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aneton's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
wealhtheow's review against another edition
3.0
The last of the Inda series. Years ago, Inda was exiled from his homeland and made a new life for himself as the infamous pirate Elgar the Fox. But when he heard of his former home's invasion by the Venn, he returned. The Venn were turned back, but not for long. They, and their mind-controlled king, are going a'viking once more. And once again, only Inda can stop them.
I feel conflicted about this book. On the one hand, Smith continues to split up her narrative far more than she needs to. Constantly switching from one person to the next stalls the narrative tension. On the other, it's a gutsy move to spend more than half of the final volume of a series on the POVs of the main characters' enemies. And Smith has more than enough tension to go around: unrequited love, mind control, magicians double-crossing each other constantly, internecine court drama, pirate battles, training a new generation, ambushes, affairs, reinforcing the infrastructure of a kingdom, breaking down gender barriers, naval battles...There's no derth of plot. Astoundingly, there's still plenty of characterization, of both old characters and new. Inda is more damaged and oblivious than in previous volumes, which annoyed me but felt believable, given what he's gone through. And the new characters are fantastic: I particularly loved the viking captain's hawk-nosed wife.
Smith showcases both the uses and the limits of diplomacy. Her battle scenes are chaotic but understandable. The domestic lives she imagined for her characters helps keep the narrative grounded and believable. And the world building is just top notch.
I think these books would reward rereading--Smith has so much story to tell that I'm sure I missed out on plot points, moments of characterization, and world-building as I raced through. I'm glad I read this series; I just wish there was more!
ETA: These books really deserve at least 4 stars for their depth and complexity, and all the thought that was put into the characters and their world. But I generally only give 4 stars to books that I enjoyed in a very particular, id-satisfying way. So although they're far more interesting than the vast majority of fantasy, I just don't feel right bumping the rating up. But I want to make it very clear that I whole-heartedly recommend these books to anyone interested in a novel take on fantasy.
I feel conflicted about this book. On the one hand, Smith continues to split up her narrative far more than she needs to. Constantly switching from one person to the next stalls the narrative tension. On the other, it's a gutsy move to spend more than half of the final volume of a series on the POVs of the main characters' enemies. And Smith has more than enough tension to go around: unrequited love, mind control, magicians double-crossing each other constantly, internecine court drama, pirate battles, training a new generation, ambushes, affairs, reinforcing the infrastructure of a kingdom, breaking down gender barriers, naval battles...There's no derth of plot. Astoundingly, there's still plenty of characterization, of both old characters and new. Inda is more damaged and oblivious than in previous volumes, which annoyed me but felt believable, given what he's gone through. And the new characters are fantastic: I particularly loved the viking captain's hawk-nosed wife.
Smith showcases both the uses and the limits of diplomacy. Her battle scenes are chaotic but understandable. The domestic lives she imagined for her characters helps keep the narrative grounded and believable. And the world building is just top notch.
I think these books would reward rereading--Smith has so much story to tell that I'm sure I missed out on plot points, moments of characterization, and world-building as I raced through. I'm glad I read this series; I just wish there was more!
ETA: These books really deserve at least 4 stars for their depth and complexity, and all the thought that was put into the characters and their world. But I generally only give 4 stars to books that I enjoyed in a very particular, id-satisfying way. So although they're far more interesting than the vast majority of fantasy, I just don't feel right bumping the rating up. But I want to make it very clear that I whole-heartedly recommend these books to anyone interested in a novel take on fantasy.
improbability_engine's review against another edition
2.0
DNF. This series is overly descriptive. I was so fatigued after the first 3, that I ended up not caring what happened anymore - and this book was doomed from there.
schneefink's review against another edition
4.0
What a ride :)
This book has so many interesting characters & I enjoyed almost every PoV, though I was also occasionally annoyed that I could not spend as much time as I wanted with my favorites. Inevitable with such a cast though. The time span mostly worked for me, though occasionally it was slightly disorienting to go from several chapters happening in the course of a few days to several months happening in one chapter and back again.
I'm not yet quite sure how I feel about the ending. I really liked the conflict at the end and how that played out. I think I would just have liked to be able to imagine more happiness in one particular character's future.
This book has so many interesting characters & I enjoyed almost every PoV, though I was also occasionally annoyed that I could not spend as much time as I wanted with my favorites. Inevitable with such a cast though. The time span mostly worked for me, though occasionally it was slightly disorienting to go from several chapters happening in the course of a few days to several months happening in one chapter and back again.
I'm not yet quite sure how I feel about the ending. I really liked the conflict at the end and how that played out. I think I would just have liked to be able to imagine more happiness in one particular character's future.
erperry's review against another edition
3.0
First half 3, Second half 4
I forgot how much, despite loving Inda, this book drags. Smith is hindered by her strength - world building - with many scenes that add to the world but not to the plot...making the actual plot not really show up until the halfway mark. I'm also unsure how I feel about the end, though I'm not sure what I would want instead. I forgot that it just leaves me feeling...heavy.
I forgot how much, despite loving Inda, this book drags. Smith is hindered by her strength - world building - with many scenes that add to the world but not to the plot...making the actual plot not really show up until the halfway mark. I'm also unsure how I feel about the end, though I'm not sure what I would want instead. I forgot that it just leaves me feeling...heavy.
ellenw's review against another edition
4.0
I think the most revolutionary thing this series does is portray violence against women not because they are women but because they are warriors. I have issues with how Smith got there (in-universe), but it made the battle scenes refreshing. As they portrayed women being chopped into bloody bits. Okay, I probably shouldn't be allowed to review books anymore.
Moving on: great characterization, thought-provoking worldbuilding, bizarre pacing. If you have the patience for it, there are dozens of interesting stories in this series, but the problem is that they really are kind of buried. It came out ahead for me because I don't mind a slow-burning story (and I will forgive much in exchange for good, complex characters), but I can see how it might not be everyone's cup of tea.
DON'T read this if you're expecting the kind of gritty, violent epic fantasy that is popular right now -- for valid reasons, I think -- but do give it a try if you're intrigued by the idea of an old-fashioned fantasy (all about Honor and Treaties and Political Marriages) with unusual, ultra-liberal, but consistent social mores.
Now to contemplate how the same person who wrote this could have also written Crown Duel.
Moving on: great characterization, thought-provoking worldbuilding, bizarre pacing. If you have the patience for it, there are dozens of interesting stories in this series, but the problem is that they really are kind of buried. It came out ahead for me because I don't mind a slow-burning story (and I will forgive much in exchange for good, complex characters), but I can see how it might not be everyone's cup of tea.
DON'T read this if you're expecting the kind of gritty, violent epic fantasy that is popular right now -- for valid reasons, I think -- but do give it a try if you're intrigued by the idea of an old-fashioned fantasy (all about Honor and Treaties and Political Marriages) with unusual, ultra-liberal, but consistent social mores.
Now to contemplate how the same person who wrote this could have also written Crown Duel.
lsneal's review against another edition
4.0
I thought the Inda series was terrific as a whole, but I found the ending to be a little unsatisfying. Somehow, it didn't seem quite in keeping with the rest of the story as a whole. I felt like there were too many questions left unanswered, and fates left unresolved or dealt with too quickly.
phloxyloxy's review
4.0
Like the previous three Inda books, I found this one to be really dense at first, and it took a while to work up to the action and remember who was who, what with all of the minor characters being referenced here and there. However, it did get to be very action-driven, which is what I was looking for. At first, it seems like there's a really thick weave of subplots to sort through, and I was wondering if they were all absolutely necessary. By the end though, I was very pleased with the book as a whole, and I'm sure I would have had an easier time immersing myself into this world had I reread the other three books beforehand.
Additional notes: I really enjoyed reading about the Venn and making linguistic connections.
Additional notes: I really enjoyed reading about the Venn and making linguistic connections.
naye's review
5.0
Oh wow.
I'm still short on words - honestly kind of dumbstruck with sheer awe. The writing is so imaginative and beautiful and it is so deeply emotional I'm still not recovered. In a good way! It's rare to find a series with such a wealth of characters that touch your heart in so many different ways. Now I can see how the frequent POV switches - so disconcerting at first - are handled deftly and brilliantly to make you not just see characters' actions, but understand what's going on in their hearts and their heads. And that, after a while, makes you as a reader feel really close to the whole cast, rather than to a handful of central POV characters.
So much of what I'm thinking and feeling and still reeling from is the magnificent tapestry of plot and character that's all incredibly spoilery, but in a nutshell:
This series is astoundingly good.
I'm still short on words - honestly kind of dumbstruck with sheer awe. The writing is so imaginative and beautiful and it is so deeply emotional I'm still not recovered. In a good way! It's rare to find a series with such a wealth of characters that touch your heart in so many different ways. Now I can see how the frequent POV switches - so disconcerting at first - are handled deftly and brilliantly to make you not just see characters' actions, but understand what's going on in their hearts and their heads. And that, after a while, makes you as a reader feel really close to the whole cast, rather than to a handful of central POV characters.
So much of what I'm thinking and feeling and still reeling from is the magnificent tapestry of plot and character that's all incredibly spoilery, but in a nutshell:
This series is astoundingly good.