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aaronmon's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
alexxa88's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
mrbear's review against another edition
3.0
This was solid, but not overly impressive. I guess I was hoping that the quality of the writing would improve from the first book, but it sort of didn't. The storyline is reasonably solid though.
oiltycoon68's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
subparcupcake's review against another edition
5.0
In the past I've been called a "book slut", and I don't argue this title. I read a lot of books, and I'm not hard to please. But I've been thinking lately.. Maybe the better term for me might be "book nympho". You see, I enjoy reading, all reading, good or bad. Where as a "book slut" might read a lot of books, any books really, they might not necessarily enjoy reading them. The whole time they are reading they are looking for something in particular. They read to critique, to pick a book apart, always looking for that next great book to fill the bookless empty part of their soul, but never quite finding a perfect fit. A "book nympho" on the other hand.. Enjoys reading. Any reading. Some books are much better in bed to read than others, but they still enjoy the act of reading the ones that aren't as good, they overlook flaws and things that might annoy others, because they get caught up in the act of reading and just want more more moremoremoremoremore.
*ahem*
So yes. I, Dawn, am a book nympho. Hi Dawn.
I'm not sure why I decided to share all of that in this review... I guess because in the last couple months I've become sort of a book slut. I've started countless books, only to lose interest and put them down. It's not that they weren't good books, I'm sure I'll get back to them and finish them someday (and I'll probably love them, I mean hello, book nympho). But for the last couple of months nothing could capture me, distract me, draw me in and hold me.
And then I picked up The Desert Spear, and something funny happened. I would read it.. Put it down... And find myself wanting to pick it back up. I should probably mention that I gave Painted/Warded Man five stars as well. I loved it when I read it, so if you didn't at least like it as well, this review probably won't help you decide whether or not to read Desert Spear. But if you at least liked Painted/Warded Man.. Give Desert Spear a try. I said I rated Painted/Warded Man five stars.. Now I kind of wish I had rated it four. Because after reading Desert Spear? I liked it so much more. It was just a great ride, cover to cover.
New and interesting POV's, a teeny tiny bit of romance (not too much, just enough to sate my girlish desires, don't worry guys), a little sex even (but damn you Brett, not nearly detailed enough, *shakes fist*). The characters from Painted/Warded Man are back as well, and I felt more connected to them this time around.. Maybe just because that's what typically happens in a series; you have more time to get to know characters and therefore feel for them more in times of joy or sorrow. But I think it's also a testament to Brett's story telling ability.
All in all.. Loved it. I'm so glad I finally found a book to kick me out of my reading slump. Thanks Mr. Brett, I can't wait for the next installment in the story.
*ahem*
So yes. I, Dawn, am a book nympho. Hi Dawn.
I'm not sure why I decided to share all of that in this review... I guess because in the last couple months I've become sort of a book slut. I've started countless books, only to lose interest and put them down. It's not that they weren't good books, I'm sure I'll get back to them and finish them someday (and I'll probably love them, I mean hello, book nympho). But for the last couple of months nothing could capture me, distract me, draw me in and hold me.
And then I picked up The Desert Spear, and something funny happened. I would read it.. Put it down... And find myself wanting to pick it back up. I should probably mention that I gave Painted/Warded Man five stars as well. I loved it when I read it, so if you didn't at least like it as well, this review probably won't help you decide whether or not to read Desert Spear. But if you at least liked Painted/Warded Man.. Give Desert Spear a try. I said I rated Painted/Warded Man five stars.. Now I kind of wish I had rated it four. Because after reading Desert Spear? I liked it so much more. It was just a great ride, cover to cover.
New and interesting POV's, a teeny tiny bit of romance (not too much, just enough to sate my girlish desires, don't worry guys), a little sex even (but damn you Brett, not nearly detailed enough, *shakes fist*). The characters from Painted/Warded Man are back as well, and I felt more connected to them this time around.. Maybe just because that's what typically happens in a series; you have more time to get to know characters and therefore feel for them more in times of joy or sorrow. But I think it's also a testament to Brett's story telling ability.
All in all.. Loved it. I'm so glad I finally found a book to kick me out of my reading slump. Thanks Mr. Brett, I can't wait for the next installment in the story.
lucita_knjige's review against another edition
2.0
Welp.
Žalosno je kako se uredniku nije dalo čitati do kraja te ima jako puno grešaka u zadnjih 200 str. I to ne samo tipfelera, nego kriva imena likova i riječi koje su nepravilno napisane.
Nakon zanimljivog prvog dijela, ova knjiga je sooo boring. Jasno mi je da Jardira nismo pretjerano upoznali u prvoj knjizi, ali mene zanimao razvoj radnje a pola knjige je Jardirov backstory.
U jednom trenutku postane televisa presenta kad se Leesha i Inevera pokušavaju pobit jer su ljubomorne jer Jardir ih hoće obje. Wut?
Najzanimljiviji dio su Arlen i Renna, iako je Renna kao lik neki simpleton who reaaaally wants the D, ali barem nekaj radi i ako nastavi tim putem ima potencijala biti zanimljivi lik.
Rojer je jako zanemareni lik koji ima jako interesantnu moć but hey, we need more of the sweet sweet chick fight.
Od pozitivnih strana knjige, ima par zanimljivih plot pointova, međutim tolko sporo se odvija radnja da ih u međuvremenu zaboravim.
Žalosno je kako se uredniku nije dalo čitati do kraja te ima jako puno grešaka u zadnjih 200 str. I to ne samo tipfelera, nego kriva imena likova i riječi koje su nepravilno napisane.
Nakon zanimljivog prvog dijela, ova knjiga je sooo boring. Jasno mi je da Jardira nismo pretjerano upoznali u prvoj knjizi, ali mene zanimao razvoj radnje a pola knjige je Jardirov backstory.
U jednom trenutku postane televisa presenta kad se Leesha i Inevera pokušavaju pobit jer su ljubomorne jer Jardir ih hoće obje. Wut?
Najzanimljiviji dio su Arlen i Renna, iako je Renna kao lik neki simpleton who reaaaally wants the D, ali barem nekaj radi i ako nastavi tim putem ima potencijala biti zanimljivi lik.
Rojer je jako zanemareni lik koji ima jako interesantnu moć but hey, we need more of the sweet sweet chick fight.
Od pozitivnih strana knjige, ima par zanimljivih plot pointova, međutim tolko sporo se odvija radnja da ih u međuvremenu zaboravim.
raijhu's review against another edition
3.0
3.5/5 stars
Several minor characters from the first book step up and get first person chapters. I really enjoyed these sections, which see a new part of the world's geography and culture explored.
My biggest gripe is still that all the female characters are sexually abused Mary Sues.
Several minor characters from the first book step up and get first person chapters. I really enjoyed these sections, which see a new part of the world's geography and culture explored.
My biggest gripe is still that all the female characters are sexually abused Mary Sues.
mwplante's review against another edition
3.0
The Desert Spear has less action than its predecessor but makes up for this through focused world-building and lots of lavish character development. The first section of the book is entirely devoted to the backstory of Ahmann Jardir, the oddly likeable totalitarian leader of the Krasians. These elements play nicely with the All Men are Brothers (at least when faced with demons) theme that Brett has interlaced throughout the books. I'll be interested to see how this thread proceeds in the coming tales.
On the other hand, the author also ratchets up the all-too-human evils. This is particularly evident in the tale of Renna --a secondary character from The Warded Man that finds herself elevated to POV status in this book-- a story of abuse and small town cruelty that is almost gratuitous in its grueling horror. At the other end of the map, Brett's portrayal of the Krasians continues to walk the fine line of Orientalism that so many fantasy stories struggle with. So far, I must say he fares pretty well. As easy as it is to dismiss Krasians as Islamophobic hackwork, the elements of other cultures (notably the Spartans) are undeniable. Brett seems to be playing a game wherein he wants the reader to fall into the expectation of Islamophobic tropes before attempting to turn the tables -- though he generally does this by showing glimmers of "reform" in the Krasian culture, rather than by validating it outright. Ultimately, Brett has fallen into a bit of an Orientalist trap, but he has not fallen so far that it is no longer interesting to watch him wrestle with these tropes. I will be watching the fate of the Krasians even more closely than that of Jardir himself in the coming novels.
All in all, this book is a worthy continuation of a gripping dark fantasy. If you can forgive the lack of a major battle to rival the Cutter's Hollow pyrotechnics at the end of the previous volume, you will find this book every bit as enjoyable as the last.
Spoiler
This book does much to rehabilitate and add nuance to the image of Jardir and his people for the reader, after Jardir's betrayal of Arlen in the previous novel. This is partly accomplished by shifting a lot of the reader's suspicion and ire onto the mysterious Inevera, Jardir's own personal Lady Macbeth, before seemingly beginning the work of rehabilitating Inevera herself at the end of the book.On the other hand, the author also ratchets up the all-too-human evils. This is particularly evident in the tale of Renna --a secondary character from The Warded Man that finds herself elevated to POV status in this book-- a story of abuse and small town cruelty that is almost gratuitous in its grueling horror. At the other end of the map, Brett's portrayal of the Krasians continues to walk the fine line of Orientalism that so many fantasy stories struggle with. So far, I must say he fares pretty well. As easy as it is to dismiss Krasians as Islamophobic hackwork, the elements of other cultures (notably the Spartans) are undeniable. Brett seems to be playing a game wherein he wants the reader to fall into the expectation of Islamophobic tropes before attempting to turn the tables -- though he generally does this by showing glimmers of "reform" in the Krasian culture, rather than by validating it outright. Ultimately, Brett has fallen into a bit of an Orientalist trap, but he has not fallen so far that it is no longer interesting to watch him wrestle with these tropes. I will be watching the fate of the Krasians even more closely than that of Jardir himself in the coming novels.
All in all, this book is a worthy continuation of a gripping dark fantasy. If you can forgive the lack of a major battle to rival the Cutter's Hollow pyrotechnics at the end of the previous volume, you will find this book every bit as enjoyable as the last.
kangokaren's review against another edition
3.0
An okay sequel to a better book. I'll have to wait to finish the trilogy.
nenacall's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0