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eldritch_elder's review against another edition
4.0
Want more Marlvolen history? Well, you're in luck! Here's the first of a duology set about 80 years or so after Inda that more or less sets up why the academy was the way it was in Banner of the Damned.
POV's mainly from the female characters in the nobility.
POV's mainly from the female characters in the nobility.
ergative's review
2.5
I loved loved loved the Inda quartet, and quite enjoyed the Banner of the Damned. The world-building in those was rich and complex, and the interplay of history and politics and culture and language were so complex and skillfully manipulated that I was very happy to return to the world in this book. However, those were conventionally published, and so had had the benefit of professional editing. This books was, I think, self-published, and it showed. The plot was meandering and lacked any driving force; the characters spend a lot of time talking about the events and consequences of events of the previous books; and events are introduced and then dropped and never picked up again, as if the author were publishing each chapter serially, without the benefit of going back to rejigger and reconsider earlier things that turned out not to be relevant to later developments. There were, to be sure, some very skillfully done bits, especially the build-up to the Night of Four Kings, in which hints and set-ups came to fruition very satisfactorally. Indeed, I think if the book had ended after that, it would have been quite a successful novella set in this world. But things then keep on happening, and there doesn't seem to be any swell or primary conflict in sight. What happened to Wolf's daughter from his first marriage? Is Lavais actually going to cause trouble? She sure was set up as if she wanted to cause trouble, but then she just goes away again, having thought the better of it. Even Connar's grooming as the 'true king' never really goes anywhere, and that's the most constant thread through the second half of the book.
Yet the depth of world-building and the richness of the politics and intrigue--even if they never really go anywhere--have a certain verisimilitude. I can easily imagine someone who deeply loves this world and these people revelling in pages and pages and pages of just life. Not everything has to be a world-threatening epic. Sometimes you just want to hang out with the king and queen and Academy and runners and live in a fantasy realm for a while. Things happen, plots are conceived but never executed, shenanigans take place, people grow and learn and talk and live their lives, and talk about the events of the previous books that you've already read and loved. If that's what you want, then this book does it beautifully. This desire is exactly what motivates so many billions of words of fanfiction. Indeed, this book feels like a very long work of fanfiction of the author's previous books.
I myself am left just a bit unsatisfied, though. I find myself wanting to go back and re-read the Inda quartet, because that offers all the world-building richness and depth of this book, but it also has a plot that goes places.
But maybe I'm being unfair. Maybe the second book will pick up all the threads that feel dropped and incomplete, and weave them into something astonishing. Given what Smith did with the Inda quartet, I know she has the ability. I will read book 2, for sure. I'm just a little bit doubtful going into it.
Yet the depth of world-building and the richness of the politics and intrigue--even if they never really go anywhere--have a certain verisimilitude. I can easily imagine someone who deeply loves this world and these people revelling in pages and pages and pages of just life. Not everything has to be a world-threatening epic. Sometimes you just want to hang out with the king and queen and Academy and runners and live in a fantasy realm for a while. Things happen, plots are conceived but never executed, shenanigans take place, people grow and learn and talk and live their lives, and talk about the events of the previous books that you've already read and loved. If that's what you want, then this book does it beautifully. This desire is exactly what motivates so many billions of words of fanfiction. Indeed, this book feels like a very long work of fanfiction of the author's previous books.
I myself am left just a bit unsatisfied, though. I find myself wanting to go back and re-read the Inda quartet, because that offers all the world-building richness and depth of this book, but it also has a plot that goes places.
But maybe I'm being unfair. Maybe the second book will pick up all the threads that feel dropped and incomplete, and weave them into something astonishing. Given what Smith did with the Inda quartet, I know she has the ability. I will read book 2, for sure. I'm just a little bit doubtful going into it.
elisenic's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
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
thisistaylort's review
3.0
For me, Time of Daughters I was disappointing compared to the other books in the Sartorias-deles arc. The characters were less accessible and I was not as invested. It's impact would have been minimal without the previous Inda books.
