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ladytiara's review
4.0
I loved Stormdancer, the first book in Jay Kristoff's Lotus War trilogy, so I had high hopes for Kinslayer. I'm glad to say that it didn't disappoint.
The second book in a trilogy is always a little worrisome. It has to live up the first book, and it has to be interesting enough to keep the reader's attention, but still leave plenty of plot for the final installment. Kinslayer avoids the middle book curse. It's got lots of action, many of the characters from the first book are back, and we're introduced to a few new characters.
Our heroine Yukiko is suffering under the growing burden of her ability to communicate with animals, and her connection with the thunder tiger Buruu is both a blessing and a curse. The aftermath of the Shogun's death has left Shima on the verge of chaos. The Guild has a new candidate to take the Daimyo's place, the rebels are planning their next move, and Yukiko is drinking away her sorrows.
There are political machinations, angry rebels, plots and counterplots, a set of interesting new characters (Hana, her brother, and his boyfriend are the stand-outs), and some major surprises (there's a big reveal near the end that I didn't see coming at all). We see our first glimpse of the Gaijin. That was one of my favorites parts of the book, and it left me wanting more. I assume we'll see more of them in the final installment.
If you liked Stormdancer, you will definitely like Kinslayer, and if you haven't tried this series yet, what are you waiting for? You can't go wrong with this steampunk, dystopian, Shogun--ish fantasy.
I received an ARC from Amazon Vine.
The second book in a trilogy is always a little worrisome. It has to live up the first book, and it has to be interesting enough to keep the reader's attention, but still leave plenty of plot for the final installment. Kinslayer avoids the middle book curse. It's got lots of action, many of the characters from the first book are back, and we're introduced to a few new characters.
Our heroine Yukiko is suffering under the growing burden of her ability to communicate with animals, and her connection with the thunder tiger Buruu is both a blessing and a curse. The aftermath of the Shogun's death has left Shima on the verge of chaos. The Guild has a new candidate to take the Daimyo's place, the rebels are planning their next move, and Yukiko is drinking away her sorrows.
There are political machinations, angry rebels, plots and counterplots, a set of interesting new characters (Hana, her brother, and his boyfriend are the stand-outs), and some major surprises (there's a big reveal near the end that I didn't see coming at all). We see our first glimpse of the Gaijin. That was one of my favorites parts of the book, and it left me wanting more. I assume we'll see more of them in the final installment.
If you liked Stormdancer, you will definitely like Kinslayer, and if you haven't tried this series yet, what are you waiting for? You can't go wrong with this steampunk, dystopian, Shogun--ish fantasy.
I received an ARC from Amazon Vine.
amybraunauthor's review
5.0
Wow... okay... I mean... WOW. That was one of the most heart-pounding sequels I've ever read. It ends in a way that leaves me begging for more, but honestly, my eyes and heart need a break. This is definitely one of the best sequels I've ever read. I was riveted throughout the entire story, but I was getting chills from the last hundred pages or so. It's the definition of EPIC. The book follows various characters, many of them women who will do any and everything to fight for what they believe in, and who suffer dearly because of it. There is constant action, stellar twists, and gut-wrenching character development. Author Jay Kristoff doesn't shy away from gore or heartbreak or betrayal, all which make for a deeply compelling story that is unforgettable and cinematic in basically every way you can imagine. I honestly can't pick a favourite story line, since Yukiko is always a joy to follow with Buruu at her side, Michi's unending and ultimately heart-breaking loyalty, and Hana's tragic and yet uplifting tale. There's nothing I don't love about this book and this series, and I'm itching to pick up the finale and see what happens next. I don't know how Kristoff will be able to top the explosive finale of KINSLAYER, but I can't wait to see it unfold!
this_fishy_reads's review
2.0
Well, that was unexpected. When I finished Stormdancer, I was so concerned about how I would get my hands on the third book, since my library only had the first two. Not really a bother anymore.
At the start, I was only mildly irritated because shit all was happening. Kristoff clearly had no idea how to tell the story he wanted to tell over the course of a full-length novel. He introduces a bunch of new characters, giving everyone and their uncle POV chapters. There's a lot of wandering around and visiting of places that have no effect on any other part of the narrative. They're just kind of cool. Fine. Whatever. I mean, I was happy to wander around this world doing nothing. I did it for 200 pages before I finally cottoned on that we weren't really going anywhere.
