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A review by el393way
A Broken Blade by Melissa Blair
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
In the moment of reading this book, I enjoyed it enough to finish it with ease. After finishing, I thought about some things a bit more and started to change my opinion. I can see why people have overall rated this book so high. It was easy to get through, had some quick pacing at times, and had lots of the tropes people really like.
The representation of different types of people (I assume comparing to different races) was probably the most consistently well-done part of this book. It would make sense as this topic is important to the author and she is able to give an own-voice perspective to it. Some of the divisions of the different fae, humans, halflings, and elves was a bit confusing, but mostly well done.
After learning the origin of this book, the over abundance of tropes makes sense. However, it feels like checking off tropes was more important than a cohesive plot. The book tried to stay lighthearted in some ways but also tackled some very sensitive subjects. It didn't feel like the author had personal experience with any of these tough topics, so the portrayal of them (alcoholism and self-harm) were very poorly done compared to the topic that did have importance to the author. It was a bit frustrating that the idea of self harm felt very surface level and then was completely abandoned by the time it was finally revealed to the love interest. In fact, it became something that made her more attractive. The internal thoughts of the character regarding her alcoholism were somewhat accurate but the outward portrayal was so unrealistic. Her addiction was given a literal magic potion to make it go away.
The pacing of the book was so strange. Some things like travel and visits to elsewhere, that had potential for so much to happen, were quick and seemingly unimportant. But then whole chapters were devoted to planning things and discussion of crop economics. It was bizarre.
I think this author has the potential to make a good second book considering it would be impossible to release it in the same way they did the first. I would hope that the author takes note of the critiques received because there really is potential for this world to improve.
The representation of different types of people (I assume comparing to different races) was probably the most consistently well-done part of this book. It would make sense as this topic is important to the author and she is able to give an own-voice perspective to it. Some of the divisions of the different fae, humans, halflings, and elves was a bit confusing, but mostly well done.
After learning the origin of this book, the over abundance of tropes makes sense. However, it feels like checking off tropes was more important than a cohesive plot. The book tried to stay lighthearted in some ways but also tackled some very sensitive subjects. It didn't feel like the author had personal experience with any of these tough topics, so the portrayal of them (alcoholism and self-harm) were very poorly done compared to the topic that did have importance to the author. It was a bit frustrating that the idea of self harm felt very surface level and then was completely abandoned by the time it was finally revealed to the love interest. In fact, it became something that made her more attractive. The internal thoughts of the character regarding her alcoholism were somewhat accurate but the outward portrayal was so unrealistic. Her addiction was given a literal magic potion to make it go away.
The pacing of the book was so strange. Some things like travel and visits to elsewhere, that had potential for so much to happen, were quick and seemingly unimportant. But then whole chapters were devoted to planning things and discussion of crop economics. It was bizarre.
I think this author has the potential to make a good second book considering it would be impossible to release it in the same way they did the first. I would hope that the author takes note of the critiques received because there really is potential for this world to improve.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism and Self harm
Moderate: Sexual violence and Death