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veraann's review against another edition
3.0
Dagger and Coin Series Book #3
These must be read in order to understand the world, the character and what is going on.
This is a lot of war and politics. People scheming and plotting all over the place. Everyone and everything is connected in some way, though some may not know it yet. This is the middle of a 5 book series. Kind of slow, but well it's a middle book.
Everything in this book seems very much set up for what is to come. All the planning, but not much action. The upheaval has been done, this shows the world becoming something different. There is a quietness to the drastic changes.
Can't wait to see how things come together and what happens next.
These must be read in order to understand the world, the character and what is going on.
This is a lot of war and politics. People scheming and plotting all over the place. Everyone and everything is connected in some way, though some may not know it yet. This is the middle of a 5 book series. Kind of slow, but well it's a middle book.
Everything in this book seems very much set up for what is to come. All the planning, but not much action. The upheaval has been done, this shows the world becoming something different. There is a quietness to the drastic changes.
Can't wait to see how things come together and what happens next.
storytimed's review
4.5
Much of the book is Geder deciding to start a racist campaign against the Timzinae, who are bug people, and Cithrin interning at a Timzinae bank and then trying to figure out how to fight against the fascist army at her borders
I liked how Abraham decided to depict Timzinae culture! It's very communal (they all live in a siheyuan type family compound, rival merchants will come up to you on the street and start interrupting your deals to offer better prices) and warm and noisy
This is good for Cithrin's arc because the last few books were all about her being Cold and Ruthless and idolizing coldness and ruthlesness
I liked how Abraham wrote her being welcomed into this super friendly, kind, affectionate and emotionally honest + mature family................. and hating it and finding the whole thing claustrophobic
But you see her in this book finding the value of community and having healthy relationships modeled for her
Geder, instead, is surrounded by yes-men in a literal magical echo chamber where he can never doubt himself and immediately goes full incel
There's a very funny scene where he writes out this super-romantic and intimate love letter to Cithrin, she receives it, and she's like, "gross."
Like they literally slept together ONE time and he's projecting all this bullshit onto her
Anyway this is a fairly good middle book! I see what Abraham is doing and I respect it
hankdatank's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
brendalovesbooks's review against another edition
4.0
I like this series a lot. The main problem I have with it is that it is really just one long story. These novels don't stand alone at all. So reading these as they are released becomes difficult because I can't remember what happened in the last book.
That being said, I thought this was a great addition to the series, and I still enjoyed it despite not being able to remember past events. All of the story lines were interesting, and I didn't feel impatient moving from point of views, waiting to get back to a certain character. I would definitely recommend this series to readers of epic fantasy.
That being said, I thought this was a great addition to the series, and I still enjoyed it despite not being able to remember past events. All of the story lines were interesting, and I didn't feel impatient moving from point of views, waiting to get back to a certain character. I would definitely recommend this series to readers of epic fantasy.
noranne's review
4.0
I'm so happy this series has finally hit its stride! This book was great from start to finish, and ended on just the right note to make me rush out and download the next one, despite my resolution to wait. The characters have finally come into their own, feeling less like they are doing things for the sake of doing them and more organic. There was one averted just-by-chance meeting that more than made up for a couple on-the-nose meetings.
burruss's review against another edition
3.0
Another excellent addition in the Dagger and Coin series by Daniel Abraham. I did not quite enjoy this one as much as the first two though it's hard to say why. The book moves at a fast pace, though possibly a bit too fast at times. Simultaneously though the overall plot doesn't seem to be advanced as much as in the first two. Or rather, there aren't many great surprises in this one. A lot of the pieces/characters are moved around but there are no stunning revelations. Finally, there are some moments of characters in the book behaving oddly. There's one confrontation that's built up that fizzles out for no discernible reason. There's a couple of dumb decisions made by characters who should know better (especially one decision right at the end of the book).
Still, none of these issues are major and it's still an enjoyable, easy read that's entertaining. I continue to recommend the series to all who are interested in good fantasy literature.
Still, none of these issues are major and it's still an enjoyable, easy read that's entertaining. I continue to recommend the series to all who are interested in good fantasy literature.
mary_soon_lee's review against another edition
3.0
This is the third book in Abraham's "The Dragon and the Coin" epic fantasy quintet. The book contains some unusual elements, including the cult of the spider goddess and a thread about banking, yet it mostly feels like standard fantasy fare. Well-executed standard fantasy fare, and hence agreeable, but nothing out of the ordinary. The main part of the book switches between four point-of-view characters, two of whom--Marcus and Cithrin--I liked quite a bit. Yet I didn't love either of them. I didn't think about them in between reading sessions. On reaching the end, I didn't yearn to start the fourth book in the series.
I note that I very much liked the author's earlier fantasy work, [b:The Long Price Quartet|37534895|The Long Price Quartet|Daniel Abraham|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/book/50x75-a91bf249278a81aabab721ef782c4a74.png|59136273]. Perhaps my tepid reaction to this newer series is due to disappointment that I don't like it as well as I did "The Long Price Quartet."
I note that I very much liked the author's earlier fantasy work, [b:The Long Price Quartet|37534895|The Long Price Quartet|Daniel Abraham|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/book/50x75-a91bf249278a81aabab721ef782c4a74.png|59136273]. Perhaps my tepid reaction to this newer series is due to disappointment that I don't like it as well as I did "The Long Price Quartet."
tadster20's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
weltenkreuzer's review against another edition
4.0
Grundsolider dritter Teil der Fantasy-Reihe von Daniel Abraham. Am Anfang war es nach einer langen Pause etwas schwer reinzukommen, dann entfalten die Welt und die Figuren aber wieder ihren üblichen Sog.
qalminator's review against another edition
5.0
Wow. This series just keeps getting better. I'm trying to think what I can say that is substantial without spoiling any major details. One thing that I have loved from the beginning is that people in this world feel like people, no better, no worse: some good, some bad. Their decisions make sense in the context of their character and the information they have. Is it character-driven? Decisions certainly are, and plot-events happen and push those decisions, but still in ways that make sense. I'm probably going on about this because of how often I've read books where it feels like the author decided what was going to happen and what characters were going to do, then separately decided what the characters would be like, and didn't bother to make sure that these meshed together.
Anyway, nonspoiler summary:
Cithrin learns what risks to take, and which not to. Kit becomes even more disillusioned. Marcus keeps on the job. Clara plays the game, and discovers how much freer she feels without the mantle of nobility (though she has a steady income, which still puts her above a lot of other non-nobles). Geder Geders on, managing to become even more repulsive despite ostensibly being a "nice guy". Families grow, become, reunite, and are split apart again, in various order and for various definitions of "family." Also, we finally meet.
Absolutely recommended, but in sequence.
Anyway, nonspoiler summary:
Cithrin learns what risks to take, and which not to. Kit becomes even more disillusioned. Marcus keeps on the job. Clara plays the game, and discovers how much freer she feels without the mantle of nobility (though she has a steady income, which still puts her above a lot of other non-nobles). Geder Geders on, managing to become even more repulsive despite ostensibly being a "nice guy". Families grow, become, reunite, and are split apart again, in various order and for various definitions of "family." Also, we finally meet
Spoiler
a dragon. Nope, they're not ALL dead.Absolutely recommended, but in sequence.