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3.45 AVERAGE
3.45 AVERAGE
a bit of an odd one for me, I did enjoy it but the book never really made enough of an impact on me to be classed as "really liked it". Certainly I'd suggest others read this, but for me a few elements didn't quite work. I liked the main character in particular and none were problematic, but at the same time none were a surprise. None did anything unpredictable or went beyond what I assumed of them - might be just me reading too many fantasy books but...
As for the plot, it was interesting but again didn't throw up anything surprising. Most of it was pretty predictable but it was executed well enough so that didn't annoy me. The only gripe I had was that I never got much of a sense of the geists - frankly another 100 pages at the start with characterization and some developing sense of the geists would have not gone amiss. It's not long before we're presented with a whole new type/level of them without learning much about the familiar first. Will I read the second, probably not looking at my TBR pile, but I don't keep on with half the series I start so that's not much of an indictment
As for the plot, it was interesting but again didn't throw up anything surprising. Most of it was pretty predictable but it was executed well enough so that didn't annoy me. The only gripe I had was that I never got much of a sense of the geists - frankly another 100 pages at the start with characterization and some developing sense of the geists would have not gone amiss. It's not long before we're presented with a whole new type/level of them without learning much about the familiar first. Will I read the second, probably not looking at my TBR pile, but I don't keep on with half the series I start so that's not much of an indictment
Link: https://holedupinabook.blogspot.com/2016/10/book-of-order-series-by-philippa.html
I’m not sure why this series is labeled as steampunk on Goodreads because it isn’t really…I would consider this more of high fantasy as opposed to regular fantasy especially with all the geistlords and creatures running amok in this series. Also, I have mixed feelings about this book/series. This was my first high fantasy novel, I think, at least in a while, and it’s not a genre that I’m supremely familiar with or fond of so it was a little slow going for me to get into the characters and the plot.
First things first, there were way too many characters, names, creatures and whatnot going on. I felt like I was constantly confused or simply two steps behind when someone appears. Other than the core crew: Sorcha, Merrick, Raed and later, Zofiya, I was thrown around when someone else appeared. I just felt like there were too many different terminologies and names that it just felt really disorganized. For example, there’s the geist world out there but apparently each geistlord has their own name and that’s in addition to the lesser geists out there and their names. Then there are also the normal people and the Deacons who go by either Deacon [last name] or just simply the first name. And, none of the names are common names so it was even harder for me to connect the dots.
As for the plot itself, the first two books essentially had very different plot lines with different characters (other than the core ones) with a few underlying similarities whereas book 3 and 4 were definitely more correlated and seemed to immediately start up where the other left off. I mean, generally, the books connected in the core elements but I definitely felt as if the first two novels were more of building up the actual plot so you can either look at it positively as if the author is spending a lot of time plot and world building or you can look at it negatively by stating it was very slow especially from the beginning. So if that’s something up your alley, you would enjoy this series.
The three main characters: Sorcha, Merrick and Raed as a whole were well-rounded. I found that some characteristics that one might be lacking would be found in another character. For example, Sorcha was very quick tempered and not at all political whereas Merrick and even Raed knew how to say things in a manner that would cool the flames. Also, I was so sure that there was supposed to be some sort of romantic relationship between Sorcha and Merrick but there wasn’t so I was a little disappointed at that but then again, I guess that would be too cliché maybe.
The one thing that confused me was the relationship between Raed and the Rossin (which apparently isn’t even his real name since Rossin is technically Raed’s last name but the author always went by this name to portray the geistlord which is also another confusing element). I’m not sure what the dynamic was and it seemed that in the beginning that the Rossin controlled Raed during the change but as the books went by, the dynamic changed but it wasn’t exactly equal. I just wish this was something that was portrayed a bit more.
Overall, it was an okay series on my end but then again, I’m not really into high fantasy novels so if that’s something you really like this take a go at this one.
