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heggs's review
5.0
Many times the third in a series falls flat. Nothing reaches the cliffhanger that the second book has set. The Adversary had a tough position of not only being the third in a series, but also part of a larger (slightly) interconnected series with The Sundering. Erin did a great job of bringing new readers up to speed quickly and the prologue gives you a great hook that draws you in immediately. I have not read any of the other Sundering books, but never did I fell like I was missing something. There are some good twists that will take you by surprise even if you are a long time reader. Of course any book dealing with devils and souls will have some nice twists, but there are times where you will not be sure who is playing who. Great characterization all around including strong females that are not defined by their sexuality. I highly recommend it to any fantasy fan, not just a DnD fan.
ladyfives's review against another edition
4.0
"I should have stayed with her."
"She gets out, and you're going to be looking back from the afterlife a great fool."
"And if she doesn't?"
"Then I think she'll forgive you for waiting a few days," Dahl said, "if you're going to be a great fool and join her. Come on."
khshabazz's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
crtsjffrsn's review against another edition
4.0
The Sundering has turned out to be an excellent way to jump back into the world of Forgotten Realms. The series is serving as a quick update of what's going on with some of the major characters of the world and is setting up a bigger event that I'm guessing will spawn some new and unique adventures like nothing in the setting's history.
The Adversary is the third installment and primarily follows the Tiefling Farideh and the twists and turns she faces as she continues to navigate the pact she made with a devil, Lorcan, and begins to learn more about her family history. The book is well-written and is up there with [b:The Companions|16142151|The Companions (The Sundering, #1; Legend of Drizzt, #24)|R.A. Salvatore|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1372353196s/16142151.jpg|21974017], which opened the series. One thing that did make me struggle a bit is that the beginning seems to move very quickly compared to the rest of the book, so it felt a bit jarring, but once things smooth out a bit, it really flows nicely. I'm definitely looking forward to the 4th installment.
(eGalley provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)
The Adversary is the third installment and primarily follows the Tiefling Farideh and the twists and turns she faces as she continues to navigate the pact she made with a devil, Lorcan, and begins to learn more about her family history. The book is well-written and is up there with [b:The Companions|16142151|The Companions (The Sundering, #1; Legend of Drizzt, #24)|R.A. Salvatore|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1372353196s/16142151.jpg|21974017], which opened the series. One thing that did make me struggle a bit is that the beginning seems to move very quickly compared to the rest of the book, so it felt a bit jarring, but once things smooth out a bit, it really flows nicely. I'm definitely looking forward to the 4th installment.
(eGalley provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)
donkbrown's review
1.0
I detested this book. I forced myself to read it just in case I missed some detail about the Sundering relative to the larger Forgotten Realms picture.
The characters in this book are so self-absorbed, moody and depressed that I almost got depressed reading The Adversary. It is pretty bad. I am no sure this book even has a hero - just a bunch of melancholy characters that blunder through their vapid efforts to an anticlimactic end. I understand that characters in novels should have flaws, but these characters are so screwed up they are boring and frustrating to read about.
If this book was not pat of the The Sundering D&D event, this book would be a must miss.
The characters in this book are so self-absorbed, moody and depressed that I almost got depressed reading The Adversary. It is pretty bad. I am no sure this book even has a hero - just a bunch of melancholy characters that blunder through their vapid efforts to an anticlimactic end. I understand that characters in novels should have flaws, but these characters are so screwed up they are boring and frustrating to read about.
If this book was not pat of the The Sundering D&D event, this book would be a must miss.
palwilhelmsen's review
The Adversary is the third book into two series - both the Sundering and the Brimstone Angels - but does not rely too heavily on both. If you accept that their infernal heritage comes with some baggage and they awkwardly tries to grow up, the rest is fairly straightforward.
I liked the two main characters - its easy to wish them well despite their constant whining - but the rest of the cast is somewhat lackluster. Another problem is that the book mostly deal with one location and there are no real twists in the story - it only gradually gets worse - so I found myself loosing interest.
In the end I did like the book, mostly for the thiefling twins and the beloved Forgotten Realms setting, but this may not be your cup of tea.
I liked the two main characters - its easy to wish them well despite their constant whining - but the rest of the cast is somewhat lackluster. Another problem is that the book mostly deal with one location and there are no real twists in the story - it only gradually gets worse - so I found myself loosing interest.
In the end I did like the book, mostly for the thiefling twins and the beloved Forgotten Realms setting, but this may not be your cup of tea.
jeremiah_mccoy's review
2.0
So, here is book three... I still like the main character and her friends. I do. That is the best plus for this book and the series. That said, I hated most of this book and it was a slog to get through. The plot starts with Farideh yet again defending her abuser, but beyond that, there is another fatal flaw. The plot depends, hinges on, her being just dumb. She makes a deal with a devil early in the book. She repeatedly demonstrates a lack of understanding that Devils will trick you. She also doesn't trust the people around her to be competent, not even her sister who has repeatedly saved Farideh's life. The whole set up is based on her basic failing of decision making, but beyond that, she keeps making false assumptions and bad choices through the whole book.
It is not all bad. Dahl is more interesting in this one than the last. The bits with the Harpers are nice. The story of whats going on with the Chosen is also neat. Havilar's struggle to regain her footing is believable and interesting. There are things to like here.
That said, the fact the plot hinges on Farideh's bad decision making and the constant trope of finding one's abuser attractive just wore me down. I am not certain I could read any more of this series.
It is not all bad. Dahl is more interesting in this one than the last. The bits with the Harpers are nice. The story of whats going on with the Chosen is also neat. Havilar's struggle to regain her footing is believable and interesting. There are things to like here.
That said, the fact the plot hinges on Farideh's bad decision making and the constant trope of finding one's abuser attractive just wore me down. I am not certain I could read any more of this series.
telegramsam's review against another edition
3.0
This is edging towards 4 stars, as i still love the characters and the writing, but something about this book wasn't as good for me as the previous two. I think Farideh took a hit to her wisdom score to allow the events to occur that trapped her into the plot of this book, which didn't seem right to me. I thought she'd learned to question the things that were told to her, but I didn't see that happening in this book.
Still, I mean to continue the series.
Still, I mean to continue the series.
stargrace's review against another edition
4.0
You can find this review and others on The Nomadic Reader.
Book three in The Sundering series was a welcome change from the incredible doom and gloom that I felt in the first two books. You’re introduced to two tiefling, Farideh and her sister Havilar. While the book is third in the series you’re more than welcome to read it out of order, the books (like the previous ones) only loosely tie together (they all take place in the same ‘world’). The world is still filled with doom and gloom but there are hints of romance and characters that I didn’t absolutely disdain which always helps.
Farideh makes a pact (or two, or three) with a devil in order to keep those she cares about safe from harm. Of course making pacts with devils never turns out the way you want it to, and she soon finds herself in over her head, serving a wizard who is rounding up the Chosen of the Gods for a purpose that she can’t figure out. Her sister is bent on rescuing her, along with her old patron, a group of harpers who think she is a traitor, and a red wizard. Each person has their own reason for finding Farideh, with their own outcome of the events.
I can honestly say this third book is my favorite so far. The characters were colourful and came alive in a way that I didn’t see in the previous books. It was nice to see characters that were not all good or all evil; they made mistakes, and paid for those mistakes. I found myself ‘rooting’ for each character as they neared their goal and while the ending may have been predictable, I was satisfied with how it carried out.
This book released in December, so it’s a great time to pick it up. I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, and I thank NetGalley as well as the publishers for the opportunity.
4/5 stars
Book three in The Sundering series was a welcome change from the incredible doom and gloom that I felt in the first two books. You’re introduced to two tiefling, Farideh and her sister Havilar. While the book is third in the series you’re more than welcome to read it out of order, the books (like the previous ones) only loosely tie together (they all take place in the same ‘world’). The world is still filled with doom and gloom but there are hints of romance and characters that I didn’t absolutely disdain which always helps.
Farideh makes a pact (or two, or three) with a devil in order to keep those she cares about safe from harm. Of course making pacts with devils never turns out the way you want it to, and she soon finds herself in over her head, serving a wizard who is rounding up the Chosen of the Gods for a purpose that she can’t figure out. Her sister is bent on rescuing her, along with her old patron, a group of harpers who think she is a traitor, and a red wizard. Each person has their own reason for finding Farideh, with their own outcome of the events.
I can honestly say this third book is my favorite so far. The characters were colourful and came alive in a way that I didn’t see in the previous books. It was nice to see characters that were not all good or all evil; they made mistakes, and paid for those mistakes. I found myself ‘rooting’ for each character as they neared their goal and while the ending may have been predictable, I was satisfied with how it carried out.
This book released in December, so it’s a great time to pick it up. I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, and I thank NetGalley as well as the publishers for the opportunity.
4/5 stars