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loont's review
1.0
This is the most disappointing fantasy book I've read in a long time.
Let me explain. First off, I like fantasy, or rather I hope I like and keep reading fantasy novels. And sometimes they are indeed enjoyable! I read it and have fun and excitedly pick up the next one... only to discover the author's success has lead them to dramatically rush the next book in the series. Leading to a sloppy, boring, cliche filled continuance of a story that had previously engaged me.
Well here's a new one on me, because The Red Wolf Conspiracy does this exact thing a little less than half way through the first book! See at first I was engaged. The characters were solid, I liked them and wanted to see where they were going. The world building was interesting and somewhat original, I liked spending time there. The plot was definitively, and without any question, going towards a mid-scale, somewhat more original and interesting route that had me going.
And then it feels as if in the middle of writing the novel someone advised the author that their plot was boring because it was too personal and original, and they should ditch the entire thing and go with an evil object will destroy the world plot. And without hesitation the author thought this was a splendid idea, and abruptly changed the entire course of the book to be that without bothering to re-write the entire first half they'd already finished to support this completely different plot.
I wish I was exaggerating, but I'm not. Imagine if half way through Star Wars (A New Hope) Obi-Wan Kenobi, while on the Death Star, told everyone that Princess Leia didn't matter, the Death Star didn't matter, and that what they really had to do was stop a plot by the Sand People, so let's get out of here and do that. That's how jarring and offbeat this book is. It has the most abrupt, senseless, and perplexing change of pace, plot, and everything else I've ever read in my entire life.
I pretty much immediately gave it up as lost. I don't know what on earth happened when writing this book, but if the author had had the conviction that their story was good, their setup was good, and they were doing good... Well it would've have been an accomplished debut that I would have happily (with a cringing sense of foreboding) bought the sequel to in the hopes that it too was good. Instead I'm just left sitting here, wondering why on earth any author would suddenly turn their hard worked on story into yet another "LOTR but there's a sword cause swords are cooler" knockoff.
Let me explain. First off, I like fantasy, or rather I hope I like and keep reading fantasy novels. And sometimes they are indeed enjoyable! I read it and have fun and excitedly pick up the next one... only to discover the author's success has lead them to dramatically rush the next book in the series. Leading to a sloppy, boring, cliche filled continuance of a story that had previously engaged me.
Well here's a new one on me, because The Red Wolf Conspiracy does this exact thing a little less than half way through the first book! See at first I was engaged. The characters were solid, I liked them and wanted to see where they were going. The world building was interesting and somewhat original, I liked spending time there. The plot was definitively, and without any question, going towards a mid-scale, somewhat more original and interesting route that had me going.
And then it feels as if in the middle of writing the novel someone advised the author that their plot was boring because it was too personal and original, and they should ditch the entire thing and go with an evil object will destroy the world plot. And without hesitation the author thought this was a splendid idea, and abruptly changed the entire course of the book to be that without bothering to re-write the entire first half they'd already finished to support this completely different plot.
I wish I was exaggerating, but I'm not. Imagine if half way through Star Wars (A New Hope) Obi-Wan Kenobi, while on the Death Star, told everyone that Princess Leia didn't matter, the Death Star didn't matter, and that what they really had to do was stop a plot by the Sand People, so let's get out of here and do that. That's how jarring and offbeat this book is. It has the most abrupt, senseless, and perplexing change of pace, plot, and everything else I've ever read in my entire life.
I pretty much immediately gave it up as lost. I don't know what on earth happened when writing this book, but if the author had had the conviction that their story was good, their setup was good, and they were doing good... Well it would've have been an accomplished debut that I would have happily (with a cringing sense of foreboding) bought the sequel to in the hopes that it too was good. Instead I'm just left sitting here, wondering why on earth any author would suddenly turn their hard worked on story into yet another "LOTR but there's a sword cause swords are cooler" knockoff.
mwplante's review against another edition
4.0
Quality yarn with a few shortcomings to be elaborated upon later...
emmyrosem's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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
biophile's review
Wanted to like it, but for some reason it just dragged on and on. Way too much like YA fiction, and a little heavy on the world building. The best part was the Woken animals, but even that didn't fit well with the overall story and the muddy role of the protagonist.
_b_a_l_'s review against another edition
3.0
I'm rounding up from 2.5 stars.
There are some good bits, but they're floating in a generic fantasy trope soup, and the world-building croutons are so hard and chunky they stick in your throat.
