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etoiline's review against another edition
4.0
CHILDREN OF FIRE, by Drew Karpyshyn, is a dark fantasy with many characters, so it has somewhat in common with the Song of Ice and Fire series. In both series, bad things happen indiscriminately, and sometimes it's tough to read something like that. You want some glimmer of hope to pull you through, but it's rare to find that in these types of books.
It's tough to get through them. But the action moves along here, and each character has a unique role in the story. I was intrigued by the blurb--a creature of Chaos breaks its bonds, just for a moment, to send a spark of itself into four children, so I weathered my way through some slow parts. The characters are quite cynical, but that's the type of world they live in, so I dealt with it. The story speeds through time, often starting a chapter with something like "In the last twelve years..." so you know that the character has dramatically aged. It's a way to move the story along, but sometimes that's jarring and left me wondering what happened in the intervening years. Not important things, I guess, and that leaves plenty of material for short stories from the author, but it's something that broke me out of the story, since I had to reset my mental character image. There is plenty more to tell in this world, since Chaos isn't remotely finished, and the book manages to end with most of its threads tied off. There's always room for revenge, though. This book has grim characters, magic with consequences, and gritty action, and fans of dark epic fantasy will enjoy it.
Received as a digital ARC via Netgalley and the publisher.
It's tough to get through them. But the action moves along here, and each character has a unique role in the story. I was intrigued by the blurb--a creature of Chaos breaks its bonds, just for a moment, to send a spark of itself into four children, so I weathered my way through some slow parts. The characters are quite cynical, but that's the type of world they live in, so I dealt with it. The story speeds through time, often starting a chapter with something like "In the last twelve years..." so you know that the character has dramatically aged. It's a way to move the story along, but sometimes that's jarring and left me wondering what happened in the intervening years. Not important things, I guess, and that leaves plenty of material for short stories from the author, but it's something that broke me out of the story, since I had to reset my mental character image. There is plenty more to tell in this world, since Chaos isn't remotely finished, and the book manages to end with most of its threads tied off. There's always room for revenge, though. This book has grim characters, magic with consequences, and gritty action, and fans of dark epic fantasy will enjoy it.
Received as a digital ARC via Netgalley and the publisher.
biblioholicbeth's review against another edition
2.0
Honestly, I don't know anything about Drew Karpyshyn. I will admit that what drew me to this book was the background mentioned of his work within the video game realm. Video games have changed so much, and many are very story/character driven, with storylines that would rival some of the best novels. So in that vein, I was quite curious. However, I'm still sort of on the fence.
Don't get me wrong - the world Karpyshyn has created is fantastic. The background of the story is good, and I like where this seems to be going. However. For liking the world as much as I do, I really don't feel like I have much of a connection to the characters themselves. I'm *guessing* this may be due, in part, to the massive world-building that is going on, but it definitely hindered my desire to continue reading. For being a fantasy novel, with a terrifically creative world, I had to work pretty hard to convince myself to get back to the story when I put it down.
Having said that - I would probably get the second book (from the library) when it comes out to see if I want to continue reading. The characters do seem like they have plenty of room for growth, and maybe there will be a better opportunity for that once some of the immense world is fully fleshed out. I have hopes that it will get there, and I'm intrigued enough with everything else to give it another shot!
Don't get me wrong - the world Karpyshyn has created is fantastic. The background of the story is good, and I like where this seems to be going. However. For liking the world as much as I do, I really don't feel like I have much of a connection to the characters themselves. I'm *guessing* this may be due, in part, to the massive world-building that is going on, but it definitely hindered my desire to continue reading. For being a fantasy novel, with a terrifically creative world, I had to work pretty hard to convince myself to get back to the story when I put it down.
Having said that - I would probably get the second book (from the library) when it comes out to see if I want to continue reading. The characters do seem like they have plenty of room for growth, and maybe there will be a better opportunity for that once some of the immense world is fully fleshed out. I have hopes that it will get there, and I'm intrigued enough with everything else to give it another shot!
lindsay_eckert's review against another edition
2.0
Children of Fire started off with an intriguing idea: a few select children are cursed with a chaotic power that will inevitably twist their lives with strife and sorrow. The first 1/3 of the book follows them from birth, how their lives are warped by this event, and the terrible things that happen to them. I read fairly quickly through this part, but then my reading abruptly slowed.
For me, it became a popcorn read. It was a fantasy involving a chosen one with a global destiny, magic systems and histories too often reiterated, with characters that never quite clicked for me. I read pages in a skim and never felt as if the prose needed any concentration.
If you want a light read with a basic bad demon figure who wants to destroy the world, magic explosions, and a few violently gory fight scenes, this might be right for you. If you're looking for challenging prose that's gets you thinking or complex characters, this isn't it.
For me, it became a popcorn read. It was a fantasy involving a chosen one with a global destiny, magic systems and histories too often reiterated, with characters that never quite clicked for me. I read pages in a skim and never felt as if the prose needed any concentration.
If you want a light read with a basic bad demon figure who wants to destroy the world, magic explosions, and a few violently gory fight scenes, this might be right for you. If you're looking for challenging prose that's gets you thinking or complex characters, this isn't it.
vallecillo's review against another edition
3.0
Was a regular book.
Not bad, but also, not that good.
Just regular.
Unfortunately, there are many similarities with other fantasy books, and I know, they usually recur to the same formulas: The journey, the dark one, the prophecy, the hero, BUT, it is the way the author portraits these elements that make the story different.
For me, this was a version of The Wheel of Time.
