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4.28 AVERAGE
4.28 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-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
Interesting to reread as an adult and after reading Tempests and Slaughter, which has a more nuanced view of Carthak. But Daine and her animal companions are likeable as ever, descriptions of the Graveyard Hag and long-dead fossils are compelling.
Not my favourite Tortall book, but contains one of my absolute favourite scenes of all times: Daine's Dinosaur Smash.
Some of the ways in which the Carthaki are portrayed feel uncomfortable to read in hindsight, but most of the rest of the book still holds up. I love the way in which Daine grows up over the course of the books, and this is a great example of someone who has responsibilities beyond their age but is still definitely a teenager, with all the volatility that entails. And Pierce's heroines get to be *angry*, which I really appreciate.
Some of the ways in which the Carthaki are portrayed feel uncomfortable to read in hindsight, but most of the rest of the book still holds up. I love the way in which Daine grows up over the course of the books, and this is a great example of someone who has responsibilities beyond their age but is still definitely a teenager, with all the volatility that entails. And Pierce's heroines get to be *angry*, which I really appreciate.
I love how different this book is from the last two. The first two were distinct from each other but this one took the plot in a new direction that definitely makes sense. I like the politics, the conflicts between the characters and the gods, and generally how Daine is thrown headlong into this mess. I particularly enjoyed the climax, though I do feel the need to point out that this is the second time Daine shapeshifts and chases down the bad guy, and it won't be the last (I'm rereading these so I know). I also feel that Ozorne's ending is wonderful poetic justice. I won't spoil, I promise. I do wish there was some indication of where the plot is going into the fourth book, because this pretty neatly wraps up most of the conflicts of the first three books. But on the whole this was an excellent third installment and I'm looking forward to rereading the fourth.
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
mysterious
fast-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:
Complicated
Read this book as a child (maybe around 13) so I have a special place for it in my heart. Still holds up to a re-reading as an adult.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
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:
Complicated
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-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:
No
I think this one is about equal with book 2 for me. I still love it, like I do the whole series, and the rage is perfection. Numair's hypocrisy (a very minor part of the plot, but still there) bothers me a bit, but that's really all. I think Ozorne is a very unsettling villain and he is written well. I also like Lindhall and Zek as new characters and really wish we got to see them in the next book.