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embereye's review against another edition
3.0
This was a somewhat entertaining novel, but is definitely a fantasy novel of it's time. There were things I found annoying. Moments where the main character was helpless in a way I did not understand (as though she were simply frozen and unable to do anything). But otherwise it was an ok somewhat cheesy fantasy read.
bookishgenerations's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
medium-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
4.5
smurf2416's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. Really went back and forth between giving it 3 stars and giving it 4 stars. In the end, I really liked the story and I thought the pace moved along really well. The characters just were not amazing. No male characters that I liked at all, or that I thought were interesting. Actually I think the most interesting male character was the Horse. And I'm not even sure the Horse was male. Decent fantasy book though. Definitely seems like a standalone and not the first of a fantasy series.
cooki3_monst3r's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
cooki3_monst3r's review
5.0
This is a phenomenal start to my favorite series of all time. Rereading it since the 7th book was released has been eye opening to how extensively the author planned the story before she ever began writing. There are details in this first book that don’t show up again until several books later.
Kristen Britain is beyond amazing and does everything deliberately and I will die on this hill.
Kristen Britain is beyond amazing and does everything deliberately and I will die on this hill.
10000bees's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
There is a reason I've had this book unread on my shelf for a decade. I don't know what compelled me to buy it (probably a random post on reddit), but the whole time I've owned it I've just been like hmm. I don't think this is my type of book. And I was right. If it hadn't been for the audiobook, I don't think I could have actually gotten through this. There was just so much random lore dumped in the first 10% that meant absolutely nothing to the story other than to say look! This place has History! And then there was the meandering quest and the convenient challenges and solutions that had me rolling my eyes. I know this was written in a different time and for a different audience, and I really tried to keep that in mind, but I simply struggled to enjoy reading this. Maybe I would have liked it when I was 10-12 but man. Not today.
dragoncat26's review against another edition
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? No
4.75
flygonjinn's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
qu33nofbookz's review against another edition
2.0
The story of a spoiled, bratty, idiotic, judgmental, hypocritical teenager who has little patience and even smaller self-preservation skills but who happens to be such a special little snowflake that no matter what she does (or doesn't do) is fated to be THE ONE who will save the kingdom.
Karigan has been suspended from school due to politics and the fact that she does not play well with others. In a fit she runs away. While on the road she has a run in with a dying green rider, one of the kingdoms messengers. He makes her swear to carry on his mission and she accepts. From there she is pursued on her drawn out journey to the king who the message is for. She manages to make allies and get captured and almost eaten by monsters before finally reaching her destination by magical means. (Why her allies didn't help her this way, or even help the dead green rider, long before this moment is a mystery. She has been wondering about with a 'direly important life or death' message for what is about 2 or more weeks almost dying at least twice before they step in and go oh! you are about to die and need to get the message to the king asap! We'll take you there in minutes!)
Once at court her behavior is that of a bratty 12 year old who is oblivious to what is going on around her. All she can think is to go home. But every time she tries to go trouble happens and she gets sucked in, or inserts herself even if she will be causing half the danger by insisting on being involved. The bad guys try their evil plot and she is there to save the day (only not really because she just steps in it every time and has to be saved because she can't take advise, orders or has any common sense or self-preservation skills). But she is THE ONE so whatever she does works in the end and she doesn't die (even though she should have like three times over) and all is well. Oh and just cause she's the special one she has to fall in love with the king who has to like her back just cause it sounds good for the plot not because they actually have chemistry or like the same things or even spent any time together. But since the kingdom is saved and all that jazz it's back home she goes, and forget about finishing school, who needs that it's off to work after she gets home. The end.
The pacing of this story sucked. It starts and stops starts and stops. There is a great chase scene, danger is happening then bam! Everything stops when our MC decides it's time to take a break and the plot goes off on a heavy info (that's not all that relevant) dump tangent. Then it's back to meandering along, the chase picks up and....another screeching halt when she needs another break filled with irrelevant descriptions. Rinse and repeat.
The characters are all shallow ideas that are never fully fleshed out. Karigan is the only one we get to know and she has very little depth and no real character growth. And she is an unlikeable idiot but she is the MC and she is just so special you just have to like her...not. The villains are of the old fashion hand wringing mustache twirling type, you laugh at them more than anything else. The whole first chapter should have just been removed by the editor as completely unnecessary.
