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4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
Another excellent book in the Iron Druid series. Multiple viewpoints enrich the world of the Iron Druid. Another cover to cover, action packed, adventure despite it being the penultimate in the series. Also, the hounds continue to be a great delight!
Hmm
So for some reason I cannot quite discern, this book was shrouded in a bit of sadness. However, it was yet another wonderful addition to the series, with great pondering and reflection mixed in with humor and action.
So for some reason I cannot quite discern, this book was shrouded in a bit of sadness. However, it was yet another wonderful addition to the series, with great pondering and reflection mixed in with humor and action.
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I just want to amend a personal note, though I’m aware anyone else can read this. At the time of marking finished, I haven’t read at least two of Granyawale’s chapters. I don’t care about her vendetta against her stepfather, at least not in the middle of a vampire war. The swapping between protagonists reached critical mass, and that was my breaking point.
Some things were resolved, others were made worse, but I'm still loving the format for the book that it's written in journal form by the druids. I think this is my favorite so far, but couldn't really say why.
I enjoyed this one more than the previous novel. There was a character that was IMO done a little dirty but it certainly raises the stakes (pun only slightly intended). The face-to-face reveal of a known but never-glimpsed adversary was also a little lackluster. It feels very much like Hearne is clearing the ground for some final confrontations.
i'd thought i'd never say this of my favourite druid series...but i can't wait for this book to finish and put me out of my misery :(
three equal points of view aren't necessary...it's two too many.
somewhere along the line, the series has lost its charm...hopefully the mojo returns next book
three equal points of view aren't necessary...it's two too many.
somewhere along the line, the series has lost its charm...hopefully the mojo returns next book
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A Prelude to War: I started reading the novel and then had to go back and read the novella really quick. It's annoyingly not really its own thing, but more of a necessary snippet of the story. It was fine, plot heavy and interesting enough. I listened to the audio-book, though, and the voice that the narrator was doing for Oberon and Orlaith was one of the most annoying, fingernails-on-a-chalkboard sounds I have ever heard in my life. Seriously awful.
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I think I'd give the novel 3.5 stars. I've got to say, I had a really, really hard time pinning this one down. It was kind of all over the place, and there were so many individual pieces of it that I really did enjoy, but I'm not sure how I feel about it as a whole.
I think I noticed the missed opportunities here more than I have in the previous books. I thought that this was finally going to be our chance to have tons of time with Leif, who is definitely my favorite character, but instead he basically just got a glorified cameo. I did like the brief moments that we did have with him, and I'm relieved he made it out alive, since I was fairly certain he was going to end up dead by the end of the novel.
Other missed opportunities: why set up the romance between Werner Drasche and Theophilus if we were never going to see a hint of genuine emotion or humanity (so to speak) with either of these characters? They make for very one-dimensional villains. Also, why have Owen be the POV character for Hal's death? I felt like that undercut the moment hugely. Atticus is the character with the emotional connection to him. I wanted more on his feelings of loss.
There was a lot to like, here - I actually really loved Granuaile's sections of the book, which surprised me greatly. She is coming into her own, and I like seeing how her philosophy of Druidry is evolving separately from Atticus'. I particularly like her burgeoning relationship with the Polish coven. I also liked Atticus being a bad-ass. As always, the action sequences are the strongest parts of the book for sure.
Oberon and Orlaith are usually sort of take-it-or-leave-it for me, but I'll admit I was charmed by their moment at the end, when they could finally talk to each other, and the idea of little wolfhound puppies is just too cute.
I'll read a few of the short stories, and then on to the final book in the series. I've had a lot of fun with these books, but I think I'm definitely ready to put them behind me.
---
I think I'd give the novel 3.5 stars. I've got to say, I had a really, really hard time pinning this one down. It was kind of all over the place, and there were so many individual pieces of it that I really did enjoy, but I'm not sure how I feel about it as a whole.
I think I noticed the missed opportunities here more than I have in the previous books. I thought that this was finally going to be our chance to have tons of time with Leif, who is definitely my favorite character, but instead he basically just got a glorified cameo. I did like the brief moments that we did have with him, and I'm relieved he made it out alive, since I was fairly certain he was going to end up dead by the end of the novel.
Other missed opportunities: why set up the romance between Werner Drasche and Theophilus if we were never going to see a hint of genuine emotion or humanity (so to speak) with either of these characters? They make for very one-dimensional villains. Also, why have Owen be the POV character for Hal's death? I felt like that undercut the moment hugely. Atticus is the character with the emotional connection to him. I wanted more on his feelings of loss.
There was a lot to like, here - I actually really loved Granuaile's sections of the book, which surprised me greatly. She is coming into her own, and I like seeing how her philosophy of Druidry is evolving separately from Atticus'. I particularly like her burgeoning relationship with the Polish coven. I also liked Atticus being a bad-ass. As always, the action sequences are the strongest parts of the book for sure.
Oberon and Orlaith are usually sort of take-it-or-leave-it for me, but I'll admit I was charmed by their moment at the end, when they could finally talk to each other, and the idea of little wolfhound puppies is just too cute.
I'll read a few of the short stories, and then on to the final book in the series. I've had a lot of fun with these books, but I think I'm definitely ready to put them behind me.