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4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I feel like this book, for me, was trying to accomplish a lot, and I think it did what it was trying to do, just not as well as it was trying to do it. I'm not used to reading like hardcore fantasy ass fantasy, and this was, I think, a solid entry point with some minor flaws.
I feel like the biggest problem with this book is the back 15ish percent. There is a scene that is a bit odd, and maybe from there I just felt off from the rest of the book. Also, I will be 100% honest, I needed to go back through the back end a couple of times to understand exactly what was happening. Not bad, but still confusing from here and there.
I enjoyed pretty much all of the characters from this book. No one specifically stood out to me as annoying; my only major problem with this book falls pretty squarely on "the villain." While they did seem threatening, they didn't really sell well or work for me.
MC is an absolute (feckin) delight, loved his friendship with the other loose MC, even though I wish there was a stronger showing of friendship between the two of them besides the ones at the very end. This was kinda sold to me as found family, and tbh I just don't see that. it's more like a scratch and claw for survival, and using anyone around you that you can.
Overall pretty solid, and the narrator was pretty decent to even if it took me a hour or so to get used to it.
I feel like the biggest problem with this book is the back 15ish percent. There is a scene that is a bit odd, and maybe from there I just felt off from the rest of the book. Also, I will be 100% honest, I needed to go back through the back end a couple of times to understand exactly what was happening. Not bad, but still confusing from here and there.
I enjoyed pretty much all of the characters from this book. No one specifically stood out to me as annoying; my only major problem with this book falls pretty squarely on "the villain." While they did seem threatening, they didn't really sell well or work for me.
MC is an absolute (feckin) delight, loved his friendship with the other loose MC, even though I wish there was a stronger showing of friendship between the two of them besides the ones at the very end. This was kinda sold to me as found family, and tbh I just don't see that. it's more like a scratch and claw for survival, and using anyone around you that you can.
Overall pretty solid, and the narrator was pretty decent to even if it took me a hour or so to get used to it.
adventurous
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I like it, I love it, I want some more of it.
This is my third Buehlman book this year and it just keeps getting better!
This is what I’ve been missing from my life. A good old fashioned tale of adventuring across the world, but it’s often grim and hilarious. What a difficult feat to pull off but the author works it well. The protag is reminiscent of The Lesser Dead in that it’s first person and the character is quick and witty.
World building can be so tricky. Most of the time I am bored to DEATH by long-winded scribes who really do mean well but bog their stories down so much. Not here*. It’s all sewn together so seamlessly.
*Ok the chapter that was almost an entire game of Towers did streeeetch my interest in the minutiae of a world. I usually abhor books that make up their own game and then EXPLAIN THE WHOLE THING TO YOU. But to be fair it was just that chapter and over. Hurrah.
I like that there’s magic and I don’t have to know the EXACT WAY IT WORKS. That’s another problem I have in mega world-buildy books. It’s fine sometimes, but occasionally it’s OK that I don’t know the exact thermodynamics at play.
My highest praise for a book is when it doesn’t liiiiinger forever in a particular place. Like almost any scene that takes place in a desert is 30 pages too long in any other book. It’s like, we get it, it’s hot and there’s a sandstorm coming, let’s get to the secret waterfall hideout already!!! The Blacktongue Thief moves at a wonderfully brisk pace but that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty of time given to character and drama. It’s so well paced and nothing suffers or is sacrificed.
I can’t wait for the next installment. One of my favs this year.
This is my third Buehlman book this year and it just keeps getting better!
This is what I’ve been missing from my life. A good old fashioned tale of adventuring across the world, but it’s often grim and hilarious. What a difficult feat to pull off but the author works it well. The protag is reminiscent of The Lesser Dead in that it’s first person and the character is quick and witty.
World building can be so tricky. Most of the time I am bored to DEATH by long-winded scribes who really do mean well but bog their stories down so much. Not here*. It’s all sewn together so seamlessly.
*Ok the chapter that was almost an entire game of Towers did streeeetch my interest in the minutiae of a world. I usually abhor books that make up their own game and then EXPLAIN THE WHOLE THING TO YOU. But to be fair it was just that chapter and over. Hurrah.
I like that there’s magic and I don’t have to know the EXACT WAY IT WORKS. That’s another problem I have in mega world-buildy books. It’s fine sometimes, but occasionally it’s OK that I don’t know the exact thermodynamics at play.
My highest praise for a book is when it doesn’t liiiiinger forever in a particular place. Like almost any scene that takes place in a desert is 30 pages too long in any other book. It’s like, we get it, it’s hot and there’s a sandstorm coming, let’s get to the secret waterfall hideout already!!! The Blacktongue Thief moves at a wonderfully brisk pace but that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty of time given to character and drama. It’s so well paced and nothing suffers or is sacrificed.
I can’t wait for the next installment. One of my favs this year.
adventurous
dark
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
fast-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
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
adventurous
funny
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This is my favorite book of the year. The narrator is witty and endearing. The world-building is smooth and natural and not overly complicated. Fast-paced adventures that aren’t predictable. Mostly because you’re so engrossed in the narrative voice and the story that you won’t be wasting time guessing what will happen.
I will force this book on everyone I know.
I will force this book on everyone I know.