You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.41 AVERAGE
4.41 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Very heavy on the sad OK. I'm not talking oh my favourite character died. I'm talking how could u put my favourite character through that.
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book is pure magic. And this review is likely to read so dramatic but I truly believe that it’s a transcendent series and one that will be a classic in the genre for decades to come.
Hobb explores slavery in almost all of its forms. The idea and impacts of slavery, and the identity of being enslaved; but more so, the literal concept of ownership and what we call ‘mine’ - that it is to own another entity, to own oneself and one’s feelings, to be a slave to one’s past and pain. Each character goes through transformational pain - genuinely there were a few chapters I had to put the book down and walk away for a moment. Hobb also explores the lengths we go to in order to survive; to find our identity and place in the world, protect our families, redeem ourselves, reclaim power or find a sense of justice.
Due to Hobb’s masterful character work, across the series, I’ve hated characters, loved them, pitied them, feared them, been worried about them, cried over them and experienced the spectrum of emotions alongside them. And the crazy thing is I would experience many of these within a singular character arc.
This is a book for readers who love reading about very complicated and layered characters, ‘morally-grey’ people in morally grey situations and in dilemmas that pull at our sense of right and wrong, who may or may not find redemption, and who remind us that people are not 2D and have multitudes. There are unlikely heroes and situations where good people can do really bad things, and bad people have capacity to do really good things.
I fear for my heart as I look ahead to 10 more books in the Realm of the Elderlings, but I am equally fascinated and excited to unravel more of the mysterious in this world.
Hobb explores slavery in almost all of its forms. The idea and impacts of slavery, and the identity of being enslaved; but more so, the literal concept of ownership and what we call ‘mine’ - that it is to own another entity, to own oneself and one’s feelings, to be a slave to one’s past and pain. Each character goes through transformational pain - genuinely there were a few chapters I had to put the book down and walk away for a moment. Hobb also explores the lengths we go to in order to survive; to find our identity and place in the world, protect our families, redeem ourselves, reclaim power or find a sense of justice.
Due to Hobb’s masterful character work, across the series, I’ve hated characters, loved them, pitied them, feared them, been worried about them, cried over them and experienced the spectrum of emotions alongside them. And the crazy thing is I would experience many of these within a singular character arc.
This is a book for readers who love reading about very complicated and layered characters, ‘morally-grey’ people in morally grey situations and in dilemmas that pull at our sense of right and wrong, who may or may not find redemption, and who remind us that people are not 2D and have multitudes. There are unlikely heroes and situations where good people can do really bad things, and bad people have capacity to do really good things.
I fear for my heart as I look ahead to 10 more books in the Realm of the Elderlings, but I am equally fascinated and excited to unravel more of the mysterious in this world.
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-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
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
reflective
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Stories are about people, the best ones, like this one, remember that people are multifaceted. They'll lure you with a sheen and dash you against the rocks just to test their power. You'll think them sincere when they cradle your heart, and shock you when they squeeze your life out. This was sublime in its telling, heartbreaking in its unfolding.
Of the 3, it's my least favourite, but only because it hurt the most.
A day has passed, and on reflection:
Dock a star from the rating. Jek's ambivelance following the "courtship" chapter did not feel consistent with the character we'd come to know. It felt contrived, simply to communicate a harsh reality.
Also, the minimising of Althea's trauma at the end was nasty. You mean to tell me Paragon took Althea's pain away so now she and Brashen can bang. That's her arc? Marriage and being 1st mate on a ship that isn't her own? Content to sail on said ship that now houses the soul and eyes of her attacker? Not my Althea.
And Wintrow, fucking Wintrow man. Without his introspection, he is reduced to an empty shell, Kennit's simpering sycophant.
The pacing as the ending drew closer felt rushed when compared to the first 2/3 of the book. Robin, hun, you had 903 pages, why didn't you give time for the ending to feel organic?
I'm slightly soured against the subsequent books, at least until I can cleanse the pallet.
Of the 3, it's my least favourite, but only because it hurt the most.
A day has passed, and on reflection:
Dock a star from the rating. Jek's ambivelance following the "courtship" chapter did not feel consistent with the character we'd come to know. It felt contrived, simply to communicate a harsh reality.
Also, the minimising of Althea's trauma at the end was nasty. You mean to tell me Paragon took Althea's pain away so now she and Brashen can bang. That's her arc? Marriage and being 1st mate on a ship that isn't her own? Content to sail on said ship that now houses the soul and eyes of her attacker? Not my Althea.
And Wintrow, fucking Wintrow man. Without his introspection, he is reduced to an empty shell, Kennit's simpering sycophant.
The pacing as the ending drew closer felt rushed when compared to the first 2/3 of the book. Robin, hun, you had 903 pages, why didn't you give time for the ending to feel organic?
I'm slightly soured against the subsequent books, at least until I can cleanse the pallet.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is how you finish a series. Just in absolute awe of the character work and story building. I have so many thoughts it's hard to get them into actual words, but the tenacity and strength of the characters in the face of the complete unknown was truly inspiring. The history that finally came to light was heartbreaking. The winding paths that led must of the characters together for the end was wild and unexpected but masterfully done. I look forward to reading the rest of the Realm of the Elderlings series to fall in love with even more amazing characters and stories. This is truely epic fantasy.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-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
i wish althea, etta, and wintrow had stood around kennit with sharpened sticks and took it in turns to stab him repeatedly. that would've made this a 5* read.
adventurous
dark
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes