suggest you pick this one up.
rogue_runner's review against another edition
5.0
I had this recommended to me and didn't think I would actually ever find a copy, but lo and behold, it jumped out at me from the library shelf. And, I'm very glad that it did. Likened to Brent Weeks on the cover, I'd definitely put this in a similar category to the Night Angel trilogy, Sebastien de Castell and Trudi Canavan.
One of the things I love most in books is good characterisation (almost more than plot, sometimes), and this was absolutely rife with it. The characters were all deliciously appealing, and all different in their own ways, no-two quite the same. A really nice ratio of males:females and all with backstory as well, which just adds to my excitement. Backstories weren't thrown in your face multiple times though, growing throughout the story, which was better than chapters removed to explain character development.
The plot has the big ideas of something that's going to develop much further, but the book is inherently focused on the characters and their current lack of knowledge of bigger things. And I like that- I like that it's not focused on the entire world, that we as readers are introduced slowly to the world and the machinations of the characters. There's bigger things to come however, no doubt, with little tidbits of larger plot here and there. Some of the smaller plot parts were fairly easy to predict, but all in all, a very enjoyable read.
One of the things I love most in books is good characterisation (almost more than plot, sometimes), and this was absolutely rife with it. The characters were all deliciously appealing, and all different in their own ways, no-two quite the same. A really nice ratio of males:females and all with backstory as well, which just adds to my excitement. Backstories weren't thrown in your face multiple times though, growing throughout the story, which was better than chapters removed to explain character development.
The plot has the big ideas of something that's going to develop much further, but the book is inherently focused on the characters and their current lack of knowledge of bigger things. And I like that- I like that it's not focused on the entire world, that we as readers are introduced slowly to the world and the machinations of the characters. There's bigger things to come however, no doubt, with little tidbits of larger plot here and there. Some of the smaller plot parts were fairly easy to predict, but all in all, a very enjoyable read.
markyon's review against another edition
4.0
It is one of the maxims of reading generally that readers often like ‘comfort reading’ – I’ve done it myself, where a good immersion into a book when you know the characters, recognise the setting and pretty much know what’s going to happen is seen as a boon.
Hope and Red is a book which, even on first reading, is like that. It may not be particularly original (especially for those of us who have been reading Fantasy for a while), but it is done very well.
To the plot then. Our story focuses on two likeable young people from very different backgrounds. Bleak Hope (aka ‘Hope’) is a young orphaned girl who, contrary to traditional belief, has been brought up under the mentorship of all-male Vinchen monks. Now out in the wider world of New Laven, Hope seeks vengeance on those who murdered her mentor Hurlo and the biomancer that killed her parents and their village.
On this journey, about halfway through the novel, Hope meets Rixidenteron (aka ‘Red’ due to his red eyes from his mother’s coral stone addiction during pregnancy). Another orphan, the rapscallion Red (think Han Solo in a Fantasy setting) has been raised by the formidable Sadie the Goat in a seedy world of cutthroat gangsters and prostitution ironically named Paradise Circle. When the two encounter each other, Red is immediately smitten by this tough but chaste young blonde, though her reaction to Red is initially distaste.
Together, they… well, you probably can work out the story from this point. There’s pirates, taverns, evil magic, bad guys you can dislike and likable protagonists you will get to love. There’s a fair bit of nasty icky stuff, inventive swearing and a smattering of sex, but we’re not really into Joe Abercrombie territory.
Their similar yet different backgrounds lead to much confusion and mistaken motives, but ultimately things work out pretty much as you’d hope for.
This was a good immersive read. As characters, Hope and Red are easily recognisable, which means that you don’t have to worry too much about their motives and actions. Their reasons are just and true, their emotions understandable and there’s only the occasional coincidence or leap of logic. It’s a revenge tale, a romance and a story of coming of age by two characters with difficult upbringings. At times this can become a little wearing – Hope is often seemingly unbeatable in a fight, which, although shown in inventive ways, makes the outcome at times a little predictable – but the author does well to make sure that she has weaknesses, she makes mistakes and her dilemmas are well considered.
The supporting characters – mainly friends and family of Red – are nicely done too, each different and bringing much needed different perspectives to the tale. An element of invented slang – posh folk are ‘lacies’, young men are ‘toms’, young girls are ‘molly’s’ and things that are crazy are ‘slippy’, for example – helps to also add a certain complexity, though not too much, to draw you away from the main plot. (There’s also a rather amusing glossary of terms at the back of the book written by one of the characters to explain these.)
