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annaswan's review against another edition
3.0
A mature woman with power (at a cost, very Bujold-ish that), a younger lover, and a well-developed sense of responsibility. The other characters were less thoroughly drawn, alas. The world-building was pretty neat, with complex, codified religious magic, but not the typical faux-European fantasy realm.
metaphorosis's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars - Metaphorosis Reviews
Maskelle was once the Voice of the Adversary - the only Ancestor that never took human form. Now, she's returning from exile at the command of the Celestial One to help remake the Wheel of the Infinite - and deal with a problem that risks the existence of the entire world.
I give Martha Wells credit for developing a very different world here. This is not your standard medieval fantasy, nor quite your less-standard Eastern one. It's a mix of existing elements, but it works very well as a fairly unique setting centered around world that must be remade every year through complex rituals. It's never clear whether this is mostly tradition or the world is actually remade (and how the rituals were learned), but clearly the rituals have important effect.
Maskelle, the exiled ex-Voice of the Adversary, is a powerful mage, but also a genuine, human character with needs and emotions. She travels with a group of actors and a mysterious swordsman, and Wells shows us the relationships unfolding in a way that's both subtle and credible. She's not concerned with building up a lot of interplay and romance, and the story works well that way.
The settings and descriptions could have used some clarity, and the descriptions are sometimes overly terse, but we generally get enough for the story to work. What's nice about the story is that not just the relationships, but also the grand, world-shaking actions are presented in a pragmatic, low-key way - the antithesis of the usual over-the-top adventure. These are practical people dealing with problems that just happen to include saving the world. With a touch of humor.
So, what holds this story back? The prose is good, but is generally as low-key as the story itself. It's one area where the book could have benefited from more grace and beauty, to move the language from workmanlike to elegant. The overall plot is good, intriguing, and not quite what we'd expect, but there are also a fair number of loose ends. The core concept is good, but I really wish Wells had done more with the material she introduced. The end fells less like a wrapup than a convenient place to stop, or a good idea that simply isn't fleshed out well enough to satisfy.
All in all, an unusual and interesting world that doesn't reach as far as it should. Recommended despite some flaws.
Maskelle was once the Voice of the Adversary - the only Ancestor that never took human form. Now, she's returning from exile at the command of the Celestial One to help remake the Wheel of the Infinite - and deal with a problem that risks the existence of the entire world.
I give Martha Wells credit for developing a very different world here. This is not your standard medieval fantasy, nor quite your less-standard Eastern one. It's a mix of existing elements, but it works very well as a fairly unique setting centered around world that must be remade every year through complex rituals. It's never clear whether this is mostly tradition or the world is actually remade (and how the rituals were learned), but clearly the rituals have important effect.
Maskelle, the exiled ex-Voice of the Adversary, is a powerful mage, but also a genuine, human character with needs and emotions. She travels with a group of actors and a mysterious swordsman, and Wells shows us the relationships unfolding in a way that's both subtle and credible. She's not concerned with building up a lot of interplay and romance, and the story works well that way.
The settings and descriptions could have used some clarity, and the descriptions are sometimes overly terse, but we generally get enough for the story to work. What's nice about the story is that not just the relationships, but also the grand, world-shaking actions are presented in a pragmatic, low-key way - the antithesis of the usual over-the-top adventure. These are practical people dealing with problems that just happen to include saving the world. With a touch of humor.
So, what holds this story back? The prose is good, but is generally as low-key as the story itself. It's one area where the book could have benefited from more grace and beauty, to move the language from workmanlike to elegant. The overall plot is good, intriguing, and not quite what we'd expect, but there are also a fair number of loose ends. The core concept is good, but I really wish Wells had done more with the material she introduced. The end fells less like a wrapup than a convenient place to stop, or a good idea that simply isn't fleshed out well enough to satisfy.
All in all, an unusual and interesting world that doesn't reach as far as it should. Recommended despite some flaws.
anice's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
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? Yes
3.75
A weird little romp thru a interesting fantasy world with a strong priestly caste and diverse set of cultural influences. Doesn’t quite have the vibrancy of the other Wells books I’ve read
lou_1440's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I loved the world and magic system and would murder for our protagonist and I love the partnership.
That being said! First half of the book wad veeery slow, and I don’t like media that centers around circuses or theater/puppets and we had that.
That being said! First half of the book wad veeery slow, and I don’t like media that centers around circuses or theater/puppets and we had that.
morilette's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
caedo06's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 to 4
A fairly well placed story, that moves along at a decent pace; while never bad, I was not fully engaged until about halfway through. It became truly enthralling in the lead up to the climax. The 2 main characters are likeable enough, but I found certain aspects of their relationship somewhat unbelievable considering they only knew each other for 2 days. I found myself far more invested in some of the side characters.
A fairly well placed story, that moves along at a decent pace; while never bad, I was not fully engaged until about halfway through. It became truly enthralling in the lead up to the climax. The 2 main characters are likeable enough, but I found certain aspects of their relationship somewhat unbelievable considering they only knew each other for 2 days. I found myself far more invested in some of the side characters.
lyssa131330's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
franfernandezarce's review against another edition
4.0
*4.5*
i read most of this book assuming it was the first in a series--or at least a trilogy. my fantasy-genre assumptions have fooled me once more. i just want more from this world and these characters.
to my neophite fantasy perspective, this was refreshing. the plot was absolutely original, the setting and the world-building were on point and the characters (at least the main ones) were interesting enough for me to root for them from beginning to end. besides, how refreshing it felt to have a main female character over her mid-thirties being both a badass and a sexual individual. i should point out her noting her back pain most of the time felt a bit unbeliable at first but after a brief discussion with my brother (he's 34), it made more sense.
regardless of all my praising, this book wasn't perfect. although the main plot twist was unexpected most of the lesser twists (mainly, who the baddies were) felt very predictable. think "predictability". yet, playing devil's advocate, it felt like a casualty of the plotline to have them being less well-rounded as characters than they should have been. sacrificing a bit of character development for the sake of the plot sounds like a fair compromise in my book though.
i read most of this book assuming it was the first in a series--or at least a trilogy. my fantasy-genre assumptions have fooled me once more. i just want more from this world and these characters.
to my neophite fantasy perspective, this was refreshing. the plot was absolutely original, the setting and the world-building were on point and the characters (at least the main ones) were interesting enough for me to root for them from beginning to end. besides, how refreshing it felt to have a main female character over her mid-thirties being both a badass and a sexual individual. i should point out her noting her back pain most of the time felt a bit unbeliable at first but after a brief discussion with my brother (he's 34), it made more sense.
regardless of all my praising, this book wasn't perfect. although the main plot twist was unexpected most of the lesser twists (mainly, who the baddies were) felt very predictable. think "predictability". yet, playing devil's advocate, it felt like a casualty of the plotline to have them being less well-rounded as characters than they should have been. sacrificing a bit of character development for the sake of the plot sounds like a fair compromise in my book though.
alexanderkjall's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0