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mwplante's review against another edition
4.0
Blockbuster series! Second book even better than the first.
ppigg81's review against another edition
4.0
Great suspenseful fantasy, but not cheesy. I think book 3 will be very good, can't wait to find out.
ahpotts's review against another edition
4.0
The pace kept up, the characters grow more interesting, I found myself impatient to get back to the book & keep reading. On to the next!
kadomi's review against another edition
3.0
I guess there is a reason that it took me a solid three years to complete the 2nd book of The Chathrand Voyage, and this after really enjoying the first one, The Red Wolf Conspiracy.
The Rats and the Ruling Sea continues right where the first book ended, but then proceeds to plod along at a bit of a glacial pace. After stopping the plans of the various conspiracies aboard the gigantic Chathrand, the ship now sets out to cross the Ruling Sea, to further the plans of the Arquali Empire.
It's tough to follow the various conspiracies, and the main characters Pazel and Thasha are sometimes quite maddening. It wasn't until the last quarter of the book that it really picked up for me. Things come to a head as the Chathrand is about to end up in the heart of a maelstrom while the battling factions aboard come to a head.
The world building and the various characters are still as imaginative as in the first book. It's incredibly creative and definitely unique amongst the many fantasy books I have read in my life.
All in all 3.5 stars, and I will continue on, but man, I sure wish the looooooong middle stretch of the book had been more exciting.
The Rats and the Ruling Sea continues right where the first book ended, but then proceeds to plod along at a bit of a glacial pace. After stopping the plans of the various conspiracies aboard the gigantic Chathrand, the ship now sets out to cross the Ruling Sea, to further the plans of the Arquali Empire.
It's tough to follow the various conspiracies, and the main characters Pazel and Thasha are sometimes quite maddening. It wasn't until the last quarter of the book that it really picked up for me. Things come to a head as the Chathrand is about to end up in the heart of a maelstrom while the battling factions aboard come to a head.
The world building and the various characters are still as imaginative as in the first book. It's incredibly creative and definitely unique amongst the many fantasy books I have read in my life.
All in all 3.5 stars, and I will continue on, but man, I sure wish the looooooong middle stretch of the book had been more exciting.
feyn's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
diaryofthebookdragon's review against another edition
4.0
If you are following my ramblings reviews, you have probably read how much I liked [b:The Red Wolf Conspiracy|2408602|The Red Wolf Conspiracy (The Chathrand Voyage, #1)|Robert V.S. Redick|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1233498006s/2408602.jpg|2415773], first part of Chathrand Voyages. Not even a rough start with too much jumping between characters could dampen my enthusiasm.
But, as often happens to me when I like the first part in series so much, I delayed reading The Ruling Sea. Will it be as awesome? Maybe it was a fluke? Will Robert V.S. Redick disappoint me or earn a place in a hall of my all-time-favorites? Finally I have gathered enough courage to sail on further into the adventure.
From the beginning it's perfectly clear that Robert V.S. Redick listened to the readers input. The Ruling Sea has a much more concise start and jumps between characters are not so often. Also, the fact that most of the characters are familiar to us from [b:The Red Wolf Conspiracy|2408602|The Red Wolf Conspiracy (The Chathrand Voyage, #1)|Robert V.S. Redick|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1233498006s/2408602.jpg|2415773] helps. Although my reading went much smoother, I could not but sadly notice that excitement and tension, because of this, were also tampered down in The Ruling Sea. I know, you can never please some people. o:)
I liked that The Ruling Sea gives us a better understanding of Mzithrini culture and that we get the better look at the so-called 'enemy' but I hoped that the plot will progress more. The Ruling Sea seemed more to deepen and clarify the characterisation and world building.
Maybe if [b:The Red Wolf Conspiracy|2408602|The Red Wolf Conspiracy (The Chathrand Voyage, #1)|Robert V.S. Redick|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1233498006s/2408602.jpg|2415773] was not so full of adventure you would not hear me complaining me so much, it's not like nothing happens. Chathrand sails The Ruling Sea and some new strands in the web of the conspiracy are revealed. And with huge shock and discovery at the end, I am definitely left intrigued and ready to find out more.
In The End...
The Ruling Sea continues adding more intriguing depths to the characters and the world, that [b:The Red Wolf Conspiracy|2408602|The Red Wolf Conspiracy (The Chathrand Voyage, #1)|Robert V.S. Redick|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1233498006s/2408602.jpg|2415773] introduced us to. Although maybe a little bit calmer in pacing, it's a solid sequel to the series. Chathrand Voyages still has my recommendation as a good fantasy adventure if you like ships, conspiracies and magic.
My rating: 4 stars
Disclaimer: I was given a free eBook by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a honest review. This text is also posted on my blog Bookworm Dreams in a little bit more styled edition.
