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forthesanityof1's review
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
alexreadsnstuff's review
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.5
hannahollihan's review
Just super bored. I think this is a situation where it’s me and my mental health instead of the book itself.
kruzer99's review
Was not in the mood for a story like The Name of the Wind so decided to put down and come back later. It is a well written book and seems to be a good story.
odds's review
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
"I had some misgivings starting this book. I think I've heard it compared to NotW so many times that when it began in an inn talking about types of silence, my heart sank a little. This has been on my shelf for a long time, probably because, while I wasn't productive, a longer book felt daunting. I decided to start as I finished my final book in 2023 early, so I could get a headstart.
Not something I do often, but in this case I googled reviews. I found a great one by someone who loves NotW and acknowledged both the similarities and differences, then got me excited for a story in a similar structure and around the idea of biased storytelling. I went in open-minded as I have heard good things.
To begin with, it reads beautifully, but not as fluidly to me - I think the comparisons keep sticking like a stone in my shoe, because they are everywhere - even the blurb sounds similar. However, though I expected to struggle, I hit a point where I wanted to keep picking it back up because it had settled into its own fascinating story and only felt like the parts of other stories that I enjoyed. It's a slow burn to begin with (no pun intended), but builds into something brilliant.
One funny thing was that the cover was announced for book 2 while I was reading and hadn't realised it was called "The Doors of Midnight" which, though probably unintentional, is also fairly close to the unpublished NotW 3rd book title. The moment I can get my hands on that one, I will.
I did feel by the end of it that maybe this is the NotW vibe that I've been searching for in other books and it's great to get more of the same feeling from a story which, though a similar shape at times, developed into itself. I love so much of what's here - the unreliable narrator, watching stories and legends being exaggerated and built around a grain of truth, cocky protagonists you feel like shouting at sometimes, a magic system that feels plausible based on both faith and "science", a story being told within a story - maybe I was drawn to it because those are elements that I love. I did feel more of overall epic fantasy by the end and I will definitely be grabbing the 2nd."
Here's what I posted on Instagram (because character limit), but it would have been good to write more. It certainly made me think and I'm sure it will stay with me for a long time. I haven't made much secret of the fact that The Name of the Wind is one of my favourite books (there's a quote tattooed on my arm) and what I thought might annoy me actually helped me to see the strength of this book and what I enjoy reading. It also, cleverly, had me considering the nature of storytelling in general, particularly in epic fantasy. It's on the same publisher at NotW so a lot of how this book was marketed has to have been intentional. I'm hoping the series establishes itself as a strong contender for the attention of fans of The Name of the Wind with The First Binding and uses that to move away from the similarities and into itself.
There is a story here that I know I want to hear, even if (not a spoiler as we know that this is a biased narrator - a storyteller by trade at the beginning of the story who never claims to be telling the truth or even that such a thing is possible) it's an exaggerated one.
Not something I do often, but in this case I googled reviews. I found a great one by someone who loves NotW and acknowledged both the similarities and differences, then got me excited for a story in a similar structure and around the idea of biased storytelling. I went in open-minded as I have heard good things.
To begin with, it reads beautifully, but not as fluidly to me - I think the comparisons keep sticking like a stone in my shoe, because they are everywhere - even the blurb sounds similar. However, though I expected to struggle, I hit a point where I wanted to keep picking it back up because it had settled into its own fascinating story and only felt like the parts of other stories that I enjoyed. It's a slow burn to begin with (no pun intended), but builds into something brilliant.
One funny thing was that the cover was announced for book 2 while I was reading and hadn't realised it was called "The Doors of Midnight" which, though probably unintentional, is also fairly close to the unpublished NotW 3rd book title. The moment I can get my hands on that one, I will.
I did feel by the end of it that maybe this is the NotW vibe that I've been searching for in other books and it's great to get more of the same feeling from a story which, though a similar shape at times, developed into itself. I love so much of what's here - the unreliable narrator, watching stories and legends being exaggerated and built around a grain of truth, cocky protagonists you feel like shouting at sometimes, a magic system that feels plausible based on both faith and "science", a story being told within a story - maybe I was drawn to it because those are elements that I love. I did feel more of overall epic fantasy by the end and I will definitely be grabbing the 2nd."
Here's what I posted on Instagram (because character limit), but it would have been good to write more. It certainly made me think and I'm sure it will stay with me for a long time. I haven't made much secret of the fact that The Name of the Wind is one of my favourite books (there's a quote tattooed on my arm) and what I thought might annoy me actually helped me to see the strength of this book and what I enjoy reading. It also, cleverly, had me considering the nature of storytelling in general, particularly in epic fantasy. It's on the same publisher at NotW so a lot of how this book was marketed has to have been intentional. I'm hoping the series establishes itself as a strong contender for the attention of fans of The Name of the Wind with The First Binding and uses that to move away from the similarities and into itself.
There is a story here that I know I want to hear, even if (not a spoiler as we know that this is a biased narrator - a storyteller by trade at the beginning of the story who never claims to be telling the truth or even that such a thing is possible) it's an exaggerated one.
taylorejohns's review
the prose made me roll my eyes too many times. i started the audiobook so maybe just reading would be better
ammandee_'s review
4.0
“It was then I learned one of the saddest things in life is to forget what gives us breath. We get caught in the madness of life. We begin to bury our finest impulses and desires. And with them, each man kills the thing he loves.
Slowly, with timid choices and bitter rue. An old but potent poison, well tested and long true. It's never a dive or with one fell fall that we jump to kill our joys-one and all.
But bit by bit. We chip away at all that makes us whole. Till time and tide take their toll. And leave us weary worn and tattered torn”
Slowly, with timid choices and bitter rue. An old but potent poison, well tested and long true. It's never a dive or with one fell fall that we jump to kill our joys-one and all.
But bit by bit. We chip away at all that makes us whole. Till time and tide take their toll. And leave us weary worn and tattered torn”
mhedgescsus's review against another edition
1.0
Check out my YouTube channel where I show my instant reactions upon finishing reading fantasy books.
0/5 stars. The worst book I have ever read and the most blatant rip-off of another book (Name of the Wind) that I've ever read!
I am legitimately angry at goodreads that they force me to give a minimum of 1 star for this book, as it deserves a big fat 0 stars. Not only is the book extremely poorly written, but it's over the top plagiarism is borderline criminal. Instead of giving a review of this book, I am going to share with you all the things directly stolen from Name of the Wind. Beware spoilers below (however, if you've read Name of the Wind none of these are spoilers, as these books are identical outside of this one being horribly written).
1. The first paragraph talks about "stillness".
2. The poetry of the writing is an attempt at identical style of writing.
3. It starts in an inn
4. The protagonist is young and wise beyond his years
5. The story is about a mythic hero who is telling his life story using a framing narrative
6. The main character has a magical cloak that is made by fayries.
7. The inn is attacked by demons.
8. He is a musician.
9. He is in a theater group.
10. They have someone holding a story/song hostage from them.
11. Their parents are both killed by an evil ancient being who is trying to stop their story from being told via a play in public.
12. There is a love interest who holds secrets who sings.
13. The relationship with this girl is cringey.
14. He has a magic teacher in the first act with a long training montage.
15. The teacher dies immediately after training him.
16. The boy is too clever for the teachers liking.
17. He then goes on for several chapters to have an "Oliver Twist" adventure.
18. He cannot let anyone ever have his blood because of what other magic users can do with it.
19. He finds out that the magic school he wants to attend is way above his station in life.
20. The protagonist claims their story is a major tragedy.
21. He pisses off teachers at this school, and the one who eventually teaches him is offbeat and kookie.
22. The university admissions scene is virtually identical.
23. As he advances through school the characters are given items that denote how far they have advanced.
24. The magic they learn at the beginning is associated with a candle.
25. Their powers are elemental in nature.
26. The magic is about "splitting the mind" in one, and "folding the mind" in the other.
27. There is an addictive drug that turns teeth white.
28. When abilities are pushed too far it can put themselves and others in danger.
29. There is a religion where the ultimate creator is said to have come in the form of a mortal body, with the aid of a moral human mother, and is known as the son himself.
This is plagiarism pure and simple, and R.R. Virdi should be ashamed of himself.
0/5 stars. The worst book I have ever read and the most blatant rip-off of another book (Name of the Wind) that I've ever read!
I am legitimately angry at goodreads that they force me to give a minimum of 1 star for this book, as it deserves a big fat 0 stars. Not only is the book extremely poorly written, but it's over the top plagiarism is borderline criminal. Instead of giving a review of this book, I am going to share with you all the things directly stolen from Name of the Wind. Beware spoilers below (however, if you've read Name of the Wind none of these are spoilers, as these books are identical outside of this one being horribly written).
1. The first paragraph talks about "stillness".
2. The poetry of the writing is an attempt at identical style of writing.
3. It starts in an inn
4. The protagonist is young and wise beyond his years
5. The story is about a mythic hero who is telling his life story using a framing narrative
6. The main character has a magical cloak that is made by fayries.
7. The inn is attacked by demons.
8. He is a musician.
9. He is in a theater group.
10. They have someone holding a story/song hostage from them.
11. Their parents are both killed by an evil ancient being who is trying to stop their story from being told via a play in public.
12. There is a love interest who holds secrets who sings.
13. The relationship with this girl is cringey.
14. He has a magic teacher in the first act with a long training montage.
15. The teacher dies immediately after training him.
16. The boy is too clever for the teachers liking.
17. He then goes on for several chapters to have an "Oliver Twist" adventure.
18. He cannot let anyone ever have his blood because of what other magic users can do with it.
19. He finds out that the magic school he wants to attend is way above his station in life.
20. The protagonist claims their story is a major tragedy.
21. He pisses off teachers at this school, and the one who eventually teaches him is offbeat and kookie.
22. The university admissions scene is virtually identical.
23. As he advances through school the characters are given items that denote how far they have advanced.
24. The magic they learn at the beginning is associated with a candle.
25. Their powers are elemental in nature.
26. The magic is about "splitting the mind" in one, and "folding the mind" in the other.
27. There is an addictive drug that turns teeth white.
28. When abilities are pushed too far it can put themselves and others in danger.
29. There is a religion where the ultimate creator is said to have come in the form of a mortal body, with the aid of a moral human mother, and is known as the son himself.
This is plagiarism pure and simple, and R.R. Virdi should be ashamed of himself.
dignifiedisaster's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0