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liacooper's review against another edition
2.0
the best thing i can say about this book is that there's less rape than in the first one (*internal screaming*) but overall it's just too short and skips over too much for the relationship developments to really connect for me. I almost dnf'd at 50 pgs but i kept going and there was a middle section i found more interesting, but the latter half is riddled with one easy coincidence after another. characters magically just know stuff and intuit everything. i really wanted to read this because it's my second attempt reading Mercedes Lackey and while i enjoyed the writing style and the structure of the first book far more (told in vignettes) overall i don't enjoy her writing.
it's a shame considering what a cornerstone of midlist 80/90s fantasy she is but it is what it is.
oh also theres about 30 pgs of GOD AWFUL poetry at the end of this one. i slogged through the first 10 or so pages before i had to tap out.
it's a shame considering what a cornerstone of midlist 80/90s fantasy she is but it is what it is.
oh also theres about 30 pgs of GOD AWFUL poetry at the end of this one. i slogged through the first 10 or so pages before i had to tap out.
scribblesandknots's review against another edition
4.0
I read this on the heels of the first in the series ("The Oathbound") and after already having fallen in love with Tarma and Kethry through "By the Sword". That being said, "Oathbreakers" is MUCH more satisfying than the first in the series. It feels more like a complete story than the first, and it is highly satisfying to read.
The relationships deepen, the action is just as interesting as ever, and the ending is highly satisfying on several levels. I also think this book stands a much better chance than its predecessor of hooking a new reader into the series.
This book also has an important place for anyone who's read "By the Sword" first, as I did; it is very satisfying to meet characters you had only half-met, and even better to see them at their prime and in the heat of their own stories.
I enjoyed it and am looking forward to reading through the short story compilation in "Oathblood" that follows this one!
The relationships deepen, the action is just as interesting as ever, and the ending is highly satisfying on several levels. I also think this book stands a much better chance than its predecessor of hooking a new reader into the series.
This book also has an important place for anyone who's read "By the Sword" first, as I did; it is very satisfying to meet characters you had only half-met, and even better to see them at their prime and in the heat of their own stories.
I enjoyed it and am looking forward to reading through the short story compilation in "Oathblood" that follows this one!
lillowo's review
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
It has an interesting plot! I enjoyed the focus on one main overarching struggle which felt much more focused than the previous book. It was fun to see everything flow together and the world that was created!
roklobster's review against another edition
4.0
Yet another in the series, and much more satisfying than the first one. This one ACTUALLY made me cry for a moment - a tear or two was shed for an unexpected situation I forgot about. It's been years since I read the book, so it's allowed. But it also speaks to the writing and the characters that I would feel that much for them.
This book has a much more coherent plot and lets you get to know the characters much more deeply than before. I think Lackey matured as a writer and didn't fall back on some of the tropes she employed in the first book in this series.
I will read it again, for sure.
This book has a much more coherent plot and lets you get to know the characters much more deeply than before. I think Lackey matured as a writer and didn't fall back on some of the tropes she employed in the first book in this series.
I will read it again, for sure.
veethorn's review against another edition
3.0
Well, I appear to be rereading all the Valdemar books I own. Okay then.
linyarai's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
bowienerd_82's review against another edition
3.0
I loved this book when I first read it in my early adolescence, and I found myself still greatly enjoying it as an adult (even if the flaws are far more readily apparent).
The greatest strength of the novel is the friendship between Tarma and Kethry: an epic bond of the sort that is usually only allowed to male characters. It is infinitely refreshing to have two strong women with ironclad bonds of sisterhood.
The story itself if interesting, and decently paced, though nothing extraordinary. It was a quick re-read, and an enjoyable one, but I'm sure part of my enjoyment was the nostalgia factor.
The greatest strength of the novel is the friendship between Tarma and Kethry: an epic bond of the sort that is usually only allowed to male characters. It is infinitely refreshing to have two strong women with ironclad bonds of sisterhood.
The story itself if interesting, and decently paced, though nothing extraordinary. It was a quick re-read, and an enjoyable one, but I'm sure part of my enjoyment was the nostalgia factor.
fangirljeanne's review against another edition
3.0
I wouldn’t recommend this book.
Update: The author recently made some horrifically ignorant and anti-trans comments on her blog.
See my review about the first book in the series The Oathbound.
While you don't need to read the first book in order to enjoy this one, if you love this one I highly recommend going back and reading the first one.
This story revolves around the disappearance of Idra, commander of the Sunhawks mercenaries. Tarma and Kethry are the members of the mercenary company who lead an investigation into what happened to their beloved leader. The mystery isn't the that complex or really the appeal of the story, but rather the elaborate plan that results of a very satisfying climax. As well as the heart-clenching bond all of the Sunhawks feel for Idra.
Again this is a fantastic fantasy novel. Filled with humor, though this story has a great deal of darkness and a fair amount of sadness. There is a surprise romance, though it is not the focus of the story. Instead the focus is friendship and loyalty, with a platonic relationship (between two women) center stage.
The book may have been published over twenty years ago, but it still does a far better job of female representation and diversity than most modern fantasy novels.