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4.13 AVERAGE
4.13 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
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
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
tense
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Wow. I understand why people love it! It’s so gritty, which I love because I wish more fantasy books were this gritty. There were some twists I figured out way before, like who Mustang was, but others I was very surprised by! I’m excited to see where the series goes!
dark
A very slow start for me. Obviously once it picked up in action, I was more invested. Definitely one of the better sci-fi books I’ve tried.
I’m not sure I’m invested or curious enough to want to continue the series but thats a problem for later.
I’m not sure I’m invested or curious enough to want to continue the series but thats a problem for later.
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
One of the best fantasy books I have read this year
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
dark
tense
fast-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
It was a bit difficult to get invested at the start as the setting seemed a bit far fetched, and when the city was revealed it seemed very similar to Earth now despite being hundreds of years in the future. But the world became more believable when more characters were introduced and the golds were humanised a bit.
The book did a good job of making me frustrated at the state of things at the start using Darrow’s and the other Lykos residents’ resigned and hopeful mindsets in response to unfair treatment. One thing that confused me was how they weren’t allowed to win the Laurel; it was later called a mistake by Darrow, but I don’t understand why the golds would make that mistake when their whole thing is knowing how to control people, other than to make Darrow seem a better leader.
I really enjoyed the fast pace and how a lot of uninteresting events that would only slow things down without adding much were glossed over (for example several fortress take overs and battles).
I think the protagonist being a super genius who can do everything works well for this type of story and made for a lot of satisfying moments. The lessons he learns aren’t agonized over for too long; the consequences of his actions are shown and explained, then he acts differently next time so there wasn’t much moping. Other characters felt a bit strange though, either their loyalty or pride seemed over exaggerated depending on whether they were an ally or enemy to Darrow. Eo’s decisions still don’t make much sense to me if she really knew as little as we think she did. Was she just gambling that Darrow wouldn’t kill himself or that someone would save him?
It was fun but I haven’t really thought about it since reading it.
It was fun but I haven’t really thought about it since reading it.