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theaceofpages's review
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book reads a lot like traditional fantasy in how it is written and carries both the good and bad of such books. It does, however, very much make it its own and spins off in unexpected directions at times (e.g. zombies). While I did like that we had multiple characters, I feel like there were too many of them for hw short this is. There are a lot of people to keep track of and a lot happening and it can et a little confusing at times. This is, however, the first book of a series and maybe things become easier to follow and make more sense in the next book. I also wasn't a fan of how misogynistic the world is (although at least the women aren't all vague helpless forms as they are in some books). There is constantly abuse being flung at them and it's a little uncomfortable. But that being said, the book definitely had an interesting premise and would have been a far more enjoyable read if women were not being beaten as frequently. Beyond that, I had a good time visiting the world that the author created. It is well written, even if it is upsetting at times.
Some notes on the abuse for those who need it:
If this is a CW for you make sure that you are in an okay place mentally before you read this. It is rather upsetting and very frequent. Probably the worst one for me was when a slave girl gets beaten, kicked and thrown around for eating something she wasn't meant to. But there are a lot of examples of men overpowering women (another is a man cutting and assaulting a prostitute who didn't consent to him "experimenting" and it's not easy to read. Especially when they take glee in it. Stay safe and don't read this book if you can't handle these kinds of themes. You will not enjoy it.
Some notes on the abuse for those who need it:
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Physical abuse
Moderate: Blood, Death, Gore, Sexual violence, and Violence
Minor: Alcohol, Classism, Cursing, Death of parent, and Murder
xan_van_rooyen's review against another edition
3.0
Lots of mixed feelings about this one.
On the one hand, I really enjoyed all the traditional aspects of this fantasy novel and even the traditional delivery of narration - multiple third-person POVs, backstory woven into the narrative, flashbacks etc. But at the same time, it was often these same traditional techniques that frustrated me. At times, it was hard keeping track of who was who and where they were and why I should care because of the numerous POVs - this meant I didn't connect with the characters the way I wanted to and didn't really find any characters I wanted to route for.
Being traditional fantasy, there is also an abundance of presumably straight, male characters in what is clearly a patriarchal world. The role of women in this story didn't impress me, sadly, with the females relegated to being servile wives, whores, and victims of rape and abuse. I do hope things change and that the few female characters we've been introduced to in this first book become stronger characters as the series progresses.
On the one hand, I really enjoyed all the traditional aspects of this fantasy novel and even the traditional delivery of narration - multiple third-person POVs, backstory woven into the narrative, flashbacks etc. But at the same time, it was often these same traditional techniques that frustrated me. At times, it was hard keeping track of who was who and where they were and why I should care because of the numerous POVs - this meant I didn't connect with the characters the way I wanted to and didn't really find any characters I wanted to route for.
Being traditional fantasy, there is also an abundance of presumably straight, male characters in what is clearly a patriarchal world. The role of women in this story didn't impress me, sadly, with the females relegated to being servile wives, whores, and victims of rape and abuse. I do hope things change and that the few female characters we've been introduced to in this first book become stronger characters as the series progresses.
geckoedit's review
5.0
Speculative fiction, and in particular, high fantasy has seen a resurgence lately, thanks to novel-based TV shows like "A Game of Thrones" and film empires like The Lord of the Rings making it "cool" to read about knights and dragons. However, as with any genre, factions develop and subgenres appear. Dubbed "grimdark", the latest craze is for gritty, violent, realistic and dystopian/political books and films. Betrayal's Shadow, is gritty, violent, realistic and dystopian, and serves as a great example of this subgenre. And I bet Dave-Brendon de Burgh will hate me for saying so, as he says, "I hope that [grimdark] doesn't become established. because a lot of genres in speculative fiction, after becoming established, have to start following rules that didn't exist before." Betrayal's Shadow is definitely not a rules-follower - when was the last time you saw an extra-terrestrial zombie outbreak in a medieval fantasy novel?
With big names such as Robert Jordan, Raymond E Feist and more laying a solid groundwork in SFF, and setting some pretty clear rules, I fully expected Betrayal's Shadow to follow the usual tropes - high-born damsels in distress, noble knights, a low-born youth who is "the chosen one" and must go on an epic journey to find a shiny thing that will save his kingdom, and all the other endless clichés. In addition, such a book would be bloated with Jordan-esque chapters about the colours of dresses. On the contrary, I was pleasantly surprised by how de Burgh takes those tropes, piles them up, sets them on fire and dances over their smoldering embers.
Set in the Mahaelian kingdom, 500 years after the unification of the kingdoms by the magician-king Jarlath (who still holds the throne), a weathered soldier leads a company of elite knights to a state where there have been reports of an uprising. Along the way, they come under attack from mysterious forces, laying a trail of mystery that leaves Brice questioning his loyalties and dealing with the ghosts of his past. In the capital, the king's favourite concubine buys a dagger "for protection" and his most trusted advisor tries to navigate the baffling political intrigues of the ruling classes. Beneath the city, an enslaved child escapes from captivity, becoming his people's only hope for salvation...
Read my full review on Literogo.com
With big names such as Robert Jordan, Raymond E Feist and more laying a solid groundwork in SFF, and setting some pretty clear rules, I fully expected Betrayal's Shadow to follow the usual tropes - high-born damsels in distress, noble knights, a low-born youth who is "the chosen one" and must go on an epic journey to find a shiny thing that will save his kingdom, and all the other endless clichés. In addition, such a book would be bloated with Jordan-esque chapters about the colours of dresses. On the contrary, I was pleasantly surprised by how de Burgh takes those tropes, piles them up, sets them on fire and dances over their smoldering embers.
Set in the Mahaelian kingdom, 500 years after the unification of the kingdoms by the magician-king Jarlath (who still holds the throne), a weathered soldier leads a company of elite knights to a state where there have been reports of an uprising. Along the way, they come under attack from mysterious forces, laying a trail of mystery that leaves Brice questioning his loyalties and dealing with the ghosts of his past. In the capital, the king's favourite concubine buys a dagger "for protection" and his most trusted advisor tries to navigate the baffling political intrigues of the ruling classes. Beneath the city, an enslaved child escapes from captivity, becoming his people's only hope for salvation...
Read my full review on Literogo.com
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