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amerasuu's review
I didn't read the George R R Martin story coz frankly I'm totally over him. I didn't finish the Kate Elliot story because I didn't enjoy it. My favourite stories were by N.K. Jemisin & Tad Williams. I would consider reading books by most of the authors in the anthology.
annecrisp's review
3.0
I read the Tad WIlliams story, which I give 3.5*. I was going to read the Rothfuss story, but it turns out I've already read it. The other stories I've either already read or did not appeal to me right now.
nattyg's review
5.0
I enjoyed these short stories. I think there was one (maybe) that was 4 stars, but worth the size! (it's a HUGE book).
bryladyzama's review
4.0
A good book to read if you like fantasy and you're looking for new fantasy authors. I really enjoyed the variety of writing. Some authors I really liked and look forward to checking out more of their stories. Other authors I didn't care for and probably won't read anything else by them. I wouldn't recommend this book for young readers. A few of the stories had graphic violence and rather dark plot lines, some stories had some language and coarse joking, and a few had some brief sexual content.
bookaneer's review
4.0
What I love about anthologies is the chance to sample authors I have never read before but heard about a lot. This one in particular made me want to read more from Tad Williams, Melanie Rawn, and Juliet Marilier. It also gives more positive light on authors whose works I did not enjoy previously such as Bacigalupi, or reconfirm my liking for familiar authors such as Jemisin.
But then, I am also disappointed with some, such as Sanderson's piece which I think is one of the weakest. Moreover, my interest to read some authors also died down e.g. Moorcock. For some other authors e.g Elliot I will reserve judgment first but their books won't be on the top of my TBR.
Highlights (excluding The Mystery Knight and Homecoming which I read and loved before): "The Burning Man", "The Narcomancer", "Mother of All Russiya".
Lowlights: "While the Gods Laugh", "Rysn", "Riding the Shore of the River of Death".
Individual reviews:
"Homecoming" by Robin Hobb
I think it is one of the best in the book. Another example of how Hobb can write a story with a good character development from a vain and easy-to-hate character to someone you want to root for.
Aside from that, the world building of the Rainwilds is amazing. Magical rainforest that is both dangerous and beautiful and literally changed people! The story is also available in her story collection: [b:The Inheritance|8739264|The Inheritance|Robin Hobb|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1290919353s/8739264.jpg|14627771] - a must read for Hobb fans.
"The Word of Unbinding" by Ursula K. Le Guin
I found the story really dull and could not remember anything except that two wizards were fighting. Note to self: Strike two for Le Guin.
"The Burning Man" by Tad Williams
Another favorite. It is very immersive. I found myself drawn to the castle and the sad eerieness of the people. I think I will try reading [b:The Dragonbone Chair|91981|The Dragonbone Chair (Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn, #1)|Tad Williams|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1477417642s/91981.jpg|840191].
"As the Wheel Turns" by Aliette de Bodard
A Taoist reincarnation story, which was pretty interesting. Yet, the ending was predictable. I might try her the Xuya stories.
"The Alchemist" by Paolo Bacigalupi
I liked this a lot, loved the main character, worldbuilding, the magic and the ending. I might actually try to read more of his stuff later, after being so disappointed with The Windup Girl before.
"Sandmagic" by Orson Scott Card
The story started really slow for me but I loved the climax and the ending. Been a long time since my last and only Card novel (Ender's Game) so I forgot the style and could not compare the two.
"The Road to Levinshir" by Patrick Rothfuss
Nothing special in my reread (since this is basically taken from Wise Man's Fear) but I remember that I liked this part of the story, especially Kvothe's thoughts on Edema Ruh, his strong identity and society's stigma. And the story is pretty dark (ooh I loved it when my protagonist gone cold blood), although there is one laughable, so-not-Rothfuss sentence "no all men are like that".
"Rysn" by Brandon Sanderson
Wow, very stingy of Sanderson for this super short story which led to nowhere he might as well not giving any to the collection. Lucky (for me?) this is not my first Sanderson.
"While the Gods Laugh" by Michael Moorcock
The most annoying story of the book. Pretty sure I read an Elric story before (it was not memorable), but man this one made me think that he was such a pervy jerk, the main and only female character here was so weak (but obviously hot enough to bang, ugh) and the quest thing was boring as hell. Even the fight scene with the so called awesome blade of his (Stormbringer?) was just meh. I won't be reading anything from Moorcock soon.
"Mother of All Russiya" by Melanie Rawn
A great adaptation of a great historical person. And despite the length and the limited setting of events I think the author managed to put a great sense of epicness.
"Riding the Shore of the River of Death" by Kate Elliott
I don't remember anything except there was a girl who did not want to marry. Boring. But I heard she wrote an icepunk story about shark and lawyer dinosaurs. So I might check that one out.
"The Bound Man" by Mary Robinette Kowal
The armor was cool. The story started out strong but when it comes to portal fantasy and time travel it was just okay. Oh and the ending felt a bit abrupt.
"The Narcomancer" by N. K. Jemisin
I LOVE YOU NK JEMISIN. I adore her Hugo-winning Broken Earth trilogy and I will definitely read her Dreamblood duology, which this story is based on. The magic is sooo interesting! And it is hard nowadays to find a main character who is likable, kind and also very capable so this is kind of refreshing.
"Strife Lingers in Memory" by Carrie Vaughn
I expected more from this story and it ended really abruptly. Some interesting parts would be when the queen thought about war and its aftermath and what's more important/significant/longlasting. It kept me thinking about PTSD since this tells you"what happened next off screen after your hero won". Often, it is not happy ever after, not entirely.
This is her third story I read, one of them I really loved: "Raisa Stepanova" from [b:Dangerous Women|17279560|Dangerous Women|George R.R. Martin|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1370759802s/17279560.jpg|19236677]
"The Mad Apprentice" by Trudi Canavan
I have mixed feeling on this. At one side I appreciate reading the POV of someone who was unlucky enough to be related with an abusive person, but the act of mad destruction was repeated way too many times it lost its meaning.
"Otherling" by Juliet Marillier
Loved it. It felt like a fairy tale albeit a sad one. it was really immersive, full with longing and inner conflict, and I enjoyed every sentence.
"The Mystery Knight" by George R. R. Martin
I am a Martin fangirl so I hugely immensely wholeheartedly loved this one and thus my review is biased. A fourth reread. This is the third book from the Dunk and Egg stories and it is mostly focused on the Blackfyre Rebellion (specifically, the Second Blackfyre Rebellion). And we actually met one of the most mysterious and influential characters from ASOIAF (as well as one of the most hated characters).
Dunk and Egg's exchanges are so funny sometimes - and I just love the fact that we could see someone who'd become so important in the future spent his childhood travelling across the realm and interacted with so many colorful characters.However, to get to full context I think one needs to read ASOIAF first and then the first two D&E novels.
But then, I am also disappointed with some, such as Sanderson's piece which I think is one of the weakest. Moreover, my interest to read some authors also died down e.g. Moorcock. For some other authors e.g Elliot I will reserve judgment first but their books won't be on the top of my TBR.
Highlights (excluding The Mystery Knight and Homecoming which I read and loved before): "The Burning Man", "The Narcomancer", "Mother of All Russiya".
Lowlights: "While the Gods Laugh", "Rysn", "Riding the Shore of the River of Death".
Individual reviews:
"Homecoming" by Robin Hobb
I think it is one of the best in the book. Another example of how Hobb can write a story with a good character development from a vain and easy-to-hate character to someone you want to root for.
Aside from that, the world building of the Rainwilds is amazing. Magical rainforest that is both dangerous and beautiful and literally changed people! The story is also available in her story collection: [b:The Inheritance|8739264|The Inheritance|Robin Hobb|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1290919353s/8739264.jpg|14627771] - a must read for Hobb fans.
"The Word of Unbinding" by Ursula K. Le Guin
I found the story really dull and could not remember anything except that two wizards were fighting. Note to self: Strike two for Le Guin.
"The Burning Man" by Tad Williams
Another favorite. It is very immersive. I found myself drawn to the castle and the sad eerieness of the people. I think I will try reading [b:The Dragonbone Chair|91981|The Dragonbone Chair (Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn, #1)|Tad Williams|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1477417642s/91981.jpg|840191].
"As the Wheel Turns" by Aliette de Bodard
A Taoist reincarnation story, which was pretty interesting. Yet, the ending was predictable. I might try her the Xuya stories.
"The Alchemist" by Paolo Bacigalupi
I liked this a lot, loved the main character, worldbuilding, the magic and the ending. I might actually try to read more of his stuff later, after being so disappointed with The Windup Girl before.
"Sandmagic" by Orson Scott Card
The story started really slow for me but I loved the climax and the ending. Been a long time since my last and only Card novel (Ender's Game) so I forgot the style and could not compare the two.
"The Road to Levinshir" by Patrick Rothfuss
Nothing special in my reread (since this is basically taken from Wise Man's Fear) but I remember that I liked this part of the story, especially Kvothe's thoughts on Edema Ruh, his strong identity and society's stigma. And the story is pretty dark (ooh I loved it when my protagonist gone cold blood), although there is one laughable, so-not-Rothfuss sentence "no all men are like that".
"Rysn" by Brandon Sanderson
Wow, very stingy of Sanderson for this super short story which led to nowhere he might as well not giving any to the collection. Lucky (for me?) this is not my first Sanderson.
"While the Gods Laugh" by Michael Moorcock
The most annoying story of the book. Pretty sure I read an Elric story before (it was not memorable), but man this one made me think that he was such a pervy jerk, the main and only female character here was so weak (but obviously hot enough to bang, ugh) and the quest thing was boring as hell. Even the fight scene with the so called awesome blade of his (Stormbringer?) was just meh. I won't be reading anything from Moorcock soon.
"Mother of All Russiya" by Melanie Rawn
A great adaptation of a great historical person. And despite the length and the limited setting of events I think the author managed to put a great sense of epicness.
"Riding the Shore of the River of Death" by Kate Elliott
I don't remember anything except there was a girl who did not want to marry. Boring. But I heard she wrote an icepunk story about shark and lawyer dinosaurs. So I might check that one out.
"The Bound Man" by Mary Robinette Kowal
The armor was cool. The story started out strong but when it comes to portal fantasy and time travel it was just okay. Oh and the ending felt a bit abrupt.
"The Narcomancer" by N. K. Jemisin
I LOVE YOU NK JEMISIN. I adore her Hugo-winning Broken Earth trilogy and I will definitely read her Dreamblood duology, which this story is based on. The magic is sooo interesting! And it is hard nowadays to find a main character who is likable, kind and also very capable so this is kind of refreshing.
"Strife Lingers in Memory" by Carrie Vaughn
I expected more from this story and it ended really abruptly. Some interesting parts would be when the queen thought about war and its aftermath and what's more important/significant/longlasting. It kept me thinking about PTSD since this tells you"what happened next off screen after your hero won". Often, it is not happy ever after, not entirely.
This is her third story I read, one of them I really loved: "Raisa Stepanova" from [b:Dangerous Women|17279560|Dangerous Women|George R.R. Martin|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1370759802s/17279560.jpg|19236677]
"The Mad Apprentice" by Trudi Canavan
I have mixed feeling on this. At one side I appreciate reading the POV of someone who was unlucky enough to be related with an abusive person, but the act of mad destruction was repeated way too many times it lost its meaning.
"Otherling" by Juliet Marillier
Loved it. It felt like a fairy tale albeit a sad one. it was really immersive, full with longing and inner conflict, and I enjoyed every sentence.
"The Mystery Knight" by George R. R. Martin
I am a Martin fangirl so I hugely immensely wholeheartedly loved this one and thus my review is biased. A fourth reread. This is the third book from the Dunk and Egg stories and it is mostly focused on the Blackfyre Rebellion (specifically, the Second Blackfyre Rebellion). And we actually met one of the most mysterious and influential characters from ASOIAF (as well as one of the most hated characters).
Dunk and Egg's exchanges are so funny sometimes - and I just love the fact that we could see someone who'd become so important in the future spent his childhood travelling across the realm and interacted with so many colorful characters.However, to get to full context I think one needs to read ASOIAF first and then the first two D&E novels.
vaderbird's review
4.0
5 star - Perfect
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
samuraibunny's review
4.0
I originally bought this book, thinking that I would get a brand new short story by Brandon Sanderson, one of my favorite authors. Instead, I find that I've read the story before, as part of The Way of Kings. Big disappointment there. But, the other stories did make my purchase well worth it.
The ones I particularly enjoyed are as follows:
Homecoming by Robin Hobb
The Alchemist by Paolo Bacigalupi
The Road to Levinshir by Patrick Rothfuss
Bound Man by Mary Robinette Kowal
The Narcomancer by N.K. Jemisin
Otherling by Juliet Marillier
Only a few names in that list jump out to me as authors whom I have heard of before, but that is a good thing, as I have found some talents out there I wouldn't have otherwise.
There were many more authors of note (to me at least) in the book, but the stories included from them were not stories I clicked with.
This is my first anthology and it will probably be my last, as there is something wholly unsatisfying about reading a story from which there is no context unless you are already familiar with the series (usually) in which it is a part of. This applied particularly with George R.R. Martin's short, which is set in the now infamous A Song of Ice and Fire series.
Nevertheless, I do plan on looking up those authors in the future and this was a great introduction into their work for me.
The ones I particularly enjoyed are as follows:
Homecoming by Robin Hobb
The Alchemist by Paolo Bacigalupi
The Road to Levinshir by Patrick Rothfuss
Bound Man by Mary Robinette Kowal
The Narcomancer by N.K. Jemisin
Otherling by Juliet Marillier
Only a few names in that list jump out to me as authors whom I have heard of before, but that is a good thing, as I have found some talents out there I wouldn't have otherwise.
There were many more authors of note (to me at least) in the book, but the stories included from them were not stories I clicked with.
This is my first anthology and it will probably be my last, as there is something wholly unsatisfying about reading a story from which there is no context unless you are already familiar with the series (usually) in which it is a part of. This applied particularly with George R.R. Martin's short, which is set in the now infamous A Song of Ice and Fire series.
Nevertheless, I do plan on looking up those authors in the future and this was a great introduction into their work for me.
miramanga's review
4.0
A really choice selection of fantastic fantasy. Most of these solidly hit the mark. I am going to start recommending this as a gateway drug to fiction but not yet fantasy friends for sure!
anlekaha's review
4.0
especially liked “Homecoming” Robin Hobb, “Alchemist” Paolo Bacigalupi, “Rysn” Brandon Sanderson, “Mother of All Russiya” Melanie Rawn, “Bound Man” Mary Robinette Kowal, “Narcomancer” N.K. Jemisin, “Strife Lingers in Memory” Carrie Vaughn, “Mystery Knight” George R. R. Martin