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4.14 AVERAGE
4.14 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
slow-paced
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This one is quite difficult to rate. In many ways I enjoyed this book, the plot was engaging, I enjoyed some of the characters journeys a lot.
However I have two main issues with this book.
1. The author, many times throughout the book tries to create suspense by withholding information from the audience that is known by POV characters. I find this kind of writing lazy and it makes the suspense and emotions feel fake because what you thought was happening never was, and it just cheapened a lot of the key emotional beats of the book. I won't get into the specifics because of spoilers but it happens quite a few times.
2. The writing of the female characters. None of them were handled well, again I won't go into specifics because of spoilers but it really detracted from the book.
However I have two main issues with this book.
1. The author, many times throughout the book tries to create suspense by withholding information from the audience that is known by POV characters. I find this kind of writing lazy and it makes the suspense and emotions feel fake because what you thought was happening never was, and it just cheapened a lot of the key emotional beats of the book. I won't get into the specifics because of spoilers but it happens quite a few times.
2. The writing of the female characters. None of them were handled well, again I won't go into specifics because of spoilers but it really detracted from the book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, Torture, Abortion, Pregnancy, Gaslighting
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Wow! Epic fantasy at its best.
Strong characters, battles, rebels, strange goings on, baddies: this book has everything. It’s a chunkster but keeps you drawn in and unable to stop - no second book syndrome.
Set three years after the events of the first book, our heroes are waiting for the uprising when word of a strange weapon reaches them…
This features some lovely twisty moments and a subtle humour. Grub is fantastic, constantly coming out with one-liners: “Grub like going for drink with Mudslug. More dangerous than expected”. He’s definitely a favourite.
I was late starting and missed finishing before the release date which meant I could purchase the audiobook which is excellently narrated
Despite being 800+ pages, I finished in a week. I shed tears too, there are battles. I need the next one now.
Thanks to Netgalley and Gollancz for an E-arc in return for an honest review.
Strong characters, battles, rebels, strange goings on, baddies: this book has everything. It’s a chunkster but keeps you drawn in and unable to stop - no second book syndrome.
Set three years after the events of the first book, our heroes are waiting for the uprising when word of a strange weapon reaches them…
This features some lovely twisty moments and a subtle humour. Grub is fantastic, constantly coming out with one-liners: “Grub like going for drink with Mudslug. More dangerous than expected”. He’s definitely a favourite.
I was late starting and missed finishing before the release date which meant I could purchase the audiobook which is excellently narrated
Despite being 800+ pages, I finished in a week. I shed tears too, there are battles. I need the next one now.
Thanks to Netgalley and Gollancz for an E-arc in return for an honest review.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Ember Blade was my favourite read of 2022 so I had fairly high expectations going into its sequel: The Shadow Casket.
I can say for certain; this book didn't dissapoint!
The Shadow Casket takes place 3 years after the conclusion of The Ember Blade and continues the journey of Aren and the companions that he has picked up along the way.
This book was was equal parts inspiring and heart renching and I have now lost my ability to trust anyone!
Chris Wooding has clearly been inspired by other fantasy authors but he is able to put his own spin and style onto tried and true ideas and tropes - his work doesn't come across as at all derivative.
His prose is well crafted but also super accessible and he seamlessly builds the world and cultures of Embria into the pages.
Now let's talk characters. How did Grub go from someone who I found really irritating when we met him to my favourite character? All of the characters are well developed, changing and growing through their struggles but Grub, Aren and Fen in particular.
I now have to start the long wait for book 3 to be written... 😅
I can say for certain; this book didn't dissapoint!
The Shadow Casket takes place 3 years after the conclusion of The Ember Blade and continues the journey of Aren and the companions that he has picked up along the way.
This book was was equal parts inspiring and heart renching and I have now lost my ability to trust anyone!
Chris Wooding has clearly been inspired by other fantasy authors but he is able to put his own spin and style onto tried and true ideas and tropes - his work doesn't come across as at all derivative.
His prose is well crafted but also super accessible and he seamlessly builds the world and cultures of Embria into the pages.
Now let's talk characters. How did Grub go from someone who I found really irritating when we met him to my favourite character? All of the characters are well developed, changing and growing through their struggles but Grub, Aren and Fen in particular.
I now have to start the long wait for book 3 to be written... 😅