Reviews

So. Empire of Gold. Though I knew how it would end, or similar anyhow, the way we got there was NOT how I’d imagined. It was exciting, honestly. Also tense and stressful AF at times.

The horror and pity I felt for Dara will always stand out. I fully rescind my previous “if he doesn’t die saving Nahri from a blow sent by her mother I will riot.” No spoilers of course. But this man deserves the world.

You’re in for many, many surprises my fellow readers. Some it calling back from way before, stuff I’d not thought much of since. After rooting for most of them despite the fact that many of their respective goals clashed with the others’ goals, and understanding why they thought the way they thought, while also wishing they’d all learn to leave the past where it belonged, I was at least mostly satisfied with the ending.

I love the underlying “stay true to yourself” message. It’s not really in your face often, but it’s there. And it’s encouraging. And so is finding yourself, or reimagining yourself, if and as needed. Because it’s all a part of being true to yourself.

I did a lot of googling throughout this series, not knowing much of the Middle East’s legends and myths and religions. And it was fascinating.

Not entirely sure when I had this realization, probably 30% or less:

Something I realized while getting ready for work this morning; so far I’ve not cried at all over this series. I don’t think I’ve even teared up. It’s still been a wonderful story, just surprising given my waterworks over fictional books.

To the above I say, HAHAHAHAAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA.

Now it isn’t as though I sobbed for the last half or anything, but the few times I did really, really deserved it.

dayna_robchaud's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

merciful_archivist's review against another edition

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adventurous

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Loveable characters? Yes

4.25

maya1watson's review against another edition

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5.0

Great trilogy. The world building is so detailed. The characters are fully fleshed out and their relationships over the course of the series evolve in such an intriguing way

seanml's review against another edition

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adventurous medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

The Daevabad trilogy is filled with ideas and characters I enjoy. Its shortcomings come from the fact that these individual draws may be far and few inbetween. The first book in the series starts you off with many factions and ideas in the first half, while the second half becomes more focuseda nd insular. Then there's book two - the best one - where Chakraborty spends much of its length building up to a certain moment that the reader knows is approaching. Luckily, the payoff is worth it, but that means much of that entry is spent on arriving at a predetermined destination. So then you get to Book 3, where the problems of Book 2 must be resolved. Easy enough, except so many little things have been left hanging from Book 1 that now THIS entry has to spend so much of its time explaining lore, bringing back old characters, and filling in any big question marks that have been left idle. What this means is that there is a LOT going on (The big climax takes up less than 100 pages), and because everything has to work out and be answered, I found there were a few too many contrivances for the sake of the plot. 7/10.

logan41_1's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

dkathryn's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

kayteebee's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious 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

5.0

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