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mxsallybend's review against another edition
5.0
I had the great pleasure of being a beta reader for Red Tide, the third book of The Chronicles of the Exile, and I can honestly say it is Marc Turner's best book yet.
Taking place almost immediately on the heels of Dragon Hunters, this is a story that reaches back to connect with some of the characters and stories of When the Heavens Fall. It's the book in the series where everything begins to come together, and where we begin to see hints of the bigger picture into which all the pieces will eventually fit.
My first impression of Red Tide was that it's a more human tale, less about gods and monsters than first two books, which fits with the conflict at the heart of the story. I went into it being most excited by Romany's return, but I ended up looking forward to the stories of Amerel Duquy and Galantas Galair the most. For me, they were the heart of the book. As for Karmel and Caval, if you thought they had personal issues between them in the last book, those conflicts really come to a head here, both in terms of faith and family. Initially, I didn't like them as much here, finding their scenes a bit dry and impersonal, but looking back I can see how that was just me getting caught up in their tensions.
Commander Eremo, leader of the Augeran expeditionary force, really intrigued me. Here is a man who puts an interesting face on 'the enemy' for the reader, humanizing them, even as he reveals the depths of Augeran viciousness. As for Hex, he may be the most chilling, most amusing, most consistently entertaining secondary character I've come across in quite some time. I just smiled every time he stepped onto the page. His confrontations are incredibly intense, with so much drama and so much danger wrapped up in his dream magic. If I had one character complaint, it's that we don't get to see enough of Mazana this time around, but what we do see really makes me want more.
The use of magic here was absolutely stunning, both in terms of dream magic and Will. More importantly, it isn't just cool, flashy bits to dazzle a reader - it has substance, is integral to the plot, and serves to both support and move the story along. Some of the best magic in the series comes in the ship-to-ship battles with the stone skins, revealing magic to be a legitimate weapon as well as a useful tool. Without giving anything away, the attempt to jump Liar's passage was fantastic, while the shattering of a simple the waterglobe has spectacular consequences.
Pacing wise, this was a pretty even book. The first chapters are a bit slow, but there are a lot of characters to bring together, and several story lines (both new and existing) to connect. Once the story hits the half-way mark, with an underwater flight through the Dragon Boneyard, it just barrels along, carrying the reader with it. In terms of narrative, it's a smoother book as well, with cleaner transitions between scenes and points-of-view that just flow better, giving the story a truly seamless feel.
Finally, while readers know that death is rarely what it seems in the genre, and isn't always as final as it appears, I like that there were consequences to the story. There are stories and character arcs that seem to come to an end in Red Tide, and I'm entirely satisfied with how they were resolved, even if I'm hoping one or two aren't quite done. For a series that has just gotten stronger and more entertaining with each installment, Turner has set the bar high for a fourth novel . . . and I cannot wait to see what it brings.
Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins
Taking place almost immediately on the heels of Dragon Hunters, this is a story that reaches back to connect with some of the characters and stories of When the Heavens Fall. It's the book in the series where everything begins to come together, and where we begin to see hints of the bigger picture into which all the pieces will eventually fit.
My first impression of Red Tide was that it's a more human tale, less about gods and monsters than first two books, which fits with the conflict at the heart of the story. I went into it being most excited by Romany's return, but I ended up looking forward to the stories of Amerel Duquy and Galantas Galair the most. For me, they were the heart of the book. As for Karmel and Caval, if you thought they had personal issues between them in the last book, those conflicts really come to a head here, both in terms of faith and family. Initially, I didn't like them as much here, finding their scenes a bit dry and impersonal, but looking back I can see how that was just me getting caught up in their tensions.
Commander Eremo, leader of the Augeran expeditionary force, really intrigued me. Here is a man who puts an interesting face on 'the enemy' for the reader, humanizing them, even as he reveals the depths of Augeran viciousness. As for Hex, he may be the most chilling, most amusing, most consistently entertaining secondary character I've come across in quite some time. I just smiled every time he stepped onto the page. His confrontations are incredibly intense, with so much drama and so much danger wrapped up in his dream magic. If I had one character complaint, it's that we don't get to see enough of Mazana this time around, but what we do see really makes me want more.
The use of magic here was absolutely stunning, both in terms of dream magic and Will. More importantly, it isn't just cool, flashy bits to dazzle a reader - it has substance, is integral to the plot, and serves to both support and move the story along. Some of the best magic in the series comes in the ship-to-ship battles with the stone skins, revealing magic to be a legitimate weapon as well as a useful tool. Without giving anything away, the attempt to jump Liar's passage was fantastic, while the shattering of a simple the waterglobe has spectacular consequences.
Pacing wise, this was a pretty even book. The first chapters are a bit slow, but there are a lot of characters to bring together, and several story lines (both new and existing) to connect. Once the story hits the half-way mark, with an underwater flight through the Dragon Boneyard, it just barrels along, carrying the reader with it. In terms of narrative, it's a smoother book as well, with cleaner transitions between scenes and points-of-view that just flow better, giving the story a truly seamless feel.
Finally, while readers know that death is rarely what it seems in the genre, and isn't always as final as it appears, I like that there were consequences to the story. There are stories and character arcs that seem to come to an end in Red Tide, and I'm entirely satisfied with how they were resolved, even if I'm hoping one or two aren't quite done. For a series that has just gotten stronger and more entertaining with each installment, Turner has set the bar high for a fourth novel . . . and I cannot wait to see what it brings.
Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary ARC of this title from the author as part of a beta read opportunity. This does not in any way affect the honesty or sincerity of my review.
lauregul's review
5.0
In [b:Red Tide|31866364|Red Tide (The Chronicles of the Exile, #3)|Marc Turner|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1473262512l/31866364._SY75_.jpg|48249525] führt [a:Marc Turner|8531097|Marc Turner|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1415712728p2/8531097.jpg] die Handlungsstränge der beiden vorherigen Bücher zusammen. Alte Charaktere, die zuvor nie zusammen auf einer Buchseite vorkamen, treffen aufeinander und das Spiel der Göttin Spider geht in die nächste Runde, während die Augeraner Erin Elal bedrohen. Die Welt von The Chronicles of the Exile wird hier noch weiter ausgeführt, denn die Handlung findet in einer neuen Gegend statt und erstmals treten die Augeraner überhaupt derart direkt auf den Spielplan.
Wo mich [b:Dragon Hunters|28792440|Dragon Hunters (The Chronicles of the Exile, #2)|Marc Turner|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1453986403l/28792440._SY75_.jpg|45481233] etwas enttäuscht hat, liefert dieser Teil wieder voll ab. Die besten Charaktere der beiden vorherigen Bücher kämpfen gemeinsam ums Überleben und auch die Handlung macht wieder mächtig Laune. Diese ist ein Mix der dauerhaften Action des ersten Buchs und der Intrigen des zweiten Teils. Es fühlte sich beim Lesen beinahe so an, als wären die beiden vorherigen Bücher nur eine Vorbereitung für [b:Red Tide|31866364|Red Tide (The Chronicles of the Exile, #3)|Marc Turner|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1473262512l/31866364._SY75_.jpg|48249525] gewesen – und das obwohl beide super als Einzelbücher funktionieren.
Insgesamt ist [b:Red Tide|31866364|Red Tide (The Chronicles of the Exile, #3)|Marc Turner|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1473262512l/31866364._SY75_.jpg|48249525] ein sehr gutes Buch und ein phänomenaler dritter Teil der Reihe. Gerade hinsichtlich der Augeraner wurde mein Interesse für weitere Bücher geweckt. Ich werde gespannt auf eine Fortsetzung warten, die hoffentlich (bald) erscheint.
Wo mich [b:Dragon Hunters|28792440|Dragon Hunters (The Chronicles of the Exile, #2)|Marc Turner|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1453986403l/28792440._SY75_.jpg|45481233] etwas enttäuscht hat, liefert dieser Teil wieder voll ab. Die besten Charaktere der beiden vorherigen Bücher kämpfen gemeinsam ums Überleben und auch die Handlung macht wieder mächtig Laune. Diese ist ein Mix der dauerhaften Action des ersten Buchs und der Intrigen des zweiten Teils. Es fühlte sich beim Lesen beinahe so an, als wären die beiden vorherigen Bücher nur eine Vorbereitung für [b:Red Tide|31866364|Red Tide (The Chronicles of the Exile, #3)|Marc Turner|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1473262512l/31866364._SY75_.jpg|48249525] gewesen – und das obwohl beide super als Einzelbücher funktionieren.
