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kitvaria_sarene's review against another edition
4.0
Last Heir To The North is a lot longer than the previous installments in this series. It really needs to be as well, as it got a whole lot more complex to follow!
The main frame story is pretty much stuck throughout the whole book, and instead we get to puzzle along with the characters about what might have happened in the past.
On one hand I thought this was the best book yet, as all the tiny plot lines and nested bits of information start to flow together and show the bigger picture. It definitely felt deeper and more epic than the series did so far. Earlier it read like fast paced action heavy fantasy. Quick bites that are ideal between the big tomes and sprawling worlds.
Ha, we've been played! Those almost stand alone feeling stories all come onto play here, and I hope you paid attention.
On the other hand, and the only reason I didn't give this 5 stars, most of the actual story here comes from flash backs. While they are well written, and really helped to give a lot more depth to the characters, it was just a bit much hopping around. A little piece here, a little piece there. Different times, different setting, different characters. All in all that's fine, as I enjoyed the mystery and the slow resolving of it.
However it was just a bit to rapid and too many changes for me to really get my teeth into each individual scene. Especially at the start I had to backtrack a few times to make sure I was digesting it all.
Aside from that tiny niggle this was a real step up, and had a good solid respectful nod at JC Kang for pulling off the feat of interconnecting all these bits and pieces!
Highly recommended!
The main frame story is pretty much stuck throughout the whole book, and instead we get to puzzle along with the characters about what might have happened in the past.
On one hand I thought this was the best book yet, as all the tiny plot lines and nested bits of information start to flow together and show the bigger picture. It definitely felt deeper and more epic than the series did so far. Earlier it read like fast paced action heavy fantasy. Quick bites that are ideal between the big tomes and sprawling worlds.
Ha, we've been played! Those almost stand alone feeling stories all come onto play here, and I hope you paid attention.
On the other hand, and the only reason I didn't give this 5 stars, most of the actual story here comes from flash backs. While they are well written, and really helped to give a lot more depth to the characters, it was just a bit much hopping around. A little piece here, a little piece there. Different times, different setting, different characters. All in all that's fine, as I enjoyed the mystery and the slow resolving of it.
However it was just a bit to rapid and too many changes for me to really get my teeth into each individual scene. Especially at the start I had to backtrack a few times to make sure I was digesting it all.
Aside from that tiny niggle this was a real step up, and had a good solid respectful nod at JC Kang for pulling off the feat of interconnecting all these bits and pieces!
Highly recommended!
constant2m's review
4.0
I want to begin this review by saying that Natalie Naudus is a fantastic narrator and really brings the Floating World and particularly the Black Lotus Clan members to life in this saga.
This book goes deeper into Lilian's backstory. In fact, I didn't really care for her in the first book but found myself liking more as I understood her better. She got dealt a really bad hand. Her status should have afforded her much better. And she was forced to keep impossible secrets - even from her closest friends. The story was told in a series of flashbacks; in fact, most of the actual story was the flashbacks, since Jia and company were pretty much hunkered down in the same place trying to figure out the mystery of the explosives that were discovered at the end of the previous book, as well as Jia's obsession with finding out why Lillian did what she did. The flashbacks were a bit difficult to follow in the beginning, but as the story progressed, they became more clear.
We still don't know if Lilian was right to betray the clan, and yet, her motivations are starting to come to the surface. And that seems to be the purpose of this entire series - What made Lilian do it? Why was she the way she was? And who was she really? One more book to go. Who knows what we'll find there.
I received a free copy of the audiobook from the author and have reviewed it willingly.
This book goes deeper into Lilian's backstory. In fact, I didn't really care for her in the first book but found myself liking more as I understood her better. She got dealt a really bad hand. Her status should have afforded her much better. And she was forced to keep impossible secrets - even from her closest friends. The story was told in a series of flashbacks; in fact, most of the actual story was the flashbacks, since Jia and company were pretty much hunkered down in the same place trying to figure out the mystery of the explosives that were discovered at the end of the previous book, as well as Jia's obsession with finding out why Lillian did what she did. The flashbacks were a bit difficult to follow in the beginning, but as the story progressed, they became more clear.
We still don't know if Lilian was right to betray the clan, and yet, her motivations are starting to come to the surface. And that seems to be the purpose of this entire series - What made Lilian do it? Why was she the way she was? And who was she really? One more book to go. Who knows what we'll find there.
I received a free copy of the audiobook from the author and have reviewed it willingly.
thehamsterreads's review
5.0
The penultimate book in the Scions of the Black Lotus finally starts to reveal the conspiracy that lead to Lilian’s death. Told in a series of flashbacks, Last Heir of the North gives us more insight into Lilian’s true motives. She’s been keeping secrets for a long time. I really enjoyed the story! I can’t wait for the last book in the series to tie everything together! I highly recommend this series.
I received an ARC from the author and I’m voluntarily leaving an honest review.
I received an ARC from the author and I’m voluntarily leaving an honest review.
inked_up_bookshelf's review
4.0
Longest novel in the series yet and the most informative. Jie is hell bent on finding out the truth of why Lillian betrayed the clan. More and more pieces are falling together.
There was a serious depth and detail that is being brought into this series is fabulous. Typically present and past chapter to chapter is not my style as I often get confused but this was nearly flawless with the changing of times.
There was a serious depth and detail that is being brought into this series is fabulous. Typically present and past chapter to chapter is not my style as I often get confused but this was nearly flawless with the changing of times.
secre's review
5.0
Last Heir of the North is the longest entry so far in this series and it works amazingly well; there is so much extra detail, depth and world building here to dig into. And I have to admit, the more I know about the Black Lotus Clan, the more I think that Lilian had the right idea betraying them and trying to get out in the only way she could. The things done for the Clan's good are just as horrific as the crimes committed in the Trenches; in a way, they are more so as the Trenches was just avarice and violence, with little thought to their actions. The Clan on the other hand takes vulnerable youngsters, trains them and then essentially sells them into the sex trade whether they want to be there or not.
Told in an approximate 50:50 split between the present day and flashbacks into the past, this novel offers the greatest character development yet in the series. More importantly perhaps, it develops Lilian’s motivations and story in a way that completely fleshes out her decisions and motivations. I found this fascinating and felt that it allowed the reader to really delve into both the present and the past. The two interweaving plot lines are both as interesting as each other, meaning you want to know where both are going, ensuring there is a balance between the two and I never felt like rushing through one to get back to the other.
This has to be my stand out favourite in the series so far. The additional length really works to its favour and once you start, you won’t want to put this down. If you’re looking for action, intrigue and political machinations, this may be exactly what you’re looking for.
Told in an approximate 50:50 split between the present day and flashbacks into the past, this novel offers the greatest character development yet in the series. More importantly perhaps, it develops Lilian’s motivations and story in a way that completely fleshes out her decisions and motivations. I found this fascinating and felt that it allowed the reader to really delve into both the present and the past. The two interweaving plot lines are both as interesting as each other, meaning you want to know where both are going, ensuring there is a balance between the two and I never felt like rushing through one to get back to the other.
This has to be my stand out favourite in the series so far. The additional length really works to its favour and once you start, you won’t want to put this down. If you’re looking for action, intrigue and political machinations, this may be exactly what you’re looking for.
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