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the_midwest_library's Reviews (796)
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I have been loving being back in this world, and I really loved the characters we got to see in this installment.
Overall I do love the originally first law trilogy more than I have loved the standalones but I think it's just because I truly every day of my life miss Glokta hahaha maybe next year I'll dive into the Age of Madness trilogy and found out my First Law reading experience!
Overall I do love the originally first law trilogy more than I have loved the standalones but I think it's just because I truly every day of my life miss Glokta hahaha maybe next year I'll dive into the Age of Madness trilogy and found out my First Law reading experience!
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Overall, what a great read. This book is essentially one large battle sequence broken up into varying events. While this is not what I am typically drawn to, in person Abercrombie fashion the characters are just oh so juicy. Some key players are back on the board in a big way causing chaos and sewing tomfoolery left and right.
Overall I quite enjoyed this installment. Onto Red Country.
Overall I quite enjoyed this installment. Onto Red Country.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Hm I'm torn on this one.
On the one hand it's a somewhat beautiful book, on the other hand it's a 200 page list?
There were some moments that felt special and introspective but overall I just couldn't find the point of it all.
It's not a bad book, it's just....not a book I enjoyed.
On the one hand it's a somewhat beautiful book, on the other hand it's a 200 page list?
There were some moments that felt special and introspective but overall I just couldn't find the point of it all.
It's not a bad book, it's just....not a book I enjoyed.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Okay so this was fabulous, which I was extremely happy about because I did DNF Blacktongued Thief (I didn't vibe with the MCs humor).
This was super compelling from a historical and political/religious standpoint, I thought the characters were fabulous. The story is darker which I appreciated. Some of the theming was a bit repetitive but that's like such a nitpicky complaint. Overall a fabulous read
This was super compelling from a historical and political/religious standpoint, I thought the characters were fabulous. The story is darker which I appreciated. Some of the theming was a bit repetitive but that's like such a nitpicky complaint. Overall a fabulous read
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
3.5 rounded up
Spoiler Free Review
Alright, wow we finished this magnificent beast. I just want to preface this review by saying I have been reading Sanderson's books for years, but I read his books for his world building, his unique magic systems and his characters first and foremost. I do not read his books with a cosmere forward enjoyment perspective. I think that's important to preface in the beginning of this review because I believe that if you are somebody who really loves those cosmere forward elements that this will probably be a knockout for you.
While there are so many spectacular moments within this book, I really think that the overall flow, prose, and editing of this installment of the series was the weakest of all five books. Specifically with pacing issues and with a bloated narrative structure which swapped back and forth excessively between povs, sometimes after a single paragraph.
I had a great time with the last 400 pages of this book, but I am getting very tired of waiting to have a great time until the last few hundred pages of these books. But let's talk about what I loved...
I absolutely adored Adolin in this installment, and found the direction his character went in extremely compelling. I really liked what we got from Szeth and NB, as well as Dalinar (for the most part).
Some things that I did not love include how preachy and meta Kals arc became in this book. It really took me out of the book several times and his characterization was extremely jarring for me, especially just coming off a reread of RoW. I had an issue with the very end of Dalinar's arc in this book and I felt as though it undermined the impact of his choices and growth (BT iykyk).
I can reflect on this book and acknowledge that I had such a spectacular time and there were such spectacular moments within this book. But when I look at this book as a whole I think to myself, did this book give me the same feelings that I got when I read The Way of Kings for the first time? The answer is no. It's nowhere close. I think that there were too many pots on the stove and the plot was lost amongst all of the Easter eggs that I'm sure I will think are amazing five books from now. But I'm not five books from now, and what the plot gave me in this specific book, I do not think lived up to any of the other books in the series for me personally.
That is not to say that this is not a phenomenal book. I am a fairly harsh reviewer but I try to be an honest and a fair reviewer. I love this series! I love these characters! But this book felt odd and overworked to me.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Okay let's talk about what I loved and didn't love about this bad boy.
What I loved: the world is fascinating, the political system is so juicy and just reeks of manipulation from page 1 which I ate up. I loved our characters and found them all deeply flawed but all exceptionally likeable still which is a hard balance to maintain.
What I didn't love: I felt like some elements of the overall plot were predictable....which really annoyed me because some of the plot is like WHOA WHAT!?! I'm not saying the story was cliché but some of the elements just felt tired compared to how spectacular some other elements were. I also did not find the romance necessary or wanted. It felt rushed in the timeframe the book covers and frankly I think it took away from some of the characters integrity at time.
But frankly overall this is a spectacular book about control, sexism, racism, colonization, history erasure. Some really complex themes that I really enjoyed.
What I loved: the world is fascinating, the political system is so juicy and just reeks of manipulation from page 1 which I ate up. I loved our characters and found them all deeply flawed but all exceptionally likeable still which is a hard balance to maintain.
What I didn't love: I felt like some elements of the overall plot were predictable....which really annoyed me because some of the plot is like WHOA WHAT!?! I'm not saying the story was cliché but some of the elements just felt tired compared to how spectacular some other elements were. I also did not find the romance necessary or wanted. It felt rushed in the timeframe the book covers and frankly I think it took away from some of the characters integrity at time.
But frankly overall this is a spectacular book about control, sexism, racism, colonization, history erasure. Some really complex themes that I really enjoyed.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Alright so....this is a weird one to review. Firstly, the premise may be a bit meta/triggering for some. You really have to be comfortable with a story that really smacks you in the face with your own mortality.
I think the book was a bit "live, laugh, love" for me at times. I also think some of the character arcs were a bit stop and go pacing wise.
Overall it was a really interesting read, maybe it will grow on me in the rear view.
I think the book was a bit "live, laugh, love" for me at times. I also think some of the character arcs were a bit stop and go pacing wise.
Overall it was a really interesting read, maybe it will grow on me in the rear view.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I finally read the last of the Sanderson Secret Projects. I saved this one for after my reread of the Stormlight Archive and I'm so glad I did!
Overall I think this book has some seriously spectacular callbacks and Easter eggs, both retrospective and prospective. I really enjoyed our main character and I definitely caught on very quickly as to who this book was about but I know other readers spent the whole book wondering who exactly Nomad was. So the cryptic nature of how his POV was provided I think was great.
My biggest gripe with the book is that I really felt like this book specifically was just kind of floating in space out in the cosmere without anything to really ground it. I think that the selling points for this specific book are those Easter eggs and those callbacks, and those little sprinklings of potential future secrets that we are getting. I think the plot of this book if I were to look at it independently was weaker for me.
Overall, I had a really enjoyable experience. I'm glad that I waited to read this until after my reread, but this definitely is not an impactful story for me as a Sanderson reader. I have felt more impact from some of his short stories and novellas compared to this from a plotting standpoint.
Overall I think this book has some seriously spectacular callbacks and Easter eggs, both retrospective and prospective. I really enjoyed our main character and I definitely caught on very quickly as to who this book was about but I know other readers spent the whole book wondering who exactly Nomad was. So the cryptic nature of how his POV was provided I think was great.
My biggest gripe with the book is that I really felt like this book specifically was just kind of floating in space out in the cosmere without anything to really ground it. I think that the selling points for this specific book are those Easter eggs and those callbacks, and those little sprinklings of potential future secrets that we are getting. I think the plot of this book if I were to look at it independently was weaker for me.
Overall, I had a really enjoyable experience. I'm glad that I waited to read this until after my reread, but this definitely is not an impactful story for me as a Sanderson reader. I have felt more impact from some of his short stories and novellas compared to this from a plotting standpoint.
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was the pick for my irl bookclub, overall I thought the story was really compelling but the writing style and presentation may be a barrier for some.
The story is told over several short story "chapters" which do not really have any chronological ordering to them, but instead are tied together through theming. The flip flopping back and forth between events/ages/timelines is a bit jarring.
However, the overall impact of the story at large is great. I particularly enjoyed the weaving of the directional theming (red, white, black and yellow) throughout the book. I thought the narrative voice was fairly strong and the story really challenges a lot of indigenous stereotyping.
The story is told over several short story "chapters" which do not really have any chronological ordering to them, but instead are tied together through theming. The flip flopping back and forth between events/ages/timelines is a bit jarring.
However, the overall impact of the story at large is great. I particularly enjoyed the weaving of the directional theming (red, white, black and yellow) throughout the book. I thought the narrative voice was fairly strong and the story really challenges a lot of indigenous stereotyping.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexual assault
medium-paced
This is absolutely adorable and the perfect book for me to pickup. This book has wonderful illustrations which guide you through the city and the world of Gwelf. Where should you shop? What supplies will you bring? And will you meet friend or foe?
It was super cute. I'll probably pick up the second one eventually.
It was super cute. I'll probably pick up the second one eventually.