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kylieqrada's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
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
I have been putting off reading this because I didn't want to have nothing from A.K. Larkwood to read. I'm so glad I finally read it, it is so so so good. I'm about to go back and read the first one, because I feel like the vibes were different? Like almost companion novels rather than a series? Will report back.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Blood, and Death
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Violence, and Confinement
Minor: Self harm, Torture, and Animal death
fin_pilot's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Death, Emotional abuse, Violence, Blood, and Confinement
Minor: Genocide
strwpup's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, and Blood
Moderate: Pregnancy
zoiejanelle's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
the lesbian longing, the emotional separations and reunions, the character growth, the incredible new cast… A.K. Larkwood you have outdone yourself.
i did not think i could love Csorwe or Shuthmili more than i did. and yet somehow i do now.
looking back, The Unspoken Name feels a lot more like a prologue and this is the main action of the story. but i do not think one can exist with the other. Csorwe and Tsereg’s characters parallel each other so well, and we could not appreciate Shuthmili’s love and sacrifice without the first book’s build up (nor Tal’s amazing development from pathetic, angry boy to brave, loving man).
though, like the first book, i felt a little lost in the sauce at times and could
not always figure out how we got to certain points in the plot, it honestly did not matter. all that mattered was each character’s arc and its beautiful, magnificent resolution. lesbian love DOES save the world every time. and elf twinks deserve love just like the rest of us. and delusional snake ladies can be heroes too.
there were so many quotes in this book that made me tear up. when i get my hands on my own copy, i will absolutely be highlighting the shit out of it. things that these characters said and how they loved on another will stay with me forever. i am so glad i decided to read this series and i will shout its praises from the rooftops for all eternity.
i did not think i could love Csorwe or Shuthmili more than i did. and yet somehow i do now.
looking back, The Unspoken Name feels a lot more like a prologue and this is the main action of the story. but i do not think one can exist with the other. Csorwe and Tsereg’s characters parallel each other so well, and we could not appreciate Shuthmili’s love and sacrifice without the first book’s build up (nor Tal’s amazing development from pathetic, angry boy to brave, loving man).
though, like the first book, i felt a little lost in the sauce at times and could
not always figure out how we got to certain points in the plot, it honestly did not matter. all that mattered was each character’s arc and its beautiful, magnificent resolution. lesbian love DOES save the world every time. and elf twinks deserve love just like the rest of us. and delusional snake ladies can be heroes too.
there were so many quotes in this book that made me tear up. when i get my hands on my own copy, i will absolutely be highlighting the shit out of it. things that these characters said and how they loved on another will stay with me forever. i am so glad i decided to read this series and i will shout its praises from the rooftops for all eternity.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Grief, Blood, Death, Violence, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Murder, Alcohol, Child death, and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual content and War
anxiousnachos's review
adventurous
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
I really wasn’t sure what to expect from the sequel to one of my favourite fantasy books ever, but this totally took me by surprise in the best way! It brought my favourite elements of the first book, added some excellent new characters and topped it off with some godly destruction.
This book retains the feel of a video game I loved so much from the first one: the worldbuilding is so expansive, and there is always such an ease too to, it never feels too complex. The dialogue and prose are filled with so much banter and snark, it brings me so much joy, I absolutely love this style of writing in SFF, there is just such a relaxed *fun* about it all.
But the star of this book, as the first book, is of course the characters. They are incredible. They remain some of my favourite characters in fantasy, with the new addition of Tsereg who was absolutely wonderful! They’re relationship with Tal is an absolute highlight of my entire reading year so far.
So yes, fabulously fun sequel!!
Content warnings: mentions of torture, death, snakes, murder, blood and gore, violence, brief mention of self-cannibalism
This book retains the feel of a video game I loved so much from the first one: the worldbuilding is so expansive, and there is always such an ease too to, it never feels too complex. The dialogue and prose are filled with so much banter and snark, it brings me so much joy, I absolutely love this style of writing in SFF, there is just such a relaxed *fun* about it all.
But the star of this book, as the first book, is of course the characters. They are incredible. They remain some of my favourite characters in fantasy, with the new addition of Tsereg who was absolutely wonderful! They’re relationship with Tal is an absolute highlight of my entire reading year so far.