If anything, the most impactful part was the manipulation and corruption of Inda's name to the benefit of the various parties in power. It has become not so much a legacy but a rallying cry to their mislead causes. It makes a mockery of his sacrifices, not to mention those of Evred, Sindan, Hadand, Tdor, Tau, Jeje, Tanrid, Buck, Hawkeye, Noddy, the list goes on. Not just the desecration of Inda's name, but all the other changes seen in Marlovan Iasca (previously Iasca Leror) in less than on hundred years is shocking. Treason's Shore wraps up mostly with a happy ending. Fast forward to Time of Daughters I and the kingdom is in disarray, the hard work of previous generations undone. Which, I suppose, is the greatest truth of history - all great deeds are eventually forgotten. Some of the greatest historical moments in my grandparents' lives are covered in a paragraph in today's history books. Though I will say, the sacrifice and bravery of the women and girls in the Andahai Pass has not been forgotten, and for that, there is some justice in the world.
The title is a bit of a play on words because as we find out <spoiler many of the "daughters" are actually sons </spoilers>. Though Danet is arguable the key daughter as she saves a kingdom by doing her duty. She's the sensible voice of reason. I waiver with Arrow, he's mostly an unlikeable drunk, but he has his moments of tenderness. It's nice to see Fox's descendants in Camarend and Quill, though neither seem to have his edge. It's like the Sierlaef all over again with poor Connar, being manipulated by someone he trusts. I'm worried to see how this will play out. I wouldn't be surprised if Andas ends up as king . The rest of the POVs aren't really worth mentioning. I've already downloaded part 2, Time of Daughters II, but part of me is ready to get through it and Banner of the Damned so I can finally get to the Vidanric and Meliara stories, which started this whole reading adventure for me in the first place.
If anything, the most impactful part was the manipulation and corruption of Inda's name to the benefit of the various parties in power. It has become not so much a legacy but a rallying cry to their mislead causes. It makes a mockery of his sacrifices, not to mention those of Evred, Sindan, Hadand, Tdor, Tau, Jeje, Tanrid, Buck, Hawkeye, Noddy, the list goes on. Not just the desecration of Inda's name, but all the other changes seen in Marlovan Iasca (previously Iasca Leror) in less than on hundred years is shocking. Treason's Shore wraps up mostly with a happy ending. Fast forward to Time of Daughters I and the kingdom is in disarray, the hard work of previous generations undone. Which, I suppose, is the greatest truth of history - all great deeds are eventually forgotten. Some of the greatest historical moments in my grandparents' lives are covered in a paragraph in today's history books. Though I will say, the sacrifice and bravery of the women and girls in the Andahai Pass has not been forgotten, and for that, there is some justice in the world.
The title is a bit of a play on words because as we find out <spoiler many of the "daughters" are actually sons </spoilers>. Though Danet is arguable the key daughter as she saves a kingdom by doing her duty. She's the sensible voice of reason. I waiver with Arrow, he's mostly an unlikeable drunk, but he has his moments of tenderness. It's nice to see Fox's descendants in Camarend and Quill, though neither seem to have his edge. It's like the Sierlaef all over again with poor Connar, being manipulated by someone he trusts. I'm worried to see how this will play out. I wouldn't be surprised if
annarose816's review
adventurous
challenging
funny
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
stefaniajoy's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this book and I love reading about this world. The author writes characters very well. They absolutely feel real, with true strengths and weaknesses, and various desires pushing and pulling at them. I also think the author writes different ages well. I absolutely feel the difference between younger and older characters, and the way youth/age affect those characters' decisions. Relationships and feelings are honest, messy, fluid.
My primary complaint is it feels like this book, the first of two, was just chopped in the middle. The ending felt very abrupt and not at all satisfying.
There are so many characters in this world, so many layers, and the names are hard to keep track of, but it's something I personally enjoy because it adds to realism for me. Planning to buy the second and start reading soon.
I definitely recommend reading the Inda series before this one; many of the events in this book make more sense as a result and it adds a layer of interest.
My primary complaint is it feels like this book, the first of two, was just chopped in the middle. The ending felt very abrupt and not at all satisfying.
There are so many characters in this world, so many layers, and the names are hard to keep track of, but it's something I personally enjoy because it adds to realism for me. Planning to buy the second and start reading soon.
I definitely recommend reading the Inda series before this one; many of the events in this book make more sense as a result and it adds a layer of interest.
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