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mimmsmilk's reviews
133 reviews
Liavek by Will Shetterly, Emma Bull
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Liavek is an amazing collection of short stories set within a shared world. It's the first book of its kind I have read, and the biggest feeling I got when reading it was that this must've been an immense exercise in mutual respect between the talented writers involved in this collection.
The world is huge and so well thought-out. I was stunned at just how much intricate detail was weaved through every story - from the hierarchy to the coinage to the magic system. The maps provided at the beginning of the book set the reader up for the kind of detail they should expect; the city map in particular denotes everywhere each story might take us. Every street is deliberately named, and points of interest are teasingly highlighted. There are rich characters who bob in and out of their stories and bleed into others, helping to create the feeling of a living, breathing city. The world is carefully crafted - It feels so alive from the first story to the last.
The stories themselves, well, like every short story collection I have favourites and ones that were just not for me. I would say my overall score suffers a little because most of these stories focus on the same subject: the investiture of luck. It tends to get a little repetitive after a while. A few lines on each:
Badu's Luck by Emma Bull is a brilliant opening story that succeeds in its very tough job of introducing the reader to the world and delivering a satisfying, well-written tale. This story's characterisation was excellent -Snake became one of my favourites . 4.5/5
The Green Rabbit From S'Rian by Gene Wolfe was unfortunately not for me. The story itself is well-written and I can certainly appreciate it (and I think I would've if this story had been placed further into the book), but for me, the ship-jargon and large cast of characters mixed in with a lot of new information about the world was too much and I'd largely switched off towards the end. I feel that if I reread this story now I would appreciate it more. 2.5/5
Ancient Curses by Patricia C. Wrede was another favourite - I love stories with an older woman as the central character. Wrede introduces us to another aspect of Liavek that most of the populace couldn't care less about. The story has a strong sense of place, characterisation and tension up until the very end. 5/5
Birth Luck by Nancy Kress was a good story that explored a less savoury aspect of Liavek - bondservants and what someone is willing to do to be free. It's a good story with a great set up and a satisfying conclusion, but the middle is a little too choppy and meandering. 2.75/5
An Act of Contrition by Steven Brust was a good read at the time, but hasn't left a lasting impression on me. The protagonist, Dashif, lives by his own rules and is willing to manipulate anyone in order to achieve his own goals. Brust does a good job of ingratiating his character into the world seamlessly. It might've been highlighted to me because this story isclosely connected to another later on in the book , but the details were not memorable enough and some of the characters involved, on reflection, seemed a little superfluous. 3/5
The Inn of the Demon Camel by Jane Yolen was, I thought, a really nice palate cleanser between two pretty long and heavy stories. The set-up is like the beginning of a familiar joke (three men walk into a bar...), and it felt like the kind of in-world cautionary tale I could see a performer entertaining paying crowds with. It approached the matter of birth luck in a completely different way to any of the other stories in the collection and I will say I appreciated that because most of these stories are about the investiture of luck in some way or another. It was humorous and didn't take itself too seriously. 5/5
The Hands of the Artist by Kara Dalkey was an okay story with a good plot and a clear message, but the characterisation wasn't strong enough for me to care about it one way or the other. The main character was a bit of an idiot lecher I wasn't rooting for from the beginning to the end. I appreciated the way luck was used in the story though. 2/5
The Green Cat by Pamela Dean was a long one, but in my opinion very, very good. The protagonist is vivid, an outsider to Liavek and to her own family whose only care is for her cat. I particularly liked that she judged others based on their knowledge of cats. It is another story centred on the use of luck (as most of the stories in this collection are) but I think this story is unique enough for it to stand out, and its conclusion was the best of all of them. 5/5
(Caveat: Megan Lindholm/Robin Hobb is my favourite, so I am most likely biased here) A Coincidence of Birth by Megan Lindholm is a good story filled with everything I've come to love about her stories. The characterisation is fantastic (there are no small characters in her stories), and the extra detail she infuses this story with like Worrynot and Potboils seamlessly brings it to life. I will say it is a little long, it seems like a set-up for another story instead of being completely satisfying by itself, and it also suffers because it is yet another story about the investiture of luck. Its strengths largely outweigh its weaknesses and I enjoyed it immensely. 4/5
