You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
I was sad about this ranking, it started with a very interesting intro but the progress couldn’t hold it for me. I know it says Valyn has to go through a test but it felt so out of the main plot, as well as Kaden’s training, I was starting to get annoyed by the teachings lol.
I wanted to finish it because I liked the characters (Valyn and Kaden mostly) but it was hard to keep up.
I wanted to finish it because I liked the characters (Valyn and Kaden mostly) but it was hard to keep up.
“Obedience is a knife that cuts the cord of bondage.
Silence is a hammer that shatters the walls of speech.
Stillness is strength; pain a soft bed.
Put down your basin; emptiness is the only vessel.”
Four Stars: ✰✰✰✰
This book, shockingly, was actually better than I was expecting it to be, just from the blurbs and little snippets I've seen on Goodreads and Audible. I was expecting more or less just another typical modern fantasy book - that wasn't especially interesting or original; but this book surprised me with it's highly original world building and story. It's one of those books that I found myself really enjoying, in spite of the fact that I had a few issues.
I have a complaint that I'm going to voice right at the beginning though:
The prologue for this book was too good.
I'm serious. It really was WAY too good. Everything about the prologue in this book appealed to me. It carried a sense of weight and reality. The writing was compelling and mysterious. And it introduced a conflict that seemed so new and original and cool. I was thoroughly convinced of this book's merit by the time I got to the end of the prologue.
And then I got to chapter one, and never heard anything about the contents of the prologue until I was more than halfway through the book. The majority of the book had absolutely nothing to do with the conflict that the prologue introduces. By the time I got to the end of the book I started to understand why the author did this, but it was still frustrating, because I got all excited about a story I would never actually get to read.
It took me a little while to get into it because of that, but once this book got going, it was really quite good.
The worldbuilding and story, in particular, I found to be especially unique. The author took concepts that we are all relatively familiar with and used them in a way that added a unique spin onto these familiar ideas. It's light on the magic content, and this was both a good and a bad thing. Good, because I don't think that the story required a lot of magic content to keep it interesting. Bad, because the magic that *is* in the book I felt could have been better explained, especially regarding the people they call "Leaches".
The story is told from the perspective of three siblings - Kaden, Valyn, and Adare.
It was the characters that kept me from giving this more than four stars. I found them all to be more than a little bland, and just not very interesting. It felt like they all lacked any real personality, and especially after finishing [b:Wrath|27411345|Wrath (The Faithful and the Fallen, #4)|John Gwynne|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1464179284s/27411345.jpg|47460126] and The Faithful and the Fallen, I had a really hard time relating to any of the characters in this book. Valyn was BY FAR the most interesting character in the book, but even his character didn't really draw me in until more than halfway through the book. Kaden's *story* kept me interested, but there was literally nothing interesting about him as a person. Neither of them were bad characters, I just really wasn't personally drawn to them.
And then there was Adare, who was about as painfully, annoyingly stupid as any character you could read about. She didn't get a lot of airtime in this book, and thank God for that, because I don't think I could have handled more of her than I got.
However, in spite of that, the overarching story in the book was seriously excellent, and it's the story and plot of this book that I think sets it apart from other fantasy series in the market today. It felt fresh. We're presented with totally original ideas, combined with familiar elements, that gave this book a really new feeling. So much of today's fantasy feels recycled, but Stavely really did something unique with the story in this book, and I'll definitely be finishing this series because of that.
Overall, if you're looking for something different, I really recommend checking this series out. Keep in mind that you might not fall in love with the characters, but if you can get into the story that's being told, it will be well worth your time.
Happy reading =].
For this review and more, check out my blog: Thoughts of a Thousand Lives.
This began the second best series of 2015 for me. Fantasy, dark, slightly Lovecraftian elements...the list continues. This was a surprise read off a list for me and I cannot believe how good it was. I am impatiently waiting for the third novel...
A good fantasy, perhaps a bit longer than it could have been though. Will probably get round to the sequel because I'm hoping the get into the siblings' relationships with each other as well as how their experiences have affected them and how this shapes their bonds
Reread July 2021
Still as epic as I remember from the first read.
Onwards to the short story and the next two books, the new Staveley book that came out this week is slightly glaring at me from the shelf!
