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3.61 AVERAGE
3.61 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book had a lot that I liked about it but there were parts that I felt hindered the story more than it carried it forward and the more the story took breaks away from the main character the lower my rating for this book got. That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy it, because I did... For the most part.
I’ll be honest, after about 50% I started skipping and skimming any parts that focused on the gods or was from Myropa’s POV. The minute that the story wasn’t focusing on Aaslo and company was the minute I felt my interest in the story waver.
I like the character of Aaslo as the main, he’s pretty broody and blunt and just wants to get shit done so he can go home and it was a sentiment I shared a lot of. Teza, Peck, Mory and the marquess were all likeable. Even the horse had a personality and most of the laughs this book got out of me were from Dolt’s shenanigans and Aaslo’s response to them.
Though the scene with the queen was just... Unnecessary. That was around the time I started skimming certain passages and I feel bad about that. Between Reyla and the queen, Aaslo can do better.
All in all, a decent start to a trilogy, but maybe not one for me. It has a good set up for a sequel, but from what I’ve heard it’s going to lean more into the gods and their roles in all of this, and since that was the part of this book that didn’t interest me as much as I feel it should have, I’m going to leave this series here.
I’ll be honest, after about 50% I started skipping and skimming any parts that focused on the gods or was from Myropa’s POV. The minute that the story wasn’t focusing on Aaslo and company was the minute I felt my interest in the story waver.
I like the character of Aaslo as the main, he’s pretty broody and blunt and just wants to get shit done so he can go home and it was a sentiment I shared a lot of. Teza, Peck, Mory and the marquess were all likeable. Even the horse had a personality and most of the laughs this book got out of me were from Dolt’s shenanigans and Aaslo’s response to them.
Though the scene with the queen was just... Unnecessary. That was around the time I started skimming certain passages and I feel bad about that. Between Reyla and the queen, Aaslo can do better.
All in all, a decent start to a trilogy, but maybe not one for me. It has a good set up for a sequel, but from what I’ve heard it’s going to lean more into the gods and their roles in all of this, and since that was the part of this book that didn’t interest me as much as I feel it should have, I’m going to leave this series here.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
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
4.5 stars
Read my full review with faaancy graphics in my book blog: https://bookaholicdreamer.wordpress.com/2019/11/11/arc-review-fate-of-the-fallen-by-kel-kade/
I read the synopsis for Fate of the Fallen before diving in and so I was expecting it to twist many of the chosen one tropes, but I never expected everything to go so wrong for the characters. Fate of the Fallen has a very intriguing premise, and the author manages to maintain the reader’s interest throughout the novel by keeping up a spark of hope amidst all the disasters.
Kel Kade’s writing style is unlike anything I have encountered before. His style has few flourishes but somehow it still manages to paint a vivid picture of the surroundings for me. The plot can get pretty gory at times, but it doesn’t feel too heavy to read because the narration of the events is easy to read. In fact, I found myself reading Fate of the Fallen much quicker compared to other adult fantasies and I had no trouble getting deeply immersed into it.
Most of the story is from Aaslo’s perspective, and I became very fond of him along the journey. He is a forester – a person responsible for taking care of trees in a world where too many are cut down. Foresters usually never leave their forests, and Aaslo battles with his desire to go back to his trees throughout the journey. He is such a wholesome character! Very grumpy with surprising amounts of kidness for everyone. He also doesn’t care at all about social station and manages to tell off the highest and mightiest of people.
Whereas Aaslo is a grumpy loner, Mathias is an extroverted and optimistic butterfly. The two characters have amazing banter and they balance each other out.
Although Aaslo was pretty relatable, my favourite character is a sassy mage. Teza is a terrible server in a pub, who got herself expelled from the school of mages just because she is incredibly stubborn. Oh and I love her to bits for coming up with great, quick solutions and for being so damn stupporn. She is golden.
Although most of the story follows the main adventure, we also get a peek into the lives (or maybe not lives exactly mmm) of gods and reapers who toy with humans for their amusement. The world is large and complex, and I have a feeling that we will get to learn a whole lot more about it in the future books!
I’m a big fan of this goofy yet terrifying fantasy, and there were only a couple minor things I had problems with. Although the gods’ existence was fascinating, I took quite a lot of time to become completely interested in their storyline. But I have to admit that I have a tendency to dislike sideplots that involve deities or celestial beings; I also disliked the Fates and Luck in the Stepsister.
