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3.97 AVERAGE
3.97 AVERAGE
I guess I do like military fantasy, this is like my 4th? series so far and they have all been good. I know it might bot be for everyone, the name says it all. They march, they camp, they fight, they march, they fight. Military fantasy. It's also of course flintlock fantasy, no medieval guys running around with swords here. No, they got guns (swords too of course), but this is is a new era. Society moved forward, guns came around, the way of fighting changed. It is different but I enjoy it.
The book then. Let's see, think United Kingdom and a state they ruled. The king is overthrown, a new religious order cleans out the older more female friendly religion, and the soldiers stationed in the area are pushed back. We have cultural clashes, religious clashes, you name it. But then Vordonai decides to take back power and we begin.
Marcus is a captain and life was pretty good up to the rebellion. He mixed with the locals, he learned the language. All was good. I enjoyed his story and he was a good leader (even if he should have been stricter a few times).
The other big POV is the one of Winter, who rises to the ranks as the campaign begins. He is actually a she who joined the army. Her storyline was good too. And I believed that she could stay hidden.
A few other characters, oh do I have to mention them all? Anyway, good men Winter meets. Officers in charge and more. I am not gonna mention them all know. But they were fleshed out. The bad ones and the goods guys.
As I said in the beginning the book is about setting out to push back the rebels. A skirmish here, a skirmish there, bigger battles. Life in camp. Setting out again and then another story emerges too. The one dealing with magic. Of course there is still magic, and there is something people want.
A great book. I really want to read the next one to see how it all turns out.
The book then. Let's see, think United Kingdom and a state they ruled. The king is overthrown, a new religious order cleans out the older more female friendly religion, and the soldiers stationed in the area are pushed back. We have cultural clashes, religious clashes, you name it. But then Vordonai decides to take back power and we begin.
Marcus is a captain and life was pretty good up to the rebellion. He mixed with the locals, he learned the language. All was good. I enjoyed his story and he was a good leader (even if he should have been stricter a few times).
The other big POV is the one of Winter, who rises to the ranks as the campaign begins. He is actually a she who joined the army. Her storyline was good too. And I believed that she could stay hidden.
A few other characters, oh do I have to mention them all? Anyway, good men Winter meets. Officers in charge and more. I am not gonna mention them all know. But they were fleshed out. The bad ones and the goods guys.
As I said in the beginning the book is about setting out to push back the rebels. A skirmish here, a skirmish there, bigger battles. Life in camp. Setting out again and then another story emerges too. The one dealing with magic. Of course there is still magic, and there is something people want.
A great book. I really want to read the next one to see how it all turns out.
This book was technically well written and I really enjoyed Winter's portion of the narrative, but overall I found myself a little bored by Marcus' narrative and the general plot, the latter of which felt pretty generic. There have been a lot of gritty, low-magic fantasy books published lately, and this one didn't really stand out from the pack in any discernible way other than being generally well-written.
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Well I certainly became addicted to this in a hurry. Book Two can't come soon enough.
I feel of the first half of this book didn't exist I would have enjoyed it so much more. The world itself it interesting. Deserts aren't my favorite of settings but the way things worked was intriguing.
I enjoyed the characters. Winter was interesting to read and Marcus was also at times. Though the secondary characters proved to be much more engaging to my interests.
The plot itself is rather dry. A lot of it could have been easily cut out and I think I skipped a good 15% of the entire book (at least) because it was a bunch of military stuff I didn't care about. I think I skipped an entire 5% of the book and missed nothing plot wise and wasn't the slightest bit confused as to anything that happened.
After the initial set up of the story until about 55% in nothing of importance seems to happen. Not even in character development. The last 20% was enjoyable and has made me want to read the second book... But just barely.
Disappointing because the author can write well and I enjoyed the world and the main plot point once it was finally established.
I enjoyed the characters. Winter was interesting to read and Marcus was also at times. Though the secondary characters proved to be much more engaging to my interests.
The plot itself is rather dry. A lot of it could have been easily cut out and I think I skipped a good 15% of the entire book (at least) because it was a bunch of military stuff I didn't care about. I think I skipped an entire 5% of the book and missed nothing plot wise and wasn't the slightest bit confused as to anything that happened.
After the initial set up of the story until about 55% in nothing of importance seems to happen. Not even in character development. The last 20% was enjoyable and has made me want to read the second book... But just barely.
