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tani's review against another edition
5.0
This book has that elusive trait that I'm always in search of: it makes me care about the characters. No, not just care. Become deeply involved in the aspects of the character's lives. Worry about them and root for them, laugh with them, and maybe even cry with them. That's always been the most important part of a book for me, and Besieged most certainly has it. I'm really looking forward to moving on to the next book in the series.
cazinthehat's review against another edition
1.0
Was given a free copy from the publisher, and although I love fantasy and read a lot of it, and am always up for reading new releases, this just didn't do it for me I'm afraid. There wasn't enough descriptive writing especially about the places visited - the places in which the story was set, I mean - and I thought the characters weren't fleshed out enough. It felt like Daniells was rushing to give us action, intrigue, new words and magics without explaining fully who and where the characters were. The cover art is too, urm, vampirey - it looks a lot like it's trying to appeal to the dark romance readers.
Such potential, but it wasn't pulled off and I didn't feel immersed enough.
Such potential, but it wasn't pulled off and I didn't feel immersed enough.
blodeuedd's review against another edition
4.0
This story takes place over a few decades and then it ends when something big happens. Oh yes cliffhanger alert, but it was still a calm cliffie as things will happen. But there is no one hanging off that cliff just yet. Maybe in a minute though.
There are different POVs but the two big ones are Sorne. A half blood raised to be a spy and weapon. He wanted to prove he was something more than just tainted and I felt so sorry for him. Humans are stupid and would never see anything else.
Then there is Imoshen who is also raised to be something else as her people bicker between themselves. She was calm and cool. And not so set in her way as the rest of her kin.
Then we have the races. Mieren = true-men, that's normal humans then. Idiotic, racists, I just loathed them. They hate the T'en because they have magic. But the thing is the T'en are not that different. Just a bit different looking and two humans can still get a halfblood kid. Even if the Wyrd had issues of their own they still tried to live alongside humans. While humans took the form of an angry mob with pitchforks and nooses. And I could not see a way out of this. How can the trilogy possible end?! I like the T'en. Please save the T'en. They are all the same, can't they see that?!
Yes as you can see the book sure got a few emotions out of me, I sat there grinding my teeth hating The Mieren (humans, grrrr). And then are some evil characters that stand out too. Down with them!
The world was fascinating, just like the people living in it. It was the beginning of a rich saga, and it was truly only the beginning. Things are about to happen and I must read book 2!
There are different POVs but the two big ones are Sorne. A half blood raised to be a spy and weapon. He wanted to prove he was something more than just tainted and I felt so sorry for him. Humans are stupid and would never see anything else.
Then there is Imoshen who is also raised to be something else as her people bicker between themselves. She was calm and cool. And not so set in her way as the rest of her kin.
Then we have the races. Mieren = true-men, that's normal humans then. Idiotic, racists, I just loathed them. They hate the T'en because they have magic. But the thing is the T'en are not that different. Just a bit different looking and two humans can still get a halfblood kid. Even if the Wyrd had issues of their own they still tried to live alongside humans. While humans took the form of an angry mob with pitchforks and nooses. And I could not see a way out of this. How can the trilogy possible end?! I like the T'en. Please save the T'en. They are all the same, can't they see that?!
Yes as you can see the book sure got a few emotions out of me, I sat there grinding my teeth hating The Mieren (humans, grrrr). And then are some evil characters that stand out too. Down with them!
The world was fascinating, just like the people living in it. It was the beginning of a rich saga, and it was truly only the beginning. Things are about to happen and I must read book 2!
cseanread's review against another edition
1.0
Really wanted to like it. Didn't. Got half-way through, and couldn't finish.
tehani's review against another edition
5.0
Thoroughly enjoyed this. Though it took a little while to warm up, that was just the time it took to start to get to know the players! I loved that Daniells was not afraid to jump swathes of time in order to get to the exciting parts, that worked very well for me. The world building is fabulous, the characters are excellent - highly recommend, although you might like to be sensible and buy all three (released one month apart) before starting, because you'll get to the end and REALLY want to keep going! Bring on book 2!
rainbow_grace's review against another edition
1.0
I couldn't get into it. I found the writing awkward and boring.
carmelitasita's review against another edition
3.0
This was a great start to a fantasy series. It had everything one typically needs - religion, magic, corruption, war, and some people with serious personal identity issues. I am really looking forward to the next books in the series!