The other thing that I disliked was how suicide was talked about. The reapers in the story have been chosen by the Fates to retrieve souls of humans and deliver them onwards, and the reaper we follow committed suicide during her human life. The gods occassionally question her about this, and I got a bad taste in my mouth about how the reaper was slightly bullied for her suicide and her motives (or the lack of them). But all this was very very shortly discussed and didn’t really influence my enjoyment of the story.
Also, I need to mention that the plot occassionally felt slightly directionless. This was entirely understandable in the context of the story, but it still made the story drag just for a bit. Although I need to admit that some lack of purpose was required to create the catastrophic atmosphere in the book.
However, the ending left me absolutely screeching. I need to know what happens next, I want to read on! I want the sequel so bad!
As a whole, Fate of the Fallen was a very enjoyable, twisted fantasy set in a complex and intriguing world. I’ll most definitely continue onwards with this series once we get a sequel!!
Read my full review with faaancy graphics in my book blog: https://bookaholicdreamer.wordpress.com/2019/11/11/arc-review-fate-of-the-fallen-by-kel-kade/
I read the synopsis for Fate of the Fallen before diving in and so I was expecting it to twist many of the chosen one tropes, but I never expected everything to go so wrong for the characters. Fate of the Fallen has a very intriguing premise, and the author manages to maintain the reader’s interest throughout the novel by keeping up a spark of hope amidst all the disasters.
Kel Kade’s writing style is unlike anything I have encountered before. His style has few flourishes but somehow it still manages to paint a vivid picture of the surroundings for me. The plot can get pretty gory at times, but it doesn’t feel too heavy to read because the narration of the events is easy to read. In fact, I found myself reading Fate of the Fallen much quicker compared to other adult fantasies and I had no trouble getting deeply immersed into it.
Most of the story is from Aaslo’s perspective, and I became very fond of him along the journey. He is a forester – a person responsible for taking care of trees in a world where too many are cut down. Foresters usually never leave their forests, and Aaslo battles with his desire to go back to his trees throughout the journey. He is such a wholesome character! Very grumpy with surprising amounts of kidness for everyone. He also doesn’t care at all about social station and manages to tell off the highest and mightiest of people.
Whereas Aaslo is a grumpy loner, Mathias is an extroverted and optimistic butterfly. The two characters have amazing banter and they balance each other out.
Although Aaslo was pretty relatable, my favourite character is a sassy mage. Teza is a terrible server in a pub, who got herself expelled from the school of mages just because she is incredibly stubborn. Oh and I love her to bits for coming up with great, quick solutions and for being so damn stupporn. She is golden.
Although most of the story follows the main adventure, we also get a peek into the lives (or maybe not lives exactly mmm) of gods and reapers who toy with humans for their amusement. The world is large and complex, and I have a feeling that we will get to learn a whole lot more about it in the future books!
I’m a big fan of this goofy yet terrifying fantasy, and there were only a couple minor things I had problems with. Although the gods’ existence was fascinating, I took quite a lot of time to become completely interested in their storyline. But I have to admit that I have a tendency to dislike sideplots that involve deities or celestial beings; I also disliked the Fates and Luck in the Stepsister.
The other thing that I disliked was how suicide was talked about. The reapers in the story have been chosen by the Fates to retrieve souls of humans and deliver them onwards, and the reaper we follow committed suicide during her human life. The gods occassionally question her about this, and I got a bad taste in my mouth about how the reaper was slightly bullied for her suicide and her motives (or the lack of them). But all this was very very shortly discussed and didn’t really influence my enjoyment of the story.
Also, I need to mention that the plot occassionally felt slightly directionless. This was entirely understandable in the context of the story, but it still made the story drag just for a bit. Although I need to admit that some lack of purpose was required to create the catastrophic atmosphere in the book.
However, the ending left me absolutely screeching. I need to know what happens next, I want to read on! I want the sequel so bad!
As a whole, Fate of the Fallen was a very enjoyable, twisted fantasy set in a complex and intriguing world. I’ll most definitely continue onwards with this series once we get a sequel!!
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was an easy book to listen to. The reader was superb and really brought the story to life. I found myself routing for the protagonist and second guessing the outcome several times throughout the story. I especially enjoyed the interaction between the two best friends, even considering how unnatural it was. The writing has a natural flow and doesn’t sound formulaic. I found myself ready to get back into it to find out what happens next.
I deliberated between these three and four stars. I really did enjoy my time in this world. I particularly liked that characters refused to let their lives be determined for them. I did struggle with the gods. Perhaps part of this is my unfamiliarity with the Greco-Roman gods mythologies. Part of it is that I didn’t like the gods themselves.
