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blodeuedd's review against another edition
3.0
This felt pretty old school and well, I love old school. Give me an epic story and I am all in.
We have a country that is really two countries. The south (those stuck up bastards!) and the north. The south wants a piece of the north.
Then we have the Church (arghhh the church!). See, there used to be peace with the land. Sure the old gods did a lot of damage but they,also cared for the earth. And without them things are going badly, but the church is stupid and is all kill all pagans!!! So yes you do not want to be a pagan here, you will die. I really liked his take on the gheists, gods, nature. It was very nice, it made me connect.
As for the story. We have a young man, Ian, who is waaaay too headstrong for his own good. His dad is a hero. And someone wants their help.
Then we have Gwen, another Lord's daughter, and one who hunts the bad things in the night. She on the other hand was very level headed for her age.
They have their own stories, doing their own things, and I cannot say more. Let's just say that all hell will break loose. And I do wonder where this story is going, very intriguing.
Good story.
We have a country that is really two countries. The south (those stuck up bastards!) and the north. The south wants a piece of the north.
Then we have the Church (arghhh the church!). See, there used to be peace with the land. Sure the old gods did a lot of damage but they,also cared for the earth. And without them things are going badly, but the church is stupid and is all kill all pagans!!! So yes you do not want to be a pagan here, you will die. I really liked his take on the gheists, gods, nature. It was very nice, it made me connect.
As for the story. We have a young man, Ian, who is waaaay too headstrong for his own good. His dad is a hero. And someone wants their help.
Then we have Gwen, another Lord's daughter, and one who hunts the bad things in the night. She on the other hand was very level headed for her age.
They have their own stories, doing their own things, and I cannot say more. Let's just say that all hell will break loose. And I do wonder where this story is going, very intriguing.
Good story.
mad_matx's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting. Parts were good, some parts were very good - the cosmology became more fascinating as the book went on, some scenes were very vivid and even cinematographic (?). I am really a fan of how Akers builds his magical and religious systems, and he just gets better each book he writes.
Overall, though...well, I set this book down for two or three days in a row, repeatedly. I would always pick it back up, and will continue with the series, but. And why? I'm not sure. It is hard to identify, let alone explain. Perhaps the characters are too...formulaic? The majors (two, or maybe three, major characters; that might be part of the problem) had all the sorts of things that good characters need, but still didn't engage me. I'm frankly more interested in the two main supporting characters (priest and paladin) than the two protagonists- what makes them tick, and where the series will lead them - perhaps because they aren't as fully fleshed out as the protags seem to be.
Overall, though...well, I set this book down for two or three days in a row, repeatedly. I would always pick it back up, and will continue with the series, but. And why? I'm not sure. It is hard to identify, let alone explain. Perhaps the characters are too...formulaic? The majors (two, or maybe three, major characters; that might be part of the problem) had all the sorts of things that good characters need, but still didn't engage me. I'm frankly more interested in the two main supporting characters (priest and paladin) than the two protagonists- what makes them tick, and where the series will lead them - perhaps because they aren't as fully fleshed out as the protags seem to be.
ilasandra's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
cariboukai's review against another edition
4.0
I'm honestly not sure what to make of this book. I enjoyed the read; I certainly wouldn't have read a 600+ page book I wasn't enjoying. However, I can't quite understand how I'm supposed to feel here.
If you've ever watched a religious debate between two religions, that's something like what's going on here. Only in this case very real evidence of both sides' gods are clear as day, but each side is still screaming that they are the right religion and those others are heretics and must die. Lots of zealotry and "fun" things like that.
I enjoyed the world building and explaination of religions, even if their followers could be nutcases (though I suppose that's true to life). There were a lot of well thought out characters, though it was getting close to a Game of Thrones level of confusion of names to remember. Both male and female knights were called "Sir," which didn't help matters any.
I liked Malcolm until.
Ian I found to be a petulent brat. He got mildly better toward the end. Gwen was slightly less so.
I think my favorite characters were Friar Lucas and Sir Elsa LaFey. Lucas was the most level-headed out of the lot. Elsa I instantly got the image of Gwendoline Christie's Brienne of Tarth in my brain and it never went away. Not that that's a bad thing.
If you've ever watched a religious debate between two religions, that's something like what's going on here. Only in this case very real evidence of both sides' gods are clear as day, but each side is still screaming that they are the right religion and those others are heretics and must die. Lots of zealotry and "fun" things like that.
I enjoyed the world building and explaination of religions, even if their followers could be nutcases (though I suppose that's true to life). There were a lot of well thought out characters, though it was getting close to a Game of Thrones level of confusion of names to remember. Both male and female knights were called "Sir," which didn't help matters any.
I liked Malcolm until
Spoiler
he chose his religion over his sonIan I found to be a petulent brat. He got mildly better toward the end. Gwen was slightly less so.
I think my favorite characters were Friar Lucas and Sir Elsa LaFey. Lucas was the most level-headed out of the lot. Elsa I instantly got the image of Gwendoline Christie's Brienne of Tarth in my brain and it never went away. Not that that's a bad thing.
tannik03's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
inspiring
mysterious
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
diesmali's review against another edition
2.0
I say thank you and goodbye to this series. It's not awful, but I just never got a chance to warm to the characters before there was war and all hell broke loose. I thought it was a pretty cool idea otherwise... pagan worshippers protecting actual deities, fallen priests of the accepted faith... Ah well.
wally's review against another edition
3.0
A enjoyable if deeply flawed book kept my interests for the most part the magic system does not live up to the heights of a Sanderson or McClellan novel , and at times feels very clunky and confusing at times . Still I enjoyed it enough to read the rest of the series
literaryleisha's review against another edition
3.0
Review originally posted on my blog: https://literaryleisha.wordpress.com/2018/08/06/review-the-pagan-night-by-tim-akers/
It’s a mix of politics, religion, magic and war.
I found the plot to be quite slow and unmemorable. It wasn’t a bad story, there’s nothing that stood out as bad, it just wasn’t super exciting.
The story is so average and unmemorable for the majority of it that I kept putting it down, it wasn’t gripping or keeping me on edge. It was just so bland, it’s just a generic fantasy story with nothing overly original.
There was good world-building, a lot of it too, it’s a pretty big book. The world isn’t anything special, it’s basically another medieval-fantasy kind of deal. The magic was interesting but again, not super unique or different.
The fighting scenes were pretty well written though, they were more engaging than the overall story. However, I feel, since it was a pretty big book, it could’ve benefited from being edited down, some parts dragged too much. I’d put this book down for ages with not a lot of desire to pick it back up, I even started reading another book.
The story is kind of like Game of Throne, there’s friction between the North and the South and an impending war. There are old gods and new ones, in this world Paganism is the ruled out religion. The North was Pagan but have taken on the new religion of the South. (Which if the name was actually mentioned, I don’t remember it.)
Characters: I didn’t really connect with any of the characters, none of stood out or were overly likeable. A few did grow on me towards the end and I am interested in seeing where their stories go so I will continue to book two.
It’s a mix of politics, religion, magic and war.
I found the plot to be quite slow and unmemorable. It wasn’t a bad story, there’s nothing that stood out as bad, it just wasn’t super exciting.
The story is so average and unmemorable for the majority of it that I kept putting it down, it wasn’t gripping or keeping me on edge. It was just so bland, it’s just a generic fantasy story with nothing overly original.
There was good world-building, a lot of it too, it’s a pretty big book. The world isn’t anything special, it’s basically another medieval-fantasy kind of deal. The magic was interesting but again, not super unique or different.
The fighting scenes were pretty well written though, they were more engaging than the overall story. However, I feel, since it was a pretty big book, it could’ve benefited from being edited down, some parts dragged too much. I’d put this book down for ages with not a lot of desire to pick it back up, I even started reading another book.
The story is kind of like Game of Throne, there’s friction between the North and the South and an impending war. There are old gods and new ones, in this world Paganism is the ruled out religion. The North was Pagan but have taken on the new religion of the South. (Which if the name was actually mentioned, I don’t remember it.)
Characters: I didn’t really connect with any of the characters, none of stood out or were overly likeable. A few did grow on me towards the end and I am interested in seeing where their stories go so I will continue to book two.
beorn_101's review against another edition
3.0
This was an interesting book. It started a little slow, but as you gain more knowledge of the world and the gheist it became harder and harder to put down. While it is part of a series I think it works as a stand alone as well, if you don't want to commit to a full series.
Well worth a read for fantasy fans looking for something with some fighting, cool magic, and a bit of different approach to demons :).
Well worth a read for fantasy fans looking for something with some fighting, cool magic, and a bit of different approach to demons :).
alwroteabook's review against another edition
5.0
Before we start - there is nothing particularly new about this book. If you are the type of person who requires a book to shatter every possible trope, then this is not for you!
Now, for the rest of you.
The land is divided. The Northern people have mostly come to terms with the Southern invasion, adopting their ways and their new faith. There are still dissenters, but they are few in number and reside in the shadows. Yet some still hold to the pagan ways, and try to return others to that faith. But is the hand of man behind this pagan revival, or is there something deeper - and darker - at play?
I liked this book. It was gritty and dark, with a twisting plot (I do like twisting plots) and strife aplenty. The battle scenes were good, the characters were not so much likable as believable, which in a way makes them more likable. If that makes sense. I've lost myself now.
The bad guys (the real bad guys, not the rebels) are the highlight, monsters that would not look out of place in the Cthulu mythos, difficult to defeat, but not indestructible. The battle between the different beliefs is interesting, with both sides (surprise!) finding the other to be offensive, but need to team up to save the day.
I listened to the audiobook version, and the narrator was good, applying the appropriate pacing for the story and showing enough diversity of voices to leave little question to which of the (relatively sizable) cast was speaking.
So this is Book 1 in The Hallowed War series, and a sure sign of enjoying a book is whether one will continue on and read Book 2. And one will.
Now, for the rest of you.
The land is divided. The Northern people have mostly come to terms with the Southern invasion, adopting their ways and their new faith. There are still dissenters, but they are few in number and reside in the shadows. Yet some still hold to the pagan ways, and try to return others to that faith. But is the hand of man behind this pagan revival, or is there something deeper - and darker - at play?
I liked this book. It was gritty and dark, with a twisting plot (I do like twisting plots) and strife aplenty. The battle scenes were good, the characters were not so much likable as believable, which in a way makes them more likable. If that makes sense. I've lost myself now.
The bad guys (the real bad guys, not the rebels) are the highlight, monsters that would not look out of place in the Cthulu mythos, difficult to defeat, but not indestructible. The battle between the different beliefs is interesting, with both sides (surprise!) finding the other to be offensive, but need to team up to save the day.
I listened to the audiobook version, and the narrator was good, applying the appropriate pacing for the story and showing enough diversity of voices to leave little question to which of the (relatively sizable) cast was speaking.
So this is Book 1 in The Hallowed War series, and a sure sign of enjoying a book is whether one will continue on and read Book 2. And one will.