Scan barcode
thatjoshbarker's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
tsukibunny68's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
franrodalg's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
What made Spellslinger highly enjoyable for me remains here, with a more focused plot and the delightful character interactions that I adored from the first instalment now happening from beginning to end. The only thing that impedes me from reaching the 9/10 threshold for me is an excessive focus on teenage crushes at times, as well as some weird pacing (with what felt like a climax excessively early on — though it turned out it was a false one). In any case, the series still feels like a hidden gem and I will continue with the next instalment immediately.
dromwald's review against another edition
4.0
A great read with some interesting plot twists and some great character development.
brendanlambourne's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this book more than the first in this series, characters continue to develop well.
svnzu's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
mjporterauthor's review against another edition
3.0
I received a free copy from Netgalley.
I'd noticed this book in my Goodreads feed with people recommending it, or lamenting that it wasn't out yet. What I hadn't realised was that it was a Young Adult novel, and in fact, I didn't actually notice until the novel stalled at about 40% of the way through. I started to wonder what on earth I was reading and quite frankly, why I was continuing to read it. This is the reason it took me over two weeks to read a really quite short novel.
This is a shame. The novel starts really strongly - the three main characters are great and their interactions with each other are a joy to read. Sadly, it all goes wrong when they arrive at The Academy, and a novel that I hadn't been considering a Young Adult novel at all, becomes mired in unnecessary scenes in the Academy, the badly handled 'romantic' aspect of the novel, and what I would, quite cruelly call, 'filler' to take the novel to a required length.
Near the end, the novel picks up speed again but by then I confess, I was really not interested anymore and was only reading because I was being stubborn about getting to the end.
In conclusion, I would say this novel would be far more successful if it just consisted of its beginning and ending, and even then, there is, despite hopes to the contrary, nothing new in this novel and I was left disappointed and feeling as though I'd wasted my time. Perhaps a stand-alone novel with Reichis would be a good step forward.
I'd noticed this book in my Goodreads feed with people recommending it, or lamenting that it wasn't out yet. What I hadn't realised was that it was a Young Adult novel, and in fact, I didn't actually notice until the novel stalled at about 40% of the way through. I started to wonder what on earth I was reading and quite frankly, why I was continuing to read it. This is the reason it took me over two weeks to read a really quite short novel.
This is a shame. The novel starts really strongly - the three main characters are great and their interactions with each other are a joy to read. Sadly, it all goes wrong when they arrive at The Academy, and a novel that I hadn't been considering a Young Adult novel at all, becomes mired in unnecessary scenes in the Academy, the badly handled 'romantic' aspect of the novel, and what I would, quite cruelly call, 'filler' to take the novel to a required length.
Near the end, the novel picks up speed again but by then I confess, I was really not interested anymore and was only reading because I was being stubborn about getting to the end.
In conclusion, I would say this novel would be far more successful if it just consisted of its beginning and ending, and even then, there is, despite hopes to the contrary, nothing new in this novel and I was left disappointed and feeling as though I'd wasted my time. Perhaps a stand-alone novel with Reichis would be a good step forward.
vandavknihach's review against another edition
3.0
Po druhém díle je pro mě tahle série taková nemastná, neslaná. Nejsem z ní odvařená, a zároveň mě na ní ani nic nějak neštve. To, že ničím nevyniká, asi není úplně dobře, přesto v ní budu pokračovat dál, protože jsem zvědavá, kam to povede, a jestli se psaní autora zlepšuje a zlepšuje.
Je to pro mě taková oddechová middle grade, která je napsaná hrozně příjemným stylem, se zajímavým magickým světem, který zatím stále poznávám. Občas to obsahuje moment, který mi do toho stylu nezapadá (třeba svou drsností minimálně tu u hlavní zápletky, to byla docela dost nechutnost). Hlavní postava je nevýrazná, ale nejlepší za mě je pořád kočkoveverčák, u kterého mě možná trochu mrzí, že ho okolí tak brzdí. Mohla by být větší sranda.
Trochu bych chtěla vidět rozvíjení té hlavní postavy, místo toho aby ho drželi zamrzlého v jednom a tom samém bodě, a to v nevědomosti o všem. Díky tomu podle mě stojí i celý příběh, přestože se pořád něco děje, tak ve výsledku ale zápletka stojí na místě. Tak snad ve třetím díle!
Je to pro mě taková oddechová middle grade, která je napsaná hrozně příjemným stylem, se zajímavým magickým světem, který zatím stále poznávám. Občas to obsahuje moment, který mi do toho stylu nezapadá (třeba svou drsností minimálně tu u hlavní zápletky, to byla docela dost nechutnost). Hlavní postava je nevýrazná, ale nejlepší za mě je pořád kočkoveverčák, u kterého mě možná trochu mrzí, že ho okolí tak brzdí. Mohla by být větší sranda.
Trochu bych chtěla vidět rozvíjení té hlavní postavy, místo toho aby ho drželi zamrzlého v jednom a tom samém bodě, a to v nevědomosti o všem. Díky tomu podle mě stojí i celý příběh, přestože se pořád něco děje, tak ve výsledku ale zápletka stojí na místě. Tak snad ve třetím díle!
labunnywtf's review against another edition
4.0
Read for Book Roast's Magical Readathon: NEWTs Exams. Subject: Herbology, E Level. (Book between 350-390 pages)
When you get to the afterlife, be sure to tell your stupid rabbit god that I ripped out your throat, and now I'm feeling a craving for divine bunny flesh.
I love this series so much. I do not have time in my life for how much.
If the first book was how Kellen learned to be a Spellslinger, this book is how Kellen learns to be an outlaw. And, amazingly, he is TERRIBLE at both.
How do you not love a character who does his best and fails miserably? Like, this is my ideal situation. A character who isn't the chosen one, isn't the most special, the most perfect. In fact, he is so full of flaws, he can barely see around them. But he tries anyway. And he very rarely succeeds.
This series actually reminds me quite heavily of Jim Butcher's Dresden files. It's not that there's so many similarities, it's that both Harry Dresden and Kellen have to work so hard to save the day. They get trampled, but they never stop trying. And that is the kind of hero I want to read.
Now, saying that, I didn't love this book nearly as much as I did the first. There's some bits in the middle that I kind of enh'ed about, though there was never anything that made me want to stop reading. It's just not the same kind of voracious, screaming-from-the-rooftop love I had for Spellslinger.
It's just enough to make me ready for book 3.
36 books in 31 days: Book 22
When you get to the afterlife, be sure to tell your stupid rabbit god that I ripped out your throat, and now I'm feeling a craving for divine bunny flesh.
I love this series so much. I do not have time in my life for how much.
If the first book was how Kellen learned to be a Spellslinger, this book is how Kellen learns to be an outlaw. And, amazingly, he is TERRIBLE at both.
How do you not love a character who does his best and fails miserably? Like, this is my ideal situation. A character who isn't the chosen one, isn't the most special, the most perfect. In fact, he is so full of flaws, he can barely see around them. But he tries anyway. And he very rarely succeeds.
This series actually reminds me quite heavily of Jim Butcher's Dresden files. It's not that there's so many similarities, it's that both Harry Dresden and Kellen have to work so hard to save the day. They get trampled, but they never stop trying. And that is the kind of hero I want to read.
Now, saying that, I didn't love this book nearly as much as I did the first. There's some bits in the middle that I kind of enh'ed about, though there was never anything that made me want to stop reading. It's just not the same kind of voracious, screaming-from-the-rooftop love I had for Spellslinger.
It's just enough to make me ready for book 3.
36 books in 31 days: Book 22
joe16210's review against another edition
5.0
After the first book, I wasn't sure what to expect from the second one. If it stays as good as the first one or if it is going to be better or worse. And again it was simply awesome. The world built by Sebastian de Castell is so magical and beautiful. I love the mystery and mystic theme around the things that happen in the story. As well as the humour that is also included. And again, there are new characters and you don't know who is a friend and who is a foe... Love it!