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lyndacclark's review against another edition
2.0
If this is one of the finest fantasy debuts of recent years, then I fear for the future of fantasy. Terribly written. POV changes mid-sentence? Fine if you're writing a post modernist speculative piece, but if it's supposed to be an epic fantasy, it's just damn confusing. There are too many characters introduced too soon and refered to in too many different ways. Decide whether you're going to refer to a character by their first name, their surname, or their title and STICK WITH IT!
That said, there were a couple of nice touches and a few characters I warmed to; Saro and King Rayvn predominantly. Just not enough to want to wade through another installment.
That said, there were a couple of nice touches and a few characters I warmed to; Saro and King Rayvn predominantly. Just not enough to want to wade through another installment.
frozenduck's review against another edition
Beautiful covers on this series but the slow pacing stopped me in my tracks before I could build momentum. Might try again another time.
colorfulleo92's review against another edition
3.0
The way Jude Fisher writes is pleasant to read however the plot just feels like there nothing to graps onto. Nothing really stands out and I'm already forgetting much of the story. Might give the next book a try because I enjoyed the writing but it's not on top of my priority list
bbqrplanting's review against another edition
4.0
I'm a fan of fantasy novels, so common themes/tropes don't bother me too much :-) That said, I did enjoy this book for the most part. I think it focused on too many people/points of view which ended up slowing down the plot a bit.
I actually read this book in high school and remember really liking it, but never followed up on the subsequent books. A few years later I bought it but never got around to reading it. Now that I'm moving I decided to finally read it so I can get rid of it. But I do intend to read the sequels this time around.
I actually read this book in high school and remember really liking it, but never followed up on the subsequent books. A few years later I bought it but never got around to reading it. Now that I'm moving I decided to finally read it so I can get rid of it. But I do intend to read the sequels this time around.
rogue_runner's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Don't think I've ever read a book that is SUCH a slow burn as this. It was glacial. There was a huge cast of characters, but none of them were properly described- other than Katla's red hair, which was mentioned a lot. It took me 400 pages to work out that Virelai was albino (and who people kept referring to).
Lots of plot set up for future books, but barely anything at all (and I mean, baaaarely) in the first 400 pages. Lots of gratuitous sex content andrape as a plot device, which is not cool.
Selen was the character I was most interested in, and she appeared for about 5% of the story.
Lots of plot set up for future books, but barely anything at all (and I mean, baaaarely) in the first 400 pages. Lots of gratuitous sex content and
Selen was the character I was most interested in, and she appeared for about 5% of the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Gore, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Rape, and Sexual content
Moderate: Grief, Racism, Physical abuse, Sexism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Murder
azrazalea's review against another edition
5.0
I may have nostalgic glasses on since I read this book first when I was a teenager, but I adore this book and the entire trilogy.
It is intensely violent and overly sexual, but the world Jude built is one I find very compelling and enjoyable to read about.
The way that she describes Earth magic as well as the ability of an Empath has stuck with me for over 10 years.
It is intensely violent and overly sexual, but the world Jude built is one I find very compelling and enjoyable to read about.
The way that she describes Earth magic as well as the ability of an Empath has stuck with me for over 10 years.
savlerette's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Murder
Minor: Animal cruelty
kittyfoil's review against another edition
2.0
I tried. This book was really interesting in the beginning, but the middle really dragged for me.
omiai's review
1.0
Well, I will try to keep this short!
This was an excellent book in terms of writing style, Fisher has a great talent for character and description, that doesn't ever get boring, and it was this alone that really kept me reading.
However, in terms of actual story, this book was really lacking. The entirity of this book was, for me, something that would normally be the opening to any normal fantasy book, an introduction to the characters in a neutral place. However, the whole of this book was pretty much that. The idea of sorcery was rarely mentioned, at least, not until the very end, which seemed to me from the title to be a main feature of the story.
As I mentioned before, the characters are great and full of life. Even Katla, the main character, I thought was an excellent character! I usually don't like female characters, but I think Katla had such a strong personality and isn't ridiculously moany. she is a well written female lead, and it's a nice change!
The other characters were quite interesting, but each of them seemed to be slightly obsessed by sex, or at least, sexual organs, as this was mentioned quite a lot. Although, I will say that this isn't tastelessly done (and it so easily could have been that way!), it actually adds another, realistic and human, dimension to the characters.
All in all, this is a really good read, but I don't plan on reading any more in the series. There just wasn't enough depth of story to make me interested in it, and even the excellent characters aren't enough to push me to read them. But i do still recommend this to all fantasy fans, especially those who like the work of Kate Elliot or susan dexter.
This was an excellent book in terms of writing style, Fisher has a great talent for character and description, that doesn't ever get boring, and it was this alone that really kept me reading.
However, in terms of actual story, this book was really lacking. The entirity of this book was, for me, something that would normally be the opening to any normal fantasy book, an introduction to the characters in a neutral place. However, the whole of this book was pretty much that. The idea of sorcery was rarely mentioned, at least, not until the very end, which seemed to me from the title to be a main feature of the story.
As I mentioned before, the characters are great and full of life. Even Katla, the main character, I thought was an excellent character! I usually don't like female characters, but I think Katla had such a strong personality and isn't ridiculously moany. she is a well written female lead, and it's a nice change!
The other characters were quite interesting, but each of them seemed to be slightly obsessed by sex, or at least, sexual organs, as this was mentioned quite a lot. Although, I will say that this isn't tastelessly done (and it so easily could have been that way!), it actually adds another, realistic and human, dimension to the characters.
All in all, this is a really good read, but I don't plan on reading any more in the series. There just wasn't enough depth of story to make me interested in it, and even the excellent characters aren't enough to push me to read them. But i do still recommend this to all fantasy fans, especially those who like the work of Kate Elliot or susan dexter.