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dantastic's review against another edition
3.0
While Merros Dulver prepares the Empire of Fellein for the possibility of war with the Sa'ba Taalor, Desh Krohan sends an expedition to the Blasted Lands to find The Mounds, the one place the gods of the Taalor forbid them to go...
I got this from Angry Robot via Netgalley
The Blasted Lands picks up where Seven Forges left off. Andover is learning the ways of the Sa'ba Taalor. Merros is in charge of the Imperial Army. And a new empress is crowned. When Tusk invites the Empire to parley, what does he have in mind?
I struggled with how to rate this book. On one hand, a lot more of the lore behind the Sa'ba Taalor is revealed: customs, religion, magic, etc. More worldbuilding is done, not quite as seamless as the first book but still very good. The characters introduced in the first book are fleshed out and do a lot to make Moore's world seemed lived in. And we finally know why the Taalor are masked a lot of the time.
There are still plenty of mysteries, however. We still don't know what's beneath the mounds but the bigger mystery is how the Empire can stand up against an enemy that's been training for a thousand years for just such a war.
All that being said, not a whole lot actually happens beyond the expedition to the Mounds, Andover's trials with the Sa'ba Taalor, and a lot of maneuvering. It did a lot to build my interest in the next book, though.
When all is said and done, it's the middle book in a trilogy and does a great job setting up the next book. I didn't enjoy it quite as much as the first so I'm giving it a 3.5 out of 5.
I got this from Angry Robot via Netgalley
The Blasted Lands picks up where Seven Forges left off. Andover is learning the ways of the Sa'ba Taalor. Merros is in charge of the Imperial Army. And a new empress is crowned. When Tusk invites the Empire to parley, what does he have in mind?
I struggled with how to rate this book. On one hand, a lot more of the lore behind the Sa'ba Taalor is revealed: customs, religion, magic, etc. More worldbuilding is done, not quite as seamless as the first book but still very good. The characters introduced in the first book are fleshed out and do a lot to make Moore's world seemed lived in. And we finally know why the Taalor are masked a lot of the time.
There are still plenty of mysteries, however. We still don't know what's beneath the mounds but the bigger mystery is how the Empire can stand up against an enemy that's been training for a thousand years for just such a war.
All that being said, not a whole lot actually happens beyond the expedition to the Mounds, Andover's trials with the Sa'ba Taalor, and a lot of maneuvering. It did a lot to build my interest in the next book, though.
When all is said and done, it's the middle book in a trilogy and does a great job setting up the next book. I didn't enjoy it quite as much as the first so I'm giving it a 3.5 out of 5.
lundos's review against another edition
2.0
Really slow. A lot of travelling and people gathering intel. For newcomers to fantasy that might be interesting. For the rest more or less nothing happens. No progress at all. Every plotline started in the first book continues without any surprise.
1,5 stars. I won't continue the series.
1,5 stars. I won't continue the series.
upbeatmetaphor's review against another edition
3.0
"A god knows what he wants to know."
This isn't a book that made me feel penalised for starting the series at the second installment, but I realised 50-odd pages from the end that I was going to be punished for not picking up the third.
Like The Two Towers, or the penultimate series of Heroes, there's a lot of walking back and forth doing very little, getting in position for the bigger events while a couple of unrelated incidents spark off around our heroes.
Our heroes... oof there's a lot of them, and I found the small handful of really interesting, detailed, distinct actors made most the others a little dull by comparison.
The writing is great - really great - noticeable in some very visceral fight scenes but mainly in the absolutely gorgeous scene setting and sense of place.
You know those adverts for Photoshop where an already glorious photo has been partially animated with weather effects and other atmospherics? That's the kind of scene that The Blasted Lands sets.
It would be nice if everyone woman who was mentioned or introduced wasn't done so without some reference to copulation, assumed copulation, waning beauty, a "surprising" amount of masculine skill, or a list of reasons why pursuing romance with them is a bad idea.
I also got this weird vibe that every chapter felt like a first chapter, even with familiar characters, and I wonder if that has something to do with a lack of pace, but I also wonder if it has something to do with this weird feeling I'm getting during the pandemic that I just can't properly submerge myself in fiction.
tl;dr: Worth a read if you like scenery, sudden action, and volcanoes.
This isn't a book that made me feel penalised for starting the series at the second installment, but I realised 50-odd pages from the end that I was going to be punished for not picking up the third.
Like The Two Towers, or the penultimate series of Heroes, there's a lot of walking back and forth doing very little, getting in position for the bigger events while a couple of unrelated incidents spark off around our heroes.
Our heroes... oof there's a lot of them, and I found the small handful of really interesting, detailed, distinct actors made most the others a little dull by comparison.
The writing is great - really great - noticeable in some very visceral fight scenes but mainly in the absolutely gorgeous scene setting and sense of place.
You know those adverts for Photoshop where an already glorious photo has been partially animated with weather effects and other atmospherics? That's the kind of scene that The Blasted Lands sets.
