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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I really enjoyed reading this - even if it at times read like a dystopian ya from 2013, which I guess makes sense given when it was actually written and the fact that it was a debut. That being said, I read the revised edition and thus did not encounter some of the things that people have flagged as being a bit on the problematic side (e.g. language use). It is abundantly clear that even at her debut Samantha Shannon it immensely talented and has a rare gift for world building. I see a lot of potential in the series and can’t wait to read on!
Note (p133): her exposition lacks creativity, subtly (the information dumps as others call them), but the exposition is murky. How do you make straightforward show vs tell convoluted? She overdoes it with some characters, then tries her hand at telling and fails. I need a map for the characters because she treats many of them as though the reader has enough info to keep them straight when we don't. Honestly, I'm not even clear about scion vs raeph and the numa issue (just read that part).
Intrigued, but get a ghostwriter or a real editor for the next one.
Pace picked up, don't ignore the glossary at back (which you won't see in kindle version unless you go to the end and look). She needs to lose the cliches. Lose her crap expository method. Get an editor.
Intrigued, but get a ghostwriter or a real editor for the next one.
Pace picked up, don't ignore the glossary at back (which you won't see in kindle version unless you go to the end and look). She needs to lose the cliches. Lose her crap expository method. Get an editor.
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Reading some of the other reviews of this book is such a mixed bag, as some are for the original version and some are for the revised version. I haven't read the original so I don't know how different it it and if that did affect some ratings, but I read the new version and I loved it.
I read this one physically and it did take a while as long fantasy books tend to do (and also the font is tiny) but I loved every minute I was in this world. I was so absorbed in the setting, the atmosphere, the characters and the politics of this story.
I've had the original edition sitting on my shelves for 9 years and never got to it, but I'm actually glad I put it off and picked it the new version instead. I'll be ordering the others soon and can't wait to continue.
Also these new covers are stunning!
I read this one physically and it did take a while as long fantasy books tend to do (and also the font is tiny) but I loved every minute I was in this world. I was so absorbed in the setting, the atmosphere, the characters and the politics of this story.
I've had the original edition sitting on my shelves for 9 years and never got to it, but I'm actually glad I put it off and picked it the new version instead. I'll be ordering the others soon and can't wait to continue.
Also these new covers are stunning!
Was not holding my attention. Read YA. Writing felt very unpolished compared to Priory of The Orange Tree and A Day of Fallen Night
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-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
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I tried reading this book a few years ago and couldn't get into it, but this 10th anniversary edition with the extensive rewriting by the author seems to have given it the magic it needed!
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Forstod ikke universet. Alt for komplekst og hovedperson gav ikke mening.