Bound Things by Will Shetterly was a clever story in the POV of a character who has popped in and out of almost every other tale in this collection. I thought its placement in this anthology - near the end - was perfect as I'd wanted to know more about The Magician from the moment he was introduced in Badu's Luck. The story itself delivers by giving us a good strong tale that answers why out of all wizards, it is this man who's called The Magician. 4.5/5
The Fortune Maker by Barry B. Longyear has the dubious honour of being my least favourite out of the collection. It is again centred on the investiture of luck, and even though there are new elements introduced it is not unique enough to justify its length or subject matter. I found the protagonist uncompelling and the end was not one I felt he deserved. The subplot of Zayeri, Hidat and the Bhandafs was far more interesting than the rather bloated rest of the tale. 1.5/5
The world is huge and so well thought-out. I was stunned at just how much intricate detail was weaved through every story - from the hierarchy to the coinage to the magic system. The maps provided at the beginning of the book set the reader up for the kind of detail they should expect; the city map in particular denotes everywhere each story might take us. Every street is deliberately named, and points of interest are teasingly highlighted. There are rich characters who bob in and out of their stories and bleed into others, helping to create the feeling of a living, breathing city. The world is carefully crafted - It feels so alive from the first story to the last.
The stories themselves, well, like every short story collection I have favourites and ones that were just not for me. I would say my overall score suffers a little because most of these stories focus on the same subject: the investiture of luck. It tends to get a little repetitive after a while. A few lines on each:
Badu's Luck by Emma Bull is a brilliant opening story that succeeds in its very tough job of introducing the reader to the world and delivering a satisfying, well-written tale. This story's characterisation was excellent -
The Green Rabbit From S'Rian by Gene Wolfe was unfortunately not for me. The story itself is well-written and I can certainly appreciate it (and I think I would've if this story had been placed further into the book), but for me, the ship-jargon and large cast of characters mixed in with a lot of new information about the world was too much and I'd largely switched off towards the end. I feel that if I reread this story now I would appreciate it more. 2.5/5
Ancient Curses by Patricia C. Wrede was another favourite - I love stories with an older woman as the central character. Wrede introduces us to another aspect of Liavek that most of the populace couldn't care less about. The story has a strong sense of place, characterisation and tension up until the very end. 5/5
Birth Luck by Nancy Kress was a good story that explored a less savoury aspect of Liavek - bondservants and what someone is willing to do to be free. It's a good story with a great set up and a satisfying conclusion, but the middle is a little too choppy and meandering. 2.75/5
An Act of Contrition by Steven Brust was a good read at the time, but hasn't left a lasting impression on me. The protagonist, Dashif, lives by his own rules and is willing to manipulate anyone in order to achieve his own goals. Brust does a good job of ingratiating his character into the world seamlessly. It might've been highlighted to me because this story is
The Inn of the Demon Camel by Jane Yolen was, I thought, a really nice palate cleanser between two pretty long and heavy stories. The set-up is like the beginning of a familiar joke (three men walk into a bar...), and it felt like the kind of in-world cautionary tale I could see a performer entertaining paying crowds with. It approached the matter of birth luck in a completely different way to any of the other stories in the collection and I will say I appreciated that because most of these stories are about the investiture of luck in some way or another. It was humorous and didn't take itself too seriously. 5/5
The Hands of the Artist by Kara Dalkey was an okay story with a good plot and a clear message, but the characterisation wasn't strong enough for me to care about it one way or the other. The main character was a bit of an idiot lecher I wasn't rooting for from the beginning to the end. I appreciated the way luck was used in the story though. 2/5
The Green Cat by Pamela Dean was a long one, but in my opinion very, very good. The protagonist is vivid, an outsider to Liavek and to her own family whose only care is for her cat. I particularly liked that she judged others based on their knowledge of cats. It is another story centred on the use of luck (as most of the stories in this collection are) but I think this story is unique enough for it to stand out, and its conclusion was the best of all of them. 5/5