But then all the rape happened. Yukiko gets threatened with rape. A nameless serving girl gets raped as we pass by an alleyway. A named character gets raped--to motivated a male character to make a damn decision already. Oh ho! Yukiko wasn't going to be raped, those other rapes are just there to really make you think it's going to happen! Phew! Oh, and then another named character is threatened with rape--to punish a male character. And then we finally round out everything with one final rape that isn't presented as rape but is still totally rape.
You know what I appreciated in Stormdancer? That Kristoff didn't fall back on this sort of lazy writing. His world is harsh and cruel and people die left and right just from breathing the air. But he didn't fall back on the rape-as-cruel-world shorthand, and he really could have. It might not have even bothered me since Stormdancer is so much better plotted. But here? In Kinslayer? When he gives me nothing else to care about because almost literally nothing happens and the things that do happen don't even matter? He's left me with nothing else to care about other than his weak writing.
So it really doesn't matter that my library doesn't have that third book.
At the start, I was only mildly irritated because shit all was happening. Kristoff clearly had no idea how to tell the story he wanted to tell over the course of a full-length novel. He introduces a bunch of new characters, giving everyone and their uncle POV chapters. There's a lot of wandering around and visiting of places that have no effect on any other part of the narrative. They're just kind of cool. Fine. Whatever. I mean, I was happy to wander around this world doing nothing. I did it for 200 pages before I finally cottoned on that we weren't really going anywhere.
But then all the rape happened. Yukiko gets threatened with rape. A nameless serving girl gets raped as we pass by an alleyway. A named character gets raped--to motivated a male character to make a damn decision already. Oh ho! Yukiko wasn't going to be raped, those other rapes are just there to really make you think it's going to happen! Phew! Oh, and then another named character is threatened with rape--to punish a male character. And then we finally round out everything with one final rape that isn't presented as rape but is still totally rape.
You know what I appreciated in Stormdancer? That Kristoff didn't fall back on this sort of lazy writing. His world is harsh and cruel and people die left and right just from breathing the air. But he didn't fall back on the rape-as-cruel-world shorthand, and he really could have. It might not have even bothered me since Stormdancer is so much better plotted. But here? In Kinslayer? When he gives me nothing else to care about because almost literally nothing happens and the things that do happen don't even matter? He's left me with nothing else to care about other than his weak writing.
So it really doesn't matter that my library doesn't have that third book.
calaax_x's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
haleyelisereads's review
5.0
Note: This is kinda a review for Stormdancer AND Kinslayer. SO with that being said if you have not yet read Stormdancer, feel free to still read the review below, for I will speak of no spoilers! (:
Dear future readers of Kinslayer, Be prepared to have your heart ripped out and stomped on. I recommend to have ice cream near by at all times while reading Kinslayer...lots of ice cream, enough to drown your sorrows/feels in...or preferably alcohol. (If you are of legal age ladies and gents, if not, stick with the ice cream) yaaholic does not in anyway shape or form condone underage drinking(:
Okay so in all honesty going into the Lotus War series, I was pretty worried...and maybe a tad intimidated (okay okay you got me I was all sorts of intimidated by this series). Why was I intimidated you may ask? Well from what I had heard from other reviews was that it was a super awesome series, but had alot of characters..and places...and could get confusing..and was a heavy fantasy series. This scared me because going into Lotus War series I was afraid it was maybe going to be too heavy of a series for me, and I would get lost while reading it..and then in turn feel maybe slightly like a dummy for not being able to follow the series while other book bloggers I knew could.
I am happy to report to you that I was able to follow both Stormdancer and Kinslayer (woohooo chest bump), and they were epic, and awesome just like everyone else said they were. (Seriously thank you to Kara from Great Immaginations, and multiple lovely people over at Cuddlebuggery for bringing this series to my attention first) Jay Kristoff is a writing genius! This is a series that if you really commit to it, will make you feel things you didn't even know a book could make you feel all at once (wow..that sounds almost sexual..but it's not..or is it...no it's not)
So lets talk about the magnificent thing that is Jay Kristoff's writing, it was perfect...well nearly perfect, but I shall get to that later. Right now I would much like to ramble about the awesomeness of his writing. This series is a Japanese, Fantasy, Steampunk series (Yes, it is as awesome as it sounds) With all of that awesome being put into one series, I was worried going into it that picturing what Jay was writing may be difficult if not done VERY well on his end. I was relieved when I started reading Stormdancer and was not only able to picture everything that was happening, but able to picture it insanely clear. While reading Stormdancer and Kinslayer you feel as if you are there with the characters watching everything play out in super high definition.(which is sometimes beautiful, horrifying, or heart wrenching) Jay has an amazing way of being very descriptive, but never crossing the line of being too descriptive.
