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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
maryellen's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Confinement, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcohol
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
aardwyrm'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
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