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nyphren's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars.
Well… This book was disappointing, to say the least. I’ve been wanting to read something by Kate Elliott since ever, because, you know, she writes high fantasy without it being dudebro-ish high fantasy, and I hate dudebro-ish high fantasy. So you can say my expectations were really, really high.
And, unfortunately, Black Wolves didn’t meet them.
Full review on my blog.
Well… This book was disappointing, to say the least. I’ve been wanting to read something by Kate Elliott since ever, because, you know, she writes high fantasy without it being dudebro-ish high fantasy, and I hate dudebro-ish high fantasy. So you can say my expectations were really, really high.
And, unfortunately, Black Wolves didn’t meet them.
Full review on my blog.
tatere's review against another edition
5.0
I ended up marathoning through the last half of this, until at 5 AM I had to admit I didn't know what those little black marks were anymore, because I was certain, CERTAIN, that I could see terrible things about to happen just around the corner. OK around the next corner. Well around this next one for sure.... Oh. That's not what I was expecting.
A great book in all its death flag defiance (until not) (maybe) and old people kicking butt and then just catching their breath for a minute it's fine. I vaguely remembered points from the Crossroads books, and want to read them again now, but I think it'd be fine to come cold into this one.
A great book in all its death flag defiance (until not) (maybe) and old people kicking butt and then just catching their breath for a minute it's fine. I vaguely remembered points from the Crossroads books, and want to read them again now, but I think it'd be fine to come cold into this one.
amym84's review against another edition
4.0
Originally posted at Vampire Book Club
Captain Kellas has been one of the most loyal of the Black Wolves. First, under the great King Anjihosh who freed the Hundred from the rule of demons. And later, under Anjihosh’s son King Atani who championed peace and mercy. The day when Kellas fails at his job, resulting in the death of King Atani, he is banished and the Black Wolves are dishonorably disbanded. Some, like the King’s sister Lady Dannarah, believe Kellas may not have been as loyal as he seemed and conspired with demons to kill Atani.
Twenty years later and Atani’s son King Jehosh still sits on the throne. But all too quickly the unrest in the Hundred is coming to a boiling point and threatens the peace set forth years ago by both Anjihosh and Atani. When it becomes apparent that there are those who oppose Jehosh’s rule and mean to usurp him, he tasks his Aunt Dannarah with brining Captain Kellas back to help restore order in the kingdom.
I really loved the structure of Black Wolves. There’s all this build up about what transpires regarding the death of King Atani. It is the central point about which much of the present day conflicts revolve around. It’s that one instance where everything changed, the butterfly effect if you will. Yet Kate Elliott doesn’t just simply tell us what happened that fateful day, we relive it through the memories of those who were there (or should have been there as the case may be). I thought it was an extremely clever way to go about telling the story. I didn’t want to stop reading because I just wanted to find out what really happened. And as the characters go about trying to bring order back to the Kingdom, the events remind them of their actions so long ago, each glimpse at the past providing another layer of information.
Of course, being quite the epic fantasy book, it’s not always easy reading. There are numerous, and I mean numerous, names and places to remember. And you would be sorely mistaken to think that anything is throw-away. Every person who is mentioned or appears briefly has the potential to pop up later with significance. Because of this, I really didn’t mind the repetition we get in terms of mythology about the Hundred. It was needed and I’m glad Kate Elliott obviously understood this too.
I need to mention the two stand-out characters for me: Kellas and Dannarah. To be fair, each main character is striking and unique with qualities I both love and hate, but these two seriously make the book. They are so central to what happened in the past and what will happen in the future. On their own they are intelligent strategists who aren’t easily fooled by people. I loved seeing how they handled their situations. What their ultimate agenda may be.
Since it’s clear this is a trilogy, a lot of things are going to be left hanging. I was all right with where we leave off, but the end did feel like it dragged a little bit. Overall, Black Wolves was a solid read from Kate Elliott. If you’re someone who is unsure about epic fantasy but you’ve always wanted to try it, I think Kate Elliott is a good author to start with.
Captain Kellas has been one of the most loyal of the Black Wolves. First, under the great King Anjihosh who freed the Hundred from the rule of demons. And later, under Anjihosh’s son King Atani who championed peace and mercy. The day when Kellas fails at his job, resulting in the death of King Atani, he is banished and the Black Wolves are dishonorably disbanded. Some, like the King’s sister Lady Dannarah, believe Kellas may not have been as loyal as he seemed and conspired with demons to kill Atani.
Twenty years later and Atani’s son King Jehosh still sits on the throne. But all too quickly the unrest in the Hundred is coming to a boiling point and threatens the peace set forth years ago by both Anjihosh and Atani. When it becomes apparent that there are those who oppose Jehosh’s rule and mean to usurp him, he tasks his Aunt Dannarah with brining Captain Kellas back to help restore order in the kingdom.
