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bosun_knows's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
I found this from a Shepard Books list on found families.
msmith7344's review
adventurous
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
4.5
geryon92's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
whitneykelley's review
5.0
No steam fantasy
Omg I love this series. The characters are fantastic and the worldbuilding is so much fun. The plot progresses across the series and gets really exciting and interesting
Omg I love this series. The characters are fantastic and the worldbuilding is so much fun. The plot progresses across the series and gets really exciting and interesting
anna3101's review
5.0
Wow. WOW. What a gorgeous book!
I never thought I would enjoy fantasy so much. Well ok, the romance part helped a bit :) But it was so fascinating to see this illusional world full of so many details and looking so real, and all the main characters together, side by side, through good and the bad, on a journey to change so much in everyone's lives. There was magic, there was adventure, there was danger, there was love, hope, friendship - everything. But the thing I liked best of all was this feeling of togetherness, of how a small group of people (plus one very dangerous animal) who initially doubted each other, learnt not only to cooperate but also to appreciate and protect each other.
Let's add a strong female character - no whining or fainting or mindless flirting and some really impressive magic. Aaah. LOVED it.
I never thought I would enjoy fantasy so much. Well ok, the romance part helped a bit :) But it was so fascinating to see this illusional world full of so many details and looking so real, and all the main characters together, side by side, through good and the bad, on a journey to change so much in everyone's lives. There was magic, there was adventure, there was danger, there was love, hope, friendship - everything. But the thing I liked best of all was this feeling of togetherness, of how a small group of people (plus one very dangerous animal) who initially doubted each other, learnt not only to cooperate but also to appreciate and protect each other.
Let's add a strong female character - no whining or fainting or mindless flirting and some really impressive magic. Aaah. LOVED it.
aggressive_nostalgia's review
5.0
A fabulous novel. I read and enjoyed several of Shinn's books for teens, and I came across this at a nonlocal library and pounced on the chance to read it—and loved it.
I really liked Shinn's choice to start off the prologue from the viewpoint of a character who was neither a hero nor villain nor random passerby—intrigue, oolala! Even if he never returns to the story, it added an extra level of depth to the universe without seeming totally arbitrary or unnecessary.
The plot, even with only very vague structure, an unremarkable premise, and a rather predictable ending, never lagged. I couldn’t put it down. It had a good balance of action and intrigue, was generally well-paced, and left plenty of room for character development. All the characters are very vibrant and individualized, carefully nuanced, interesting, powerful, and still completely human. They’re a bit archetypical, and you don’t get inside everyone’s heads, but there are clearly defined personalities and they do develop over the story’s course. I think Cammon and Donnal are my favorites. Again, I am very impressed with Shinn’s ability to build a gripping book off character development, without depending on plot alone to hold the reader’s interest. I have so much respect for that kind of writing.
Even though the ending wasn’t a cliffhanger as such, I will without a doubt read the subsequent books in the series. I am very excited to see where it will lead, and have the chance to get inside some of the other characters’ heads.
I really liked Shinn's choice to start off the prologue from the viewpoint of a character who was neither a hero nor villain nor random passerby—intrigue, oolala! Even if he never returns to the story, it added an extra level of depth to the universe without seeming totally arbitrary or unnecessary.
The plot, even with only very vague structure, an unremarkable premise, and a rather predictable ending, never lagged. I couldn’t put it down. It had a good balance of action and intrigue, was generally well-paced, and left plenty of room for character development. All the characters are very vibrant and individualized, carefully nuanced, interesting, powerful, and still completely human. They’re a bit archetypical, and you don’t get inside everyone’s heads, but there are clearly defined personalities and they do develop over the story’s course. I think Cammon and Donnal are my favorites. Again, I am very impressed with Shinn’s ability to build a gripping book off character development, without depending on plot alone to hold the reader’s interest. I have so much respect for that kind of writing.
Even though the ending wasn’t a cliffhanger as such, I will without a doubt read the subsequent books in the series. I am very excited to see where it will lead, and have the chance to get inside some of the other characters’ heads.
el_reads17's review
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
slow-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? Yes
4.0
rwdy29's review
4.0
I really liked this book. It was a good adventure and I would definitely read it again.
There were some little things about some of the character development that I thought was too black and white but, overall the characters were relatable with good back story.
I would definitely recommend reading this and (with the exception of the second book in the series) the rest of the Twelve Houses books.
There were some little things about some of the character development that I thought was too black and white but, overall the characters were relatable with good back story.
I would definitely recommend reading this and (with the exception of the second book in the series) the rest of the Twelve Houses books.
kjayne_books's review
3.0
I really wanted to love this series, but I found this book to be slow and long winded. The story is enjoyable if you can make it to the end. However, I have a feeling this series gets better the deeper you get into it.