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4.43 AVERAGE
4.43 AVERAGE
http://goodliteratureistimeless.blogspot.com/2018/09/the-divine-cities-trilogy-robert.html?m=1
This is a strong finish to a fantastic trilogy. After a lifetime of fighting and grief, Sigrud je Harkvaldsson, Shara's right-hand man in book 1, has to make one final push to save the world and maybe, in the end, find peace.
The only downside I can think of is this trilogy is it does feel like every book in it has the same beats (i.e., there's a big second act fight where the heroes tangle with a powerful minion of the Big Bad and an even bigger third act fight with the actual Big Bad). This makes it easier to predict how the plot will go. Nevertheless, the characters are so well-crafted and the exploration of big ideas is thoughtful enough that I don't mind some predictability.
Another thing that I realized over the course of these three books is that not a single character's arc is driven by a romantic relationship. I'm not saying that there is no romance or reference to sex in these books. Book 1, for example, had Shara's ex-boyfriend as an important character. But the characters and the plot are not driven by these romantic relationships. They are all driven by friendship or familial relationship, or even a shared goal. As someone who is generally incredibly invested in a (good) romantic relationship, I was surprised by how much I didn't miss it in these stories. A romance isn't necessary to build these characters and their stories. It sometimes feels like a romance is shoe-horned in to a book and that is always incredibly painful to read. It is a testament to Bennett's writing that he could create characters who would die for each other not because of a hand-waive of "oh they're in love" but because of deeply wrought bonds of loyalty, friendship, and similar ideals.
The only downside I can think of is this trilogy is it does feel like every book in it has the same beats (i.e., there's a big second act fight where the heroes tangle with a powerful minion of the Big Bad and an even bigger third act fight with the actual Big Bad). This makes it easier to predict how the plot will go. Nevertheless, the characters are so well-crafted and the exploration of big ideas is thoughtful enough that I don't mind some predictability.
Another thing that I realized over the course of these three books is that not a single character's arc is driven by a romantic relationship. I'm not saying that there is no romance or reference to sex in these books. Book 1, for example, had Shara's ex-boyfriend as an important character. But the characters and the plot are not driven by these romantic relationships. They are all driven by friendship or familial relationship, or even a shared goal. As someone who is generally incredibly invested in a (good) romantic relationship, I was surprised by how much I didn't miss it in these stories. A romance isn't necessary to build these characters and their stories. It sometimes feels like a romance is shoe-horned in to a book and that is always incredibly painful to read. It is a testament to Bennett's writing that he could create characters who would die for each other not because of a hand-waive of "oh they're in love" but because of deeply wrought bonds of loyalty, friendship, and similar ideals.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I don’t know if I would say this was a satisfying end to the series. It’s definitely bittersweet, but I’m just glad I got to hang out with these characters again. I’m so bummed this series is over 😭
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Grief
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-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
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Probably 3.5 stars, splitting the difference between the first and second books in this trilogy. I found this to be a much more engaging story than City of Blades. At the same time, I don’t feel like this trilogy did its very interesting concept justice.
Not sure how or what to write to review this great piece. I think the expression is "Bennett outdid himself".
Comparing to the previous two books this one is much more hectic and packing with action. Lots of action. It doesn't lose its philosophical and wondrous parts, but there sure is a lot more explosions and fights.
I guess that could only be expected when the protagonist is Sigrud.
Since the first book I thought him overpowered. Well, being in his head kinda of diminishes that a little, but it sure is noticeable the amount of times he is, in his own words, way too lucky. Against other humans he's a one man army and also manages to fend off divine stuff (and a Divine itself).
What saves him is that the scenes are very well-written.
The antagonist was also really good. The "night" theme was really great. When humanity walked its first steps in the world and confronted the night, what might lurk within, how that even millenniums later still somewhat affects us... that was great for the theme of a god.
The antagonist is also pretty resourceful and has a frightening power. His descriptions are awesome.
Until suddenly he just starts throwing teenage tantrums and acting very pathetically. It was mind boggling and almost killed the character.
This was intentional, as one chapter starts with a description of what an adult should be, and of course there are people (lots of it) with the same attitude and view of Nokov, but storywise that hurt the character a lot.
I didn't agree with that course, I think Nokov's issues could have been explored and fleshed out without doing that. It really made the character stop being menacing, less tragic and even less interesting.
And he isn't the only one. Later more divinities like him start appearing and acting in the same way.
There's some divine children here, but some of them "awakened" and lived for decades or centuries, so some of them, specially Nokov, could feel a little more mature.