I’m not sure why this series is labeled as steampunk on Goodreads because it isn’t really…I would consider this more of high fantasy as opposed to regular fantasy especially with all the geistlords and creatures running amok in this series. Also, I have mixed feelings about this book/series. This was my first high fantasy novel, I think, at least in a while, and it’s not a genre that I’m supremely familiar with or fond of so it was a little slow going for me to get into the characters and the plot.
First things first, there were way too many characters, names, creatures and whatnot going on. I felt like I was constantly confused or simply two steps behind when someone appears. Other than the core crew: Sorcha, Merrick, Raed and later, Zofiya, I was thrown around when someone else appeared. I just felt like there were too many different terminologies and names that it just felt really disorganized. For example, there’s the geist world out there but apparently each geistlord has their own name and that’s in addition to the lesser geists out there and their names. Then there are also the normal people and the Deacons who go by either Deacon [last name] or just simply the first name. And, none of the names are common names so it was even harder for me to connect the dots.
As for the plot itself, the first two books essentially had very different plot lines with different characters (other than the core ones) with a few underlying similarities whereas book 3 and 4 were definitely more correlated and seemed to immediately start up where the other left off. I mean, generally, the books connected in the core elements but I definitely felt as if the first two novels were more of building up the actual plot so you can either look at it positively as if the author is spending a lot of time plot and world building or you can look at it negatively by stating it was very slow especially from the beginning. So if that’s something up your alley, you would enjoy this series.
The three main characters: Sorcha, Merrick and Raed as a whole were well-rounded. I found that some characteristics that one might be lacking would be found in another character. For example, Sorcha was very quick tempered and not at all political whereas Merrick and even Raed knew how to say things in a manner that would cool the flames. Also, I was so sure that there was supposed to be some sort of romantic relationship between Sorcha and Merrick but there wasn’t so I was a little disappointed at that but then again, I guess that would be too cliché maybe.
The one thing that confused me was the relationship between Raed and the Rossin (which apparently isn’t even his real name since Rossin is technically Raed’s last name but the author always went by this name to portray the geistlord which is also another confusing element). I’m not sure what the dynamic was and it seemed that in the beginning that the Rossin controlled Raed during the change but as the books went by, the dynamic changed but it wasn’t exactly equal. I just wish this was something that was portrayed a bit more.
Overall, it was an okay series on my end but then again, I’m not really into high fantasy novels so if that’s something you really like this take a go at this one.
At first, I had a difficult time overcoming the fiery red-head female stereotype, but as time went on, I started to really enjoy myself. Then I would get pissed off and want to put the book down, but I never did.
There were a few parts that I felt were poorly explained (how they broke into the abbey with the help of Geril (?)) and I felt detached from some of the combat scenes, but I enjoyed myself for the most part and couldn’t put it down.
There were a few parts that I felt were poorly explained (how they broke into the abbey with the help of Geril (?)) and I felt detached from some of the combat scenes, but I enjoyed myself for the most part and couldn’t put it down.
While there was a lot to like about Geist, I think the best thing I can say about it is that it is an absolute page-turner. I expected a good story from Ballantine, and I sure got it.
Very good. I love authors that think their readers are able to grasp concepts without them having to be spelled out to them as if they were morons. So many authors need to follow this advice, closely.
Do i understand every single thing about this world, nope (I don't much understand my own, mind) but I don't have to in ortder to understand what is at stake and why it matters.
The three main characters are very interesting complex multi-dimentional people and their interactions feel like the ones adults in this position would have.
I love Sorcha. I love that she is older, I love that she is married, and I love how she reacts to Raed. I am so charmed by their relationship, because their problems are real and even though they are older it's still new and fresh and giddy for them, like love always is, at all ages.
I have no complain about this book. Not one.
I'll be getting the next one.
Do i understand every single thing about this world, nope (I don't much understand my own, mind) but I don't have to in ortder to understand what is at stake and why it matters.
The three main characters are very interesting complex multi-dimentional people and their interactions feel like the ones adults in this position would have.