Insgesamt ist [b:Red Tide|31866364|Red Tide (The Chronicles of the Exile, #3)|Marc Turner|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1473262512l/31866364._SY75_.jpg|48249525] ein sehr gutes Buch und ein phänomenaler dritter Teil der Reihe. Gerade hinsichtlich der Augeraner wurde mein Interesse für weitere Bücher geweckt. Ich werde gespannt auf eine Fortsetzung warten, die hoffentlich (bald) erscheint.
reliures's review
5.0
I sincerely hope Marc Turner will continue this series one day, because The Chronicles of the Exile has become one of my favourite book series ever. The world building is just phenomenal, each culture and characters are super detailed but rather than being written in a dumping info kind of way, it's done bit by bit, giving these novels a very slow burn atmosphere. Everything is just incredible rich and diverse with a real originality and complexity to it.
I love the way he plotted each book, with the different characters starting their own stories separately then everything coming together in such an organic way.
embem28's review
5.0
Great to read the next step in the story. I admit it wasn't as gripping as the first two but definitely got more into it as I moved through the book. I can't wait for the next part of the story!
gregg's review
3.0
I had to wait until the price came down for me to get this and I was looking forward to seeing how it would end. I get to the last third of the book and then I can start tell there will need to be another book or more to finish this story. I enjoyed When the Heavens Fall and Dragon Hunters. I enjoyed Red Tide as well. Could do with a little of some of those elements that make it so great to read. You start to feel like oh no more dark and troubling insights into the human condition. Still I will want to read more if and when the next book comes around. Doesn't appear another book coming in this series
kitschbitsch's review
4.0
Apparently this is, or was supposed to be, the third in a six book series. I can’t find any trace of the rest anywhere. This is a crying shame as this is a bloody good book and there’s enough threads (see what I did there) left hanging for this to be severely annoying.
vinayvasan's review
4.0
What a bloody brilliant ambitious book and series. Marc Turner's the Chronicles of the Exile series could be the modern day Malazan. Given the set up through the previous 2 disparate books, he draws the strings together here by bringing back some of the characters from each of the previous books while introducing new ones and at the same time finally revealing the emperor who has pulling the strings silently in the background
Picking up almost immediately where book 2 ends (some might even say book 1), Turner spends sometime drawing the veil back on another part of the world and a new set of characters there as well as the associated politics, backstabbing and family issues. Into this simmering cauldron, our surviving characters from book 2 (and book 1) are introduced. Till around 30% of the book goes into the set up, following which things explode and go out of hand badly for everyone. Limits are pushed, lines are crossed and the reckoning is spectacular
Some of the threads are pretty cool to follow esp the book 2 characters. Where the book falters a bit is with respect to the return of book 1 characters. The storyline wasnt as compelling as some of the others and takes a bit of the narrative momentum away. But like with most things, Turner seems to be playing the long game and some of the actions and alliances formed here are likely to be significant (One can only hope)
Epic, gritty, ambitious, Red Tide is an exciting entry into the series and Chronicles of the Exile truly has the potential to be a modern day great fantasy series
Picking up almost immediately where book 2 ends (some might even say book 1), Turner spends sometime drawing the veil back on another part of the world and a new set of characters there as well as the associated politics, backstabbing and family issues. Into this simmering cauldron, our surviving characters from book 2 (and book 1) are introduced. Till around 30% of the book goes into the set up, following which things explode and go out of hand badly for everyone. Limits are pushed, lines are crossed and the reckoning is spectacular
Some of the threads are pretty cool to follow esp the book 2 characters. Where the book falters a bit is with respect to the return of book 1 characters. The storyline wasnt as compelling as some of the others and takes a bit of the narrative momentum away. But like with most things, Turner seems to be playing the long game and some of the actions and alliances formed here are likely to be significant (One can only hope)
Epic, gritty, ambitious, Red Tide is an exciting entry into the series and Chronicles of the Exile truly has the potential to be a modern day great fantasy series
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