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treebeardreviews's Reviews (191)
I am glad that I was chosen to read an advanced copy of this Book. I enjoy Daniel Abraham as a writer and his work on the expanse series which is one of my favourite book series. However, this book fell flat for me. Below is a spoiler free review. Please check out my full review here: https://youtu.be/6oczXnM4SaI
The three areas in which a good fantasy story succeeds is in its characters, it’s plot and it’s world building. This story sadly did not deliver for me in all these areas. The two main characters Alys and Sammish did not peak my interest. One was unlikeable in my book, and the other was starting to get interesting but far too late in the story for me.
For plot there isn’t much here. It bounced around a lot following the characters but I never felt hooked into the story or cared too much about what was happening. This ultimately ties into the world building. It is set in city of Kithamar which didn’t really stand out from any other city or feel unique In any way. Also, there is hints of a magic system in the book which I think will be developed further.
Overall the book is ok. Im glad I read it. It’s not going to be a favourite but I do trust Daniel Abraham and will pick up the sequel when it comes out.
The three areas in which a good fantasy story succeeds is in its characters, it’s plot and it’s world building. This story sadly did not deliver for me in all these areas. The two main characters Alys and Sammish did not peak my interest. One was unlikeable in my book, and the other was starting to get interesting but far too late in the story for me.
For plot there isn’t much here. It bounced around a lot following the characters but I never felt hooked into the story or cared too much about what was happening. This ultimately ties into the world building. It is set in city of Kithamar which didn’t really stand out from any other city or feel unique In any way. Also, there is hints of a magic system in the book which I think will be developed further.
Overall the book is ok. Im glad I read it. It’s not going to be a favourite but I do trust Daniel Abraham and will pick up the sequel when it comes out.
Gardens of the moon, well this is a book I have wanted to read for a long time and it did not disappoint. I do have a spoiler free review on my youtube channel: https://youtu.be/xAB5uochebc .
Without going into any spoilers I want to lay done some of my impressions from the book.
Firstly, yes, it jumps you right in. Yes, it can be jarring and takes a little bit before you get your feet underneath you. Is that ok? Yes, yes it is because it was so worth the journey.
What were some of the things that made me keep reading and make me want to continue with the series.
Compelling and interesting characters, to name a few: Tattersail, Kruppe, Captain Paran, Quick Ben, Crokus, last but the most compelling Anomander Rake. All of these characters I enjoyed, some more than others but overall, they made me want to keep reading and learn more about their interesting lives.
Aspects of the plot I enjoyed. I enjoyed this book being broken up into two locals, with Darujhistan and the Malazan forces (Bridge Burners, Tattersail, Paran). I enjoyed the two different settings and the characters in each. They had a unique feel to them and I felt interested in the separate but conjoining plots.
what were my favourite aspects of the story? three things: the magic (warrens), the interventionist Gods, and Anomander Rake. I do touch on these aspects in my video review and speak to it better. I chose all three of these things because they were COOL! The magic even though not full explained was interesting and felt powerful. It made me feel that magic users in this world were dangerous and not simple bumbling wizards. Touching on the Gods, I love interventionist gods. I like gods who get their hands dirty and move humans like pieces on a chess board. The Gods felt well realized with their own motivations and were stuck in this endless war plotting and scheming against each other, loved it. Lastly, again Anomander Rake. This character was just a scene stealer. He captured my attention. I wanted to know more about him, I liked all the scenes he was in, and he felt powerful and a real big player in this world.
So to cut a long review short, I loved this book. I will be reading Deadhouse gates this year. Please consider checking out my youtube channel for more fantasy and sci-fi reviews.
Without going into any spoilers I want to lay done some of my impressions from the book.
Firstly, yes, it jumps you right in. Yes, it can be jarring and takes a little bit before you get your feet underneath you. Is that ok? Yes, yes it is because it was so worth the journey.
What were some of the things that made me keep reading and make me want to continue with the series.
Compelling and interesting characters, to name a few: Tattersail, Kruppe, Captain Paran, Quick Ben, Crokus, last but the most compelling Anomander Rake. All of these characters I enjoyed, some more than others but overall, they made me want to keep reading and learn more about their interesting lives.
