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connorjdaley's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This fine fellow offered me a review copy in exchange for an honest review. I’m glad he did. This also stands as the first book to have a super cool looking cover when it was offered to me just for me to find out the cover was a PLACEHOLDER! And wow, look at this real cover!
This is a dark and gritty fantasy featuring some morally gray characters that might not actually be deserving of salvation. The cast itself, also features some children, as well we others, that brighten the whole thing up, which I enjoyed a lot. I have seen this compared to The First Law trilogy, (of which I’ve only read the Blade Itself) but I think other than tone, grittiness, and genre, they’re quite different.
The magic system is awesome. It features magical folks called Awakened, who must summit a mountain and return powered. Most die, and the powers are random. Not to mention, they aren’t even guaranteed! Who the hell would try that! Well, some people do, and it works for them. Several different powers are displayed in the story, and it’s never really described if that’s all of them or if there is more. As these powers possibly come from the gods, it makes sense they are random and not fully explained.
As is the usual aim for these types of stories, the author has created a main character that is so awful that the entire world should despise him. Yet, the more and more you read, the more you like and feel for him. I’m impressed with how well done the character was built. His guilt and self-imposed suffering are what leads you to see him as redeemable.
Personally for me, there was a chunk in the center there that was a bit thick. I wondered if maybe a POV was cut out if it would have flowed better, however I couldn’t think of one I’d want to do without, so idk! Therefore, 5/5* for me. It was great.
So good:
“Belara straightened. “Peace is what happens when enemies fear each other enough to avoid the uncertain results of attempted conquest.””
So good:
“Belara straightened. “Peace is what happens when enemies fear each other enough to avoid the uncertain results of attempted conquest.””
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Gore, Grief, Violence, Murder, Drug abuse, Addiction, Alcohol, War, Death, and Death of parent
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