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A review by catwithspectacles
The Hourglass Throne by K.D. Edwards
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
In comparison to the first two books of this series, The Hourglass Throne benefitted from the addition of new characters and suffered from questionable editing. Mundane, everyday events are described with little contribution to the plot, while points of tension vanish when they are summarized instead of truly resolved. I found myself, at multiple points, re-reading to decipher whether I had missed something. In one section, a brilliantly terrifying monster is hunted for half a chapter, only to disappear, its eventual defeat relegated to an off-handed comment. Creative magical ailments are forgotten about. There is simply too much going on, and the result is a crowded and shallow narrative.
Onto more complimentary notes, the author received feedback after his first novel about the lack of female characters. In all fairness, the three main characters are all gay men, and I don't expect every book to cater to every demographic. But Edwards listened, and the results are a variety of three-dimensional female characters that I found myself invested in. The protagonist and his best friend receive significantly more character development than in the last book, and a few key revelations are made that had me gasping aloud in my bedroom in the middle of the night. While the book is clunky, it is redeemed by a skilled, conversational voice and the blooming relationships between a cast of wholly endearing characters. I am looking forward to the fourth book :)
Onto more complimentary notes, the author received feedback after his first novel about the lack of female characters. In all fairness, the three main characters are all gay men, and I don't expect every book to cater to every demographic. But Edwards listened, and the results are a variety of three-dimensional female characters that I found myself invested in. The protagonist and his best friend receive significantly more character development than in the last book, and a few key revelations are made that had me gasping aloud in my bedroom in the middle of the night. While the book is clunky, it is redeemed by a skilled, conversational voice and the blooming relationships between a cast of wholly endearing characters. I am looking forward to the fourth book :)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Violence
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, and Body horror