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leopardsummer8's review
4.0
Congratulations to Shola for giving me not one, but two heart attacks.
The Doors of Midnight is the epic fantasy sequel to The First Binding, and it is every bit as beautifully written...and as daunting. My copy of the e-book was 1163 pages, and each "page" was technically two e-book pages worth of swipes, making it really 2836 pages... Was it worth it though? Probably.
Once again, the novel is told through two main plotlines - the past and the present - with other stories and folklore woven in throughout. My first bit of advice for this book? Try harder than I did to find a summary of the first one to refresh yourself because going in blind is a bad idea. Most of the events of the first one came back to me, but the names were a bit confusing. I do think that the "present day" of this book was better than the last, but I'm not so sure on the "past" because I did find it to be a bit slow at times, although I suppose that's to be expected from a book that's 134 chapters. The style definitely makes up for the pacing.
We're introduced to a lot of new characters in this story. Shola is still my favorite little orange cat, and Ari remains a very intriguing narrator (I keep forgetting he's only 16 in his past right now). I wish there was more time spent with Radi and Aram because I didn't like Qimari as much. I really like Sham even though I'm scared he's going to turn into Fishcake from The Mortal Engines (if you know, you know). Eloine is growing on me, but I still have trust issues, so...
If you enjoyed The First Binding, you won't want to miss The Doors of Midnight.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the free e-ARC!
3.5/5
The Doors of Midnight is the epic fantasy sequel to The First Binding, and it is every bit as beautifully written...and as daunting. My copy of the e-book was 1163 pages, and each "page" was technically two e-book pages worth of swipes, making it really 2836 pages... Was it worth it though? Probably.
Once again, the novel is told through two main plotlines - the past and the present - with other stories and folklore woven in throughout. My first bit of advice for this book? Try harder than I did to find a summary of the first one to refresh yourself because going in blind is a bad idea. Most of the events of the first one came back to me, but the names were a bit confusing. I do think that the "present day" of this book was better than the last, but I'm not so sure on the "past" because I did find it to be a bit slow at times, although I suppose that's to be expected from a book that's 134 chapters. The style definitely makes up for the pacing.
We're introduced to a lot of new characters in this story. Shola is still my favorite little orange cat, and Ari remains a very intriguing narrator (I keep forgetting he's only 16 in his past right now). I wish there was more time spent with Radi and Aram because I didn't like Qimari as much. I really like Sham even though I'm scared he's going to turn into Fishcake from The Mortal Engines (if you know, you know). Eloine is growing on me, but I still have trust issues, so...
If you enjoyed The First Binding, you won't want to miss The Doors of Midnight.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the free e-ARC!
3.5/5
nclcaitlin's review
4.0
I came to Etaynia in search of the most important thing in the world. A story. A secret— the sort best held and better kept from the world. But I met with a prince instead. The second the stories will say I've killed.
And I did not find the story I came looking for. I wound up in the most dangerous one of all.
The Storyteller is locked up in a prison, accused of murdering the Prince of Etaynia.
From here, he tells more of his past which found him Etagnia and found him alone with a dead body.
Retelling the past, Ari completed his first season of the Ashram - place of learning the wonders of the world, and more than that—magic. Ari has one year to apprentice himself under Rishi Ibrahm to prove he has some level of control in the major bindings. Otherwise he faces the Crow nest or execution.
I was worried that this wouldn’t live up to my love of book one. Especially due to the criticisms that it was a copy of Name of the Wind and The First Binding was so well done because of this. Whilst I disagree that Virdi’s success is bought off NotW, this book cements Virdi as one of the most talented authors in my eyes.
His prose is gorgeous. Beautiful, touching, and insightful. Think Ken Liu.
Ari learns to look beyond himself and see what he’s missing out on as he constantly chases one thing after another. You can see he has such a big heart and just wants to help everyone and protect the weak.
The framing narrative allows this to be both a coming-of-age and a reflective political murder mystery.
Friends are the breath left to us when we run out of our own. They're the mirrors we need when we cannot see ourselves clearly. They point out our little flaws and, in times, the larger ones we must tend to. And, of course. they help us out of trouble as much as they help us into it.
The framing device is executed perfectly and allows Virdi to really explore the idea and importance and magic of storytelling.
A storyteller's job is to offer reprieve and escape to those who need it most.
Ari set out to hide his identity in stories told and expanded and grown, so he can lose his true self and walk hidden among others. To be so great a myth that the real man vanishes - a thing unbelievable.
Loneliness is a sort of poverty of the heart and soul. Many people confuse this with solitude. They are not one and the same. One is chosen, and in that space of aloneness, one can flourish, and one can heal. The other is a space shaped from the things lacking, and in that lack you are locked away to suffer— alone.
Whilst book two of the Kingkiller chronicles sees Kvothe becoming a sex god, Virdi seems to poke fun at this as Ari learns more about his world and magic in a legendary realm beyond the Doors of Midnight.
I did prefer the first 60% of the books. After this, it felt slower and episodic, trading stories and morals.
However, this is definitely a strong five stars, and I cannot wait to see what Virdi does next, even if I did feel slightly disappointed by the ending as nothing monumental to the overarching StoryTeller plot felt resolved.
Thank you to Gollancz for providing the arc in exchange for a review!!
And I did not find the story I came looking for. I wound up in the most dangerous one of all.
The Storyteller is locked up in a prison, accused of murdering the Prince of Etaynia.
From here, he tells more of his past which found him Etagnia and found him alone with a dead body.
Retelling the past, Ari completed his first season of the Ashram - place of learning the wonders of the world, and more than that—magic. Ari has one year to apprentice himself under Rishi Ibrahm to prove he has some level of control in the major bindings. Otherwise he faces the Crow nest or execution.
I was worried that this wouldn’t live up to my love of book one. Especially due to the criticisms that it was a copy of Name of the Wind and The First Binding was so well done because of this. Whilst I disagree that Virdi’s success is bought off NotW, this book cements Virdi as one of the most talented authors in my eyes.
His prose is gorgeous. Beautiful, touching, and insightful. Think Ken Liu.
Ari learns to look beyond himself and see what he’s missing out on as he constantly chases one thing after another. You can see he has such a big heart and just wants to help everyone and protect the weak.
The framing narrative allows this to be both a coming-of-age and a reflective political murder mystery.
Friends are the breath left to us when we run out of our own. They're the mirrors we need when we cannot see ourselves clearly. They point out our little flaws and, in times, the larger ones we must tend to. And, of course. they help us out of trouble as much as they help us into it.
The framing device is executed perfectly and allows Virdi to really explore the idea and importance and magic of storytelling.
A storyteller's job is to offer reprieve and escape to those who need it most.
Ari set out to hide his identity in stories told and expanded and grown, so he can lose his true self and walk hidden among others. To be so great a myth that the real man vanishes - a thing unbelievable.
Loneliness is a sort of poverty of the heart and soul. Many people confuse this with solitude. They are not one and the same. One is chosen, and in that space of aloneness, one can flourish, and one can heal. The other is a space shaped from the things lacking, and in that lack you are locked away to suffer— alone.
Whilst book two of the Kingkiller chronicles sees Kvothe becoming a sex god, Virdi seems to poke fun at this as Ari learns more about his world and magic in a legendary realm beyond the Doors of Midnight.
I did prefer the first 60% of the books. After this, it felt slower and episodic, trading stories and morals.
However, this is definitely a strong five stars, and I cannot wait to see what Virdi does next, even if I did feel slightly disappointed by the ending as nothing monumental to the overarching StoryTeller plot felt resolved.
Thank you to Gollancz for providing the arc in exchange for a review!!
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