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emily96's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
lifeinsilver's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
fnnbnjmnks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
samdoo's review
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
aelius_'s review against another edition
4.0
the aelius verdict: 4/5 stars
First of all...
[a:Robin Hobb|25307|Robin Hobb|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1397885202p2/25307.jpg] does warm, gentle and fluttery fantasy styled concept justice, it brings us back to the olden days, but not necessarily because this book was released in 1995, but I would dare say that she is making history as the bridge between old and modern take on the fantasy genre.
Usually...
Old fantasy tropes usually start of with medieval and grounded magic concepts, and that’s what [a:Robin Hobb|25307|Robin Hobb|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1397885202p2/25307.jpg] sought to do. But this time, placed into the wonders of a child’s perspective instead. But not just any child-like thing of Young Adult where they grow up fatherless and angsty yearning to get out of the real world and die hard like a hero. [a:Robin Hobb|25307|Robin Hobb|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1397885202p2/25307.jpg] crafted a child that is still learning how the world and society works, a true world perspective from a small boy.
That's the difference...
A realistic take on growing up and its challenges. I like it a lot, no, I LOVE it. I love how grounded and realistic it was. I’m not saying YA protagonists are crafted poorly, most of the time its just how the upselling and trend of YA genre goes, but its also because YA all have one thing in common, a child protagonist that’s being withheld on the limits of parental guidance friendly elements for the genre. That is an absolute dealbreaker when it comes to writing kids, because you must associate the content with the audience’s wants. To make sales, to play the cards right.
Crossing the line would mean transitioning to an adult fantasy genre with much more complexity and problems with the writing style that had to suit the genre. Carefully note that back then there was no such thing as “New Adult”.
Now [a:Robin Hobb|25307|Robin Hobb|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1397885202p2/25307.jpg] comes up and creates a child in an adult fantasy setting or shall I say in a “real-world” setting. What I mean by real-world scenario is, “Fantasy is just real life with supernatural elements. We have technology, while they have magic”. AND take note, its her DEBUT novel, and that’s the thing that scares me. To venture into an uncommon ground for her fresh career is absolutely daring.
As for the barking up right now, yes well of course with all these challenges laid on the ground, the book isn’t perfect for what it stands for. I’ve been singing songs about [a:Robin Hobb|25307|Robin Hobb|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1397885202p2/25307.jpg]’s expertisein crafting a 5-million-dimensional world and a 7 trillion-dimensional protagonist and shall move on to its weaknesses.
Weaknesses...,
Since this is [a:Robin Hobb|25307|Robin Hobb|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1397885202p2/25307.jpg]’s very first book, I don’t usually do this, but excuse her, as her strength lies in flowery and beautiful writing, not the back-to-back action, swish swoosh page turner, butt gripping book of all time. So, at the climax, it took an awkward curve, a very steep and short curve that made me fall to the ground after floating in the heavens tasting her writing. I felt embarrassed seeing [a:Robin Hobb|25307|Robin Hobb|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1397885202p2/25307.jpg]’s flaws so easily but nevertheless still loved the book continuously until the final page.
I believe she will get better at that, she hasn’t mastered action scenes, because that’s not her forte. But I believe still. I believe in wonderful trilogy pulled by the other 2 books. I believe. She has shown what she can do, and I truly stand by her as a supporter.
For the audiences
Recommend to: Now for the recommendations, this book only suits people with the adaptability to change into slow pacing books. Believe me, it got me a while to adjust as I came from a fast-paced book by Pierce Brown before this. So, you have to find the right mood to allow Robin Hobb to work her magic into you.
DO NOT recommend to: People who absolutely despise slow burn books, don’t touch this, its basically like garlic to a Vampire. People who don’t like young protagonists, people who don’t like or are tired of the medieval slow setting of old books. I’ll keep it short for you guys haha.
First of all...
[a:Robin Hobb|25307|Robin Hobb|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1397885202p2/25307.jpg] does warm, gentle and fluttery fantasy styled concept justice, it brings us back to the olden days, but not necessarily because this book was released in 1995, but I would dare say that she is making history as the bridge between old and modern take on the fantasy genre.
Usually...
Old fantasy tropes usually start of with medieval and grounded magic concepts, and that’s what [a:Robin Hobb|25307|Robin Hobb|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1397885202p2/25307.jpg] sought to do. But this time, placed into the wonders of a child’s perspective instead. But not just any child-like thing of Young Adult where they grow up fatherless and angsty yearning to get out of the real world and die hard like a hero. [a:Robin Hobb|25307|Robin Hobb|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1397885202p2/25307.jpg] crafted a child that is still learning how the world and society works, a true world perspective from a small boy.
That's the difference...
A realistic take on growing up and its challenges. I like it a lot, no, I LOVE it. I love how grounded and realistic it was. I’m not saying YA protagonists are crafted poorly, most of the time its just how the upselling and trend of YA genre goes, but its also because YA all have one thing in common, a child protagonist that’s being withheld on the limits of parental guidance friendly elements for the genre. That is an absolute dealbreaker when it comes to writing kids, because you must associate the content with the audience’s wants. To make sales, to play the cards right.
Crossing the line would mean transitioning to an adult fantasy genre with much more complexity and problems with the writing style that had to suit the genre. Carefully note that back then there was no such thing as “New Adult”.
Now [a:Robin Hobb|25307|Robin Hobb|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1397885202p2/25307.jpg] comes up and creates a child in an adult fantasy setting or shall I say in a “real-world” setting. What I mean by real-world scenario is, “Fantasy is just real life with supernatural elements. We have technology, while they have magic”. AND take note, its her DEBUT novel, and that’s the thing that scares me. To venture into an uncommon ground for her fresh career is absolutely daring.
As for the barking up right now, yes well of course with all these challenges laid on the ground, the book isn’t perfect for what it stands for. I’ve been singing songs about [a:Robin Hobb|25307|Robin Hobb|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1397885202p2/25307.jpg]’s expertise
Weaknesses...,
Since this is [a:Robin Hobb|25307|Robin Hobb|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1397885202p2/25307.jpg]’s very first book, I don’t usually do this, but excuse her, as her strength lies in flowery and beautiful writing, not the back-to-back action, swish swoosh page turner, butt gripping book of all time. So, at the climax, it took an awkward curve, a very steep and short curve that made me fall to the ground after floating in the heavens tasting her writing. I felt embarrassed seeing [a:Robin Hobb|25307|Robin Hobb|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1397885202p2/25307.jpg]’s flaws so easily but nevertheless still loved the book continuously until the final page.
I believe she will get better at that, she hasn’t mastered action scenes, because that’s not her forte. But I believe still. I believe in wonderful trilogy pulled by the other 2 books. I believe. She has shown what she can do, and I truly stand by her as a supporter.
For the audiences
Recommend to: Now for the recommendations, this book only suits people with the adaptability to change into slow pacing books. Believe me, it got me a while to adjust as I came from a fast-paced book by Pierce Brown before this. So, you have to find the right mood to allow Robin Hobb to work her magic into you.
DO NOT recommend to: People who absolutely despise slow burn books, don’t touch this, its basically like garlic to a Vampire. People who don’t like young protagonists, people who don’t like or are tired of the medieval slow setting of old books. I’ll keep it short for you guys haha.
emglange's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death
signe2407's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.75