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3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
A good start so far. I'm interested in seeing where this series goes. I was worried about this book's villains being too one dimensional, but I don't think that is the case.
I really enjoyed this book. It had some novel concepts, and really gave me a great sense of the world. The only real criticism that I could have about it was that the focus was split between the perspectives of three siblings after the death of their father, but it wasn't really equally split, or even focused on one, with highlights of the other two implying that they would be central in other books (like book one is child one, and so on).
Other than that one thing, the book was fantastic!
Other than that one thing, the book was fantastic!
3 1/2 stars rounded up to 4 since this is a debut novel.
This starts of rather slowly, but I did like learning about the life of the Shin monks and the Kettral so I didn't mind. It then picks up speed with a vengeance.
My only complaints are the character of the sister, Adare, gets short shrift compared to her brothers. Also, all three siblings were very similar in temperament.
Looking forward to the next installment.
This starts of rather slowly, but I did like learning about the life of the Shin monks and the Kettral so I didn't mind. It then picks up speed with a vengeance.
My only complaints are the character of the sister, Adare, gets short shrift compared to her brothers. Also, all three siblings were very similar in temperament.
Looking forward to the next installment.
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I'm having a hard time rating this book. Did I enjoy it? Definitely. Do I wish that the women of this book had a more in depth description that didn't involve their bodies? Yep. Will I continue to read the series? Yeah... Will I be hoping it gets better with the next book? Completely.
A positive surprise! My rediscovery of fantasy has been mostly disappointing, with a couple of exceptions (Martin, obvs; Lynch; Brett). But this was a good one. I fear the premises of fantasy have been so thoroughly done that it's difficult to sound original. So it is here as well: empire, succession, war, treachery. Only Scott Lynch has managed to create something genuinely different in this sense. But, Staveley is good. The characters are three dimensional and there are mercifully few fight scenes. (Brett is full of fighting but that is balanced by the original world). The only minus is the imbalance between the two male characters and their sister, who gets only a fraction of the page count, although her story in many ways is the most interesting. Anyway, one of the few series that I'm actually planning to see to the end.
Top-notch. I'm ravenous for the sequel.
Staveley certainly isn't staking out new territory here with his elite warriors, monks and royal intrigue, but he makes a marvelous story out of some well-worn tropes. Kaden and his monastery were incredibly well realized, and I was happy that there was so much focus on them. His pursuit of "nothing", and his relationships with his teacher and other monks, were believable and completely engaging. The Kettrals, our requisite super-elite assassins, had some fun action, but they were so similar in concept and execution to the Blackguard of Weeks' Lightbringer series that it made me uncomfortable.
The author certainly falls into more than a few of the most common fantasy traps - introducing characters all at once in a list (how breathlessly exciting) being the most egregious. His characters do a lot of stupid things to further the plot, but this is very much a book about these characters coming into their own, so it didn't hurt my engagement.
All in all, it's an impressive first book. Highly recommended.
Staveley certainly isn't staking out new territory here with his elite warriors, monks and royal intrigue, but he makes a marvelous story out of some well-worn tropes. Kaden and his monastery were incredibly well realized, and I was happy that there was so much focus on them. His pursuit of "nothing", and his relationships with his teacher and other monks, were believable and completely engaging. The Kettrals, our requisite super-elite assassins, had some fun action, but they were so similar in concept and execution to the Blackguard of Weeks' Lightbringer series that it made me uncomfortable.
The author certainly falls into more than a few of the most common fantasy traps - introducing characters all at once in a list (how breathlessly exciting) being the most egregious. His characters do a lot of stupid things to further the plot, but this is very much a book about these characters coming into their own, so it didn't hurt my engagement.
All in all, it's an impressive first book. Highly recommended.
It's a 4.5
It was a bit opf a slow start for me, but boy did it build on to an unputdownable crescendo!!!
I thoroughly recommend it, a lot of intrigues and deceptions, not much it what it seems and it's difficult to grow up as a member of the imperial family.
I am msot looking forward to reading what happens next
It was a bit opf a slow start for me, but boy did it build on to an unputdownable crescendo!!!
I thoroughly recommend it, a lot of intrigues and deceptions, not much it what it seems and it's difficult to grow up as a member of the imperial family.
I am msot looking forward to reading what happens next
That was good enough. Though writing was a bit generic and lacklustre, the story itself was fast and intriguing which gripped my attention from the get go. In the end I did end up enjoying. The lead characters, at least the males were well written. I could've used some more of Adare's storyline.
Nothing stands out besides the plot but still rather enjoyable. Looking forward to get my hands om the sequel. Already ordered.
Nothing stands out besides the plot but still rather enjoyable. Looking forward to get my hands om the sequel. Already ordered.
My feelings about this book are very similar to another fantasy I read recently, “The Warded Man”. Not sure how to explain it really. I guess both had great characters and great worldbuilding and a gritty realism to them. And both I felt “Yeah, that was good,” afterwards, with no particular desire to read the sequels.
Now to a couple specifics:
I really wish the sister got more screen time. In fact, for the first large portion of the book, Valyn was my least favourite and seemed to get SO much attention. I warmed up to him after a while, but Kaden is still definitely my favourite.
I was really surprised (in a good way) to find out.
Similarly with the reveal about what the leech’s well was. In fact, there were definitely a few nice surprises in this book.
Kaden was SO oblivious sometimes! And sometimes it was really hard to believe he’d had 8 YEARS studying monkish stuff, because he was pretty terrible at it often. I liked Kaden, I think he was my favourite character. But I feel like he could have been written better sometimes.
Now to a couple specifics:
I really wish the sister got more screen time. In fact, for the first large portion of the book, Valyn was my least favourite and seemed to get SO much attention. I warmed up to him after a while, but Kaden is still definitely my favourite.
I was really surprised (in a good way) to find out
Spoiler
who really killed the old emperorSimilarly with the reveal about what the leech’s well was. In fact, there were definitely a few nice surprises in this book.
Kaden was SO oblivious sometimes! And sometimes it was really hard to believe he’d had 8 YEARS studying monkish stuff, because he was pretty terrible at it often. I liked Kaden, I think he was my favourite character. But I feel like he could have been written better sometimes.