* I received this book for free from Goodreads First Reads.
* I received this book for free from Goodreads First Reads.
bookfairy99's review against another edition
2.0
I wanted to like this book so much more than I actually did. It promised a rich world, magic, strong women, political intrigue - all the things I love in a good fantasy novel. Unfortunately, I was underwhelmed by all these aspects and ultimately, pretty bored.
My biggest issue was that I had no one to root for. I didn’t really like a single character. I don’t actually require likable characters (I’ve loved plenty of books with strong antiheroes, and books like Gone Girl, with no likable protagonists at all) but I just didn’t give a damn about any of the characters in BESIEGED.
I think a big part of the problem is that the first hundred or so pages would have been better summed up as backstory. Very little actually happens, and what does only serves to set up what comes later; it never quite feels like part of the book’s plot. Then we meander through three decades of political machinations, backstabbing, and scheming only to end up at a cliffhanger ending. Sure, I get that this book is clearly the first in a series, and meant to sell more books, but I invested a lot of time and energy into this particular book for it to go absolutely nowhere. So, yeah... I will not be continuing with this series.
My biggest issue was that I had no one to root for. I didn’t really like a single character. I don’t actually require likable characters (I’ve loved plenty of books with strong antiheroes, and books like Gone Girl, with no likable protagonists at all) but I just didn’t give a damn about any of the characters in BESIEGED.
I think a big part of the problem is that the first hundred or so pages would have been better summed up as backstory. Very little actually happens, and what does only serves to set up what comes later; it never quite feels like part of the book’s plot. Then we meander through three decades of political machinations, backstabbing, and scheming only to end up at a cliffhanger ending. Sure, I get that this book is clearly the first in a series, and meant to sell more books, but I invested a lot of time and energy into this particular book for it to go absolutely nowhere. So, yeah... I will not be continuing with this series.
hrusewif's review against another edition
5.0
The blatant sexism present in the book had me flabberghasted and fuming at first, but then you slowly begin to realize that it is integral to the central plot of the story in some ways. After that, it grinds your gears quite a bit less.
The characters are real, though I wish there'd been just a tad bit more character development going on. The action and story will keep you glued to your seat, though, and once the book finally took off it was near impossible for me to put it down.
The world is unique and thrilling high fantasy like none I've ever seen before. It's well done, interesting, and there's such a wonderful level of detail. I honestly have not seen this level of world building except by the likes of George R.R. Martin and J.R.R. Tolkien. While definitely unique in it's own right and certainly not one to read if you want something along the lines of Martin and Tolkien's work, I'd still say that in its own right, Daniel's work in besieged certainly comparable in some regards, though. The world building is amazing.
The characters are real, though I wish there'd been just a tad bit more character development going on. The action and story will keep you glued to your seat, though, and once the book finally took off it was near impossible for me to put it down.
The world is unique and thrilling high fantasy like none I've ever seen before. It's well done, interesting, and there's such a wonderful level of detail. I honestly have not seen this level of world building except by the likes of George R.R. Martin and J.R.R. Tolkien. While definitely unique in it's own right and certainly not one to read if you want something along the lines of Martin and Tolkien's work, I'd still say that in its own right, Daniel's work in besieged certainly comparable in some regards, though. The world building is amazing.
thiefofcamorr's review against another edition
Katharine is a judge for the Sara Douglass 'Book Series' Award. This entry is the personal opinion of Katharine herself, and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of any judging panel, the judging coordinator or the Aurealis Awards management team.
I won't be recording my thoughts (if I choose to) here until after the AA are over.
I won't be recording my thoughts (if I choose to) here until after the AA are over.