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ceridwyn's review against another edition
3.0
This has great characters and really interesting politics. Sasha feel quite unique in her role and personality and I got very involved with her.
I did have a great deal of difficulty, however, in following the religious and local politics in the book. Shepherd does a lot of showing rather than telling and I had to work extremely hard to figure out who was who and what the different religions vs different regions were - I nearly gave up several times but kept being dragged back in by the characters. It's clear that the author has the world utterly sorted in his head, but I had problems with the linguistic elements, as they didn't seem to support the political differences.
I will definitely be mooching the second book when it comes out however.
I did have a great deal of difficulty, however, in following the religious and local politics in the book. Shepherd does a lot of showing rather than telling and I had to work extremely hard to figure out who was who and what the different religions vs different regions were - I nearly gave up several times but kept being dragged back in by the characters. It's clear that the author has the world utterly sorted in his head, but I had problems with the linguistic elements, as they didn't seem to support the political differences.
I will definitely be mooching the second book when it comes out however.
thinwhiterogue's review against another edition
2.0
I'm giving up on this one. The first chapters suffer from an excess of exposition. The author tries to front-load the story with background and a stream of proper names, and descriptions of politics and religions that is difficult to follow. I decided that 3-4 chapters of waiting for something to actually happen was enough, and moved on to something else.
dei2dei's review against another edition
4.0
While there were a fair number of info-dumps, the complexity of the book - and the fact that they didn't detract overmuch - stands to do them well. Sashandra (Sasha) Lenayin is the protagonist and former princess of Lenay, who left her family to spend time with a brother she loved - a brother who died and she "took over" from, as far as swordwork goes. The family relations are complex and pit Sasha against her kin, even as she has to pit her ideals and her dreams against those of friends - and enemies - and that same set of kin again. She must make hard decisions and does them well, and most importantly, Sasha is a woman who has flaws and foibles, making her not an idealised goddess or avatar of woman - but a woman who just happens to be really damn good -- and have her own hangups.
elfflame's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
vailynst's review against another edition
3.0
Notes:
Kate Reading did a fantastic job! Great narration.
I think there's a misunderstanding about what makes a story an epic. It's not about having a lot of characters in play, backstabbing being part of the norm or several portions at war with one another. It's not about having a foretold destiny and lines drawn to state where you stand.
It doesn't matter how many pieces are on the board if they are not drawn together, shaken and redrawn into intriguing patterns. That's the underlying part of what makes a story epic. Everyone has a preference on whether or not a plot is character or event driven. I actually like it best when it's a balanced mix.
This book was not an epic. It is an interesting YA and fun fantasy adventure story.
Kate Reading did a fantastic job! Great narration.
I think there's a misunderstanding about what makes a story an epic. It's not about having a lot of characters in play, backstabbing being part of the norm or several portions at war with one another. It's not about having a foretold destiny and lines drawn to state where you stand.
It doesn't matter how many pieces are on the board if they are not drawn together, shaken and redrawn into intriguing patterns. That's the underlying part of what makes a story epic. Everyone has a preference on whether or not a plot is character or event driven. I actually like it best when it's a balanced mix.
This book was not an epic. It is an interesting YA and fun fantasy adventure story.
squirrelfish's review against another edition
4.0
Pretty good, as another reviewer said this is basically an older Arya from Game of Thrones. A new fantasy world, interestingly and well built, no overt magic so far in the series. A few of the characters seem to have certain dynamics borrowed from other series, but not in such a way as to bother me. I finished it and immediately bought the sequel, which is overall a good sign.
Simply written, big fat fantasy style, overall an easy read.
Simply written, big fat fantasy style, overall an easy read.
frogggirl2's review against another edition
I just cannot surmount the pure info dumping. This is the worst sort of fantasy; the sort where you spend the first chapter throwing out made up names and countries and religions and politics without any substantial plot or characterization. DNF
kikiandarrowsfishshelf's review
3.0
I think I would have enjoyed the book better if Sasha was not the only woman with skill and intelligence for most of the book. She is the sterotypical only woman who can do anything right. Still good world building. Strangely, the best character is Sofy.
booknchaoswithmarz's review
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
vailynst's review
3.0
Notes:
Kate Reading did a fantastic job! Great narration.
I think there's a misunderstanding about what makes a story an epic. It's not about having a lot of characters in play, backstabbing being part of the norm or several portions at war with one another. It's not about having a foretold destiny and lines drawn to state where you stand.
It doesn't matter how many pieces are on the board if they are not drawn together, shaken and redrawn into intriguing patterns. That's the underlying part of what makes a story epic. Everyone has a preference on whether or not a plot is character or event driven. I actually like it best when it's a balanced mix.
This book was not an epic. It is an interesting YA and fun fantasy adventure story.
Kate Reading did a fantastic job! Great narration.
I think there's a misunderstanding about what makes a story an epic. It's not about having a lot of characters in play, backstabbing being part of the norm or several portions at war with one another. It's not about having a foretold destiny and lines drawn to state where you stand.
It doesn't matter how many pieces are on the board if they are not drawn together, shaken and redrawn into intriguing patterns. That's the underlying part of what makes a story epic. Everyone has a preference on whether or not a plot is character or event driven. I actually like it best when it's a balanced mix.
This book was not an epic. It is an interesting YA and fun fantasy adventure story.