(Caveat: Megan Lindholm/Robin Hobb is my favourite, so I am most likely biased here) A Coincidence of Birth by Megan Lindholm is a good story filled with everything I've come to love about her stories. The characterisation is fantastic (there are no small characters in her stories), and the extra detail she infuses this story with like Worrynot and Potboils seamlessly brings it to life. I will say it is a little long, it seems like a set-up for another story instead of being completely satisfying by itself, and it also suffers because it is yet another story about the investiture of luck. Its strengths largely outweigh its weaknesses and I enjoyed it immensely. 4/5
Bound Things by Will Shetterly was a clever story in the POV of a character who has popped in and out of almost every other tale in this collection. I thought its placement in this anthology - near the end - was perfect as I'd wanted to know more about The Magician from the moment he was introduced in Badu's Luck. The story itself delivers by giving us a good strong tale that answers why out of all wizards, it is this man who's called The Magician. 4.5/5
The Fortune Maker by Barry B. Longyear has the dubious honour of being my least favourite out of the collection. It is again centred on the investiture of luck, and even though there are new elements introduced it is not unique enough to justify its length or subject matter. I found the protagonist uncompelling and the end was not one I felt he deserved. The subplot of Zayeri, Hidat and the Bhandafs was far more interesting than the rather bloated rest of the tale. 1.5/5
The Windsingers by Megan Lindholm
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The second book in the Ki and Vandien quartet. Still a very good read, but not on par with Harpy’s Flight.
In this second book, there are multiple POVs and the world expands. The focus Lindholm placed on making sure the reader really knew the main characters in Harpy’s Flight really does pay off in The Windsingers. I reinvested myself immediately from page one. The characterisation remains the high point of Lindholm/Hobb’s writing.
The multiple POVs worked in some places—in others it seemed a little wonky and forced. This expanded viewpoint allowed for a larger cast of supporting characters, all very fleshed out in such a small amount time. Realistic and believable.
The multiple POVs worked in some places—in others it seemed a little wonky and forced. This expanded viewpoint allowed for a larger cast of supporting characters, all very fleshed out in such a small amount time. Realistic and believable.
The plot and the pacing were my main issues. Without spoiling anything, the first half of the book is filled with scenes attempting to be mysterious but instead just felt confusing and hard to follow. The section could’ve benefitted from being a great deal shorter; I felt I’d read the same event happening over and over again. The back half of the book was a lot better. As usual with a Hobb/Lindholm book although this book is part of a series it could easily work as a standalone story. The author always delivers on satisfying endings.
All in all, a good book that felt a little rough and uneven. I still enjoyed it and am looking forward to continuing the series.
All in all, a good book that felt a little rough and uneven. I still enjoyed it and am looking forward to continuing the series.
Harpy's Flight by Megan Lindholm
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I didn’t read this book blind to Lindholm’s writing; I’ve read her entire Realm of the Elderlings series under her more famous penname, Robin Hobb, and count those books as some of the best I’ve ever read.
This is all to say I may be biased in this review. That being said, all of the discourse I’ve seen online is mainly that her older Lindholm books are okay, but not on the same level as her Hobb books.
To me, that’s not the case. In Harpy’s Flight, Lindholm creates a vast, important world, and then shrinks the perspective with lazer-like focus to a pinprick, focusing only on a single journey in one minuscule part of it. It makes me hunger for more while admiring the author’s restraint. The reader gets no heavy exposition unless it matters to the small cast of characters. Lindholm and Hobb are on par with their ability to study and show characterisation on a deeper level.
It does deal with dark themes, but I will say there is more of a sarcastic, feminine edge to Lindholm’s writing than when she writes as Hobb.
The writing is a little rougher, but in no way bad. There were some moments, especially at the beginning, where I was a little lost in the structure; there are many flashbacks inserted in a way that made it difficult to orient myself in the general timeline.
It was a book I started one day and stayed up all night to finish. Very excited to read more.
This is all to say I may be biased in this review. That being said, all of the discourse I’ve seen online is mainly that her older Lindholm books are okay, but not on the same level as her Hobb books.
