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amess's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-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? No
4.75
Vast in scope and creative in worldbuilding. Interesting and believable characters.
stephaniebookish's review against another edition
5.0
I’ll be writing a review once I pick myself up off the floor but this was a wild ride from start to finish
lexpugs's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
read_100_books's review against another edition
1.0
It is very rare for me to not finish a book once I start it; but I’m sad to say Upon a Burning Throne made this list before I finished the prologue. I really wanted to give this book a chance because the stunning cover and premise is usually exactly what I love; a story set in a world based on a culture that I don’t often see in fantasy-esque literature.
Why you ask? Well to start with, the exposition in this novel was incredibly disconcerting. I am a big fan of high fantasy and world building but this book was a classic case of tell not show. The author chose to be wordy and use passive voice rather than using active voice to give impact to his story.
The continuity and timeline of the prologue is similarly confusing. One thing happens and then a character comes to talk about the past but there are no breaks or anything resembling a smooth transition. This created a scene where there was no chance whatsoever to connect with the world or the characters in the first 40 pages.
I had such high hopes for this book and was so excited to read it when it was finally released. Alas, it is not a book that I would recommend to anyone.
Why you ask? Well to start with, the exposition in this novel was incredibly disconcerting. I am a big fan of high fantasy and world building but this book was a classic case of tell not show. The author chose to be wordy and use passive voice rather than using active voice to give impact to his story.
The continuity and timeline of the prologue is similarly confusing. One thing happens and then a character comes to talk about the past but there are no breaks or anything resembling a smooth transition. This created a scene where there was no chance whatsoever to connect with the world or the characters in the first 40 pages.
I had such high hopes for this book and was so excited to read it when it was finally released. Alas, it is not a book that I would recommend to anyone.
canadajanes's review against another edition
4.0
I feel like an editor could have cut about a quarter of the book, but otherwise I enjoyed it! Fun to get a fantasy epic with a different cultural backdrop than I usually see.
noteworthy_fiction's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-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? No
4.0
dancingprince's review against another edition
I think I just need to read it when I'm in a different headspace.
v_fill's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
ashwise360's review
challenging
relaxing
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0