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4.18 AVERAGE
4.18 AVERAGE
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I have been putting this book off since it came out (pre ordered it) as over on goodreads everyone was slating it. Well they were wrong and I wish I had read it back then!!
Apart from Jian this book is full of middle story character development. I actualy liked Kiki this time. The reason for not a 5 star is because the main guy of this book Jian is just a wet tea towel, like pleaseer i hope the next book he is improves.
Apart from Jian this book is full of middle story character development. I actualy liked Kiki this time. The reason for not a 5 star is because the main guy of this book Jian is just a wet tea towel, like pleaseer i hope the next book he is improves.
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Very enjoyable sequel to [b:The Art of Prophecy|58409712|The Art of Prophecy (War Arts #1)|Wesley Chu|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1639381078l/58409712._SY75_.jpg|93906934], that once again managed to surprise me several times. It's obviously a middle book with a lot of setting up for the finale, rather than resolving any story arcs, but you know that going in; it's the curse of the middle book. The main character POVs were more disparate here than in book one, but the upside was that I actually enjoyed all of them about equally, which was less so in the first book. Somehow, either the passage of time or the writing in this book, made Qisami less annoying to me. I was happy to read her chapters this time.
Chu is writing a really good, layered story that is gripping and entertaining. The writing style, to me, feels a little uneven at times. Like he's making fun of grandiose statements and gestures in one chapter, but then seems to pull out a grand statement completely unironically the next. And while most of the narrating is solidly 3rd person POV, the omniscient narrator pops up here and there for a paragraph.
For a trilogy called War Arts that features several different types of deadly fighter classes it should not come as a surprise that the number of pages dedicated to detailed fighting scenes is quite high. Probably plenty people enjoy that, but I have had always had trouble picturing fights or battles when reading about them, and I've kind of given up long ago in trying to make sense of them. My brain automatically goes into skim mode when they start, especially when we are pulling out named moves, like Eagle Soaring Above Waterfall, or what have you. Most of the story happens just before the fighting starts, I noticed, but I could be wrong, maybe I skimmed over some important bits.
Anyway, this in no way hampered my enjoyment of this book. I'm really looking forward to seeing how Chu is going bring all story lines together in the next book.
Chu is writing a really good, layered story that is gripping and entertaining. The writing style, to me, feels a little uneven at times. Like he's making fun of grandiose statements and gestures in one chapter, but then seems to pull out a grand statement completely unironically the next. And while most of the narrating is solidly 3rd person POV, the omniscient narrator pops up here and there for a paragraph.
For a trilogy called War Arts that features several different types of deadly fighter classes it should not come as a surprise that the number of pages dedicated to detailed fighting scenes is quite high. Probably plenty people enjoy that, but I have had always had trouble picturing fights or battles when reading about them, and I've kind of given up long ago in trying to make sense of them. My brain automatically goes into skim mode when they start, especially when we are pulling out named moves, like Eagle Soaring Above Waterfall, or what have you. Most of the story happens just before the fighting starts, I noticed, but I could be wrong, maybe I skimmed over some important bits.
Anyway, this in no way hampered my enjoyment of this book. I'm really looking forward to seeing how Chu is going bring all story lines together in the next book.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is the most nothingburger book I've ever read. The experience of reading this book is like if you watch a livecam footage of a savannah. Sure, you might get some cool moments here and there of a predator going after its prey but most of the time you're really just watching grass. You can probably skip pages of this book and not missing anything substantial.
What a disappointing end for a good premise
What a disappointing end for a good premise
Damn this was good!!!
I am so happy that I was able to return to the War Arts world again. Although the first book blew me away, I have to admit that I liked this character driven, action full sequel a lot more. I just can't wait for the new part
I am so happy that I was able to return to the War Arts world again. Although the first book blew me away, I have to admit that I liked this character driven, action full sequel a lot more. I just can't wait for the new part
This is the kind of fantasy book with a lot of lore and social-political climate tidbits thrown in all the time. So sometimes it is a little drudge-y, but it personally was never too much for me as a big high fantasy fan.
I think Chu’s strengths really lie in worldbuilding and the creative plots, where the first book really shines. Something i loved about The Art of Prophecy was how each POV character had such a unique path they were following and each had really different motivations/goals. But in this book, it feels more like a filler book because each POV character had such similar plots. And so with the weaker story it really dragged for me until the last 30ish%.
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No