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t_jenkins's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
hawkelf's review against another edition
I read this book a long time ago, in high school, but going back to reread, I found it too hard to get into. The lore dumps were just too sudden and intense, and stiff, before I really got acquainted with the characters.
beardybot's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
A solid bit of ensemble high fantasy, with feisty, telepathic dragons, retired warriors with itchy feet, and the classic clumsy apprentice. Flashes of sci-fi occasionally threaten to make things interesting, but some of the other characters... have the opposite effect. The Heart of Myrial largely follows the late 90s flavour of the genre, but there's the odd "ooh," and there's the odd "argh."
The premise is interesting. A world split into realms by impassable curtains of bad weather, each of which is home to different races. Sprites, centaurs, dragons, vampires etc. There's a secret society, the Shadowleague, who oversee things, and they're theoretically the only people that can cross the curtains.
But the curtains are failing, there's a bad guy with plans, and hostile races are ready to take advantage.
Some of the characterisation is excellent, and each of the cast is notably different and with good reason to be where they are. They bounce off each other nicely, and keep the story going. At least, the good guys do. The bad guys, on the other hand, are rubbish. I found it very difficult to suspend disbelief with such one-dimensional antagonists.
The premise is interesting. A world split into realms by impassable curtains of bad weather, each of which is home to different races. Sprites, centaurs, dragons, vampires etc. There's a secret society, the Shadowleague, who oversee things, and they're theoretically the only people that can cross the curtains.
But the curtains are failing, there's a bad guy with plans, and hostile races are ready to take advantage.
Some of the characterisation is excellent, and each of the cast is notably different and with good reason to be where they are. They bounce off each other nicely, and keep the story going. At least, the good guys do. The bad guys, on the other hand, are rubbish. I found it very difficult to suspend disbelief with such one-dimensional antagonists.
minervareads's review against another edition
4.0
This book probably doesn't honestly deserve four stars, but it gives me a sense of nostalgia, so I can't help it. The writing isn't the smoothest; a lot of the dialogue would sound unnatural when actually spoken aloud, and some of the other passages had the same, rough language. But I like it. I like the world building (and now that I've read more sci-fi since I last read this trilogy about ten years ago, I've got a new appreciation for it), I like Veldan and Toulac and Kaz. I like how many story lines Furey balances throughout, and keeps them all engaging. I just like it.
mcmoots's review against another edition
2.0
Good trashy fantasy is hard to find. Maggie Furey tried, but this is mediocre trashy fantasy, at best.
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