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3.61 AVERAGE
3.61 AVERAGE
Editing my review as I've continued to think. Though less intense and faster paced than many other fantasy series, this series starter was unique. I love that it took the "prophecy involving a chosen one" trope and spun it on its head. I can't wait for book #2! I need to know what happens next!
adventurous
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
slow-paced
Slightly racist, bad editing, below average worldbuilding
Enjoyable, fast paced, nice world building and some surprising twists! Writing a bit juvenile/tells instead of shows and female characters aren’t fleshed out as well. But overall a great start to the series and will definitely be reading the next one.
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape
content warning: the book contains a coerced rape scene, in which the main character Aaslo is informed he must sleep with someone of much higher status because they demand it, and he is not allowed to say no. Once it is over, Aaslo thinks it wasn't so bad despite him being forced to 'consent'. It is then never mentioned again, there is no moral message nor any commentary or character development or consequence whatsoever, it just seems to be there as a pointless gender role reversal which adds nothing to the story or characters and just makes for a weirdly uncomfortable scene with zero ramifications
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
When I was told this was a "what if Sam had ot take over Frodo's job very early on?" I was dubious and unsure what to expect. But Aaslo was already in my heart even before Matthias goes on a quest to save the world, so it was inevitable I'd be rooting for him and his own quest.
I also found funny that the prophecy is all about Matthias and then suddenly it is very much like "we never foresaw this bit" which feels hilarious and sad, and just to show how little sometimes those "prophecies" can be relied on.
I enjoyed the book, it is a hopeless quest with extra hopeless and a lot of a rag tag team.
I also found funny that the prophecy is all about Matthias and then suddenly it is very much like "we never foresaw this bit" which feels hilarious and sad, and just to show how little sometimes those "prophecies" can be relied on.
I enjoyed the book, it is a hopeless quest with extra hopeless and a lot of a rag tag team.
I was really interested in reading this because of the premise of what happens when the chosen one fails. Aaslo was a great reluctant hero. A guy who was raised to be a loner in the forest growing things he takes up the burden of his bff the chosen one and tries to see if he can change fate. I love that he just kind of Forest Gump's his way throughout the story. I absolutely think though the shining star in this is the horse, Dolt. I love a good sassy animal sidekick and this one does not disappoint. Especially since it doesn't use the talking animal bit to convey the sass. Overall I enjoyed this but it does kind of end on a cliffhanger. I will probably continue on in the series when it's available but I'm not waiting at the edge of my seat for the next installment to be out right at this minute.