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3.53 AVERAGE
3.53 AVERAGE
In a world of Marvel and DC comics and movies part of me wanted/expected a faster pace, but I still loved the continuence of this story. Merlin magic meets Nordic myths meets on today's earth. Excited for the next in the series!
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Interesting mix of mythology and urban fantasy in this series by Card. This offering sees Danny torn between his friends and his responsibilities as the greatest ever gatemage. He also meets Loki and a tentative partnership is formed. Great follow-up to the initial offering "The Lost Gate." My lone complaint is Card's style in this series -- the characters have a ton of internal dialog and they spend most of it second guessing and third guessing every notion.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I can usually ignore [a:Orson Scott Card|589|Orson Scott Card|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1294099952p2/589.jpg]'s heavy-handed moralizing, but this book was rough. The whole time, the protagonist Danny North is constantly turning down sexual advances from various girls, including one girl he's in love with, because "it's wrong to have sex with someone who isn't your wife." In the end, the villain takes control of Danny's body by tricking him into having sex. It's even more absurd because there's no reason for Danny to follow Christian teachings on sex, because he isn't Christian; he is a literal Norse god.
Luckily OSC is still a pretty good writer and I was able to get into the story despite this.
Luckily OSC is still a pretty good writer and I was able to get into the story despite this.
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I think it's incredible to find another series by Orson Scott Card that lives up to Enders Game. (my favorite book) I am already plowing through the third book and can't get enough of the world Card has created. Danny is a badass and continues to develop as the main character. Yeah do your self a favor and get these books!!
yours always,
Justin
yours always,
Justin
Entertaining story. Not crazy about the way OSC writes the female characters, and the male characters' attitudes towards them. A significant portion of the book is devoted to all of Danny's female friends suddenly trying to seduce him (and wanting to have his babies?!) once they find out about his powers. A choice quote:
"Girls were all manmages, when you thought about it. They wrapped guys around their fingers and dragged them any way they wanted. First time I've ever envied the gay, thought Danny."
Yes, "the gay." That's also not the only time that a male character refers to women as manmages. In this world manmages have the power to manipulate people into doing their bidding. Um, thanks for that flattering description of my entire gender, OSC.
I've vaguely heard about OSC's unfortunate views about homosexuality, but I never really looked into it, mostly because he's long been one of my favorite authors and I wanted to keep enjoying his work. It's a dilemma - how much can/should you separate art from the artist? I don't know if I can any more. His views are seeping into his work and making it hard for me to enjoy it. Too bad, because this ended on a cliffhanger and I want to know what happens. But I think I might be done.
"Girls were all manmages, when you thought about it. They wrapped guys around their fingers and dragged them any way they wanted. First time I've ever envied the gay, thought Danny."
Yes, "the gay." That's also not the only time that a male character refers to women as manmages. In this world manmages have the power to manipulate people into doing their bidding. Um, thanks for that flattering description of my entire gender, OSC.
I've vaguely heard about OSC's unfortunate views about homosexuality, but I never really looked into it, mostly because he's long been one of my favorite authors and I wanted to keep enjoying his work. It's a dilemma - how much can/should you separate art from the artist? I don't know if I can any more. His views are seeping into his work and making it hard for me to enjoy it. Too bad, because this ended on a cliffhanger and I want to know what happens. But I think I might be done.
If this series wasn't written by Orson Scott Card, I'd have quit already. I've thought about it but now am invested enough that I want to see where he's going. He's clearly excited about this series and personally states that he thinks its far better than Ender's Game and the Shadow series. I think there's no comparison but in the other direction.
If you are just starting with OSC's writing, read Ender's Game and related books. If I change my mind after reading the last installment in this series, I'll note it accordingly. Perhaps he'll blow my mind.
If you are just starting with OSC's writing, read Ender's Game and related books. If I change my mind after reading the last installment in this series, I'll note it accordingly. Perhaps he'll blow my mind.
I'm giving this book three stars only because Card is one of my favorite authors and the story is interesting. However the female characters of this book were utterly disgusting. All of them were clawing over Danny wanting him to "put a baby in their bellies". Ugh! Poor representation for teenage females, they were more sex crazed than the teenage boy of the book. I almost stopped reading multiple times.
Aside from the sex hungry females the story is interesting with Danny learning more about being a Gatefather, the different war's shaping up to take place in book three and the further development of Wad's story, who is a slippery character I greatly enjoy reading. Danny also became quite interesting at the end and I want to see what happens between him and Wad in the third book, so I will be continuing this series. However, after almost 15 years of looking forward to and enjoying reading Card's books (and ignoring his personal beliefs and public outcries), I think I may be finished with Card.
Aside from the sex hungry females the story is interesting with Danny learning more about being a Gatefather, the different war's shaping up to take place in book three and the further development of Wad's story, who is a slippery character I greatly enjoy reading. Danny also became quite interesting at the end and I want to see what happens between him and Wad in the third book, so I will be continuing this series. However, after almost 15 years of looking forward to and enjoying reading Card's books (and ignoring his personal beliefs and public outcries), I think I may be finished with Card.