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lanko's review
3.0
This is probably the most lightning-speed paced book I've read. It can be a boon or a curse, or even both, depending on your preferences.
It was great when chapters full of action went by without stopping, throwing more and more danger at the group that was just formed and had internal problems between some members.
A bit lacking when grudges held for decades end a few days later, or when they get injured or even die.
The best example of how the pace is both great and lacking is when some terrible stuff happens. It comes so quick and sudden that it really shocked me a character could just die like that, when all expectations pointed otherwise. It had that feeling only Game of Thrones managed to do: nobody is safe, and they will die if they screw up.
But the pace lacked the buildup, time spent with characters, we don't really get to know them deep enough to fully feel it. You will feel bad, but also feel something lacked.
Another aspect considering the threat of death (and deaths) is the magic utilized. There is no real limit to the magic, which is something I like, as I believe the excessive usage of systems, rules and such are slowly killing magic in the genre.
Anyway, the ceiling is extremely high (if there is any) for the magic. And this goes for the enemies too. And later they find demons, who are really relentless creatures that were done really well. I really didn't want to mess with those.
Unfortunately there was an aspect of the magic that kinda of killed for me the initial tension and emotional aspect. And no, it was not because of lack of clear and hard rules.
The demons and the Underside are an extremely good aspect of the book. The demons and their temporary masters (and the consequences for summoning them) are pretty nasty. I was actually afraid for the characters, because the villains were really out for blood.
We could have spent more time in the Underside, but what's even more nasty is that the demons may not even be the enemy, and there are even nastier forces at work. It's really nasty.
As for characters, curiously the one who most appealed to me and seemed more fleshed out with a distinctive voice for everything he went through was actually not in the main group, but appeared later. It was Xander.
Everyone had potential, but things were so fast and packed with so much action that this couldn't be properly tapped.
I think this is the only thing this lacked, the buildup or introspection. And that particular magical pet peeve. Because there are lots of good stuff. The things happening to the characters are akin to what Hobb does and some plot twists were really good, with some Sanderson feel.
On the other hand, if fast and furious is your style, this is for you.
It was great when chapters full of action went by without stopping, throwing more and more danger at the group that was just formed and had internal problems between some members.
A bit lacking when grudges held for decades end a few days later, or when they get injured or even die.
The best example of how the pace is both great and lacking is when some terrible stuff happens. It comes so quick and sudden that it really shocked me a character could just die like that, when all expectations pointed otherwise. It had that feeling only Game of Thrones managed to do: nobody is safe, and they will die if they screw up.
But the pace lacked the buildup, time spent with characters, we don't really get to know them deep enough to fully feel it. You will feel bad, but also feel something lacked.
Another aspect considering the threat of death (and deaths) is the magic utilized. There is no real limit to the magic, which is something I like, as I believe the excessive usage of systems, rules and such are slowly killing magic in the genre.
Anyway, the ceiling is extremely high (if there is any) for the magic. And this goes for the enemies too. And later they find demons, who are really relentless creatures that were done really well. I really didn't want to mess with those.
Unfortunately there was an aspect of the magic that kinda of killed for me the initial tension and emotional aspect. And no, it was not because of lack of clear and hard rules.
Spoiler
Resurrection. And the worse thing is that some people actually revive more than once. Maybe one even revived thrice, considering he was already dead when we first meet him. It felt exaggerated. It kinda of killed the tension, the stakes and the emotional aspect when some of them die and then were simply back. Only one really dies. The deities grating powers was cool, but impersonating dead people was a bit too much. Worse when the villain manages to banish them and the characters who died collapse, but become alive again.The demons and the Underside are an extremely good aspect of the book. The demons and their temporary masters (and the consequences for summoning them) are pretty nasty. I was actually afraid for the characters, because the villains were really out for blood.
We could have spent more time in the Underside, but what's even more nasty is that the demons may not even be the enemy, and there are even nastier forces at work. It's really nasty.
As for characters, curiously the one who most appealed to me and seemed more fleshed out with a distinctive voice for everything he went through was actually not in the main group, but appeared later. It was Xander.
Everyone had potential, but things were so fast and packed with so much action that this couldn't be properly tapped.
I think this is the only thing this lacked, the buildup or introspection. And that particular magical pet peeve. Because there are lots of good stuff. The things happening to the characters are akin to what Hobb does and some plot twists were really good, with some Sanderson feel.
On the other hand, if fast and furious is your style, this is for you.
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