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cheye13's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
1.0
In a book this long, I expect it to do... something. Calling this "plot driven" feels generous. Nothing drives this story. So many characters show up and yet no relationships are built. We're simply told these siblings care for each other, that these characters suddenly swear fealty, that these men are willing to die for for this nebulous cause.
I like when a fantasy novel is setting-driven – when a book forgoes most plot or character development to instead immerse the reader in a new land. This very specifically does not do that. There's no exploration of the magic system, no deep dive into inter-species politics, nothing beyond literal descriptions of scenery, which look much the same as rural countryside.
I really wanted to enjoy this. The synopsis pitches a female Shannara descendant as the main character, but 2/3s of the book is about her brother. The premise of reality magic vs illusion magic is so interesting, but it's never actually delineated, let alone explored or addressed. The most intriguing part of this world is that it's a rural/'medieval' fantasy set in the future and yet that's never used at all, even for flavor. Its just so frustrating to have all the seeds present and still see nothing grow.
I like when a fantasy novel is setting-driven – when a book forgoes most plot or character development to instead immerse the reader in a new land. This very specifically does not do that. There's no exploration of the magic system, no deep dive into inter-species politics, nothing beyond literal descriptions of scenery, which look much the same as rural countryside.
I really wanted to enjoy this. The synopsis pitches a female Shannara descendant as the main character, but 2/3s of the book is about her brother. The premise of reality magic vs illusion magic is so interesting, but it's never actually delineated, let alone explored or addressed. The most intriguing part of this world is that it's a rural/'medieval' fantasy set in the future and yet that's never used at all, even for flavor. Its just so frustrating to have all the seeds present and still see nothing grow.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Violence, and Blood
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