Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
The deeper I get into this series the more I'm getting sucked into this story. As paths come back together from years apart things certainly got interesting in the later portions of this book. There were a couple of reveals that I didn't see coming along with some clearly eluded to ones as well. I will look to continue sometime over the next couple of months.
I thought this might be poorer than the first book (which I gave 5 stars to) but its not - its equally as good. Well written, great plot, and now three different characters who are all very distinguishable. I have bought book three and have started already!
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
So my meta-amused read of the series continues from Book 1 (on relative schedule - imagine that. The series is pulled of a miracle just in that alone). I credit the audiobook for this for keeping me ticking along.
Simon Vance - the narrator - does a great job here and elevates the book IMO, so some of the positivity I feel towards the book is attributable to him, I think. I did also have the book physically and did switch to some physical only reading also when IRL (aka work) permitted.
My issues with the structural choices made by the author continue. For example,
Simon Vance - the narrator - does a great job here and elevates the book IMO, so some of the positivity I feel towards the book is attributable to him, I think. I did also have the book physically and did switch to some physical only reading also when IRL (aka work) permitted.
My issues with the structural choices made by the author continue. For example,
Spoiler
we start the book with the brothers - Valyn and Kaden - together. Great - except that we separate them soon after (~40 pages into the book) - seems like a great way for us to explore relationship and character dynamics.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
DNF
This being a somewhat dark fantasy series, I was wary going into the first book, but ended up liking it more than I thought I would. There were a couple of things that happened in that book that made me want to read this second book in the series, but unfortunately, the beginning of this book didn't pull me in. It also went in a different direction than I was expecting with a couple of the characters. Eventually, I was having to force myself to pick this up. It actually put me in a bit of a reading slump for a couple of weeks. Needless to say I abandoned it. I know a lot of people love this book, and this series, but I just don't think it's for me.
This being a somewhat dark fantasy series, I was wary going into the first book, but ended up liking it more than I thought I would. There were a couple of things that happened in that book that made me want to read this second book in the series, but unfortunately, the beginning of this book didn't pull me in. It also went in a different direction than I was expecting with a couple of the characters. Eventually, I was having to force myself to pick this up. It actually put me in a bit of a reading slump for a couple of weeks. Needless to say I abandoned it. I know a lot of people love this book, and this series, but I just don't think it's for me.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was one of a few remaining series where for whatever reason it's been several years since I read the first. As usual I was unsure whether my memories and rating of the first were mistaken since I rated it several years after I had read it. Fortunately, I greatly enjoyed myself. For the most part that was because of the execution rather than plot, characters, setting, or any ideas it has. There's not much that's novel here, but that doesn't bother me as long as I'm having fun with it.
It fits well within earlier published series such as A Song of Ice and Fire, The Dagger and Coin, The First Law, and similar. This a grimdark epic fantasy series filled with intrigue of all sorts. It's certainly not a heroic series, which may pose a problem. Aside from the many problems that others present them through opposition and disinformation, the characters create a lot of problems for themselves through misunderstandings and bad decisions. They are surely not particularly competent in achieving their goals with their preferred methods. Compromises are abundant. Normally this would bother me, as using these sort of tricks is usually a sign of an inability to write compelling drama without a crutch, but as I said, I liked how it was executed.
The exception to this is the lead up to the ending and the ending itself. I can't ever excuse turning characters into set pieces to achieve a narrative goal. That breaks everything and leads to characters taking actions for a desired plot direction rather than what they ought to be doing. This fosters ill-will towards the author and especially the characters. For that alone, I can't rate this higher than four stars.
Transportation method spoiler
Rating: 4/5
It fits well within earlier published series such as A Song of Ice and Fire, The Dagger and Coin, The First Law, and similar. This a grimdark epic fantasy series filled with intrigue of all sorts. It's certainly not a heroic series, which may pose a problem. Aside from the many problems that others present them through opposition and disinformation, the characters create a lot of problems for themselves through misunderstandings and bad decisions. They are surely not particularly competent in achieving their goals with their preferred methods. Compromises are abundant. Normally this would bother me, as using these sort of tricks is usually a sign of an inability to write compelling drama without a crutch, but as I said, I liked how it was executed.
The exception to this is the lead up to the ending and the ending itself. I can't ever excuse turning characters into set pieces to achieve a narrative goal. That breaks everything and leads to characters taking actions for a desired plot direction rather than what they ought to be doing. This fosters ill-will towards the author and especially the characters. For that alone, I can't rate this higher than four stars.
Transportation method spoiler
Spoiler
I love portal hubs and networks. I liked it even more when there was an aside about how they could affect the economy, even though nothing will come of it.Rating: 4/5