The world settings of the novel give us glimpses of the variety of places in New Laven, from the dodgy docks and dangerous oceans to the seedy pits of the Circle and the refined, yet sterile environment of Keystown, it is clear that New Laven is bigger than as it first appears. The bigger political picture, the role of the Emperor and his Imperial forces around the world, are developed occasionally along the way but are clearly destined to unfold in a later novel.
The ending is however more of a cliff hanger than a proper conclusion of sorts, but this is the trend these days. Nevertheless, there’s enough closure to feel that the reader’s time hasn’t been wasted, and it does leave some intriguing developments in the plot to be developed in later books.
In summary, Hope and Red is a great fantasy romp, with a tale that you’ll enjoy, even when you know how it’ll go. As the first part of a series it does well what the first book should do, introducing us to people we care about and places we’d like to more of. The characterisation’s good, the setting’s appropriate and the story moves along at an admirable pace.
If it was one of your first Fantasy reads I can see it becoming a firm favourite, whereas us older readers can enjoy the energy and the old-school enthusiasm therein. Good fun.
Hope and Red is a book which, even on first reading, is like that. It may not be particularly original (especially for those of us who have been reading Fantasy for a while), but it is done very well.
To the plot then. Our story focuses on two likeable young people from very different backgrounds. Bleak Hope (aka ‘Hope’) is a young orphaned girl who, contrary to traditional belief, has been brought up under the mentorship of all-male Vinchen monks. Now out in the wider world of New Laven, Hope seeks vengeance on those who murdered her mentor Hurlo and the biomancer that killed her parents and their village.
On this journey, about halfway through the novel, Hope meets Rixidenteron (aka ‘Red’ due to his red eyes from his mother’s coral stone addiction during pregnancy). Another orphan, the rapscallion Red (think Han Solo in a Fantasy setting) has been raised by the formidable Sadie the Goat in a seedy world of cutthroat gangsters and prostitution ironically named Paradise Circle. When the two encounter each other, Red is immediately smitten by this tough but chaste young blonde, though her reaction to Red is initially distaste.
Together, they… well, you probably can work out the story from this point. There’s pirates, taverns, evil magic, bad guys you can dislike and likable protagonists you will get to love. There’s a fair bit of nasty icky stuff, inventive swearing and a smattering of sex, but we’re not really into Joe Abercrombie territory.
Their similar yet different backgrounds lead to much confusion and mistaken motives, but ultimately things work out pretty much as you’d hope for.
This was a good immersive read. As characters, Hope and Red are easily recognisable, which means that you don’t have to worry too much about their motives and actions. Their reasons are just and true, their emotions understandable and there’s only the occasional coincidence or leap of logic. It’s a revenge tale, a romance and a story of coming of age by two characters with difficult upbringings. At times this can become a little wearing – Hope is often seemingly unbeatable in a fight, which, although shown in inventive ways, makes the outcome at times a little predictable – but the author does well to make sure that she has weaknesses, she makes mistakes and her dilemmas are well considered.
The supporting characters – mainly friends and family of Red – are nicely done too, each different and bringing much needed different perspectives to the tale. An element of invented slang – posh folk are ‘lacies’, young men are ‘toms’, young girls are ‘molly’s’ and things that are crazy are ‘slippy’, for example – helps to also add a certain complexity, though not too much, to draw you away from the main plot. (There’s also a rather amusing glossary of terms at the back of the book written by one of the characters to explain these.)
The world settings of the novel give us glimpses of the variety of places in New Laven, from the dodgy docks and dangerous oceans to the seedy pits of the Circle and the refined, yet sterile environment of Keystown, it is clear that New Laven is bigger than as it first appears. The bigger political picture, the role of the Emperor and his Imperial forces around the world, are developed occasionally along the way but are clearly destined to unfold in a later novel.
The ending is however more of a cliff hanger than a proper conclusion of sorts, but this is the trend these days. Nevertheless, there’s enough closure to feel that the reader’s time hasn’t been wasted, and it does leave some intriguing developments in the plot to be developed in later books.
In summary, Hope and Red is a great fantasy romp, with a tale that you’ll enjoy, even when you know how it’ll go. As the first part of a series it does well what the first book should do, introducing us to people we care about and places we’d like to more of. The characterisation’s good, the setting’s appropriate and the story moves along at an admirable pace.
