Scan barcode
neens_m's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy
mxsallybend's review against another edition
3.0
This was an interesting book, with some really outstanding aspects to it, but even more roadblocks to a good, solid read. I nearly gave up on it twice, but persevered to the end, although I will freely admit to skimming some chapters.
The good? I liked the concept, and I liked the characters. I was intrigue enough by the latter to want to know more, to read past those roadblocks, and entertained enough by the latter to trust in them (Narky and Bandu especially), even if I was questioning their journey.
The bad? The world building was muddled, with far too ambitious of a mythology for a single book. I read a lot of epic fantasy, and I like my stories to be well-detailed, but this was too much. Also, the plotting of the book leaves a lot to be desired. If never really felt like the storyline was moving forward, or approaching any sort of climax.
Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins
The good? I liked the concept, and I liked the characters. I was intrigue enough by the latter to want to know more, to read past those roadblocks, and entertained enough by the latter to trust in them (Narky and Bandu especially), even if I was questioning their journey.
The bad? The world building was muddled, with far too ambitious of a mythology for a single book. I read a lot of epic fantasy, and I like my stories to be well-detailed, but this was too much. Also, the plotting of the book leaves a lot to be desired. If never really felt like the storyline was moving forward, or approaching any sort of climax.
Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary ARC of this title from the publisher in exchange for review consideration. This does not in any way affect the honesty or sincerity of my review.
awardroup's review
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
kalervonpoika's review against another edition
4.0
There may be slight spoilers, but no major plot points or character histories.
I picked up this book and read the first chapter and I was interested in Narky. Then, other characters came in, particularly Criton (the general idea of the race of whom I have had some creative dealings with myself), and I became more interested. Alone, each main character has a compelling background that I like; the problem is when they all come together. I had really hoped that the party would warm up to Narky and actually treat him like one of the "pack". Instead, they kept thinking to themselves "well maybe he's not that bad" one day and then the next yelling at him for criticism that no one else in their party would have been so berated about. Overall, the character dynamic is where I felt this book felt short for my tastes, but it has wonderfully great potential, especially near the end when Narky's big secret seems like it will be revealed soon. I hope in the next book he gets more respect. Psander was disappointing to me in a good way. It is far too easy for a fantasy writer to create a nearly all-knowing magical character and let the story go as they direct, but Psander isn't really like that, and I appreciate it; this has made me reevaluate my own usage of such characters.
Other than the character concerns that I had, the plot was really wonderful. Like any story, there are slow bits and fast bits, but the slow bits were just as interesting as the fast bits for me. I actually like the Elves and the nods to the Gaelic mythos when introducing them whereas if the Elves had been described to me without the context, I may not have felt so. I also like the constructed world in and of itself. I would have loved a map, but it's also easy to depend on that and "and so they traveled to x city" and let the reader look for themselves; this may have made the journey more relatable for me since I felt as lost as they may have been during their more lost stretches of narrative. I like the landscapes described and it is fairly easy for me to see them and enjoy their splendor. I cannot wait for more of the lore to be revealed in the next book! This was another thing that kept me hooked.
Overall, I rated this book with four stars because of the plot, the world, and the individual characters. The character dynamic just didn't agree with me, although I realize conflict is essential; this is another point of reevaluation for me. I really enjoyed the book and will definitely read the next (and the next if one is in the works)!
I picked up this book and read the first chapter and I was interested in Narky. Then, other characters came in, particularly Criton (the general idea of the race of whom I have had some creative dealings with myself), and I became more interested. Alone, each main character has a compelling background that I like; the problem is when they all come together. I had really hoped that the party would warm up to Narky and actually treat him like one of the "pack". Instead, they kept thinking to themselves "well maybe he's not that bad" one day and then the next yelling at him for criticism that no one else in their party would have been so berated about. Overall, the character dynamic is where I felt this book felt short for my tastes, but it has wonderfully great potential, especially near the end when Narky's big secret seems like it will be revealed soon. I hope in the next book he gets more respect. Psander was disappointing to me in a good way. It is far too easy for a fantasy writer to create a nearly all-knowing magical character and let the story go as they direct, but Psander isn't really like that, and I appreciate it; this has made me reevaluate my own usage of such characters.
Other than the character concerns that I had, the plot was really wonderful. Like any story, there are slow bits and fast bits, but the slow bits were just as interesting as the fast bits for me. I actually like the Elves and the nods to the Gaelic mythos when introducing them whereas if the Elves had been described to me without the context, I may not have felt so. I also like the constructed world in and of itself. I would have loved a map, but it's also easy to depend on that and "and so they traveled to x city" and let the reader look for themselves; this may have made the journey more relatable for me since I felt as lost as they may have been during their more lost stretches of narrative. I like the landscapes described and it is fairly easy for me to see them and enjoy their splendor. I cannot wait for more of the lore to be revealed in the next book! This was another thing that kept me hooked.
