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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
Heroes Die would have done fine as a standalone book. The ending is your typical feel-good fantasy send-off: The villain is vanquished, the girl is won, the world is saved and the hero gets to go home to live happily ever after. Except not.
As one character remarks, "The problem with happy endings... is that nothing is ever truly over." This is the whole premise of Blade of Tyshalle. What happens when happily ever after doesn't work out. It shows us a Caine that has been reduced merely to crippled Administrator Hari Michaelson, and longs to go back to Overworld where he was larger than life.Unsurprisingly, he gets his chance, and not in the way that he expected.
I love this premise, and Stover generally does a good job answering his initial question. The plot is absolutely convoluted, but not as crazy as future installlments (looking at you, Caine's Law). Caine is still trying to prove to himself that he is really Hari Michaelson, so there is a lot of character growth as well.
Unfortunately, the book gets bogged down with some extended author filibusters. I generally like mixing philosophy with my fiction, and Stover does it better than pretty much anybody, but I felt like I was getting hit over the head with it at some points. It's all interesting philosophy, and eloquently written, so it doesn't destroy the story, but it does drag along at some points. The introduction of new characters like Kris Hansen/Deliann Mithondionne, T'Passe and Orbek is well-worth it though.
I didn't like this one as much as Heroes Die, but definitely worth reading overall. The audiobook is also amazingly well done.
As one character remarks, "The problem with happy endings... is that nothing is ever truly over." This is the whole premise of Blade of Tyshalle. What happens when happily ever after doesn't work out. It shows us a Caine that has been reduced merely to crippled Administrator Hari Michaelson, and longs to go back to Overworld where he was larger than life.Unsurprisingly, he gets his chance, and not in the way that he expected.
I love this premise, and Stover generally does a good job answering his initial question. The plot is absolutely convoluted, but not as crazy as future installlments (looking at you, Caine's Law). Caine is still trying to prove to himself that he is really Hari Michaelson, so there is a lot of character growth as well.
Unfortunately, the book gets bogged down with some extended author filibusters. I generally like mixing philosophy with my fiction, and Stover does it better than pretty much anybody, but I felt like I was getting hit over the head with it at some points. It's all interesting philosophy, and eloquently written, so it doesn't destroy the story, but it does drag along at some points. The introduction of new characters like Kris Hansen/Deliann Mithondionne, T'Passe and Orbek is well-worth it though.
I didn't like this one as much as Heroes Die, but definitely worth reading overall. The audiobook is also amazingly well done.
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Violence
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The first half of the book was real good and took me out of a reading slump. The second half however... was a fever dream and not in an any good way (which I guess was by choice but then it was a bad choice). It took me two days to read first half snd two weeks to get throght second. The narative is tortouos and change direction several times, everyone is connected to this or that or that or this... People die, they transcend, they resurect. There is no fun to be had, only pseudo-philosophical mumbling seasoned with overly-disgusting details and actions. It came back to lucidity at some point towards the end but by that time I could not give less fucks about anyone or anything and just hoped the book would end soon. The final victorious act did not rise from any of the actions of Cain or whoever and was basically ex machina. Its also telling that it was all pus and rot and erect penises and wet labias and rape and cannibalism and vomit for no particular reason, its just tedious. There are no half-decent people in this world apart from one dude specifically made ultra decent. And on top of that the injustice towards the Majesty... go fuck yourself Cain
A review of the whole series:
1: Heroes Die is great. The dynamic between the two worlds is great, and all the forces on Caine play off each other in great ways, and Caine himself is a great protagonist. Gritty, bloody, and very funny. This is the best book in the series. The ending is very conclusive, and the book works great standalone.
2: Blade of Tyshalle is good. Shockingly introspective, but still a violent action filled book. The competing forces around Caine are just as good as in the first book, if not better. The black goo felt out of place, and didn't sit well with me as a plot device. Not as good as the first book, but still enjoyable. The ending was so conclusive I wasn't sure how the series could continue.
3: Caine Black Knife is just okay. The flashback sections are great, but the main timeline is pretty weak. Caine doesn't have the tension around his actions that made the first two books so good, and the actual main story isn't super engaging. This book has to be read with book 4, as they are sort of two sides of the same story, with book 4 having the real ending.
