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haven_woodrose's review against another edition
4.0
This book is a subversion of the Chosen One trope. Mathias is the prophesied hero who will save the world of Aldrea from the all-consuming forces of darkness. He’s charismatic, clever, true-hearted, blond, and has both a special sword and a birthmark shaped like Aldrea on his forehead. He has been raised in a remote village by a woman who is more than she seems, and when the call to adventure peals Mathias is more than ready to venture forth and save the world. His best friend, Aaslo, is willng to accompany him for the sake of keeping the Chosen One’s head on his shoulders (both literally and figuratively), but things don’t always go according to plan…
It’s hard to review this novel, since there is an event that occurs within the first five chapters that will completely change your expectations of this book and leave you in the dark. I absolutely will not spoil it, but it’s such a big thing that I’m floundering a bit as I struggle to find something to say.
There is no big romantic subplot in this novel, which is very refreshing. All of the characters are definitely feeling the pressure of the looming apocalypse and have other things on their minds. There is the potential for such a subplot later in the series, but the romantic tension between the characters is so subtle that at the end of the first book I was still in the dark about who might end up with whom.
And the characters! My favorite characters were definitely Teza, the most stubborn fictional woman I have ever had the pleasure of reading, and Aaslo’s horse, who can’t seem to decide between being the dumbest animal alive and far more knowing than a horse has any right to be. This book uses multiple perspectives, but not every character gets a section where their perspective is followed. I especially loved the way the nonhuman characters were written; Kade avoided the worst cliches and her choices as an author felt very refreshing to me.
Overall, this book is definitely high fantasy, but I got the feeling that Kade was very aware of the conventions of the genre and made an effort to either deliberately toy with them or else subvert them entirely. Reading this book felt both familiar and new at the same time; I loved predicting what might happen next in this fantasy plot and then being proven wrong over and over. I will definitely be picking up the next book in this series whenever it is released.
It’s hard to review this novel, since there is an event that occurs within the first five chapters that will completely change your expectations of this book and leave you in the dark. I absolutely will not spoil it, but it’s such a big thing that I’m floundering a bit as I struggle to find something to say.
There is no big romantic subplot in this novel, which is very refreshing. All of the characters are definitely feeling the pressure of the looming apocalypse and have other things on their minds. There is the potential for such a subplot later in the series, but the romantic tension between the characters is so subtle that at the end of the first book I was still in the dark about who might end up with whom.
And the characters! My favorite characters were definitely Teza, the most stubborn fictional woman I have ever had the pleasure of reading, and Aaslo’s horse, who can’t seem to decide between being the dumbest animal alive and far more knowing than a horse has any right to be. This book uses multiple perspectives, but not every character gets a section where their perspective is followed. I especially loved the way the nonhuman characters were written; Kade avoided the worst cliches and her choices as an author felt very refreshing to me.
Overall, this book is definitely high fantasy, but I got the feeling that Kade was very aware of the conventions of the genre and made an effort to either deliberately toy with them or else subvert them entirely. Reading this book felt both familiar and new at the same time; I loved predicting what might happen next in this fantasy plot and then being proven wrong over and over. I will definitely be picking up the next book in this series whenever it is released.
itabar's review against another edition
5.0
Well, this went places I didn't expect. Well done. But damn, I hate waiting for the next books!
Also, a nice cast of engaging likable characters.
Also, a nice cast of engaging likable characters.
allieeveryday's review against another edition
3.0
I love it when books end right in the middle of the story!!! But I should have known, I mean it's practically a law that all fantasy books have to be part of a series... sigh. And of course the next one isn't out yet, which also seems to be law with these things.
I was pretty entertained by this story - it flips the Chosen One narrative, if not on its head, then at least kind of sideways. Matthias and Aaslo are BFFs, and when Matthias finds out he's the Chosen One, prophesied to save what looks like Europe but is named something else, he sets out to save Not-Europe, and immediately gets attacked by monsters and dies. (This is not a spoiler.) Aaslo followed Matthias just in time to see him die, and takes up his mantle instead. Everyone proceeds to tell Aaslo it's a fool's errand, everyone is doomed, might as well lay down and wait. Aaslo doesn't like doing nothing.
Other than it ending in the middle of a bunch of action, this was action-packed and full of interesting characters that were fleshed out well. I stayed engaged with it the whole time. Particularly liked Aaslo's admissions that he's just bumbling along most of the time because he doesn't know how to save anyone, but might as well try. I LOVED Teza and Peck and Mory, and also came to really like Myropa. Great characterizations.
But again, it's not outside the realm of possibility for a fantasy novel to be like, 700 pages, so whyyyyy stop therrrrrrre.
