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4.43 AVERAGE
4.43 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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
Reviewing the final novel in particular but also the trilogy as a whole:
This final novel started so well that I almost thought that it might redeem the trilogy. There are some brilliant ideas on the 'miracles' of this world and the concept of gods. And the scene setting and descriptions are capitaviating. And the question of how a world plays out after its gods have died is a deeply interesting premise. But this potential wasn't explored enough. The question of that vacuum and the complex dynamics of power and human intrigue that would result were only touched on superficially and only really as the backdrop for kickass good guy heroes to do their thing. As another major gripe, I could never quite get a handle on the tech level of this world. Sometimes they're fighting with crossbows, then next thing they have machine guns and sticky bomb launchers. It seemed like the world's tech level was just whatever the story needed it to be at that time to make the scene cool.
Robert Jackson Bennet can start books well, but in the final third he always seems to descend into the formulaic: hell-for-leather heroics, emotional epiphanies, heartfelt speeches, good winning out. Kids' stuff, really. Fantasy has moved on from that silliness and now has a little maturity and nuance, and something to actually say about life. Joe Abercrombie, Scott Lynch, Brandon Sanderson and GRRM are putting out some brilliant stuff (well, apart from GRRM, since 2011!!!). But in this case, apart from having socially inclusive credentials, with lead characters that are diverse in ethnicity, gender, and sexuality, its storytelling devices seem old fashioned and dated. And underneath the violence and swearing, the overall feel was just a little......clean cut. Not what I want from my fantasy at all.
This final novel started so well that I almost thought that it might redeem the trilogy. There are some brilliant ideas on the 'miracles' of this world and the concept of gods. And the scene setting and descriptions are capitaviating. And the question of how a world plays out after its gods have died is a deeply interesting premise. But this potential wasn't explored enough. The question of that vacuum and the complex dynamics of power and human intrigue that would result were only touched on superficially and only really as the backdrop for kickass good guy heroes to do their thing. As another major gripe, I could never quite get a handle on the tech level of this world. Sometimes they're fighting with crossbows, then next thing they have machine guns and sticky bomb launchers. It seemed like the world's tech level was just whatever the story needed it to be at that time to make the scene cool.
Robert Jackson Bennet can start books well, but in the final third he always seems to descend into the formulaic: hell-for-leather heroics, emotional epiphanies, heartfelt speeches, good winning out. Kids' stuff, really. Fantasy has moved on from that silliness and now has a little maturity and nuance, and something to actually say about life. Joe Abercrombie, Scott Lynch, Brandon Sanderson and GRRM are putting out some brilliant stuff (well, apart from GRRM, since 2011!!!). But in this case, apart from having socially inclusive credentials, with lead characters that are diverse in ethnicity, gender, and sexuality, its storytelling devices seem old fashioned and dated. And underneath the violence and swearing, the overall feel was just a little......clean cut. Not what I want from my fantasy at all.
2 star = "it was ok" by GR guidelines. This is a neutral rating from me.
This isn't a bad book at all. I just found the writing a bit stiff and heavy going. I didn't know this at first but this is part 3 in a series and I would recommend reading the first two first. I got this book as a free ARC.
This isn't a bad book at all. I just found the writing a bit stiff and heavy going. I didn't know this at first but this is part 3 in a series and I would recommend reading the first two first. I got this book as a free ARC.
When I started this book I was really excited to get a book with more Sigrud. I loved him in City of Stairs and wanted more of him in City of Blades. Finally a book with more of my favorite character in this series. He actually talks more in this book than I expected him to. Don't worry he's still the super tough guy that can kick butt without thinking twice about it.
I was shocked with the way this book started. I spent the majority of the book convinced Shara wasn't really dead and she was going to pop up somewhere and be okay. I guess I'm glad her daughter was so much like her that it felt like she was still there. I miss the Sigrud and Shara partnership from book one. There was so much trust between them. I was glad that Sigrud got his revenge on the jerk that killed her
I was shocked with the way this book started. I spent the majority of the book convinced Shara wasn't really dead and she was going to pop up somewhere and be okay. I guess I'm glad her daughter was so much like her that it felt like she was still there. I miss the Sigrud and Shara partnership from book one. There was so much trust between them. I was glad that Sigrud got his revenge on the jerk that killed her
Started crying on a plane. This is a story of an old man returning to the sea and it is exactly what I wanted from this trilogy.
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
fast-paced
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-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
While not as strong as the other two books in the series, an acceptable ending to the trilogy.
Woah, what a ride!
What an absolutely awesome Agent-Sigrud-Thriller with a splendid mix of dread, mystery, action, introspection, gods and miracles. And on top of that: goosebumping EPICNESS.
A beautiful conclusion to the Divine Cities.
I've seldom encountered that many well crafted (female) characters as in this series. Respect.
The only thing I'm sad about (apart from that's over) is that I can only give 5 stars.
Earned. Through and through.
What an absolutely awesome Agent-Sigrud-Thriller with a splendid mix of dread, mystery, action, introspection, gods and miracles. And on top of that: goosebumping EPICNESS.
A beautiful conclusion to the Divine Cities.
I've seldom encountered that many well crafted (female) characters as in this series. Respect.
The only thing I'm sad about (apart from that's over) is that I can only give 5 stars.
Earned. Through and through.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Hello?? How absolutely perfect was this ending? The whole book, in fact!
Devastated that this series is now over! Cannot wait until I re-read.
Devastated that this series is now over! Cannot wait until I re-read.