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dkadastra's review against another edition
3.0
These books have super interesting concepts and world-building, and I like the story, but I haven't been truly drawn in like I have with my other favorite series, and I think it's because the protagonists aren't competent. I don't need them to be super human, but they all make (what seem to me to be) ridiculous mistakes and the one who has been trained to be a badass soldier/assassin hasn't won a fight the entire series! There's so many cool elements here, I just haven't felt like it's coalesced into a complete story. That said, I'm going to read the final book in the trilogy, and I'm hopeful that he'll be able to tie it all together into a satisfying conclusion.
willrefuge's review against another edition
4.0
All three siblings are back for the second book of the Unhewn Throne trilogy, plus some chapters later on from Gwenna. Unlike the first, each sibling gets equal time. So if you were a bit annoyed in the first to only find one Adare POV to every 3 of Kaden and Valyn's, well, I guess you're vindicated (I wasn't exactly appalled, but it was a flaw of the first one).
The first book of the Unhewn Throne wasn't exactly what I would call inconsistent. Neither was it unrealistic or unbelievable. It was just... too convenient.
Think of the first few Harry Potter books. Everyone has read those. Well, pretty much everyone. Anyways, it's like that. There are the parts conducive to the plot, to the main story, and then there's everything else. Days, weeks at a time are left out because nothing vital happens. This isn't like that exactly, it's just... It glosses over the parts that aren't directly relevant to the plot. The characters know it right away. It's a realistic seeming tale, but it's like the POV characters aren't human.
In THE PROVIDENCE OF FIRE, they're human. Mistakes are made, no one is perfect, and assumptions made by one character aren't universally accepted by the others. In fact, through most of the book, all three children of the throne are working on information different from the others. More importantly, while THE EMPEROR'S BLADES showed us each sibling's strengths, their weaknesses weren't necessarily aired. That changes in the second. Weakness and strength are on equal display. Mistakes are made, assumptions are made, and no one escapes the consequences unscathed. Moreover, each character has an arc.
Maybe that's not the right word. There's character growth, a change in the status quo. The siblings seem more real, more human. PoF isn't better because the plot is better, nor the execution of the story. It's better because everything comes together more naturally.
If you liked the first, well, I think you'll like the second even more. I did.
Next to the Faithful and the Fallen, this could be the best series I've read all year (yes, I know it's early. Shove it).
4.7ish/5 stars.
ps - the cover's also cooler than the first
The first book of the Unhewn Throne wasn't exactly what I would call inconsistent. Neither was it unrealistic or unbelievable. It was just... too convenient.
Think of the first few Harry Potter books. Everyone has read those. Well, pretty much everyone. Anyways, it's like that. There are the parts conducive to the plot, to the main story, and then there's everything else. Days, weeks at a time are left out because nothing vital happens. This isn't like that exactly, it's just... It glosses over the parts that aren't directly relevant to the plot. The characters know it right away. It's a realistic seeming tale, but it's like the POV characters aren't human.
In THE PROVIDENCE OF FIRE, they're human. Mistakes are made, no one is perfect, and assumptions made by one character aren't universally accepted by the others. In fact, through most of the book, all three children of the throne are working on information different from the others. More importantly, while THE EMPEROR'S BLADES showed us each sibling's strengths, their weaknesses weren't necessarily aired. That changes in the second. Weakness and strength are on equal display. Mistakes are made, assumptions are made, and no one escapes the consequences unscathed. Moreover, each character has an arc.
Maybe that's not the right word. There's character growth, a change in the status quo. The siblings seem more real, more human. PoF isn't better because the plot is better, nor the execution of the story. It's better because everything comes together more naturally.
If you liked the first, well, I think you'll like the second even more. I did.
Next to the Faithful and the Fallen, this could be the best series I've read all year (yes, I know it's early. Shove it).
4.7ish/5 stars.
ps - the cover's also cooler than the first
peterkeep's review against another edition
4.0
When I finished The Emperor's Blades, I was happy that I'd read the book but not certain that I would continue the series. After a few months, I kept thinking about the book and decided that it must have been better than I thought, since my mind would return to think about Valyn and Kaden.
