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zaggeta's review against another edition
4.0
A slow start with three very different first-person POV characters. Multiple POV books are always hard to read when in first person, and the shifting between perspectives did mean that it took awhile to develop each individual character. But by the end of the book, I was invested in every single one.
The writing is superb, the world building is interesting, the characters are engaging. I think the lost star is purely that it did take way too long to really engross me. But I suspect book 2 will be an easy 5 star if it can deliver on what the end of book 1 promised. Looking forward to it!
The writing is superb, the world building is interesting, the characters are engaging. I think the lost star is purely that it did take way too long to really engross me. But I suspect book 2 will be an easy 5 star if it can deliver on what the end of book 1 promised. Looking forward to it!
petealdin's review against another edition
5.0
And so begins another masterful epic fantasy trilogy set mainly in Devin Madson’s Kisian Empire. I loved the initial trilogy which precedes this by (I believe a couple of decades). It was a joy to return to it.
Ambitious in its scope, it handles epic battle scenes incredibly well, as well as drilling down into the minutiae of individual experience. Structurally, it continues Madson’s device of rotating POV characters all telling the story in first person. Madson has a knack for noting and tracking small world details such as the splintering of a gate as it is rammed, wagon wheels hitting ruts in a road, and the very feel of fabrics and locations.
Excellent start to what I anticipate will be a stellar series.
Ambitious in its scope, it handles epic battle scenes incredibly well, as well as drilling down into the minutiae of individual experience. Structurally, it continues Madson’s device of rotating POV characters all telling the story in first person. Madson has a knack for noting and tracking small world details such as the splintering of a gate as it is rammed, wagon wheels hitting ruts in a road, and the very feel of fabrics and locations.
Excellent start to what I anticipate will be a stellar series.
_b_a_l_'s review against another edition
4.0
Read in close succession with book two.
Traditional (but good) epic fantasy with cool characters - bit of a slow burn - but by the end of book 2 I was genuinely intrigued.
Traditional (but good) epic fantasy with cool characters - bit of a slow burn - but by the end of book 2 I was genuinely intrigued.
chromatick's review
5.0
It's always a great feeling when a book just hits you in the right way. This was one of those books. I didn't know anything about it until after I finished it, so I was surprised to see that it was originally self-published, and apparently there are a few other books set in this universe. I'll have to go check them out.
For this series though, it gets off to a terrific start. It's told from the POV of three main characters and all of them were interesting.
I'd like to see more world-building in the future books, but all in all this was just a top shelf read for me and I can't wait to see where the story goes.
For this series though, it gets off to a terrific start. It's told from the POV of three main characters and all of them were interesting.
I'd like to see more world-building in the future books, but all in all this was just a top shelf read for me and I can't wait to see where the story goes.
febrianikmadusari's review
4.0
Peranglah yang membentuk kekaisaran Kisian, namun perang jugalah yang akan menghancurkannya.
Tujuh belas tahun berlalu sejak pecahnya pemberontakan di Kisia, membuatnya terpecah menjadi faksi-faksi. Hanya tangan besi Kaisar yang masih membuat kekaisaran berdiri. Namun ketika pengkhianatan menghancurkan aliansi dengan tetangganya Chiltae, semua menjadi hancur berkeping-keping.
Di Kisia, Putri Miko Ts'ai adalah tawanan dalam istananya sendiri. Dia punya mimpi untuk mengklaim haknya atas tahta, namun jalan menuju kekuasaan justru bisa menghacurkan kerajaan dan keluarganya.
Di Chiltae, pembunuh Cassandra Marius terkena wabah suara-suara kematian. Putus asa, dia menerima kontrak yang menjanjikan obat untuknya, apabila dia membantu menjatuhkan kekaisaran.
Di batas kedua negara, kapten Rah O'Torin dan pasukannya dalam pengasingan, dipaksa untuk terseret dalam perang atau mati.
Seiring dengan jatuhnya kekaisaran, tiga pendekar akan muncul. Mereka harus menunggangi badai atau tenggelam dalam darah.
