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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
1.5 stars, because I don't hate it I guess. The second half picked up, so I'm probably going to check out the sequel because if you look up the word masochist in the dictionary there'd be a picture of me reading books that make me mad.
It is a well-known fact among people who read books that the prettiest covers are often attached to the most disappointing books. I didn't just judge it by its cover though - I also read the synopsis (sounded interesting), and opened it up to read the first few lines. It very much gave me [b:The Blacktongue Thief|55077697|The Blacktongue Thief (Blacktongue, #1)|Christopher Buehlman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1604069900l/55077697._SY75_.jpg|73882351] vibes, which I have been absolutely desperate for ever since I read it.
Needless to say I was disappointed.
Don't get me wrong, the vibes are persistent. There was a quest to the freezing, barren north that was reminiscent of Kinch's journey. Brownwyn was very Galva-esque I suppose. The idea that Kell wasn't a traditional "hero" type was the biggest similarity. There was some romance. ...That's where the similarities end, so I'm going to stop comparing and try not to make this entire review into something that could be titled "Why "The Coward" wasn't like "The Blacktongue Thief," by A Rabid Kinch Fan.
The characters were weirdly one-note; I had the lingering impression that they were going to be filled out, but those moments never came. The sketches that existed were definitely interesting, but I wish more had been done with them. Vahli ended up being my favorite
It is a well-known fact among people who read books that the prettiest covers are often attached to the most disappointing books. I didn't just judge it by its cover though - I also read the synopsis (sounded interesting), and opened it up to read the first few lines. It very much gave me [b:The Blacktongue Thief|55077697|The Blacktongue Thief (Blacktongue, #1)|Christopher Buehlman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1604069900l/55077697._SY75_.jpg|73882351] vibes, which I have been absolutely desperate for ever since I read it.
Needless to say I was disappointed.
Don't get me wrong, the vibes are persistent. There was a quest to the freezing, barren north that was reminiscent of Kinch's journey. Brownwyn was very Galva-esque I suppose. The idea that Kell wasn't a traditional "hero" type was the biggest similarity. There was some romance. ...That's where the similarities end, so I'm going to stop comparing and try not to make this entire review into something that could be titled "Why "The Coward" wasn't like "The Blacktongue Thief," by A Rabid Kinch Fan.
The characters were weirdly one-note; I had the lingering impression that they were going to be filled out, but those moments never came. The sketches that existed were definitely interesting, but I wish more had been done with them. Vahli ended up being my favorite
Spoiler
RIP Vahli
Initially I thought this book would be 3-3.5 stars because while the book was nothing new it was definitely to my taste. You ever pick a book up, read the synopsis and know you’re going to like it? I have a thing for old reluctant heroes going on a quest when they’d rather stay home. I don’t know why but it always lands with me. This book was no different and I had a great time reading it but it was nothing ground breaking so I was like I’ll probably end up just giving it a 3-3.5 stars. The last 80% of the book though made me have to bump it up to a 4-4.5 star rating because WHOA. The fight scenes, the romance, the commentary on religion 10/10 highly recommend picking this up and giving it a read.
I can’t believe this is from an actual publisher. The amount of grammar mistakes is unforgivable. The writing is choppy and unpolished and overall feels like a first draft. DNF @ pg 30. 2/11/22
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
medium-paced
“𝘒𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘒𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘢, 𝘴𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘐𝘤𝘦 𝘓𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘒𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘥𝘰𝘮𝘴, 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘯 𝘢 𝘳𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘢 𝘱𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘵.”
And so begins this brilliant new fantasy series by Stephen Aryan. Kell Kressia saved the world at just 17 after embarking on a perilous journey with a band of 11 legendary heroes. He was the lone survivor and returned a hero. But now 10 years later, the cycle is repeating and he is once again called upon to defeat the new enemy. However, Kell has a secret—he is no hero and has no plans of risking his life ever again.
I absolutely loved The Coward. I’ve always loved a reluctant hero, and this spin on a coming-of-age story with a tired and established hero adds a bit of fresh air. Kell is a fantastic and well written protagonist. He is a survivor suffering from PTSD who you can’t help but root for. Avoiding spoilers, the book also gives is a cast of supporting characters of whom Gerren is a standout. He is the wide eyed, naive boy Kell was at 17, and this relationship and dynamic between them really shines through.
The Coward is a funny fantasy adventure about how heroes are people too. It delivers the wit, charm and a lot heart. I cannot wait for a sequel.
“𝘈𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘥, 𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦. 𝘏𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘤𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳. 𝘛𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵.”
And so begins this brilliant new fantasy series by Stephen Aryan. Kell Kressia saved the world at just 17 after embarking on a perilous journey with a band of 11 legendary heroes. He was the lone survivor and returned a hero. But now 10 years later, the cycle is repeating and he is once again called upon to defeat the new enemy. However, Kell has a secret—he is no hero and has no plans of risking his life ever again.
I absolutely loved The Coward. I’ve always loved a reluctant hero, and this spin on a coming-of-age story with a tired and established hero adds a bit of fresh air. Kell is a fantastic and well written protagonist. He is a survivor suffering from PTSD who you can’t help but root for. Avoiding spoilers, the book also gives is a cast of supporting characters of whom Gerren is a standout. He is the wide eyed, naive boy Kell was at 17, and this relationship and dynamic between them really shines through.
The Coward is a funny fantasy adventure about how heroes are people too. It delivers the wit, charm and a lot heart. I cannot wait for a sequel.
“𝘈𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘥, 𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦. 𝘏𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘤𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳. 𝘛𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵.”
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Unexpectedly brilliant. Stephen Aryan's The Coward is a fierce and emotional story of a reluctant hero who must pick up his sword again to finish a quest he started ten years ago. The prose is crisp and efficient. The characters, plot, and worldbuilding are perfectly balanced. Some mysteries still stand, even at the end of the story (but that's what the sequel is for!). And the pacing is spot on; the story knows what it is, does it well, and does not overstay its welcome. The Coward punches above its weight class, avoids many modern gimmicks, and echoes older and more revered classical works. Truly an excellent read!
And out of the sheer respect I have for Aryan...It's time for the sequel.
And out of the sheer respect I have for Aryan...It's time for the sequel.
It’s a simple hero’s journey to defeat a big evil, but I enjoyed the party’s interactions and the fight scenes. It was a fun read