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3.61 AVERAGE
3.61 AVERAGE
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
If you enjoy reading about young characters, this might be the book for you - just not for me.
This was a lot of fun. More fun than I was expecting. I picked this up at random at the bookstore. No one I know has really read it and the reviews seemed to be all over the place, but I figured I'd give it a chance.
It's a pretty traditional fantasy, though it does go very divergent early on. I really loved the characters and the progression of the story. It's quick paced, and there is a lot of action. The worldbuilding is fairly well done though I actually think this book could have been a hundred pages longer. There was just so much that really could have used explaining and some more relationship building between the main cast would have been useful.
Overall, I really enjoyed the book and I'll definitely read the next one.
It's a pretty traditional fantasy, though it does go very divergent early on. I really loved the characters and the progression of the story. It's quick paced, and there is a lot of action. The worldbuilding is fairly well done though I actually think this book could have been a hundred pages longer. There was just so much that really could have used explaining and some more relationship building between the main cast would have been useful.
Overall, I really enjoyed the book and I'll definitely read the next one.
Overall, this was an interesting start to a new fantasy series. I think it would have been better if I could have just waited and read the whole series through instead of now having to wait a year for the sequel. Most of this book is spent as a journey with lots of stops along the way. It was very Lord of the Rings in that aspect. We meet some great characters along the way and some become bigger parts of the hero's journey and some fall off quickly. I did enjoy several of them, especially Peck, Mory, Myropa, and Teza. The MC was interesting, especially in the beginning as we're getting to know him, but becomes a little monotonous on the journey. But then near the end makes a decision that seems so against everything he's worked towards so far and everything he stands for as a forester that it really threw me. And changed the whole course of the story. And then the book is over. There's no real ending, no conclusion, just a pause to the story. And I hate that. Even in series, I like each individual book to have a complete story while carrying over the overall arc of the series. But this one didn't really seem to have it. It's the beginning of a series and I think I'd probably recommend waiting to read it until more come out. But if it doesn't bother you to stop in the middle of the story, then you'll probably be more okay with this one than I was. And like I said, I thought it was a really strong start to a new series with some really interesting characters. I'm still trying to understand the magic system and the world they live in and the scenes with the gods were always slow to me but I'll definitely be on the lookout for the sequel and its release date. I think I want to know more about this journey.
Thank you to the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Thank you to the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I listened to this one on audiobook, and Nick Podehl killed it as always. I loooove his vocal range and ability to give every character a unique voice. It's so good. I don't know that I would have enjoyed the story as much if I had just read it. I enjoyed the beginning, liked the little twist on the chosen one trope, and I liked all the characters, but I found the plot to be lacking. At times it seemed meandering and there were points that just did not hold my interest at all. I think the second half of the book is definitely better and more interesting, and the characters of Mory, Peck and Teza turned out to be my faves. I liked Aaslo and the wackiness of . That kind of stuff is right up my alley, but I can't say I cared about him too much. He's definitely more interesting with Teza. What I really want is a Peck and Mory book though. They were the highlight of the book for me.
Overall, 3.5 stars. This was a fun time and I definitely will be continuing with the series.
Spoiler
him walking around with his best friends head and talking to it, and everyone thinking he's crazyOverall, 3.5 stars. This was a fun time and I definitely will be continuing with the series.
Snarky, amusing, relatively simple plot. The book also hasn't found a trope of epic fantasy it doesn't like.
I don't want to give too much away, but suffice it to say it's an enjoyable, fairly quick read. I do like the fact that we get regular check-ins with bickering, selfish gods (almost as temperamental as the greek pantheon).
I don't want to give too much away, but suffice it to say it's an enjoyable, fairly quick read. I do like the fact that we get regular check-ins with bickering, selfish gods (almost as temperamental as the greek pantheon).
Really enjoyed this one. I was a bit unhappy about getting this book before getting the next installment of "King's Dark Tidings" but this book quickly changed my mind.
In it we are following a young forester Aslo who has to take up his friends responsibility when he dies ... His friend just happened to be the chosen one.
Many others seem willing to give up hope when the chosen one dies, but Aslo doesn't want to go down without a fight.
Along his way he will gather a whole following of misfit characters, all united in their love and respect for Aslo.
This book shares a lot of simularities with Dark Tidinds although the plot is different enough.
Our protagonist is a selfsufficient man, who just wants to go about his own business, but posseses some sort of otherworldly charm that draws others to him, regardless of their station.
He is extremely accomplished, though socially not quite as adapt.
All females seem to fall for him. He seems oblivious to most.
Banter sustains the book and events unfurl at lightning speed.
Great opener to a new series.
This was a great start to what I think could become a fantastic fantasy series! I loved the unique take on a typical high fantasy story and luckily it was augmented by a cast of colorful and very likable characters. Already from book one, Kade has started to build out not just a world but a universe with this one small part facing the consequences of a prophecy gone wrong.
The biggest flaw really was just some awkwardness in the writing. Sometimes it was a line of dialogue or description of something that seemed awkward. Other times it was pacing or the transition of one scene to the next that threw me off for a second. There’s a particularly important fight in the second half that we’re just thrown into without lead up or warning, and it was very confusing.
It seems Kel Kade is still solidifying her writing style, but otherwise her ideas for plot and characters are rock solid. I’m excited for the sequel to come out!
The biggest flaw really was just some awkwardness in the writing. Sometimes it was a line of dialogue or description of something that seemed awkward. Other times it was pacing or the transition of one scene to the next that threw me off for a second. There’s a particularly important fight in the second half that we’re just thrown into without lead up or warning, and it was very confusing.
It seems Kel Kade is still solidifying her writing style, but otherwise her ideas for plot and characters are rock solid. I’m excited for the sequel to come out!
Really enjoyed this one!
Humorous, adventurous with lots of twists and turns.
An unexpected leader takes up the task of the fallen, connects the mistrusted to form a fellowship to save their world.
Humorous, adventurous with lots of twists and turns.
An unexpected leader takes up the task of the fallen, connects the mistrusted to form a fellowship to save their world.
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated