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ppatel's review
3.0
THis entire book and the series deserves less than three.While it’s not aweful, it’s not great either. While the book is written in multiple voices, it uses a smug-sounding voice for each character that is grading to say the least not to mention condescending.
raeandray's review
4.0
A really fun read. One of the few books where I felt like the prose improved over the course of the book. Looking forward to the next one.
penguindragon's review
4.0
TLDR: A classic fantasy story, but nothing to write home about.
This sounded like an interesting story and audible had it on a good deal so I got it. It was okay.
It was unfortunately long winded in places, especially in the beginning, and I found myself thinking several times “just get on with it!” Other than that there was nothing particularly remarkable about this story and I’ll most likely forget I’ve read it.
The characters were likable enough and I enjoyed the political maneuvering, but the reasoning behind keeping Corin’s powers a secret from him got thinner and thinner as the book went on. Especially when it started causing real problems and danger to Corin because he didn’t know about them.
I liked Ariana. She was a strong and independent young woman who was clearly on her way to becoming a great queen when her time came. Corin was your literal typical farmboy-with-preciously-unknown-powers and that particular troupe is so overused I didn’t find myself caring much about him. Honestly if Ariana hadn’t popped up when she did I might have stopped reading entirely.
Overall, 3.5/5 stars. An average fantasy that doesn’t particularly stand out from its peers. (The extra half star was because I liked Ariana.)
This sounded like an interesting story and audible had it on a good deal so I got it. It was okay.
It was unfortunately long winded in places, especially in the beginning, and I found myself thinking several times “just get on with it!” Other than that there was nothing particularly remarkable about this story and I’ll most likely forget I’ve read it.
The characters were likable enough and I enjoyed the political maneuvering, but the reasoning behind keeping Corin’s powers a secret from him got thinner and thinner as the book went on. Especially when it started causing real problems and danger to Corin because he didn’t know about them.
I liked Ariana. She was a strong and independent young woman who was clearly on her way to becoming a great queen when her time came. Corin was your literal typical farmboy-with-preciously-unknown-powers and that particular troupe is so overused I didn’t find myself caring much about him. Honestly if Ariana hadn’t popped up when she did I might have stopped reading entirely.
Overall, 3.5/5 stars. An average fantasy that doesn’t particularly stand out from its peers. (The extra half star was because I liked Ariana.)
dougp's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
evilcallie's review
1.0
I marked this as "read" even though I'm not finishing it, because I've lost 11 hours of my listening life to this story and I just cannot do it for the last 7 hours.
I have no problem with young adult fantasy being more full of contrived coincidences and young characters with young voices. I have no problem with adult fantasy with the same. But... this is just lazy writing. In 11 hours, more than half the book, still nothing of import has happened. It feels like every conversation the main wizard has is about how he/no one can tell Koren that he's a wizard and the mysterious enemy both won't and will know about him. I've lost track of how many times he says this. Koren gets the blame for everything bad that happens around him. I do not understand why the hell the "adults" of this book who think Koren will save them from their enemy don't tell him who he is. Why do they think waiting 3 more years will do anything but leave them with an untrained wizard pissed at them for lying to him, when they also have an enemy who is acting against them now.
I just... can't do it anymore. After 3 hours, I didn't really care about this book, but I forged on. And yet... Nothing has changed. I give up. I don't care.
I have no problem with young adult fantasy being more full of contrived coincidences and young characters with young voices. I have no problem with adult fantasy with the same. But... this is just lazy writing. In 11 hours, more than half the book, still nothing of import has happened. It feels like every conversation the main wizard has is about how he/no one can tell Koren that he's a wizard and the mysterious enemy both won't and will know about him. I've lost track of how many times he says this. Koren gets the blame for everything bad that happens around him. I do not understand why the hell the "adults" of this book who think Koren will save them from their enemy don't tell him who he is. Why do they think waiting 3 more years will do anything but leave them with an untrained wizard pissed at them for lying to him, when they also have an enemy who is acting against them now.
I just... can't do it anymore. After 3 hours, I didn't really care about this book, but I forged on. And yet... Nothing has changed. I give up. I don't care.
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