Still as epic as I remember from the first read.
Onwards to the short story and the next two books, the new Staveley book that came out this week is slightly glaring at me from the shelf!
Second Review (Feb 2015): Still just as enthralling as the first visit. Stavely has created a rich and provocative new world.
Original Review (Mar 2014): In a genre often marked by shallow, pulpy stories, churned out to make a buck, Staveley's debut novel is a thoughtful, well constructed joy to read. Very excited to see where this story goes.
Original Review (Mar 2014): In a genre often marked by shallow, pulpy stories, churned out to make a buck, Staveley's debut novel is a thoughtful, well constructed joy to read. Very excited to see where this story goes.
I love the way this book was written. Staveley let's the story unfold naturally instead of throwing explanations at you in the first few chapters. Excellent and I enjoyed every second of it. Reminiscent of Rothfuss's writing style.
I really liked this book! I got it on kind of a whim because it was on sale and it seemed like a decent enough fantasy setup. But as I started reading, I got really engrossed in the world Mr. Staveley had created. It was one of the few fantasy books (outside of Brandon Sanderson's) where I wanted to soak up every detail about the world. The gods, the traditions, society, etc. All of it seemed very well-conceived. The magic system also vaguely reminded me of Sanderson's "Mistborn" series.
It's hard for me to explain further without going into spoilers. Here's a bullet list of my likes/dislikes:
Likes:
1.) Strong characters that made fairly logical choices throughout.
2.) Each faction (Shin monks, Kettral, Skullsworn, etc.) prayed to a spcecific god to guide their actions. I thought that was very clever and helped to create a shorthand as to what would affect their actions.
3.)
4.)
5.)
6.) "Adaman Fane" has got to be the coolest name ever! The character doesn't have much do to in this book, but every time he was mentioned, I pictured a total badass.
Dislikes:
1.)
2.)
I already purchased the two sequels and the companion novel "Skullsworn". I can't wait to continue the story!
It's hard for me to explain further without going into spoilers. Here's a bullet list of my likes/dislikes:
Likes:
1.) Strong characters that made fairly logical choices throughout.
Spoiler
It did irritate me that Valyn ordered his wing to drop their weapons when they faced Ut in the mountains. But the author tried to explain that the best he could. But then to counter-balance that writing decision, I really liked that there was a valid reason to not kill the heroes right after that. Balendin needed them to torture for their emotions to fuel his magic. Cool!2.) Each faction (Shin monks, Kettral, Skullsworn, etc.) prayed to a spcecific god to guide their actions. I thought that was very clever and helped to create a shorthand as to what would affect their actions.
3.)
Spoiler
The whole Blank God/Cestriim explanation from Nin. Sets up the next books perfectly.4.)
Spoiler
There was a lot of build-up to the "Hull Trial" for the Kettral and I thought that paid off well. The cadets were put in mortal danger and had to succeed in total darkness; very appropriate for their god, Hull :) Then, once they succeeded, the cure granted them extra abilities. Not magic, per se, but more akin to heightened senses.5.)
Spoiler
Kaden's ascension to the vainate was awesome, and a perfect foil for the OP Balendin. Well-played Mr. Staveley.6.) "Adaman Fane" has got to be the coolest name ever! The character doesn't have much do to in this book, but every time he was mentioned, I pictured a total badass.
Dislikes:
1.)
Spoiler
Adare sleeping with the kenerang. Come on, man! There were plenty of hints that guy had ulterior motives. I don't have a problem with her having sex, just not with a guy that powerful and is in a position to take over her family's retention of the throne. She could have waited until Kaden returned at least.2.)
Spoiler
I feel like I'm picking on Adare here, but I also hated that she just happened to find her father's secret letter "hidden in the spine" of a book that Ran tossed at her on a whim. Really? Sunlitan could not have devised a way for her to find this extremely important letter more logically... and sooner? I know the information learned there is necessary to the next book, but that was handled poorly.I already purchased the two sequels and the companion novel "Skullsworn". I can't wait to continue the story!
Helden, die nicht immer nur grossartig sind, sondern ganz normale Menschen mit Fehler.
Beginnt langsam und lässt auf mehr hoffen.
Beginnt langsam und lässt auf mehr hoffen.