Now if I were to have any complaints about Kinslayer (which I don' have many and this series is still epic enough to get 5 stars) is that at times while reading Kinslayer I felt the story didn't flow as nicely as it could have. Sometimes I felt it was jumping around a little bit too much, and not doing it as smoothly as I would have liked, keep in mind this is just how I felt while reading it. That would be my only bigger complaint on Kinslayer if I were to have any, and even that I did get over. (hence the 5 stars that it still received) Also now this is not a complaint of mine at all, but as a warning to other people I feel I should mention it, this is not a series you can skim through. So if you are a skimmer, you need to stay away. If you skim at all, I can guarantee you will end up very very lost. This is a series that needs your complete attention. There are alot of characters in this series, and places. This is a heavy fantasy, not a light one! If you don't skim through them though I do believe you will be fine and will be able to keep up with everything.
If I were to have a favorite out of Stormdancer, or Kinslayer. I would have to easily give my vote to Kinslayer. So if you have read Stromdancer, and are not sure about picking up Kinslayer...let me just say that you must pick it up. YOU. MUST. (you can't tell but I am giving you the most evil look right now! You must continue forward! Don't be a quitter!) While Kinslayer was mega heart wrenching, I found myself enjoying it so much more due to the so many more emotions you feel while reading Kinslayer. I also felt that even though Stromdancer was amazing, that Jay's writing did get even better in Kinslayer. I am hoping that with that being said, that book 3 will be the best out of the three novels. Yukiko I connected with alot more in Kinslayer than I did Stormdancer, don't get me wrong, I liked her in Stormdancer, but I really connected with her in Kinslayer. We are also introduced to some new characters in Kinslayer that I think readers will like the addition of to the story, I especially found myself liking Hana. I think she is a character any reader will fall for.
So overall, the Lotus War series is turning out to be pretty epic. If you have yet to pick up the series, and are someone that enjoys fantasy, or if you are someone that wants to give fantasy a try, then I think this is a series you should pick up. If you have read Stromdancer, and loved it, then I can easily tell you, you will not at all be disappointed in Kinslayer because Jay DELIVERS in Kinslayer. Kinslayer was even better than Stormdancer, so if you are someone that maybe didn't like Stormdancer, then I would still recommend you to give Kinslayer a shot. Seriously this series is awesome. Highly recommend.
Side note- Can I just mention how freakin bad ass these covers are?! Seriously some of the best covers I have ever seen!
Super side note- holy mothor of pearl this review is way longer than I wanted it to be.
Dear future readers of Kinslayer, Be prepared to have your heart ripped out and stomped on. I recommend to have ice cream near by at all times while reading Kinslayer...lots of ice cream, enough to drown your sorrows/feels in...or preferably alcohol. (If you are of legal age ladies and gents, if not, stick with the ice cream) yaaholic does not in anyway shape or form condone underage drinking(:
Okay so in all honesty going into the Lotus War series, I was pretty worried...and maybe a tad intimidated (okay okay you got me I was all sorts of intimidated by this series). Why was I intimidated you may ask? Well from what I had heard from other reviews was that it was a super awesome series, but had alot of characters..and places...and could get confusing..and was a heavy fantasy series. This scared me because going into Lotus War series I was afraid it was maybe going to be too heavy of a series for me, and I would get lost while reading it..and then in turn feel maybe slightly like a dummy for not being able to follow the series while other book bloggers I knew could.
I am happy to report to you that I was able to follow both Stormdancer and Kinslayer (woohooo chest bump), and they were epic, and awesome just like everyone else said they were. (Seriously thank you to Kara from Great Immaginations, and multiple lovely people over at Cuddlebuggery for bringing this series to my attention first) Jay Kristoff is a writing genius! This is a series that if you really commit to it, will make you feel things you didn't even know a book could make you feel all at once (wow..that sounds almost sexual..but it's not..or is it...no it's not)
So lets talk about the magnificent thing that is Jay Kristoff's writing, it was perfect...well nearly perfect, but I shall get to that later. Right now I would much like to ramble about the awesomeness of his writing. This series is a Japanese, Fantasy, Steampunk series (Yes, it is as awesome as it sounds) With all of that awesome being put into one series, I was worried going into it that picturing what Jay was writing may be difficult if not done VERY well on his end. I was relieved when I started reading Stormdancer and was not only able to picture everything that was happening, but able to picture it insanely clear. While reading Stormdancer and Kinslayer you feel as if you are there with the characters watching everything play out in super high definition.(which is sometimes beautiful, horrifying, or heart wrenching) Jay has an amazing way of being very descriptive, but never crossing the line of being too descriptive.
Now if I were to have any complaints about Kinslayer (which I don' have many and this series is still epic enough to get 5 stars) is that at times while reading Kinslayer I felt the story didn't flow as nicely as it could have. Sometimes I felt it was jumping around a little bit too much, and not doing it as smoothly as I would have liked, keep in mind this is just how I felt while reading it. That would be my only bigger complaint on Kinslayer if I were to have any, and even that I did get over. (hence the 5 stars that it still received) Also now this is not a complaint of mine at all, but as a warning to other people I feel I should mention it, this is not a series you can skim through. So if you are a skimmer, you need to stay away. If you skim at all, I can guarantee you will end up very very lost. This is a series that needs your complete attention. There are alot of characters in this series, and places. This is a heavy fantasy, not a light one! If you don't skim through them though I do believe you will be fine and will be able to keep up with everything.
If I were to have a favorite out of Stormdancer, or Kinslayer. I would have to easily give my vote to Kinslayer. So if you have read Stromdancer, and are not sure about picking up Kinslayer...let me just say that you must pick it up. YOU. MUST. (you can't tell but I am giving you the most evil look right now! You must continue forward! Don't be a quitter!) While Kinslayer was mega heart wrenching, I found myself enjoying it so much more due to the so many more emotions you feel while reading Kinslayer. I also felt that even though Stromdancer was amazing, that Jay's writing did get even better in Kinslayer. I am hoping that with that being said, that book 3 will be the best out of the three novels. Yukiko I connected with alot more in Kinslayer than I did Stormdancer, don't get me wrong, I liked her in Stormdancer, but I really connected with her in Kinslayer. We are also introduced to some new characters in Kinslayer that I think readers will like the addition of to the story, I especially found myself liking Hana. I think she is a character any reader will fall for.
So overall, the Lotus War series is turning out to be pretty epic. If you have yet to pick up the series, and are someone that enjoys fantasy, or if you are someone that wants to give fantasy a try, then I think this is a series you should pick up. If you have read Stromdancer, and loved it, then I can easily tell you, you will not at all be disappointed in Kinslayer because Jay DELIVERS in Kinslayer. Kinslayer was even better than Stormdancer, so if you are someone that maybe didn't like Stormdancer, then I would still recommend you to give Kinslayer a shot. Seriously this series is awesome. Highly recommend.
Side note- Can I just mention how freakin bad ass these covers are?! Seriously some of the best covers I have ever seen!
Super side note- holy mothor of pearl this review is way longer than I wanted it to be.
ai__'s review
3.0
This is completely my fault and not the book's but it had been too long since I read the first one and I understood like 46'57% of what was happening.
szpinak's review
5.0
mam DOSC nienawidze tej ksiazki z calego serca. dzieki za ten emocjonalny rollercoaster szkoda tylko ze z kazda strona bylo coraz GORZEJ. ale za to doceniam wlasnie. dziekuje za zniszczenie mnie tak jak dawno zniszczona przez ksiazke nie bylam:-))
pachypedia's review against another edition
4.0
Este libro me ha gustado más que el primero, se aleja un poco de los clichés en los que caía en anterior y la trama me ha parecido más interesante, con más personajes y acción. Sin embargo, tengo que decir que no estoy muy conforme con algunos de los sucesos que acabo de leer... Habrá que ver cómo se resuelve todo en el último tomo.