Scan barcode
bergha1998's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
3.75
I enjoyed this one quite a lot more than the first of the series. The twists and turns of the multiple mysteries were intriguing, and I found this one far less depressing. I would love more romance, but I get why it is the way it is.
Character development, World building
“It made me feel better, as if all problems were inherently solvable, as if no answer I chose would be wrong.”
“It was not, after all, so heavy that I could not carry it, and while it was unwise to hope the damage might miraculously be repaired, it was also unwise to forget that I had thought myself destroyed once before and been wrong.”
Character development, World building
“It made me feel better, as if all problems were inherently solvable, as if no answer I chose would be wrong.”
“It was not, after all, so heavy that I could not carry it, and while it was unwise to hope the damage might miraculously be repaired, it was also unwise to forget that I had thought myself destroyed once before and been wrong.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Violence, Death, Child abuse, Murder, Gaslighting, and Grief
Minor: Pedophilia
marenjk's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
slow-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
4.5
This is exactly the kind of thing I love. Thara Celehar does not fail to be a compelling narrator, perhaps he is even more engaging in The Grief of Stones than he was for The Witness for the Dead.
I liked the first book a lot, and I loved this one even more. A lot of that had to do with me being "broken in" to the setting of the story; I'll admit that the titles and the linguistics of naming conventions had me scrambling through The Goblin Emperor and halfway through The Witness for the Dead. Nevertheless, the story and the heart of the characters shine through.
The mystery of this installment was one I found very compelling, and I think had a larger influence on the shape of the story than the mystery of Shiveän's murder had on The Witness for the Dead. I adore the new characters we've been introduced to, and I look forward to what adventures lie in store for them.
Thara Celehar is a good man riddled guilt who wonders why any one would love him, and it for that reason and many others he has a resolute fan in me.
I liked the first book a lot, and I loved this one even more. A lot of that had to do with me being "broken in" to the setting of the story; I'll admit that the titles and the linguistics of naming conventions had me scrambling through The Goblin Emperor and halfway through The Witness for the Dead. Nevertheless, the story and the heart of the characters shine through.
The mystery of this installment was one I found very compelling, and I think had a larger influence on the shape of the story than the mystery of Shiveän's murder had on The Witness for the Dead. I adore the new characters we've been introduced to, and I look forward to what adventures lie in store for them.
Thara Celehar is a good man riddled guilt who wonders why any one would love him, and it for that reason and many others he has a resolute fan in me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Moderate: Sexual violence, Child abuse, Suicide, Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Torture, Misogyny, and Trafficking
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Ableism, Outing, Suicidal thoughts, Pedophilia, and Rape
albernikolauras's review
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I love returning to this world, and I just want to see a point where Celehar can let himself breath and be happy.
This sequel to Witness for the Dead is more Celehar solving mysteries, being sad, having friends help him and who want him to be happy, and Celehar refusing to get help. I love the side characters in here and the ending was excellent. My only desire is to see some forward progress on Celehar because he deserves it.
This sequel to Witness for the Dead is more Celehar solving mysteries, being sad, having friends help him and who want him to be happy, and Celehar refusing to get help. I love the side characters in here and the ending was excellent. My only desire is to see some forward progress on Celehar because he deserves it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Child death
Moderate: Pregnancy, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Homophobia
aardwyrm's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-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
4.0
I like the odd pacing of these stories and the lack of a traditional act structure, which gives the world a lived in, immediate feel and walks the reader through the mysteries in the same sense of disorientation and wonder as the main character. The worldbuilding is richly made and sparsely explained, just the way I like it, with a lot of good conlang work (that I'm afraid is mostly wasted on me). That said, I think book one was more effective, but nothing is less surprising than a bit of a book two slump. The new characters and slow simmering plot threads promise good to come.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Pedophilia, Suicide, Classism, Sexual violence, Grief, Violence, Death, Sexism, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Miscarriage, Murder, Confinement, Rape, and Trafficking
More...