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4.2 AVERAGE
4.2 AVERAGE
I thought this was the last book in the series but now I know it’s not. Thank god!
Another excellent instalment. This is faster becoming one of my favourite series of all time!
Another excellent instalment. This is faster becoming one of my favourite series of all time!
*eARC provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
A Chorus of Dragons is one of my favorites series, but The House of Always does not dethrone The Memory of Souls as my favorite book.
The House of Always is "written" by Senera, and her note at the beginning of the book is both sad and sweet.
After the world-changing events at the end of The Memory of Souls (4/7 gods dying, Kihrin letting Talon kill him and take his shape so he can fight Vol Karoth, Terindel's death, Teraeth having to kill his mother) you would think that The House of Always would take off running into the consequences of those events. It somewhat does, but not in the way you would expect.
It starts a few weeks after the events at the Well of Spirals, and a random assortment of characters (Janel, Teraeth, and Thurvishar [of course]; also Galen, Sheloran, and Qown, Talea and Xivan [kinda], and Kalindra [yeah, this one shocked me the most. She's been busy since we last saw her leave Thaena's island] are fighting a dragon and a Daughter of Laaka. In the midst of the battle, Senera and Talon show up and whisk them all away to Shadrag Gor, that she has bound Vol Karoth's prison to in an attempt to lend Kihrin moral support (Kihrin is currently playing hide and go seek, pain edition, with Vol Karoth),
While that cast is stuck in the lighthouse, Vol Karoth and Kihrin are fighting with the previously mentioned people's memories, specifically their actions between the end of book 3 and the start of book 4. Kihrin is trying to show Vol Karoth that people can be good, Vol Karoth is trying to prove him wrong. This takes up 90% of the story. Which wouldn't be too bad, except Janel, Teraeth, and Thurvishar, the people we actually care about, quickly join Kihrin, so the story mainly comes from Qown, Galen, Talea, and Kalindra.
A story with the main characters running around Vol Karoth's mind doing nothing and the background characters telling the seemingly pointless story of how they got there is not what I expected. This is a 550+ page book and it just feels like filler. The last 10% is interesting, but not enough happens to justify the beginning and middle of the book being like it is.
Positives: lots of LGBTQ+ representation! In fact, I think only one person trapped in the tower is straight, and even then Kalindra is probably bisexual. Of the others, Senera and Thurvishar are asexual; Kihrin, Janel, and Teraeth are a bisexual throuple; and Qown, Galen, Sheloran, Talea, and Xivan are all gay, lesbian or bisexual. And Talon is Talon, so fluid in all things regarding gender, shape, form, sexuality.
A Chorus of Dragons is one of my favorites series, but The House of Always does not dethrone The Memory of Souls as my favorite book.
The House of Always is "written" by Senera, and her note at the beginning of the book is both sad and sweet.
After the world-changing events at the end of The Memory of Souls (4/7 gods dying, Kihrin letting Talon kill him and take his shape so he can fight Vol Karoth, Terindel's death, Teraeth having to kill his mother) you would think that The House of Always would take off running into the consequences of those events. It somewhat does, but not in the way you would expect.
It starts a few weeks after the events at the Well of Spirals, and a random assortment of characters (Janel, Teraeth, and Thurvishar [of course]; also Galen, Sheloran, and Qown, Talea and Xivan [kinda], and Kalindra [yeah, this one shocked me the most. She's been busy since we last saw her leave Thaena's island] are fighting a dragon and a Daughter of Laaka. In the midst of the battle, Senera and Talon show up and whisk them all away to Shadrag Gor, that she has bound Vol Karoth's prison to in an attempt to lend Kihrin moral support (Kihrin is currently playing hide and go seek, pain edition, with Vol Karoth),
While that cast is stuck in the lighthouse, Vol Karoth and Kihrin are fighting with the previously mentioned people's memories, specifically their actions between the end of book 3 and the start of book 4. Kihrin is trying to show Vol Karoth that people can be good, Vol Karoth is trying to prove him wrong. This takes up 90% of the story. Which wouldn't be too bad, except Janel, Teraeth, and Thurvishar, the people we actually care about, quickly join Kihrin, so the story mainly comes from Qown, Galen, Talea, and Kalindra.
A story with the main characters running around Vol Karoth's mind doing nothing and the background characters telling the seemingly pointless story of how they got there is not what I expected. This is a 550+ page book and it just feels like filler. The last 10% is interesting, but not enough happens to justify the beginning and middle of the book being like it is.
Positives: lots of LGBTQ+ representation! In fact, I think only one person trapped in the tower is straight, and even then Kalindra is probably bisexual. Of the others, Senera and Thurvishar are asexual; Kihrin, Janel, and Teraeth are a bisexual throuple; and Qown, Galen, Sheloran, Talea, and Xivan are all gay, lesbian or bisexual. And Talon is Talon, so fluid in all things regarding gender, shape, form, sexuality.
2022 reeread: every time I reread a book i realise how bad my memory is. Really enjoyed the reread though ;-)
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me access to an e-arc for review.
I really enjoyed this installment, probably tied with Ruin of Kings for my second favorite in the series (favorite being The memory of Souls). There's so much to love about this one. I think one of the coolest things about this one is the way it plays with that structure that we've gotten sued to by this point. We will be getting a little bit of a different take on it here. Jenn Lyons manages to twist this structure and create as much of a sense of the plot advancing in the frame story as in the stories within stories.
We also will be continuously switching back and forth to different timeline points and will be checking in with many different perspectives.
Apart from that I really liked the way the main storyline unfolds.
My main criticism will be that I would've actually preferred for this book to wrap up a little earlier. There was a point that I found to be the perfect ending, but the story proceeds quite a few chapters beyond that point and I kind of found myself not caring about those chapters.
Solid entry to this great series!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me access to an e-arc for review.
I really enjoyed this installment, probably tied with Ruin of Kings for my second favorite in the series (favorite being The memory of Souls). There's so much to love about this one. I think one of the coolest things about this one is the way it plays with that structure that we've gotten sued to by this point. We will be getting a little bit of a different take on it here. Jenn Lyons manages to twist this structure and create as much of a sense of the plot advancing in the frame story as in the stories within stories.
We also will be continuously switching back and forth to different timeline points and will be checking in with many different perspectives.
Apart from that I really liked the way the main storyline unfolds.
My main criticism will be that I would've actually preferred for this book to wrap up a little earlier. There was a point that I found to be the perfect ending, but the story proceeds quite a few chapters beyond that point and I kind of found myself not caring about those chapters.
Solid entry to this great series!
Thank you very much to Tor for providing a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
The fourth instalment in The Chorus of Dragons series is perhaps my most anticipated novel of 2021 and it did not disappoint in the slightest. From past memories being unveiled to romantic intentions finally being declared, this book kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish.
Weeks after the failed Ritual of Night where the eight gods were slaughtered and Vol Karoth is closer than ever from escaping his prison, Kihrin and his friends find themselves in Shadrag Gor. Together, they face Vol Karoth at his strongest and most diabolical in the magical mindscape that he has created. As they contend with the looming threat of Vol Karoth’s release, the group becomes trapped and forced to experience a myriad of memories as Vol Karoth and Kihrin battle it out for the last time.
As compared to the previous three books in the series, The House of Always is far more character focused than plot, allowing the reader to fully understand these beloved characters, especially the side characters. I thoroughly enjoyed this decision as it opened up a new side of characters that we haven’t seen before. While fantasy is my favourite genre by far, I adore character-driven stories; I’d honestly be happy to just read a book about characters talking about their feelings — no plot, just vibes. And to an extent, that’s what The House of Always delivers — up until the second part, that is.
A primary part of this series is the growth of Kihrin’s relationship with Janel and Teraeth and in The House of Always this relationship reaches a climax that we have all been waiting for with bated breath. I can’t even begin to explain how remarkable it is to read a book with a polyamorous relationship, especially a fantasy book at that. Kihrin, Teraeth and Janel’s romance is stunningly developed over the course of the series: from hate to love, tentative allies, major crushes and flirtation to, finally, an admission of love. I sincerely hope we get even more beautiful scenes in the final novel, out later this year.
(Speaking of romance, there’s a lovely romantic subplot that definitely comes out of nowhere, but as the story progressed, I began to hardcore ship it. I won’t say who the romance is between — no spoilers! — but prepare to be a bit shocked as I was, and then fully invested.)
Another relationship that The House of Always wonderfully develops is between Galen and Sheloran. The pair are married but have an intense friendship where they view each other as siblings, as they are both attracted to the same sex. The wlw/mlm solidarity is strong in this book! Galen and Sheloran are incredibly supportive of one another and would go to the ends of the earth to protect the other. The same can be said for Talea and Xivan, lovers who are separated for a brief period, but whose love becomes stronger than ever once they’re reunited. I consider myself to be a pretty strong reader, able to easily pick up foreshadowing and subtext in books, but Lyons’ plot twists come completely out of left-field but still somehow make so much sense. And the path that Talea and Xivan’s find themselves on is one such plot twist, one I never saw coming but feel silly for not having picked up sooner!
At times the novel dragged as it focused a lot on flashbacks in the form of memories, but you soon find out how important these flashbacks are, especially when the plot comes to a head in part two. Everything is leading up to a fantastic conclusion in the final book and I cannot wait until I get my hands on a copy.
The House of Always is an incredible instalment to an already amazing series. I highly encourage everyone to pick up this wonderful queer and tropetastic series that will keep you guessing right up until the last page. It’s truly unlike anything I’ve read before.
