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bzliz's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-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
5.0
This is a re-read and I loved it just as much as I did the first time. Now that I know the twists and reveals, I can spot hints of them in the lead-up which would seem completely innocuous to first time readers.
This installment is largely focused on the travel portion of their quest which I personally enjoyed but I can understand how some readers wouldn’t enjoy that. Gen is such a delightful little scamp and a lot of major players in future books are laid out in this one. I’m so excited to start the second book again.
This installment is largely focused on the travel portion of their quest which I personally enjoyed but I can understand how some readers wouldn’t enjoy that. Gen is such a delightful little scamp and a lot of major players in future books are laid out in this one. I’m so excited to start the second book again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Physical abuse, Classism, and Bullying
Minor: Death of parent
kingcrookback's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-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
I get the sense that readers might find Eugenides more annoying than charismatic/charming the way Turner intended (God knows I did at times), but I couldn't help doing some research while I was in the middle of the book and he's apparently about 15 at the time this book is set. Explains a lot. And while it's pretty clear that he's somewhere in his adolescence, my major complaint about this book is probably that I'd have liked to have a clearer idea of Eugenides' age.
That aside, I'm fascinated by this world Turner's constructed. It took me until about a third of the way through to realize that this world is less medieval fantasy like I'd--completely baselessly--assumed but more of an early modern fantasy. (Guns exist. They're not as accurate as crossbows, so firearm technology can't be said to be very advanced, but guns do very much exist. As do compasses.) Also--and this is not me saying I have a wide breadth of knowledge on this subject--I don't think I've ever read a fantasy story that was written fairly recently where the gods are both transcendent and immanent. The way they impact the world and the characters is super interesting.Even when they're (ostensibly) present, they're ethereal and a little uncanny. But when they do show traces of humanity, like when Eugenides the thief realizes that Eugenides the god carries a burden of grief for the brother who hated him, it's rather impactful. I think Turner also did a good job of seeding the plot twists along the way. This story is much more than a simple fetch quest, and while the pacing definitely isn't for everybody, some patience and attention to detail will end up paying off.
Will be checking out the next book after I've taken a bit of a break from the world.
That aside, I'm fascinated by this world Turner's constructed. It took me until about a third of the way through to realize that this world is less medieval fantasy like I'd--completely baselessly--assumed but more of an early modern fantasy. (Guns exist. They're not as accurate as crossbows, so firearm technology can't be said to be very advanced, but guns do very much exist. As do compasses.) Also--and this is not me saying I have a wide breadth of knowledge on this subject--I don't think I've ever read a fantasy story that was written fairly recently where the gods are both transcendent and immanent. The way they impact the world and the characters is super interesting.
Will be checking out the next book after I've taken a bit of a break from the world.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, and Violence
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Blood
Minor: Death of parent
mandkips's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Bullying, and Violence
Moderate: Physical abuse, Death, and Blood
Minor: Death of parent
szuum's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Bullying, and Confinement
Minor: Death
anntharai's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-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
Genuinely engaging and thoroughly enjoyable.
The writing is excellent and the story as well, I like the characters and can’t wait to get to know them more.
Will be reading the rest.
The writing is excellent and the story as well, I like the characters and can’t wait to get to know them more.
Will be reading the rest.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Violence
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