So yes, fabulously fun sequel!!
Content warnings: mentions of torture, death, snakes, murder, blood and gore, violence, brief mention of self-cannibalism
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Gore, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Torture, Confinement, and Cannibalism
miak2's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
mysterious
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
"I have a sacred duty," [they] added... What people always meant by it was: I plan to commit an astonishing fuckup, and it will hurt my feelings if you try to stop me. p.82
The Thousand Eyes really was The Unspoken Name on steroids, and I say that in the best way possible. Once again, every time I thought I knew where the book was going, Larkwood veered us into a different direction. Only this time with more magic and higher stakes and, casually, more living gods and goddesses!
I thought the character development in this one was stellar. The multiple, changing perspectives really allowed me to get to know these characters so well, and I loved seeing how their arcs wrapped up.
Larkwood is so incredibly imaginative with her worldbuilding and descriptions. I surprisingly enjoyed how much this book dealt with their world's divinities, even if it could get a little confusing at times. It certainly made for some wild, unpredictable plot twists! I wish we could've spent some more time with the characters before everything dissolved into chaos, but I absolutely enjoyed every second I did get with them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Death
Moderate: Violence
misterwisp's review
adventurous
dark
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
It's not what I wanted or expected although things to appreciate do remain. It starts great, then something abrupt and unexpected happens and I didn't like it, once I kind of accepted the previous thing it got better again, then it was a mix of impressions until the sort of okay ending.
The love and companionship themes come out a lot. There is a lot on the idea of the terrible things we justify for love, what loneliness does to someone, how it's possible to be totally wrapped up in someone who becomes indifferent as soon as you leave, etc.
Without revealing specifics, there is a decision a character takes near the beginning that makes a huge change to the status quo of the story to that point and we don't even get to see their thought process or any struggle to justify it to themselves.
The dialogue also felt very quippy in a way that seemed out of place for me. It was like how characters talk to each other in Marvel movies.
I wanted to like it more than I did. The setting is awesome and a lot of the ideas are awesome. I appreciate the themes and what it seemed like author was going for. There is a lot of like about the characters. Things just played out in a strange way and the ending felt a little rushed and too clean. That was satisfying in certain ways but didn't fit for me overall. I would still read more by the author but it seems best this series ends with this book.
The love and companionship themes come out a lot. There is a lot on the idea of the terrible things we justify for love, what loneliness does to someone, how it's possible to be totally wrapped up in someone who becomes indifferent as soon as you leave, etc.
Without revealing specifics, there is a decision a character takes near the beginning that makes a huge change to the status quo of the story to that point and we don't even get to see their thought process or any struggle to justify it to themselves.
The dialogue also felt very quippy in a way that seemed out of place for me. It was like how characters talk to each other in Marvel movies.
I wanted to like it more than I did. The setting is awesome and a lot of the ideas are awesome. I appreciate the themes and what it seemed like author was going for. There is a lot of like about the characters. Things just played out in a strange way and the ending felt a little rushed and too clean. That was satisfying in certain ways but didn't fit for me overall. I would still read more by the author but it seems best this series ends with this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Body horror and Emotional abuse
Minor: Blood, War, Self harm, Alcohol, and Animal death
bluejayreads's review against another edition
I misunderstood book one (The Unspoken Name) and thought this series was, fundamentally, Csorwe's story. It isn't, and Csorwe herself was barely in this book. Tal and Shuthmili are good characters, but Csorwe was the one I really loved, and without her driving the story, I didn't quite care enough to finish reading.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Blood
Moderate: Confinement, Violence, Gore, and Self harm
Minor: Child death, Torture, and Body horror
Mind controlaardwyrm's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I thought the Unspoken Name was so very much itself (and so very much my jam) as to have reached the apex of itself, but this one is somehow better. Something about the transition from very young characters written with a fond wisdom transitioning to extremely tired middle aged characters? The perfect touch to bring home this world that is every memory of middle school dungeons and dragons and luridly painted fantasy novels from *the grown up section of the library* rendered with flawless craft and perfect character work. The pacing is absolutely unique, and I swear this book has like eight different climaxes. It's plot progression is an EKG. I love everyone in this bar.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Suicide, Abandonment, Alcohol, War, and Toxic relationship