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erikanderson333's review against another edition
5.0
I read Three Parts Dead a while back, but decided to go with chronological order for this readthrough.
The Craft Sequence has perhaps the most original magical system, and never has contract negotiation been more interesting. That's really all that happens in the first half of Last First Snow, but it doesn't ever feel particularly slow. Then just as it seems like everything's all done and wrapping up nicely, it all falls apart and chaos reigns supreme until the end of the story.
It's a nice introductory look at Elayne Kevarian, and a somewhat softer introduction to the Craft than Three Parts Dead.
The Craft Sequence has perhaps the most original magical system, and never has contract negotiation been more interesting. That's really all that happens in the first half of Last First Snow, but it doesn't ever feel particularly slow. Then just as it seems like everything's all done and wrapping up nicely, it all falls apart and chaos reigns supreme until the end of the story.
It's a nice introductory look at Elayne Kevarian, and a somewhat softer introduction to the Craft than Three Parts Dead.
thebuttler's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Like a lot of other reviewers, I struggled with the early part of this book. Honestly, it took me until everything hit the fan for things to click into place and I really began to care about everybody in this story (except Elayne who we have no choice but to stan). As usual the world of the Craft Sequence is top-notch, and everything I learn just heightens the picture for me, but Last First Snow took it's time hooking me. I'm still going to read everything set in this world, but, I can't see Last First Snow hooking first time readers the way I could see Three Parts Dead doing that, despite it being the first book in the sequence. It's just...an oddly framed book, with characters that are difficult to connect with until you do.
The Major made me cry, though. I think The Major was a really brilliant, beautiful demonstration of how gender-nonconforming characters can hold significant space within a story without it being about their gender. The moment was all of two paragraphs long, but they are a brilliant two paragraphs.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, and War
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, and Religious bigotry
hypatia13's review against another edition
3.0
I'm glad I read this later in the series, rather than first. I think this is the weakest of the books so far. I enjoyed it, because I enjoyed reading about Temoc and the backstory of the uprising that's alluded to in Two Serpents Rise. But, it's also really slowly paced, especially for the first half of the book.
sarahrigg's review against another edition
4.0
This is more of a 3.5-star book for me, but I'm rounding up because even a weaker book by Max Gladstone is really good. My main issue with this book is pacing. I think the beginning negotiations go too slowly and then Gladstone tries to wrap up the ending too quickly. But, overall, still a great read, and the priest Temoc's decisions that seem so unfathomable in "Two Serpents Rise" become more understandable in the context of this novel. I don't think I've ever read another fantasy novel that took on the tough issue of how to deal with a slum without creating gentrification. Well done, Max!
tmikerx's review against another edition
2.0
I was really disappointed by this book. The first three books in this series are probably some of my favorite books to come out recently. They are fantastic - you should really read them if you haven't. I was expecting the same with this book, but it just never connected with me. I could never quite figure out exactly what all the tension was about in the story, and the characters really aren't all that likeable. I think this novel laid some important groundwork regarding the history between Caleb and Temoc, but the rest... meh.
scrooge3's review against another edition
3.0
I got bogged down by the first half of the book, which seemed to me to be mostly a long series of contract negotiations, not all that exciting. The second half does deliver a lot of action, but is still anchored by a lot of political machinations that aren't necessarily that interesting, and the ending is fairly well telegraphed ahead of time. The main characters are well written, but I had a hard time remembering who was whom among the supporting cast. One of the really nice things about this series is that each volume stands on its own, although there are lots of Easter eggs to connect the various books.
cillefish's review against another edition
4.0
Elayne Kevarian is still a badass, and insurance contract negotiations have never been so fun. Or (literally) explosive.
I guessed the more-material plot twist, but given my steady diet of Ellery Queen in middle school I can't blame the author, and I'm minusing only one star because I wouldn't be able to recommend this to people who aren't into the genre.
I guessed the more-material plot twist, but given my steady diet of Ellery Queen in middle school I can't blame the author, and I'm minusing only one star because I wouldn't be able to recommend this to people who aren't into the genre.
skylarprimm's review against another edition
5.0
Once again, Gladstone's expansive imagination and enviable gift for wordplay have swept me away. The world of the Craft Sequence may have taken the title of "Most Interesting Weird Fantasy World" away from China Miéville's Bas-Lag, which has held the title for a decade plus.
Bring on book five!
Bring on book five!
yaarnvark's review against another edition
4.0
I took a long break from this series but it drew me back. The world is intricate and interesting. I get frustrated by the piecemeal way you're given information through these novels but they are coming together. Very bloody and a lot of war/revolution