3.5 stars.
I was pretty entertained by this story - it flips the Chosen One narrative, if not on its head, then at least kind of sideways. Matthias and Aaslo are BFFs, and when Matthias finds out he's the Chosen One, prophesied to save what looks like Europe but is named something else, he sets out to save Not-Europe, and immediately gets attacked by monsters and dies. (This is not a spoiler.) Aaslo followed Matthias just in time to see him die, and takes up his mantle instead. Everyone proceeds to tell Aaslo it's a fool's errand, everyone is doomed, might as well lay down and wait. Aaslo doesn't like doing nothing.
Other than it ending in the middle of a bunch of action, this was action-packed and full of interesting characters that were fleshed out well. I stayed engaged with it the whole time. Particularly liked Aaslo's admissions that he's just bumbling along most of the time because he doesn't know how to save anyone, but might as well try. I LOVED Teza and Peck and Mory, and also came to really like Myropa. Great characterizations.
But again, it's not outside the realm of possibility for a fantasy novel to be like, 700 pages, so whyyyyy stop therrrrrrre.
3.5 stars.
heysunbee's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-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? It's complicated
4.25
geneticginger's review against another edition
3.0
This book has an interesting premise but there was so much happening and some of it felt out of place.
larabesque's review against another edition
2.0
I bought this book half because of the cover, half because of the premise. It takes the classic trope of the Chosen One and destroys it, leaving the Side Kick to choose what to do next, and I don't know about you, but that sounded like a pretty cool take to me.
Inside you will find a few spins on tropes, dry humor, and friendly banter. It was a fun read, and left off on a high note and has intrigued me enough that I'd love to see what the second book has to offer. If this sounds like something you'd enjoy, then this may be a book for you!
However, there were a few things I didn't really care for, and one thing I kind of took issue with. As featured on the cover, you will find Side Kick holding a sack with what you may assume to hold a severed head - and if you guessed that, then you are correct. This severed heads speaks to Side Kick in his head, and while Severed Head can read his thoughts, Side Kick speaks out loud in response to Severed Head. It seems like a cheap way at making humor, and while yes, sometimes it's funny, I still think it's cheap.
I wasn't really interested in the gods. They were both concerned with things happening on the human world and not at the same time, and they just didn't read like well-formed characters. I was pretty bored while reading scenes featuring them.
The pacing wasn't awesome. A lot of things happened fast, and some scenes would go from smooth and casual to SOMEONE ALMOST DYING IN A BATTLE and I'm like wait - when did we move here wh--
Now, the part I took issue with: Side Kick and another character have intimate relations, and it definitely didn't seem consensual at all on Side Kick's part and it was just - it was a mess. The part I take issue with is that it was brushed off as consensual. From reading only the first book, it didn't even seem necessary. It brought no change in anything. Side Kick got fancy new clothes? That was about it. Who knows, maybe it'll have further consequence in the future. It just wasn't good either way.
Inside you will find a few spins on tropes, dry humor, and friendly banter. It was a fun read, and left off on a high note and has intrigued me enough that I'd love to see what the second book has to offer. If this sounds like something you'd enjoy, then this may be a book for you!
However, there were a few things I didn't really care for, and one thing I kind of took issue with. As featured on the cover, you will find Side Kick holding a sack with what you may assume to hold a severed head - and if you guessed that, then you are correct. This severed heads speaks to Side Kick in his head, and while Severed Head can read his thoughts, Side Kick speaks out loud in response to Severed Head. It seems like a cheap way at making humor, and while yes, sometimes it's funny, I still think it's cheap.
I wasn't really interested in the gods. They were both concerned with things happening on the human world and not at the same time, and they just didn't read like well-formed characters. I was pretty bored while reading scenes featuring them.
The pacing wasn't awesome. A lot of things happened fast, and some scenes would go from smooth and casual to SOMEONE ALMOST DYING IN A BATTLE and I'm like wait - when did we move here wh--
Now, the part I took issue with: Side Kick and another character have intimate relations, and it definitely didn't seem consensual at all on Side Kick's part and it was just - it was a mess. The part I take issue with is that it was brushed off as consensual. From reading only the first book, it didn't even seem necessary. It brought no change in anything. Side Kick got fancy new clothes? That was about it. Who knows, maybe it'll have further consequence in the future. It just wasn't good either way.
julia_reviews's review against another edition
2.0
Interesting concept but not engaging enough to make me want to continue reading the series
davedabruchey's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
3.5
bibliophilicjester's review
funny
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
2.5
*looks around nervously*
i wasn't sure how to rate this, so i put it through cawpile (which i use for situations like this haha) and it came out at 2.5...which makes sense for a book i feel kind of in the middle about.
