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chazzychax's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
tense
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? Yes
4.0
An enjoyable read, rich world building
pryme's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
aishoka's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
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
5.0
Darker than many of her others but still excellent. The World of the Five Gods is well-crafted and very appealing, and Bujold has left room for lots of tales to come.
katieinca's review against another edition
4.0
Still a nicely galloping plot, and fun Bujold/world-of-five-gods characters, but without the redemption-and-quest spirit of [b:The Curse of Chalion|61886|The Curse of Chalion (Chalion, #1)|Lois McMaster Bujold|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1322571773s/61886.jpg|1129349] or the deep emotional resonance of [b:Paladin of Souls|61904|Paladin of Souls (Chalion, #2)|Lois McMaster Bujold|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388350884s/61904.jpg|819610]. But then, it's hard to follow Paladin of Souls. Would still eagerly pick up a fourth if she ever writes one.
kzimm2024's review against another edition
4.0
Alas- I didn’t enjoy this book as much and am bummed since I really don’t want to leave this world yet! My head is spinning from all the creative world building and characters and the thought of jumping into some alien romance seems disrespectful!
I must digest a little and reflect.
It’s still a 4 for me, Ingrey was a good character as the morally grey man in service. I liked him, but it was hard to LOVE him. He is ordered to claim the body of the dead prince and finds a lady love in the process. What happens next gets weirder and weirder and I for one still have no idea about the Weald and Shamans and the great battle. I just kept reading!
Ingrey's man had no problem teasing him:
"I admit, only Ingrey kin Wolfcliff would ignite with lust for a woman who bludgeons her lovers to death, but for you, that’s not a deterrent, it’s a lure!” Gesca snorted."
I liked Ijada, she was a plucky heroine and seemed to bolster Ingrey many times. They make a good couple but once again, it wasn’t a love I felt for them.
She:
"she was not safe from him, no…she was something unexpectedly else. She was dangerous right back at him. The thought did very odd things to his heart."
and
“We cannot continue to flounder along with no attempt at a plan,” he began firmly. “You’ve rejected mine. Have you a better?”
“Run away was not my idea of a plan.” She cocked an eye at him. “And when did I become we?”
His mouth, tightening, paused. The first hour I saw you at Boar’s Head, five gods help me."
and
“We share a certain problem apart from your legal morass,” he continued. “Cat maiden.”
“Oh, it’s not apart. Dog lord.” -snicker-
Now Hallana and Oswin? That would have been fun to read about their courtship and story. And Learned Lewko, Jokol too, great side characters. I had lots of quotes- maybe I will add some…( see added quotes :)
They get their HEA after a very convoluted ending after releasing the spirits of 4,000 soldiers:
"Some things one didn’t need to get out of bed to accomplish."
I must digest a little and reflect.
It’s still a 4 for me, Ingrey was a good character as the morally grey man in service. I liked him, but it was hard to LOVE him. He is ordered to claim the body of the dead prince and finds a lady love in the process. What happens next gets weirder and weirder and I for one still have no idea about the Weald and Shamans and the great battle. I just kept reading!
Ingrey's man had no problem teasing him:
"I admit, only Ingrey kin Wolfcliff would ignite with lust for a woman who bludgeons her lovers to death, but for you, that’s not a deterrent, it’s a lure!” Gesca snorted."
I liked Ijada, she was a plucky heroine and seemed to bolster Ingrey many times. They make a good couple but once again, it wasn’t a love I felt for them.
She:
"she was not safe from him, no…she was something unexpectedly else. She was dangerous right back at him. The thought did very odd things to his heart."
and
“We cannot continue to flounder along with no attempt at a plan,” he began firmly. “You’ve rejected mine. Have you a better?”
“Run away was not my idea of a plan.” She cocked an eye at him. “And when did I become we?”
His mouth, tightening, paused. The first hour I saw you at Boar’s Head, five gods help me."
and
“We share a certain problem apart from your legal morass,” he continued. “Cat maiden.”
“Oh, it’s not apart. Dog lord.” -snicker-
Now Hallana and Oswin? That would have been fun to read about their courtship and story. And Learned Lewko, Jokol too, great side characters. I had lots of quotes- maybe I will add some…( see added quotes :)
They get their HEA after a very convoluted ending after releasing the spirits of 4,000 soldiers:
"Some things one didn’t need to get out of bed to accomplish."
rockwrengj's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this book much better on my second reading, perhaps because of my enjoyment of the Penric series in the intervening years.
kathflynn's review
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
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? Yes
4.5
gossy's review against another edition
4.0
The books in this series continue to be nowhere near as compelling/moving as some of the author’s other works have been for me, but they’re still fun and interesting reads.
On the whole I liked this book as much as the previous two in the series; more on some fronts, less on other fronts, balanced out in the end.
Focusing on what stood out most… On the positive side, I might not have been compelled by the romance, but I was very solidly sold on the *partnership* between the main character and his love interest; I enjoyed it a lot. I also found the course of events more exciting than in Paladin of Souls.
On the negative side, I was more uncomfortable with the way disability was incorporated in this book than I have been in the author’s other works.
I think most of that is due to the perspective of the viewpoint character. The remainder… either Bujold made use of an unfortunate trope, tried and failed to subvert that trope, or successfully subverted it; I haven’t made up my mind just yet.
On the whole I liked this book as much as the previous two in the series; more on some fronts, less on other fronts, balanced out in the end.
Focusing on what stood out most… On the positive side, I might not have been compelled by the romance, but I was very solidly sold on the *partnership* between the main character and his love interest; I enjoyed it a lot. I also found the course of events more exciting than in Paladin of Souls.
On the negative side, I was more uncomfortable with the way disability was incorporated in this book than I have been in the author’s other works.
I think most of that is due to the perspective of the viewpoint character. The remainder… either Bujold made use of an unfortunate trope, tried and failed to subvert that trope, or successfully subverted it; I haven’t made up my mind just yet.
angel_koyfish's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Unless you are already a fan of Lois McMaster Bujold or the Chalion books, I think you might have a difficult time getting through this book. There were plenty of times I wished we could get through the exposition and get to the plot of the story. I skimmed through many parts near the end although I enjoyed the climatic finale. But overall a good reading experience as I still love the World of the Five Gods and Bujold has a talent for creating incredible characters.