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4.29 AVERAGE
4.29 AVERAGE
I gave up on this book not because it was bad. In many ways this book is very well written, the characters well rounded, and the setting unique. Normally this type of book would be one of my favorites, and in some ways it was hard to put down. But I just can't get over its treatment of female characters.
It's not that the book treats them awfully, nor is it that there is a lack of female characters. I've read many books that have annoyed me with its sexism or their inability to see the potential of their women characters, but there was just something about this book that I couldn't stomach. Maybe it was that every female character who appeared was in some way a damsel or in some way a caretaker. Maybe it was that you could easily tell if you were supposed to like a female character based solely on if she was attractive (not just pretty, mind you, but exceptionally beautiful). Maybe it was that the empire is based upon an extensive military rule but women only showed up in the healing division. Maybe it was that, unlike other settings where the sexism is clearly ingrained in the society (such as in ASOIAF), the author seemed blind to the sexism that appears in his book. Maybe I just have no more patience for a modern day author who can't be bothered create characters who aren't white, heterosexual, cis-males.
A friend of mine said that after looking on message boards that there aren't any good female characters that show up later, so I've lost the will to continue reading it. Maybe the people on the message boards are wrong. Maybe in later books the author improves in his diversity. Until I hear this, I'm shelving this book away into the 'In many ways good, but not for me' pile.
It's not that the book treats them awfully, nor is it that there is a lack of female characters. I've read many books that have annoyed me with its sexism or their inability to see the potential of their women characters, but there was just something about this book that I couldn't stomach. Maybe it was that every female character who appeared was in some way a damsel or in some way a caretaker. Maybe it was that you could easily tell if you were supposed to like a female character based solely on if she was attractive (not just pretty, mind you, but exceptionally beautiful). Maybe it was that the empire is based upon an extensive military rule but women only showed up in the healing division. Maybe it was that, unlike other settings where the sexism is clearly ingrained in the society (such as in ASOIAF), the author seemed blind to the sexism that appears in his book. Maybe I just have no more patience for a modern day author who can't be bothered create characters who aren't white, heterosexual, cis-males.
A friend of mine said that after looking on message boards that there aren't any good female characters that show up later, so I've lost the will to continue reading it. Maybe the people on the message boards are wrong. Maybe in later books the author improves in his diversity. Until I hear this, I'm shelving this book away into the 'In many ways good, but not for me' pile.
I enjoyed the first 2/3 a lot, about 4 stars worth. But it just kind of lost me once the battles started. Still well written, just not my bag.
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
New author for my fantasy-genre loving friends. This is one of those finds that is so good I can't recommend it enough. I would rank his writing and storytelling on par with Patrick Rothfuss or Brian Sanderson.
Read it!
Only drawback is he just signed with a publisher (book 1 of trilogy was independent). This is only a drawback because Book 2 may be delayed by this.
Enjoy
adventurous
mysterious
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 enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. It is a slow coming of age story set in a dark fantasy world that is not very high on magic but very high on combat and I approached it carefully, I heard good things about it but I wasn't sure how I would feel about it and although I didn't get pulled in from the start I ended up really enjoying it. It is slow but it does kind of pull you in making you really invested in the characters, the world and the plot. The characters may not be the best ever written but they are interesting and easy to get attached to, the world building was also quite good, I liked the world and the way it was slowly presented to us, there are a lot of mysteries being built in this book and although I hear the next books are not as good as this one, I am really eager to continue with this story and see where it goes from this.
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
fast-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
One of the best books I've ever read. Finished the whole series in less than a week and actually re-read a few weeks back to start the new series following this one.
Not as good as the king killer chronicles by Patrick Rothfuss but pretty awesome!
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
5 star - Perfect
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish