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nerdyher's review against another edition
4.0
It took longer to read than I would’ve liked it too— it was emotionally heavy and ngl I had to take a break. But I liked it a lot more than the 2nd.
I’m constantly wondering if Hem is written a little too maturely for a 13ish year old boy, but he did experience character growth and definitely didn’t start out as mature as he ended.
I loved the setting and the themes of family and love and I loved that I was actually getting to witness the effects of war in a fantasy novel. I also love how the 2nd and 3rd books had little almost time marker like events so I was able to compare where Maerad was in her journey with where Hem was.
I can’t wait to read the final book. I’m sad it’s coming to an end, but it’s wrapping up nicely, and while certain parts feel a little drawn out or under-explained, overall the pacing is pretty good.
I’m constantly wondering if Hem is written a little too maturely for a 13ish year old boy, but he did experience character growth and definitely didn’t start out as mature as he ended.
I loved the setting and the themes of family and love and I loved that I was actually getting to witness the effects of war in a fantasy novel. I also love how the 2nd and 3rd books had little almost time marker like events so I was able to compare where Maerad was in her journey with where Hem was.
I can’t wait to read the final book. I’m sad it’s coming to an end, but it’s wrapping up nicely, and while certain parts feel a little drawn out or under-explained, overall the pacing is pretty good.
magalis's review against another edition
3.0
Did I enjoy it? Yeah, I suppose I did. I'm getting kind of tired of Alison Croggon's long descriptions of absolutely everything. I found myself skimming a lot more of this book than I did the last two in the series.
Would I read it again? Possibly. I really don't know.
Who would I recommend it to? Fantasy fans, if you like Tamora Pierce, Mercedes Lackey, Tolkein, or other authors along those lines you'll probably like this, it's got a somewhat similar feel to it.
Any other thoughts? Oh man, book three of Pellinor. One more book to go! This one took place at the same time as The Riddle, following Maerad's brother Hem. This was a fairly quick read, same as the first two in the series. Croggon has done some very extensive word-building for this entire series, which is impressive. I liked getting to know Saliman and Hem better, but I didn't really care one way or the other for Zelika as a character. I don't know, this wasn't a terrible book, but I felt like it took a long time for anything to actually happen. It felt like a very long book for what little ended up actually happening. I'm looking forward to Saliman and Hem meeting back up with Cadvan and Maerad in the next book, and seeing how the series wraps up!
Would I read it again? Possibly. I really don't know.
Who would I recommend it to? Fantasy fans, if you like Tamora Pierce, Mercedes Lackey, Tolkein, or other authors along those lines you'll probably like this, it's got a somewhat similar feel to it.
Any other thoughts? Oh man, book three of Pellinor. One more book to go! This one took place at the same time as The Riddle, following Maerad's brother Hem. This was a fairly quick read, same as the first two in the series. Croggon has done some very extensive word-building for this entire series, which is impressive. I liked getting to know Saliman and Hem better, but I didn't really care one way or the other for Zelika as a character. I don't know, this wasn't a terrible book, but I felt like it took a long time for anything to actually happen. It felt like a very long book for what little ended up actually happening. I'm looking forward to Saliman and Hem meeting back up with Cadvan and Maerad in the next book, and seeing how the series wraps up!
hollyfromthebigsky's review against another edition
4.0
I had a really hard time getting into this book. Clearly, since I put it aside for over a year after reading the first two. The shift in narrator, from Maerad to Hem, left me unsatisfied at first. However, once I really gave it a chance and got into the story, I enjoyed it as much as I had the previous two chapters, and in some ways enjoyed Hem's voice (and Irc's!) even more than Maerad's.
I love Croggan's writing. I love that, unlike many fantasy works (George R.R. Martin excepted), sometimes bad things actually happen to big characters. She's not afraid to include painful things, and she writes so lyrically you really feel pulled in to the story.
Love this series!
