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peregrineace's review against another edition
4.0
For the first entry in a new series, this is a solid fantasy novel. The pace is a bit slow in places but the world is interesting and the hints of a larger story pulled me along. Unlike many multi POV books, I enjoyed both protagonists' sections. Connolly has given us two characters with overlapping interests but very different perspectives and done both credibly. In addition to the two leads, their travelling companions are interesting, range in age, and are from a variety of locations in the world he's built.
A good pick for fantasy fans who like quicker reads (this first in a trilogy is under 400 pages), completed series, and an interesting cast of characters. Very happy to have the other two books waiting for me.
A good pick for fantasy fans who like quicker reads (this first in a trilogy is under 400 pages), completed series, and an interesting cast of characters. Very happy to have the other two books waiting for me.
triplzer0's review against another edition
2.0
For such a long book, I feel like not a lot happened. Maybe because it's supposed to be a thriller mixed with epic fantasy. The premise of an epic fantasy about an empire in the midst of a collapse was cool, but I feel like that's not what happened. The two main characters Tejohn and Cazia end up on epic fantasy quests. Maybe I felt let down because my expectations (totally my fault!) didn't line up with what the book ended up being.
There was a ton of world building, but because of the pacing I never got a good grasp on the world. And then more stuff gets added and added--first there's magic (called Gifts given by the Evening People) and then giant eagles and then we find out there's giant bugs too and portals to other worlds/realms(?). Lots of stuff but I just couldn't dive into it.
The magic system was cool, especially with the consequences that can happen to scholars (aka mages/wizards) if they cast too many spells. Wasn't explored too much, though I think it will be in the rest of the series. I don't think I'm going to finish the series though. This first book felt too much like a slog.
There was a ton of world building, but because of the pacing I never got a good grasp on the world. And then more stuff gets added and added--first there's magic (called Gifts given by the Evening People) and then giant eagles and then we find out there's giant bugs too and portals to other worlds/realms(?). Lots of stuff but I just couldn't dive into it.
The magic system was cool, especially with the consequences that can happen to scholars (aka mages/wizards) if they cast too many spells. Wasn't explored too much, though I think it will be in the rest of the series. I don't think I'm going to finish the series though. This first book felt too much like a slog.
sannevisser's review against another edition
2.0
Rambling! I got mislead by the high reviews of this book. I liked the premise, and the world-ending dystopia, but the book loses characters left and right and the two that remain I just didn't relate to at all. I liked Lar, but he was out of the story really soon. That's when I stopped reading and it took forever to get back to this book. I did want to know what would happen though, so thus two star review, because there was enough story there to want to finish the book. But then the story doesn't really end, you need to read the other two books to get to the real end. I guess if I ever want to torture myself some more I will finish te series, but I am probably not that much of a masochist.
hawkeyegonzalez's review against another edition
3.0
This book isn't bad at all, but it's not great either. It has pretty good world-building, and some of the characters are interesting, particularly Ivy and Arla. There are definitely some slow parts, like the seemingly endless trek through the mountains, but overall the book was interesting enough to bring me back for the next one.
bethmitcham's review against another edition
4.0
Connolly has a strong sense of setting, character, and plot, keeping several strands moving forward into very distressing situations. Everything fits together and the people react cleverly and naturally, some being honest and other double crossing, some with courage and others more timidly.
His willingness to let the characters suffer the consequences of their decisions and situations is a bit grim for me, but I will definitely continue on with this series.
His willingness to let the characters suffer the consequences of their decisions and situations is a bit grim for me, but I will definitely continue on with this series.
jeffy's review against another edition
4.0
I'm not sure how he does this, but Harry Connolly has terrible things happen to his characters in almost every chapter yet the tone of the book never sinks into grimness. Part of it is the short chapters with shifting point of view so when the grizzled veteran has been tormented enough we can switch over to the young magic user, and when she's been backed into a corner of certain disaster, we get a rest by going back to the grizzled veteran to see what he does next.
All three books are out now, and three is all there are, so it's safe to start this series and be able to read straight through at whatever pace suits you. I'm taking a break before moving on to the next book, but I will be moving on to the next book.
All three books are out now, and three is all there are, so it's safe to start this series and be able to read straight through at whatever pace suits you. I'm taking a break before moving on to the next book, but I will be moving on to the next book.
joannawnyc's review against another edition
3.0
Epic fantasy done right. Possibly a little too well-templated.
cultureulterior's review against another edition
3.0
I'm a big fan of the Twenty Palaces series- they an amazing piece of urban fantasy, and that's why it was a pleasure and privilege to back Connolly's kickstarter. Now, part of that is that the author is holding any future novels in that series hostage to him becoming rich and famous. Still, I came into this book dying to be convinced that he knew what he was doing.
After having read this book, and the other two on this series, I am not happy. The best part of this story is that of Cazia, a sorceress and professional hostage, but even her story gets more and more attenuated as the series goes on. I'd say my biggest complaint about this sorry epic fantasy is that no-one feels competent. Every quest and activity goes by like a comedy of errors, with mistakes and bumbling plotlines that seem to serve no purpose than lengthen the book.
