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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
I enjoyed it overall. It started out a lot slower, didn't grip me as much as book one until nearer the end (maybe due to more Adare, my least favorite character... Her constant flares of temper are either overdone or poorly written. Thank goodness for Kaden, who really has a better handle on his emotions, thanks to the Shin).
It's a very bloody book. There are some really interesting twists and turns that give more insight into the history of this world. The overarching story and lore are what shine in this book, more than any of the main characters themselves. I'm very interested in how Valyn will adapt to his more Hullish life in book three...
It's a very bloody book. There are some really interesting twists and turns that give more insight into the history of this world. The overarching story and lore are what shine in this book, more than any of the main characters themselves. I'm very interested in how Valyn will adapt to his more Hullish life in book three...
This is a little bit better than the first book but I think the pacing is still kinda slow.
Adare's storyline is quite strong, but this girl have some questionable decisions And Oshi, Nira, and Fulton makes her story more interesting.
Kaden once again has the most interesting storyline due to the mystery surrounding Triste, the Csestriim, and the Ishien.
Meanwhile, Valyn is Valyn, still surrounded by the conspiracy, between the opposing teams, and it gets a little bit boring . . . sometimes.
Aside from the siblings' POV, he have Gwenna's and I got to say that hers is better than Valyn's. And her character improved a lot in this book, but I'm hoping to see more of Annick but sadly she's still the quiet one and still good with her bow and arrows.
Adare's storyline is quite strong, but this girl have some questionable decisions
Spoiler
especially when he stabbed Valyn because she persists that they badly need il Tornja.Kaden once again has the most interesting storyline due to the mystery surrounding Triste, the Csestriim, and the Ishien.
Meanwhile, Valyn is Valyn, still surrounded by the conspiracy, between the opposing teams, and it gets a little bit boring . . . sometimes.
Spoiler
And flier Laith just fucking dies, like he didn't go with a bang. He just says oh I'm going to join the battle, then after a few paragraph he dies. I know he was weakened by an arrow by an "ally" and shows the reality of battles, but still it's quite saddening for me.Aside from the siblings' POV, he have Gwenna's and I got to say that hers is better than Valyn's. And her character improved a lot in this book, but I'm hoping to see more of Annick but sadly she's still the quiet one and still good with her bow and arrows.
I really, really liked the first one in this series.
And the second one is even better! While I found some parts in the first book a bit lengthy, and the characters were well written, but sometimes did act a bit strangely, they really developed in book two. The writing style also got better and the plot thickens.
Perfect sequel to a good debut!
And the second one is even better! While I found some parts in the first book a bit lengthy, and the characters were well written, but sometimes did act a bit strangely, they really developed in book two. The writing style also got better and the plot thickens.
Perfect sequel to a good debut!
The first book in this trilogy I loved and gave 5 stars too. This second book was considerably slower than the first one and some parts drag on with characters having lengthy conversations about what to do.
This picks up in the second part which won me back. I like that Adare, the sister, plays a much bigger part in this.
I will start part three this year.
This picks up in the second part which won me back. I like that Adare, the sister, plays a much bigger part in this.
I will start part three this year.
The author managed to learn to write about a woman without mentioning her boobs every time she appears. The superfluous apostrophes in names are really annoying, though.
The world building here, as in the first book, is truly fantastic. The landscape descriptions are vivid and enveloping, and even minor characters feel so natural and right that they are almost corporeal. The first half of the book, the plot and pacing felt perfect - an ideal increase in tempo, urgency, and consequence. And then things went a bit sideways - I slowly lost interest in and patience for the three main characters, and by the end of the book, they felt less real and lifelike than they did at the beginning of middle of it. I am still deeply curious about this world, but I am having a much harder time enjoying seeing it through their eyes.
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
This book deserves exactly this rating. I finished it, but every step of the way I could only think how much better the entire package could have been.
Let's start with the strength: The Kaden storyline. A brilliant plot twist happens there, as all three siblings are convinced the others are either dead, or betraying the family, or betraying the empire. The decisions Kaden makes in the latter third are intriguing and by far the most interesting portions of the book.
Then there's everything else. The characters are flat, unevolving, and juvenilely portrayed. Women continue to be especially awfully written, but no one really has reasonable motives (Even the Kaden plot fails to really make sense within the character's motives). The plot in general is delightfully complicated but gloats in its intricacy, ruining all the suspense. The style similarly hits you over the head with "why yes I am an epic fantasy why do you ask" awfulness. At one point we are told that Valyn is constantly being put in positions where his decisions seem to have no right answer, and choosing one means giving up on certain morals/codes/responsibilities. This was something that was obvious already to even the most slow-witted reader, but the author insisted on pointing out artlessly the effort he was putting in to make Valyn's life hard.
In sum, if you are looking for fantasy you could certainly choose worse, but feel free to skim liberally. You are not missing much.
Let's start with the strength: The Kaden storyline. A brilliant plot twist happens there, as all three siblings are convinced the others are either dead, or betraying the family, or betraying the empire. The decisions Kaden makes in the latter third are intriguing and by far the most interesting portions of the book.
Then there's everything else. The characters are flat, unevolving, and juvenilely portrayed. Women continue to be especially awfully written, but no one really has reasonable motives (Even the Kaden plot fails to really make sense within the character's motives). The plot in general is delightfully complicated but gloats in its intricacy, ruining all the suspense. The style similarly hits you over the head with "why yes I am an epic fantasy why do you ask" awfulness. At one point we are told that Valyn is constantly being put in positions where his decisions seem to have no right answer, and choosing one means giving up on certain morals/codes/responsibilities. This was something that was obvious already to even the most slow-witted reader, but the author insisted on pointing out artlessly the effort he was putting in to make Valyn's life hard.
In sum, if you are looking for fantasy you could certainly choose worse, but feel free to skim liberally. You are not missing much.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes