Reviews

The Grief of Stones by Katherine Addison

skycrane's review

5.0

I liked The Grief of Stones almost as much as I liked The Witness for the Dead. Again, it's part mystery, part character study, a story that meanders a bit from topic to topic, but beautifully draws the life of Thara Celehar and this world of his. Something I've noticed about this author from the books of hers I've read: she seems to delight in anticlimax. In The Goblin Emperor, The Witness for the Dead, and The Angel of the Crows, the central mystery, pursued off-and-on throughout the novel, is resolved very suddenly and almost by accident. Looking back at my review, I guess I didn't like that so much in the first book of hers I read, but it's definitely grown on me.

stellarian's review

4.0

I love the main character and that he’s finally getting somewhere with himself. <3 Looking forward to the next book!

a_ab's review

dark mysterious

3.5

I did not enjoy this book as much as the first one in the series, but I did love the plotlines that carried over from the first book and got developed further in this one. I am looking forward to continuing this series.

doriantagonist's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

I would read 50 books of Celehar being a fantasy detective.

pencilled_robin's review

emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

ceridwenanne's review against another edition

emotional hopeful mysterious sad medium-paced

4.5

This series is a creeper, like slow burn everything. 

third_bookworm's review against another edition

dark emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Very excited to read the next one when it comes out.

auora1484's review against another edition

mysterious reflective 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? Yes

3.75

welgan's review against another edition

dark emotional 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? Yes

4.0

I have a complicated relationship with this book, because I love the world and the main character so much. I desperately want to see Thara Celehar's life get better and him healing, and this book, being the second one in the series, bring very interesting, if sad, character development but does not provide said relief. It, however, hints at a betterment, as more and more positive side chararacters join the cast and develop their relationship with Thara. 
I had the same difficulties than the first volume : lots of name, lots of moving from places to places, and several cases intertwined that can feel confusing. 
I cannot prevent myself from comparing it to The Goblin Emperor, which was better suited to my tastes and had, in my opinion, a better pacing in it narration. However, Thara Celehar drives the whole book by himself, I related strongly to some part of his character, and I love him immensely. I will definitely wait eagerly for the third book !

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

meghaneelizabeth's review

1.0

Picked this book up because the description sounded so interesting. Unfortunately, I was left feeling extremely unsatisfied. This book was marked as “sci-do fantasy” in my local library; however, it felt more like a drab small town story where the characters happened to be goblins, elves, etc. The character names are insufferable and unnecessarily long and complex. Same for the old-timey and proper language the author uses. It feels forced; like a teenager using British slang in her first Wattpad story.

I tried so badly to give this book a chance, but had to DNF after several more painstaking chapters. Needless to say, I’m happy I got this from the library and didn’t waste my own money.

If you are looking for a better story about a main character contacting deceased murder victims, I would suggest reading “The London Seance Society” instead.