Pembuka seri The Reborn Empire ini menurutku cukup mudah untuk diikuti. Awalnya aku mengikuti tokoh Miko dan Cassandra ini cukup menarik, sedangkan Rah, aku agak ngeri dengan ritual untuk pembebasan jiwa bagi yang sudah mati. Menjelang akhir justru karakter Miko yang menghalalkan segala cara untuk mendapatkan apa yang diinginkannya yang agak menyebalkan menurutku.
Bagi penggemar fantasi aku merekomendasikan untuk mencoba membaca ini sebab buku ini kurang populer dan underrated.
alwroteabook's review against another edition
5.0
OMG. One of the must reads of 2018. Review here - https://www.alwroteabook.com/2018/12/12/review-we-ride-the-storm-by-devin-madson/
the_coycaterpillar_reads's review against another edition
5.0
Jesus Christ on a bike! We Ride the Storm was a novel that was pure adrenaline.
Storm
Noun
a tumultuous reaction; an uproar or controversy.
There is no disillusion hidden behind the pretext of name. This book is a storm, and it aims to rile you up, as quickly as possible. This story aims to shake up the fantasy genre and it does that and more. Its an underrated gem that gleams, and the reader can’t help but fall deep for the magnificent prose and authentic worldbuilding. The author doesn’t beat around the bush and she is happy to cut your throat in the first chapter and not even be sorry about it!
We Ride the Storm is Madson’s first book in the Reborn Empire. The story promises everything that you would expect from an epic fantasy story and has quite literally set the bar far too high for my next read. The characterisation is really were Madson really comes into her own. Their motives and behaviours are crucial to the developing storyline and it was just pin sharp. The reader is given insight into cultures and customs and some of the descriptions are eye wateringly real. Bravo Ms Madson!
We Ride the Storm blew my freaking mind! This is not a book in the regular sense. No, this is like drinking a much-needed rum and coke. It’s smooth, it’s refreshing, and it goes down far too well! I don’t think I have ever wanted to keep reading a book and never wanting it to end so much. The pages and chapters just blended into one. I’m sure I’ve ended up with more than one paper cut from turning those damn pages way too fast! Each chapter gave us a climax and I was just so enthralled and completely in the world Madson had spun that I became, simply lost.
Ever read a book that just emitted a gazillion emotions from your already pumped body? This is what you get from reading this story. We had three different POV’s and I ended up rooting for all three, for different reasons. Each one had a story to tell, each one was fighting for survival and each one needed to whether the storm – see what I did there?
The action, the fear and everything else in between had me picking up my jaw and swearing under my breath, I don’t know how many times. Miko, Cassandra and Rah, three characters that were all forced into difficult situation and three characters that bleed into your soul. Each has a different culture, but their voice is loud and clear. They are imperative to the story moving along at the timely pace we are used to, and they are crucial to the absolute perfection this book has reached. The human condition is the at the centre of this story and it was nailed with laser sharp precision. Got to put my money where my mouth is and say that Rah was a firm favourite!
Within 500 pages Devin Madson spins a tale of political intrigue, familial loyalties, and very much strong female characters. The actions of one person puts into force a domino effect. The plot is so intricately weaved that you’d be forgiven for thinking that you were trapped within a maze. Don’t expect any respite, you a thrown into the fray and its completely up to you on whether you sink or swim. Be prepared for characters to test constraints and boundaries so don’t be surprised when their toxicity leaves a trail.
Storm
Noun
a tumultuous reaction; an uproar or controversy.
There is no disillusion hidden behind the pretext of name. This book is a storm, and it aims to rile you up, as quickly as possible. This story aims to shake up the fantasy genre and it does that and more. Its an underrated gem that gleams, and the reader can’t help but fall deep for the magnificent prose and authentic worldbuilding. The author doesn’t beat around the bush and she is happy to cut your throat in the first chapter and not even be sorry about it!
We Ride the Storm is Madson’s first book in the Reborn Empire. The story promises everything that you would expect from an epic fantasy story and has quite literally set the bar far too high for my next read. The characterisation is really were Madson really comes into her own. Their motives and behaviours are crucial to the developing storyline and it was just pin sharp. The reader is given insight into cultures and customs and some of the descriptions are eye wateringly real. Bravo Ms Madson!
We Ride the Storm blew my freaking mind! This is not a book in the regular sense. No, this is like drinking a much-needed rum and coke. It’s smooth, it’s refreshing, and it goes down far too well! I don’t think I have ever wanted to keep reading a book and never wanting it to end so much. The pages and chapters just blended into one. I’m sure I’ve ended up with more than one paper cut from turning those damn pages way too fast! Each chapter gave us a climax and I was just so enthralled and completely in the world Madson had spun that I became, simply lost.
Ever read a book that just emitted a gazillion emotions from your already pumped body? This is what you get from reading this story. We had three different POV’s and I ended up rooting for all three, for different reasons. Each one had a story to tell, each one was fighting for survival and each one needed to whether the storm – see what I did there?
The action, the fear and everything else in between had me picking up my jaw and swearing under my breath, I don’t know how many times. Miko, Cassandra and Rah, three characters that were all forced into difficult situation and three characters that bleed into your soul. Each has a different culture, but their voice is loud and clear. They are imperative to the story moving along at the timely pace we are used to, and they are crucial to the absolute perfection this book has reached. The human condition is the at the centre of this story and it was nailed with laser sharp precision. Got to put my money where my mouth is and say that Rah was a firm favourite!
Within 500 pages Devin Madson spins a tale of political intrigue, familial loyalties, and very much strong female characters. The actions of one person puts into force a domino effect. The plot is so intricately weaved that you’d be forgiven for thinking that you were trapped within a maze. Don’t expect any respite, you a thrown into the fray and its completely up to you on whether you sink or swim. Be prepared for characters to test constraints and boundaries so don’t be surprised when their toxicity leaves a trail.
doccrac's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
pattyspages's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
3.5
Slightly strange one for me here because it honestly just didn't do it for me but I was still able to read through to the end and still want to read the rest of the series to see where it goes.
There are three characters I immediately felt drawn to and really enjoy the multi- person POV as well and the way the different stories are entwined, however it fell somewhat flat for me.
Not because it was boring- it's not.
But it just lacked that thing that has me gagging to pick a book back up at every chance to see what will happen next.
The dialogue is laced with wit which made it feel like we shared a secret with some of the characters and there is enough betrayal, sense of duty, honour etc etc etc to carry the book but I really am going to need authors to get over the trope of ... SPOILER/TW COMING....
..... giving you a chance to block this bit out with your hand...
⚠️⚠️⚠️The trope of fantasy books being to feature a woman being raped. It's kind of boring now.⚠️⚠️⚠️
I totally get WHY, especially when they seem to be written in a time 'before' but let's be more creative with how male characters seek power.
Still, as I said, I'm looking forward to seeing what book 2 holds and love how much the dynamics of 'family' are played with.
There are three characters I immediately felt drawn to and really enjoy the multi- person POV as well and the way the different stories are entwined, however it fell somewhat flat for me.
Not because it was boring- it's not.
But it just lacked that thing that has me gagging to pick a book back up at every chance to see what will happen next.
The dialogue is laced with wit which made it feel like we shared a secret with some of the characters and there is enough betrayal, sense of duty, honour etc etc etc to carry the book but I really am going to need authors to get over the trope of ... SPOILER/TW COMING....
..... giving you a chance to block this bit out with your hand...
⚠️⚠️⚠️The trope of fantasy books being to feature a woman being raped. It's kind of boring now.⚠️⚠️⚠️
I totally get WHY, especially when they seem to be written in a time 'before' but let's be more creative with how male characters seek power.
Still, as I said, I'm looking forward to seeing what book 2 holds and love how much the dynamics of 'family' are played with.