I really loved the structure of Black Wolves. There’s all this build up about what transpires regarding the death of King Atani. It is the central point about which much of the present day conflicts revolve around. It’s that one instance where everything changed, the butterfly effect if you will. Yet Kate Elliott doesn’t just simply tell us what happened that fateful day, we relive it through the memories of those who were there (or should have been there as the case may be). I thought it was an extremely clever way to go about telling the story. I didn’t want to stop reading because I just wanted to find out what really happened. And as the characters go about trying to bring order back to the Kingdom, the events remind them of their actions so long ago, each glimpse at the past providing another layer of information.
Of course, being quite the epic fantasy book, it’s not always easy reading. There are numerous, and I mean numerous, names and places to remember. And you would be sorely mistaken to think that anything is throw-away. Every person who is mentioned or appears briefly has the potential to pop up later with significance. Because of this, I really didn’t mind the repetition we get in terms of mythology about the Hundred. It was needed and I’m glad Kate Elliott obviously understood this too.
I need to mention the two stand-out characters for me: Kellas and Dannarah. To be fair, each main character is striking and unique with qualities I both love and hate, but these two seriously make the book. They are so central to what happened in the past and what will happen in the future. On their own they are intelligent strategists who aren’t easily fooled by people. I loved seeing how they handled their situations. What their ultimate agenda may be.
Since it’s clear this is a trilogy, a lot of things are going to be left hanging. I was all right with where we leave off, but the end did feel like it dragged a little bit. Overall, Black Wolves was a solid read from Kate Elliott. If you’re someone who is unsure about epic fantasy but you’ve always wanted to try it, I think Kate Elliott is a good author to start with.
speculativebecky's review against another edition
5.0
I paused reading this book for a while but when I got back into it it got harder and harder to put down. Can't wait for the next one to pick up on these half dozen cliffhangers! I found the setting at big it was hard to wrap my mind around, but the characters were fantastic and well worth getting into each of their stores.
vailynst's review against another edition
4.0
3.8 Stars
Mix of Audio & Print Review:
This book is hard to review because I have conflicting responses to it. I enjoy stories more in print but hardly have the time for it due to a busy life. Audiobooks have been a great compromise and allow me to continue taking in new stories by ear while I do other things. Richard Ferrone is a good narrator. I would like to listen to him tell another story but he was not the right fit for this one. This story has a solid base on Asian culture. There's a twist of words and pace that needed to be told in a certain fashion. He narration didn't have what my ear needed to hear.
Even when I read the story, that cadence was not consistently placed within the whole of the book. Yet when it was evident, it was a delightful and rich experience.
The story takes place in a made up world but it has too many solid links in phrasing, stories, habits, clothes, objects and etc that link to Asian cultures for me to think of it as a "new world with Asian influences". Because the cultural impacts and mannerisms are so strongly entwined, I felt disgruntled when it was not done well and enthralled when it was.
Overall, the series has a lot of promise and I am a total fan of Kellas. It has an intricate plot, strong characters, rich culture and the rioting flames of battle ready to roar. This book is about a man who had too much spirit to calmly take his place in life and do what others expected of him. His reckless passion tossed him right into the arms of Fate and a fight that he would give his life to champion.
In disjointed scenes going from the present to the past and times between, I stumble into a world that is familiar in every alien way possible. You get a solid base for the world that holds the Hundred, the greedy Empire, dark skinned travelers and common folk. The conflicting details of several people are drawn out in bits and pieces. A glimpse of the preternatural that lives alongside the norm. The whole of a mystery is unveiled as others flit like teasing mist. One formidable hero comes to the last stages of his time as new ones grow to take their own place.
I really like this book a lot but it is not a seamless piece without flaws. I think the next one will be great. I look forward to the next phase of the Hundred and the people who fight for their vision of it.
Mix of Audio & Print Review:
This book is hard to review because I have conflicting responses to it. I enjoy stories more in print but hardly have the time for it due to a busy life. Audiobooks have been a great compromise and allow me to continue taking in new stories by ear while I do other things. Richard Ferrone is a good narrator. I would like to listen to him tell another story but he was not the right fit for this one. This story has a solid base on Asian culture. There's a twist of words and pace that needed to be told in a certain fashion. He narration didn't have what my ear needed to hear.
Even when I read the story, that cadence was not consistently placed within the whole of the book. Yet when it was evident, it was a delightful and rich experience.
The story takes place in a made up world but it has too many solid links in phrasing, stories, habits, clothes, objects and etc that link to Asian cultures for me to think of it as a "new world with Asian influences". Because the cultural impacts and mannerisms are so strongly entwined, I felt disgruntled when it was not done well and enthralled when it was.