Connolly is super liberal- It's obvious when you read even the 20 palaces series, not in the least when he gives his main character a secret means to always avoid killing that nobody else has, and then spends his time complaining that other people have to kill, but he's managed to restrain somewhat this time, and I did not sigh about his naivete more than a few times per book.
In all, I would probably not have finished this series unless I'd paid for them all already, but I'll definitely read future works by Connolly, since he's ably demonstrated that he can write.
After having read this book, and the other two on this series, I am not happy. The best part of this story is that of Cazia, a sorceress and professional hostage, but even her story gets more and more attenuated as the series goes on. I'd say my biggest complaint about this sorry epic fantasy is that no-one feels competent. Every quest and activity goes by like a comedy of errors, with mistakes and bumbling plotlines that seem to serve no purpose than lengthen the book.
Connolly is super liberal- It's obvious when you read even the 20 palaces series, not in the least when he gives his main character a secret means to always avoid killing that nobody else has, and then spends his time complaining that other people have to kill, but he's managed to restrain somewhat this time, and I did not sigh about his naivete more than a few times per book.
In all, I would probably not have finished this series unless I'd paid for them all already, but I'll definitely read future works by Connolly, since he's ably demonstrated that he can write.
kittyg's review against another edition
2.0
This is one of the books I read as part of #SPFBO and I am certainly a bit torn on this one. I read the whole thing, and liked about half of it (hence my rating of 2.5*s). I definitely feel like this one was just so mixed for me, at times I found myself sucked in and other times I was just a bit out of the plot and it wasn't grabbing me...but I can't say for sure why...
This is set in a fairly large fantasy world where there's lots of smaller kingdoms and lands spread out. We are following the royals, namely the prince, Lar, and his cousins, soldiers and family. When the story starts he's living a fairly happy life waiting to become King and in training, but quickly a trade goes badly wrong, a portal is opened, and evil beasts called Grunts are unleashed on the world. It's quickly discovered that the royal family (all except Lar) have been killed and Lar and his friends need to flee and try to get help, but once the chaos starts it spreads across the land.
What I liked about this was the relationship between Cazia and Ivy as the story went on. Caz is a young woman who has been held as a hostage all her life but has been learning the magic of this world and she's a keen scholar in the making. She's super loyal to Lar and loves him as a brother, so when the chaos of the beasts starts and events force her to separate from Lar and look out for Ivy (his betrothed) she does just that.
Ivy is a super young character, only 12, and yet she's also very sensible for her age and for the problems which are facing her. I was a little irked by her at first, as she took her time to develop, but when she did she became one of my favourites and seeing her and Caz form a strong trust and bond was a great part of the story for me.
The other plotline follows Lar and Try Trejohn Treygar who is kind of a mentor/soldier/bodyguard to him. I really found I had a disconnect from the character of Lar and Trejohn Treygar, probably the reason why I didn't love about half of this book, and so I just found this plot to be less interesting overall. I do think we get to see a fair bit of the land through their eyes, and we encounter quite a bit of fighting and politics in their story too, and possibly this took over the action and character development a bit to the point where I just didn't have a lot to connect with for these two.
Overall, it's an interesting story of what would happen were a portal to open and dump out crazy monsters into the world, but it left me feeling a little bit disconnected and although I think there's certainly potential and strong writing at times, it just didn't capture my attention like I wanted it to. I gave it a 2.5*s in the end and so for SPFBO it gets a 5/10*s from me.
This is set in a fairly large fantasy world where there's lots of smaller kingdoms and lands spread out. We are following the royals, namely the prince, Lar, and his cousins, soldiers and family. When the story starts he's living a fairly happy life waiting to become King and in training, but quickly a trade goes badly wrong, a portal is opened, and evil beasts called Grunts are unleashed on the world. It's quickly discovered that the royal family (all except Lar) have been killed and Lar and his friends need to flee and try to get help, but once the chaos starts it spreads across the land.
What I liked about this was the relationship between Cazia and Ivy as the story went on. Caz is a young woman who has been held as a hostage all her life but has been learning the magic of this world and she's a keen scholar in the making. She's super loyal to Lar and loves him as a brother, so when the chaos of the beasts starts and events force her to separate from Lar and look out for Ivy (his betrothed) she does just that.
Ivy is a super young character, only 12, and yet she's also very sensible for her age and for the problems which are facing her. I was a little irked by her at first, as she took her time to develop, but when she did she became one of my favourites and seeing her and Caz form a strong trust and bond was a great part of the story for me.
The other plotline follows Lar and Try Trejohn Treygar who is kind of a mentor/soldier/bodyguard to him. I really found I had a disconnect from the character of Lar and Trejohn Treygar, probably the reason why I didn't love about half of this book, and so I just found this plot to be less interesting overall. I do think we get to see a fair bit of the land through their eyes, and we encounter quite a bit of fighting and politics in their story too, and possibly this took over the action and character development a bit to the point where I just didn't have a lot to connect with for these two.
Overall, it's an interesting story of what would happen were a portal to open and dump out crazy monsters into the world, but it left me feeling a little bit disconnected and although I think there's certainly potential and strong writing at times, it just didn't capture my attention like I wanted it to. I gave it a 2.5*s in the end and so for SPFBO it gets a 5/10*s from me.