Aspects of the plot I enjoyed. I enjoyed this book being broken up into two locals, with Darujhistan and the Malazan forces (Bridge Burners, Tattersail, Paran). I enjoyed the two different settings and the characters in each. They had a unique feel to them and I felt interested in the separate but conjoining plots.
what were my favourite aspects of the story? three things: the magic (warrens), the interventionist Gods, and Anomander Rake. I do touch on these aspects in my video review and speak to it better. I chose all three of these things because they were COOL! The magic even though not full explained was interesting and felt powerful. It made me feel that magic users in this world were dangerous and not simple bumbling wizards. Touching on the Gods, I love interventionist gods. I like gods who get their hands dirty and move humans like pieces on a chess board. The Gods felt well realized with their own motivations and were stuck in this endless war plotting and scheming against each other, loved it. Lastly, again Anomander Rake. This character was just a scene stealer. He captured my attention. I wanted to know more about him, I liked all the scenes he was in, and he felt powerful and a real big player in this world.
So to cut a long review short, I loved this book. I will be reading Deadhouse gates this year. Please consider checking out my youtube channel for more fantasy and sci-fi reviews.
As a fan of the Discworld this book did everything for me that I wanted. It had a amazing cast with returning characters I love such as Susan, Lut ze, the Death of Rats and Death himself. It also added new characters that I enjoyed: Lobsang, Jeremy and Lady Lejean and the 4 horsemen of the apocalypse. This book introduced new aspects of the Discworld I did not realize I needed! Like most Death books it is Death using those around him to thwart the plans of the Auditors of reality. This book is well worth picking it, and the ending was one of the best Discworld endings I have read. Saying all that, its not a perfect book, it does fall down in some places and I do not think it would ranked as one of my top in the series. I do have a full review on my youtube channel, if you want to see more of my thoughts please check out that review: https://youtu.be/LM_QcSPZEQ4
adventurous
emotional
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I do have a spoiler free review on my youtube channel: https://youtu.be/uvMU3U-vpOU
Christopher Ruocchio is going to be the next big Sci-fi Author. I recently read this book in January 2022 and it has elements of all the things I love. A chronological space opera that is a beautiful mix of Sci-fi, fantasy and mythology. For a first entry in a series this is an exceptional start. The hook in the prologue of this book had me from the beginning and I need to know more of the long fascinating life of Hadrian Marlowe. Empire of Silence is a story about Hadrian Marlowe retelling his life. This book was so engaging and help my attention all the way through, there were moments where it did slow down to let the story breath. At the time of writing this review I have already finished Howling Dark Book 2 in the series. Everything Ruocchio builds upon in this novel and further cements in my mind as a sci-fi classic that I will enjoy and reread multiple times.
This book has a very friendly format a reminds me Dune and Farseer but in a good way. He never seems to get in his own way while writing this story and I can say for the future installments his growth as a writer is impressive. This author is a automatic buy, I plan to read every entry in this series and will read anything else Christopher writes.
Christopher Ruocchio is going to be the next big Sci-fi Author. I recently read this book in January 2022 and it has elements of all the things I love. A chronological space opera that is a beautiful mix of Sci-fi, fantasy and mythology. For a first entry in a series this is an exceptional start. The hook in the prologue of this book had me from the beginning and I need to know more of the long fascinating life of Hadrian Marlowe. Empire of Silence is a story about Hadrian Marlowe retelling his life. This book was so engaging and help my attention all the way through, there were moments where it did slow down to let the story breath. At the time of writing this review I have already finished Howling Dark Book 2 in the series. Everything Ruocchio builds upon in this novel and further cements in my mind as a sci-fi classic that I will enjoy and reread multiple times.
This book has a very friendly format a reminds me Dune and Farseer but in a good way. He never seems to get in his own way while writing this story and I can say for the future installments his growth as a writer is impressive. This author is a automatic buy, I plan to read every entry in this series and will read anything else Christopher writes.
https://youtu.be/Vfsa9H-mtW4
this is the worst book I have read this year in 2022. Maybe I am just over the YA genre, but I really did not enjoy this book. I do have a spoiler free section of my review and then a full spoiler breakdown of everything I hated about Red Rising.
I know many say the series gets better as you go on. I just disliked the writing and the main character of this book so much that I do not think I will continue.
this is the worst book I have read this year in 2022. Maybe I am just over the YA genre, but I really did not enjoy this book. I do have a spoiler free section of my review and then a full spoiler breakdown of everything I hated about Red Rising.
I know many say the series gets better as you go on. I just disliked the writing and the main character of this book so much that I do not think I will continue.
