Reviews

The Silverblood Promise by James Logan

woltram's review against another edition

adventurous funny mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

bassgirl456's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

bookishactor's review against another edition

adventurous funny mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

The Silverblood Promise is one of the best debut novels I’ve ever read. James Logan brings experience as a book editor, and this really shows in the construction and composition of the story. The Silverblood Promise has everything I want in a fantasy novel: excellent world building, interesting characters, and a compelling plot. I can’t wait for the sequel. 

nravede's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

bookwyrmreadstoomuch's review against another edition

adventurous emotional lighthearted mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

Not five stars because the next book isn’t out yet. 

janakib's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

jedidiah_blake's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

imperfectedness's review against another edition

adventurous

3.0

I had fun with the story initially, but you really can‘t focus too hard on the plot choices. Unfortunately this continues to get worse, the longer it goes on. Matters are not made better by a hero who stumbles through this „mystery“ ( feels more like a scavenger hunt) and who‘s only personality traits are liking alcohol and liking his sidekick, Flea. 

slavicreader's review against another edition

adventurous funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.75

Think I went into this with somewhat skewed expectations. For one, I was expecting the writing to be solid, if anything else. Especially given that it's a chunky fantasy.

Unfortunately the writing is ultimately what brought it down for me. The story really needed a heavier editing hand. So much of the page count is just characters talking about what's just happened. Telling eachother. Then comes a new character and they have to tell them too. 

If they weren't talking about what's just happened, they were thinking about it. 

I wouldn't have minded it, had there been less of this. But imagine witnessing an event. You as a reader, are there. You know what's just happened. Then you have to go through pages upon pages of the characters... Talking about it. I just wanted things to happen! Less talk, more action.

What I did like was some of the banter. Made me laugh out loud a couple times. It also sucked me in straight away and I could not put a the book down for the first half. The story showed promise and was intriguing! 

Alas the execution lacked finesse. You know it's not great if you have to read through several pages of the villain doing The Monologue. 

I'm still inclined to read the second book, with the hopes that it is better! 

the_midwest_library's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

What to say about this one, firstly it's a solid debut. The characters were interesting, but not without flaws, the story itself is interesting and the overall concept of the world I enjoyed. 

But what holds this book back from being excellent is the prose and narration style. The characters are CONSTANTLY having conversations where they explain the plot over and over where we should have been shown that plot through more robust worldbuilding. The characters also have some dialogue that is....cringey? Almost tropey. I think it's because the characters aren't developed enough so the emotional impact moments just didn't hit the way the author intended at times. 

All that said, I did enjoy this. I think there is great potential here in this world and I can see a lot of people really loving this!