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3.64 AVERAGE
3.64 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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
There's a lot of similarities to Card's characters ender and Danny in the lost gate that makes you just fall in love with him. :)
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
DNF LIST
Honestly, this book had some great magical premises. I am a sucker for bringing old myths into play in fantasy books and the magic system seemed to be really cool. However I did some research and this author is known for being conservative and anti-LGBT which is a big no no from me. However, I decided to see where the book went. I had to stop reading about 4 and a half hours into the audiobook because of the overly sexual way he was writing the main character, who is 13, and how often pedophilia was being brought up. I could also tell how his misogyny and patriotism slipped into his storytelling which I REALLY did not like or enjoy. Do not recommend
Honestly, this book had some great magical premises. I am a sucker for bringing old myths into play in fantasy books and the magic system seemed to be really cool. However I did some research and this author is known for being conservative and anti-LGBT which is a big no no from me. However, I decided to see where the book went. I had to stop reading about 4 and a half hours into the audiobook because of the overly sexual way he was writing the main character, who is 13, and how often pedophilia was being brought up. I could also tell how his misogyny and patriotism slipped into his storytelling which I REALLY did not like or enjoy. Do not recommend
Pretty cool to find some fiction that ties in with my Norse namesake-heritage.
It's been a while since I read a book by Card. Ender's Game still remains one of my favorite SF books of all time. So when I saw this book at the library, I picked it up. At first, I thought it was going to be the rehashing of plots I've seen before. Young boy, growing up around people who have "talents," but not showing any talent yet. But this book took a really good twist at one point.
We follow the early years of a boy named Danny North, who is part of a family that includes such people as "Thor" and "Odin." Yes, they are "gods." But they have been exiled to a rural part of America, as the gate to their land has been closed by the trickster Loki. Each family member is a "mage" of some sort. There are sea mages, stone mages, dirt mages, etc... Danny seems to have no talent at all. But he can run really fast, and climb really good. One day, he suddenly realizes that what he was doing was creating "gates." Danny is a "gatemage." The only problem with this is, gatemages are banned and must be killed immediately.
Card has proven that he is still a master of this genre. The book is full of twists and turns, as well as a sense of humor that I truly enjoyed. I look forward to the next installment of this series.
We follow the early years of a boy named Danny North, who is part of a family that includes such people as "Thor" and "Odin." Yes, they are "gods." But they have been exiled to a rural part of America, as the gate to their land has been closed by the trickster Loki. Each family member is a "mage" of some sort. There are sea mages, stone mages, dirt mages, etc... Danny seems to have no talent at all. But he can run really fast, and climb really good. One day, he suddenly realizes that what he was doing was creating "gates." Danny is a "gatemage." The only problem with this is, gatemages are banned and must be killed immediately.
Card has proven that he is still a master of this genre. The book is full of twists and turns, as well as a sense of humor that I truly enjoyed. I look forward to the next installment of this series.
Not great. Couldn't finish it. Do not recommend.
This is two novels at once: a pretty good fantasy with an interesting mythology and magic system, and a sexist mess that unironically slut-shames basically every young woman the main character encounters. The unironic homophobic "teasing" was expected, I went into it with my OSC filter switched on, but still wasn't prepared for at least three separate scenes throughout the book where the protagonist treats girls or women with contempt while negging them and obsessing over their cleavage.
I never cease to be impressed with Orson Scott Card's writing. I was again intrigued by the story that he unfolded with the gate mages. It was both unique and fascinating to read. I look forward to the rest of the series and where it will go.
Interesting world building, decent young adult sci-fi/fantasy. I felt like this one was kind of bandwagoning on some of the other popular new YA series involving ancient pantheons(*cough* Percy Jackson *cough*), but it had its own flair and was entertaining.