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3.2 AVERAGE
3.2 AVERAGE
That is a nice cover, to be honest I saw that cover on one website and that dragon looming over the person just drew me in. Really, really nice.
There's this trope in modern fantasy that I think of as 'reverse-Gnosticism' where there's this higher spirit realm that's just inherently dangerous to people. Where people can just try to influence the higher realms if they can but ultimately they're just along for the ride and trying to hang on.
That's what this book made me think of, like Famine, Clepsamammia and Valem are just doing their thing so to speak, they're not malicious or hostile to humanity really, it's just that Famine isn't so much hungry as he is Hunger and Valem's not so much angry as he is Anger. And well, the embodiment of Anger might not be the best next door neighbor.
As far as execution goes, I overall enjoyed the book. The main area that drug it down for me was the number of new terms and places and concepts. Like when I need to keep remembering the difference between Bali ishakas and Qao Fu it hurts the flow of the book.
But I appreciated the main character especially. She was reasonably flawed but had a unwavering insistence that she would do the right thing no matter what which appeals to me.
There was one scene near the end. Which ain't right but it's one of those decisions, I can definitely see how I'd make it but then she suddenly . And I had to set the book down and call her an idiot. What? you couldn't predict that would happen?
But, on balance, I think I prefer a protagonist who makes mistakes and screws up to a protagonist who's always right about everything and always succeeds. So, it felt more like real character flaw than anything derailing the book.
There's this trope in modern fantasy that I think of as 'reverse-Gnosticism' where there's this higher spirit realm that's just inherently dangerous to people. Where people can just try to influence the higher realms if they can but ultimately they're just along for the ride and trying to hang on.
That's what this book made me think of, like Famine, Clepsamammia and Valem are just doing their thing so to speak, they're not malicious or hostile to humanity really, it's just that Famine isn't so much hungry as he is Hunger and Valem's not so much angry as he is Anger. And well, the embodiment of Anger might not be the best next door neighbor.
As far as execution goes, I overall enjoyed the book. The main area that drug it down for me was the number of new terms and places and concepts. Like when I need to keep remembering the difference between Bali ishakas and Qao Fu it hurts the flow of the book.
But I appreciated the main character especially. She was reasonably flawed but had a unwavering insistence that she would do the right thing no matter what which appeals to me.
There was one scene near the end
Spoiler
where Airene decides to set off a volcano in the middle of a city while Famine is on it in order to weaken Famine and allow her to trap himSpoiler
decides she wants to back out (when it was too late but she didn't know it was too late yet) because of the number of people that it'd killBut, on balance, I think I prefer a protagonist who makes mistakes and screws up to a protagonist who's always right about everything and always succeeds. So, it felt more like real character flaw than anything derailing the book.
The End....Or is it ? just when you thought the series was complete with the sad ending ....well I guess you'll have to see for yourself ...No Spoilers here. I am an Honest ARC Reviewer this series was kind of hard for me to follow as the names seemed to be more Anime to me (however that's just me possibly). The war without and from within makes this an epic battle that looks as if there is no way to escape total destruction. Airene and her pack battle from everywhere. (You'll See).
Airene and her companions continued in the war to defeat famine an protect her brother Linos. When the only way this can be done is to sacrifice herself. Oedija has been desecrated and the rebuilding will take time. But, the obstacles that had to be overcome and the friends that have been lost due to the war was the hardest. Rules have been changed for more freedom within Qedija has been established. The outcome of the series ending was amazing. I enjoyed it tremendously. If you enjoy intense and lots of twist and turns you will enjoy this book. It was hard to put down and sorry to see it ending but it was a great series from beginning to end.