Overall, I rated this book with four stars because of the plot, the world, and the individual characters. The character dynamic just didn't agree with me, although I realize conflict is essential; this is another point of reevaluation for me. I really enjoyed the book and will definitely read the next (and the next if one is in the works)!
kitvaria_sarene's review against another edition
3.0
This book is a mixed batch. It had some really amazing parts, but it also had quite some things that annoyed me.
I'll start with the bad part - to me it felt like there wasn't any real plot. The characters wander around, get some rather random feeling quests now and then, and wander around some more. It all lacks a sense of direction or meaning. Some of the decisions about where to go just didn't make any sense to me.
The characters were really, really tropey. I did still like them, and I found them interesting, but they were: The warrior who isn't too bright, the intelligent girl who reads a lot, the coward who would rather run away, a girl who grew up alone in the forest since she was about 6 and therefore isn't too good at communicating, and a half breed, who doesn't really know who he is, looking for more of his kind. I would have really liked them a bit less stereotypical, even though I kinda liked them. They could be more divers and a bit more depth would help.
There's a romance in this that just didn't work too well for me. Two of the characters get together, and though the girl is told that one doesn't have sex before marriage, and one shouldn't run around naked in front of others, still they all simply pretend they don't notice if the two go away to have sex. Or as the wild girl calls it "mate". I could have done with less mating, without the described birth and the relationship problems between the two, which are at least rather realistic.
This book just has too much. It has gods - and plenty of them. It has fae, and wizards. God magic and Fae magic. And wizards do learn to use a mix of both of them. It has a war, and a curse, and sacrifices and different religions and priests, and living fortresses and god knows what else. And while I love a deep and rich world to explore - this did feel like a disordered mess instead. It just did too much instead of fewer things, but those well. The worldbuilding didn't suck me right in, but rather flowed by me on both sides.
The prose was ok, but felt rough in some parts. Definitely not especially good or fluent, but not so bad it would distract from the story.
The good things - I really liked the perspective of a character growing up in the wilderness. Even if at some points it got too repetitive. The other characters were interesting enough to let me care about what happens to them.
The curse at the start of the book was really well done! I just hoped a relevant plot would have sprung from it.
All in all it was one of those books that fall under the category "I don't regret the time and money spend on it, but I also wouldn't miss it if I had read something else instead"
I'll start with the bad part - to me it felt like there wasn't any real plot. The characters wander around, get some rather random feeling quests now and then, and wander around some more. It all lacks a sense of direction or meaning. Some of the decisions about where to go just didn't make any sense to me.
The characters were really, really tropey. I did still like them, and I found them interesting, but they were: The warrior who isn't too bright, the intelligent girl who reads a lot, the coward who would rather run away, a girl who grew up alone in the forest since she was about 6 and therefore isn't too good at communicating, and a half breed, who doesn't really know who he is, looking for more of his kind. I would have really liked them a bit less stereotypical, even though I kinda liked them. They could be more divers and a bit more depth would help.
There's a romance in this that just didn't work too well for me. Two of the characters get together, and though the girl is told that one doesn't have sex before marriage, and one shouldn't run around naked in front of others, still they all simply pretend they don't notice if the two go away to have sex. Or as the wild girl calls it "mate". I could have done with less mating, without the described birth and the relationship problems between the two, which are at least rather realistic.
This book just has too much. It has gods - and plenty of them. It has fae, and wizards. God magic and Fae magic. And wizards do learn to use a mix of both of them. It has a war, and a curse, and sacrifices and different religions and priests, and living fortresses and god knows what else. And while I love a deep and rich world to explore - this did feel like a disordered mess instead. It just did too much instead of fewer things, but those well. The worldbuilding didn't suck me right in, but rather flowed by me on both sides.
The prose was ok, but felt rough in some parts. Definitely not especially good or fluent, but not so bad it would distract from the story.
The good things - I really liked the perspective of a character growing up in the wilderness. Even if at some points it got too repetitive. The other characters were interesting enough to let me care about what happens to them.
The curse at the start of the book was really well done! I just hoped a relevant plot would have sprung from it.
All in all it was one of those books that fall under the category "I don't regret the time and money spend on it, but I also wouldn't miss it if I had read something else instead"
camam4's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse
emilie_leanne's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
diesmali's review against another edition
3.0
2.5 stars rounded up. While I enjoyed several details of the story, and found the underlying plot interesting, AI felt that the author glossed over a lot of important stuff and moved things along too quickly. Also, the plot is revealed quite late for the reader, and I found myself often wondering what it was going to be all about. But I'll try #2 as well and see how it goes.
snowkestrel's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Pregnancy and Death
doubleinfinity's review against another edition
4.0
I loved these characters. I made such strong bonds with all of them, and I can't wait to read them again (after a little break, lol)