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4.39 AVERAGE
4.39 AVERAGE
gorgeous prose and really interesting characters! I definitely had to focus to remember everyone and understand the plot and I probably will have to reread to fully get everything. very excited to read more!
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
sad
tense
fast-paced
adventurous
challenging
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This has to be the most interesting book I've ever read. The political plot of this books is amazing and well thought out. The main characters were written so well. I can't get over how smart each one is. I will most definitely be continuing this series.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
dark
informative
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
adventurous
funny
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Heavy on political intrigue, government management, and power struggles, The Ballad of Sword and Wine has a dense, logic-driven plot with a massive cast of characters. At the very top stands the Machiavelian protagonist, Shen Lanzhou, and his nemesis the subtle strategist, Xiao Ce'an. Part-time enemies, part-time flirting partners, these two are just so entertaining no matter which limb of their plot dynamic they are stretching. While I think their romance is fun, it's not the central plot. For the most part, this is a very complicated story about running a country. And very little of this "running the country" has to do with the emperor. Instead, we see those around him as they struggle to gain power, not lose power, avoid power, or just plain survive while everyone else is tearing out each other's throats to get that power! It's complex and dense in content and I really enjoyed it. It's slightly hard to get into, as the first 5-ich chapters are vague and you are thrown in the middle of the situation (to the point that I wondered if I was reading the wrong volume, for a moment when I first started it.) but things settle into controlled chaos soon after and then the verbal battle of the main characters and the mental battles of the political factions sweep you off your feet!
Highly recommend.