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thomgeg's review
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Despite being a tie-in book to a popular trading card game, The Thran actually has some standalone value. It touches on themes around dictatorships/totalitarianism with the main character abusing the outbreak of a magical disease to justify accruing political power . Ultimately however it never truly ascends beyond a tie-in book, as its purpose is to establish the backstory of the universe's big bad. I therefore still wouldn't recommend it to non-MTG players as there are presumably a plethora of other books out there that do a better job exploring the themes.
If you're an MTG fan looking to get into the lore but only want to read one book, make it The Thran. If you're willing to read two, read The Brothers War and then The Thran.
If you're an MTG fan looking to get into the lore but only want to read one book, make it The Thran. If you're willing to read two, read The Brothers War and then The Thran.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pandemic/Epidemic, Body horror, Toxic relationship, Chronic illness, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Violence, War, Terminal illness, Torture, and Cancer
superintendantchoamers's review
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Ultimately a fairly long-winded prequel, considering this story has one antagonist mostly just being terrible to people and ascending to godhood. Kind of surprised that it's one of the more highly rated MtG books. Yikes, what am I in for next?
sweetling_468's review
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
23harryb's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
ferzemkhan's review
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-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? Yes
4.0
A genius undone by his pride and fate.
A woman torn by her virtue of seeking the best in everyone and betrayed by her own love.
A man with faults led by his ambition to become a tyrant with little remnant of humanity left.
Just based on the premise, this book should be a masterpiece in tragedy. The story is not just one of the best MtG stories, but one of the best fantasy stories. But what is supposed to be an exploration of the fantastic lore is severely tempered by an average prose by J Robert King. The prose is passable at best and just plain bad at worst, especially when it comes to writing Rebbec. In fact, every other scene with Rebbec is befit of the honor of being posted on r/menwritingwomen. And yet, despite the writing ability, this still remains an incredibly compelling story with multidimensional characters and a world with layers of depth.
A woman torn by her virtue of seeking the best in everyone and betrayed by her own love.
A man with faults led by his ambition to become a tyrant with little remnant of humanity left.
Just based on the premise, this book should be a masterpiece in tragedy. The story is not just one of the best MtG stories, but one of the best fantasy stories. But what is supposed to be an exploration of the fantastic lore is severely tempered by an average prose by J Robert King. The prose is passable at best and just plain bad at worst, especially when it comes to writing Rebbec. In fact, every other scene with Rebbec is befit of the honor of being posted on r/menwritingwomen. And yet, despite the writing ability, this still remains an incredibly compelling story with multidimensional characters and a world with layers of depth.
nairijan's review
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
marthisuy's review
3.0
Si bien no deja de ser un libro escrito para vendernos cartas es un libro que disfrute un montón. Hace años que quiero conocer bien el lore de Magic y disfrute mucho este librito.
Muy recomendado para quien quiera conocer más de la historia de Domaria!
Muy recomendado para quien quiera conocer más de la historia de Domaria!
drbillbongo's review
adventurous
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
cati's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
I don't think this Yawgmoth guy is up to any good.
Seriously, I didn't enjoy reading this book. It was easy to read, but I didn't like the way the author described things. I guess I expected too much from a book based around a card game from the 90s.
Seriously, I didn't enjoy reading this book. It was easy to read, but I didn't like the way the author described things. I guess I expected too much from a book based around a card game from the 90s.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gore, Violence, and War