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3.64 AVERAGE
3.64 AVERAGE
This was a fun one with an interesting mythology and magic system. It reminds me of Brandon Sanderson's inventiveness though based on the afterward it seems that Mr. Card started some 30 odd years ago. Vacation is off to a great start!
The beginning was good and the end was good. The middle was awful. The last 50 pages or so redeemed the terrible middle section, but not enough to make me read the rest in the trilogy.
Interesting concept, with a kind of cool story woven around it.
Pros
It's an easy fun read. The world building is really great and the story is pretty compelling.
Cons
The female characters are all written horribly. OSC clearly has some major issues with women and sex in general. I've read the first book and most of the 2nd at this point and the female characters are largely portrayed as shallow sex hungry predators. In the 2nd book its particularly ridiculous as just about every female friend the protagonist has is throwing themselves at him and he's the righteous one warding off their advances because he's gonna wait for marriage. But all the females try to manipulate their way into his pants anyway. Give me a break. And don't get me started on all the breast talk. There's one character who's only defining characteristic is her large breasts which are commented upon in every scene she's in. It's weird and I really just wish OSC would never use the word breast again.
All that said I'm still probably gonna finish the series.
It's an easy fun read. The world building is really great and the story is pretty compelling.
Cons
The female characters are all written horribly. OSC clearly has some major issues with women and sex in general. I've read the first book and most of the 2nd at this point and the female characters are largely portrayed as shallow sex hungry predators. In the 2nd book its particularly ridiculous as just about every female friend the protagonist has is throwing themselves at him and he's the righteous one warding off their advances because he's gonna wait for marriage. But all the females try to manipulate their way into his pants anyway. Give me a break. And don't get me started on all the breast talk. There's one character who's only defining characteristic is her large breasts which are commented upon in every scene she's in. It's weird and I really just wish OSC would never use the word breast again.
All that said I'm still probably gonna finish the series.
I enjoyed the overall story, mainly the Danny chapters. The worldbuilding is interesting. In the Danny chapters there is a reuse of tropes seen in [b:Enchantment|7973|Enchantment|Orson Scott Card|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51XPbsGk6yL._SL75_.jpg|506063] which was an enjoyable read. It starts out with me, as a reader, worried that the story would devolve into Lord of the Flies, but Card manages to spin it in a hopeful direction.
The Wad chapters remind me of [b:Hart's Hope|95573|Hart's Hope|Orson Scott Card|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171303788s/95573.jpg|2085468] which is a repulsive book, imo, and probably for that reason, I found those chapters repellant.
I think Card is talented at telling stories that center on children's innocent amorality, but he really stinks when he tried to go into archetypes, so I am a bit worried about the sequel. But on it's own, I liked this book.
The Wad chapters remind me of [b:Hart's Hope|95573|Hart's Hope|Orson Scott Card|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171303788s/95573.jpg|2085468] which is a repulsive book, imo, and probably for that reason, I found those chapters repellant.
I think Card is talented at telling stories that center on children's innocent amorality, but he really stinks when he tried to go into archetypes, so I am a bit worried about the sequel. But on it's own, I liked this book.
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The Lost Gate starts promisingly enough with an interesting magical system, a novel mixing of mythological figures, and decent pacing.
However, beginning to be a problem when Danny gets to DC and unbearable after he goes to the Silverman's, the author stops having Danny do things to understand his powers and instead just has Danny think and talk about about the magical system with the other characters. It read exactly like the author had gotten too into his magical system and stopped telling the story and started explaining the mechanics of the magic which aren't even necessary to understand or appreciate the differe types of magic. Even when he stops exposition dumping and has Danny do something, he stops again the explain all the possible reason that magic worked that way.
Wad's story was dull and meaningless, apparently to make the obvious conclusion seem dramatic.
We also get a peak at how problematic (and not believable or relatable) the author's female characters are, not to mention a pointless character trying to molest Danny for no reason.
Then in the afterword the author says it's the best magical system he's ever come up with and he was trying to get the book in in time for the deadline and completely rushed a huge portion of the book. It shows.
However, beginning to be a problem when Danny gets to DC and unbearable after he goes to the Silverman's, the author stops having Danny do things to understand his powers and instead just has Danny think and talk about about the magical system with the other characters. It read exactly like the author had gotten too into his magical system and stopped telling the story and started explaining the mechanics of the magic which aren't even necessary to understand or appreciate the differe types of magic. Even when he stops exposition dumping and has Danny do something, he stops again the explain all the possible reason that magic worked that way.
Wad's story was dull and meaningless, apparently to make the obvious conclusion seem dramatic.
We also get a peak at how problematic (and not believable or relatable) the author's female characters are, not to mention a pointless character trying to molest Danny for no reason.
Then in the afterword the author says it's the best magical system he's ever come up with and he was trying to get the book in in time for the deadline and completely rushed a huge portion of the book. It shows.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
I am divided about this book. I like the idea of the old stories and fables being real and the families related to each of those being at odds with each other. I occasionally liked the main character, Danny, and occasionally didn't. He was inconsistent for me, I suppose people in life are as well, it was just a little off. There is language in this book, if you are sensitive to that. As well as some gore and terribly awful ideas. I think I was worried as the ending got closer and closer and I knew whatever was going to happen was going to be a bit rushed. The worlds of Wad and Danny were going to meet, but there just wasn't enough time to hash all of that out in a satisfactory manner. Two and a half stars.
Well, that was a pleasant surprise.
This is a story about Danny, a "nonmage" member of a family that is descended from Gods - the norse gods in particular. But then he finds out he's a "gate-mage" descendant of Loki... and has to run for his life until he learns (somehow) to control the magic of the gates...
Its definitely a YA book (protag is 13yo, and has all the learning about the world tropes going on) but the world building is very good (although a little over explained perhaps?) A lot of the characters are a bit seedy - or hold the idiot ball too much - but damn was it easy to just read
Whole book got devoured in a single (long) sitting and felt like the equivalent of watching a fun tv episode (supernatural?) full of obvious tropes that get twisted just a little bit, lot of "fun scenes" where the character gets to do some cool things, but not a whole lot of story. "Junk food" for the brain.
Just what I needed after reading Beowulf!
I'm going to get the rest of the series for sure.
This is a story about Danny, a "nonmage" member of a family that is descended from Gods - the norse gods in particular. But then he finds out he's a "gate-mage" descendant of Loki... and has to run for his life until he learns (somehow) to control the magic of the gates...
Its definitely a YA book (protag is 13yo, and has all the learning about the world tropes going on) but the world building is very good (although a little over explained perhaps?) A lot of the characters are a bit seedy - or hold the idiot ball too much - but damn was it easy to just read
Whole book got devoured in a single (long) sitting and felt like the equivalent of watching a fun tv episode (supernatural?) full of obvious tropes that get twisted just a little bit, lot of "fun scenes" where the character gets to do some cool things, but not a whole lot of story. "Junk food" for the brain.
Just what I needed after reading Beowulf!
I'm going to get the rest of the series for sure.
A compelling page turner with unique takes on magic. I love the way this universe is set up, and the way this book sets the stage for an ongoing universe, where I'm eager to hear more
3.5 Stars
Good in parts, a bit boring in others, but overall a pretty dang cool magic system and I really think the books to come will be even better. This was mostly a set-up for the rest of the series, especially after listening to the afterword.
Good in parts, a bit boring in others, but overall a pretty dang cool magic system and I really think the books to come will be even better. This was mostly a set-up for the rest of the series, especially after listening to the afterword.