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thejacksavant's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
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
5.0
coniferus's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
4.75
Staveley’s books get better and better the more he writes.
itsfreelancer's review against another edition
5.0
Do you have any idea how much I missed the Kettral? Fucking Gwenna Sharpe, this is by far your best story.
vnbuzz12's review against another edition
5.0
Wtf!
It is and should be a crime to be this emotionally invested in this book! Amazing work!! I would die a thousand times for Gwenna. And like our wonderful protagonist would say— “FUCK!”
It is and should be a crime to be this emotionally invested in this book! Amazing work!! I would die a thousand times for Gwenna. And like our wonderful protagonist would say— “FUCK!”
zarias_libaray's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
kat_sanford's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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? Yes
4.5
ghougle's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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
5.0
blankpagepanic's review against another edition
5.0
This novel was incredible.
Now, firstly I must state that I have massive Gwenna Sharpe bias, she's my favorite character in all of Staveley's work, closely followed by Pyrre and baby Ruc (obvious, huh?), which is to say I also have massive everything-Dombâng-related bias. I love the way Staveley brings this city to life and, consequently, of course, this world.
Skullsworn was a five-star read, now among my top 5 books of all time, and I must say I read it before Chronicle of The Unhewn Throne, meaning I know it affected my enjoyment of the series.
Now, for The Empire's Ruin... it's VERY HARD for me to rate it above Skullsworn, but it's absolutely impossible to rate it below. So we come to this: they'll share the place they've conquered inside my heart, side by side.
The way this novel builds on the previously established lore is astounding, and I trust that in time it will become even more epic. There's never a dull moment, the story grips the reader by the throat from the very first word without ever letting go, and Staveley's prose is immaculate, vivid, brutal.
Now, firstly I must state that I have massive Gwenna Sharpe bias, she's my favorite character in all of Staveley's work, closely followed by Pyrre and baby Ruc (obvious, huh?), which is to say I also have massive everything-Dombâng-related bias. I love the way Staveley brings this city to life and, consequently, of course, this world.
Skullsworn was a five-star read, now among my top 5 books of all time, and I must say I read it before Chronicle of The Unhewn Throne, meaning I know it affected my enjoyment of the series.
Now, for The Empire's Ruin... it's VERY HARD for me to rate it above Skullsworn, but it's absolutely impossible to rate it below. So we come to this: they'll share the place they've conquered inside my heart, side by side.
The way this novel builds on the previously established lore is astounding, and I trust that in time it will become even more epic. There's never a dull moment, the story grips the reader by the throat from the very first word without ever letting go, and Staveley's prose is immaculate, vivid, brutal.
dawn_marie's review against another edition
3.0
The Empire’s Ruin is the first of Brian Staveley’s “next generation” novels set in the Unhewn Throne world. In this offering, the reader follows three main characters: Gwenna Sharpe, a disgraced Kettral commander sent to foreign lands searching for kettral eggs; Ruc, a priest of the goodness of love with a dark, deadly secret; and Akiil, a Shin monk who has returned to his thieving/grifting roots.
Mr. Staveley builds upon the world and magic system he created in the Unhewn Throne series, expanding it as the main characters work their way through the story. While a reader does not necessarily need to have read the first series to appreciate/understand the inner workings of this world – the author does a good job of summarizing relevant details – the events of those novels add texture and color to this novel.
The character work, at least for the three main characters, was strong. Each was presented as an individual with a fully realized backstory that often informs their current behavior. The characters often experience complex, and sometimes contradictory, emotions. I just wish that some of the supporting characters were less dull, annoying, or cartoonish (I’m looking at you Bien and Goatface).
There really wasn’t a plot so much as a moving of the characters into position for future installments; and it wasn’t until the final act that the reader can see the beginnings (just the beginnings) of how the separate story lines might weave together. As is typical for the first entry into a new series, the pacing for The Empire’s Ruin is slow. Very, very slow – laboriously slow. While there were “events” or “action” that occurred throughout the plot, it often was tedious and repetitive.
Though flawed (minorly so), The Empire’s Ruin was enjoyable and I look forward to future installments.
Mr. Staveley builds upon the world and magic system he created in the Unhewn Throne series, expanding it as the main characters work their way through the story. While a reader does not necessarily need to have read the first series to appreciate/understand the inner workings of this world – the author does a good job of summarizing relevant details – the events of those novels add texture and color to this novel.
The character work, at least for the three main characters, was strong. Each was presented as an individual with a fully realized backstory that often informs their current behavior. The characters often experience complex, and sometimes contradictory, emotions. I just wish that some of the supporting characters were less dull, annoying, or cartoonish (I’m looking at you Bien and Goatface).
Spoiler
I appreciate the development of Gwenna Sharpe and her struggles with post traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety. Too often authors have their characters experience some devastating event, have them be sad for a paragraph or two, and then move on as if the “thing” that happened never happened. While it was difficult to read some of the Gwenna chapters due to her mental anguish, it was refreshing to see a character deal with horrific events in a realistic fashion.There really wasn’t a plot so much as a moving of the characters into position for future installments; and it wasn’t until the final act that the reader can see the beginnings (just the beginnings) of how the separate story lines might weave together. As is typical for the first entry into a new series, the pacing for The Empire’s Ruin is slow. Very, very slow – laboriously slow. While there were “events” or “action” that occurred throughout the plot, it often was tedious and repetitive.
Though flawed (minorly so), The Empire’s Ruin was enjoyable and I look forward to future installments.
kelseyjl22's review against another edition
Dnf; did not like writing style or characterization of women