If it was one of your first Fantasy reads I can see it becoming a firm favourite, whereas us older readers can enjoy the energy and the old-school enthusiasm therein. Good fun.
dennerys's review against another edition
5.0
Und jetzt wieder dieses nervige "Wann erscheint endlich die Fortsetzung" :(
maureensbooks89's review against another edition
5.0
It’s been a while since I last read a fantasy novel. So when I received ‘Hope and Red’ and read where it was about I was immediately interested in reading this one. The story sounded very interesting and I really liked the cover. So as fast as I could, I started reading.
‘Hope and Red’ is a very good book. Right from the very first page I was hooked to the story and the different characters. The writing is very easy to read, and very intriguing. Jon Skovron definitely has a way of writing that makes you sit on the edge of your seat. And I loved this book from the beginning till the very end.
Although this book is quiet long, I never felt like I was reading a long book. I was completely pulled into the world of Hope and Red, and I could have read even more pages if this book was any longer.
The most impressive part about this book to me, where the characters. We have the two main characters Hope and Red, but we also have some other characters that play an important part in this book. And all these characters were fun to read about. There was Grandteacher Hurlo, Captain Carmichael, Sadie the Goat and many more. I loved these characters and their stories.
Hope and Red meet each other a bit farther into the book. They are different, but there’s one thing that makes them have an immediate bond: vengeance. And their journey together is definitely something you just have to read.
I’ve read it in other reviews, but this book really has a Pirates of the Caribbean kind of feel to it. The sailing, the pirates, the funny characters.. If this book would become a movie.. Johnny Depp definitely needed a part in this one.
This book is by far the best fantasy book I’ve read in a long time and I can’t wait to read the next books in this trilogy. This book definitely gets my recommendation!
‘Hope and Red’ is a very good book. Right from the very first page I was hooked to the story and the different characters. The writing is very easy to read, and very intriguing. Jon Skovron definitely has a way of writing that makes you sit on the edge of your seat. And I loved this book from the beginning till the very end.
Although this book is quiet long, I never felt like I was reading a long book. I was completely pulled into the world of Hope and Red, and I could have read even more pages if this book was any longer.
The most impressive part about this book to me, where the characters. We have the two main characters Hope and Red, but we also have some other characters that play an important part in this book. And all these characters were fun to read about. There was Grandteacher Hurlo, Captain Carmichael, Sadie the Goat and many more. I loved these characters and their stories.
Hope and Red meet each other a bit farther into the book. They are different, but there’s one thing that makes them have an immediate bond: vengeance. And their journey together is definitely something you just have to read.
I’ve read it in other reviews, but this book really has a Pirates of the Caribbean kind of feel to it. The sailing, the pirates, the funny characters.. If this book would become a movie.. Johnny Depp definitely needed a part in this one.
This book is by far the best fantasy book I’ve read in a long time and I can’t wait to read the next books in this trilogy. This book definitely gets my recommendation!
slc333's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this YA fantasy - I particularly like Hope and her code of honor and quest for vengeance. And I really liked it when Red and Hope meet up both in terms of story and action. The only problem is it is at least halfway if not more into the book before that happens. Yes that back stories of Hope and Red (which alternate by chapter up to that point) give a good picture of the characters but I still would have preferred that condensed and them to meet up sooner. My main gripe with the books was all the VERY irritating slang and cursing used by Red and his fellow Paradise Circle inhabitants. A little bit adds color, the extent to which it was used and the amount of unnecessary slang was both distracting and irritating. I mean it was easy enough to figure out what they meant by the context of the statement but still the occasional slang interspersed into regular English would have worked much better. It was really annoying.
frogggirl2's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
On re-read 5 years later, this just as good as I remembered. Great characters and a thrilling, fast-paced, adventurous story with enough grit to make real stakes for the characters. Still 5 stars.
rat_queen's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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? Yes
3.0
l1zardry's review against another edition
3.0
Disclaimer: I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The book is fun and contains some interesting ideas, but they are somewhat poorly executed, the writing and dialogue are extremely contrived. Characters and world are underdeveloped and fall victim to several overused tropes.
Read my full review here.
The book is fun and contains some interesting ideas, but they are somewhat poorly executed, the writing and dialogue are extremely contrived. Characters and world are underdeveloped and fall victim to several overused tropes.
Read my full review here.