To me, that’s not the case. In Harpy’s Flight, Lindholm creates a vast, important world, and then shrinks the perspective with lazer-like focus to a pinprick, focusing only on a single journey in one minuscule part of it. It makes me hunger for more while admiring the author’s restraint. The reader gets no heavy exposition unless it matters to the small cast of characters. Lindholm and Hobb are on par with their ability to study and show characterisation on a deeper level.
It does deal with dark themes, but I will say there is more of a sarcastic, feminine edge to Lindholm’s writing than when she writes as Hobb.
The writing is a little rougher, but in no way bad. There were some moments, especially at the beginning, where I was a little lost in the structure; there are many flashbacks inserted in a way that made it difficult to orient myself in the general timeline.
It was a book I started one day and stayed up all night to finish. Very excited to read more.
Amazons! by Jessica Amanda Salmonson
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.75
A very strong collection of 13 fantastical short stories featuring women protagonists. At times the editor’s introduction and notes can come across a little too snarky, but I’m also conscious of the time this anthology was published, the general attitude, and how important this volume must’ve been.
I’ve only been exposed to one author previously so I had no idea what I was getting. I was very pleasantly surprised. I’ll list my personal highlights below.
The Dreamstone by C.J. Cherryh is a beautiful tale reminiscent of Arthurian legend or Spenser’s Faerie Queene, with enough subversion to keep it on message. So much heart in so small a space.
Morrien’s Bitch by Janet Fox is a brilliant darker entry, featuring a complicated antihero and strong supporting characters. At the end I was left wondering if it was the reader who’s the true fool of this story.
Falcon Blood by Andre Norton is the standout for me. If I had to choose a favourite, it would be this. A story overtly about gender that strives to challenge the characters and the reader, set against a rich backdrop that made me hunger for more.
Bones for Dulath by Megan Lindholm is a very good story from the only author I knew previously. I may be biased as she is one of my favourites. Still, the story starts in on action and immediately the characters are thrown into their quest. As a reader I was right behind them. The dialogue is whip-smart and the worldbuilding elements are just enough to create a great story with a satisfying conclusion.
Northern Chess by Tanith Lee is a great tale featuring a sarcastic woman warrior who has the skill to back up her sharp tongue. I’m a sucker for a story that personifies the inhuman. It has a dreamy, moorlike quality to it, tensing and uncoiling at exactly the right moments.
The Woman Who Loved the Moon by Elizabeth A. Lynn is a story straight out of folklore that takes the reader on a satisfying journey beginning to end. The characters bounce off of the page, asking: Why does there to be a message? This is our story, listen to us.
There was only one entry I didn’t care for. Emily Brontë’s excerpt didn’t really fit, was a little disjointed and felt like it was there just because. It is short though, so not much time wasted.
Very much enjoyed and highly recommended.
I’ve only been exposed to one author previously so I had no idea what I was getting. I was very pleasantly surprised. I’ll list my personal highlights below.
The Dreamstone by C.J. Cherryh is a beautiful tale reminiscent of Arthurian legend or Spenser’s Faerie Queene, with enough subversion to keep it on message. So much heart in so small a space.
Morrien’s Bitch by Janet Fox is a brilliant darker entry, featuring a complicated antihero and strong supporting characters. At the end I was left wondering if it was the reader who’s the true fool of this story.
Falcon Blood by Andre Norton is the standout for me. If I had to choose a favourite, it would be this. A story overtly about gender that strives to challenge the characters and the reader, set against a rich backdrop that made me hunger for more.
Bones for Dulath by Megan Lindholm is a very good story from the only author I knew previously. I may be biased as she is one of my favourites. Still, the story starts in on action and immediately the characters are thrown into their quest. As a reader I was right behind them. The dialogue is whip-smart and the worldbuilding elements are just enough to create a great story with a satisfying conclusion.
Northern Chess by Tanith Lee is a great tale featuring a sarcastic woman warrior who has the skill to back up her sharp tongue. I’m a sucker for a story that personifies the inhuman. It has a dreamy, moorlike quality to it, tensing and uncoiling at exactly the right moments.
The Woman Who Loved the Moon by Elizabeth A. Lynn is a story straight out of folklore that takes the reader on a satisfying journey beginning to end. The characters bounce off of the page, asking: Why does there to be a message? This is our story, listen to us.
