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lauramcc7's review
Too many POV and the explicit child rape scene was just too much for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
fscolli93's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
altlovesbooks's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
katiehicks's review
4.0
4.5 stars
In my review of The Half-Drowned King I compared this series to the show Vikings, and wrote that all my favorite things about that show are captured in these books. In this, the finale of the trilogy, we get what I always found to be the most complicated and fascinating aspect of the show: seeing characters we love be terrible parents. I was a little slow to get on board with this when I realized how much of the story was going to be given over to Einar and Freydis at the expense of Ragnavald and Svanhild, but in a story that takes place during such a dynamic and turbulent time, it becomes necessary to see not only these characters, but their legacies as well.
Obviously, I am sad to see how some character's stories ended, but pleasantly surprised about others. I even think this installment had the best pacing- probably due to the number of characters. The first two books slowed down a lot in the middle, but in this one whenever one character's story began to slow down, another's was picking up. I was frustrated with some character's decisions, but I also see how their past actions kind of painted them into a corner and they were left with no good options. This is actually one of the coolest aspects of this book-- we have now known the characters for so long that we are able to see the far-reaching consequences of things they did when we first met them in the first book.
My one gripe about this story, which is not really a gripe at all, is how Einar's bisexuality kind of falls off later in the story. Obviously, he is still bisexual even when he is with women, and he will be bisexual for his whole life- but he stopped really thinking about it halfway through the book. Again, bisexual people are allowed to date and even marry people of the opposite sex and it doesn't make them not bisexual anymore (which is why this isn't really a gripe, and overall I appreciated that there was any sort of bi rep at all), I just wish it had been a bigger part of his character throughout the story since it so rare to see bisexual characters in historical/ fantasy stories.
In my review of The Half-Drowned King I compared this series to the show Vikings, and wrote that all my favorite things about that show are captured in these books. In this, the finale of the trilogy, we get what I always found to be the most complicated and fascinating aspect of the show: seeing characters we love be terrible parents. I was a little slow to get on board with this when I realized how much of the story was going to be given over to Einar and Freydis at the expense of Ragnavald and Svanhild, but in a story that takes place during such a dynamic and turbulent time, it becomes necessary to see not only these characters, but their legacies as well.
Obviously, I am sad to see how some character's stories ended, but pleasantly surprised about others. I even think this installment had the best pacing- probably due to the number of characters. The first two books slowed down a lot in the middle, but in this one whenever one character's story began to slow down, another's was picking up. I was frustrated with some character's decisions, but I also see how their past actions kind of painted them into a corner and they were left with no good options. This is actually one of the coolest aspects of this book-- we have now known the characters for so long that we are able to see the far-reaching consequences of things they did when we first met them in the first book.
My one gripe about this story, which is not really a gripe at all, is how Einar's bisexuality kind of falls off later in the story. Obviously, he is still bisexual even when he is with women, and he will be bisexual for his whole life- but he stopped really thinking about it halfway through the book. Again, bisexual people are allowed to date and even marry people of the opposite sex and it doesn't make them not bisexual anymore (which is why this isn't really a gripe, and overall I appreciated that there was any sort of bi rep at all), I just wish it had been a bigger part of his character throughout the story since it so rare to see bisexual characters in historical/ fantasy stories.
h_berry0410's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
spiringempress's review
4.0
Truly 3 1/2. I'm conflicted about this final installment in The Half-Drowned King series, which lost some of its magic from the previous books. In this book, we are introduced to the children of Svanhild and Ragnvald: Freydis and Einar along with some other sons of Ragnvald. Each takes on a perspective along with other characters as we watch Harald's power over his court fray at the corners and usurpers arise from different corners of the world and even from Harald's own ranks.
This story starts 15 years after [b:The Sea Queen|35887267|The Sea Queen (The Half-Drowned King #2)|Linnea Hartsuyker|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1515972098l/35887267._SY75_.jpg|57403779] and Harald is king in title alone. Instead, Ragnvald shoulders most of the kingly duties and Svanhild in Solvi's absence guard the seas as Harald is enamored with his newest wife. At the start of the novel, we learn there is unrest in the kingdom and one of Harald's sons is attempting to start a rebellion. Ragnvald tours the country looking to thwart this rebellion and doubts his decision to follow Harald unwaveringly as different individuals invite him to truly become king.
Interwoven through Ragnvald's story are the narratives of his children, who are attempting to establish their own identity. Included is Svanhild and Solvi's daughter, Freydis, who finds herself held ransom by Ragnvald and Harald's sons, who have accidentally killed a noble's son. Her story takes her to Iceland, where her father, Solvi, has lived in seclusion and she grapples with the legacy of both of her parents. Paralleling her story is Einar, who is the most clever of Ragnvald's children but unfortunately illegitimate. He has also sworn to never leave his brother's side, who is Ragnvald's heir and deals with this destiny throughout the story.
While I am always drawn into Hartsuyker's world and I understand the decision to make this a generational story, I did not like Svanhild and Ragnvald's children as much as the original protagonists. Instead of this story being an epic goodbye to characters that we have grown to love through the series, it focused on the perspective of their children and did a disservice to the brother and sister duo. It would have been more interesting for us to read from their perspective as they grew older and watched their children grow into their roles. Instead, both Svanhild and Ragnvald slowly faded into the background as the story progressed until the story was about Einar and Freydis' legacy.
This story starts 15 years after [b:The Sea Queen|35887267|The Sea Queen (The Half-Drowned King #2)|Linnea Hartsuyker|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1515972098l/35887267._SY75_.jpg|57403779] and Harald is king in title alone. Instead, Ragnvald shoulders most of the kingly duties and Svanhild in Solvi's absence guard the seas as Harald is enamored with his newest wife. At the start of the novel, we learn there is unrest in the kingdom and one of Harald's sons is attempting to start a rebellion. Ragnvald tours the country looking to thwart this rebellion and doubts his decision to follow Harald unwaveringly as different individuals invite him to truly become king.
Interwoven through Ragnvald's story are the narratives of his children, who are attempting to establish their own identity. Included is Svanhild and Solvi's daughter, Freydis, who finds herself held ransom by Ragnvald and Harald's sons, who have accidentally killed a noble's son. Her story takes her to Iceland, where her father, Solvi, has lived in seclusion and she grapples with the legacy of both of her parents. Paralleling her story is Einar, who is the most clever of Ragnvald's children but unfortunately illegitimate. He has also sworn to never leave his brother's side, who is Ragnvald's heir and deals with this destiny throughout the story.
While I am always drawn into Hartsuyker's world and I understand the decision to make this a generational story, I did not like Svanhild and Ragnvald's children as much as the original protagonists. Instead of this story being an epic goodbye to characters that we have grown to love through the series, it focused on the perspective of their children and did a disservice to the brother and sister duo. It would have been more interesting for us to read from their perspective as they grew older and watched their children grow into their roles. Instead, both Svanhild and Ragnvald slowly faded into the background as the story progressed until the story was about Einar and Freydis' legacy.
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