Reviews - The Name of All Things

560 reviews for:

The Name of All Things

Jenn Lyons

4.08 AVERAGE

karireads's review against another edition

4.25

adventurous 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: No

cyber_spines's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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: Complicated

p8nshoe's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

This series is quite good! the world-building is intricate and this book really dives into an interesting perspective on gender and sex. Also we love all the dragons and magic happening :)

katbsc's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark funny 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

bright_night's review against another edition

4.25

adventurous dark 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

booksblabbering's review against another edition

4.0

Count Janel is driven to action after witnessing abuses of power that are rare in Jorat, along with murder, demons, a dragon, and Relos Var, Kihrin’s enemy.

As fate brings them together, or prophecies, or gods, or demons (who knows at this point?), Janel claims she already knows Kehrin and demands his help in saving Jorat’s capital.

”I hate prophecies," Janel said. "Have I mentioned how I truly hate prophecies?"

"Ah, and even worse when they come true," Dorna said. "Dark times ahead for all.”

Ah, the mind-set of the so-called Destined Hero. We need to stop so-and-so. Why?

Because he's ... he's ... I mean, he's a bad guy!

Why? Because I don't like him, that's why.

Save me from fools and would-be "heroes."

Whilst focus is on a different cast of characters in this book, old characters still crop up (of course Kihrin remains a main character), but this takes us to different part of the empire with a completely different culture. And I loved it.

A lot of the Joratese society is based on horses - this sounds weird, but it’s awesome. This allows discussions on gender and power to be explored in a totally new way. Male and female exist in the physical sense, but you are determined by being stallion or mare, and who can rule is based on this, getting around the whole ‘women can’t rule’ principle.

It was so fascinating to read how different people treated the Joratese and saw their ways, yeh it is the Joratese who reveal the absurdity of traditional Empire ways.

The characters are brash, arrogant, and quick on the mark with wit, guile, weapons, and retorts.

I loved following their conflicting thoughts as they were drawn into politics beyond their awareness, as their lives expand to encompass strangers who show them a new perspective, way of living, and understanding.

I could gain everything I wanted by betraying everything I was.

Admittedly, the names, families, allegiances, and history remains difficult to follow and keep track of (why do all the name have to be so similar and why is body swapping a thing?!), yet I could just about keep up, enough so to reach the end and enjoy it anyway!

I would recommend this to fans of Faithful and the fallen, Priory of the Orange tree, The Mortal Blade and Mask of Mirrors.