There was only one entry I didn’t care for. Emily Brontë’s excerpt didn’t really fit, was a little disjointed and felt like it was there just because. It is short though, so not much time wasted.
Very much enjoyed and highly recommended.
Cuddy by Benjamin Myers
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Cuddy is such a unique book that will hold a special place in my soul. The kind of book that once I finished it, I wished I could forget it all and begin again.
The book reminded me of a creative writing student’s portfolio. There is verse, prose, a play, and so many changes of perspective and style that it should’ve been confusing, except it wasn’t. Instead, every new part of the story felt like a puzzle piece fitting perfectly into place. A highlight is the many times throughout the novel Myers weaves together quotes from myriad sources to create the illusion of conversation between people whose only visible similarities are their study of the eponymous Cuddy.
It was spiritual, nonjudgemental, deceptively plain for how complicated the construction must’ve been. The way the book is structured - into multiple shorter stories - leaves the harder task of reinvesting the reader in new protagonists in fewer pages. I feel Myers succeeded in that, and it is helped by never letting the reader forget that this book, no matter where or when or what form the smaller stories take, is always about Cuddy.
If I could begin the book again, I would probably listen to book one in audio form - as it was I read most of it out loud to myself and ended up hoarse at the end of that day.
It is an amazing book that will stay with me for a very long time.
The book reminded me of a creative writing student’s portfolio. There is verse, prose, a play, and so many changes of perspective and style that it should’ve been confusing, except it wasn’t. Instead, every new part of the story felt like a puzzle piece fitting perfectly into place. A highlight is the many times throughout the novel Myers weaves together quotes from myriad sources to create the illusion of conversation between people whose only visible similarities are their study of the eponymous Cuddy.
It was spiritual, nonjudgemental, deceptively plain for how complicated the construction must’ve been. The way the book is structured - into multiple shorter stories - leaves the harder task of reinvesting the reader in new protagonists in fewer pages. I feel Myers succeeded in that, and it is helped by never letting the reader forget that this book, no matter where or when or what form the smaller stories take, is always about Cuddy.
If I could begin the book again, I would probably listen to book one in audio form - as it was I read most of it out loud to myself and ended up hoarse at the end of that day.
It is an amazing book that will stay with me for a very long time.
The Hunger of the Gods by John Gwynne
adventurous
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
A solid sequel to the amazing Shadow of the Gods, if a little weaker in comparison. Enjoyed it immensely, and very excited to read the closing book when it releases!
It is a very obvious second book in a trilogy, and having read Gwynne’s previous two series, the middle parts do seem to be my least favourite. Having brilliantly established the world and three amazing character POVs in the first book, less attention is paid on world-building and character development in favour of many action scenes and introducing two new POVs I found to be a little…meh. It gave the book a very strange pace that was at times hard to get into.
One highlight is Gwynne’s creature-work; there has never been one introduced I haven’t come to love. Who knew I’d be rooting for a little tooth thief as hard as I am. His descriptions of his fantastical creatures are so spot-on, i have such a clear image of what they look like.
The actions scenes are so well written. I’ve never been so invested in action. Although, like I said above, there are so many with so little breathing room in between that they all bleed together sometimes.
A lot of the book involves the many characters (all warrior archetypes) travelling, and not really doing much else until the third act of the book when, as is usual with Gwynne, all hell breaks loose. This third act is fantastic, really saved this book for me,although I didn’t care for the cliffhanger-esque ending, finding them to be a cheap way of ensuring the reader will buy the next book. I feel I don’t know any of the original characters much better, and the new characters don’t seem to be developed beyond their introductions.
Saying all that, I feel it does achieve what it sets out to do, and all of the characters are set up nicely for what will hopefully be an immense ending to this trilogy.
It is a very obvious second book in a trilogy, and having read Gwynne’s previous two series, the middle parts do seem to be my least favourite. Having brilliantly established the world and three amazing character POVs in the first book, less attention is paid on world-building and character development in favour of many action scenes and introducing two new POVs I found to be a little…meh. It gave the book a very strange pace that was at times hard to get into.
