Reviews

The Riddle by Alison Croggon

cielbear's review against another edition

5.0

The book 'The Riddle' by Alison Croggon, was an amazing book to read. There was a great story line that make you want to dive right into the book. This book had many foreshadowing details that you really didn't notice until the 'big moment' happened. I enjoyed the this book very much. I don't think I've ever read a book in the middle of a series where I understood what was going on fully. This is an amazing book, and I hope anyone will read and enjoy the book like I have.

fai_aka's review

3.0

3.5 stars

I actually would prefer much more that Cadvan and Maerad’s relationship doesn’t turn into a romantic relationship. I just don’t see them together as a couple.

betharanova's review against another edition

5.0

I'll be the first to admit that I possibly read this book... too fast.

But a third of the way through, it hit me right in my Cadvan-loving heart, and the back of the book promised there would be a "seductive Winterking," so what's a girl to do?

This was another utter delight. A lot of people compare it to LotR, but to me the only real similarity is that there's this feeling of vast, infinite lore. This is an expansive, complex world and I could spend ages and ages learning about it and its history.

But Maerad is really what keeps me going. She's so stubborn and confused and frightened and angry at it all, even as she can't help caring so, so much, and I love her and want her to succeed. Her will is really something to behold, and apparently things just keep getting better as the series goes on!

My only complaints: I wish the end of the book had taken more time to wrap up the earlier conflict between Maerad and Cadvan. And... I wish we had spent way more time with the seductive Winterking.

lizziethereader's review

3.0

This book has such good moments but the pacing is so odd. There are pages of vivid descriptions so you can really picture landscapes, food, and things, but then major plot points happen within a paragraph or so. I'm also having a difficult time with one of the plot points because it seems so out of the blue... it might be explained in the next book, but for now it feels odd. 
I liked it overall, but didn't love it because those things do bug me. 

aggressive_nostalgia's review against another edition

Ahh, even better than the first book! Whereas The Naming sometimes felt a little too structured - like the author was trying to set up a story according to the "guidelines" of classic fantasy - The Riddle was far more original and dealt with more unique ideas and plot twists. The changes in Maerad were really interesting - instead of being the typical, slightly lost-and-in-distress damsel with powers out of her depth that she sometimes came across as in the first book, she's a fallible, irrational, stubborn, resentful, angsty teenager! Haha! I love it! Really, it added a lot of realism to the story, and the lessons she learned about love and loyalty really drew me in. She does learn about sacrifices, honesty and truth, and how to make choices. The plot devices, although some have been much overused in past fantasy epics, were well played out. I'm still loving (and mourning the deaths of) the characters, both old and new, and even the poetry wasn't bad. This series has me totally hooked, and I can't wait to see where Maerad's quest for the Treesong - and answers about her past - lead her in the last two books.

purple_pages's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful medium-paced

4.0

janicesierra's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective medium-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? It's complicated

5.0

juliettechihyu's review against another edition

5.0

Loved it just as much as the first book! The conflict between Maerad and Cadvan, and even between Maerad and herself, made for an interesting read and the whole time, this tension between the characters wove an ominous feeling throughout the book.

licensetoshelbs's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

shelbyfayy's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-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

3.5