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hunterb89's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
timlucier's review against another edition
3.0
This is a great little fantasy book.
I initially didn't pick it up for a while because I had read a synopsis and, for some reason, assumed that part of the narrative would be told like a historic diary in the style of a codex entry. (Which just wasn't appealing to me.)
Luckily, it isn't.
The dual narratives both bring a slew of new characters, some deeply interesting, and some that i felt just didn't have the time to develop.
Each chapter, the story switches between the time of the post-DA2 mage rebellion, and the age of the exalted, covering the ten years of the fourth blight.
While both settings were very interesting to me, i found that the exalted age storyline was a lot more fleshed out. This story tells of one elven mage grey warden gryphon rider who begins experimenting with blood magic, which has dire consequences for the whole world. While she and her brother are very fleshed out and interesting characters, the other grey wardens, mages, and fighters surrounding them could really have used some more page-time.
The Dragon age parts of the book told the story of an elven mage staying under the protection of the grey wardens as the mage-templar war begins. She finds the diary that tells the other story, and questions the morals of the grey wardens. There are some other characters that sadly get even less attention than the side characters in the other narrative.
All in all- great story, great themes, but this book should have been twice as long as it was.
I really enjoyed the writing style (save for the overuse of the word "pious.") One thing i loved was how all the spellcasting actually resembled what you see in-game, whereas the other DA books just do the magic they want. This creates an elegant flow and connection to the games, and allows anyone who has played a mage character to see where the characters are coming from. The descriptions of using the fade in spells also helped to paint a fuller picture of how magic actually works in this universe. It all makes a lot more sense after reading this book.
I really hope to see more of these characters in future Dragon age installments. I'm sure we will, because what is discovered at the end of the book will HAVE to be brought into the next game.
I initially didn't pick it up for a while because I had read a synopsis and, for some reason, assumed that part of the narrative would be told like a historic diary in the style of a codex entry. (Which just wasn't appealing to me.)
Luckily, it isn't.
The dual narratives both bring a slew of new characters, some deeply interesting, and some that i felt just didn't have the time to develop.
Each chapter, the story switches between the time of the post-DA2 mage rebellion, and the age of the exalted, covering the ten years of the fourth blight.
While both settings were very interesting to me, i found that the exalted age storyline was a lot more fleshed out. This story tells of one elven mage grey warden gryphon rider who begins experimenting with blood magic, which has dire consequences for the whole world. While she and her brother are very fleshed out and interesting characters, the other grey wardens, mages, and fighters surrounding them could really have used some more page-time.
The Dragon age parts of the book told the story of an elven mage staying under the protection of the grey wardens as the mage-templar war begins. She finds the diary that tells the other story, and questions the morals of the grey wardens. There are some other characters that sadly get even less attention than the side characters in the other narrative.
All in all- great story, great themes, but this book should have been twice as long as it was.
I really enjoyed the writing style (save for the overuse of the word "pious.") One thing i loved was how all the spellcasting actually resembled what you see in-game, whereas the other DA books just do the magic they want. This creates an elegant flow and connection to the games, and allows anyone who has played a mage character to see where the characters are coming from. The descriptions of using the fade in spells also helped to paint a fuller picture of how magic actually works in this universe. It all makes a lot more sense after reading this book.
I really hope to see more of these characters in future Dragon age installments. I'm sure we will, because what is discovered at the end of the book will HAVE to be brought into the next game.
jenjenpelly's review against another edition
5.0
I know it took me a long time to read, but this book was so achingly sad that I needed to read it in doses. It is really well written with fabulous characters, and with just a touch of fan service to keep me enthralled. This book has rekindled my love for the lore of this franchise and I eagerly await where the story will go next.
mechbutterfly's review against another edition
5.0
This rating includes an unashamed fangirl bonus, because I'm just way too excited to read more about the wardens, Thedas' history and Weisshaupt. It adds fuel to my wild speculations for future game/book/whatever content and I put it aside with a "wow, ...this is cool" feeling.
