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A review by halefa
The Land of Shadows by Seth Lowen
Did not finish book. Stopped at 44%.
really wanted to like this one, it started so promising. However, I sadly had to DNF at 44%.
This is a very classic adventurous coming-of-age story that many still might find enjoyable. It's good old-school high fantasy with a clear cut villain, clear cut heroes, a beautiful princess, monsters and a lot of stories told as loredrops.
Here are my reasons for DNFing:
1. It's too polished, too clear cut. The heroes are knights in shining armour, true paladins. The protagonist is a tropey naive boy that worships those heroes and in combat situations believes he can be the hero and save everyone - and probably does at the end of the book. There was no edge to anyone, no one stuck out and was likeable enough for me to want to follow them. On top of that, the protagonist has a brother who is basically the same as him?? Why is the brother even there, what purpose does he have for the plot?
2. I did not enjoy how characters were written. They're all polished and shiny and perfect. And then they all speak perfect prose - no person would speak that stiffly and formally when telling a story. But most of all the main characters' reactions to what happens to and around them is absolutely unrealistic and ridiculous. Pretty bad things happen to them and they bounce back without any emotional trauma or other consequences. Present them with a shiny lollipop in form of a pretty princess and they've forgotten everything.
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Review copy provided through NetGalley.
This is a very classic adventurous coming-of-age story that many still might find enjoyable. It's good old-school high fantasy with a clear cut villain, clear cut heroes, a beautiful princess, monsters and a lot of stories told as loredrops.
Here are my reasons for DNFing:
1. It's too polished, too clear cut. The heroes are knights in shining armour, true paladins. The protagonist is a tropey naive boy that worships those heroes and in combat situations believes he can be the hero and save everyone - and probably does at the end of the book. There was no edge to anyone, no one stuck out and was likeable enough for me to want to follow them. On top of that, the protagonist has a brother who is basically the same as him?? Why is the brother even there, what purpose does he have for the plot?
2. I did not enjoy how characters were written. They're all polished and shiny and perfect. And then they all speak perfect prose - no person would speak that stiffly and formally when telling a story. But most of all the main characters' reactions to what happens to and around them is absolutely unrealistic and ridiculous. Pretty bad things happen to them and they bounce back without any emotional trauma or other consequences. Present them with a shiny lollipop in form of a pretty princess and they've forgotten everything.
---------------
Review copy provided through NetGalley.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Death of parent
Minor: Grief