It would be nice if everyone woman who was mentioned or introduced wasn't done so without some reference to copulation, assumed copulation, waning beauty, a "surprising" amount of masculine skill, or a list of reasons why pursuing romance with them is a bad idea.
I also got this weird vibe that every chapter felt like a first chapter, even with familiar characters, and I wonder if that has something to do with a lack of pace, but I also wonder if it has something to do with this weird feeling I'm getting during the pandemic that I just can't properly submerge myself in fiction.
tl;dr: Worth a read if you like scenery, sudden action, and volcanoes.
alexiachantel's review against another edition
4.0
The end of book one, Seven Forges was a great way to hook the reader and leave us wondering what would happen to all of these characters we had come to care for. The Blasted Lands doesn't disappoint nor does it sophomore slump.
All of our beloved characters and creatures are back with even more action and political intrigue. Moore can write epic fantasy! Bring on book three!
All of our beloved characters and creatures are back with even more action and political intrigue. Moore can write epic fantasy! Bring on book three!
vaderbird's review against another edition
3.0
5 star - Perfect
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
dankeohane's review against another edition
4.0
This was a great sequel to the incredible first installment of the Seven Forges series. It picks up immediately after the final events of the first book. Like Seven Forges, The Blasted Lands jumps between various story lines of the the principle characters as the kingdom of Fellein (spoiler alert for Seven Forges ahead) prepares for war in the wake of the emperor's assassination and the loss of Captain Merros' (now General Merros') right-hand man. Though the story feels more like a bridge between the first and what I expect to be an action-packed third installment (City of Wonders), it is no less riveting to read. There are many characters, some new, some old, but Moore is deft at keeping them distinct, subtly reminding the reader who we are with at any time. The level of action is a little less in this volume (though there is still plenty of it), rather we learn a great deal more about the Sa'aba Taalor, even what's behind those mysterious veils. Like Seven Forges, this one ends with a shocking cliff hanger. Greatly looking forward to the next installment.
talian1201's review against another edition
5.0
Loved it. Very Dark. Very Grim. Loved the Characters and the World Building. Can't wait to read the rest of the series. Would tell my friends and family about it.
brandysbooks's review
4.0
Writing isn't the best and some things were unnecessarily repeated but if you just ignore those parts the story is quite interesting. I was thrown for a loop. This whole time I thought I knew what was going on but as I read I found that I was so wrong. This is a compelling story with so many moving parts.
sarah42783's review
4.0
● We Want to Know what's Behind the Freaking Veils then Again maybe Not Buddy Read (WWtKwBtFVtAmNBR™) with my Slightly Unhinged Fantasy Comrades (SUFC™) over at BB&B ●
Actual rating: 4.5 stars and a half. More or less.
Okay, my first resolution for 2017 is to stop writing never-ending, pit-stop requiring reviewsand the Little Barnacles go:
Come on, people! Have a little trust in my supernatural strength and abilities, will you?! I can do this! Of course I can!
Oh, just shut the shrimp up.
When I told the murderous crustaceans about this terrifyingly valiant endeavour, they thought it was such an awesome idea that they actually designed a gif to celebrate:
Not only are my babies homicidal, they are quite creative, too. I feel so blessed to have such astonishingly talented troops at my disposal.
So here we go, time to get on with it and cut some serious crap.
Book 1 in this series was slightly brilliant. Most Epic Fantasy freaks seem to think it's a little sub-par, but my little self being a teensy little bit Fantasy impaired, I thought it was all sorts of dazzling. Because great, creative world building with somewhat humongous potential. And a delicious, Equally Ferocious Opportunity Cast of Characters (EFOCoC™). And and violence, blood, gore and stuff. And and and twists and turns and shocks and stuff. So yeah, you could say I kinda enjoyed book 1 ←is recapping my review for Seven Forges what I call cutting some serious crap, you ask? Sure looks like it.
Now take all the glorious stuff from ↑↑↑ (aka book 1), raise it to the shrimping power of 2, and you get The Blasted Lands:
✔ Ze plot thickens a whole freaking damn lot! Enchantingly yummy war coming right up! Woo hoo! Bring it on, you Sa'ba Taalor bastards! My Merros is going to kick your gray assessix two hundred ways to Sunday, you vicious, religious freaks. Plus, he's got Hugh Hefner Desh and his mostest excellentest bunnies sorceresses on his side. Plus plus, he's got newly appointed, uber nifty empress Nachia on his side. So watch out, you bunch of brutal zealots, you're about to get slightly slaughtered!
Afraid, you clique of fanatic savages? You should be. My Wondrously Amazing Fellein Team (WAFT™) is going to beat the shrimping crap out of you.
✔ Delightfully murderous and delectably cunning characters galore.
✔ Kick-ass sistas are doin' it for themselves, aka Cool Ruthless Chicks R Us (CRCRU™), aka so many new recruits for the harem I will have to build a new wing ASAP. Then again, some space might be freed up soon. It depends on what Evil Mr Moore is Evil (EMMiE™) is up to with my maybe-former-love Swech.
✔ Bye, bye recycling! Hello necromancy! Now that's what I call being barbarically efficient!
✔ The Freaking Veils of Utter Disgustment (FVoUT™). Shrimp knows I wanted to know what the Sa'Ba Taalor hid behind their infamous veils. Now I do know. And I might be nefarious and devious and stuff, but EW EW EW. And EW. I really didn't need to know that, Mr Moore. I knew you were slightly malevolent, but this was just too...
Exactly, dear Alfred. See, this is so sickeningly sick that even my pet raccoon is on the verge of puking his guts out. Poor baby. This doesn't mean the whole FVoUT™ business isn't cool, though. Oh no. Because, oh yes, sickeningly sick stuff can be deliciously awesome, too. Sometimes.
What else? I don't know. I kinda liked this book? Maybe. Not sure though. I think I might have to think it over before I give a definite opinion here. I'll let you know ASAP. By 2056 or something. You're welcome.
» And the moral of this I didn't Cut the Crap as Seriously as I Wanted to But it Could Have Been Much Worse so Go Me Crappy Non Review (IdCtCaSaIWtBiCHBMWsGMCNR™) is: let's dance.
P.S.: in case you haven't noticed, the book covers for this series are getting morepornalicious lickable by the minute. Bye now.
· Book 1: Seven Forges ★★★★
· Book 3: City of Wonders ★★★★
· Book 4: The Silent Army ★★
Actual rating: 4.5 stars and a half. More or less.
Okay, my first resolution for 2017 is to stop writing never-ending, pit-stop requiring reviews
Come on, people! Have a little trust in my supernatural strength and abilities, will you?! I can do this! Of course I can!
Oh, just shut the shrimp up.
Not only are my babies homicidal, they are quite creative, too. I feel so blessed to have such astonishingly talented troops at my disposal.
So here we go, time to get on with it and cut some serious crap.
Book 1 in this series was slightly brilliant. Most Epic Fantasy freaks seem to think it's a little sub-par, but my little self being a teensy little bit Fantasy impaired, I thought it was all sorts of dazzling. Because great, creative world building with somewhat humongous potential. And a delicious, Equally Ferocious Opportunity Cast of Characters (EFOCoC™). And and violence, blood, gore and stuff. And and and twists and turns and shocks and stuff. So yeah, you could say I kinda enjoyed book 1 ←is recapping my review for Seven Forges what I call cutting some serious crap, you ask? Sure looks like it.
Now take all the glorious stuff from ↑↑↑ (aka book 1), raise it to the shrimping power of 2, and you get The Blasted Lands:
✔ Ze plot thickens a whole freaking damn lot! Enchantingly yummy war coming right up! Woo hoo! Bring it on, you Sa'ba Taalor bastards! My Merros is going to kick your gray asses
Afraid, you clique of fanatic savages? You should be. My Wondrously Amazing Fellein Team (WAFT™) is going to beat the shrimping crap out of you.
✔ Delightfully murderous and delectably cunning characters galore.
✔ Kick-ass sistas are doin' it for themselves, aka Cool Ruthless Chicks R Us (CRCRU™), aka so many new recruits for the harem I will have to build a new wing ASAP. Then again, some space might be freed up soon. It depends on what Evil Mr Moore is Evil (EMMiE™) is up to with my maybe-former-love Swech.
✔ Bye, bye recycling! Hello necromancy! Now that's what I call being barbarically efficient!
✔ The Freaking Veils of Utter Disgustment (FVoUT™). Shrimp knows I wanted to know what the Sa'Ba Taalor hid behind their infamous veils. Now I do know. And I might be nefarious and devious and stuff, but EW EW EW. And EW. I really didn't need to know that, Mr Moore. I knew you were slightly malevolent, but this was just too...
Exactly, dear Alfred. See, this is so sickeningly sick that even my pet raccoon is on the verge of puking his guts out. Poor baby. This doesn't mean the whole FVoUT™ business isn't cool, though. Oh no. Because, oh yes, sickeningly sick stuff can be deliciously awesome, too. Sometimes.
What else? I don't know. I kinda liked this book? Maybe. Not sure though. I think I might have to think it over before I give a definite opinion here. I'll let you know ASAP. By 2056 or something. You're welcome.
» And the moral of this I didn't Cut the Crap as Seriously as I Wanted to But it Could Have Been Much Worse so Go Me Crappy Non Review (IdCtCaSaIWtBiCHBMWsGMCNR™) is: let's dance.
P.S.: in case you haven't noticed, the book covers for this series are getting more
· Book 1: Seven Forges ★★★★
· Book 3: City of Wonders ★★★★
· Book 4: The Silent Army ★★