But, as often happens to me when I like the first part in series so much, I delayed reading The Ruling Sea. Will it be as awesome? Maybe it was a fluke? Will Robert V.S. Redick disappoint me or earn a place in a hall of my all-time-favorites? Finally I have gathered enough courage to sail on further into the adventure.
From the beginning it's perfectly clear that Robert V.S. Redick listened to the readers input. The Ruling Sea has a much more concise start and jumps between characters are not so often. Also, the fact that most of the characters are familiar to us from [b:The Red Wolf Conspiracy|2408602|The Red Wolf Conspiracy (The Chathrand Voyage, #1)|Robert V.S. Redick|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1233498006s/2408602.jpg|2415773] helps. Although my reading went much smoother, I could not but sadly notice that excitement and tension, because of this, were also tampered down in The Ruling Sea. I know, you can never please some people. o:)
I liked that The Ruling Sea gives us a better understanding of Mzithrini culture and that we get the better look at the so-called 'enemy' but I hoped that the plot will progress more. The Ruling Sea seemed more to deepen and clarify the characterisation and world building.
Maybe if [b:The Red Wolf Conspiracy|2408602|The Red Wolf Conspiracy (The Chathrand Voyage, #1)|Robert V.S. Redick|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1233498006s/2408602.jpg|2415773] was not so full of adventure you would not hear me complaining me so much, it's not like nothing happens. Chathrand sails The Ruling Sea and some new strands in the web of the conspiracy are revealed. And with huge shock and discovery at the end, I am definitely left intrigued and ready to find out more.
In The End...
The Ruling Sea continues adding more intriguing depths to the characters and the world, that [b:The Red Wolf Conspiracy|2408602|The Red Wolf Conspiracy (The Chathrand Voyage, #1)|Robert V.S. Redick|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1233498006s/2408602.jpg|2415773] introduced us to. Although maybe a little bit calmer in pacing, it's a solid sequel to the series. Chathrand Voyages still has my recommendation as a good fantasy adventure if you like ships, conspiracies and magic.
My rating: 4 stars
Disclaimer: I was given a free eBook by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a honest review. This text is also posted on my blog Bookworm Dreams in a little bit more styled edition.
glowbump's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
inspiring
lighthearted
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
5.0
shmosieposie's review against another edition
4.0
Loved it! Some bits drag on a little, but if you read the first one the second does not disappoint.
dark_reader's review against another edition
5.0
LOVED. IT. This is going on my "favorites" shelf. This author cares about good writing, in the Strunk & White sense, and I have encountered so much of the opposite lately, it really stands out. He chooses his words with care; his writing is not sparse, but neither is it bloated at all. This is the kind of conscientious wordcraft that depends on multiple rounds of edits, by self and others, to smooth into perfection.
The book has a wonderful classic feel to it with its almost-episodic adventure, and several epistolary touches that I simply adore. Adventure at sea and on land, on remote jungle islands and in seaside cave complexes, the Chathrand battles enemy ships and the elements while its voyagers jockey for advantage as a multi-layered conspiracy unfolds, all in a world with loosely-defined magic, barely-seen supernatural creatures, and so many secrets still unrevealed. Two volumes left in this series—ooh, this is going to be good! And the author has recently stated that he expects to produce more work set in this world.
The book's world is desirable and believable, in terms of economics, politics, information systems, technology, etc. It's a gaslamp-type setting, but this wasn't clear to me until somewhere in the second book (when an actual gas lamp was in use), because the world is presented perfectly naturally through the experience of the characters and not as a 'character' in its own right. It's just where they live, without any explicit statements about what kind of world it it. I am so used at this point to grimdark and gritty fantasy, I have to adjust when characters actually care about individual lives in general and a single death is significant.
Who is "the editor"? My current guess is Neeps, but it's a total shot in the dark.
The book has a wonderful classic feel to it with its almost-episodic adventure, and several epistolary touches that I simply adore. Adventure at sea and on land, on remote jungle islands and in seaside cave complexes, the Chathrand battles enemy ships and the elements while its voyagers jockey for advantage as a multi-layered conspiracy unfolds, all in a world with loosely-defined magic, barely-seen supernatural creatures, and so many secrets still unrevealed. Two volumes left in this series—ooh, this is going to be good! And the author has recently stated that he expects to produce more work set in this world.
The book's world is desirable and believable, in terms of economics, politics, information systems, technology, etc. It's a gaslamp-type setting, but this wasn't clear to me until somewhere in the second book (when an actual gas lamp was in use), because the world is presented perfectly naturally through the experience of the characters and not as a 'character' in its own right. It's just where they live, without any explicit statements about what kind of world it it. I am so used at this point to grimdark and gritty fantasy, I have to adjust when characters actually care about individual lives in general and a single death is significant.
Who is "the editor"? My current guess is Neeps, but it's a total shot in the dark.