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justmeandmybooks_'s review
2.0
I really wish I didn't have to read so many thick books of this to find out what happens to the characters.
I really like the characters, but other than that, I really couldn't care less.
The writing style is tedious, and I don't even know what's going on half the time. Honestly that's probably because every now and then I zone out and don't pay attention, but I do that because it's written super tediously. Also, sometimes its just confusing... there's a couple scenes that I read over and over again, and still couldn't figure out what happened.
The plot is... unoriginal.
Uh oh, the Dark is rising again! Now the Light must vanquish the Dark! And take a lot of long, thick books getting around to it! When half the book is pointless to the plot anyways! And there must be lots of traveling! And I'm BORED!
I've read this plot waayyyyyyyy too many times already. The Lord of the Rings, The Sword of Shannara, Eragon. Probably a gazillion other things as well. I am SO bored of it.
The world is confusing. I can't keep straight all the names of places. There is so many, and they all sound the same. And half of them I swear the author just put a bunch of letters in a bag, and pulled them out randomly, then arranged them in a way that was almost pronounceable, and used that.
The characters are pretty good. None of them are amazing, but I like them, and I need to know what happens to them. This book was about Hem, a minor character from the first book though, so that was... interesting.
I like him, but he doesn't make a very good protagonist. In the first two, the MC was 16, but in The Crow, the character is only twelve. And, well, he reads like a twelve year old boy. And he just seemed too young for me to truly enjoy it, and didn't match up with the first two very well.
Then there's Saliman. He's Hem's mentor figure, and I like him very much. He seems very similar to, Cadvan, who was the mentor figure for the first two books, and I wish he'd had a slightly more different personality, but I still like him a lot.
One of my favourites was Zelika, she was feisty, and rude, and I love her.
I think my favourite character though, was the crow, Irc. He's so funny, and he's always stealing shiny objects, and he cracks me up. Also he can talk. Or, Hem can talk to him, I guess. I love him very much.
Over all, this book wasn't for me. I think the series is good, and well written, I just personally don't like the writing style, and am bored by the plot. If you like this sort of thing though, it's definitely worth a read.
I really like the characters, but other than that, I really couldn't care less.
The writing style is tedious, and I don't even know what's going on half the time. Honestly that's probably because every now and then I zone out and don't pay attention, but I do that because it's written super tediously. Also, sometimes its just confusing... there's a couple scenes that I read over and over again, and still couldn't figure out what happened.
The plot is... unoriginal.
Uh oh, the Dark is rising again! Now the Light must vanquish the Dark! And take a lot of long, thick books getting around to it! When half the book is pointless to the plot anyways! And there must be lots of traveling! And I'm BORED!
I've read this plot waayyyyyyyy too many times already. The Lord of the Rings, The Sword of Shannara, Eragon. Probably a gazillion other things as well. I am SO bored of it.
The world is confusing. I can't keep straight all the names of places. There is so many, and they all sound the same. And half of them I swear the author just put a bunch of letters in a bag, and pulled them out randomly, then arranged them in a way that was almost pronounceable, and used that.
The characters are pretty good. None of them are amazing, but I like them, and I need to know what happens to them. This book was about Hem, a minor character from the first book though, so that was... interesting.
I like him, but he doesn't make a very good protagonist. In the first two, the MC was 16, but in The Crow, the character is only twelve. And, well, he reads like a twelve year old boy. And he just seemed too young for me to truly enjoy it, and didn't match up with the first two very well.
Then there's Saliman. He's Hem's mentor figure, and I like him very much. He seems very similar to, Cadvan, who was the mentor figure for the first two books, and I wish he'd had a slightly more different personality, but I still like him a lot.
One of my favourites was Zelika, she was feisty, and rude, and I love her.
I think my favourite character though, was the crow, Irc. He's so funny, and he's always stealing shiny objects, and he cracks me up. Also he can talk. Or, Hem can talk to him, I guess. I love him very much.
Over all, this book wasn't for me. I think the series is good, and well written, I just personally don't like the writing style, and am bored by the plot. If you like this sort of thing though, it's definitely worth a read.
shecantcomplain's review against another edition
1.0
Frankly, disappointed in the whole series. Well, that's not entirely true. I liked the first book, so I kept reading. It's been a while now since I've read these, but I very clearly remember the long rants I had at my husband about why I didn't like these books.
karingforbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
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
4.0
Not my favorite of the series so far. But I enjoyed being with Hem for a while and seeing him grow. I do wish we had seen something of Maerad other than the letters though. And it felt almost too easy, other than the big quest Hem undergoes, with everything falling into place. Maybe I expected more physical challenges; I don’t know.
