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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
So, just finished this first trilogy and... this was tough. The world building is very compelling. The characters are, universally, terrible people... but in interesting ways.
I was unprepared for the volume of sexual violence here, though. There's a lot. Just so very, _very_ much of it. Nearly every character in these books is involved in some form.
If it weren't for that, this would be a 4-star trilogy for me. As it is, I won't be reading further into the series or author.
I was unprepared for the volume of sexual violence here, though. There's a lot. Just so very, _very_ much of it. Nearly every character in these books is involved in some form.
If it weren't for that, this would be a 4-star trilogy for me. As it is, I won't be reading further into the series or author.
challenging
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
There's so much to like here. The plot (although it's mostly setup) is pretty interesting and engaging. The worldbuilding is detailed and intricate. The characters are all pretty decent.
I'd say if you like bleak then this book is for you. Every character, every description, every page almost is steeped in this sense of apocalyptic dread. The world is cruel, bloody and generally just pretty awful. This is not a fantasy world you'd ever want to visit.
The machinations of the main villains are great and sort of explicitly written for me. I adore intricately complicated political plans that are sort of petty. The power plays are great.
I have issues with the way female characters are written but in the case of Esmenet I'm not sure if its just the beginning of her arc or not. She has a really interesting initial set of POVs that set it up and then she sort of stops thinking about it which is weird. But if this book is (and I suspect it is considering how it sort of just stops) similar to Lord of the Rings or The First Law in that it's one super big book cut into three then I have hope.
crazy to me that he gave Kellhus a POV when so much of the drama relies on whether or not he's acting in bad faith or not. Kind of takes away from that drama when Cnairs view that he's pretty much so pragmatic and logical he's evil is pretty much true as his internal monologue proves it
I'd say if you like bleak then this book is for you. Every character, every description, every page almost is steeped in this sense of apocalyptic dread. The world is cruel, bloody and generally just pretty awful. This is not a fantasy world you'd ever want to visit.
The machinations of the main villains are great and sort of explicitly written for me. I adore intricately complicated political plans that are sort of petty. The power plays are great.
I have issues with the way female characters are written but in the case of Esmenet I'm not sure if its just the beginning of her arc or not. She has a really interesting initial set of POVs that set it up and then she sort of stops thinking about it which is weird. But if this book is (and I suspect it is considering how it sort of just stops) similar to Lord of the Rings or The First Law in that it's one super big book cut into three then I have hope.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Gore, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Murder, Abandonment, War, Injury/Injury detail
Very interesting book. But sadly, for me, it was just interesting and not riveting.
I have heard this book be described as philosophical or even metaphysical. This is probably true. This book goes far beyond what other works would do to explain the inner workings of individual characters or even all of mankind. I quite enjoyed that.
The story is very well thought out. Interactions between different cultures and mindsets are handled with surety that speaks of a well fleshed out world. Political intrigue is ever present, even tho not to a point where you have to keep a pinboard to connect all the dots. In other fantasy books battle-scenes are the highlight of the part or chapter. Here it is debates and discussions. At one point in the last few chapters of the book i was on the edge of my seat because of a potentially game-changing debate. Also, over the course of the book the ominous feeling of looming catastrophe will get more and more intensive, even tho it is only vaguely hinted at.
One of the problems i have with the book is that half of the POV's feel inconsequential or even unimportant. This may or may not be set-up for the upcoming two books but still...
All in all a VERY interesting read, but it lacks that special something that makes me burn trough the pages. I am looking forward to see how the series evolves over the next few books.
I have heard this book be described as philosophical or even metaphysical. This is probably true. This book goes far beyond what other works would do to explain the inner workings of individual characters or even all of mankind. I quite enjoyed that.
The story is very well thought out. Interactions between different cultures and mindsets are handled with surety that speaks of a well fleshed out world. Political intrigue is ever present, even tho not to a point where you have to keep a pinboard to connect all the dots. In other fantasy books battle-scenes are the highlight of the part or chapter. Here it is debates and discussions. At one point in the last few chapters of the book i was on the edge of my seat because of a potentially game-changing debate. Also, over the course of the book the ominous feeling of looming catastrophe will get more and more intensive, even tho it is only vaguely hinted at.
One of the problems i have with the book is that half of the POV's feel inconsequential or even unimportant. This may or may not be set-up for the upcoming two books but still...
All in all a VERY interesting read, but it lacks that special something that makes me burn trough the pages. I am looking forward to see how the series evolves over the next few books.
dark
mysterious
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
dark
slow-paced
Some caveats for those interested in the series:
*Dark as hell
*The start is rather jarring with so many names, factions, groups, religions, etc. Not until chapter 4 all the pieces on the board start to make sense and the main thrust of the plot gets set up
*All the female characters fall under the some type of sexual umbrella. They're all still, more or less, developed characters but I wished to see more character variety and 'range'. I understand that in such a grim and patriarchal world the role of women invariably gets narrowed down to their sexuality, but still... more diversification would be something I'd have appreciated.
*This is a dense book. For those looking for a light, fast paced read then I would recommend to look somewhere else.
Past all this, this is an excellent read. This is the type of fantasy that I like with a huge sprawling world far detached from all the Tolkien-esque conventions and tropes of the genre, fantastic prose, characters well developed and the philosophy and themes are presented in an unobtrusive way that doesn't cut the flow of the plot.
*Dark as hell
*The start is rather jarring with so many names, factions, groups, religions, etc. Not until chapter 4 all the pieces on the board start to make sense and the main thrust of the plot gets set up
*All the female characters fall under the some type of sexual umbrella. They're all still, more or less, developed characters but I wished to see more character variety and 'range'. I understand that in such a grim and patriarchal world the role of women invariably gets narrowed down to their sexuality, but still... more diversification would be something I'd have appreciated.
*This is a dense book. For those looking for a light, fast paced read then I would recommend to look somewhere else.
Past all this, this is an excellent read. This is the type of fantasy that I like with a huge sprawling world far detached from all the Tolkien-esque conventions and tropes of the genre, fantastic prose, characters well developed and the philosophy and themes are presented in an unobtrusive way that doesn't cut the flow of the plot.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-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
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No