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4.06 AVERAGE
4.06 AVERAGE
I find it hard to write unbiased reviews of audiobooks. The narrator is everything when it comes to how I experience an audiobook and this one is read by a good one. But then how much does that taint the experience of the book itself?
Sorcery of Thorns has a rich, dark world. I loved exploring the Great Libraries and the magisters' ancestral houses, learning about summoning demons, interacting with animated books. But the plot and the characters didn't weave into this rich and interesting world; instead, they latched on to familiar tropes with very rare deviations (there's an interesting plot point relating to an asylum that I really wish got more narrative attention). It has all the things YA fantasy fans love: sword-weilding leading lady, dashing anti-hero male love interest, unique magic system, and banter.
What it doesn't have is pacing. We're introduced to this rich and interesting setting and then immediately yanked away from it. This isn't a small book and yet we spend no time getting to know where Elizabeth is coming from (and thereby learning more about her, her Librarian training, and the Libraries themselves). With such a singular setting, we need to really understand it before we're yanked away. I didn't have an understanding of the politics of the Library, how Elizabeth fit in as an apprentice (versus as the child we do see glimpses of), the different paths for Apprentices, etc etc. The whole story is told in the way you would fast forward through unwanted commercials in a recorded TV show: you watch enough to know that you're in the commercial, fast forward, there's an advertisement for the show you're watching so you play it in real time for a little while until you realize that it's technically a commercial, then you fast forward again, then you accidentally go too far so you have to backtrack and find the beginning of the show block.
I keep going back and forth between 3 and 4 stars. Mostly because I did really like the bare bones of the story: the setting, the magic, the politics. But I don't think there were enough of those things to balance out the tropes and poor pacing. I'll settle on 3.5 stars, rounded down.
Sorcery of Thorns has a rich, dark world. I loved exploring the Great Libraries and the magisters' ancestral houses, learning about summoning demons, interacting with animated books. But the plot and the characters didn't weave into this rich and interesting world; instead, they latched on to familiar tropes with very rare deviations (there's an interesting plot point relating to an asylum that I really wish got more narrative attention). It has all the things YA fantasy fans love: sword-weilding leading lady, dashing anti-hero male love interest, unique magic system, and banter.
What it doesn't have is pacing. We're introduced to this rich and interesting setting and then immediately yanked away from it. This isn't a small book and yet we spend no time getting to know where Elizabeth is coming from (and thereby learning more about her, her Librarian training, and the Libraries themselves). With such a singular setting, we need to really understand it before we're yanked away. I didn't have an understanding of the politics of the Library, how Elizabeth fit in as an apprentice (versus as the child we do see glimpses of), the different paths for Apprentices, etc etc. The whole story is told in the way you would fast forward through unwanted commercials in a recorded TV show: you watch enough to know that you're in the commercial, fast forward, there's an advertisement for the show you're watching so you play it in real time for a little while until you realize that it's technically a commercial, then you fast forward again, then you accidentally go too far so you have to backtrack and find the beginning of the show block.
I keep going back and forth between 3 and 4 stars. Mostly because I did really like the bare bones of the story: the setting, the magic, the politics. But I don't think there were enough of those things to balance out the tropes and poor pacing. I'll settle on 3.5 stars, rounded down.
adventurous
dark
fast-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
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Sure this is maybe reminiscent of some other YA fantasy, but it's also really well written and I was infinitely amused by semi conscious books, dusty librarians, redeemable demons, and grumpy sorcerers.
Synopsis- Elizabeth Scrivener’s world is simply black and white, all the great libraries are there to protect the kingdom against the magic that’s sealed in Grimoires and Grimoires from outside world while any kind of Sorcery is evil and the Sorcerer’s are feared for their lineage. When she gets caught up in a mysterious murder, she has no idea what malicious plans are being cooked behind her, she had to make unusual allies which questions her faith and the core essence of her life- there are choices to make, a world to save and a love to conquer!
Review- A greatest yet cruel gift from a book is making a reader believe that they are part of it and the world between the pages is very very real, it’s cruel because it ends abruptly and the reader is left in the mundane real world. This is one such book, the world is beautiful filled libraries, broody hero’s, demons and magic-if this doesn’t make you want to pick up the book keep reading.
This is a full meal book, it’s fast, action packed and rightly paced, the protagonist is a 17 year Orphan raised in Kingdom’s greatest library. She lives in a shell until she is cruelly pushed into reality where she had to unlearn everything and learn everything back properly. Nathaniel is a descendent of dark sorcery who is broody with a sad past yet a good heart, he is a classic “hero” from any fantasy world but what makes him special(apart from the bisexual representation)is his companion Silas, he brings a different dimension to the plot-line and keeps you more than intrigued.The relationship between these three MC’s is the most unique I have recently come across, it’s such a different take from what we are use to.
When a romance brews between Elizabeth and Nathaniel you might be getting nervous if this would be a distraction but the author wisely knows when to stop before it turns cliched. All through the book you are not given a chance to breath and so are the characters, it doesn’t drag for most of the part. The magic system if not unique it is certainly one of a kind where magic is not pictured as white and pure.
What I would have loved to see more is Silas, behind the mask of practiced seriousness you would be left wondering what actually is going inside that heart of his, his actions might be obvious proof yet It would have been wonderful to know more about his formal icy cool demeanor.Unlike usual fantasy plots, Nathaniel takes a back seat letting Elizabeth steer the wheel yet always being on her side, I really enjoyed his well balanced character development. I am little underwhelmed with the climax and that’s why 4 stars, however this book is a compelling read and a well done standalone that will left the reader more than contended!
You need to pick it up like yesterday!!
Review- A greatest yet cruel gift from a book is making a reader believe that they are part of it and the world between the pages is very very real, it’s cruel because it ends abruptly and the reader is left in the mundane real world. This is one such book, the world is beautiful filled libraries, broody hero’s, demons and magic-if this doesn’t make you want to pick up the book keep reading.
This is a full meal book, it’s fast, action packed and rightly paced, the protagonist is a 17 year Orphan raised in Kingdom’s greatest library. She lives in a shell until she is cruelly pushed into reality where she had to unlearn everything and learn everything back properly. Nathaniel is a descendent of dark sorcery who is broody with a sad past yet a good heart, he is a classic “hero” from any fantasy world but what makes him special(apart from the bisexual representation)is his companion Silas, he brings a different dimension to the plot-line and keeps you more than intrigued.The relationship between these three MC’s is the most unique I have recently come across, it’s such a different take from what we are use to.
When a romance brews between Elizabeth and Nathaniel you might be getting nervous if this would be a distraction but the author wisely knows when to stop before it turns cliched. All through the book you are not given a chance to breath and so are the characters, it doesn’t drag for most of the part. The magic system if not unique it is certainly one of a kind where magic is not pictured as white and pure.
What I would have loved to see more is Silas, behind the mask of practiced seriousness you would be left wondering what actually is going inside that heart of his, his actions might be obvious proof yet It would have been wonderful to know more about his formal icy cool demeanor.Unlike usual fantasy plots, Nathaniel takes a back seat letting Elizabeth steer the wheel yet always being on her side, I really enjoyed his well balanced character development. I am little underwhelmed with the climax and that’s why 4 stars, however this book is a compelling read and a well done standalone that will left the reader more than contended!
You need to pick it up like yesterday!!
adventurous
emotional
fast-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:
N/A
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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:
No
spoilers for this book and fma:
Spoiler
nathaniel's dad trying to resurrect the dead mom and son? alchemy's one and only taboo -- human transmutation. the pentagram at the end made up of all the great libraries? literally the dwarf in the flask trying to become god
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
medium-paced