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spideyfieds's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.75
malignantcactus's review against another edition
2.0
This was fucking rough and fucking messy.
Easily one of the most incoherent first halves to a book I've read. Most of the POV's are virtually indistinguishable from one another. Obvious information is held so close to the chest that it makes the characters feel naive and moronic at times. Two certain villain characters are just evil because lol lmao we're high school bully tropes. Two of the POVs (Kastell and Camlin) could have been easily cut out. Camlin has maybe 4 or 5 chapters, and they add practically nothing to the story. Same with Kastell, IF he died at the end of this.
I like Corban. He feels a lot like Simon from Tad Williams' Memory Sorrow, & Thorn. A lot of this book feels like The Dragonbone Chair, just a pale imitation of it.
The last quarter or so the book did start to come together, and the ending was solid. I'm hoping the series gets better as it goes. I'm only continuing on because I've read The Bloodsworn Saga and I know Gwynne can write some fantastic books. I'm hoping that this gets better.
Easily one of the most incoherent first halves to a book I've read. Most of the POV's are virtually indistinguishable from one another. Obvious information is held so close to the chest that it makes the characters feel naive and moronic at times. Two certain villain characters are just evil because lol lmao we're high school bully tropes. Two of the POVs (Kastell and Camlin) could have been easily cut out. Camlin has maybe 4 or 5 chapters, and they add practically nothing to the story. Same with Kastell, IF he died at the end of this.
I like Corban. He feels a lot like Simon from Tad Williams' Memory Sorrow, & Thorn. A lot of this book feels like The Dragonbone Chair, just a pale imitation of it.
The last quarter or so the book did start to come together, and the ending was solid. I'm hoping the series gets better as it goes. I'm only continuing on because I've read The Bloodsworn Saga and I know Gwynne can write some fantastic books. I'm hoping that this gets better.
doolie's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
A whole lot of nothing happens - world building isn’t great
richard_morrow's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
War is coming, the kingdoms need to unite and warriors need to be ready to sharpen their swords as they prepare to fight. A narrative which is crafted like a beautiful sword sharpened with a range of deep and varied characters. With so many characters you almost need to take a note of who is who and how they are entangled. A powerful coming of age saga with conflicted an array of souls who need to pick which side they’re on. A tour de force of a beginning to what I imagine is an epic saga.
seba_reads's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
courtney6's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
marinaasofthesea's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0