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leastsquares's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.0
skycrane's review against another edition
4.0
Another solid entry in the series. If you liked the previous two, then definitely read this one. There's more action than before, and the story takes place over a shorter period of time, making it feel more intense and focused.
I do have one complaint, the reason that I found this book less enjoyable than its prequels. There is a lack of meaningful character interaction throughout. Cheda joins up with the Moonless Host, and I thought this would an interesting moment. Throughout her life she's considered them terrorists, only to later find out that they're her family. Their methods disgust her, especially their complete disregard for human life. Even as recently as the aqueduct attack, Cheda clearly disapproved of the way they sacrifice innocent lives to advance their goals. Obviously now with a blood mage on the loose and the kings hunting her, she has other things to worry about and it might make sense to disregard some principles in the name of expedience. But she does argue with Ihsaq a lot, she just never mentions the fact that she's hated the Moonless Host her whole life. As far as I remember, she never even thinks about it, never acknowledges the contradiction between her actions and her convictions, never stops to realize she's changed her mind.
And that's not the only thing. When Cheda decides to go try to recruit her sister blade maidens to her side, I was really looking forward to the conversations that these characters would have. I thought it would be interesting to see how they interacted. Would they even trust her enough to let her speak? Would they counter her arguments or just dismiss them? Did they have any doubts about the stories the kings told them? Would they be at all open to Cheda's arguments? But we never see any of that. Cheda tries to prove the kings sacrificed the 13th tribe, but things go wrong and they lock her up. Then, after changing their minds for some reason that's never explained, Sumeya and Melis free her and give her a second chance. This time they see the truth, and they go with her. Nobody ever talks about it. These two characters disobeyed orders and risked their lives in order to find the truth, and then abandoned everything they knew in order to do what is right, throwing away every connection with everything they thought was just in order to partner with the people they hate. And they never even talk about it.
There are a few other times like that in the book, when I was expecting characters to confront each other, for them to contest their long-held opposing beliefs, or at least ask each other for the reasons behind their actions, but instead they say nothing. Despite all the other great parts of the book, this really disappointed me. What's the point of having all these interesting characters with diverse personalities and beliefs if they never talk to one other?
I do have one complaint, the reason that I found this book less enjoyable than its prequels. There is a lack of meaningful character interaction throughout. Cheda joins up with the Moonless Host, and I thought this would an interesting moment. Throughout her life she's considered them terrorists, only to later find out that they're her family. Their methods disgust her, especially their complete disregard for human life. Even as recently as the aqueduct attack, Cheda clearly disapproved of the way they sacrifice innocent lives to advance their goals. Obviously now with a blood mage on the loose and the kings hunting her, she has other things to worry about and it might make sense to disregard some principles in the name of expedience. But she does argue with Ihsaq a lot, she just never mentions the fact that she's hated the Moonless Host her whole life. As far as I remember, she never even thinks about it, never acknowledges the contradiction between her actions and her convictions, never stops to realize she's changed her mind.
And that's not the only thing. When Cheda decides to go try to recruit her sister blade maidens to her side, I was really looking forward to the conversations that these characters would have. I thought it would be interesting to see how they interacted. Would they even trust her enough to let her speak? Would they counter her arguments or just dismiss them? Did they have any doubts about the stories the kings told them? Would they be at all open to Cheda's arguments? But we never see any of that. Cheda tries to prove the kings sacrificed the 13th tribe, but things go wrong and they lock her up. Then, after changing their minds for some reason that's never explained, Sumeya and Melis free her and give her a second chance. This time they see the truth, and they go with her. Nobody ever talks about it. These two characters disobeyed orders and risked their lives in order to find the truth, and then abandoned everything they knew in order to do what is right, throwing away every connection with everything they thought was just in order to partner with the people they hate. And they never even talk about it.
There are a few other times like that in the book, when I was expecting characters to confront each other, for them to contest their long-held opposing beliefs, or at least ask each other for the reasons behind their actions, but instead they say nothing. Despite all the other great parts of the book, this really disappointed me. What's the point of having all these interesting characters with diverse personalities and beliefs if they never talk to one other?
soofsaphony's review against another edition
5.0
Just wow. Every new book brings exciting new settings to life and reveals EVEN MORE HIDDEN LAYERS. You will remain floored even in the final 50 pages
coriandercake's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this one better than the last. The plots are starting to follow a pretty formulaic pattern however and I'm starting to wish that some major characters would die. Emre and Ceda have no chemistry.
zacwest's review against another edition
4.0
Consistently entertaining and unpredictable. Continuing the world building behind the Kings is interesting, and the different side-characters didn’t feel hollow. It does feel like the plot is elongated a bit too far, but I don’t mind.
ryan_reads_fantasy's review against another edition
5.0
Easily another winner. Except somehow even crazier as everything begins to unravel. How the ever shifting alliances, and enemies, shift and change like the desert sands, while certain houses of cards start to come tumbling down.
aurora69006's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
htb2050's review against another edition
5.0
The book was quite good from start to finish. It didn't slowdown like the last one. But I just found out that the whole series would be six books. I was under the impression that it was a trilogy.
leeleet's review
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
This remains a great series but as always I feel like it does slow down and drag a little which is the only reason I’m giving it 4 stars instead of 5. Still one of my favorite series by this author.
hallowsun's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
inspiring
mysterious
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? No
5.0