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notanotherappomfg6969's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Overall a good read though the last chapters feel compressed and much quicker in pacing than the rest of the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War and Violence
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Genocide
schwarmgiven's review
4.0
This was fantastic. Lots of Dark Sun history was revealed that I did not expect. The interlocking character back story was used very very well. The combat was almost exclusively magical in nature and handled very very well.
One of the things that I liked about this book was the further development of the elves moral ambiguity and its relationship to Sadira's development. In book two we learned about leadership or something, but here we learn about the two sides of defiling--the need for moral absolutes--the nature of personal growth and personal power. The end battle seems a little much, everything comes together a little to cleanly, but overall a very good book.
One of the things that I liked about this book was the further development of the elves moral ambiguity and its relationship to Sadira's development. In book two we learned about leadership or something, but here we learn about the two sides of defiling--the need for moral absolutes--the nature of personal growth and personal power. The end battle seems a little much, everything comes together a little to cleanly, but overall a very good book.
jcovey's review
4.0
Sadira was always the best character in this series so no surprise the one that makes her mc and drops the rest of the mostly forgettable crew is the best so far.
omridallal's review
5.0
The world is still very interesting, and the author showing new parts of its past and present in a good pace. Sadira's story was much more interesting then Raikus in the last book, which made this book better (obviously :]). Things are still happening in a very connivant way for the story to progress in the way the author wants to, but I think it’s a sin of many books that were written around that time, so I can't condemn it for that . Even so the book still survives that passage of time very well even 30 years after it was published.
women are still equal to the men in every way and its refreshing to see such a thing in an old fantasy book.
the plot twists are somewhat obvious, but that did not affect my enjoyment of the book.
all in all a 4.5 stars put off 5
women are still equal to the men in every way and its refreshing to see such a thing in an old fantasy book.
the plot twists are somewhat obvious, but that did not affect my enjoyment of the book.
all in all a 4.5 stars put off 5
burbobaggins's review
3.0
I liked this book more than the previous volume in the Prism Pentad series. Sadira is one of the more nuanced characters in the series so her tale is fairly complex. One negative about the book is that at times Sadira's motivations don't seem to make sense.
It was interesting to get additional background information on Athas and the sorcerer-kings. Fans of the Dark Sun setting will enjoy reading this book.
It was interesting to get additional background information on Athas and the sorcerer-kings. Fans of the Dark Sun setting will enjoy reading this book.
jdelvillar's review
5.0
I enjoyed this one much more than the previous two during my reread. I found the characters very nuanced and that they held true to their tenets. In particular the descriptions of the magic used by Sadira and others captured the imagination. The use of spell components has not been better described and it is in no way tedious. The unique spells and effects were simultaneously gruesome and captivating.
Sadira's internal struggle with defiling was I think well done. She moralized it at times and decried it at times. In the end she seemed to have made her decision but it is easy to have a clear conscious when one is removed from the decisionmaking
Sadira's internal struggle with defiling was I think well done. She moralized it at times and decried it at times. In the end she seemed to have made her decision but it is easy to have a clear conscious when one is removed from the decisionmaking
mw2k's review
2.0
Another one of these fun in a silly way books. It's an improvement over its predecessor inasmuch that it wasn't quite the drag to read. The dialogue and some of the character motivations aren't quite believable and the titular character survives way too many admittedly contrived difficult situations and injuries.
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