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A review by nerdybookster
The Cracked Altar by Timothy J.R. Rains
challenging
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I'm not sure the sacking of a town is the correct response for the theft of a spellbook. I felt bad for Hinkle. Half for how she grew up and half for how her life goes after meeting Sir Gilcrest. Her life, garbage as it was, was better with the Baronet in Sweetwater than it was with him in Klomm. How are people like this?
It proved one thing to me irrevocably: Those in power will sacrifice whatever people and morals necessary to get what they want and condemn the less fortunate than themselves for doing the same thing in the same breath. Gilcrest was a hypocrite of the highest order. I found myself rooting for the person who was meant to be the VILLAIN most of the time.
I kind of wonder what half the point even was? I'm sure this is just the world-building lead up to the series arc, but I feel like there was so much that wasn't explained that should have been. Such as what prompted White/Black Magic in the first place? Who exactly was her uncle? Why was he in league with the sorcerer person? Why did they bring back Count Olgris at all? The opening tag line of the synopsis seems to have very little to do with the entire rest of the novel as we focus on a war between Klomm and Caragol instead of the Mage and Kerstin.
I dunno. This was like a washy three and a half stars from me. I'll pick up the next book in the series eventually to see if it can change my mind, but right now it's very "meh".
It proved one thing to me irrevocably: Those in power will sacrifice whatever people and morals necessary to get what they want and condemn the less fortunate than themselves for doing the same thing in the same breath. Gilcrest was a hypocrite of the highest order. I found myself rooting for the person who was meant to be the VILLAIN most of the time.
I kind of wonder what half the point even was? I'm sure this is just the world-building lead up to the series arc, but I feel like there was so much that wasn't explained that should have been. Such as what prompted White/Black Magic in the first place? Who exactly was her uncle? Why was he in league with the sorcerer person? Why did they bring back Count Olgris at all? The opening tag line of the synopsis seems to have very little to do with the entire rest of the novel as we focus on a war between Klomm and Caragol instead of the Mage and Kerstin.
I dunno. This was like a washy three and a half stars from me. I'll pick up the next book in the series eventually to see if it can change my mind, but right now it's very "meh".