Now, I'm convinced. It's easy to see that Staveley figured out some of the problems he had in his first book and worked through them. The pacing, while still a bit draggy near the beginning, is better. The climax felt a lot more believable, and the action sequences were better written. The strong points are still here - the religious backdrop is interesting, and the world and races and mythology are all put together nicely. The intrigue is done much better, where the mysteries aren't obvious right away but they don't come out of nowhere either. I feel like this one was a bit bloodier than the first (which I'm totally ok with) but I might just be misremembering.
I think the biggest improvement is the power moves and politicking. It's all way more believable and feels a lot more mature this time around. The line between right and wrong, good and bad, and honorable and dishonorable becomes really blurred. Everyone's motivations get fleshed out nicely, and I found that the characters that I was rooting for and against changed several times, which I liked a lot. It kept the conflicts from feeling stagnant, which was a bit of a problem in The Emperor's Blades.
All in all, I really liked it! I'll definitely be picking up the next one, and not just because of the cool looking covers!
Now, I'm convinced. It's easy to see that Staveley figured out some of the problems he had in his first book and worked through them. The pacing, while still a bit draggy near the beginning, is better. The climax felt a lot more believable, and the action sequences were better written. The strong points are still here - the religious backdrop is interesting, and the world and races and mythology are all put together nicely. The intrigue is done much better, where the mysteries aren't obvious right away but they don't come out of nowhere either. I feel like this one was a bit bloodier than the first (which I'm totally ok with) but I might just be misremembering.
I think the biggest improvement is the power moves and politicking. It's all way more believable and feels a lot more mature this time around. The line between right and wrong, good and bad, and honorable and dishonorable becomes really blurred. Everyone's motivations get fleshed out nicely, and I found that the characters that I was rooting for and against changed several times, which I liked a lot. It kept the conflicts from feeling stagnant, which was a bit of a problem in The Emperor's Blades.
All in all, I really liked it! I'll definitely be picking up the next one, and not just because of the cool looking covers!
fudgepopz's review against another edition
4.0
Great Read. Really picks up after about 75% through. Only gripe is the 3 main characters are all idiots and make the most ridiculous of decisions.
qjbrown96's review against another edition
4.0
4.4 stars. Not as good as the first book which was a masterpiece but it was still very entertaining. The plot has shifted from a war to save the throne to now saving all of mankind and it is awesome. I feel like I know who the bad guy is but then it shifts points of view and then he doesn’t seem so bad. I love that style of writing where the writer builds up the suspense and then gives the grand reveal at the very end. Stavevely has become one of my favorite writers and if the third book is as good as the first two then this will be a top 10 series for me!
mrbear's review against another edition
4.0
A solid second entry to the series. I felt that the story developed much more in this book, and unlike many similar mid-tier fantasy reads, this book had the audacity to surprise me at times and feel a bit better than maybe the writing might merit. Not the best series, nor one I would really recommend to non-fantasy readers, but for people who like the genre I think this is definitely a fun and intriguing read.
halynah's review against another edition
5.0
Brilliant and exceptional,even better, than the first book! It's a feat to write such a huge book and manage not to bore the reader! Loved everything in it, and the only disappointment is that the third book is so far away :-( Excellent author - my respect and admiration for writing such a masterpiece!
wipqozn's review against another edition
4.0
Really enjoyed this, and the third book should certainly prove interesting.
valobooks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
the_midwest_library's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Alright....so here's the thing, all these characters are stupid. Like....I just need them to get on the phone, send a fucking pigeon, smoke signals, magical messenger something so they can all get on the same page. This whole book was a giant miscommunication between every single main character while secondary characters do things off page to actually effectuate change in the world. I didn't hate it, I just wanted more from this world and these characters.
I think I will finish the trilogy but I don't think I'll continue in this world after the conclusion of the original trilogy.
I think I will finish the trilogy but I don't think I'll continue in this world after the conclusion of the original trilogy.