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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture
I have such mixed feeling on this one.
This did not need to be as long as it was, the first 200 pages could have been scrapped And preferably 200 pages added at the end of it. And also the rest of it would benefit greatly from being heavily edited. The dragon eye didn't do much till the very end, that was somewhat disappointing, but I suspected as much before I even started reading. The main character was written very well, but I do have to say that he pissed the hell out of me untill the very end. Incredibly oblivious, horny and miserable most of the time with different proportions of the last two.
My main gripe is that the book ends almost as soon as it gets really interesting. If we are talking in terms of the classic hero's journey, it ends right after getting out of the whale's belly. I kinda feel that I suffered through all the misery and cruelty of Navola just to be told that I have to wait for a few more years (if the part two happens at all).
And yet I give this book 4 stars, cause it was exceptionally well written - even the unbearably obtuse horny teen parts - and also because I got so very invested into all of the action at the end of the book. But if this does not get part two, I'm goint to return here and change my rating to 1 star, i swear to f***ing god. . .
This did not need to be as long as it was, the first 200 pages could have been scrapped And preferably 200 pages added at the end of it. And also the rest of it would benefit greatly from being heavily edited. The dragon eye didn't do much till the very end, that was somewhat disappointing, but I suspected as much before I even started reading. The main character was written very well, but I do have to say that he pissed the hell out of me untill the very end. Incredibly oblivious, horny and miserable most of the time with different proportions of the last two.
My main gripe is that the book ends almost as soon as it gets really interesting. If we are talking in terms of the classic hero's journey, it ends right after getting out of the whale's belly. I kinda feel that I suffered through all the misery and cruelty of Navola just to be told that I have to wait for a few more years (if the part two happens at all).
And yet I give this book 4 stars, cause it was exceptionally well written - even the unbearably obtuse horny teen parts - and also because I got so very invested into all of the action at the end of the book. But if this does not get part two, I'm goint to return here and change my rating to 1 star, i swear to f***ing god. . .
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
I have so many complicated thoughts on this one. I’ll say this, which a lot of other reviewers have said…it’s just a little too long and a little too detailed. Dont get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed the worldbuilding, even if it was just a reskinned 1400s Italy setting, but it took a long time for anything noteworthy to happen. But! If you like politics and intrigue and tracking characters thoughts and movements and what they say vs. what they do and trying to guess what will happen when it happens…then this might be for you. If you want more action, maybe look elsewhere. Above all though, this felt like a blend of Game of Thrones, Robin Hobb and the Farseer books set in a fantasy medieval Italy. There’s not much magic beyond a dragons eyeball that makes an appearance occasionally but I’m hoping we’ll get to see more of Davico and the dragons egg and that he’ll finally get his revenge.
challenging
dark
sad
tense
slow-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
dark
tense
slow-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
This ended up being too slow. The premise and overall vibe of this book really intrigued me, but I didn’t have it in me to hold on. When you know, you know.
challenging
dark
mysterious
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:
Yes
Subverting assumptions is a baller move - in that way reminds me of Abercrombie's First Law trilogy. What makes a man or woman "great"? First Law: everyone is a puppet; also, terrible." Novola: power or... *neurodivergency*?? I dig it.