Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by rusalka347
Hero at the Fall by Alwyn Hamilton
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
This is one of the best series finales I have read. I love how we could easily see Amani's character evolution from a "selfish Dustwalk girl" to a brave Rebellion leader. Her relationship with Jin is stronger than ever, and the author never tries abusing the miscommunication trope or creating a love triangle with the two of them just to spice things up, which is really refreshing for this genre.
I also like how the author didn't shy away from showing us the real costs of the war; I won't go into spoilers for this review but, needless to say, no one is truly safe and plot armour isn't a thing.
Last but certainly not least, I really liked how the author continued sprinkling third person pov chapters that tell the action through the lens of an ordinary storyteller or "background character", as they really add a sort of whimsical, fairytale-like layer to the story, while also asking the reader to think more deeply about the fine line between fiction and history.
The one thing stopping me from giving it a full 5 stars is the fact that the protagonist's impulsive - and often stupid- choices are still rewarded by the narrative. She lets go of her selfish impulses, but otherwise doesn't seem to truly learn her lesson when it comes to her tendency not to think things through.
I also like how the author didn't shy away from showing us the real costs of the war; I won't go into spoilers for this review but, needless to say, no one is truly safe and plot armour isn't a thing.
Last but certainly not least, I really liked how the author continued sprinkling third person pov chapters that tell the action through the lens of an ordinary storyteller or "background character", as they really add a sort of whimsical, fairytale-like layer to the story, while also asking the reader to think more deeply about the fine line between fiction and history.
The one thing stopping me from giving it a full 5 stars is the fact that the protagonist's impulsive - and often stupid- choices are still rewarded by the narrative. She lets go of her selfish impulses, but otherwise doesn't seem to truly learn her lesson when it comes to her tendency not to think things through.