Goodreads says this is his debut novel, he's gotten so much better, so rather hit up [b:Master Assassins: The Fire Sacraments, Book One|36712638|Master Assassins The Fire Sacraments, Book One|Robert V.S. Redick|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1519940229s/36712638.jpg|56817764]. (Master Assassins is more of a hidden-centre soufflé, subtle and surprising and covered in delicious grimdark sauce).
goes to get lunch since its clearly effecting her reviewing ability
There are some good bits, but they're floating in a generic fantasy trope soup, and the world-building croutons are so hard and chunky they stick in your throat.
Goodreads says this is his debut novel, he's gotten so much better, so rather hit up [b:Master Assassins: The Fire Sacraments, Book One|36712638|Master Assassins The Fire Sacraments, Book One|Robert V.S. Redick|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1519940229s/36712638.jpg|56817764]. (Master Assassins is more of a hidden-centre soufflé, subtle and surprising and covered in delicious grimdark sauce).
goes to get lunch since its clearly effecting her reviewing ability
kadomi's review
4.0
I never heard of the term maritime fantasy before, until I met this book and fell in love with it. The Red Wolf Conspiracy was the first major book by Robert V.S Redick, and it's been a long time since I read a fantasy book that was literally so fantastic.
The Chathrand is the pride of the Empire of Arqual, a ship larger than any other, the last of her kind, the last to be able to cross the Ruling Sea. She is the centerpiece in the story that's set all aboard her, as she travels to bring Thasha Isiq to the Mzithrini Kingdom, to marry a prince and bring a lasting peace between the two countries. Or maybe that isn't the mission after all? There is a conspiracy aboard, led by the sinister captain Nilus Rose and the Empire's spy master Sandor Ott. Swept up in the middle is our male protagonist, Pazel Pathkendle, a 16-year old tarboy who is from Ormael, which pretty much makes him a slave and invites contempt from the Arquali.
This book is full of imaginative characters, names and races. You will meet talking rats, a race of tiny people called ixchel, mer-maids, a powerful mage in the shape of a black mink, a mysterious cat, old ladies from a scary school for girls, a translucent race of slavers called Flikkermen, and so on and so forth.
There's magic afoot and there's a giant showdown, and it's just all so much fun. There's a dash of steampunk, as the Empire of Arqual feels very Victorian somehow, Great Britain at the height of Imperialism, just more ruthless. The story can be confusing at times as there are a million characters and locations to remember, but I for my part enjoyed it immensely.
4.5 stars, looking forward to the next book!
The Chathrand is the pride of the Empire of Arqual, a ship larger than any other, the last of her kind, the last to be able to cross the Ruling Sea. She is the centerpiece in the story that's set all aboard her, as she travels to bring Thasha Isiq to the Mzithrini Kingdom, to marry a prince and bring a lasting peace between the two countries. Or maybe that isn't the mission after all? There is a conspiracy aboard, led by the sinister captain Nilus Rose and the Empire's spy master Sandor Ott. Swept up in the middle is our male protagonist, Pazel Pathkendle, a 16-year old tarboy who is from Ormael, which pretty much makes him a slave and invites contempt from the Arquali.
This book is full of imaginative characters, names and races. You will meet talking rats, a race of tiny people called ixchel, mer-maids, a powerful mage in the shape of a black mink, a mysterious cat, old ladies from a scary school for girls, a translucent race of slavers called Flikkermen, and so on and so forth.
There's magic afoot and there's a giant showdown, and it's just all so much fun. There's a dash of steampunk, as the Empire of Arqual feels very Victorian somehow, Great Britain at the height of Imperialism, just more ruthless. The story can be confusing at times as there are a million characters and locations to remember, but I for my part enjoyed it immensely.
4.5 stars, looking forward to the next book!
telamcgrupp's review against another edition
4.0
I think the only thing anyone really needs to know before going into reading this book (which I discovered by accident as a Buddy Read in one of my groups) is how much freaking fun it is to read. It isn't mind-blowing or even "fresh" or new, but it was FUN! I feel like Redick enjoyed himself to the fullest while writing it and that really showed through his characterizations. Its a fun little nautical adventure book with a touch of classic fantasy and I am pretty sure I'll finish out the series and even move onto his other one. 3 stars for quality of writing + another star for the fun I had while reading it. Solid!!
mattygroves's review against another edition
This is YA-ish fantasy, in the vein of Pullman's His Dark Materials. Lots of kids and talking animals. Good quality prose, wonderfully strange gaslamp/maritime setting, but it overstays its welcome, and plot points strain credulity.