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A review by metalphoenix
Throne of the Crescent Moon by Saladin Ahmed
4.0
I mostly enjoyed this book for two main reasons: the unique composition of the core team, and the unexpected direction the Falcon Prince storyline took in the end.
The characters are definitely the heart of the story. The main group is a weary ghul-hunter who just wants to retire, a warrior torn between his faith and his love for his companions, and the last is a vengeful protector of a destroyed tribe. Add in a Robin Hood figure in the Falcon Prince, and a couple of alchemists, and you've got an intriguing cast with great dynamics.
While most of the book was pretty typical in pacing and plot direction, I was definitely surprised by the ending. The book leans toward an frantic, apocalyptic battle between the heroes and villains. I expected
The world building was a little underwhelming. Ahmed seemed to rely on the novelty of a non-western based world, which was definitely refreshing but could have been more fully realized. We don't get much exploration of the magic system beyond that it works when it needs to, but then sometimes it doesn't. The culture was barely expanded either, except in Zamia's discomfort in the city. I would have liked more in this area, and hopefully future books will flesh out the world.
The characters are definitely the heart of the story. The main group is a weary ghul-hunter who just wants to retire, a warrior torn between his faith and his love for his companions, and the last is a vengeful protector of a destroyed tribe. Add in a Robin Hood figure in the Falcon Prince, and a couple of alchemists, and you've got an intriguing cast with great dynamics.
While most of the book was pretty typical in pacing and plot direction, I was definitely surprised by the ending. The book leans toward an frantic, apocalyptic battle between the heroes and villains. I expected
Spoiler
a more "tragic hero" trajectory for the Falcon Prince, with a stereotypical sacrifice or some other usual fantasy trope. Instead I got a selfish act of self-preservation, at the expense of an innocent. It was fascinating, and a perfect set up for future novels.The world building was a little underwhelming. Ahmed seemed to rely on the novelty of a non-western based world, which was definitely refreshing but could have been more fully realized. We don't get much exploration of the magic system beyond that it works when it needs to, but then sometimes it doesn't. The culture was barely expanded either, except in Zamia's discomfort in the city. I would have liked more in this area, and hopefully future books will flesh out the world.