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4.08 AVERAGE
4.08 AVERAGE
I'm sorry, I just find half written books so insulting.
Most of the issues I found with Britain's previous Green Rider books were gone. I actually liked this book until I got to the end, if you can even call it an end. In reality, the book kind of just stopped.
Most of the issues I found with Britain's previous Green Rider books were gone. I actually liked this book until I got to the end, if you can even call it an end. In reality, the book kind of just stopped.
The writing of these books has never been ✨spectacular✨, but they've been fun, enjoyable, easy reads. I can look past the unlikely romances and awkwardly written conversations because as I said - they're just fun books. But this book really struggled for me in a lot of ways.
Karigan truly behaved like a child. She was stubborn, rude, idiotic, and completely unlikeable at times. Also, we get it; she hates sex workers. I don't care what sort of environment these books take place in, her high-handed thoughts about what a base and depraved profession it is got really old really fast.
A character, who could very easily have just been a "bad guy" for his machinations against the king, just had to be written as a pedophile; potentially for no other reason than for the reader to just be really really glad when he was finally caught and tortured? I would have been fine without having to read about his inner thoughts and desires from his perspective.
We then had the unwilling rape of an unconscious man, as well? Surely Estora could have learned of Zachary's feelings for Karigan without him saying her name in the throes of drug-induced and coma-addled passion?
All in all, while the story still progressed interestingly enough for me... Oof, Kristen Britain. Not your best.
Karigan truly behaved like a child. She was stubborn, rude, idiotic, and completely unlikeable at times. Also, we get it; she hates sex workers. I don't care what sort of environment these books take place in, her high-handed thoughts about what a base and depraved profession it is got really old really fast.
A character, who could very easily have just been a "bad guy" for his machinations against the king, just had to be written as a pedophile; potentially for no other reason than for the reader to just be really really glad when he was finally caught and tortured? I would have been fine without having to read about his inner thoughts and desires from his perspective.
We then had the unwilling rape of an unconscious man, as well? Surely Estora could have learned of Zachary's feelings for Karigan without him saying her name in the throes of drug-induced and coma-addled passion?
All in all, while the story still progressed interestingly enough for me... Oof, Kristen Britain. Not your best.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I've been a fan of the series since the first book and I thought the plotline steadily improving, with some overall weak points. I was really excited to see where the build-up of the last novel had lead to in this installment. Needless to say this book did not live up to expectations and the ending was so rushed and jumbled together I'm still not sure what happened. It also ended on a cliffhanger, which I think everyone should have warning going in (especially since the author usually takes a good three years to finish a new edition of the book).
I'm not a huge fantasy fan, so there are certain things about the books I never really enjoyed as they related to fantasy tropes (Eletians/Elves, random Groundmite creatures, odd mythical structure of magic and gods), but the things specific to this universe like the D'Yer Wall and the Green Riders were so fascinating and the characters so interesting that it made for a fun read. The first book is well put together and threaded in a way that speaks with real intent for the plotting process, not to mention there's a sense of immediacy that none of the other books seem to capture (although this one did have it's moments).
There's also a sloppy handling of the romance. The Zachary/Karigan thing has always felt slapped on to me and I was hoping it would either have a real chance to develop or it would fall to the wind like some of the other romances in the books. Instead we have this clinging to it that feels forced in an uncomfortable way that does no justice to either King Zachary or Karigan. Whenever it's focused on it makes them unlikable. Romance in other areas made Karigan a little too unlikable as well, her flaws that held up so well when she was "green" in the first few books now seem a little chafed and unfortunate as she doesn't seem to have learned anything from her journeys other than being lonely, prideful, and pining after the unattainable.
That doesn't even go into how oddly placed the plotline is. The entire sequence with Amberhill (a character I loved in the last book) seems unnecessary and could have been completely removed from the story without noticing. The Eletians are confusing and have rather ridiculous names (but then that might be my bias against them in the first place) and the development of Karigan and the travels she goes through make zero to no sense. Things seem to happen without purpose in this book and Karigan goes along with them, while the text seems to imply it's all part of a master plan. If it is, it wasn't in this book.
Not to speak completely of negatives, I really enjoyed Alton and Estral in this book. Alton was finally back to being himself and his renewed zeal for fixing the wall was great to read about and seeing Estral as more than merely an oft mentioned best friend and an actual character was also something I've been yearning since we got a glimpse of her in the last installment. I was not a huge fan of Grandmother in the last book, but she developed in a very interesting aspect and I love the creepy factor especially with Lala. My favorite, however, was the unrelenting Estora. She proved herself through and through in this book and was faced with tough decisions, but never really faltered from her character and integrity (and while her beauty is emphasized quite a bit, it's really her strength of character that I've enjoyed the most). So there were bright points in an otherwise muddled story.
These books have never been high quality literature, but they had potential and overall they were a fun read. The prose was well crafted enough to be entertaining and enjoyable. This book proves the exception, with too many plotholes, issues with character development, and an extremely unsatisfying ending.
I'm not a huge fantasy fan, so there are certain things about the books I never really enjoyed as they related to fantasy tropes (Eletians/Elves, random Groundmite creatures, odd mythical structure of magic and gods), but the things specific to this universe like the D'Yer Wall and the Green Riders were so fascinating and the characters so interesting that it made for a fun read. The first book is well put together and threaded in a way that speaks with real intent for the plotting process, not to mention there's a sense of immediacy that none of the other books seem to capture (although this one did have it's moments).
There's also a sloppy handling of the romance. The Zachary/Karigan thing has always felt slapped on to me and I was hoping it would either have a real chance to develop or it would fall to the wind like some of the other romances in the books. Instead we have this clinging to it that feels forced in an uncomfortable way that does no justice to either King Zachary or Karigan. Whenever it's focused on it makes them unlikable. Romance in other areas made Karigan a little too unlikable as well, her flaws that held up so well when she was "green" in the first few books now seem a little chafed and unfortunate as she doesn't seem to have learned anything from her journeys other than being lonely, prideful, and pining after the unattainable.
That doesn't even go into how oddly placed the plotline is. The entire sequence with Amberhill (a character I loved in the last book) seems unnecessary and could have been completely removed from the story without noticing. The Eletians are confusing and have rather ridiculous names (but then that might be my bias against them in the first place) and the development of Karigan and the travels she goes through make zero to no sense. Things seem to happen without purpose in this book and Karigan goes along with them, while the text seems to imply it's all part of a master plan. If it is, it wasn't in this book.
Not to speak completely of negatives, I really enjoyed Alton and Estral in this book. Alton was finally back to being himself and his renewed zeal for fixing the wall was great to read about and seeing Estral as more than merely an oft mentioned best friend and an actual character was also something I've been yearning since we got a glimpse of her in the last installment. I was not a huge fan of Grandmother in the last book, but she developed in a very interesting aspect and I love the creepy factor especially with Lala. My favorite, however, was the unrelenting Estora. She proved herself through and through in this book and was faced with tough decisions, but never really faltered from her character and integrity (and while her beauty is emphasized quite a bit, it's really her strength of character that I've enjoyed the most). So there were bright points in an otherwise muddled story.
These books have never been high quality literature, but they had potential and overall they were a fun read. The prose was well crafted enough to be entertaining and enjoyable. This book proves the exception, with too many plotholes, issues with character development, and an extremely unsatisfying ending.
Wow. I forgot how great this book was. Frustrating as hell, but great. When I initially read this a few years ago, I had thought it to be the last one, going just off the title. The epic finale I had sought was finally here!
Alas, I was wrong, lol.
My emotions are so strung out from this book, and even though I'm about to jump right into my first reading of the 5th book (perhaps this is the last one...?), I still haven't the faintest idea of what will happen.
And not to sound like a total girl, but.......I WANT A HAPPY ENDING FOR KARIGAN AND ZACHARY!!! Ugh!
Deep breath, Sheena, deep breath. :-P
Another thing I liked so much about this book is the fact that the Eletians were so much more prevalent in this book than the others. They travel with Sacoridians into Blackveil as a unit, and you get to know some of them and their ways, and quirks, a bit better. I don't know about anyone else, but I love the Eletians, and I love any scene involving them.
This is such a great book, and series, and there are so many twists and turns, laughter and loss (I put her up there in John Green/Veronica Roth status when it comes to killing off her characters), love, hate, adventure, etc. that I think almost anyone could enjoy these.
Definitely top 10 favorite series, ever. :-)
Alas, I was wrong, lol.
My emotions are so strung out from this book, and even though I'm about to jump right into my first reading of the 5th book (perhaps this is the last one...?), I still haven't the faintest idea of what will happen.
And not to sound like a total girl, but.......I WANT A HAPPY ENDING FOR KARIGAN AND ZACHARY!!! Ugh!
Deep breath, Sheena, deep breath. :-P
Another thing I liked so much about this book is the fact that the Eletians were so much more prevalent in this book than the others. They travel with Sacoridians into Blackveil as a unit, and you get to know some of them and their ways, and quirks, a bit better. I don't know about anyone else, but I love the Eletians, and I love any scene involving them.
This is such a great book, and series, and there are so many twists and turns, laughter and loss (I put her up there in John Green/Veronica Roth status when it comes to killing off her characters), love, hate, adventure, etc. that I think almost anyone could enjoy these.
Definitely top 10 favorite series, ever. :-)
What just happened, the cliff hanger to end all cliff hangers. Really enjoyed the book couldn't put it down once they got into Blackveil. Awesome series so far well worth a read!
I’d all but forgotten about this series until last week. I was delighted to discover that I had not forgotten much about the story since 2011. And that I enjoyed the characters and story telling just as much. Bonus - my library has all the remaining books. So woot!
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I don't care about Amberhill. Almost skipped his parts. They were so boring.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape