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stein's review against another edition
5.0
The great Mark Lawrence recommended this book and compared it to another recommendation he made two years back: Senlin Ascends.
You are two for two Mark.
This book is much more of an adventure story than fantasy. I was hooked from the first ten or so pages. The characters are believable, well-written, and the plot keeps unfurling the deeper you go. Excited for the second book!
You are two for two Mark.
This book is much more of an adventure story than fantasy. I was hooked from the first ten or so pages. The characters are believable, well-written, and the plot keeps unfurling the deeper you go. Excited for the second book!
pavram's review against another edition
4.0
Problem sa ambicioznim romanima je to što su ponekad toliko krcati da prosto ne može sve da stane izmedju dve korice.
Tako je i ovde: iako je centralna tema kult ličnosti (apsurdno je da u eto nekih stotinak romana fantastike i dalje nisam naišao na tu temu koja bukvalno može da bude na svakom ćošku), ovo je i dalje po mnogo čemu klasičan roman fantastike, sa doduše neevropskim lokalitetom. A po mom mišljenju, moš ili jedno ili drugo. Ili si kontemplativan i fokusiran na „presvetli care, zašto nam ne daš da učimo matematiku“ ili si „opsa, sad ćeš da vidiš kad te raspizdim po lobanji“. Oba već dosta teže. Nije nemoguće, i ova knjiga je na trenutke dosta blizu, pre nego što ponovo zaluta u plićake.
Proza je odlična, dosta poetična (vuče na Rotfusa/Le Gvinovu), što je onoliko plus koliko i minus, jer akcione scene su zbog toga neretko vrlovrlovrlo konfuzne. Daj mi Aberkrombijevu jednostavnost za koljačine i ja ću biti srećan, ali avaj. Likovi... likovi su snažni. Izuzev jednog. A on je igrom slučaja i glavni. Elem, centralni protagonisti su dva polubrata, od kojih je jedan možda i najfascinantniji lik kojeg sam sreo u poslednjih, ajde da kažemo, petnaestak romana, a drugi je dosadni, bezlični, opsednuto-zaljubljeni (pet peeve) baja. I naravno da će drugi onda da bude nosilac perspektive i da mi tako povremeno smuči život. Stvarno, zašto iko misli da ljubavlju opsednuti (ali baš opsednuti; lika-jure-tri-tigra-i-on-misli-o-ljubljenoj level opsednuti) protagonisti, i muški i ženski podjednako, mogu da budu zanimljivi za čitaoca? U kombinaciji sa za moj ukus nedovoljno zaokruženom pričom (bez obzira što je trilogija u pitanju), krajnji utisak je nešto slabiji. Ali ovo je i dalje nešto što treba da se ponosi svojim strpljenjem pri izgradnji likova, kao i odabiru tema i inteligenciji sa kojim istima pristupa. Pa čak i kad malo zaluta. Možda sledeći put tako pronadje neki do sada nepoznati put.
4+
Tako je i ovde: iako je centralna tema kult ličnosti (apsurdno je da u eto nekih stotinak romana fantastike i dalje nisam naišao na tu temu koja bukvalno može da bude na svakom ćošku), ovo je i dalje po mnogo čemu klasičan roman fantastike, sa doduše neevropskim lokalitetom. A po mom mišljenju, moš ili jedno ili drugo. Ili si kontemplativan i fokusiran na „presvetli care, zašto nam ne daš da učimo matematiku“ ili si „opsa, sad ćeš da vidiš kad te raspizdim po lobanji“. Oba već dosta teže. Nije nemoguće, i ova knjiga je na trenutke dosta blizu, pre nego što ponovo zaluta u plićake.
Proza je odlična, dosta poetična (vuče na Rotfusa/Le Gvinovu), što je onoliko plus koliko i minus, jer akcione scene su zbog toga neretko vrlovrlovrlo konfuzne. Daj mi Aberkrombijevu jednostavnost za koljačine i ja ću biti srećan, ali avaj. Likovi... likovi su snažni. Izuzev jednog. A on je igrom slučaja i glavni. Elem, centralni protagonisti su dva polubrata, od kojih je jedan možda i najfascinantniji lik kojeg sam sreo u poslednjih, ajde da kažemo, petnaestak romana, a drugi je dosadni, bezlični, opsednuto-zaljubljeni (pet peeve) baja. I naravno da će drugi onda da bude nosilac perspektive i da mi tako povremeno smuči život. Stvarno, zašto iko misli da ljubavlju opsednuti (ali baš opsednuti; lika-jure-tri-tigra-i-on-misli-o-ljubljenoj level opsednuti) protagonisti, i muški i ženski podjednako, mogu da budu zanimljivi za čitaoca? U kombinaciji sa za moj ukus nedovoljno zaokruženom pričom (bez obzira što je trilogija u pitanju), krajnji utisak je nešto slabiji. Ali ovo je i dalje nešto što treba da se ponosi svojim strpljenjem pri izgradnji likova, kao i odabiru tema i inteligenciji sa kojim istima pristupa. Pa čak i kad malo zaluta. Možda sledeći put tako pronadje neki do sada nepoznati put.
4+
ababoglo's review against another edition
5.0
4+ ⭐️
What a great ARC! Many thanks to author and the publisher for sharing a copy with me.
I came to know about this release from the glowing review by Mark Lawrence, here it is in case you have missed it: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2185389606?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1
Take away lesson one: trust Mark's recommendations. It is a safe bet.
Take away lesson two: don't be fooled by the cover - it totally mismanages expectations here.
I have plenty of things to praise in this story and only one issue to complain. I will start from a complaint first. The book could have been a bit shorter and punchier. It would have improved the pacing and increased the fun. That's it. That's my only complaint - the rest is a pure delight.
Particularly commendable bits are:
1. Parallel narratives: present time and flashback encounters. It reminded me of [b:The Lies of Locke Lamora|127455|The Lies of Locke Lamora (Gentleman Bastard, #1)|Scott Lynch|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1386924569s/127455.jpg|2116675]. Very nicely done. Great way to bring characters to life.
2. Reimagination of the historical themes from the Arabian peninsula and Central Asia. There is no explicit link to people, nations or events but the story is clearly inspired by the history of the region. Clever and interesting
3. Reimagination of geographical locations, particularly the Aral Sea. Superbly incorporated into the worldbuilding and fantastical narrative
4. Everpresent mystery. Nothing is black and white. Nothing is spelled out. World Plague? White Child? Yatra? Quarantine? After finishing the book you will know just enough to crave for more.
5. Language. This is a masterfully written story. Great kudos to the author!
If you are a fantasy fan and craving for something 'fresh' - this is a release to check out.
What a great ARC! Many thanks to author and the publisher for sharing a copy with me.
I came to know about this release from the glowing review by Mark Lawrence, here it is in case you have missed it: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2185389606?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1
Take away lesson one: trust Mark's recommendations. It is a safe bet.
Take away lesson two: don't be fooled by the cover - it totally mismanages expectations here.
I have plenty of things to praise in this story and only one issue to complain. I will start from a complaint first. The book could have been a bit shorter and punchier. It would have improved the pacing and increased the fun. That's it. That's my only complaint - the rest is a pure delight.
Particularly commendable bits are:
1. Parallel narratives: present time and flashback encounters. It reminded me of [b:The Lies of Locke Lamora|127455|The Lies of Locke Lamora (Gentleman Bastard, #1)|Scott Lynch|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1386924569s/127455.jpg|2116675]. Very nicely done. Great way to bring characters to life.
2. Reimagination of the historical themes from the Arabian peninsula and Central Asia. There is no explicit link to people, nations or events but the story is clearly inspired by the history of the region. Clever and interesting
3. Reimagination of geographical locations, particularly the Aral Sea. Superbly incorporated into the worldbuilding and fantastical narrative
4. Everpresent mystery. Nothing is black and white. Nothing is spelled out. World Plague? White Child? Yatra? Quarantine? After finishing the book you will know just enough to crave for more.
5. Language. This is a masterfully written story. Great kudos to the author!
If you are a fantasy fan and craving for something 'fresh' - this is a release to check out.
taysbookshelf's review against another edition
3.0
This book didn't really do it for me. The story was decent, the characters were moderately interesting (btw, to those who LOVED the women characters, did we read the same book? They were pretty much set pieces), and the world was intriguing enough, but the entire book I just never found myself that into the story. I will not be continuing the series.
wynwicket's review against another edition
4.0
I picked this up on Patrick Rothfuss's recommendation and was surprised how compelling it was. It starts out with some familiar fantasy staples: desert warriors on a journey, a mad Prophet, an arduous quest through the wilderness, etc., but it takes them unexpected places. Family complicates every step of the journey--the relationship between our not-so-Master Assassins is wonderfully complex, and the writing is excellent. I'll be looking out for the sequel.
a_chickletz's review against another edition
DNF. I couldn't even get past the first chapter. The characters were just too flat for me.
aneges's review against another edition
Didn't like how the story continuously switched back and forth between the present day and the past, especially because it was as memories of the characters. There were no sense of urgency in the story and instead of getting into the action of the present most of the time is spent remembering about a girl that both the brothers loved.