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christycorr's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
niidz's review
3.0
well ive got to start saying compared to the last bok this one seems fleshed out with much more thought, the characters were all very interesting and unique, the plot of this book was way more enjoyable and it was interesting to find out more about the Ke-Han and there were at least a few female chaacters nothing that could pass the Bechdel test but a slight improvement. It still feels like the whole book i was waiting for something to happen between the 4 main characters, and waiting and waiting and in the end....nothing, the relationship between Mamoru and Kouje felt.....like it was going somewhere but then the platonic resolution of it left me a bit...kinda like ???????? not to mention the teasing of Caius and Alcibides' relationship, so anyways to conclude better than the one before but still not what i hoped for
omiai's review
1.0
This is a very good book, brilliantly written! I'm impressed that two so young could write a book of this standard when many fantasy writers much older than them can't manage it. Two brilliant authors who I hope keep writing for many years to come.
We follow four characters, the story told from all of their points of view. Mamoru, the Prince, deemed a traitor by his brother, Isuel, the Emperor. He and his servant run away from the Palace and most of their story is about their journey to get away from Isuel. Mamoru, a sweet, kind-hearted man, beloved by his people, and Kouje, his servant, strong and the most loyal a man could be. There story was my favourite, as it showed elements of the story between Hal and Royston from Havemercy. Although Mamoru and Kouje never get together, their relationship is purely one of the strongest friendship and devotion.
The other half of the story is about Alcibiades and Caius, a warrior and a magician. Alcibiades is a stubborn war hardened man, kind, but he hides it well. Caius is very camp, enjoys great clothing and gets excited by the strangest things. Both are excellent characters and I enjoyed reading Alcibiades reactions to what Caius says, does and wears, and Caius' observations about Alcibiades are utterly brilliant.
One thing I prefered about this book to Havemercy was that I liked all 4 of the characters and wanted to read all of their stories, but with Havemercy, I found the stories of Rook and Thom rather boring and not nearly as interesting as Hal and Royston's story. But one thing that was missing from this book was the lack of romance. Normally it spoils a book for me, but after Havemercy and everything that happened between Hal and Royston, I was really hoping for more of that in this book, as Jones and Bennett write romance so well.
So I really recommend this, an excellent book indeed, but I don't think you'd have to have read the first in the series to understand this one. They are set in the world, but with little connections to each other.
We follow four characters, the story told from all of their points of view. Mamoru, the Prince, deemed a traitor by his brother, Isuel, the Emperor. He and his servant run away from the Palace and most of their story is about their journey to get away from Isuel. Mamoru, a sweet, kind-hearted man, beloved by his people, and Kouje, his servant, strong and the most loyal a man could be. There story was my favourite, as it showed elements of the story between Hal and Royston from Havemercy. Although Mamoru and Kouje never get together, their relationship is purely one of the strongest friendship and devotion.
The other half of the story is about Alcibiades and Caius, a warrior and a magician. Alcibiades is a stubborn war hardened man, kind, but he hides it well. Caius is very camp, enjoys great clothing and gets excited by the strangest things. Both are excellent characters and I enjoyed reading Alcibiades reactions to what Caius says, does and wears, and Caius' observations about Alcibiades are utterly brilliant.
One thing I prefered about this book to Havemercy was that I liked all 4 of the characters and wanted to read all of their stories, but with Havemercy, I found the stories of Rook and Thom rather boring and not nearly as interesting as Hal and Royston's story. But one thing that was missing from this book was the lack of romance. Normally it spoils a book for me, but after Havemercy and everything that happened between Hal and Royston, I was really hoping for more of that in this book, as Jones and Bennett write romance so well.
So I really recommend this, an excellent book indeed, but I don't think you'd have to have read the first in the series to understand this one. They are set in the world, but with little connections to each other.
pappersvingar's review
3.0
I enjoyed this book but in a really mellow way. I felt no urgency while reading it, didn't stay up later than I should have because I just had to read one more chapter. I liked the characters and the plot was interesting enough to keep my attention, but it wasn't a page-turner for me. It didn't inspire that driving need to know what will happen next.
jain's review
3.0
As with Havemercy, this book follows four paired protagonists, Kouje and Mamoru and Caius and Alcibiades. Unfortunately, the Caius and Alcibiades chapters felt like filler half the time. They were often amusing and replete with bantery dialogue, but filler nonetheless.
An additional annoyance was how the Xi'an characters constantly referred to themselves/their country as "Ke-Han." Way to privilege the perspective of (white) Volstov and to other (Asian) Xi'an.
The book's saving grace for me was Kouje's and Mamoru's plotline, which is just the sort of quest narrative that I most enjoy. And, as I mentioned above, there's no lack of wit and humor. While that combo was sufficient for a fairly pleasurable reading experience, however, it wasn't enough to make the book actually good.
An additional annoyance was how the Xi'an characters constantly referred to themselves/their country as "Ke-Han." Way to privilege the perspective of (white) Volstov and to other (Asian) Xi'an.
The book's saving grace for me was Kouje's and Mamoru's plotline, which is just the sort of quest narrative that I most enjoy. And, as I mentioned above, there's no lack of wit and humor. While that combo was sufficient for a fairly pleasurable reading experience, however, it wasn't enough to make the book actually good.
stranglingstars's review
4.0
The only thing that I didn't quite like about this book is that the ending felt a bit rushed. There was such a nice and long build up, so when it ended I just felt like "that's it?".
Other than that I don't have any complaints. The characters were likeable (even though it took me a while to get used to, and subsequently like, Mamoru and Kouje.). Caius Greylace was, without a doubt, my favourite out of the four (he's surprisingly easy to like, you know, for a mad man), although Alcibiades point of view was really enjoyable as well.
The humor was great, just like in Havemercy, and I found myself laughing out loud more than once.
All in all, I think that this is definitely worth reading, especially if you enjoyed Havemercy.
Other than that I don't have any complaints. The characters were likeable (even though it took me a while to get used to, and subsequently like, Mamoru and Kouje.). Caius Greylace was, without a doubt, my favourite out of the four (he's surprisingly easy to like, you know, for a mad man), although Alcibiades point of view was really enjoyable as well.
The humor was great, just like in Havemercy, and I found myself laughing out loud more than once.
All in all, I think that this is definitely worth reading, especially if you enjoyed Havemercy.
quorumbutton's review
4.0
This is probably my favorite book in this series??? Mostly because the setting Asian!! And I didn't hate any of the characters in this one, in the other three there was always one narrator that I wish I could have skipped.
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