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badmc's review
4.0
Valen is an addict. He is also a traitor. A good-for-nothing son. A sex-crazed, leering person that uttered the dreaded words "it's your own fault". An abused child turned abuser, socially inept. He also has one of the most profound character arcs I had the privilege of reading in fantasy, and a place in a very interesting story of end of times in a civil-war torn lands where fey are dying, doomsayers are ravaging the land, and monks are apocalypse-prepping.
Carol Berg was on my TBR forever, somehow. Maybe the covers are to blame, or my unwillingness to read about an addict (I tend to have problems with them in fiction). I am, however, very glad that in the end I read these books. They are a slow burn, mysterious, character driven (my fave) - with lush prose, and lore. They are also quite a page-turner once they get going. It is a single-person POV (again, my fave!), but abundant with nicely developed characters.
The magic was mysterious and unknowable, the races a bit poorly explored (more!), it did touch upon some of the social problems of the world. Valen is really a handful, and almost turned me off the book in first 50 pages or so - but he gets punished for his (mis)deeds. Berg is a harsh mistress. I feel Valen's POV brought us a very limited vision of the world: he is a very self-preoccupied man. Also, he is preoccupied with his prick - the passage when it somehow gets adorned with feathers left me aghast. He reminded me of Robert Sheehan's characters - Nathan from Misfits and Klaus from Umbrella Academy. If they are not your cup of tea, avoid the book.
The ending was a bit of a disappointment, the naivette of some of the characters (Juliann!) a bit much after their ordeals, and Valen was a slow learner in some things, but I recommend this to everyone who enjoys mysterious, slow burn books with interesting take on fantasy.
Carol Berg was on my TBR forever, somehow. Maybe the covers are to blame, or my unwillingness to read about an addict (I tend to have problems with them in fiction). I am, however, very glad that in the end I read these books. They are a slow burn, mysterious, character driven (my fave) - with lush prose, and lore. They are also quite a page-turner once they get going. It is a single-person POV (again, my fave!), but abundant with nicely developed characters.
The magic was mysterious and unknowable, the races a bit poorly explored (more!), it did touch upon some of the social problems of the world. Valen is really a handful, and almost turned me off the book in first 50 pages or so - but he gets punished for his (mis)deeds. Berg is a harsh mistress. I feel Valen's POV brought us a very limited vision of the world: he is a very self-preoccupied man. Also, he is preoccupied with his prick - the passage when it somehow gets adorned with feathers left me aghast. He reminded me of Robert Sheehan's characters - Nathan from Misfits and Klaus from Umbrella Academy. If they are not your cup of tea, avoid the book.
The ending was a bit of a disappointment, the naivette of some of the characters (Juliann!) a bit much after their ordeals, and Valen was a slow learner in some things, but I recommend this to everyone who enjoys mysterious, slow burn books with interesting take on fantasy.
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