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sean31's review
4.0
Full disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions below are my own. Taken from my Amazon.com review.
I have to say, I really, really appreciated the updated prologue. Both versions establish some basic world-building concepts, but leave a lot of questions, but the prior version was almost entirely obfuscating, with words and terms that meant little to the reader. Updated, there are just enough mysterious references and ideas to keep one reading on, and you'll be glad you did.
The true story picks up centuries later, as the reader is juggled between two worlds that were once one, the continued division of which is threatened. One of my favorite aspects of this book is that right and wrong depends entirely on who you ask, and because the story is told from many different points of view, it's hard to champion one sect and villify another. There is the occasional fairly clear-cut "bad guy", in that there are forces that oppose just about all of the protagonists, but the conflict is multi-faceted, an incredibly important feature in a "political fantasy" book (a term I have coined just now to describe books set in a fantasy world with emphasis on politic, policy, and the forces that make the world go 'round.)
Just as importantly, the characters are also generally multi-faceted and complex, creating believable people that often dodge the most commonly used-and-abused tropes. A few stay quite mysterious throughout the book, and I look forward to reading more about them in the next installment. Overall, a strong and colorful cast.
Smythe is exceedingly descriptive, especially regarding her magic system. Built around visualization and sensation, it emphasizes fire and water, heat and coolness, in a manner utterly unique. It was not always easy to follow, but it made for a powerful, tactile experience. Much of its mysteries are cleared up as the story progresses, as though this book has an emphasis on teaching the reader the "rules of the game", and in the next book, we will see it played out.
However, the story is occasionally bogged down by the levels of descriptiveness, especially when the magic gets a little too intense, or the point of view tries to keep track of more than one pair of eyes at once. Not everything is clear, and the whole story did feel a little bit like a prologue, spending a lot of time building towards a "to be continued", and it didn't really feel like much was resolved. To clarify, it felt like part one of one book, rather than the first book of a series.
Still, an enjoyable trek through a densely-packed and richly-imagined world, one that I would definitely recommend to others. If anything in this review needs clarifying, just leave a comment below or email me at SeanOnAmazon.com.
I have to say, I really, really appreciated the updated prologue. Both versions establish some basic world-building concepts, but leave a lot of questions, but the prior version was almost entirely obfuscating, with words and terms that meant little to the reader. Updated, there are just enough mysterious references and ideas to keep one reading on, and you'll be glad you did.
The true story picks up centuries later, as the reader is juggled between two worlds that were once one, the continued division of which is threatened. One of my favorite aspects of this book is that right and wrong depends entirely on who you ask, and because the story is told from many different points of view, it's hard to champion one sect and villify another. There is the occasional fairly clear-cut "bad guy", in that there are forces that oppose just about all of the protagonists, but the conflict is multi-faceted, an incredibly important feature in a "political fantasy" book (a term I have coined just now to describe books set in a fantasy world with emphasis on politic, policy, and the forces that make the world go 'round.)
Just as importantly, the characters are also generally multi-faceted and complex, creating believable people that often dodge the most commonly used-and-abused tropes. A few stay quite mysterious throughout the book, and I look forward to reading more about them in the next installment. Overall, a strong and colorful cast.
Smythe is exceedingly descriptive, especially regarding her magic system. Built around visualization and sensation, it emphasizes fire and water, heat and coolness, in a manner utterly unique. It was not always easy to follow, but it made for a powerful, tactile experience. Much of its mysteries are cleared up as the story progresses, as though this book has an emphasis on teaching the reader the "rules of the game", and in the next book, we will see it played out.
However, the story is occasionally bogged down by the levels of descriptiveness, especially when the magic gets a little too intense, or the point of view tries to keep track of more than one pair of eyes at once. Not everything is clear, and the whole story did feel a little bit like a prologue, spending a lot of time building towards a "to be continued", and it didn't really feel like much was resolved. To clarify, it felt like part one of one book, rather than the first book of a series.
Still, an enjoyable trek through a densely-packed and richly-imagined world, one that I would definitely recommend to others. If anything in this review needs clarifying, just leave a comment below or email me at SeanOnAmazon.com.
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