the thing with audiobooks for me sometimes...i'm not sure whether i love/hate the book or the narrator. at some point about 160 pages in, i realized maybe i just like nick podehl. i think i had the same experience with name of the wind *looks around again, a bit more nervously* where i was wondering if i liked the writing or the interpretation of the writing. podehl is a bit over the top sometimes, which i think makes books like fate of the fallen EXTRA fun. because this WAS a fun read! i enjoyed dolt's antics in particular lol although the accent/attitude he gave what's her face the fledgling mage (teza..?) was perfect. the marquess voice was also particularly entertaining!
i did immediately like aaslo bc i tend to like grumpy, broody characters in general. and i think the entire cast of side characters/comic relief balanced him out. if i hadn't been listening to the audio, i don't know if i would've remembered who was who...aside from aaslo, teza(??), or myropa(?). when all the characters have sarcastic banter and witty comebacks, they all blend together. and i've said since i read six of crows a million years ago *more nervous looking around* ... witty banter can't carry an entire book for me. it's fun, but i need more.
the problem was me, though. i think. this book DID have more. there were things i love, like prophecy and meddling gods (seriously two of my favorite things to see in books) but i just didn't care for whatever reason. i'm suspicious of all the gods, but i also don't really care. and it bothers me that i can't figure out WHY i didn't care.
am i interested enough to continue? yes and no. i don't enjoy when a cliffhanger feels gimmicky. this one felt like "ummmmmm okay that's a good place to end this book. it's over!" and that was it. i prefer a solid setup with little reveals along the way, to something like a huge cliffhanger reveal on the last page. it feels abrupt. it feels manipulative, like you HAVE to read the next book to get answers, instead of building a story, a world, a cast of characters that i feel i NEED to return to. idk if that makes sense.
the last deciding factor for if i'll continue is a spoiler, so i'll put it under a tag.........
for me, there's a very fine line between necromancers (interesting) and zombies (hate them - gross and boring). i'm not even sure how i felt about the snarky talking head that may or may not have been mathias - the character OR the potential for what was going on. was it supposed to be foreshadowing? hinting at aaslo somehow already having powers? or is he really just imagining the voice in his head? which then brings up issues of questionable representation. but i digress.
the audio isn't available for me on scribd for a month, so i'll reevaluate then. although, it's supposed to be a trilogy and if the first book is anything to go by, i don't think any answers will happen until the end of the third book. so. we'll see!
i wasn't sure how to rate this, so i put it through cawpile (which i use for situations like this haha) and it came out at 2.5...which makes sense for a book i feel kind of in the middle about.
the thing with audiobooks for me sometimes...i'm not sure whether i love/hate the book or the narrator. at some point about 160 pages in, i realized maybe i just like nick podehl. i think i had the same experience with name of the wind *looks around again, a bit more nervously* where i was wondering if i liked the writing or the interpretation of the writing. podehl is a bit over the top sometimes, which i think makes books like fate of the fallen EXTRA fun. because this WAS a fun read! i enjoyed dolt's antics in particular lol although the accent/attitude he gave what's her face the fledgling mage (teza..?) was perfect. the marquess voice was also particularly entertaining!
i did immediately like aaslo bc i tend to like grumpy, broody characters in general. and i think the entire cast of side characters/comic relief balanced him out. if i hadn't been listening to the audio, i don't know if i would've remembered who was who...aside from aaslo, teza(??), or myropa(?). when all the characters have sarcastic banter and witty comebacks, they all blend together. and i've said since i read six of crows a million years ago *more nervous looking around* ... witty banter can't carry an entire book for me. it's fun, but i need more.
the problem was me, though. i think. this book DID have more. there were things i love, like prophecy and meddling gods (seriously two of my favorite things to see in books) but i just didn't care for whatever reason. i'm suspicious of all the gods, but i also don't really care. and it bothers me that i can't figure out WHY i didn't care.
am i interested enough to continue? yes and no. i don't enjoy when a cliffhanger feels gimmicky. this one felt like "ummmmmm okay that's a good place to end this book. it's over!" and that was it. i prefer a solid setup with little reveals along the way, to something like a huge cliffhanger reveal on the last page. it feels abrupt. it feels manipulative, like you HAVE to read the next book to get answers, instead of building a story, a world, a cast of characters that i feel i NEED to return to. idk if that makes sense.
the last deciding factor for if i'll continue is a spoiler, so i'll put it under a tag.........
the audio isn't available for me on scribd for a month, so i'll reevaluate then. although, it's supposed to be a trilogy and if the first book is anything to go by, i don't think any answers will happen until the end of the third book. so. we'll see!