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A review by explikator
The Ember Blade by Chris Wooding
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
A 800 page High Fantasy epic, just as they used to be, long ago, when Elves and Dwarves and Trolls ruled over our planet? To get lost into a strange, new world where heat is produced by firestone and kindle and not by the climate crisis - wouldn't that be worth your time?
"The Ember Blade" promises exactly this and partly it delivers, too. 1) This book is 800 pages long. 2) It tells the good ole "Chosen One" trope anew. 3) It doesn't tire to tell you that it's situated on another planet: "Two moons! Take this, Middle Earth!" 4) There seem to be other typical Fantasy races, but ... we don't meet them. At least not in this part of the trilogy.
That said: It was an entertaining read, even though sometimes LOTR shone through too bright. I really didn't care too much about Aren, even less for Cade and Grub was just a very stereotypical barbarian. The female characters had the following roles to play: Unreachable upper-class idol. Hyper-intelligent, but very angry mastermind. Tough, but neurotic girl, which is thankful for the heroes attention.
Two characters were interesting: Vika, the druidess and Klyssen, the bad guy. Vika is confronted with the fact that her special brand of wisdom is eradicated from the world and Klyssen, the torturer, loves his children and his grumpy cat. There's something.
"The Ember Blade" is written very professionally and it flows nicely. The changing POVs are not jarring and flashbacks are short and useful. It is structured like a trilogy in itself (like LOTR!), consisting of an escape story, and adventurous travel with unlikely companions and a heist at the end. I will pick up the next series of books once Chris Wooding has told this trilogy.
"The Ember Blade" promises exactly this and partly it delivers, too. 1) This book is 800 pages long. 2) It tells the good ole "Chosen One" trope anew. 3) It doesn't tire to tell you that it's situated on another planet: "Two moons! Take this, Middle Earth!" 4) There seem to be other typical Fantasy races, but ... we don't meet them. At least not in this part of the trilogy.
Two characters were interesting: Vika, the druidess and Klyssen, the bad guy. Vika is confronted with the fact that her special brand of wisdom is eradicated from the world and Klyssen, the torturer, loves his children and his grumpy cat. There's something.
"The Ember Blade" is written very professionally and it flows nicely. The changing POVs are not jarring and flashbacks are short and useful. It is structured like a trilogy in itself (like LOTR!), consisting of an escape story, and adventurous travel with unlikely companions and a heist at the end. I will pick up the next series of books once Chris Wooding has told this trilogy.