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3.53 AVERAGE
3.53 AVERAGE
Let's put this one down as 'okay' with the option of the series as a whole being 'good.' I told Jared that he might as well wait until all the books are written before starting. They aren't so awesome they need to move up to the top of your reading list.
The thing I hated the most was when the female friends of the teenage male protagonist all learned that he had god-like powers, they all immediately wanted to have his baby. And told him so. Repeatedly. I can only hope this is a horribly inaccurate portrayal of teenage girl behavior.
So, Card basically plays 'what if'...what if the old gods were real? Odin, Thor, Loki? They were powerful in the past...what happened? Where are they? They'd lost their powers, but they're gaining them back. There's a war between worlds and the humans don't even know it. Yet.
The thing I hated the most was when the female friends of the teenage male protagonist all learned that he had god-like powers, they all immediately wanted to have his baby. And told him so. Repeatedly. I can only hope this is a horribly inaccurate portrayal of teenage girl behavior.
So, Card basically plays 'what if'...what if the old gods were real? Odin, Thor, Loki? They were powerful in the past...what happened? Where are they? They'd lost their powers, but they're gaining them back. There's a war between worlds and the humans don't even know it. Yet.
Despite a promising beginning, I was not as enthralled with book 2. I did listen to the afterward and understand his reasoning for the way this book was written but I found it tedious at times. I also don't like the deliberate cliffhanger at the end of the book. Apparently Book 3 is going to be what most of us were hoping this book was going to be. I will end up reading it but more out of a need to finish the series than anything else.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
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
The first mithermages book blew me away- easily the best urban fantasy I'd read in years. This one felt unpolished, compared to that, and it took me a while to get through it. I'm still looking forward to reading the third book, to see how it all pulls together, but I was hoping for a bit more from this book than I got.
adventurous
dark
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I'm a big Card fan and I was really looking forward to this book, but I walked away with mixed feeling. I give the story 5 stars, for sure. Card is a great story telling and a fantastic world builder and he does not let down with this Book 2 of the Mither Mages series. Card continues a great tale, explaining many unanswered questions from Book 1 and setting up a whole new set of problems for what will be Book 3. I loved the major characters and was definitely invested in what happened to them. As with all Card stories, what I love most is how off the grid his creativity is. You never feel like you are reading a copy of something else with his works. This story is definitely worth a read (or listen in my case).
What I can't give 5 starts to are the minor characters and some of the dialog and personality traits. Everyone in this book spoke the same - everyone is witty and a bit sarcastic. All of the teenage characters speak in a very unrealistic way about books and sex. It was obnoxious enough in parts that it distracted from the story. In his afterward, Card talks about not wanting these minor characters to be peripheral or dispensable, but they were - you just can't get attached to a bunch of obnoxious girls saying "please put a baby in my belly." And I don't know what teenager would ever say that. Also, since I've read all of the Ender books, I feel that Card's characters are starting to sound the same across his books. Part of this problem might have been due to having Rudnicki read for both series. I loved Rudnicki for the Ender books, but hearing his same unique voice applied to Danny North was confusing. I also do not like the tone Rudnicki used when he was portraying Danny's teenage friends, especially the girls. I think Rudnicki is great, but for Card fans, it might be worth considering different voices for different novels. On the other hand, Emily Rankin, who read for the parts that occurred on Westeros, was terrific at doing male and female voices - I really enjoyed listening to her.
So, in summary - 5 star story + major characters, 2 - 3 star dialog/minor character issues, but well worth the read to disappear into this new world. Hoping some of these minor issues will get fixed in the next book and I can go back to my usual 5 stars for Card.
What I can't give 5 starts to are the minor characters and some of the dialog and personality traits. Everyone in this book spoke the same - everyone is witty and a bit sarcastic. All of the teenage characters speak in a very unrealistic way about books and sex. It was obnoxious enough in parts that it distracted from the story. In his afterward, Card talks about not wanting these minor characters to be peripheral or dispensable, but they were - you just can't get attached to a bunch of obnoxious girls saying "please put a baby in my belly." And I don't know what teenager would ever say that. Also, since I've read all of the Ender books, I feel that Card's characters are starting to sound the same across his books. Part of this problem might have been due to having Rudnicki read for both series. I loved Rudnicki for the Ender books, but hearing his same unique voice applied to Danny North was confusing. I also do not like the tone Rudnicki used when he was portraying Danny's teenage friends, especially the girls. I think Rudnicki is great, but for Card fans, it might be worth considering different voices for different novels. On the other hand, Emily Rankin, who read for the parts that occurred on Westeros, was terrific at doing male and female voices - I really enjoyed listening to her.
So, in summary - 5 star story + major characters, 2 - 3 star dialog/minor character issues, but well worth the read to disappear into this new world. Hoping some of these minor issues will get fixed in the next book and I can go back to my usual 5 stars for Card.
A fantasy intertwined with mythology and complex theories.
I loved this book and all the characters. I felt connected to the story and did not want it to end. I would highly recommend this book to others and look forward to reading more of Orson Scott Card.
Was very satisfied with this book. Although to be honest I don't think I have ever been disappointed by any of Orson Scott Card's books. Yet again a clever and unique book that is quite unlike any other. Definitely enjoyed the book.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The author thinks very little of women and it shows