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A review by alyssaarch
Alvin Journeyman by Orson Scott Card
4.0
This is one of the best alternate history series I've ever read. It's clever, well-researched, and incredibly entertaining. For those of you who know your early American history, you will appreciate Card's rendition of mid-nineteenth century America. What I appreciate the most about this series is the writing. It's clean and efficient, and he trusts his reader. Despite all the information he throws at you, he doesn't stop and take the time to explain every little detail; he trusts that you'll pick up on the historical references.
One of the main things I love about this series is that you get to see the characters grow. By the end of each book, all the characters have gone through obstacles and are changed because of it. In this particular novel, Alvin is put in jail and tried for the "theft" of the golden plow from Makepeace. We are introduced to some very interesting new characters and meet up with quite a few old faces from Hatrack River.
Alvin Journeyman is also one of the more suspenseful books so far in this series. Between the trial, Calvin's troubles, and Peggy's dilemma about whether or not to go back to Hatrack River and help Alvin, I couldn't stop turning the pages. It is a bit slower going in this novel because of the lack of war and action, but I didn't enjoy it any less. It is a middle book in a series, so there's going to be quite a bit of set-up for the end, and I'm sure there will be a payoff.
Overall, I like how this series is progressing. I love how Alvin isn't the perfect hero -- he has a good heart to be sure, but he has many flaws and a lot of doubts about his work in the world. The challenges between Alvin and the Unmaker are kept fresh, and now we're seeing a big conflict coming up between Alvin and Calvin, something I saw coming, but I'm excited to read about nonetheless.
Also posted on Purple People Readers.
One of the main things I love about this series is that you get to see the characters grow. By the end of each book, all the characters have gone through obstacles and are changed because of it. In this particular novel, Alvin is put in jail and tried for the "theft" of the golden plow from Makepeace. We are introduced to some very interesting new characters and meet up with quite a few old faces from Hatrack River.
Alvin Journeyman is also one of the more suspenseful books so far in this series. Between the trial, Calvin's troubles, and Peggy's dilemma about whether or not to go back to Hatrack River and help Alvin, I couldn't stop turning the pages. It is a bit slower going in this novel because of the lack of war and action, but I didn't enjoy it any less. It is a middle book in a series, so there's going to be quite a bit of set-up for the end, and I'm sure there will be a payoff.
Overall, I like how this series is progressing. I love how Alvin isn't the perfect hero -- he has a good heart to be sure, but he has many flaws and a lot of doubts about his work in the world. The challenges between Alvin and the Unmaker are kept fresh, and now we're seeing a big conflict coming up between Alvin and Calvin, something I saw coming, but I'm excited to read about nonetheless.
Also posted on Purple People Readers.