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jedidiah_blake's review
adventurous
dark
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
kendylldrilling's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
timinbc's review
3.0
This is a Krispy Kreme of a book.
A KK is enjoyable while you're eating it, but even halfway through you're thinking "I shouldn't be eating this" and then "that wasn't really even very good".
It feels as if Correia started by drawing cards from a Fantasy Authors Builder Deck to define the setting and characters. Not that I'd blame him, with 172,442 fantasy books being released in the last five years, most of them part of a twelve-book series.
Too bad that darn Magic Sword card came up again. Always useful though, because it lets the author get on with the swathes-of-slaughter trope that readers expect.
The society card was OK, but Larry rolled double sixes on the "castification" and we're stuck with an undercaste that ranks below dirt in the hierarchy and seems to handcuff the plot at times. But it feeds the "it's so unFAIR" that is required in all recent fantasies.
At least double fives on Omand, too, the nyah-hah-hah James-Bond-bad-guy whose plots are more important to him than their actual results.
Didn't care for how the plot used Devedas near the end, but I suppose it's not a bad way to set up the next book. And there were seeds earlier in the plot that hinted as the guy's priorities.
Jagdish was well done, and he's positioned well for at least another volume. And Rada was good.
And I'll award a point for how the prophesied sacrifice was handled. Solved a lot of problems, too.
This isn't Guy Gavriel Kay, but it's a competent fantasy and at least worth the time it took to read it.
A KK is enjoyable while you're eating it, but even halfway through you're thinking "I shouldn't be eating this" and then "that wasn't really even very good".
It feels as if Correia started by drawing cards from a Fantasy Authors Builder Deck to define the setting and characters. Not that I'd blame him, with 172,442 fantasy books being released in the last five years, most of them part of a twelve-book series.
Too bad that darn Magic Sword card came up again. Always useful though, because it lets the author get on with the swathes-of-slaughter trope that readers expect.
The society card was OK, but Larry rolled double sixes on the "castification" and we're stuck with an undercaste that ranks below dirt in the hierarchy and seems to handcuff the plot at times. But it feeds the "it's so unFAIR" that is required in all recent fantasies.
At least double fives on Omand, too, the nyah-hah-hah James-Bond-bad-guy whose plots are more important to him than their actual results.
Didn't care for how the plot used Devedas near the end, but I suppose it's not a bad way to set up the next book. And there were seeds earlier in the plot that hinted as the guy's priorities.
Jagdish was well done, and he's positioned well for at least another volume. And Rada was good.
And I'll award a point for how the prophesied sacrifice was handled. Solved a lot of problems, too.
This isn't Guy Gavriel Kay, but it's a competent fantasy and at least worth the time it took to read it.
nening's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
angrysnwmnky's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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
redeyesinferno's review
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
qjbrown96's review
5.0
I’m so happy I read this despite the absolute horrendous cover. This may end up one of my favorite series of all time if the next books continue to get better. The world building and the lore is spectacular and I really enjoyed the action scenes. I have absolutely no negative comments on this book. It’s just perfect.
Ashock is a Protector meaning he’s basically a badass Cop. He makes sure that the law is followed and he is incredibly brain washed to the point that he thinks that the lower class aren’t even people because the law says so. You can kill the Classless for any reason because it is legal. He also will kill Demons that have come to the land because the law states that Demons are for the water and humans for the land. He carries a magical sword that chose him and holds the instincts of the wielders before him.
He lives in an Oligarchy government of sorts. Ashock later realizes that the ruling class adjusts the laws and religion to fit their needs. There is a growing upheaval from the classless and Ashock must choose a side and faces death regardless.
Ashock is a Protector meaning he’s basically a badass Cop. He makes sure that the law is followed and he is incredibly brain washed to the point that he thinks that the lower class aren’t even people because the law says so. You can kill the Classless for any reason because it is legal. He also will kill Demons that have come to the land because the law states that Demons are for the water and humans for the land. He carries a magical sword that chose him and holds the instincts of the wielders before him.
He lives in an Oligarchy government of sorts. Ashock later realizes that the ruling class adjusts the laws and religion to fit their needs. There is a growing upheaval from the classless and Ashock must choose a side and faces death regardless.
lynmoore's review
slow-paced
3.5
A good book, made better by the TGR narration. It has a fairly basic story line, with a few peak moments of intrigue and an ending that I don’t think lived up to what it could have been. The various POVs are interesting and all bring something new to the story. Unfortunately, I just don’t feel very compelled by that story. Unsure if I’ll continue
joshhall13's review
5.0
Awh SHIT. This is only book 1 of an unfinished series...?! I swear if Mr. Correia pulls a Patrick Rothfuss... I'll do... something. I'll write a sternly worded email. And I'll make it a good one. OhoHoo it's gonna be a good one.
Yeah. I hate it when a really good book is part of an unfinished series.
Yeah. I hate it when a really good book is part of an unfinished series.
bryan1's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0