4: Caine's Law is the weakest book in the series. While it was interesting trying to figure out how the scenes presented tied back into Caine Black Knife, they didn't make for an interesting story. There was no tension around Caine's actions, and even less of an actual goal. Lots of random scenes trying to justify the ending and talking about how neat horses are. The ending it does give you is not noticeably better than the one in Blade of Tyshalle. Caine is still a fun protagonist, and piecing everything together is neat, but the book isn't great.
I'd treat the first book as a standalone, and if you are interested in reading more and seeing a more fitting conclusion, read the first two as a duology. The last two should really just be read if you loved Caine as a protagonist and would read anything about him. I don't regret reading them, but I can't say I really recommend them.
1: Heroes Die is great. The dynamic between the two worlds is great, and all the forces on Caine play off each other in great ways, and Caine himself is a great protagonist. Gritty, bloody, and very funny. This is the best book in the series. The ending is very conclusive, and the book works great standalone.
2: Blade of Tyshalle is good. Shockingly introspective, but still a violent action filled book. The competing forces around Caine are just as good as in the first book, if not better. The black goo felt out of place, and didn't sit well with me as a plot device. Not as good as the first book, but still enjoyable. The ending was so conclusive I wasn't sure how the series could continue.
3: Caine Black Knife is just okay. The flashback sections are great, but the main timeline is pretty weak. Caine doesn't have the tension around his actions that made the first two books so good, and the actual main story isn't super engaging. This book has to be read with book 4, as they are sort of two sides of the same story, with book 4 having the real ending.
4: Caine's Law is the weakest book in the series. While it was interesting trying to figure out how the scenes presented tied back into Caine Black Knife, they didn't make for an interesting story. There was no tension around Caine's actions, and even less of an actual goal. Lots of random scenes trying to justify the ending and talking about how neat horses are. The ending it does give you is not noticeably better than the one in Blade of Tyshalle. Caine is still a fun protagonist, and piecing everything together is neat, but the book isn't great.
I'd treat the first book as a standalone, and if you are interested in reading more and seeing a more fitting conclusion, read the first two as a duology. The last two should really just be read if you loved Caine as a protagonist and would read anything about him. I don't regret reading them, but I can't say I really recommend them.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
slow-paced
Not bad. Charachter of Moloh very interesting, but it wasn't easy to understand, and sometimes, I think, autor was too much cruel: there is a lot if blood, gut, and dirt in the book.
3.5 stars
If like me you read Heroes Die and were expecting the same amount of bad assery from Blade of Tyshalle you'd be somewhat disappointed. It's not like the book is terrible but it's so vastly different from what you'd expect after reading the first Act of Caine book.
Although Blade of Tyshalle does have the signature bad ass action sequences that i've come to associate with the series, this book is more philosophical than the first one. You find characters searching for meaning for their actions, life.. Discovering and learning to accept themselves which really i have to say was not necessarily a bad thing. It definitely made me raise my eyebrow like umm TF is going on but i wouldn't have minded so much. Ultimately what didn't endear me to this book as the first one did, was that i felt Stover went out of his way to make this book as difficult as possible to understand. This isn't simply something that occurs just in book 2, even in book one you'd be hard pressed to figure out how the magic works (mind view ish and channelling the flow stuff) however what makes that easier to overlook are the action sequences. Book 1 is basically straight forward, no messing around action so magic is few and far between. Book 2 though has got magic in droves and let me tell you it's sort of hard to follow.
Then the bulk of the scientific jargon that was in the book. My thoughts on putting purely scientific stuff is books is this - DON'T!! Chances are even if you do decide to do a little research to know what the heck is going on in the book you're still not even going to understand what the heck you're reading.
Considering though that the book was able to keep me spell bound up until close to the end i'd say it wasn't a bad book, i just wasn't able to appreciate some parts of the plot due to the lack of understanding with the whole magic/ god ish and all that scientific jargon. So in the end i liked this addition to the series but i didn't love it.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
Heedless discussion of spoilers below.
