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booknerdxo88's review against another edition
This was not what I was expecting especially after the “hero” is killed and his best friend chops his head off. Then goes on an adventure to tell the king Matthias is dead all the while the decapitated head talks to Aaslo.
emster52's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
This was a great “the chosen one is dead now what” book! I LOVED the main character, Aaslo ❤️
Parts of this were kinda slow for me and I didn’t really care for the “gods” parts, but the last quarter of the book was amazing and action packed! I definitely want to read the next book.
Parts of this were kinda slow for me and I didn’t really care for the “gods” parts, but the last quarter of the book was amazing and action packed! I definitely want to read the next book.
hesitantrogue's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
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? No
5.0
I'm actually in love with this series. I'm itching to get my hands on the next one.
yeager's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
truthaurdare's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-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
4.5
haven_woodrose's review against another edition
4.0
This book is a subversion of the Chosen One trope. Mathias is the prophesied hero who will save the world of Aldrea from the all-consuming forces of darkness. He’s charismatic, clever, true-hearted, blond, and has both a special sword and a birthmark shaped like Aldrea on his forehead. He has been raised in a remote village by a woman who is more than she seems, and when the call to adventure peals Mathias is more than ready to venture forth and save the world. His best friend, Aaslo, is willng to accompany him for the sake of keeping the Chosen One’s head on his shoulders (both literally and figuratively), but things don’t always go according to plan…
It’s hard to review this novel, since there is an event that occurs within the first five chapters that will completely change your expectations of this book and leave you in the dark. I absolutely will not spoil it, but it’s such a big thing that I’m floundering a bit as I struggle to find something to say.
There is no big romantic subplot in this novel, which is very refreshing. All of the characters are definitely feeling the pressure of the looming apocalypse and have other things on their minds. There is the potential for such a subplot later in the series, but the romantic tension between the characters is so subtle that at the end of the first book I was still in the dark about who might end up with whom.
And the characters! My favorite characters were definitely Teza, the most stubborn fictional woman I have ever had the pleasure of reading, and Aaslo’s horse, who can’t seem to decide between being the dumbest animal alive and far more knowing than a horse has any right to be. This book uses multiple perspectives, but not every character gets a section where their perspective is followed. I especially loved the way the nonhuman characters were written; Kade avoided the worst cliches and her choices as an author felt very refreshing to me.
Overall, this book is definitely high fantasy, but I got the feeling that Kade was very aware of the conventions of the genre and made an effort to either deliberately toy with them or else subvert them entirely. Reading this book felt both familiar and new at the same time; I loved predicting what might happen next in this fantasy plot and then being proven wrong over and over. I will definitely be picking up the next book in this series whenever it is released.
It’s hard to review this novel, since there is an event that occurs within the first five chapters that will completely change your expectations of this book and leave you in the dark. I absolutely will not spoil it, but it’s such a big thing that I’m floundering a bit as I struggle to find something to say.
There is no big romantic subplot in this novel, which is very refreshing. All of the characters are definitely feeling the pressure of the looming apocalypse and have other things on their minds. There is the potential for such a subplot later in the series, but the romantic tension between the characters is so subtle that at the end of the first book I was still in the dark about who might end up with whom.
And the characters! My favorite characters were definitely Teza, the most stubborn fictional woman I have ever had the pleasure of reading, and Aaslo’s horse, who can’t seem to decide between being the dumbest animal alive and far more knowing than a horse has any right to be. This book uses multiple perspectives, but not every character gets a section where their perspective is followed. I especially loved the way the nonhuman characters were written; Kade avoided the worst cliches and her choices as an author felt very refreshing to me.
Overall, this book is definitely high fantasy, but I got the feeling that Kade was very aware of the conventions of the genre and made an effort to either deliberately toy with them or else subvert them entirely. Reading this book felt both familiar and new at the same time; I loved predicting what might happen next in this fantasy plot and then being proven wrong over and over. I will definitely be picking up the next book in this series whenever it is released.
itabar's review against another edition
5.0
Well, this went places I didn't expect. Well done. But damn, I hate waiting for the next books!
Also, a nice cast of engaging likable characters.
Also, a nice cast of engaging likable characters.
allieeveryday's review against another edition
3.0
I love it when books end right in the middle of the story!!! But I should have known, I mean it's practically a law that all fantasy books have to be part of a series... sigh. And of course the next one isn't out yet, which also seems to be law with these things.
I was pretty entertained by this story - it flips the Chosen One narrative, if not on its head, then at least kind of sideways. Matthias and Aaslo are BFFs, and when Matthias finds out he's the Chosen One, prophesied to save what looks like Europe but is named something else, he sets out to save Not-Europe, and immediately gets attacked by monsters and dies. (This is not a spoiler.) Aaslo followed Matthias just in time to see him die, and takes up his mantle instead. Everyone proceeds to tell Aaslo it's a fool's errand, everyone is doomed, might as well lay down and wait. Aaslo doesn't like doing nothing.
Other than it ending in the middle of a bunch of action, this was action-packed and full of interesting characters that were fleshed out well. I stayed engaged with it the whole time. Particularly liked Aaslo's admissions that he's just bumbling along most of the time because he doesn't know how to save anyone, but might as well try. I LOVED Teza and Peck and Mory, and also came to really like Myropa. Great characterizations.
But again, it's not outside the realm of possibility for a fantasy novel to be like, 700 pages, so whyyyyy stop therrrrrrre.
3.5 stars.
I was pretty entertained by this story - it flips the Chosen One narrative, if not on its head, then at least kind of sideways. Matthias and Aaslo are BFFs, and when Matthias finds out he's the Chosen One, prophesied to save what looks like Europe but is named something else, he sets out to save Not-Europe, and immediately gets attacked by monsters and dies. (This is not a spoiler.) Aaslo followed Matthias just in time to see him die, and takes up his mantle instead. Everyone proceeds to tell Aaslo it's a fool's errand, everyone is doomed, might as well lay down and wait. Aaslo doesn't like doing nothing.
Other than it ending in the middle of a bunch of action, this was action-packed and full of interesting characters that were fleshed out well. I stayed engaged with it the whole time. Particularly liked Aaslo's admissions that he's just bumbling along most of the time because he doesn't know how to save anyone, but might as well try. I LOVED Teza and Peck and Mory, and also came to really like Myropa. Great characterizations.
But again, it's not outside the realm of possibility for a fantasy novel to be like, 700 pages, so whyyyyy stop therrrrrrre.
3.5 stars.
heysunbee's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.25
geneticginger's review against another edition
3.0
This book has an interesting premise but there was so much happening and some of it felt out of place.