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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
Definitely an improvement over [b:The Emperor's Blades|17910124|The Emperor's Blades (Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne, #1)|Brian Staveley|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1369246817s/17910124.jpg|25095579] - not that TEB was bad, but this one is noticeably better.
The story picks up pretty much immediately after the end of the first book, which means that Kaden and Valyn start off in the action, while Adare is recovering from her cliffhanger. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that the stories of all three Malkeenians complement each other wonderfully - for the most part, whenever one or two of the siblings are in the thick of it, the rest offer a more relaxed form of storytelling, with more exposition and internal dialogue, presumably to give the reader a chance to catch her breath. I found this a very pleasant way to tell a story.
Furthermore, the plot thickened. Secrets were revealed, and then revealed again; stakes were raised, enemies were made friends, and friends - enemies; everyone played everyone else, everyone misunderstood everyone else, and at the end nobody was truly happy and in a good position. Except maybe Pyrre. Staveley really stepped up his game with this book, even if he had to step on his characters' heads. I kind of wish the kids catch a little bit of break in the next book...
The story picks up pretty much immediately after the end of the first book, which means that Kaden and Valyn start off in the action, while Adare is recovering from her cliffhanger. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that the stories of all three Malkeenians complement each other wonderfully - for the most part, whenever one or two of the siblings are in the thick of it, the rest offer a more relaxed form of storytelling, with more exposition and internal dialogue, presumably to give the reader a chance to catch her breath. I found this a very pleasant way to tell a story.
Furthermore, the plot thickened. Secrets were revealed, and then revealed again; stakes were raised, enemies were made friends, and friends - enemies; everyone played everyone else, everyone misunderstood everyone else, and at the end nobody was truly happy and in a good position. Except maybe Pyrre. Staveley really stepped up his game with this book, even if he had to step on his characters' heads. I kind of wish the kids catch a little bit of break in the next book...
3.5 stars... maybe. This book is best summed up as "unlikable characters making really dumb decisions". Oh - and the book was really long, definitely dragged quite a bit in places. Typical "2nd book syndrome". I didn't like Adare in the first book and she started off a bit better in book two, until the middle and she just started doing really inconceivable things - and it only got worse the farther in I got. Valyn also just makes one ridiculous decision after another. Kaden was the least egregious of the bunch, but I'm not sure I like the turn his storyline took about 3/4ths in. What I did like was all the secondary characters. The siblings that Adare meets, Kiel, Triste, Pyrre (she's probably my favorite), and Valyn's wing. I'm kind of "meh" on this one. It's not a terrible series, I'll read the last book, but this isn't one that I'd ever reread probably.
Overall I enjoyed this novel very much.it all came together well at the end, and I'm not sure how I feel about the three main characters in the book, which is actually a good thing. All of the characters are growing, developing and seeming to make some colossal mistakes or are they mistakes? I love the way the author keeps shifting the pieces, is someone a villain just because they assassinate an Emperor, or could it be much more complex than that? The author seems to be setting up for a long game and the characters and their motives and the way they go about accomplishing their goals can make them both hero and villain at any given time and differs from the perspective you are looking from.
good read, well done!
Actual ratings 4.5 stars
good read, well done!
Actual ratings 4.5 stars
adventurous
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I nearly didn't finish this. The previous book was much better. In this book the plot is driven by the main characters making one stupid decision after the other. Lazy.
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Vastly superior to the first book, this one kept me hooked even when I was debating reading further, had a lot of action, powerful women, and overall rose above and beyond the previous book.
Rawr...I want the sequel already.
Rawr...I want the sequel already.