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markymark09's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
marmottestar's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-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? No
4.0
ferrisscottr's review against another edition
5.0
Oh Mr. Sullivan how I hate you but love your writing. I just finished Wintertide and I feel like you have just ripped out my heart. Yet I love the fact that your writing can have such a powerful effect on me, that you can write such amazing characters that make me feel so deeply.
But
Why don't you ask me how I want things to go?
I loved this book from beginning to end and actually found myself putting it down frequently because I didn't want it to end. I loved this book top to bottom, back and forth, up and down
EXCEPT
One scene.
One scene that ripped my heart out.
I can't wait for the next (and last) book of the Riyria Revelations.
I need to come up with a new word to describe a recommendation more powerful than my highest recommendation.
And I was kidding when I said I hated Michael J. Sullivan - he's pretty much the nicest author I've ever talked to...just wish he would have consulted me about that one god damned scene!
But
Why don't you ask me how I want things to go?
I loved this book from beginning to end and actually found myself putting it down frequently because I didn't want it to end. I loved this book top to bottom, back and forth, up and down
EXCEPT
One scene.
One scene that ripped my heart out.
I can't wait for the next (and last) book of the Riyria Revelations.
I need to come up with a new word to describe a recommendation more powerful than my highest recommendation.
And I was kidding when I said I hated Michael J. Sullivan - he's pretty much the nicest author I've ever talked to...just wish he would have consulted me about that one god damned scene!
ashleylm's review against another edition
3.0
I wish I could give it more, but for every thing I like about it, it's countered with something I dislike that knocks points off. Marginally better than the last book because at least our cast converged. I suspect, beyond knit-picking the plot (hey, it's the author's plot, he can do what he likes with it) I just don't find that the characters behave in a real, human way. To a large extent, despite the author's apparent facility for creating memorable characters, settings, and situations, it seems to have been written by a teenager with a limited imagination for how grown-ups would deal with and/or react to events that are beyond the author's life experience. A good author should be able to show us characters doing all sorts of things the author has never experienced, and we should buy it, whether it's trying to throw a deadly ring in a volcano, or turning down the proposal of the wealthy Englishman you've been sparring with all novel long ... but in this book, in particular, from what I know of (a) the characters, and (b) actual humans, most of the time this is not the reaction I would expect.
It's a bit like when they recast a beloved part on a show, and the new actor, no matter how otherwise talented, never quite embodies the character to satisfaction. As this series progresses, it feels more and more like the characters in the first book or two have been replaced with actors who cost less.
(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s). I feel a lot of readers automatically render any book they enjoy 5, but I grade on a curve!
It's a bit like when they recast a beloved part on a show, and the new actor, no matter how otherwise talented, never quite embodies the character to satisfaction. As this series progresses, it feels more and more like the characters in the first book or two have been replaced with actors who cost less.
(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s). I feel a lot of readers automatically render any book they enjoy 5, but I grade on a curve!
thepunktheory's review against another edition
5.0
Full review on my blog!
Wintertide has such an interesting dynamic! We get to follow both Hadrian and Royce separately which is pretty much the first time in the series. We learn some more about Royce’s past and my heart just keeps breaking over and over again for him. I just want hug him – which probably means he’d murder me, which to be honest I find quite relatable.
But it’s not just my two precious little nuggets that make this story so awesome. There are so many intriguing side characters! I know I’ve been talking about how great all the ladies are a million times, but it’s not just them. One I didn’t mention before is Myron who is just like a little puppy that I want to pet so bad. Sir Breckton is equally amazing. He’s perfect but not in an annoying way. It’s just so well written!
Even the bad guys are intriguing. They are evil and you just want to hate them. Sullivan does a good job providing even them with some depth so that you can hate them in layers! Believe me, you will hate them – especially after this ending. I had seen it coming from the very start but it still shattered my heart into a million tiny little pieces. Make sure you have some tissues at hand when you’re reading this one!
Another thing I appreciate about Sullivan is how he managed to never let his side plots travel too far from where we started and how neatly he managed to bring everything together. How brilliantly he managed to converge everything just in time for the final book!
Wintertide has such an interesting dynamic! We get to follow both Hadrian and Royce separately which is pretty much the first time in the series. We learn some more about Royce’s past and my heart just keeps breaking over and over again for him. I just want hug him – which probably means he’d murder me, which to be honest I find quite relatable.
But it’s not just my two precious little nuggets that make this story so awesome. There are so many intriguing side characters! I know I’ve been talking about how great all the ladies are a million times, but it’s not just them. One I didn’t mention before is Myron who is just like a little puppy that I want to pet so bad. Sir Breckton is equally amazing. He’s perfect but not in an annoying way. It’s just so well written!
Even the bad guys are intriguing. They are evil and you just want to hate them. Sullivan does a good job providing even them with some depth so that you can hate them in layers! Believe me, you will hate them – especially after this ending. I had seen it coming from the very start but it still shattered my heart into a million tiny little pieces. Make sure you have some tissues at hand when you’re reading this one!
Another thing I appreciate about Sullivan is how he managed to never let his side plots travel too far from where we started and how neatly he managed to bring everything together. How brilliantly he managed to converge everything just in time for the final book!
greyforest's review against another edition
5.0
Easily my favorite of the Riyria series so far. That was amazing. I reacted audibly to at least fifteen or more parts of this book, either cheering, questioning, or gasping no. The writing is the best so far of the series, every character is fully realized and developed at this point, even the new additions feel complex and well added to the story. The politics and intrigue are the best in this book, and the action in it feels fantastic as well, especially the ending sequence. But the main thing that makes me love this book is the character interaction and story itself, everything feels like it has been building up to what happened in this book, old characters returning, various threads being tied together and severed, just outstanding.
creativeflow's review
adventurous
hopeful
sad
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
5.0
erinthepirate's review against another edition
5.0
Best book of the series so far. Can't wait for the final chapter.
jonathangemmell's review against another edition
5.0
Following in the top quality of the previous novels. A great plot with awesome suspense.