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charliess's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I loved this book ! Best of the saga. Shikanoko is a amazing character and is evolution is interesting and unexpected.
helliecreed's review against another edition
4.0
While at first it was hard for me to follow for various reasons including a lot of characters with names that aren't my everyday and getting distracted then coming back to it and bam! Whole new character! I grew enchanted by the storyline and learned all the characters personalities.
I loved that it was very different the way it was told. Heavy emphasis on Japanese folklore which drew me to this book. We may have heard the story beforehand from amazing works like Game of Thrones but in all honesty I highly recommend this. It moves, feels very different. I was impressed how much was packed into this tiny book. Double edged sword there however.
It takes a long time for the main character to fully develop and truly come into the story. This was strengthened by the other characters which carried the story very swiftly. I never felt rushed, even when I grew distracted and found myself lost. That was all on me. I didn't really get attached to any character though. I didn't care if one died or had misfortune. Felt very off handed in how each character was expressed. It wasn't until the last few chapters I finally grew to care for some of the characters, especially the main one.
A very quick read. Packed with such story in such a tiny book! I wouldn't recommend this to everyone. As much as I learned to enjoy its rhythmic way of storytelling, I am aware it's not for everyone. Some knowledge of Japanese lore and culture would be welcomed here but I feel you can learn as you go. It's more of the way it's told and how the characters speak. I had a friend find it wooden and could never get into the pace so no information was getting in. I see that and I get it.
I loved that it was very different the way it was told. Heavy emphasis on Japanese folklore which drew me to this book. We may have heard the story beforehand from amazing works like Game of Thrones but in all honesty I highly recommend this. It moves, feels very different. I was impressed how much was packed into this tiny book. Double edged sword there however.
It takes a long time for the main character to fully develop and truly come into the story. This was strengthened by the other characters which carried the story very swiftly. I never felt rushed, even when I grew distracted and found myself lost. That was all on me. I didn't really get attached to any character though. I didn't care if one died or had misfortune. Felt very off handed in how each character was expressed. It wasn't until the last few chapters I finally grew to care for some of the characters, especially the main one.
A very quick read. Packed with such story in such a tiny book! I wouldn't recommend this to everyone. As much as I learned to enjoy its rhythmic way of storytelling, I am aware it's not for everyone. Some knowledge of Japanese lore and culture would be welcomed here but I feel you can learn as you go. It's more of the way it's told and how the characters speak. I had a friend find it wooden and could never get into the pace so no information was getting in. I see that and I get it.
boomt's review against another edition
4.0
Warlords, treachery, a fight for succession to the imperial throne, wizards, demons, it's all here. And there are three more books in the series.
bookworm5732's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
bibispizzas's review against another edition
5.0
I like to describe this book as 'A little more realistic (just a bit) Game of Thrones in Japan'
Shika has got to learn to control his power, things cannot possibly get worse, at least that's what i'm hoping
I really truly hope Masachika dies horribly and without anyone by his side
Shika has got to learn to control his power, things cannot possibly get worse, at least that's what i'm hoping
I really truly hope Masachika dies horribly and without anyone by his side
runemarks's review against another edition
5.0
Fast paced and an easy read. Lots of political intrigue with Japanese spirits and folklore thrown in. I can't wait to start the second in the series.
pearseanderson's review against another edition
4.0
This is good!! Really good! It combined a mythological remove/tone with a ton of exposition (some of it done shoddily) and a sprawling cast of characters/stories/adventures. It is best compared to Game of Thrones, and, like Game of Thrones, I did not get any of their names. I only know about characters and locations by their basic usefulness in plot (Capital, Mountain King, Assassin with a Heart of Gold). I really wish I got more, because fighting for locations has lessened stakes when I can't recall what that location is/why it's important. Maybe this is because I listened to the great audiobook. Overall, super excited, super into it, can't wait for the next one.
majaingrid's review against another edition
2.0
The premise of the plot and world is fantastic.The execution not so much. Both plot and characters felt distant. This due to Hearn's writing. Nothing felt in depth, just rushed through, and I quickly grew bored. The characters were flat and I had to keep look up the character index because I kept forgetting who they were. The writing also had a case of tell-not-show.
I have the bind-up edition with the two first book and the only reason I even finished it was because in that edition it was only 207 pages.
I have the bind-up edition with the two first book and the only reason I even finished it was because in that edition it was only 207 pages.
merixcil's review against another edition
4.0
This is high fantasy that takes it's cues from Japanese mythology rather than Western mythology and it's good. It tells itself like it has already assumed you know the cultural base from which its drawing and is grown up without losing the sense of wonder that comes from the more mystical elements of the world building (most of which, however pretty sounding at first, turn out to be varying degrees of gruesome and awful). Looking forward to finding out the rest of this series.
widely_read's review against another edition
3.0
2 and 1/2 stars. Gratuitous misogyny and towards the end, rape. No thanks. I won't be continuing with the series.