I did still highly enjoy it though and I’m looking forward to reading the final installment
I did still highly enjoy it though and I’m looking forward to reading the final installment
helenamt's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
woolfardis's review against another edition
3.0
[Short and quick review before I re-read and re-review at a later date:
Even from the blurb I can't remember much. Book as a whole probably not great-too long? But the series good.]
Even from the blurb I can't remember much. Book as a whole probably not great-too long? But the series good.]
eleanor_nicbhatair's review against another edition
5.0
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Out of the whole series, this is the book I remembered the least about so I very much enjoyed reading it again!
missmeesh's review against another edition
5.0
I will admit, it took me a while to get into it. Try it took me twice to even get past the eighth chapter. However, I persevered, and I definitely was rewarded. I loved the story line, once I really thought about it, and I was extremely excited to get the next book and read it too.
There were a few things that I did not like, but, at the expense of the people who have not read the book but are reading this, I will not say anything about those issues for me.
I do recommend you read it, especially if you have read the other books in the series.
Hem is a not-so-average Bard. After all, he is an orphan, had a horrible childhood, and only recently accepted Bards and the Bard that is inside him. While his sister is off searching in the north, Hem ends up with his own problems; the Dark is attacking the city, and he is watching it crumble before his eyes. But there is something he can do…at the possible expense of his life.
In the thrilling third book in the series of Pellinor, this novel will be just as thrilling as the other two.
For more reviews on novels like this (and longer reviews), visit http://whataboutthatbook.wordpress.com/, a book blog for book lovers.
There were a few things that I did not like, but, at the expense of the people who have not read the book but are reading this, I will not say anything about those issues for me.
I do recommend you read it, especially if you have read the other books in the series.
Hem is a not-so-average Bard. After all, he is an orphan, had a horrible childhood, and only recently accepted Bards and the Bard that is inside him. While his sister is off searching in the north, Hem ends up with his own problems; the Dark is attacking the city, and he is watching it crumble before his eyes. But there is something he can do…at the possible expense of his life.
In the thrilling third book in the series of Pellinor, this novel will be just as thrilling as the other two.
For more reviews on novels like this (and longer reviews), visit http://whataboutthatbook.wordpress.com/, a book blog for book lovers.
lalodragon's review against another edition
4.0
This is definitely the best young adult fantasy series I've read.
murmuration19's review
4.0
At first I didn't like this one as much, partly because I wanted to get back to Maerad's story in Book 4. But finally I got a little more drawn into Hem's story, and the last half was quite hard to put down. I wonder what it would have been like if The Riddle and The Crow were interwoven? Well, either way, I'm looking forward to the conclusion.
allison_r's review against another edition
5.0
A confession: I was very leery when I began reading "The Crow". The Pellinor series had just emerged from "The Riddle," and it was not looking so hot. And so it was with trepidation that I began reading the third book.
I was surprised and pleased to discover that "The Crow" is much more like a companion than a sequel and could be read on its own with little difficulty. It follows the story of Hem, the heroine's younger brother.
After being stolen from his family, lured by the dark side, and dragged halfway across the world, Hem finally has a chance to settle down in Turbansk with his mentor, Saliman. Alison Croggon shows a delightful writing skill in this novel. It was not long before I cared deeply for Hem, and when he discovers an orphan girl named Zelika, I welcomed her gladly into the fold.
The plot thickened, and Hem, with Saliman and Zelika, is forced to leave the beautifully crafted city of Turbansk. Hem's journey carries him across the continent on a quest that fans of Alison Croggon's earlier work will not have forseen.
This story is a tragedy. It is a story of a boy who passes through every imaginable hardship and cruelty that can be thrust upon the human race and retains his humanity. "The Crow" is a beautiful, intricate novel, and I highly recommend it.
I was surprised and pleased to discover that "The Crow" is much more like a companion than a sequel and could be read on its own with little difficulty. It follows the story of Hem, the heroine's younger brother.
After being stolen from his family, lured by the dark side, and dragged halfway across the world, Hem finally has a chance to settle down in Turbansk with his mentor, Saliman. Alison Croggon shows a delightful writing skill in this novel. It was not long before I cared deeply for Hem, and when he discovers an orphan girl named Zelika, I welcomed her gladly into the fold.
The plot thickened, and Hem, with Saliman and Zelika, is forced to leave the beautifully crafted city of Turbansk. Hem's journey carries him across the continent on a quest that fans of Alison Croggon's earlier work will not have forseen.
This story is a tragedy. It is a story of a boy who passes through every imaginable hardship and cruelty that can be thrust upon the human race and retains his humanity. "The Crow" is a beautiful, intricate novel, and I highly recommend it.