The mortal characters win the day for me. It was a fun adventure. It wasn’t a boiler plate story. And it had something to say about life beyond the story. I would recommend this book to people who enjoy the fantasy genre. For those friends who are sensitive to reading books that do not line up with fundamental beliefs, they may want to skip this one. (Greco-Roman pantheon of gods, and all.)
I deliberated between these three and four stars. I really did enjoy my time in this world. I particularly liked that characters refused to let their lives be determined for them. I did struggle with the gods. Perhaps part of this is my unfamiliarity with the Greco-Roman gods mythologies. Part of it is that I didn’t like the gods themselves.
The mortal characters win the day for me. It was a fun adventure. It wasn’t a boiler plate story. And it had something to say about life beyond the story. I would recommend this book to people who enjoy the fantasy genre. For those friends who are sensitive to reading books that do not line up with fundamental beliefs, they may want to skip this one. (Greco-Roman pantheon of gods, and all.)
An interesting premise (what if you experienced the monomyth from the perspective of a Sam Gamgee character, instead of a Frodo) that doesn't really go anywhere, as the initial subversion of the Chosen One trope ends up being played somewhat straight. I also thought there were too many jumps across character viewpoints -- without being too spoilery, I was not particularly intrigued by a certain thief duo's PoV, or the 'observer' character that appears later on.
Still, this is the first book in a trilogy, and I think there's room for improvement. There's enough in here to give it a go for book #2, so fingers crossed this was all buildup for some really awesome stuff.
Still, this is the first book in a trilogy, and I think there's room for improvement. There's enough in here to give it a go for book #2, so fingers crossed this was all buildup for some really awesome stuff.
Well this was a 5 star book up until the last 25% then it took some turns I'm not sure I'm happy with. This requires some thinking and a reread to settle.
So I've read and listened to a lot of mixed reviews for this title, and it left me feeling very uncertain about whether or not I was going to enjoy this or if I should bother reading it at all. But, although I've put it at three stars, I do tend to lean a little more on the positive side of things with this review.
First off, I can't say that I really was able to fully appreciate the information given to us in the prologue until I reached the very end of the book, and while that's not necessarily a bad thing, I don't like that it took so long for all the pieces to come together and make sense. I can understand why; if I understood what I read correctly, the plot twist that occurs at the very end of the book ties right back into what we get in the prologue. So it makes sense, but I do feel like there was a lack of build-up or implication to these interconnected threads, we just got smacked with them.
Second, while I enjoyed the pacing and most of the characters, I feel like the world-building was lacking. A lot was thrown at us with very little explanation before moving on from it, and there's a lot we have to take on faith and just roll with. I like what I've seen of the potential world-building, but I think readers could have benefited from a little more than what we got. (For the record, I do appreciate the character list towards the back of the book. It helped me more than once.)
And finally, while I do have issues with it, I feel like it's a very intriguing series opener. I hope to see the rest of the books in physical print so I can continue reading and better decide how I feel about Kel Kade's writing overall. (Having looked at her list of works, most of them seem to be just in ebook and audible format, and this is the first book in physical print. I am curious about some of her other works, but only time will tell if I end up feeling interested enough to buy ebooks or audible copies.) The last point of note I would like to express is that, I do not recommend this book as a gateway for people looking to try out high fantasy. I don't believe that this is very first-time-reader-friendly because of the way the world-building is handled.
First off, I can't say that I really was able to fully appreciate the information given to us in the prologue until I reached the very end of the book, and while that's not necessarily a bad thing, I don't like that it took so long for all the pieces to come together and make sense. I can understand why; if I understood what I read correctly, the plot twist that occurs at the very end of the book ties right back into what we get in the prologue. So it makes sense, but I do feel like there was a lack of build-up or implication to these interconnected threads, we just got smacked with them.
Second, while I enjoyed the pacing and most of the characters, I feel like the world-building was lacking. A lot was thrown at us with very little explanation before moving on from it, and there's a lot we have to take on faith and just roll with. I like what I've seen of the potential world-building, but I think readers could have benefited from a little more than what we got. (For the record, I do appreciate the character list towards the back of the book. It helped me more than once.)
And finally, while I do have issues with it, I feel like it's a very intriguing series opener. I hope to see the rest of the books in physical print so I can continue reading and better decide how I feel about Kel Kade's writing overall. (Having looked at her list of works, most of them seem to be just in ebook and audible format, and this is the first book in physical print. I am curious about some of her other works, but only time will tell if I end up feeling interested enough to buy ebooks or audible copies.) The last point of note I would like to express is that, I do not recommend this book as a gateway for people looking to try out high fantasy. I don't believe that this is very first-time-reader-friendly because of the way the world-building is handled.