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libraryofdreaming's review against another edition
4.0
Wow, I think I forgot how brutal this series was. Fellow sensitive readers, approach with care.
vrrrmm's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
5.0
leslie_mg's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
mkpatter's review against another edition
4.0
A bit TOO much setup without a lot of payoff (typically middle book in a trilogy stuff) but I still enjoyed it.
rebeccasreadingrambles's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this book, being back in this world with these characters, after the disastrous and world altering ending of Black Sun. However, this is kind of a departure from the first book because while it had the feeling of rushing rushing toward a big event; this book is slower paced. Full of shifting alliances, scheming, and intrigue, this book seemed like an intermediary between the events of the first and the future clashes to come. This book builds on what we know of the characters and develops them even more. I truly cannot really identify a villain (ok yes probably one) because they are all so dedicated to their causes and beliefs and I think most of them want what's best...though they different greatly on what that looks like. I appreciated the idea of being so powerful that people think of you only in that way and are not interested in the person behind the power, and what a lofty weight that is to carry. I especially loved seeing more of Xiala and learning more of her and her past. I truly have no idea what is to come in the next book, but I will be waiting very impatiently for it.
echokaymi's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
mcloonejack's review against another edition
3.0
3 stars is maybe a little harsh, let’s call it 3.5.
First, the bad, to get it out of the way: There is so much telling and not showing from Roanhorse, whether it’s explicitly laying out characters’ thoughts to some of the more obvious foreshadowing you’ll ever see (there’s no joke a “wow I look forward to our lives ahead” followed by death 3 pages later in this). There are also just so many disparate story threads with scant overlaps that at times felt more like Marvel post-credit sequences than anything else. Even the big climax, while very cool, was too short for my liking. And then, of course (and unfortunately), you have some of the pacing and storybeat issues that can come with the middle of a trilogy, with two of the five(!) storylines feeling almost entirely like set up for the third book. All of this things add up to make this feel almost like it straddles between YA and adult fantasy (it definitely leans latter).
All that said! This is also just a very fun world to inhabit. While I was annoyed by all the different perspectives on a macro sense—and committing to changing POV every chapter—it painted a picture of a much wider world than we see in Black Sun. Roanhorse also does a great job creating flawed main characters and at least a handful of intriguing side ones. And when they actually converse, the book particularly shines, as we don’t get bogged down in the over-worked thoughts.
The latter third of this book in particular—shock! as characters finally start to come together—really picks up and leads to some A+ moments. I just wish Roanhorse had gotten there quicker. But again, middle book problems.
While I gripe about both the POV switching and intensive internal monologues, there are times where I feel Roanhorse really nails what she’s going for, namely the disparity and imbalance of information floating around. And, blessedly, she generally doesn’t hold your hand in pointing out that what one character thought may be something the reader already knows to be incorrect, which is fun.
Now a little SPOILER WARNING here, though I don’t know if this will be that surprising (and yeah yeah yeah it fits the hero’s journey archetype): I cannot BELIEVE that the set up for the final book once again has all the characters split up into four locations, two of them being literal secret places hidden from outsiders. Please bring them back together quickly!
First, the bad, to get it out of the way: There is so much telling and not showing from Roanhorse, whether it’s explicitly laying out characters’ thoughts to some of the more obvious foreshadowing you’ll ever see (there’s no joke a “wow I look forward to our lives ahead” followed by death 3 pages later in this). There are also just so many disparate story threads with scant overlaps that at times felt more like Marvel post-credit sequences than anything else. Even the big climax, while very cool, was too short for my liking. And then, of course (and unfortunately), you have some of the pacing and storybeat issues that can come with the middle of a trilogy, with two of the five(!) storylines feeling almost entirely like set up for the third book. All of this things add up to make this feel almost like it straddles between YA and adult fantasy (it definitely leans latter).
All that said! This is also just a very fun world to inhabit. While I was annoyed by all the different perspectives on a macro sense—and committing to changing POV every chapter—it painted a picture of a much wider world than we see in Black Sun. Roanhorse also does a great job creating flawed main characters and at least a handful of intriguing side ones. And when they actually converse, the book particularly shines, as we don’t get bogged down in the over-worked thoughts.
The latter third of this book in particular—shock! as characters finally start to come together—really picks up and leads to some A+ moments. I just wish Roanhorse had gotten there quicker. But again, middle book problems.
While I gripe about both the POV switching and intensive internal monologues, there are times where I feel Roanhorse really nails what she’s going for, namely the disparity and imbalance of information floating around. And, blessedly, she generally doesn’t hold your hand in pointing out that what one character thought may be something the reader already knows to be incorrect, which is fun.
Now a little SPOILER WARNING here, though I don’t know if this will be that surprising (and yeah yeah yeah it fits the hero’s journey archetype): I cannot BELIEVE that the set up for the final book once again has all the characters split up into four locations, two of them being literal secret places hidden from outsiders. Please bring them back together quickly!