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onemanbookclub's review against another edition
1.0
Bailing out on this one. Too weird, too many f-bombs, violence against children. Not for me.
joabroda's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
3.0
The first book in a series, my second series by this author. The first one, [book:The Red Wolf Conspiracy|2408602] blew me away. This first book in series # 2, not so much. However, I pushed through it and I am glad I did as the ending was worth it. I am surprised that I am looking forward to seeing where it goes. Because I had such trouble reading it I cannot go higher then3 stars for this one, but I have hopes for book #2
jessann's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-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
4.5
tj00042's review against another edition
5.0
I recently completed this book, and I must say I knew in the first chapter that this book was something special.
I would not have come across this book had I not followed Mark Lawrence, and his glowing review. He was correct, it is a masterpiece of storytelling.
I listened to this rather than read this and I would say Eric Summerer did a great job bring all the characters to life.
One of things that I liked that I wasn't expecting was the humour Mektu would bring some levity to some situations with his odd and comments at sometimes the most inappropriate times. Really funny.
Overall this was one of the best books I read this year, definitely top 3. Thanks Robert V.S Redick for the great story looking forward to the next one!
I would not have come across this book had I not followed Mark Lawrence, and his glowing review. He was correct, it is a masterpiece of storytelling.
I listened to this rather than read this and I would say Eric Summerer did a great job bring all the characters to life.
One of things that I liked that I wasn't expecting was the humour Mektu would bring some levity to some situations with his odd and comments at sometimes the most inappropriate times. Really funny.
Overall this was one of the best books I read this year, definitely top 3. Thanks Robert V.S Redick for the great story looking forward to the next one!
barb4ry1's review against another edition
4.0
All the cool kids on the block (Mark, Pat et al.) rave about Master Assassins. As an aspiring kid, I had no choice but to grab a copy. I received one from Netgalley; it didn't influence my review in any way.
The title may suggest that we'll deal with true masters of the art of assassination. Unstoppable and uncanny killers who defy the laws of physics in order to get the job done. This is not the case. The title is ironic and you'll understand why when you'll read the book.
The story follows two brothers - Kandri and Mektu - who serve in the Army of Revelation ruled by a prophet-madwoman whose favorite management tools are terror and force. When one of the brothers commits, "by accident", an unspeakable crime, the brothers must run as fast as they can from the rage of the prophet. They're chased by elite forces and bloodthirsty monsters through barren fields of devastation, towards the great desert called “The Land That Eats Men.”
Oh, one more thing. Cataclysm approaches. Armageddon is an option.
I'm not surprised that readers enjoy this book as it has plenty to offer. I'll start where everyone starts.
Prose. It's fantastic and literary. Redick's writing is very immersive. His vocabulary is rich and he's not afraid to use it in creative ways to convey all sorts of feelings that characters experience. Descriptions are simply stunning; it's easy to see harsh landscapes or terrifying creatures pictured by the author. The story is told mostly in third-person present tense and it's not something you see often in fantasy. As a result, the reader gets the sensation of being right there, following the characters in their adventure. As it's done well it's easy to care deeply and fear for the character's lives as the story unveils. Flashbacks and elements similar to the stream of consciousness are used to good results as well.
Characters are real. All of them. Kandri Hinjuman was never meant to be a soldier. His brother Mektu was never meant for this world. Kandri is good at blending in, but Mektu is impulsive, erratic and certain that a demon is stalking him.
The book focuses strongly on brothers relationship - not an easy one given their past. Kandri and Mektu are actually half-brothers, and they share a complex bond of rivalry and love. Their brotherly love is tainted by mistrust, contempt and old wounds linked to their mutual fascination with a woman who suddenly disappeared. It was fascinating to observe them teeter on the edge of disaster in a harsh world constricted by religious fears, with imminent menace always snapping at their heels. They struggle to survive and in order to do so, they cling to memories of love.
Secondary characters were colorful and intriguing as well. Brothers flee with three outcasts (some by choice, others by necessity). Uncle Chindilan, the Master Smith, is on the run because in time of need he decided to help the brothers. Now he's wanted. Eshett was captured by human traffickers, all she wants to do is to return home. There's also Talupeke - a mad young warrior who's prone to bursts of berserk fury. She's skilled with knives. Their dynamics is great and touching at times.
The worldbuilding is quite rich. The story happens in the non-European setting reminiscent a bit of Asya. We learn about the world through scattered bits. There's a bit of info-dumping but not too much. Enough to learn more about the lore without killing the momentum.
Pacing is uneven. At times I felt glued to the pages but at times I was tired and slightly bored with the story and some repetitiveness. Especially the middle chunk of the story felt too slow for me. I had to push through parts of the book and it decreased my enjoyment of the story as a whole.
We can argue that the book's uneven pace forces the reader to readjust our attention on every page and isn't that bad. Perhaps. But my preference is different. I like strong and consistent pacing.
Overall, it's a good book. It's not perfect. It won't become my favorite book of the month but it's undeniably well structured and memorable. I'm definitely interested in reading the sequel once it's published .
The title may suggest that we'll deal with true masters of the art of assassination. Unstoppable and uncanny killers who defy the laws of physics in order to get the job done. This is not the case. The title is ironic and you'll understand why when you'll read the book.
The story follows two brothers - Kandri and Mektu - who serve in the Army of Revelation ruled by a prophet-madwoman whose favorite management tools are terror and force. When one of the brothers commits, "by accident", an unspeakable crime, the brothers must run as fast as they can from the rage of the prophet. They're chased by elite forces and bloodthirsty monsters through barren fields of devastation, towards the great desert called “The Land That Eats Men.”
Oh, one more thing. Cataclysm approaches. Armageddon is an option.
I'm not surprised that readers enjoy this book as it has plenty to offer. I'll start where everyone starts.
Prose. It's fantastic and literary. Redick's writing is very immersive. His vocabulary is rich and he's not afraid to use it in creative ways to convey all sorts of feelings that characters experience. Descriptions are simply stunning; it's easy to see harsh landscapes or terrifying creatures pictured by the author. The story is told mostly in third-person present tense and it's not something you see often in fantasy. As a result, the reader gets the sensation of being right there, following the characters in their adventure. As it's done well it's easy to care deeply and fear for the character's lives as the story unveils. Flashbacks and elements similar to the stream of consciousness are used to good results as well.
Characters are real. All of them. Kandri Hinjuman was never meant to be a soldier. His brother Mektu was never meant for this world. Kandri is good at blending in, but Mektu is impulsive, erratic and certain that a demon is stalking him.
The book focuses strongly on brothers relationship - not an easy one given their past. Kandri and Mektu are actually half-brothers, and they share a complex bond of rivalry and love. Their brotherly love is tainted by mistrust, contempt and old wounds linked to their mutual fascination with a woman who suddenly disappeared. It was fascinating to observe them teeter on the edge of disaster in a harsh world constricted by religious fears, with imminent menace always snapping at their heels. They struggle to survive and in order to do so, they cling to memories of love.
Secondary characters were colorful and intriguing as well. Brothers flee with three outcasts (some by choice, others by necessity). Uncle Chindilan, the Master Smith, is on the run because in time of need he decided to help the brothers. Now he's wanted. Eshett was captured by human traffickers, all she wants to do is to return home. There's also Talupeke - a mad young warrior who's prone to bursts of berserk fury. She's skilled with knives. Their dynamics is great and touching at times.
The worldbuilding is quite rich. The story happens in the non-European setting reminiscent a bit of Asya. We learn about the world through scattered bits. There's a bit of info-dumping but not too much. Enough to learn more about the lore without killing the momentum.
Pacing is uneven. At times I felt glued to the pages but at times I was tired and slightly bored with the story and some repetitiveness. Especially the middle chunk of the story felt too slow for me. I had to push through parts of the book and it decreased my enjoyment of the story as a whole.
We can argue that the book's uneven pace forces the reader to readjust our attention on every page and isn't that bad. Perhaps. But my preference is different. I like strong and consistent pacing.
Overall, it's a good book. It's not perfect. It won't become my favorite book of the month but it's undeniably well structured and memorable. I'm definitely interested in reading the sequel once it's published .
x_tora's review against another edition
Taking a little too long to get going... I may try again later.
ashleykitkat's review against another edition
3.0
it was a fun adventure story with surprises. I thought just OK though, I didn't love it but also didn't hate it. I didn't connect with the characters enough to care as deeply as I wanted to. I may read the sequel still though.
pygreg's review against another edition
5.0
fantastic start to a series I think I'll enjoy. compelling worldbuilding, solid storytelling, great dialogue
icarusabides's review against another edition
5.0
460 pages, six chapters (a little weird but it works),
two erm 'Master' Assassins, four days to
finish, one fantastic read. Robert V.S. Redick
has done something special here with Master
Assassins and I couldn't stop myself from devouring it over a weekend.
It's intelligent, deep, and chocked full of immersive prose that kept me engrossed throughout. The world building is great and at no point did I feel utterly and completely lost in this world as can be the case with some fantasy. I think it was the characters that kept me coming back though, along with the aforementioned brilliant writing. Kadri and Mektu make for a wonderful pair, or a disastrous one I suppose you could say, and it's the relationship between these two brothers that felt so real to me with their bickering, connection, distance.
The book reminds me of Senlin Ascends in many ways with how it gave me something I didn't know I wanted. I can't wait to dive into the sequels, to explore the world more and find out more about the mysteries it presents but I also just want to dive back into this book and to be engrossed by it once more.
two erm 'Master' Assassins, four days to
finish, one fantastic read. Robert V.S. Redick
has done something special here with Master
Assassins and I couldn't stop myself from devouring it over a weekend.
It's intelligent, deep, and chocked full of immersive prose that kept me engrossed throughout. The world building is great and at no point did I feel utterly and completely lost in this world as can be the case with some fantasy. I think it was the characters that kept me coming back though, along with the aforementioned brilliant writing. Kadri and Mektu make for a wonderful pair, or a disastrous one I suppose you could say, and it's the relationship between these two brothers that felt so real to me with their bickering, connection, distance.
The book reminds me of Senlin Ascends in many ways with how it gave me something I didn't know I wanted. I can't wait to dive into the sequels, to explore the world more and find out more about the mysteries it presents but I also just want to dive back into this book and to be engrossed by it once more.
saerryc's review against another edition
4.0
This is much more thoughtful and introspective than the title and cover art initially suggest (the title, it turns out, is meant ironically), it has above-average prose, it weaves the chronology around in a way that makes the whole thing feel delicately crafted, and it has one of the more memorable two-brothers relationships I’ve seen in fantasy (I really love how back-and-forth they go between loving and hating each other).