Overall, the series has a lot of promise and I am a total fan of Kellas. It has an intricate plot, strong characters, rich culture and the rioting flames of battle ready to roar. This book is about a man who had too much spirit to calmly take his place in life and do what others expected of him. His reckless passion tossed him right into the arms of Fate and a fight that he would give his life to champion.
In disjointed scenes going from the present to the past and times between, I stumble into a world that is familiar in every alien way possible. You get a solid base for the world that holds the Hundred, the greedy Empire, dark skinned travelers and common folk. The conflicting details of several people are drawn out in bits and pieces. A glimpse of the preternatural that lives alongside the norm. The whole of a mystery is unveiled as others flit like teasing mist. One formidable hero comes to the last stages of his time as new ones grow to take their own place.
I really like this book a lot but it is not a seamless piece without flaws. I think the next one will be great. I look forward to the next phase of the Hundred and the people who fight for their vision of it.
heyheyrenay's review
5.0
This book was 780 pages in the ARC I poured into my eyeholes because Kate Elliott writes long books full of feelings and description of foods and the inner lives of women and excellent, complicated politics in shades of gray. And friends, I now wish I could unread ALL 780 PAGES so I could immediately pour them directly back in through a fresh reread. If you know how I read epic fantasy (with a notebook and pen and a page of notes for almost every character because they're so long/big I get easily confused) you will see why this is notable. IF I COULD I WOULD READ THIS BOOK FOUR TIMES FOR THE FIRST TIME AND I DON'T SAY THAT LIGHTLY.
Also, ignore all the reviews that go "blah blah blah dude hero blah blah dude dude dude". This is book about the LADIES.
Now, where is the sequel????
More thoughts: http://ladybusiness.dreamwidth.org/2015/10/26/lets-get-literate-so-i-heard-you-like-nuanced-women.html#blackwolves
B&N thoughts: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/blog/sci-fi-fantasy/kate-elliotts-black-wolves-is-a-new-breed-of-epic-fantasy/
Tumblr thoughts: http://heyheyrenay.tumblr.com/post/132476744814/read-this-book-black-wolves-by-kate-elliott
Fangirl Happy Hour thoughts: https://twitter.com/fangirlpodcast/status/667617114128187392
Book Smugglers Guest Review: http://thebooksmugglers.com/2016/06/guest-review-black-wolves-kate-elliott.html
I had a lot of thoughts okay.
(I feel you judging me. I JUST LOVE THIS BOOK ALL RIGHT!!)
Also, ignore all the reviews that go "blah blah blah dude hero blah blah dude dude dude". This is book about the LADIES.
Now, where is the sequel????
More thoughts: http://ladybusiness.dreamwidth.org/2015/10/26/lets-get-literate-so-i-heard-you-like-nuanced-women.html#blackwolves
B&N thoughts: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/blog/sci-fi-fantasy/kate-elliotts-black-wolves-is-a-new-breed-of-epic-fantasy/
Tumblr thoughts: http://heyheyrenay.tumblr.com/post/132476744814/read-this-book-black-wolves-by-kate-elliott
Fangirl Happy Hour thoughts: https://twitter.com/fangirlpodcast/status/667617114128187392
Book Smugglers Guest Review: http://thebooksmugglers.com/2016/06/guest-review-black-wolves-kate-elliott.html
I had a lot of thoughts okay.
(I feel you judging me. I JUST LOVE THIS BOOK ALL RIGHT!!)
readermonica's review
4.0
I really enjoyed this and am looking forward to reading book two. The only reason that I can't give this five stars is that it took about 150 pages for me to start loving the story, but it will still go on my favorite reads list because when it grabbed me it kept me wrapped up until the very last page.
Where you can find me:
•(♥).•*Monlatable Book Reviews*•.(♥)•
Twitter: @monicaisreading
Instagram: @readermonica
Goodreads Group: The Black Bookcase
Where you can find me:
•(♥).•*Monlatable Book Reviews*•.(♥)•
Twitter: @monicaisreading
Instagram: @readermonica
Goodreads Group: The Black Bookcase
gskenney's review
5.0
This book just blew me away. I want to give it 6 stars, maybe more. I love the characters, and I especially like that the main heroic characters are older, with the aches and pains of age, but with shining strength and heroism. The worldbuilding is extraordinary and fascinating. And the plot is as gripping as any book by George R.R. Martin--without killing off so many people. All of this, and the actual writing is beautiful. I'm on board for book 2 of the series, for sure!
reader_fictions's review
I read a couple of chapters, and I don't think I have the attention span for this right now. I also think it might help if I read the other series set in this same world first. Plus, with my memory, I really should wait for epic fantasy series to finish so I don't have to reread the first door-stopper to understand the second.