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desolation73's review against another edition
4.0
I thought this book was ridiculously good in the genre of fantasy it's remarkable how many writers come along and manage to have fresh and innovative ideas. This book is even more remarkably because it is self published.
Like Daniel T Jackson's Illborn from last year books like this proof that you have nothing to fear from dipping your feet in self published waters.
I think this book is relentless in its action and will keep.most readers turning the page over quickly.
I look forward to ordering the shades of madness.
Like Daniel T Jackson's Illborn from last year books like this proof that you have nothing to fear from dipping your feet in self published waters.
I think this book is relentless in its action and will keep.most readers turning the page over quickly.
I look forward to ordering the shades of madness.
graff_fuller's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.0
It took me a bit to get "into" this story, but then again...the BIG stories...have a LOT to setup. This is a BIG story.
Let me say this, I really enjoyed my time reading this book. I'm still not sure about what exactly is going on...and the last scene has me reeling, but I'm locked in. I was going to pick up another book, by another author, but NOW I just want to know what happens...next.
I have my favourite characters, but I'm not totally sure I know who I want to rule. There are so many GOOD storylines.
This is one area where the author's love of Joe Abercrombie has flourished. His characters are Top Notch. They breath and flow through their arcs. They have triumphs, and they fall dramatically into dispair. All of them. This is not a neat and clean world. There are so many threads that interweave through the nations and their alliances, betrayals and subterfuge.
Adrian grew on me. I'm not totally sure...he a good guy, but I want him to be.
Lynn and Vedyr are wonderful to watch. Again, I want to "root" for them, but at times...I think they are not doing what is right for their cause, BUT...then again...because of their struggles, they've won me over at times. Decisions, decision, decisions.
Nasha and Shai. So many questions about The Ronar, The Slopers and their alliances/deceptions...that seem ever in flow.
This fantastical world is real (in my head). I am invested...and want to dive back into THIS world (so as not lose the thread that I understand). This will be a series that I will DEFINITELY reread. I am going to use a word that is overused, in general, but applies...here. This story/book has gravitas.
Let me say this, I really enjoyed my time reading this book. I'm still not sure about what exactly is going on...and the last scene has me reeling, but I'm locked in. I was going to pick up another book, by another author, but NOW I just want to know what happens...next.
I have my favourite characters, but I'm not totally sure I know who I want to rule. There are so many GOOD storylines.
This is one area where the author's love of Joe Abercrombie has flourished. His characters are Top Notch. They breath and flow through their arcs. They have triumphs, and they fall dramatically into dispair. All of them. This is not a neat and clean world. There are so many threads that interweave through the nations and their alliances, betrayals and subterfuge.
Adrian grew on me. I'm not totally sure...he a good guy, but I want him to be.
Lynn and Vedyr are wonderful to watch. Again, I want to "root" for them, but at times...I think they are not doing what is right for their cause, BUT...then again...because of their struggles, they've won me over at times. Decisions, decision, decisions.
Nasha and Shai. So many questions about The Ronar, The Slopers and their alliances/deceptions...that seem ever in flow.
This fantastical world is real (in my head). I am invested...and want to dive back into THIS world (so as not lose the thread that I understand). This will be a series that I will DEFINITELY reread. I am going to use a word that is overused, in general, but applies...here. This story/book has gravitas.
mkiser's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
booksandsushicat's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
hopeful
informative
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.0
literarilyminded's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This was...fine. It wasn't bad in any way but I just wasn't invested in it the way I thought I would be. Lynn was the only character I really felt for and am curious about for the rest of the story. Intellectually, I can see the appeal of Adrian and Nasha as characters. Their backgrounds and the things they experience throughout the book are all things that should have compelled me toward them but they just fell flat for me. I plan on reading the sequel (because I already own it) so I'm hoping I feel differently as the story progresses.
themanfromdelmonte's review against another edition
2.0
Over long. It's not a good sign when the first 11 pages are taken up with dramatis personæ. That hints that there's going to be a lot of flipping back to the front to find out who's who. I can't be bothered with that, not unless there's a solid milieu underneath it (see the Rook & Rose trilogy for what I mean) and there's not much sense of that here. There's a lot of adventuring and broken heroes and killing, but not much sense of an actual world with living breathing people in it.
The Rook & Rose books are a useful comparison because this is also a tripartite plot with three characters to follow. However, unlike Grey, Vargo and Ren, the protagonists trotting around Nadežra, Adrian, Lynn and Nesha don't interact, so you can't use connected bits of plot to start to bind everything together. They carry their own individualistic baggage with them so no sooner have you started to work out who Addo is and why she's important than we're back with Adrian or Lynn.
There's the hint of a plot wherein people steal life from around them and this prolongs their lives at the expense of other living things.
Then there's the Rage, which seems to be some kind of zombie contagion. Cue hordes of crazies with insatiable bloodlust who don't feel pain. *sigh*
One curious plot event during Adrian's sea voyage has the water boy confusing drinking water with sea water and it implies that Adrian has drunk sea water. I'm sorry but there's no way anyone would mistake the two, let alone actually drink sea water. Very odd.
By the end of the book, Adrian has been forced into a marriage his father planned all along and it's cost a good few lives to get him there. Lynn is back with the elite fighting force she abandoned because ... reasons. Nesha seems to have some version of the Rage under control but by now there were lots of bodies and I'd ceased to care who'd killed who (there were so many)
Ultimately rather tedious.
The Rook & Rose books are a useful comparison because this is also a tripartite plot with three characters to follow. However, unlike Grey, Vargo and Ren, the protagonists trotting around Nadežra, Adrian, Lynn and Nesha don't interact, so you can't use connected bits of plot to start to bind everything together. They carry their own individualistic baggage with them so no sooner have you started to work out who Addo is and why she's important than we're back with Adrian or Lynn.
There's the hint of a plot wherein people steal life from around them and this prolongs their lives at the expense of other living things.
Then there's the Rage, which seems to be some kind of zombie contagion. Cue hordes of crazies with insatiable bloodlust who don't feel pain. *sigh*
One curious plot event during Adrian's sea voyage has the water boy confusing drinking water with sea water and it implies that Adrian has drunk sea water. I'm sorry but there's no way anyone would mistake the two, let alone actually drink sea water. Very odd.
By the end of the book, Adrian has been forced into a marriage his father planned all along and it's cost a good few lives to get him there. Lynn is back with the elite fighting force she abandoned because ... reasons. Nesha seems to have some version of the Rage under control but by now there were lots of bodies and I'd ceased to care who'd killed who (there were so many)
Ultimately rather tedious.
gbrooking's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
cassidychivers's review against another edition
5.0
I have a whole reading vlog where I read and review this book in depth.
Check it out here https://youtu.be/1XGAQWVSQKw
But I was blown away by the technical skill of Thiago. His prose is beautiful.
I can't wait till I have my hands on book two.
If you are looking for interesting magic system, unique characters, questionable morals at times and just an overall well written story/world. Please please check out this book.
It's defs a new fav of mine
Check it out here https://youtu.be/1XGAQWVSQKw
But I was blown away by the technical skill of Thiago. His prose is beautiful.
I can't wait till I have my hands on book two.
If you are looking for interesting magic system, unique characters, questionable morals at times and just an overall well written story/world. Please please check out this book.
It's defs a new fav of mine