But aside of dealing with some of my favorite lore topics, Last Flight also was really lovely written and managed to touch me on an emotional level - something the first four books lacked in parts; a story of the grey wardens is indeed also a story of great sacrifice.
And now I want in the next game!
But aside of dealing with some of my favorite lore topics, Last Flight also was really lovely written and managed to touch me on an emotional level - something the first four books lacked in parts; a story of the grey wardens is indeed also a story of great sacrifice.
And now I want
Spoiler
griffonsandreapap15's review against another edition
4.0
4.25*
Out of all the DA novels, this is the one that gripped me the most
Out of all the DA novels, this is the one that gripped me the most
palwilhelmsen's review against another edition
Last Flight is a well written and at times sad fantasy story about sacrifice in war.
The book is a self-contained story, but builds heavily on established Dragon Ages lore, so your milage may vary for new readers. That said, the books adds a great deal new and very interesting lore to the setting, and I recommend it.
The book is a self-contained story, but builds heavily on established Dragon Ages lore, so your milage may vary for new readers. That said, the books adds a great deal new and very interesting lore to the setting, and I recommend it.
magentabyfive's review against another edition
1.0
I'm trying to remember it, but as soon as I read a word, it slipped through my brain like water through a sieve. At one point I felt like I was reading a book with a Peanuts adult filter on it "blah, blah, blah". I don't know, maybe it was the jumping back and forth in time. Probably it was the boring characters. Maybe it was the weird pacing, but I could not get into this book.
taisie22's review against another edition
4.0
The Last Flight is a DA story about unintended consequences. It's split into two parts that go back and forth as the book progresses. The first part takes place during the Mage/Templar rebellion and after the events of DA Origins. The Gray Wardens are recruiting and Valya, a young elvish mage, is sent to the Warden stronghold in the Anderfels where she is assigned to do research on the Fourth Blight. The alternating story is of the research she's doing when she finds a journal detailing events that took place during that time. The Fourth Blight was when the darkspawn invaded Antiva, Rivain, and the Free Marches, held back only by the Gray Wardens and their Griffons. While Griffons have long disappeared from this world, Valya is fascinated by the story she finds in Isseya's journal. Isseya is an elvish mage, Gray Warden, and griffon rider and also sister to Garahel, the only elf to defeat an Archdemon and put an end to a blight.
I found the Valya parts of the book a little weak, but the story of Isseya and Garahel which was fascinating and more than made up for any structural weakness in the other sections. I can only hope that griffons may once again appear in Thedas.
I found the Valya parts of the book a little weak, but the story of Isseya and Garahel which was fascinating and more than made up for any structural weakness in the other sections. I can only hope that griffons may once again appear in Thedas.
nikki_skwarek's review against another edition
4.0
A little heartbreaking for many reasons, it encapsulates the faint bitterness of the Grey Warden life, particularly during a Blight. It expanded quite a bit on what we see of the Blight during the first game, and the descriptions of Fade and processes of spellcasting were wonderful. Definitely adds a new dimension to the games.
The only reason it didn't receive 5 stars from me is that the time-skips left a lot of questions and sometimes were a little abrupt. The ending also felt a little bit rushed, and the main fight... somewhat underwhelming. Perhaps that was the intention to show the realities of war, or perhaps not.
The only reason it didn't receive 5 stars from me is that the time-skips left a lot of questions and sometimes were a little abrupt. The ending also felt a little bit rushed, and the main fight... somewhat underwhelming. Perhaps that was the intention to show the realities of war, or perhaps not.
spacebuns's review against another edition
5.0
Picked it up and couldn't stop reading it. When I finished all I washed for was to for the story to continue.
A must for everyone interested in Dragon Age lore. Especially the Grey Wardens.
A must for everyone interested in Dragon Age lore. Especially the Grey Wardens.