Dark One imprisoned trying to escape? Check √
Prophecy of a chosen hero to fight the dark one? Check √
Minions of the Dark Lord set lose? Check √
Hero losing a hand? Check √
Also, the magic system is kind of Deux ex Machina, there are no limitations on what a wizard can do. The limitations are more physical, depending on how much power the mage can channel, but apart from that, it seems they can do anything with this Chaotic Magic... you can imagine it? you can do it.
Characterization is not that deep, you don't really get excited to read the passages about any of the 4 main characters in particular (Hello Arya on ASOIAF!), you just go along and read it, that's all.
Well, let's go to book 2, Maybe it will be a little better than this one.
Not bad, but also, not that good.
Just regular.
Unfortunately, there are many similarities with other fantasy books, and I know, they usually recur to the same formulas: The journey, the dark one, the prophecy, the hero, BUT, it is the way the author portraits these elements that make the story different.
For me, this was a version of The Wheel of Time.
Dark One imprisoned trying to escape? Check √
Prophecy of a chosen hero to fight the dark one? Check √
Minions of the Dark Lord set lose? Check √
Hero losing a hand? Check √
Also, the magic system is kind of Deux ex Machina, there are no limitations on what a wizard can do. The limitations are more physical, depending on how much power the mage can channel, but apart from that, it seems they can do anything with this Chaotic Magic... you can imagine it? you can do it.
Characterization is not that deep, you don't really get excited to read the passages about any of the 4 main characters in particular (Hello Arya on ASOIAF!), you just go along and read it, that's all.
Well, let's go to book 2, Maybe it will be a little better than this one.
kw518's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
mw2k's review against another edition
3.0
Entertainment value, brain candy factor, popcorn fiction rating, page-turning quotient - 5 stars out of 5
Literary worth and originality - 1 star out of 5
Which gives us an average of 3 stars out out of 5.
Nothing further needs to be said here.
Literary worth and originality - 1 star out of 5
Which gives us an average of 3 stars out out of 5.
Nothing further needs to be said here.
aadaenyaa's review against another edition
3.0
This is a good premise, and surprisingly intricate. It wasn't all good, but the good far outweighs the bad.
nightxade's review against another edition
4.0
Four unique children are born under a portent omen, each touched by Chaos in some way. Initially, the story moves through the lives of all four, leaping through time as they grow and deal with varied situations that shape them towards their destiny. Their paths cross in various ways until they reach adulthood and then dark forces are unleashed...
I've played the Bioware games Karpyshyn has been heavily involved in as a writer and I have read one of his Star Wars books, as well as his Mass Effect books. With those, I found that his writing was not as strong as the ideas and characters behind it and concluded that Karpyshyn works best when his ideas and characters can be visually brought to life. Perhaps he'd do a better job with the comic book stories.
However, Children of Fire is Karpyshyn's first novel of his own creation, and I'm always curious to see what a creator can do when freed from the constraints of an established franchise. So far, I'm very pleased. I don't feel this book is a strong entry into the epic fantasy genre, however, it has a lot of potential.
Actually, considering how I feel about epic fantasy classics like Eye of the World, Children of Fire is very good. The characters are strong, unique and memorable, and there's little time wasted on too much exposition. I was worried at first, with the format of travelling through the children's lives as they aged, but Karpyshyn did a good job of telling only what was needed at each given point in their lives.
There are some typical fantasy tropes used, such as talismans, chosen ones, dark lords, fellowships and seemingly evil ruling bodies. I liked the latter two items though, because they did not quite follow the conventional 'rules.' When the four children cross paths, their interaction is not predictable, and the Order, who seeks out people who wield Chaos magic, does so for a good reason.
I did enjoy the magical aspect of the story. There is a lot of lore behind it and varying opinions on those with magical abilities, but I liked that Karpyshyn doesn't use the magic as a crutch to easily get his characters out of situations. In fact, the moments when magic is used serves to advance the plot and develop the characters themselves.
See more reviews at
The BiblioSanctum
I've played the Bioware games Karpyshyn has been heavily involved in as a writer and I have read one of his Star Wars books, as well as his Mass Effect books. With those, I found that his writing was not as strong as the ideas and characters behind it and concluded that Karpyshyn works best when his ideas and characters can be visually brought to life. Perhaps he'd do a better job with the comic book stories.
However, Children of Fire is Karpyshyn's first novel of his own creation, and I'm always curious to see what a creator can do when freed from the constraints of an established franchise. So far, I'm very pleased. I don't feel this book is a strong entry into the epic fantasy genre, however, it has a lot of potential.
Actually, considering how I feel about epic fantasy classics like Eye of the World, Children of Fire is very good. The characters are strong, unique and memorable, and there's little time wasted on too much exposition. I was worried at first, with the format of travelling through the children's lives as they aged, but Karpyshyn did a good job of telling only what was needed at each given point in their lives.
There are some typical fantasy tropes used, such as talismans, chosen ones, dark lords, fellowships and seemingly evil ruling bodies. I liked the latter two items though, because they did not quite follow the conventional 'rules.' When the four children cross paths, their interaction is not predictable, and the Order, who seeks out people who wield Chaos magic, does so for a good reason.
I did enjoy the magical aspect of the story. There is a lot of lore behind it and varying opinions on those with magical abilities, but I liked that Karpyshyn doesn't use the magic as a crutch to easily get his characters out of situations. In fact, the moments when magic is used serves to advance the plot and develop the characters themselves.
See more reviews at
The BiblioSanctum