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4.21 AVERAGE
4.21 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
funny
tense
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:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
adventurous
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This series is definitely not as good as Alanna, but it was worth my time. I think Pierce spent way too much time in this one with Daine and Numair in the realms of the gods, and some things were kind of cutesy, and lots were convenient, and everything ended kind of predictably . . . but still: enjoyable. Especially the kissing bits (even though there was, or maybe because of, the huge age difference -- pervy).
3.5 stars, really.
3.5 stars, really.
adventurous
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
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:
No
In the three years since we first met Daine, she has grown a lot. Into her magic, towards her new friends, in maturity, in stubbornness. And she'll need all she has learned, and more, to survive not only the war raging across Tortall but also a journey through the realm of the gods where every creature and thing is a god.
Daine's story just flies by when I read it, yet it is jam-packed with so much: action, emotion, discovery, loss. Even though I haven't read it in probably nigh on 20 years (showing my age, eek!) I can still feel so much of it as I must have felt it the first time I read it. Even today, more than likely as then too, I relate so much to Daine: her emotions, her stubbornness, her desire to help others, her courage, and more. She is a brilliant role model in how she carries herself, how she acts, how she reacts to and grows with the world around her. And of course, all the magic and wonder and danger of the realm of the gods, from marshes to cliffsides to the Dragonlands, not to mention finally learning who her father is, makes for a rich tapestry for adventure and growth. The darkings are especially welcome additions, along with the duckmole god Broad Foot, and the dragon Ancestor Rainbow (gotta love old people snark and speaking their minds!)
Some highlights:
All in all, I can't believe Daine's story is done already - it flew by, and I enjoyed every single minute of it. You can bet I'll be seeking her out in Kel's story in the next quartet, Protector of the Small.
Typo:
These now shimmered and glowed, throwing off light, but no heart. - page 226 - "heart" should be "heat"
There was also a missing period at the end of a sentence, but I didn't note it this time around.
Daine's story just flies by when I read it, yet it is jam-packed with so much: action, emotion, discovery, loss. Even though I haven't read it in probably nigh on 20 years (showing my age, eek!) I can still feel so much of it as I must have felt it the first time I read it. Even today, more than likely as then too, I relate so much to Daine: her emotions, her stubbornness, her desire to help others, her courage, and more. She is a brilliant role model in how she carries herself, how she acts, how she reacts to and grows with the world around her. And of course, all the magic and wonder and danger of the realm of the gods, from marshes to cliffsides to the Dragonlands, not to mention finally learning who her father is, makes for a rich tapestry for adventure and growth. The darkings are especially welcome additions, along with the duckmole god Broad Foot, and the dragon Ancestor Rainbow (gotta love old people snark and speaking their minds!)
Some highlights:
Spoiler
seeing how far Daine has come in her feelings towards Stormwings, notably Rikash - from thinking all are evil, to realizing that she basically considers him a friend. Getting to see Daine's father, and the fulfillment that brings to her to meet him and see her mother Sarra again. And yes, I would be remiss if I didn't mention her blossoming feelings for Numair. It is still largely not squicky, and that for two-fold reasons. Perhaps the largest is that we see her feelings for him first, even subtle yet clear as they are, and nothing to indicate a romantic desire from him. The second is when we do finally get a glimpse of Numair's feelings, it is because Daine has narrowly escaped death. He then proceeds to be very up-front with his concern that he doesn't want to seem to be coercing her, understanding the many ways their feelings could be taken wrong by other people: "It's easy for an experienced man to delude a young woman into believing herself in love with him. It is the basest kind of trickery, even when the man does not intend it." (page 173) He makes it very clear that he was not going to act on anything before Daine took the first step, really. While he gets a little more kissy after that in general, it is clear that Daine enjoys it, and that she probably just never thought to initiate it - she is only 16, and is very new and innocent to the ways of courting. There is definitely an understanding that consent is going to be a big thing for them, and that Daine will continue to be herself and not be "tricked" into anything she doesn't already want.All in all, I can't believe Daine's story is done already - it flew by, and I enjoyed every single minute of it. You can bet I'll be seeking her out in Kel's story in the next quartet, Protector of the Small.
Typo:
These now shimmered and glowed, throwing off light, but no heart. - page 226 - "heart" should be "heat"
There was also a missing period at the end of a sentence, but I didn't note it this time around.
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A