As in the previous books there's also a "mystery solving" part, but far less central than in the previous books. There is a murder mystery, but this one is actually solved pretty quickly and the more mysterious aspects are about certain people's identities and powers.
I think it was pretty easy to see the relations between certain characters and powers, intentions and more specifically, who was a special divine child. The book tries to misdirect you various times but it was so clear it was misdirection that it had the opposite effect: it simply pointed out even more clearly who really was the special kid.
If the intention was to simply try to misdirect the characters but not the reader and give you that impression "oh, can't wait to see how these characters are gonna react when they realize this" and make the reader curious when that finally happens, then it works.
If it was done with mind blowing the reader with a surprise big plot twists in mind... then it doesn't.
The story really soars when describing the divinities. Their descriptions, origins and power of domains and the sentences used are really great. You really feel like it would be to be in the presence of these beings. Bennett really shines in those moments.
Now put together Sigrud, a modern spy with Viking vibes, Ivanya, and old lady who is also a billionaire who chooses to live in a little farm tending sheep and practicing with her rifle and Tatyana, a bookish teen girl and you have an interesting group. Special mention to Malwina as well.
Now throw them into divine plots of the so greatly described divinities mentioned above, crazy battles in crazy situations, with some amusing banter and moments thrown in and then the story becomes something more special.
And finally, the story will really surprise you in the way it ends. The world changes drastically. At the same time it marks the conclusion of the saga, it also leaves a very wide door open in case the author ever wishes to return to this world. Which hopefully he will someday.
Despite some nitpickings that I mentioned, this book has definitely far more pros and also helped with a reading slump. So that deserves extra points!
Comparing to the previous two books this one is much more hectic and packing with action. Lots of action. It doesn't lose its philosophical and wondrous parts, but there sure is a lot more explosions and fights.
I guess that could only be expected when the protagonist is Sigrud.
Since the first book I thought him overpowered. Well, being in his head kinda of diminishes that a little, but it sure is noticeable the amount of times he is, in his own words, way too lucky. Against other humans he's a one man army and also manages to fend off divine stuff (and a Divine itself).
What saves him is that the scenes are very well-written.
The antagonist was also really good. The "night" theme was really great. When humanity walked its first steps in the world and confronted the night, what might lurk within, how that even millenniums later still somewhat affects us... that was great for the theme of a god.
The antagonist is also pretty resourceful and has a frightening power. His descriptions are awesome.
Until suddenly he just starts throwing teenage tantrums and acting very pathetically. It was mind boggling and almost killed the character.
This was intentional, as one chapter starts with a description of what an adult should be, and of course there are people (lots of it) with the same attitude and view of Nokov, but storywise that hurt the character a lot.
I didn't agree with that course, I think Nokov's issues could have been explored and fleshed out without doing that. It really made the character stop being menacing, less tragic and even less interesting.
And he isn't the only one. Later more divinities like him start appearing and acting in the same way.
There's some divine children here, but some of them "awakened" and lived for decades or centuries, so some of them, specially Nokov, could feel a little more mature.
As in the previous books there's also a "mystery solving" part, but far less central than in the previous books. There is a murder mystery, but this one is actually solved pretty quickly and the more mysterious aspects are about certain people's identities and powers.
I think it was pretty easy to see the relations between certain characters and powers, intentions and more specifically, who was a special divine child. The book tries to misdirect you various times but it was so clear it was misdirection that it had the opposite effect: it simply pointed out even more clearly who really was the special kid.
If the intention was to simply try to misdirect the characters but not the reader and give you that impression "oh, can't wait to see how these characters are gonna react when they realize this" and make the reader curious when that finally happens, then it works.
If it was done with mind blowing the reader with a surprise big plot twists in mind... then it doesn't.
The story really soars when describing the divinities. Their descriptions, origins and power of domains and the sentences used are really great. You really feel like it would be to be in the presence of these beings. Bennett really shines in those moments.
Now put together Sigrud, a modern spy with Viking vibes, Ivanya, and old lady who is also a billionaire who chooses to live in a little farm tending sheep and practicing with her rifle and Tatyana, a bookish teen girl and you have an interesting group. Special mention to Malwina as well.
Now throw them into divine plots of the so greatly described divinities mentioned above, crazy battles in crazy situations, with some amusing banter and moments thrown in and then the story becomes something more special.
And finally, the story will really surprise you in the way it ends. The world changes drastically. At the same time it marks the conclusion of the saga, it also leaves a very wide door open in case the author ever wishes to return to this world. Which hopefully he will someday.
Despite some nitpickings that I mentioned, this book has definitely far more pros and also helped with a reading slump. So that deserves extra points!