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steggellettea94's review against another edition
4.0
I didn’t know what to expect going into this book. I’m glad I didn’t. It was wonderful to revisit Quint and the world. I enjoyed the politics and the atmosphere. My only complaint was how black and white the characters were, and how Maris was not really there. I know she’s Quint’s friend and he’s the main character, but I wanted to see things from her view. I think the book could have been better if they split perspectives like they did in the 4th (Curse of the Gloamglozer). I also was irritated that there were characters who were evil just ‘cause. Mostly because it seemed the authors were on the verge of giving the characters depth and then stopped just short. And the fact that Quint and his friends were just so good...it wasn’t realistic. However, this was still an extremely enjoyable book, and I am glad I read it.
bluejay21's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
fipah's review against another edition
2.0
2 stars = it was semi OK
This short book left me feeling kind of meh...
1.) It is clearly aimed at children, yet despite knowing it is not necessarily an adult's book I do truly mean this following critique: the plot seems shallow, simply A,B,C happen and the day is unimaginatively won. I found it less quirky than the first Edge book.
2.) I feel it was shallow because the characters and their stories told held no real lessons and/or interesting concepts for children to learn from or empathise with: the variegated figures that appear in the book may be different by their looks or their quaint race, yet they feel like empty vessels carrying a name, saying some select phrases and maintaining their uninspired roles they hold in the story.
3.) Moreover, some of the plot's resolutions I found utterly disturbing and dangerous while still taking into account the rudimentary level of the story. For example, the protagonist literally bought three slaves; this act was portrayed as freeing them. The freed ones were, of course, automatically grateful and assumed the role of protagonist's servants/employees. It felt rushed and only served to accelerate the plot and offer a solution quickly. Again, the characters carried no real agency over their lives and merely served the oversimplistic plot. Don't get me wrong, fairy tales sure are simpler, yet this is book is the wrong simple.
Recommended only if you have really enjoyed the first book and you don't mind the fact that the plot and characters, despite the exotic setting, are lacklustre and vapid.
This short book left me feeling kind of meh...
1.) It is clearly aimed at children, yet despite knowing it is not necessarily an adult's book I do truly mean this following critique: the plot seems shallow, simply A,B,C happen and the day is unimaginatively won. I found it less quirky than the first Edge book.
2.) I feel it was shallow because the characters and their stories told held no real lessons and/or interesting concepts for children to learn from or empathise with: the variegated figures that appear in the book may be different by their looks or their quaint race, yet they feel like empty vessels carrying a name, saying some select phrases and maintaining their uninspired roles they hold in the story.
3.) Moreover, some of the plot's resolutions I found utterly disturbing and dangerous while still taking into account the rudimentary level of the story. For example, the protagonist literally bought three slaves; this act was portrayed as freeing them. The freed ones were, of course, automatically grateful and assumed the role of protagonist's servants/employees. It felt rushed and only served to accelerate the plot and offer a solution quickly. Again, the characters carried no real agency over their lives and merely served the oversimplistic plot. Don't get me wrong, fairy tales sure are simpler, yet this is book is the wrong simple.
Recommended only if you have really enjoyed the first book and you don't mind the fact that the plot and characters, despite the exotic setting, are lacklustre and vapid.
bookishliz_'s review against another edition
adventurous
medium-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
3.75
beccisbuecher's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
blakethebookeater's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
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
4.0
This book was WILD.
For the first half of this book, I was enjoying it, but nothing really blew me away. But the SECOND HALF OMG. The setup is so worth it for the explosive payoff at the end.
In this book, Quint is attending the Academy to become a Knight, so he can voyage to find stormphrax, like all the other knights long to do. Most of this book follows Quint's exploits as a student, but it is never boring. Instead of focusing on what he's actually learning, the book instead has us focused on the political backstabbing and intrigue of plots made by the scholars. And that's where this book shines.
In The Winter Knights, the sky scholars are waiting for the arrival of a Great Storm so they can get more stormphrax to weigh down the Great Rock of Sanctaphrax, for the seemingly endless winter storm is causing the rock to strain against its chain...threatening to hurtle the entire city into Open Sky. The discrimination against Earth Scholars comes to a heated peak in this novel, with plots and purges taking place. And Quint has an arch nemesis in the fellow Undertowner Villnix (who's a total POS).
This book is HECKIN DARK, y'all. Like I thought the first one was intense, but this one includes plots of murder, a coup (with a high body count), and even more. For a middle grade, this was more than shocking and I feel this series is one that kids would absolutely love (as I know bc I loved them as a kid) but parents would HATE. I think it sits at around a PG-13 range. The story is just so compelling and has ACTUAL STAKES and it's amazing.
Loving where this trilogy is going and SO HYPED for the third book, where Quint and his dad are hunting the man who murdered the rest of their family. REVENGE!!!
For the first half of this book, I was enjoying it, but nothing really blew me away. But the SECOND HALF OMG. The setup is so worth it for the explosive payoff at the end.
In this book, Quint is attending the Academy to become a Knight, so he can voyage to find stormphrax, like all the other knights long to do. Most of this book follows Quint's exploits as a student, but it is never boring. Instead of focusing on what he's actually learning, the book instead has us focused on the political backstabbing and intrigue of plots made by the scholars. And that's where this book shines.
In The Winter Knights, the sky scholars are waiting for the arrival of a Great Storm so they can get more stormphrax to weigh down the Great Rock of Sanctaphrax, for the seemingly endless winter storm is causing the rock to strain against its chain...threatening to hurtle the entire city into Open Sky. The discrimination against Earth Scholars comes to a heated peak in this novel, with plots and purges taking place. And Quint has an arch nemesis in the fellow Undertowner Villnix (who's a total POS).
This book is HECKIN DARK, y'all. Like I thought the first one was intense, but this one includes plots of murder, a coup (with a high body count), and even more. For a middle grade, this was more than shocking and I feel this series is one that kids would absolutely love (as I know bc I loved them as a kid) but parents would HATE. I think it sits at around a PG-13 range. The story is just so compelling and has ACTUAL STAKES and it's amazing.
Loving where this trilogy is going and SO HYPED for the third book, where Quint and his dad are hunting the man who murdered the rest of their family. REVENGE!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Violence, Murder, Religious bigotry, and Body horror
Moderate: Animal death, Death of parent, and Death
Minor: Fatphobia
honeybadger's review against another edition
adventurous
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
4.5
friedatweehuysen's review against another edition
4.0
Wonderful continuation of the Quint's tale. The animals that Paul Stewart thinks up are just so strange and fantastic.
luann's review against another edition
3.0
I love this series by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell. The Winter Knights is the eighth in The Edge Chronicles. It was slow going in the beginning, but did pick up the pace eventually. A must-read for those who have read the previous seven.
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