Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The characters sit on their ass and just let stuff happen to them until the last fourth of the book. The beginning is just an awful slog. Also the author cannot write women as romantic interests, they're inconsistent and awkward. The romance is unrealistic and the character's actions are super forced and out of character.
Really quite excellent. This tells the story of three children of an emperor, each placed in a dramatically different training regime for 8 years. One is to become a warrior, one a philosopher, and the other a politician. They have been separated for 8 years, but with trouble brewing in the empire and the potential return of an ancient race, these three find themselves dramatically unprepared.
The characters are distinct and distinctly like able. The magic is familiar but fresh. The world is open and bears expansion. I read the first one quite quickly and was disappointed to learn that I wouldn't be able to read the second until January.
The characters are distinct and distinctly like able. The magic is familiar but fresh. The world is open and bears expansion. I read the first one quite quickly and was disappointed to learn that I wouldn't be able to read the second until January.
Brilliant, well-written fantasy of the highest sort
Epic storytelling, strong characters, solid use of "show don't tell" (allowing the reader to work out on their own who or what a thing is), and a gripping, slowly building storyline.
Epic storytelling, strong characters, solid use of "show don't tell" (allowing the reader to work out on their own who or what a thing is), and a gripping, slowly building storyline.
Overall a solid read. I enjoyed all 3 character perspectives though not all were written in equal pacing or frequency. It was a tad long and drawn out in some places but I enjoyed the unique world building and a well structured magic system that hasn't shown signs of breakage, yet. This sub-genre is definitely what I'd call diet grim dark. He skirts the edge of some dark moments for his characters and teases for more to come but its not as depraved/ morally gut wrenching as some of the staples in the genre.
There were also a couple of 'a-ha' moments and plot devices that were handled with little care or subtlety and felt shoddy, pulling me out of the book which is why it took me a little over a week to power through barely 500 pg.
Lastly, I was a little confused about the cultural elements of this book. It's not clearly an ethno-Asian setting, and I don't normally care if there are racial distinctions in a story unless they are relevant to the plot but I found myself coming back to the question throughout this book. Mostly because of the book cover. Maybe I missed something.
All in all, I already have the second one bought and will get to it eventually.
There were also a couple of 'a-ha' moments and plot devices that were handled with little care or subtlety and felt shoddy, pulling me out of the book which is why it took me a little over a week to power through barely 500 pg.
Lastly, I was a little confused about the cultural elements of this book. It's not clearly an ethno-Asian setting, and I don't normally care if there are racial distinctions in a story unless they are relevant to the plot but I found myself coming back to the question throughout this book. Mostly because of the book cover. Maybe I missed something.
All in all, I already have the second one bought and will get to it eventually.
Best book of 2014... not so much. Definitely in the running for most over-hyped book of 2014. Seriously great PR press on this book. It wasn't all bad, there are some creative world choices and elements I really enjoyed, but some of the plot, scenarios and characters, were major speed bumps to my enjoyment. Somewhere between 2 and 3 stars. 3 stars for the creativity and because I'm optimistic about future books, though that may be my naivete.