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wilbobaggins's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
dustedbunny's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed revisiting this series. Who knew magic lawyers making property deals could be so much fun!
wanderk8's review against another edition
4.0
For the fourth book in the Craft Sequence we go back to Dresediel Lex and back over a decade in time. This book automatically feels less hopeful, because if you have read the books in publication order, you already know what the end result of the Skitterskill protests will be.
The theme of the book is gentrification. The Red King and his associates want to improve the ex-slave district of Skitterskill for the benefit of the city (and their investors), but the residents don't want to be priced out of their home. There is also an undercurrent of old hurts from the relatively recent god war, with both sides not being able to let go. We already know the older iterations of this books viewpoint characters, Elena and Tomec. Elena has been hired by the Red King to fix the district wards, while Tomec is working in the Skitterskill as a priest and is raising his son to fit in with the new era. Both know each other from the god war and still get on, despite being on opposite sides. Both do their best to keep the peace, even though there are forces on both sides that want nothing more than a return to old hostilities.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. The first half felt rather slow, but I enjoyed learning more about their world and views. The social commentary was also rather more pointed in this book.
The theme of the book is gentrification. The Red King and his associates want to improve the ex-slave district of Skitterskill for the benefit of the city (and their investors), but the residents don't want to be priced out of their home. There is also an undercurrent of old hurts from the relatively recent god war, with both sides not being able to let go. We already know the older iterations of this books viewpoint characters, Elena and Tomec. Elena has been hired by the Red King to fix the district wards, while Tomec is working in the Skitterskill as a priest and is raising his son to fit in with the new era. Both know each other from the god war and still get on, despite being on opposite sides. Both do their best to keep the peace, even though there are forces on both sides that want nothing more than a return to old hostilities.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. The first half felt rather slow, but I enjoyed learning more about their world and views. The social commentary was also rather more pointed in this book.
incarnationblues's review against another edition
4.0
Pretty solid. Perhaps the most "real world"-ish of the series so far. I'm a bit annoyed that it's a prequel, because now I have (?) to re-read the first (or maybe the second? Hard to say, the brain goes....) book at least and overlay what I know of Elayne, Caleb & Temoc with how they appeared previously.
wctracy's review against another edition
4.0
I continue to be impressed by the Craft sequence. Gladstone brings a high-magic/high-tech society to live, just as real as our world. And because we've seen these characters before (you have read the other Craft book, yes?) we know what must happen. The story drags us relentlessly to that endpoint, giving lots of surprise and adventure along the way.
pinknezu's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
bluesydaisy's review against another edition
5.0
It was nice to see the background behind Caleb and Temoc. Really started to like Miss Kevarian as a character in this book too. I enjoyed the story before things got exciting, but it really took off towards the second half of the book.
It's with this book that I'm starting to really get a feel for the world they live in. The books aren't chronological and, before this, each book featured a mostly different cast of characters so they've had very different feels each time. I'm planning to reread this series in chronological order next time.
It's with this book that I'm starting to really get a feel for the world they live in. The books aren't chronological and, before this, each book featured a mostly different cast of characters so they've had very different feels each time. I'm planning to reread this series in chronological order next time.
tjones11's review against another edition
dark
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
nfiertz's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
krystaldelusion's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Religious bigotry, Abandonment, and War