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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
Solid. Read it in one sitting at a library cafe. Good bit of suspense and intrigue along with impressive world building in the background. Going to read the second one for sure
adventurous
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I have found Djano Wexler's works to spotty; very much enjoying The Shadow Campaign and thinking Wells of Sorcery mediocre a best. Ashes of the Sun, the first volume of Burningblade & Silvereye series was not good.
While reading I was confused as to who the intended audience was: middle reader, young adult, adult? Sure, there were a few f-bombs, a sexual encounter or two, and some lascivious thoughts by a few of the characters - however, between the simplistic prose, painful dialog, and nonexistent plot the novel felt juvenile.
I do not mind a slow burn/slow start in my fantasy novels (for goodness sake, I enjoy most of Brandon Sanderson's works and he is the king of the slow start) if it is done well and leads to something. That is not the case here. After the events of the prologue set siblings Maya and Gyre on their separate and opposite - and yet fated to cross - paths, nothing really happens. Sure there are a series of missions for the siblings, but little else. The plot suffers from meandering, plodding pacing.
If the characters were compelling perhaps I would not have minded the pacing (I can forgive a lot if the author has great characters (i.e., Joe Abercrombie)). I found Mr. Wexler's characters dull and flat, being reduced to caricatures: gloomy Gyre, spunky Maya, nervous Beq, obnoxious Tanax, mysterious Kit, and so on. And while we're on the characters, what is with their names: Varo Plagueluck, Raskos Rottentooth, Nicomidi Thunderclap, Jadedia Suddenhstorm, Grye Lackeye (or Silvereye, Maya Burningnblade . . . I think the names lead to the juvenile feel of the novel.
Between the unappealing prose, the uninspired characters, and lack of discernable plot I did not enjoy this novel and will be passing on future volumes.
While reading I was confused as to who the intended audience was: middle reader, young adult, adult? Sure, there were a few f-bombs, a sexual encounter or two, and some lascivious thoughts by a few of the characters - however, between the simplistic prose, painful dialog, and nonexistent plot the novel felt juvenile.
I do not mind a slow burn/slow start in my fantasy novels (for goodness sake, I enjoy most of Brandon Sanderson's works and he is the king of the slow start) if it is done well and leads to something. That is not the case here. After the events of the prologue set siblings Maya and Gyre on their separate and opposite - and yet fated to cross - paths, nothing really happens. Sure there are a series of missions for the siblings, but little else. The plot suffers from meandering, plodding pacing.
If the characters were compelling perhaps I would not have minded the pacing (I can forgive a lot if the author has great characters (i.e., Joe Abercrombie)). I found Mr. Wexler's characters dull and flat, being reduced to caricatures: gloomy Gyre, spunky Maya, nervous Beq, obnoxious Tanax, mysterious Kit, and so on. And while we're on the characters, what is with their names: Varo Plagueluck, Raskos Rottentooth, Nicomidi Thunderclap, Jadedia Suddenhstorm, Grye Lackeye (or Silvereye, Maya Burningnblade . . . I think the names lead to the juvenile feel of the novel.
Between the unappealing prose, the uninspired characters, and lack of discernable plot I did not enjoy this novel and will be passing on future volumes.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
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
This was a solid, fun time with great representation and a cool cast of characters. It wasn’t the most original of plots (felt very Star Wars in parts too), and some of the writing got really repetitive, but overall, it was a decent read!
Super fun science fantasy that is a great commentary on Star Wars with lots of representation.
CW: genocide (off page), child abduction, chronic illness, violence, sex (on page), death of parent (off page)
CW: genocide (off page), child abduction, chronic illness, violence, sex (on page), death of parent (off page)
adventurous
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:
No