You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
I'm still enjoying the story, but the pace is slowing some and these characters all love to talk way too much.
adventurous
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
tense
medium-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:
Yes
Big crazy scifi/fantasy/history crossover. I read the first book a while ago, and some of the particular relationships evaded my memory as I read this one, but mostly I picked it back up as I went along.
Expansive & adventurous, to be sure, and compelling enough that I spent a huge chunk of the last weekend reading it. And argh! I wish there were a sequel already, which was pretty much exactly what I said with the last one. The plot keeps rolling in fun weird directions.
I think it could have been just as good and about 20% shorter with judicious trimming of adverbs & adjectives, especially modifiers of "he said". Plus all of the characters are superlatively superlative, and my eyes glaze over on the naval battle/history of armament bits.
Still, way fun reading.
Expansive & adventurous, to be sure, and compelling enough that I spent a huge chunk of the last weekend reading it. And argh! I wish there were a sequel already, which was pretty much exactly what I said with the last one. The plot keeps rolling in fun weird directions.
I think it could have been just as good and about 20% shorter with judicious trimming of adverbs & adjectives, especially modifiers of "he said". Plus all of the characters are superlatively superlative, and my eyes glaze over on the naval battle/history of armament bits.
Still, way fun reading.
Book 2 in a series, the story continues after major naval battle, and losses, of book 1. The point of view changes with every chapter, which is not unusual for Weber, but it happens a bit to frequently in this book, making it easier to put down because you're not as emotionally involved in the story. There is a very surprising plot twist involving who knows Merlin's true identity.
This is my second time reading this, but there were a lot of things I totally don't remember, which makes me wonder if I ever even finished it. The spelling of the names still and forever will drive me crazy. All the inner monologue sometimes gets a bit old too. I want there to be more technology and innovation. Forget the proscriptions and get these guys some laser guns, Merlin! But I guess it'll have to wait until later. Let's see if I can make it through another book in the series without the names driving be bonkers.
I feel like David Weber wrote this book specifically for me.
'By Schism Rent Asunder' continues Weber's "Safehold" series, which basically retells the story of the Protestant Reformation. The hook is that the book contains significant elements of science fiction, fantasy, Age-of-Sail adventure, political maneuver, and engineering investigation (Yes, you read right: engineering investigation!). Reading this book light up so many different parts of my brain that it actually made me feel more alive. It's a fun, exciting adventure in a sci-fi / fantasy world that's both medieval and futuristic. It's a political thriller reminiscent of 'Game of Thrones,' with competing dynasties and ideologies vying for victory in the Great Game. It's a naval adventure, filled with cutting-out expeditions and privateering. It's even an exploration of the thrill of innovation, making such things as the invention of rifling and artillery shells both fascinating and entertaining.
Seriously: I felt that this book simultaneously rewarded my lifelong interest in sci-fi / fantasy, my, teenage interest in naval fiction, my undergraduate toils in the fields of weapons engineering and naval architecture, my graduate work in philosophy, and my continuing fascination with international relations, all at the same time. It's as if Weber thought, "Let's take all of Alex's interests, mix them in a blender, and see what we get."
What we get, IMO, is the most entertaining and compelling popular-fiction series I've enjoyed since finishing Patrick O'Brien's Aubrey / Maturin novels. While I recommend beginning the 'Safehold' series with "Off Armageddon Reef," I enthusiastically recommend "By Schism Rent Asunder." Thanks again to my friend Paul Del Guercio for turning me on to this series, and to this writer!
'By Schism Rent Asunder' continues Weber's "Safehold" series, which basically retells the story of the Protestant Reformation. The hook is that the book contains significant elements of science fiction, fantasy, Age-of-Sail adventure, political maneuver, and engineering investigation (Yes, you read right: engineering investigation!). Reading this book light up so many different parts of my brain that it actually made me feel more alive. It's a fun, exciting adventure in a sci-fi / fantasy world that's both medieval and futuristic. It's a political thriller reminiscent of 'Game of Thrones,' with competing dynasties and ideologies vying for victory in the Great Game. It's a naval adventure, filled with cutting-out expeditions and privateering. It's even an exploration of the thrill of innovation, making such things as the invention of rifling and artillery shells both fascinating and entertaining.
Seriously: I felt that this book simultaneously rewarded my lifelong interest in sci-fi / fantasy, my, teenage interest in naval fiction, my undergraduate toils in the fields of weapons engineering and naval architecture, my graduate work in philosophy, and my continuing fascination with international relations, all at the same time. It's as if Weber thought, "Let's take all of Alex's interests, mix them in a blender, and see what we get."
What we get, IMO, is the most entertaining and compelling popular-fiction series I've enjoyed since finishing Patrick O'Brien's Aubrey / Maturin novels. While I recommend beginning the 'Safehold' series with "Off Armageddon Reef," I enthusiastically recommend "By Schism Rent Asunder." Thanks again to my friend Paul Del Guercio for turning me on to this series, and to this writer!
Second verse, same as the first. Happy to continue reading the ongoing chronicles of Safehold and its denizens, though I do wish some of the multi-book foreshadowing would either tone down or become something that happens within the book. Also, the humans have a tendency to speechify instead of talking like humans do. But oh well.
Lots and lots of setup for the third book. There didn't really seem to be any overarching plot threads, but Weber's moving people and countries around. Not too much shakeup in the status quo. I am looking forward to the next book, though.