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4.2 AVERAGE
4.2 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Jumping a few weeks forward from the cliffhanger ending of book 3, this book works backwards before it goes forwards again.
I really enjoyed the story telling in this book and getting to learn more about some of the characters that have been with us from the start (or near enough) but haven't really had their story told.
Very keen to see how the story concludes in the final book.
I really enjoyed the story telling in this book and getting to learn more about some of the characters that have been with us from the start (or near enough) but haven't really had their story told.
Very keen to see how the story concludes in the final book.
I don't think I'm a prude but this book felt too unnecessarily sexual which distracted from the plot. Lyons tries to do a slightly different way of storytelling compared to the previous two character story telling and I found this confusing but also felt it left some plot holes.
Wow.
Not at all what I expected but it was a very enjoyable read.
I’m not lost on the irony of a bunch of characters being trapped in a small space together for a while when we are in the middle of a pandemic.
But this definitely brightened my mood.
This book (being the penultimate one) set up the last book in a spectacular way and I cannot wait to see how it all turns out.
Not at all what I expected but it was a very enjoyable read.
I’m not lost on the irony of a bunch of characters being trapped in a small space together for a while when we are in the middle of a pandemic.
But this definitely brightened my mood.
This book (being the penultimate one) set up the last book in a spectacular way and I cannot wait to see how it all turns out.
adventurous
funny
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
The House of Always was a bit of a step back from The Memory of Souls for me. I applaud the author for the unique narration choice, but it didn't work as well for me in this one as it did previously.
A friend who read this one before me referred to it as an "escape room thriller," and I think that's a perfect phrase to encapsulate what this book is about. I did find the plot...interesting, as it had highs and lows. All the characters are trapped, with Vol Karoth (the big bad, bad guy) finally "awake." A large aspect of the plot was Vol trying to show that friendship and love isn't real, and he does so by forcing past memories onto all the characters. Essentially, this book just shows characters going behind others backs and betraying them in the past. We fast forward go the present, and while Vol is trying to kill some of them, they are trying to make things up to each other or they're having sex at random moments to "make Vol jealous." If this sounds weird to you, I get it, it was weird for me too.
I think the main reason this one loses two stars is due to it feeling somewhat like a filler book, despite being the penultimate book in a 5 book series. This one seemed to mostly be based around side character development. Side characters we really haven't seen since the first book are now front and center and I really didn't care. I primarily care about Kihrin, Janel, and Teraeth, and we really don't get much of them in this one.
With that being said, I did enjoy the read overall, and a large part of that is because it always held my attention. Even if a part felt like filler or was centered on character I didn'g care for, the authors storytelling ability is fantastic. Like each previous installments, the world continues to expand, even as the series nears it end. It is written beautifully, and while I felt it was a bit heavy on the dialogue, Lyons writes some of the best conversations I have read in fantasy.
The epilogue was also great. Short, but quick hitting, and I am quite glad I am able to dive right into the final book.
A friend who read this one before me referred to it as an "escape room thriller," and I think that's a perfect phrase to encapsulate what this book is about. I did find the plot...interesting, as it had highs and lows. All the characters are trapped, with Vol Karoth (the big bad, bad guy) finally "awake." A large aspect of the plot was Vol trying to show that friendship and love isn't real, and he does so by forcing past memories onto all the characters. Essentially, this book just shows characters going behind others backs and betraying them in the past. We fast forward go the present, and while Vol is trying to kill some of them, they are trying to make things up to each other or they're having sex at random moments to "make Vol jealous." If this sounds weird to you, I get it, it was weird for me too.
I think the main reason this one loses two stars is due to it feeling somewhat like a filler book, despite being the penultimate book in a 5 book series. This one seemed to mostly be based around side character development. Side characters we really haven't seen since the first book are now front and center and I really didn't care. I primarily care about Kihrin, Janel, and Teraeth, and we really don't get much of them in this one.
With that being said, I did enjoy the read overall, and a large part of that is because it always held my attention. Even if a part felt like filler or was centered on character I didn'g care for, the authors storytelling ability is fantastic. Like each previous installments, the world continues to expand, even as the series nears it end. It is written beautifully, and while I felt it was a bit heavy on the dialogue, Lyons writes some of the best conversations I have read in fantasy.
The epilogue was also great. Short, but quick hitting, and I am quite glad I am able to dive right into the final book.
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Grief, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body shaming, Child abuse, Death, Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Eating disorder, Gaslighting
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
This series continues to impress me with its complexities and amazing characters. Sad that I only have one book left!
This is the fourth installment of A Chorus of Dragons Series by Jenn Lyons. I have been loving this series so far. As always, there are many narrative layers here. I really enjoyed the story structure, once I figured it out. Kihrin and Thurvishar are compiling narratives from the other characters to create this narrative and provide footnotes. Through these narratives we have our main storyline, in which our characters are sequestered in Shadrag Gor while the impending danger from Vol Korath grows near. As the characters are all together, they collectively experience memories from different character perspectives.
I really like the shared memory flashes. It catches us up on what a few characters have been up to that we didn't see in the previous book. It creates a sense of tension and suspense when secrets are revealed and you know everyone is experiencing the same memory. How the other characters are going to react to the memory and how having this knowledge changes the nature of their relationship.
The characters are the heart of this book. It is far more character focused than the plot which I loved because it opened up a new side of characters that we haven’t seen before. I’d honestly be happy to just read a book about characters talking about their feelings.
I do think this book is quite lighthearted in terms of themes compared to previous books in the series. Despite the grim things that happen, the underlying theme is one of love and friendship.
I really like the shared memory flashes. It catches us up on what a few characters have been up to that we didn't see in the previous book. It creates a sense of tension and suspense when secrets are revealed and you know everyone is experiencing the same memory. How the other characters are going to react to the memory and how having this knowledge changes the nature of their relationship.
The characters are the heart of this book. It is far more character focused than the plot which I loved because it opened up a new side of characters that we haven’t seen before. I’d honestly be happy to just read a book about characters talking about their feelings.
I do think this book is quite lighthearted in terms of themes compared to previous books in the series. Despite the grim things that happen, the underlying theme is one of love and friendship.