I love Sorcha. I love that she is older, I love that she is married, and I love how she reacts to Raed. I am so charmed by their relationship, because their problems are real and even though they are older it's still new and fresh and giddy for them, like love always is, at all ages.
I have no complain about this book. Not one.
I'll be getting the next one.
Interesting setting, but hindered by the rather clumsy writing.
Honestly, at first I was intrigued by this book.
The opening page had me thinking, "oh, this could be good!" It reminded me a little of the Old Kingdom trilogy--which isn't necessarily a bad thing! I love the Abhorsen books, but perhaps it would've been easier if it hadn't reminded me so much of Garth Nix's work, because maybe then I wouldn't have expected so much from this book.
It's... okay. I like the main character, I find her relationship with her husband interesting--but I couldn't finish the book. It was slow going and not much happened for quite a while. As soon as the three main viewpoints collided and started to interact, I was eager to think that things would finally get moving! Things might start happening! There might actually be a mystery to solve with all the strange geist activity currently occurring!
And... it did get moving. Sort of.
It's just that it got moving in a weird way; I honestly can't remember much of what happened except that the Pretender and the main female character, Sorcha, wound up teaming up. And then... suddenly the Pretender's curse is activated and I think "ooh, here we are, finally some drama!"then--out of nowhere--they start kissing after the Pretender's curse as transforming into The Rossin wears off. Which.. makes no sense?! And then he gets up, naked, and she hands him a pair of shoes and after that, the Pretender doesn't stop commenting on his "desire", or on Sorcha's hips/eyes/body/hair, etc.
This makes such little sense to me and made me roll my eyes so much that I actually had to put the book down and stop reading. The whole exchange came out of nowhere; I understand there might've been reasons around it (Sorcha's relationship with her husband, for instance, and the Pretender's trauma at having been under the control of the curse), but... it held little value to me in regards to furthering the plot, or holding my interest in the book.
The opening page had me thinking, "oh, this could be good!" It reminded me a little of the Old Kingdom trilogy--which isn't necessarily a bad thing! I love the Abhorsen books, but perhaps it would've been easier if it hadn't reminded me so much of Garth Nix's work, because maybe then I wouldn't have expected so much from this book.
It's... okay. I like the main character, I find her relationship with her husband interesting--but I couldn't finish the book. It was slow going and not much happened for quite a while. As soon as the three main viewpoints collided and started to interact, I was eager to think that things would finally get moving! Things might start happening! There might actually be a mystery to solve with all the strange geist activity currently occurring!
And... it did get moving. Sort of.
It's just that it got moving in a weird way; I honestly can't remember much of what happened except that the Pretender and the main female character, Sorcha, wound up teaming up. And then... suddenly the Pretender's curse is activated and I think "ooh, here we are, finally some drama!"
This makes such little sense to me and made me roll my eyes so much that I actually had to put the book down and stop reading. The whole exchange came out of nowhere; I understand there might've been reasons around it (Sorcha's relationship with her husband, for instance, and the Pretender's trauma at having been under the control of the curse), but... it held little value to me in regards to furthering the plot, or holding my interest in the book.
The first time I tried to read this, I just couldn't get into it. Going back a second time, I think I was in a slightly better book mood, but I can see why I gave up the first time. I didn't like any of the characters, not even in a love-to-hate sense. I didn't click with any of them enough to enjoy spending time in their perspective.
But the mythology of the world was quite interesting, with the runes and the geists and the Order. Wanting to know how all that worked kept me reading this time, but this particular book didn't answer my questions very well. You very much get dumped in the middle of the action here, and I think I would have preferred starting with a young Novice and learning with them, only to slowly realize all is not what they were taught.
But the mythology of the world was quite interesting, with the runes and the geists and the Order. Wanting to know how all that worked kept me reading this time, but this particular book didn't answer my questions very well. You very much get dumped in the middle of the action here, and I think I would have preferred starting with a young Novice and learning with them, only to slowly realize all is not what they were taught.