laixmari's review against another edition
5.0
I Came Out to Have a Good Time and I'm Honestly Feeling So Attacked Right Now™
sherekaren's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
annie_t's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
sealreads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
lizardgenie's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
a beautiful coming of age story set in robin hobbs fantasy realm. excited to continue with the series.
sag3_moon's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
mebius's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I love and hate this book. On the one hand, we have beautiful prose, a rich cast of characters, and a good but not great story. On the other hand, it all works if we don't look at how gullible and stupid most of the time good guys are.
Spoilers are below, so please be advised.
Let's start with Verity. He was even as useless as in the previous book. In addition to the aforementioned gullibility (Regal murdered your wife's brother and tried to murder you and when Kettricken comes to you trying to be closer to you and asks for riding lessons you send her to Regal and then berate her when he causes her to get lost in the woods). All winter he is going to look at how people build ships, because without him they can't do it?! And sitting in the tower like an addict with a Skill. Completely neglecting his wife.
Chade doing nothing to prevent Regal from poisoning Shrewd mind against everyone. Only offering feeble excuses why Regal doing what he is doing.
When Kettricken at the beginning of the book shows her bravery, empathy, and compassion. I was hopeful that we would see a warrior queen like this country deserves. Instead, it feels like the author decided to abandon this plot (or probably leave it to the next book) and we have a subdued woman who is doing nothing until she became gardener thanks to Fitz. Why even mention Queen's Guard if you will never use them? Instead, we will have Burrich guard her door alone.
When in the previous book Molly left with Jade I was happy for her because it was clear that Fitz is bad for her and will never love her as he loves King or his dogs/wolves. Also, she deserves a person who won't lie (even by omission) to her constantly. In this book, I was sadly proven right. What's even worse, she is pregnant by the end of this book, and my only hope is that Fitz won't find her in the next one. But most likely I will be disappointed.
And last but not least Fitz. All the book I had a feeling that in the previous one when he was 13 and even 10 years old he was smarter than in this one. Here he is half a book hunting with his wolf and another half surprised that he has missed half of the palace intrigues because he was absent.
Why would all of you fight against the most charming, smartest person in the kingdom? They don't even try to fight. Not once, no one in a book didn't do anything to thwart any Regal lies.
But even with all my critique I still love this book, it was engaging and interesting to read, even if sometimes frustrating.
Spoilers are below, so please be advised.
Let's start with Verity. He was even as useless as in the previous book. In addition to the aforementioned gullibility (Regal murdered your wife's brother and tried to murder you and when Kettricken comes to you trying to be closer to you and asks for riding lessons you send her to Regal and then berate her when he causes her to get lost in the woods). All winter he is going to look at how people build ships, because without him they can't do it?! And sitting in the tower like an addict with a Skill. Completely neglecting his wife.
Chade doing nothing to prevent Regal from poisoning Shrewd mind against everyone. Only offering feeble excuses why Regal doing what he is doing.
When Kettricken at the beginning of the book shows her bravery, empathy, and compassion. I was hopeful that we would see a warrior queen like this country deserves. Instead, it feels like the author decided to abandon this plot (or probably leave it to the next book) and we have a subdued woman who is doing nothing until she became gardener thanks to Fitz. Why even mention Queen's Guard if you will never use them? Instead, we will have Burrich guard her door alone.
When in the previous book Molly left with Jade I was happy for her because it was clear that Fitz is bad for her and will never love her as he loves King or his dogs/wolves. Also, she deserves a person who won't lie (even by omission) to her constantly. In this book, I was sadly proven right. What's even worse, she is pregnant by the end of this book, and my only hope is that Fitz won't find her in the next one. But most likely I will be disappointed.
And last but not least Fitz. All the book I had a feeling that in the previous one when he was 13 and even 10 years old he was smarter than in this one. Here he is half a book hunting with his wolf and another half surprised that he has missed half of the palace intrigues because he was absent.
Why would all of you fight against the most charming, smartest person in the kingdom? They don't even try to fight. Not once, no one in a book didn't do anything to thwart any Regal lies.
But even with all my critique I still love this book, it was engaging and interesting to read, even if sometimes frustrating.
jeppe's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
leeeeeeeeeeeeee's review against another edition
i was really excited to reread this series because i'd enjoyed it so much before but wow the ableism is really crushing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism