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mightyjor's review against another edition
4.0
This book is the equivalent of popcorn and milk duds and a soda at the movie theater. It won’t exactly sustain you as the only thing you consume for the rest of your life, but when you’re in the moment consuming it it’s absolutely heavenly. There’s a discussion to be had here for what a perfect book actually is, and in this case, the book is clearly a novelization of the Naruto/Dragonball/Last Airbended shonen style anime and manga, and it does a fantastic job being just that.
You’re not going to tear up here. It’s not going to change you as a person. It’s going to give you huge surges of adrenaline though when some character powers up with some secret technique that he’d been hiding up his but for the last three weeks after everyone said he was powerless against him. And that’s exactly what this book is, power fantasy, pure and simple. I’m not a better person for having read this, just a thoroughly entertained one.
In saying that, I think this book doesn’t quite hit the same way the first one did as I found the first half to be extremely boring, so much so that I had a hard time continuing on. In that respect though, the fact that this audiobook takes like 5 hours to listen to on my standard 1.5x speed means that all it takes is commuting to work a couple times and you’re already in the second half which is infinitely more fun.
When I watch a shonen anime, I want to see our hero do insane, out of the box things to somehow overpower his much stronger opponents, then grow and become more powerful as a result. It’s a promise that was set up in book 1 and book 2 begins to deliver on that in wonderful juicy ways.
I’ll be continuing on with this series. The author gave all the books away for free (which is crazy) but I’ve also purchased every audiobook in the series, that’s how confident I am that I’m going to be happy with the whole thing.
You’re not going to tear up here. It’s not going to change you as a person. It’s going to give you huge surges of adrenaline though when some character powers up with some secret technique that he’d been hiding up his but for the last three weeks after everyone said he was powerless against him. And that’s exactly what this book is, power fantasy, pure and simple. I’m not a better person for having read this, just a thoroughly entertained one.
In saying that, I think this book doesn’t quite hit the same way the first one did as I found the first half to be extremely boring, so much so that I had a hard time continuing on. In that respect though, the fact that this audiobook takes like 5 hours to listen to on my standard 1.5x speed means that all it takes is commuting to work a couple times and you’re already in the second half which is infinitely more fun.
When I watch a shonen anime, I want to see our hero do insane, out of the box things to somehow overpower his much stronger opponents, then grow and become more powerful as a result. It’s a promise that was set up in book 1 and book 2 begins to deliver on that in wonderful juicy ways.
I’ll be continuing on with this series. The author gave all the books away for free (which is crazy) but I’ve also purchased every audiobook in the series, that’s how confident I am that I’m going to be happy with the whole thing.
lazuli_73's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.0
bookwyrme_lynn's review against another edition
This book was unable to hold my attention. I don't think progressive fantasy is for me
aelius_'s review against another edition
3.0
There are two types of writers in the fantasy genre. One of great poetry and sophisticated form of literature in his style of writing.
The second being a depiction of the modern world with obsolesence of the above, with just words but minimal wisdom and beautification.
Will Wight's writing solemnly belongs to the latter. Where there is no right or wrong in this two writing style, it has remained and shall be a preference to the audience and the target audience he who intends to show.
It is up to you of your own enjoyment, and i certainly did, but this piece of volume did not entertain me as i should with my expectations enthralled from the first book.
No longer should i go? Nevertheless, i always would give it a push, once more to complete a "trilogy". To give it a chance, as i have not reached the full extent of a typical series of books. One more, i shall go.
I am expecting more from the third book, because typically 2nd book of the series always rocks hard. I expect more from Will, and hope for it to deliver with a bang.
The second being a depiction of the modern world with obsolesence of the above, with just words but minimal wisdom and beautification.
Will Wight's writing solemnly belongs to the latter. Where there is no right or wrong in this two writing style, it has remained and shall be a preference to the audience and the target audience he who intends to show.
It is up to you of your own enjoyment, and i certainly did, but this piece of volume did not entertain me as i should with my expectations enthralled from the first book.
No longer should i go? Nevertheless, i always would give it a push, once more to complete a "trilogy". To give it a chance, as i have not reached the full extent of a typical series of books. One more, i shall go.
I am expecting more from the third book, because typically 2nd book of the series always rocks hard. I expect more from Will, and hope for it to deliver with a bang.
frootlupo's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
medium-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
3.75
Soulsmith didn't have quite the momentum or intrigue of the first book, instead feeling more like an obligatory stepping stone to bigger and better adventures. We spend a long time expanding the world building - which while necessary and helpful, is not always the most engaging. However, the introduction of a key new character brought a ton of charm and mystery, which helped the second half of the book tremendously.
Further, Wight still has me deeply rooting for our protagonist and his expanding companions. Watching him grow and develop his powers is addicting and keeps me coming back - stirring up an impatience that drives me to keep reading (even when I probably should be doing other things).
Overall it was certainly still enjoyable, it just felt more like a bridging narrative than its own complete story.
Further, Wight still has me deeply rooting for our protagonist and his expanding companions. Watching him grow and develop his powers is addicting and keeps me coming back - stirring up an impatience that drives me to keep reading (even when I probably should be doing other things).
Overall it was certainly still enjoyable, it just felt more like a bridging narrative than its own complete story.
chrispy88's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
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
4.25
ethias's review against another edition
5.0
This might be a new favorite series. I can’t seem to stop. I’m obsessed with all the characters, Eithan most of all. The bloopers are an absolute delight.
enchanterheir's review against another edition
3.0
It was an interesting book. It took a little while for me to get into it, I had the same initial struggle with the first book in this series too, but overall I enjoyed it.