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3.64 AVERAGE
3.64 AVERAGE
This book was so captivating. The magic system was unique and well thought out, and the characters relationships were hysterical and life like. I saw my friends in this book. I picked up this book because I loved Ender's Game, and wanted to be brought back into another Orson Scott Card world. This book is perfect for someone who wants to tip toe into the world of fantasy.
Danny North is such a good person. He has qualities that I think everyone should aspire for. He is also an outcast. He's alienated from his family, and constantly on the edge of a cliff. I would use this book in my classroom if I wanted to show teens that being different is okay, even though it can be hard.
Warnings:
Drugs: Alcohol
Sex: Yes
R&R: Yes
Language: Yes
Violence: Yes
Danny North is such a good person. He has qualities that I think everyone should aspire for. He is also an outcast. He's alienated from his family, and constantly on the edge of a cliff. I would use this book in my classroom if I wanted to show teens that being different is okay, even though it can be hard.
Warnings:
Drugs: Alcohol
Sex: Yes
R&R: Yes
Language: Yes
Violence: Yes
mysterious
slow-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:
No
2.5 stars
The book was different to what I expected and didn't exactly work for me. This is not as much epic fantasy as urban fantasy with some portal elements. A strange mélange that left me kind of bored. I would have DNF'd this but I wanted to see if the end would redeem the reading experience and make me interested in the rest of the book. Spoiler - it did not!
I generally liked the more overt fantasy elements - the teenage, coming of age story with our MC Danny was quite insufferable to me. And since Danny is the clear bulk of the story it ended up being just ok for me - with the extra half start for the hook (and Wade).
Wont be continuing in the series - so I save bookshelf space. Yay!? I guess....
The book was different to what I expected and didn't exactly work for me. This is not as much epic fantasy as urban fantasy with some portal elements. A strange mélange that left me kind of bored. I would have DNF'd this but I wanted to see if the end would redeem the reading experience and make me interested in the rest of the book. Spoiler - it did not!
I generally liked the more overt fantasy elements - the teenage, coming of age story with our MC Danny was quite insufferable to me. And since Danny is the clear bulk of the story it ended up being just ok for me - with the extra half start for the hook (and Wade).
Wont be continuing in the series - so I save bookshelf space. Yay!? I guess....
Oh Orson Scott Card, your issues with sex are visible from SPACE.
What even. I read about 2/3 of this book before deciding that the characters and storyline were too lacking for me to finish the book or even consider reading the sequel. None of the characters were particularly relatable or likable, there were some serious plot and worldbuilding inconsistencies, and there were so many awkward/cringe-y moments where I ended up fast forwarding.
Actual Rating: 4.35
This was a great read. I really liked the world. It was unique and the Magic system was fantastic. The storyline was great, but I thought some parts could have been developed further. The story was told in dual POVs when I listened to the audiobook. Therefore, I am glad I listened to the audiobook while reading the book as it helped differentiate the voices for me and it was helpful. The pace was great. It was engaging and interesting. The characters were great. There were times where Danny did bore me, but overall, his character was quite enjoyable. I think Orson Scott Card is awesome, and this book is the first book of a great new series. I can't wait to read Book 2. Overall, an enjoyable read.
This was a great read. I really liked the world. It was unique and the Magic system was fantastic. The storyline was great, but I thought some parts could have been developed further. The story was told in dual POVs when I listened to the audiobook. Therefore, I am glad I listened to the audiobook while reading the book as it helped differentiate the voices for me and it was helpful. The pace was great. It was engaging and interesting. The characters were great. There were times where Danny did bore me, but overall, his character was quite enjoyable. I think Orson Scott Card is awesome, and this book is the first book of a great new series. I can't wait to read Book 2. Overall, an enjoyable read.
This book FLEW by me. Usually audiobooks seem to drag but, this one was just right.
