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4.61 AVERAGE
4.61 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
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
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Oof, finally finished this beast. Some unfortunate traits of mine make it easier to find faults with things than positives but I will try to point out some of each with this book.
This series has been getting rave reviews and I can partially see why but there is a lot about these books that keep me firmly away from singing its praises to all the world.
First and foremost, these books are exhausting for me to read and the primary reason is that they are far too melodramatic, sappy, and bromancey. It's a bit like reading a soap opera. The characters are constantly either in tears or a fit of rage. Every conversation between characters seems like it is a soul-baring moment wherein bottomless loyalty or friendship is expressed. These conversations didn't feel real to me because this just isn't how people interact in my experience. Also, the endless repetition of how "one" the drahleid's and their dragons are just got tedious. We get it, they're soul-linked and share thoughts and emotions but we don't need to be told literally every single time they interact.
I also don't feel particularly strong attachments to any of the main characters. Again, it's the emotional extremes. Calen is either crying his eyes out or screaming at somebody and I felt like a lot of his rages were unjustified and even if they are, I don't really agree with treating people the way he often does. As a reader, we're supposed to buy into Calen as a rallying point who inspires devotion in those around him. We're told how the other characters have given him their undying loyalty but we're never really shown why he deserves it.
OK, now some of the good stuff. When the story isn't bogged down with emotion porn, cool things are happening; whether it's battles or political intrigue, there are definitely exciting and tense moments. I also like the insertion of Rist into the empire's side because it makes things a little more gray for the reader regarding who the good guys are. I think overall the empire are the bad guys but through Rist we can at least see why people can still be good or have good reasons even if they are on the "bad side".
But overall, I think between the medium- level writing skill of the author, the overwrought emotional aspect, and a fairly generic fantasy world and plot, this series is good-but-not-great fantasy.
This series has been getting rave reviews and I can partially see why but there is a lot about these books that keep me firmly away from singing its praises to all the world.
First and foremost, these books are exhausting for me to read and the primary reason is that they are far too melodramatic, sappy, and bromancey. It's a bit like reading a soap opera. The characters are constantly either in tears or a fit of rage. Every conversation between characters seems like it is a soul-baring moment wherein bottomless loyalty or friendship is expressed. These conversations didn't feel real to me because this just isn't how people interact in my experience. Also, the endless repetition of how "one" the drahleid's and their dragons are just got tedious. We get it, they're soul-linked and share thoughts and emotions but we don't need to be told literally every single time they interact.
I also don't feel particularly strong attachments to any of the main characters. Again, it's the emotional extremes. Calen is either crying his eyes out or screaming at somebody and I felt like a lot of his rages were unjustified and even if they are, I don't really agree with treating people the way he often does. As a reader, we're supposed to buy into Calen as a rallying point who inspires devotion in those around him. We're told how the other characters have given him their undying loyalty but we're never really shown why he deserves it.
OK, now some of the good stuff. When the story isn't bogged down with emotion porn, cool things are happening; whether it's battles or political intrigue, there are definitely exciting and tense moments. I also like the insertion of Rist into the empire's side because it makes things a little more gray for the reader regarding who the good guys are. I think overall the empire are the bad guys but through Rist we can at least see why people can still be good or have good reasons even if they are on the "bad side".
But overall, I think between the medium- level writing skill of the author, the overwrought emotional aspect, and a fairly generic fantasy world and plot, this series is good-but-not-great fantasy.
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
medium-paced
I have never felt more accomplished. This took wayyy too long to read and my end of year reading goal is messed up by four books now
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes