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a_reader_obsessed's review
4.0
4 Stars
Where do I even start? Abigail Hilton (aka AH Lee) has certainly created a unique world full of fantastical creatures where hierarchy, oppression, subjugation, and harsh brutality reign supreme.
This begins with disinherited prince Gerard who’s now in the employ of the high Priestess as her chief of police. Gerard is literally at the top of the food chain. He’s a grishnard (a human griffin hybrid), a species that dominates all others, where inequality abounds and the dream of freedom for those not grishnard is just that. A dream. Basically, Gerard is under direct orders to squash an almost mythical resistance that’s been brewing for many years, to find the leader of lesser beings and destroy him. The only problem is, Gerard must work with Silvio, a lower caste panard (human fox hybrid) whom he clashes with greatly. What follows is a complex character study of a decent man and what he’s forced to do out of duty.
This looks to be a very long and complex story ahead of me but I’m intrigued. 200 pages of setup describing a fascinating world whose subtle heady complexity is quite addictive. This series could desperately use an extensive glossary but maybe it’s all in Hilton’s plan to not really provide one so that the reader must continue at a regular pace if only to keep up with the unique terms and what I suspect will be a very very large cast, all of which is reminiscent to the bewilderedness a’la Calmes’s Change of Heart. Tricksy I see. Very tricksy.
Regardless, I’m caught, and I will proceed to read more of this fascinating world!
Side note - for more cohesiveness (and a small glossary), the author has rebundled and renamed this series, naming the first volume [b:The Guild of the Cowry Catchers|59439839|The Guild of the Cowry Catchers (Pirates of Wefrivain Book 1)|Abigail Hilton|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1635059582l/59439839._SX50_.jpg|93628309] which is currently available on KU.
Where do I even start? Abigail Hilton (aka AH Lee) has certainly created a unique world full of fantastical creatures where hierarchy, oppression, subjugation, and harsh brutality reign supreme.
This begins with disinherited prince Gerard who’s now in the employ of the high Priestess as her chief of police. Gerard is literally at the top of the food chain. He’s a grishnard (a human griffin hybrid), a species that dominates all others, where inequality abounds and the dream of freedom for those not grishnard is just that. A dream. Basically, Gerard is under direct orders to squash an almost mythical resistance that’s been brewing for many years, to find the leader of lesser beings and destroy him. The only problem is, Gerard must work with Silvio, a lower caste panard (human fox hybrid) whom he clashes with greatly. What follows is a complex character study of a decent man and what he’s forced to do out of duty.
This looks to be a very long and complex story ahead of me but I’m intrigued. 200 pages of setup describing a fascinating world whose subtle heady complexity is quite addictive. This series could desperately use an extensive glossary but maybe it’s all in Hilton’s plan to not really provide one so that the reader must continue at a regular pace if only to keep up with the unique terms and what I suspect will be a very very large cast, all of which is reminiscent to the bewilderedness a’la Calmes’s Change of Heart. Tricksy I see. Very tricksy.
Regardless, I’m caught, and I will proceed to read more of this fascinating world!
Side note - for more cohesiveness (and a small glossary), the author has rebundled and renamed this series, naming the first volume [b:The Guild of the Cowry Catchers|59439839|The Guild of the Cowry Catchers (Pirates of Wefrivain Book 1)|Abigail Hilton|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1635059582l/59439839._SX50_.jpg|93628309] which is currently available on KU.
enesven's review against another edition
4.0
I originally foung this serise when it was being posted by chapter on PodioBooks.com, this review is long overdue, though I think I may have left comments on the episodes way back when.
This (and most of the serise) has two of my favorite features, chapter titles, and small experps at the beginning of the chapter.
Honestly is "The Truth About Wyverns", "A Guide to Wefrivain", and "The Non-Grishnards of Wefrivain" were full books I would read then front to back just to get more of this world. It is an amazingly good way to world build while not feeling clunky or out of character. With the bonus of being delivered in the witty and sardonic voice of Gwain.
This (and most of the serise) has two of my favorite features, chapter titles, and small experps at the beginning of the chapter.
Honestly is "The Truth About Wyverns", "A Guide to Wefrivain", and "The Non-Grishnards of Wefrivain" were full books I would read then front to back just to get more of this world. It is an amazingly good way to world build while not feeling clunky or out of character. With the bonus of being delivered in the witty and sardonic voice of Gwain.
coryanderson_'s review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
vivri's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
allycat616's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed the story, and the voice acting was fantastic.
One thing that bothered me was the scene where Thessalyn and Silveo meet for the first time. Because Thessalyn is blind, she touches his face, which is her way of "seeing" someone. Blind people do not actually do this, and I cringe whenever this stereotype shows up in movies or books.
One thing that bothered me was the scene where Thessalyn and Silveo meet for the first time. Because Thessalyn is blind, she touches his face, which is her way of "seeing" someone. Blind people do not actually do this, and I cringe whenever this stereotype shows up in movies or books.
justineboots's review
4.0
I came to this series after reading some of the author's other works under her pen name.
I enjoyed the world-building which was subtle and well-done. It did rely on more info dumps than her other work (hence the chapter openings) but it was well blended into the story. It's definitely a complicated world but the book is able to communicate enough for you to follow and enjoy the story but I assume there will be more in the succeeding books.
I enjoyed the two main characters: Gerard and Silveo. They are our protagonists but they're definitely not heroes. Meaning they are not Lawful Good. Gerard is probably Lawful Neutral and Silveo is Chaotic Neutral. Maybe even Chaotic Evil, depending on how you define Good/Evil in DnD. The point is. They are not Good Guys. I definitely don't like the Police or the Sea Watch as Institutions. I'm pretty blatantly rooting for Gwain and the Resistance. But am I sympathetic to the two protagonists? Definitely. They're very relatable characters. I would say they're even likable characters, morality not withstanding.
The one issue I have with the book (hence the one star deduction) is its portrayal of Thessalyn. I'm unsure if her being blind and her being portrayed as a semi-seer, semi-magical, gifted thing is really a good depiction of disability. It's kind of falling into the trope of giving disabled people magical powers to "make up" for their disability. Also Gerard tends to infantilize her because of her disability.
It's not enough to make me stop reading the series. And I know from her other works that this author is pretty good at representing the queer community in her works. She could simply do with some improvement in representing the disabled community as well.
I enjoyed the world-building which was subtle and well-done. It did rely on more info dumps than her other work (hence the chapter openings) but it was well blended into the story. It's definitely a complicated world but the book is able to communicate enough for you to follow and enjoy the story but I assume there will be more in the succeeding books.
I enjoyed the two main characters: Gerard and Silveo. They are our protagonists but they're definitely not heroes. Meaning they are not Lawful Good. Gerard is probably Lawful Neutral and Silveo is Chaotic Neutral. Maybe even Chaotic Evil, depending on how you define Good/Evil in DnD. The point is. They are not Good Guys. I definitely don't like the Police or the Sea Watch as Institutions. I'm pretty blatantly rooting for Gwain and the Resistance. But am I sympathetic to the two protagonists? Definitely. They're very relatable characters. I would say they're even likable characters, morality not withstanding.
The one issue I have with the book (hence the one star deduction) is its portrayal of Thessalyn. I'm unsure if her being blind and her being portrayed as a semi-seer, semi-magical, gifted thing is really a good depiction of disability. It's kind of falling into the trope of giving disabled people magical powers to "make up" for their disability. Also Gerard tends to infantilize her because of her disability.
It's not enough to make me stop reading the series. And I know from her other works that this author is pretty good at representing the queer community in her works. She could simply do with some improvement in representing the disabled community as well.
pjmurphy3's review
3.0
It was hard to get into. didn't make a lot of sense till I read the glossery. good story moved at a fast pace.
frothy's review against another edition
4.0
I came to this book having read quite a bit of her other work. It's the first in a series, so there is quite a bit of world building in this book.
Persist! It's worth it.
Persist! It's worth it.
eleanorjmca's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
3.0
emaack's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Cannibalism