Danny North grew up in a family of mages but, believed himself to have no magic. Because of this he is picked on and given the impression that he is worthless. That changes when he realizes that he has Gate magic -- mages with this magic are killed-- so Danny is worse off than before. So, in the story he takes off and tries to learn this magic when there have been no other Gate Mages for centuries (At least ones that have lived). His goal-- make a Great Gate that will connect Earth to Westille (?Guessing because I listened to it) but, does he really want to do that? And who can a 13 year old on the run trust when the long descendants of 'gods' are searching to kill him?
And then there is The Man In the Tree... who is he? Why is he there? and If he is to remember who is he, what will happen?
Absolutely LOVED this book. I've never read Orson Scott Card before, an amazing feat for an someone who went through the American school system, but I had heard great things. I thought he only wrote Sci-Fi though so, this was a bit of a surprise. A damn good surprise!
The characters all have their own little spark and the magic system is done beautifully.
I love it.
I chuckled, I smiled, cheered people on, rolled my eyes at Danny's stupidity, cried, I yelled and cursed at villians, and listened I had rented the second book from the library already.
Danny North grew up in a family of mages but, believed himself to have no magic. Because of this he is picked on and given the impression that he is worthless. That changes when he realizes that he has Gate magic -- mages with this magic are killed-- so Danny is worse off than before. So, in the story he takes off and tries to learn this magic when there have been no other Gate Mages for centuries (At least ones that have lived). His goal-- make a Great Gate that will connect Earth to Westille (?Guessing because I listened to it) but, does he really want to do that? And who can a 13 year old on the run trust when the long descendants of 'gods' are searching to kill him?
And then there is The Man In the Tree... who is he? Why is he there? and If he is to remember who is he, what will happen?
Absolutely LOVED this book. I've never read Orson Scott Card before, an amazing feat for an someone who went through the American school system, but I had heard great things. I thought he only wrote Sci-Fi though so, this was a bit of a surprise. A damn good surprise!
The characters all have their own little spark and the magic system is done beautifully.
I love it.
I chuckled, I smiled, cheered people on, rolled my eyes at Danny's stupidity, cried, I yelled and cursed at villians, and listened I had rented the second book from the library already.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
For an Orson Scott Card book, this one fell a little short. Maybe that’s because the bar has been set higher due to different things he has written.
So we open the story with Danny North – a child who, despite being the son of gods, has no real godlike abilities of his own. He watches others as their talents develop, but he seems destined to be just a normal child. That is until a chance event opens his eyes to the fact that he is not only filled with magical abilities, but he may be the most powerful and long sought of all… a gate mage. So we travel across the world with him, trying to escape those chasing him while he learns about the power within.
Now it’s not a bad sounding story, right? I will even agree that in a vacuum, it’s not so bad. The problem is it is all so formulaic from Card. Take one part male child who is ignorant of his abilities (Alvin Maker series, Enders Game series, Pathfinder series) + one part magical ability (Maker, Pathfinder) + learning curve (Maker, Pathfinder) + someone chasing them (Maker, Pathfinder)… yeah. You get the picture. I guess I expected a little bit more out of it, but honestly I won’t continue this series in any way. It was a bit on the boring side overall.
So we open the story with Danny North – a child who, despite being the son of gods, has no real godlike abilities of his own. He watches others as their talents develop, but he seems destined to be just a normal child. That is until a chance event opens his eyes to the fact that he is not only filled with magical abilities, but he may be the most powerful and long sought of all… a gate mage. So we travel across the world with him, trying to escape those chasing him while he learns about the power within.
Now it’s not a bad sounding story, right? I will even agree that in a vacuum, it’s not so bad. The problem is it is all so formulaic from Card. Take one part male child who is ignorant of his abilities (Alvin Maker series, Enders Game series, Pathfinder series) + one part magical ability (Maker, Pathfinder) + learning curve (Maker, Pathfinder) + someone chasing them (Maker, Pathfinder)… yeah. You get the picture. I guess I expected a little bit more out of it, but honestly I won’t continue this series in any way. It was a bit on the boring side overall.