Heroes Die was in my opinion basically the perfect book, as far as action goes. I like to characterise these books as a step beyond action pulp. Or gritty action with philosophy. I really really like the combination because the ideas are so clever and imaginative. I like that he connects this universe to our own, to real world concepts, and doesn't just handwave all of it off with magic explanations that he pulls out of his ass. The sci-fi aspect makes it so much cooler and elevates it a tier above pure fantasy worldbuilding. I do love the ideas. The way he encapsulates the greed and selfishness and brutality of our Earth goes from vivid enough to be a character of its own to actually literally becoming a character: the Blind God, the divine personification of humanity's less noble urges. Cool, awesome. The main conflict stems from this intangible creature attempting to conquer Overworld.
A large part of the story was a lot of metaphysical hocus pocus though. It kinda lost me. A lot of the narrative was very convoluted and bloated. It's a large part as to why I did not like Blade of Tyshalle as much as I expected to.
But my favourite part was the characters. One of the things I adore about these books is the absolute intolerance for cardboard characters. Stover always surprises me with the realism and depth of even the less important characters, the variety of perspectives presented. It's all done in such a grounded manner. It's easy to make a character simply evil to fit the plot but there is true skill in crafting characters that contain true depth and still cannot reconcile themselves with each others' creeds and causes; the conflict that ensues is genuine and compelling.
Chris Hansen (lmao such a choice set of names) was a great addition. I love him and Caine. But then also nothing is more freeing than realising your own autonomy and taking a path outside of the previously set precedents because it is what feels right for you. I feel that.
My favourite part is the insight into Caine. His POV was the most enjoyable part of the book. He's happy as long as he is running far away from his childhood of horrors. His character development was magnificent. You can be pushed beyond your breaking point and come out the other side inexplicably alive and standing but put together with the broken pieces of your former self. It's a marvel. This is really a deeply optimistic book. It articulates the random chaos of existence. The chance occurances and events that coincide and turn out unexpected. Meaning is found only looking back. You just gotta cope.
Also best case ending for Pallas and Caine honestly. Fucking sad that they were so utterly incompatible, but this ending with Pallas joining the river and Caine getting closure from her is probably the best ending for them, long term. Perfect. I wanna see what bullshit he gets up to in the next book, having embraced himself and what he really wants out of life. The only truly fucked casualty is Faith. I have a bad feeling about her; magically traumatised children usually turn out pretty weird. Her character was also shittier, basically a walking plot device--but it's not that glaring so I won't complain.
A large part of the story was a lot of metaphysical hocus pocus though. It kinda lost me. A lot of the narrative was very convoluted and bloated. It's a large part as to why I did not like Blade of Tyshalle as much as I expected to.
But my favourite part was the characters. One of the things I adore about these books is the absolute intolerance for cardboard characters. Stover always surprises me with the realism and depth of even the less important characters, the variety of perspectives presented. It's all done in such a grounded manner. It's easy to make a character simply evil to fit the plot but there is true skill in crafting characters that contain true depth and still cannot reconcile themselves with each others' creeds and causes; the conflict that ensues is genuine and compelling.
Chris Hansen (lmao such a choice set of names) was a great addition. I love him and Caine. But then also nothing is more freeing than realising your own autonomy and taking a path outside of the previously set precedents because it is what feels right for you. I feel that.
My favourite part is the insight into Caine. His POV was the most enjoyable part of the book. He's happy as long as he is running far away from his childhood of horrors. His character development was magnificent. You can be pushed beyond your breaking point and come out the other side inexplicably alive and standing but put together with the broken pieces of your former self. It's a marvel. This is really a deeply optimistic book. It articulates the random chaos of existence. The chance occurances and events that coincide and turn out unexpected. Meaning is found only looking back. You just gotta cope.
Also best case ending for Pallas and Caine honestly. Fucking sad that they were so utterly incompatible, but this ending with Pallas joining the river and Caine getting closure from her is probably the best ending for them, long term. Perfect. I wanna see what bullshit he gets up to in the next book, having embraced himself and what he really wants out of life. The only truly fucked casualty is Faith. I have a bad feeling about her; magically traumatised children usually turn out pretty weird. Her character was also shittier, basically a walking plot device--but it's not that glaring so I won't complain.
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes