Reviews

The Gladiator's Downfall by Kristen Banet

kzimm2024's review

5.0

RE-read 4-2021, not much more to add other than it is nice to slow down and take my time reading this series, savor the details since the first time reading it was more rushed :)

1st review: What can I say about this fantastic series? The world building, the main characters, the plot.
Read it!
It's action packed, has brutality but the worst stuff happens off page mostly and is implied. So its impact is lessened and you are able to keep going. It's believable.

It has romance but its not insta-love, just insta-attraction, which you understand because these are freaking athletes in the best shape of their lives walking around in loin cloths. So, yeah, I get it :)
There are M/M couples as well as M/F, so its well rounded. haha

One reviewer mentioned the dialogue being stilted and hard to feel it flowed naturally. I have to say I saw it too but it didn't stop me except for the part where Mat comments on Maves' breasts, being glad they are large. REALLY???

I am glad these are long books WITH romance. Think of it as a cross between TA White and (I don't know) an author that writes sexy times tastefully. Hoping it becomes more like Auryn Hadley by the time I get to the next books :)

And I haven't cried yet- as the author threatens- so either I am impervious or its still coming. 0_0

apothecary's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

3.0

suzsbooks's review

adventurous 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? It's complicated

3.75

atagarev's review

1.0

Couldn't quite make it halfway through the book before giving up completely. This is essentially the same three short scenes repeating over and over and over and over again- boring training scene that affects nothing, ridiculous main characters wanting to have sex scene but doing nothing scene, horrific scene of rape or abuse handled with the grace of a bull rampaging through a china shop, repeat ad nauseam. The story doesn't progress, the serious issues it sort of half-heartedly tries to tackle are completely bungled and it switches between horrible systemic abuse and rape and the main characters being horny for each other quickly and frequently enough to make a reader dizzy.

amywarnes's review

Well written but just too heavy/epic fantasy for what I'm in the mood for at the moment. I might come back to it at some point. 

tsaechaox's review

adventurous challenging dark tense slow-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

4.75

I genuinely felt that this was such well done fantasy. It’s definitely slower paced as this is a longer series so the world building is needed but that doesn’t mean it’s not exciting. Infact I felt it constantly kept me entertained and emotional and I just love mave so much. 

asmannas's review

adventurous slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

swarley's review

adventurous dark slow-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

4.25

curiouschimera's review against another edition

5.0

My fourth reread and I still love this series as much as the first time, if not more. Truly a masterpiece of fantasy and world building with a sweet learning to love romance.

gypsydawn's review

5.0

Woah

I had this sitting in my TBR pile for quite some time, putting off reading it because I just knew what would happen from that blurb - complete and utter immersion. This truly is the start of an epic fantasy, one that is sweeping through empires and people, introducing new species and offering up a heroine that has seen... and survived... the worst this world has to offer. Long, lush and vivid, this introduction blows open the doors to this strange story, inviting fans of fantasy and paranormal alike. If you enjoyed the Rise of the Iliri, or full fledged feeling of Robert Jordan, then you’ll love this. I think it’s going to be RH as well.

Pros:
- Sweeping and dynamic.
- You HAVE to pay attention.
- World building is phenomenal.
- Characters are complex already, even in book 1.

Cons:
- This is NOT a quick or feel good read. If you want that, look elsewhere.