One highlight is Gwynne’s creature-work; there has never been one introduced I haven’t come to love. Who knew I’d be rooting for a little tooth thief as hard as I am. His descriptions of his fantastical creatures are so spot-on, i have such a clear image of what they look like.
The actions scenes are so well written. I’ve never been so invested in action. Although, like I said above, there are so many with so little breathing room in between that they all bleed together sometimes.
A lot of the book involves the many characters (all warrior archetypes) travelling, and not really doing much else until the third act of the book when, as is usual with Gwynne, all hell breaks loose. This third act is fantastic, really saved this book for me,
Saying all that, I feel it does achieve what it sets out to do, and all of the characters are set up nicely for what will hopefully be an immense ending to this trilogy.
The Shadow of the Gods by John Gwynne
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Shadow of the Gods is an amazing first book in what will hopefully be a fantastic trilogy.
The book is fairly slow-paced at the beginning, but quickly rolls at breakneck speed. I love when writers give enough space for the reader to understand their world before they jump straight into the meat of the plot. Gwynne does this with skill, allowing us to know his characters and care about them enough before pushing them into danger. The story is fantastic, and does everything a first book should set out to do.
I’m also a sucker for highly-detailed worlds, and it’s clear from the beginning that Gwynne has chosen and nutured this world with care. Yes, there were a couple of parts where the detail was a little too heavy (lots of descriptions of warriors strapping on every single little piece of their gear), but on the whole the details given enriched my experience when reading this book.
I was relieved to open this book and not first be confronted with a cast of characters, like in Gwynne’s other two series. There are three POV characters in this book, a nice amount as they are all a little similar. Yes, they have wildly different backgrounds but essentially they are all warriors and I feel like adding more POV warriors to this mix would’ve been too much. The rich and diverse backgrounds given to the POV characters, and the slower-paced establishing chapters in the beginning really helps to individualise them. I liked and rooted for them all. I do hope they develop across the series.
Gwynne has always been fantastic at writing action scenes, and this book is no exception. They are visceral moments when the characters let their emotions run right through them. Gwynne really knows his weapons as well which helps to add to the realism of these scenes. In this book, every action scene is there for a reason. There is space to breathe between the action, which I think serves to enhance this book and put it above his other works.
A brilliant book. I’m hooked. Bring on book two!
The book is fairly slow-paced at the beginning, but quickly rolls at breakneck speed. I love when writers give enough space for the reader to understand their world before they jump straight into the meat of the plot. Gwynne does this with skill, allowing us to know his characters and care about them enough before pushing them into danger. The story is fantastic, and does everything a first book should set out to do.
I’m also a sucker for highly-detailed worlds, and it’s clear from the beginning that Gwynne has chosen and nutured this world with care. Yes, there were a couple of parts where the detail was a little too heavy (lots of descriptions of warriors strapping on every single little piece of their gear), but on the whole the details given enriched my experience when reading this book.
I was relieved to open this book and not first be confronted with a cast of characters, like in Gwynne’s other two series. There are three POV characters in this book, a nice amount as they are all a little similar. Yes, they have wildly different backgrounds but essentially they are all warriors and I feel like adding more POV warriors to this mix would’ve been too much. The rich and diverse backgrounds given to the POV characters, and the slower-paced establishing chapters in the beginning really helps to individualise them. I liked and rooted for them all. I do hope they develop across the series.
Gwynne has always been fantastic at writing action scenes, and this book is no exception. They are visceral moments when the characters let their emotions run right through them. Gwynne really knows his weapons as well which helps to add to the realism of these scenes. In this book, every action scene is there for a reason. There is space to breathe between the action, which I think serves to enhance this book and put it above his other works.
A brilliant book. I’m hooked. Bring on book two!
A Time of Courage by John Gwynne
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
SPOILERS HIDDEN
Wow. What a conclusion. This was a fantastic, if a little bloated, final entry littered with heartbreaks, excellent action scenes, and so many satisfying moments.
This book is all action, beginning to end. It is nicely sliced into three neat acts, with space given between the action scenes to breathe a little and feel the outcome with the characters. I feel like Gwynne using less POVs than his previous series really helped with this as well.
Although it didn’t have the slow detail that made the first book, A Time of Dread, great, I didn’t feel like the characters were at a standstill either. The characters all have defined arcs, and it was satisfying for me as a reader to see those arcs come to their conclusions.
Thedeaths were extremely heartbreaking, especially Keld and Bleda. The grief felt for Keld spurred the other characters on and ran palpably through the rest of the book beautifully. Bleda’s death was so shocking coming after he succeeded in killing Jin. I definitely did not see it coming. It was wonderfully done.
The return of Asroth and Meical was brilliant. Because Asroth is given more time to grow in the Banished Lands during this series when compared to the last, his character felt a little less one-note. I still think for the baddest of bad guys he was far too lenient on some of the actions his captains took. Jin should’ve been gauntleted for her actions throughout the whole novel. Meical was brilliant, his whole redemption arc was perfectly done.
Gwynne’s villains really improved in this series as a whole in this series compared to his last. They felt three-dimensional in a way the villains in his last series did not. It made reading the villain POVs enjoyable and not a chore.
The areas where I feel this book falls a little short was near the end.The first battle at Ripa quickly followed by the Order’s final stand seemed to cheapen them both. It felt like Gwynne only included the defeat at Ripa to justify the overwhelming victory he delivers for the good guys at the end. It felt a little unnecessary. There are many little moments like this where there were so many little actions scenes that they did start to feel a little too much at points.
Gwynne also has so many little phrases he uses over and over. So many arrows and spears sprouting, unnecessary italicised naming of characters to really hammer in descriptions.
Overall, a very good book in a very good series. Very much enjoyed, and recommended.
Wow. What a conclusion. This was a fantastic, if a little bloated, final entry littered with heartbreaks, excellent action scenes, and so many satisfying moments.
This book is all action, beginning to end. It is nicely sliced into three neat acts, with space given between the action scenes to breathe a little and feel the outcome with the characters. I feel like Gwynne using less POVs than his previous series really helped with this as well.
Although it didn’t have the slow detail that made the first book, A Time of Dread, great, I didn’t feel like the characters were at a standstill either. The characters all have defined arcs, and it was satisfying for me as a reader to see those arcs come to their conclusions.
The
Gwynne’s villains really improved in this series as a whole in this series compared to his last. They felt three-dimensional in a way the villains in his last series did not. It made reading the villain POVs enjoyable and not a chore.
The areas where I feel this book falls a little short was near the end.
Gwynne also has so many little phrases he uses over and over. So many arrows and spears sprouting, unnecessary italicised naming of characters to really hammer in descriptions.
Overall, a very good book in a very good series. Very much enjoyed, and recommended.
A Time of Blood by John Gwynne
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
SPOILERS HIDDEN
A Time of Blood was a decent second entry in the Of Blood and Bone Trilogy, but I couldn’t help but feel everything had stagnated a little.
Plot-wise, it’s very obvious that Gwynne is using this book to build up to an explosive final conclusion. I’m sure this will pay off in the final entry, but this book suffers as a result. There is the usual epic-showdown at the end of the book, and as good as the action is written it feels a little repetitive and redundant at the moment. This might change once I’ve read the final novel.
The characters also feel a little stunted development-wise. There are three returning POVs from book one, and a new entry. The first three didn’t seem to develop all that much beyond the brilliant establishing work from A Time of Dread.Bleda is still pining over Riv and worried his mother doesn’t view him as a true Sirak. Riv actually changed species but meekly returns to the Ben-Elim after only a couple of paragraphs of conflict and then doesn’t do much of anything until the last part of the novel. Drem has the most development, although near the end it seemed his individuality was getting a little lost in the Dun Seren of it all . Fritha was a very nice addition to the novel, and from reading Gwynne’s previous series I do have to say his villain work has definitely improved. Fritha seemed less of a cartoony villain than Lykos or Uthas. I enjoyed the slow reveal of her motivation behind joining the Kadoshim, and her final line was haunting.
I don’t like the over reliance of using italicised thoughts in general, but the way Gwynne uses them infuriates me at times. A really great mysterious description is given, and then is ruined by the character telling the reader exactly what’s happening. It happens over and over, and at times ruins the tone of a chapter or a passage.
The action scenes are still amazing. Thedeaths hit just right, especially the relatively minor character, Flick . Gwynne utilises his multiple POVs spectacularly during the moments of action by switching to different characters at pivotal moments to give the reader a brilliant 360 view. His characters always seem the most individual during these scenes as well, which is brilliant.
One final point, as this is already a long review.Sig’s death at the end of the last novel reverberates through this one and ties together so many groups of characters. Her loss is keenly felt, both by me as a reader and by every character who knew her. This grief is brilliantly woven throughout this book, and culminates in Gunil displaying her head in the final battle to cause the wise old giants to lose their minds, to spectacular effect . This plot-point was brilliantly done, and for me was the very best part of this middle-of-a-trilogy novel.
A Time of Blood was a decent second entry in the Of Blood and Bone Trilogy, but I couldn’t help but feel everything had stagnated a little.
Plot-wise, it’s very obvious that Gwynne is using this book to build up to an explosive final conclusion. I’m sure this will pay off in the final entry, but this book suffers as a result. There is the usual epic-showdown at the end of the book, and as good as the action is written it feels a little repetitive and redundant at the moment. This might change once I’ve read the final novel.
The characters also feel a little stunted development-wise. There are three returning POVs from book one, and a new entry. The first three didn’t seem to develop all that much beyond the brilliant establishing work from A Time of Dread.
I don’t like the over reliance of using italicised thoughts in general, but the way Gwynne uses them infuriates me at times. A really great mysterious description is given, and then is ruined by the character telling the reader exactly what’s happening. It happens over and over, and at times ruins the tone of a chapter or a passage.
The action scenes are still amazing. The
One final point, as this is already a long review.
A Time of Dread by John Gwynne
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
SPOILERS HIDDEN
The very aptly named first entry in John Gwynne’s second trilogy is a fantastically tense read culminating in the explosive third act.
I absolutely adored this book. Everything I loved about Gwynne’s previous series (The Faithful and the Fallen) has been improved, while its flaws are rarely seen.
I very much enjoyed getting to know the quartet of POV characters Gwynne introduces,although from the beginning I was trying to guess which would be the one to die. So much time and attention is paid to creating separate identities for these characters; they all feel unique, and I cared for all of their journeys. A marked improvement from the previous series with so many POVs it was hard to follow, let alone care, for all of them. I would have liked a little more detail on the characters ages - I’m still not sure how old Riv is supposed to be.
The worldbuilding is excellent.It’s 100 years after the final events of the last series, and the changes made to the world are definitely believable. I enjoyed the new tensions created after the supposed “happy ever after” of Wrath.
The plot is also pretty good, if a little predictable in the case ofRiv. Something I loved about the structure is the little pieces of the story the reader was able to put together due to the musings of the different POV characters. For example, Drem loses the sword, only for it to appear in Drassil where Bleda sees Asroth’s hand chopped off with it, and then later on Drem sees the hand put to use. .
The tension built up throughout the book is so good, and I think for the most part it pays off well in the third act - with one exception.Riv’s closing scenes are confusing and messy, and I’m not sure enough of a relationship was built up between Israfil and Riv to justify her trying to kill Kol, even when including her temper issues.
Some of the weaker parts of the book include the romances, or potential romances. They seem superficial, unbelievable, and poorly written. The cast of characters is back; I think it’s a crutch that Gwynne can do without.
I’m very much looking forward to reading the next entry in the series after this fantastic opener.
The very aptly named first entry in John Gwynne’s second trilogy is a fantastically tense read culminating in the explosive third act.
I absolutely adored this book. Everything I loved about Gwynne’s previous series (The Faithful and the Fallen) has been improved, while its flaws are rarely seen.
I very much enjoyed getting to know the quartet of POV characters Gwynne introduces,
The worldbuilding is excellent.
The plot is also pretty good, if a little predictable in the case of
The tension built up throughout the book is so good, and I think for the most part it pays off well in the third act - with one exception.
Some of the weaker parts of the book include the romances, or potential romances. They seem superficial, unbelievable, and poorly written. The cast of characters is back; I think it’s a crutch that Gwynne can do without.
I’m very much looking forward to reading the next entry in the series after this fantastic opener.