Disappointing because the author can write well and I enjoyed the world and the main plot point once it was finally established.
When I first opened the book and see the Chapter title being a character name, I went "Oh no. Not one of those multiple POVs thing like ASOIAF." However, there were only three POVs to keep track off (and majority of the book is from two POVs), making it easy to follow.
The book started off with one supernatural scene, then it drops you in the middle of war. You would think you are reading about warfare in the 1800s in some made up land. Mr. Wexler did a good job writing about the battle in this era, the strategy surrounding muskets, cavalry charges, etc. I thought was in my History of Warfare class again. The dynamics between fellow soldiers, and between soldiers and their officers are realistic. Some people may not like how the majority of the book is about soldiers firing muskets at each other. The magic element does not reappear until the end of the book.
I enjoyed the book a great deal, and looked forward to reading the sequel. I also like how the book did not end in a cliffhanger, but it still draws you into the story that you want to find out more, and makes you look forward to the next book.
The book started off with one supernatural scene, then it drops you in the middle of war. You would think you are reading about warfare in the 1800s in some made up land. Mr. Wexler did a good job writing about the battle in this era, the strategy surrounding muskets, cavalry charges, etc. I thought was in my History of Warfare class again. The dynamics between fellow soldiers, and between soldiers and their officers are realistic. Some people may not like how the majority of the book is about soldiers firing muskets at each other. The magic element does not reappear until the end of the book.
I enjoyed the book a great deal, and looked forward to reading the sequel. I also like how the book did not end in a cliffhanger, but it still draws you into the story that you want to find out more, and makes you look forward to the next book.
This book was, to be honest, full of surprises for me. It had been on my radar for awhile because I follow Wexler, a fellow PNW author, on Twitter, and I finally picked it up while on vacation this summer.
I obviously had forgotten the blurb in the interim, because I did not expect such a military-heavy flintlock fantasy. The only other one I've read was The Promise of Blood, which I also enjoyed, though not enough to rush out for The Crimson Campaign. When it became clear that this novel was really militaristic, I wavered a little, but plugged on because I was so in love with Winter.
Winter was another surprise. I did not know there was a lesbian in this book and when I found out I literally giggled because I was so pleased. I fell in love with her right away. She's exactly the kind of character I swoon for: analytical, taciturn, shrewd but loyal, with more layers than the earth's crust. I really can't gush enough. Marcus got more page time for furthering the major action, but to me Winter was the real star and I'm dying for more of her.
I wavered, as I said, because the numerous battles wore on me a little, but as I continued to read it became clear that Wexler is a serious master of his craft. There was one chapter in particular that handled several reveals perfectly, so much so that I actually cackled aloud as I understood, but the whole novel is a study of pacing an epic work. It was long, but luxuriously so, with world detail, reflection, and action in a beautiful balance, nicely blended for a casual reader and an absolute pleasure to observe as a fellow writer.
I look forward to picking up book two!
I obviously had forgotten the blurb in the interim, because I did not expect such a military-heavy flintlock fantasy. The only other one I've read was The Promise of Blood, which I also enjoyed, though not enough to rush out for The Crimson Campaign. When it became clear that this novel was really militaristic, I wavered a little, but plugged on because I was so in love with Winter.
Winter was another surprise. I did not know there was a lesbian in this book and when I found out I literally giggled because I was so pleased. I fell in love with her right away. She's exactly the kind of character I swoon for: analytical, taciturn, shrewd but loyal, with more layers than the earth's crust. I really can't gush enough. Marcus got more page time for furthering the major action, but to me Winter was the real star and I'm dying for more of her.
I wavered, as I said, because the numerous battles wore on me a little, but as I continued to read it became clear that Wexler is a serious master of his craft. There was one chapter in particular that handled several reveals perfectly, so much so that I actually cackled aloud as I understood, but the whole novel is a study of pacing an epic work. It was long, but luxuriously so, with world detail, reflection, and action in a beautiful balance, nicely blended for a casual reader and an absolute pleasure to observe as a fellow writer.
I look forward to picking up book two!
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Brilliant. Finished it in a small 10 days by reading it only at work. Damned the customers calling that interrupted me in my reading. Clever writing. Light but strong fantasy with a shaped universe that is distilled slowly.
I now have three people waiting for it in my team. That's how much I seemed to enjoy it ;)
I now have three people waiting for it in my team. That's how much I seemed to enjoy it ;)