The fourth instalment in The Chorus of Dragons series is perhaps my most anticipated novel of 2021 and it did not disappoint in the slightest. From past memories being unveiled to romantic intentions finally being declared, this book kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish.
Weeks after the failed Ritual of Night where the eight gods were slaughtered and Vol Karoth is closer than ever from escaping his prison, Kihrin and his friends find themselves in Shadrag Gor. Together, they face Vol Karoth at his strongest and most diabolical in the magical mindscape that he has created. As they contend with the looming threat of Vol Karoth’s release, the group becomes trapped and forced to experience a myriad of memories as Vol Karoth and Kihrin battle it out for the last time.
As compared to the previous three books in the series, The House of Always is far more character focused than plot, allowing the reader to fully understand these beloved characters, especially the side characters. I thoroughly enjoyed this decision as it opened up a new side of characters that we haven’t seen before. While fantasy is my favourite genre by far, I adore character-driven stories; I’d honestly be happy to just read a book about characters talking about their feelings — no plot, just vibes. And to an extent, that’s what The House of Always delivers — up until the second part, that is.
A primary part of this series is the growth of Kihrin’s relationship with Janel and Teraeth and in The House of Always this relationship reaches a climax that we have all been waiting for with bated breath. I can’t even begin to explain how remarkable it is to read a book with a polyamorous relationship, especially a fantasy book at that. Kihrin, Teraeth and Janel’s romance is stunningly developed over the course of the series: from hate to love, tentative allies, major crushes and flirtation to, finally, an admission of love. I sincerely hope we get even more beautiful scenes in the final novel, out later this year.
(Speaking of romance, there’s a lovely romantic subplot that definitely comes out of nowhere, but as the story progressed, I began to hardcore ship it. I won’t say who the romance is between — no spoilers! — but prepare to be a bit shocked as I was, and then fully invested.)
Another relationship that The House of Always wonderfully develops is between Galen and Sheloran. The pair are married but have an intense friendship where they view each other as siblings, as they are both attracted to the same sex. The wlw/mlm solidarity is strong in this book! Galen and Sheloran are incredibly supportive of one another and would go to the ends of the earth to protect the other. The same can be said for Talea and Xivan, lovers who are separated for a brief period, but whose love becomes stronger than ever once they’re reunited. I consider myself to be a pretty strong reader, able to easily pick up foreshadowing and subtext in books, but Lyons’ plot twists come completely out of left-field but still somehow make so much sense. And the path that Talea and Xivan’s find themselves on is one such plot twist, one I never saw coming but feel silly for not having picked up sooner!
At times the novel dragged as it focused a lot on flashbacks in the form of memories, but you soon find out how important these flashbacks are, especially when the plot comes to a head in part two. Everything is leading up to a fantastic conclusion in the final book and I cannot wait until I get my hands on a copy.
The House of Always is an incredible instalment to an already amazing series. I highly encourage everyone to pick up this wonderful queer and tropetastic series that will keep you guessing right up until the last page. It’s truly unlike anything I’ve read before.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
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
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
adventurous
reflective
slow-paced
TL;DR: A supposedly climax-building penultimate instalment which feels stifled by the commitment to strange stylistic gimmicks
Unfortunately The House of always may be my least favourite of this frustrating series. Its frame narrative is the most forced and bizarre of the lot, resulting in a slow and stilted narrative until an overhurried conclusion. I can see what it was going for in a more emotive and contemplative focus, but it simply doesn't work in this series, as the main characters are sidelined for supporting figures and yet still take up plotspace every other chapter - I actually like some of the side characters more (particularly Senera, although she doesn't get enough time for the arc she is given). This read, I was nearly constantly frustrated by all the usual flaws (snark, unnecessary footnotes that seem just to patch over previous plotholes) compounded by this particular plot, which, without getting too spoilery, feels unworthy of such a big pagecount. A particular bad taste is left in my mouth from the treatment of sex and sexuality, particularly a disgusting sexual assault scene which is waved away. One book more to see how this series will leave me feeling - it honestly could go either way.
4/10 in personal rating system
Unfortunately The House of always may be my least favourite of this frustrating series. Its frame narrative is the most forced and bizarre of the lot, resulting in a slow and stilted narrative until an overhurried conclusion. I can see what it was going for in a more emotive and contemplative focus, but it simply doesn't work in this series, as the main characters are sidelined for supporting figures and yet still take up plotspace every other chapter - I actually like some of the side characters more (particularly Senera, although she doesn't get enough time for the arc she is given). This read, I was nearly constantly frustrated by all the usual flaws (snark, unnecessary footnotes that seem just to patch over previous plotholes) compounded by this particular plot, which, without getting too spoilery, feels unworthy of such a big pagecount. A particular bad taste is left in my mouth from the treatment of sex and sexuality, particularly a disgusting sexual assault scene which is waved away. One book more to see how this series will leave me feeling - it honestly could go either way.
4/10 in personal rating system
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
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
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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