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4.25 AVERAGE
4.25 AVERAGE
nanizet's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
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? No
3.75
3.5 - 3.75⭐: enjoyable contribution to its genre and /or literature overall
asparklingzombie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Complicated
3.0
baco's review against another edition
3.0
I can't review this properly! The second half was too wrenching.
incandescentgem's review against another edition
2.0
probably going to my favorite of the nightrunner series because of the romance development.
But not enough, she skids over it too much, i mean the story is all complex and fantasish and epic but the romance between the two watchers, i just need a little more.
But not enough, she skids over it too much, i mean the story is all complex and fantasish and epic but the romance between the two watchers, i just need a little more.
blaauwklavertje's review against another edition
4.0
Love this book. At times joyful, at times dark. Great characters and a beautiful story.
stremse's review against another edition
4.0
This was another good book. I really like how these are written, and it makes me really want to move immediately onto the next book.
The plot was good, the characters grew. There was a bit of "but thou must," but it was was still great!
The plot was good, the characters grew. There was a bit of "but thou must," but it was was still great!
fgjemison's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this book a lot, and although Lynn Flewelling's writing has some flaws, her books are enjoyable, quick reads. I wouldn't necessarily recommend this if you don't like fantasy, but if you do it's worth reading.
jeaniinabottle's review against another edition
4.0
So aside from the whole "rape of the main character by a minor character that we're going to gloss over, literally never call a rape, actually have his love interest make light of, and in no way play for drama or use for any significant purpose aside from it being this character's sexual awakening" (which OMFG WHY) this book was really good.
I remain madly in love with Seregil, and the slow build of tension between him and Alec (oh my god would you two just DO IT ALREADY we know you're going to thanks to the first book) is mostly played excellently. There were a few occasions where I wanted to crawl into the book and shake Alec, but at the same time that sort of repression and internalized homophobia is a real thing that really happens to gays and bisexuals in real life so you know, character development or something.
The "Tali" endearment did about kill me each time it popped up, though. You want to make a fangirl squee? Just have a character call another a petname and not realize that they did it. And then have the other call them it back because they don't realize the significance of it. BE STILL MY HEART. Every time it popped up I got palpitations.
Around the 2/3rds mark the book took a surprisingly shocking turn for the gruesome; it's necessary for the plot
Overall it was a good second part to conclude the first book; I may still read the remaining five books (or may not, I haven't decided yet) if only to get more Seregil and Alec. Have I mentioned yet that I adore Seregil? Because yes.
I remain madly in love with Seregil, and the slow build of tension between him and Alec (oh my god would you two just DO IT ALREADY we know you're going to thanks to the first book) is mostly played excellently. There were a few occasions where I wanted to crawl into the book and shake Alec, but at the same time that sort of repression and internalized homophobia is a real thing that really happens to gays and bisexuals in real life so you know, character development or something.
Spoiler
Seregil's completely out-of-nowhere 'Whoops, guess I'm in love now!' on the other hand felt a little forced. We saw him struggle with, ignore, and deny his attraction to Alec repeatedly over the first book and several times in the second before the reveal, and then Kali tells Micum (NOT Seregil) "Oh, he's in love now. Wasn't ten pages ago, but he is now. I doubt he's even realized it." And on the VERY NEXT PAGE, Seregil's like "Oh. Well, shit." Did we really need it spelled out to us like that, that explicitly? Especially when you won't call a rape a rape?? *rolls eyes*The "Tali" endearment did about kill me each time it popped up, though. You want to make a fangirl squee? Just have a character call another a petname and not realize that they did it. And then have the other call them it back because they don't realize the significance of it. BE STILL MY HEART. Every time it popped up I got palpitations.
Around the 2/3rds mark the book took a surprisingly shocking turn for the gruesome; it's necessary for the plot
Spoiler
(and for getting our lovers to actually, I don't know, admit their feelings) but the scene with the decapitated tertiary characters who we maybe kind of liked was a rough intro to about two hundred pages of torture, death, and bloodshed. The conclusion, with Nysander's sacrifice, was tragic and not especially predictable. Beka's being the second Vanguard was fairly obvious but it was still executed well.Overall it was a good second part to conclude the first book; I may still read the remaining five books (or may not, I haven't decided yet) if only to get more Seregil and Alec. Have I mentioned yet that I adore Seregil? Because yes.
ker0wyn's review against another edition
5.0
This series is so thoroughly enjoyable and I love how the hint of romance doesn't take up the whole book. I'm starting the third one right now which, for me, is saying something since I rarely make it past book 2 in any given series :)
reread not for the first time Dec 2016
reread not for the first time Dec 2016
jaepingsu's review against another edition
5.0
This is just as addictive a read as Luck in the Shadows, with plenty of action and adventure, this time concentrating way more on the necromancer plot that was the first half of Luck (but later was taken over by the Leran plot). The creepiness aspect was excellent, and this is a much darker-feeling book than Luck was.
At the same time, the character development is so excellent. I loved the slow growth of the romance, which was sweet and touching compared to so many romantic subplots. I don't often get wrapped up in romance plots, but this is one of those stories that had me getting in to seeing the two of them together. There was so much emotional investment with both their relationship and the tension of seeing the heroes win over the villains. I was happy that Beka Cavish earned a stronger role in here. It's always good to see strong women in fantasy, and while she doesn't get as big a role as the male crew, she does serve as a good counter-narrative.
At the same time, the character development is so excellent. I loved the slow growth of the romance, which was sweet and touching compared to so many romantic subplots. I don't often get wrapped up in romance plots, but this is one of those stories that had me getting in to seeing the two of them together. There was so much emotional investment with both their relationship and the tension of seeing the heroes win over the villains. I was happy that Beka Cavish earned a stronger role in here. It's always good to see strong women in fantasy, and while she doesn't get as big a role as the male crew, she does serve as a good counter-narrative.