I love Croggan's writing. I love that, unlike many fantasy works (George R.R. Martin excepted), sometimes bad things actually happen to big characters. She's not afraid to include painful things, and she writes so lyrically you really feel pulled in to the story.
Love this series!
carrie_grace_doss's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-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? It's complicated
4.0
abiofpellinor's review against another edition
5.0
When I was reading this series when I was younger this was always my least favourite. I still enjoyed it but just not as much as when we follow Maerad (rather than her brother Hem who is the focus of this book) but WOW this time I was so enraptured by this book and I'm so mad I've not read it more often! (says the person who's read it 10+ times already lol) but shit dude this was great. I'm now so excited to read Hem's pov in The Singing!!!
mischa3's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.0
elemenoreed's review against another edition
4.0
This book is, so far, the best in the series. And I didn't go into it with high hopes. I was not impressed with Hem's character when he was first introduced into the plot. And I took a kind of grim pleasure in the fact that he was separated from Maerad and I wouldn't have to be bothered with his presence in the story any longer. I couldn't have been more pleasantly surprised by this book. When the book begins, Hem doesn't seem like the whiny kid introduced in the first book. Back then he didn't act or speak like a twelve year old should and this disparity between age and actions bothered me. All of that was gone in the beginning of this book and Hem behaves his age, although the mischief he gets into in the beginning is excusable on the basis of circumstance.
A major factor that contributed to the fun and full-out enjoyment of this novel was the introduction of an animal sidekick. Early on in the book, Hem rescues a white crow from the torment of other birds and the two become friends. Hem names the bird Irc (for which reason I cannot now remember, except I remember thinking that the bird might become "irk"some at some point and associated his name from there. However, I couldn't have been more wrong). Irc was like what I've always wanted every Disney animal sidekick to be. He could communicate with Hem in the Speech and their conversations actually had me chuckling, even in the darker parts of the book. And Irc's presence becomes so constant and constantly desired that I feared for his safety as much as Hem's.
Hem grows a lot as a character in this book owing to the fact that the reader can see the war that the previous two books only alluded to. Hem's new home city of Turbansk is attacked and during the siege, he begins to discover his talents as a bard. He begins to open himself up to the people around him and even makes a friend his own age. As the book progresses, Hem finds himself far from Turbansk and in ever-increasingly dangerous situations. He calls on his strengthening bard powers and bravely faces his enemies. Hem was someone I was glad to know by the end of this book. I hope he figures largely in the next book also.
The Elidu are also present in this book and their presence always adds much to the story. This book was great from start to finish, without any lulls in the narrative. It will probably end up being my favorite book in this series...
A major factor that contributed to the fun and full-out enjoyment of this novel was the introduction of an animal sidekick. Early on in the book, Hem rescues a white crow from the torment of other birds and the two become friends. Hem names the bird Irc (for which reason I cannot now remember, except I remember thinking that the bird might become "irk"some at some point and associated his name from there. However, I couldn't have been more wrong). Irc was like what I've always wanted every Disney animal sidekick to be. He could communicate with Hem in the Speech and their conversations actually had me chuckling, even in the darker parts of the book. And Irc's presence becomes so constant and constantly desired that I feared for his safety as much as Hem's.
Hem grows a lot as a character in this book owing to the fact that the reader can see the war that the previous two books only alluded to. Hem's new home city of Turbansk is attacked and during the siege, he begins to discover his talents as a bard. He begins to open himself up to the people around him and even makes a friend his own age. As the book progresses, Hem finds himself far from Turbansk and in ever-increasingly dangerous situations. He calls on his strengthening bard powers and bravely faces his enemies. Hem was someone I was glad to know by the end of this book. I hope he figures largely in the next book also.
The Elidu are also present in this book and their presence always adds much to the story. This book was great from start to finish, without any lulls in the narrative. It will probably end up being my favorite book in this series...
brookepalmer796's review against another edition
3.0
This is the 3rd book of the series, and though the story is interesting, I felt like it did little to move the storyline along.