The plot is nothing new or special and fills out a check list for a basic fantasy story. Main MC who was just a normal person going about their business but gets sucked into a dangerous quest and finds out they are something really special. Their is magic that is never really explained or has rules or logic that is usually regarded as evil if it's old. A religion or belief system that is a mish mash of lots of religions/beliefs just for kicks. Elves are a must. Monsters and/or large sentient creatures to hinder and aid our MC. Mysterious allies that give you lots of info about the world/politics/powers/situation to which the MC doesn't listen to. Loyal allies/sidekick(s) that stick with you through all the shit you put them through or no matter how stupid their leaders are. A kingdom in peril from it's wealthier power hungry citizens or the kingdom next door you slighted or have taken in our unwanted slighted relatives. The evil villain that is more laughable then cringe-able. A love triangle of some kind. This book had them all. One thing that confused me is why everyone who is so gung ho about the king in danger is because he is a great king. Really? Because I didn't see it. We aren't told/shown why he is a great king. He didn't do anything special and besides be kinda nice to our MC he seems pretty shitty to the rest of his subjects.
Karigan has been suspended from school due to politics and the fact that she does not play well with others. In a fit she runs away. While on the road she has a run in with a dying green rider, one of the kingdoms messengers. He makes her swear to carry on his mission and she accepts. From there she is pursued on her drawn out journey to the king who the message is for. She manages to make allies and get captured and almost eaten by monsters before finally reaching her destination by magical means. (Why her allies didn't help her this way, or even help the dead green rider, long before this moment is a mystery. She has been wondering about with a 'direly important life or death' message for what is about 2 or more weeks almost dying at least twice before they step in and go oh! you are about to die and need to get the message to the king asap! We'll take you there in minutes!)
Once at court her behavior is that of a bratty 12 year old who is oblivious to what is going on around her. All she can think is to go home. But every time she tries to go trouble happens and she gets sucked in, or inserts herself even if she will be causing half the danger by insisting on being involved. The bad guys try their evil plot and she is there to save the day (only not really because she just steps in it every time and has to be saved because she can't take advise, orders or has any common sense or self-preservation skills). But she is THE ONE so whatever she does works in the end and she doesn't die (even though she should have like three times over) and all is well. Oh and just cause she's the special one she has to fall in love with the king who has to like her back just cause it sounds good for the plot not because they actually have chemistry or like the same things or even spent any time together. But since the kingdom is saved and all that jazz it's back home she goes, and forget about finishing school, who needs that it's off to work after she gets home. The end.
The pacing of this story sucked. It starts and stops starts and stops. There is a great chase scene, danger is happening then bam! Everything stops when our MC decides it's time to take a break and the plot goes off on a heavy info (that's not all that relevant) dump tangent. Then it's back to meandering along, the chase picks up and....another screeching halt when she needs another break filled with irrelevant descriptions. Rinse and repeat.
The characters are all shallow ideas that are never fully fleshed out. Karigan is the only one we get to know and she has very little depth and no real character growth. And she is an unlikeable idiot but she is the MC and she is just so special you just have to like her...not. The villains are of the old fashion hand wringing mustache twirling type, you laugh at them more than anything else. The whole first chapter should have just been removed by the editor as completely unnecessary.
The plot is nothing new or special and fills out a check list for a basic fantasy story. Main MC who was just a normal person going about their business but gets sucked into a dangerous quest and finds out they are something really special. Their is magic that is never really explained or has rules or logic that is usually regarded as evil if it's old. A religion or belief system that is a mish mash of lots of religions/beliefs just for kicks. Elves are a must. Monsters and/or large sentient creatures to hinder and aid our MC. Mysterious allies that give you lots of info about the world/politics/powers/situation to which the MC doesn't listen to. Loyal allies/sidekick(s) that stick with you through all the shit you put them through or no matter how stupid their leaders are. A kingdom in peril from it's wealthier power hungry citizens or the kingdom next door you slighted or have taken in our unwanted slighted relatives. The evil villain that is more laughable then cringe-able. A love triangle of some kind. This book had them all. One thing that confused me is why everyone who is so gung ho about the king in danger is because he is a great king. Really? Because I didn't see it. We aren't told/shown why he is a great king. He didn't do anything special and besides be kinda nice to our MC he seems pretty shitty to the rest of his subjects.
connie_a's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75