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itsnotalakeitsanocean's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Slight disclaimer that this is my review after reading this book for the second time a considerable number of years after my first read (and when I was getting into reading as a whole). While I still have some love for this book, I think I was able to take off my nostalgia goggles for the most part and see things in a more critical light.
Things I liked:
Things I liked:
- The majority of the side characters are still as interesting to me now as they were back then. They are by no means anybody groundbreaking but they're likeable enough that I wish the book focused more on them sometimes.
- I enjoyed the Green Riders as an organisation, and seeing just how less commonplace they were than in their past due to the (assumed) peacetime. Britain left just enough room for us to speculate their scope that it felt satisfying to follow up on it in the sequel. I also really loved the way station
- You can tell Britain has a real passion for the places that inspired Sacoridia from her background as a park ranger. Although the setting is nothing particularly new for high fantasy, when Britain gets the environmental details right they're spot on.
Things I didn't like:
- If you weren't immediately aware this was Britain's first novel, you'd probably figure it out in terms of how this book is paced. One could argue it feels more realistic for Karigan to venture about and things happen to her rather than her actively effecting her journey, but it becomes such a slog at times. Particularly with the portion where Karrigan is kidnapped, it felt extremely repetitive to read about how she and her captors move from place to place. Some other reviews pointed out that Britain is heavily influenced by Lord of the Rings and that might be an answer to the pacing, and although I partially agree, I think there are enough differences for it to stand on its own.
- Karrigan feels more like a trojan horse (horse pun not intended) for the setting and more interesting characters than being a strong main character. Again, it feels like things happen at her than rather to her. I'm not as bothered as some people are because:
a) This book came out in the 90s and I can respect that her "not like other girls; real women in fantasy settings don't wear dresses" attitude is a product of its time.
b) I've read books with way more whiny and annoying characters than Karrigan. - I feel like the treatment of sexual assault was for shock value. While Karrigan is still reminded of her attempted assault later on in the book, it seems extremely underplayed considering it is one of the most harrowing experiences someone can endure. Also the way Mel was almost raped by a random enemy guard felt gratuitous as a way to raise the stakes and show the bad guys are truly evil.
- Another review also pointed this out but I can't help agree with it - the book can't decide if it wants to take an anti-monarchy stance or a pro-monarchy stance. Several characters express how they've suffered under the reign of the monarchy, and how said monarchy has allowed various lords under their service to get away with various atrocities, so you'd think this book would be taking a stance against them? Nope, apparently the problem is just one bad apple in the form of Prince Amilton and surely Zachary will fix everything if we let him. How you may ask? Don't worry about it, he'll figure it out between the love triangle that is about to unfold in the second book onwards. We even have a cartoonishly evil version of what Britain thinks anarchists look like in the form of Lorelie just in case you think abolishing the monarchy is a bad idea!
- (Disclaimer that this is more of a personal grievance that goes beyond this book) Britain did my favourite character, Beryl Spencer, really dirty. I love the concept of her as a super competent, stoic spy who the reader doesn't initially know she's on the side of the protagonists but Britain falls into the same pitfall as she does with a lot of aspects in this book - telling, not showing. I would have loved to have seen more actions Beryl does on page that, when rereading the book, shows how she was undermining Mirwell the entire time. It would have made a change from having to hear the guy's inner monologue about how badly he wants to bang her. And I know from reading on Beryl just keeps getting into trouble so I have no reason to keep hoping.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Death, Kidnapping, and Violence
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexual violence, Rape, and Sexual assault
Minor: Animal death
inkysplodge's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Blood
Minor: Violence, Sexual violence, and Animal death
ketreads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.0
I'm a bit conflicted with my feelings over this book.
On the one hand, I LOVED reliving my horse-girl phase. A phase I remember very vividly after reading the book Silverhorse by Lene Kaaberbøl and falling in love with the idea of adventuring with my own horse, magical or otherwise!
Green Rider manages to capture that magic of adventure and draws you in as a reader. The main character of Karigan is just the right amount of naive but capable, which keeps the story a challenging adventure for all involved.
I also feel it worth mentioning but the seemingly random inclusion of threats of sexual violence towards Karigan and another woman at the mid-way point felt very inappropriate. The book up until that point read as a gentle coming-of-age with dangers but never sexual in nature. This inclusion really put me off, especially as it's never seen before or again.
The pacing could definitely be improved. I haven't read any of Britain's other works, but this did seem to jump straight into adventuring mishaps that felt way over our main character's head a bit too soon. It left her being, understandably, incapable of using her brain or learnt skills as she'd literally just begun her journey. It would have been more effective to see this as a gradual learning curve, as by the end Karigan definitely does seem more capable.
I had a few issues with the side characters. While the adventure itself felt quite meandering, and often backtracked in some places, the relationship Karigan forms with those around her, and those on screen when she isn't around, felt developed at a break-neck pace. By the end of the book we're supposed to feel Karigan's continuing adventure as a 'leaving home again' sort of sadness which doesn't feel earned.
Overall, I enjoyed it but aren't sure I'll continue with the series.
Though, ironically, I did actually enjoy the sneak peek chapter of book 2. Damnt!!!!
On the one hand, I LOVED reliving my horse-girl phase. A phase I remember very vividly after reading the book Silverhorse by Lene Kaaberbøl and falling in love with the idea of adventuring with my own horse, magical or otherwise!
Green Rider manages to capture that magic of adventure and draws you in as a reader. The main character of Karigan is just the right amount of naive but capable, which keeps the story a challenging adventure for all involved.
I also feel it worth mentioning but the seemingly random inclusion of threats of sexual violence towards Karigan and another woman at the mid-way point felt very inappropriate. The book up until that point read as a gentle coming-of-age with dangers but never sexual in nature. This inclusion really put me off, especially as it's never seen before or again.
The pacing could definitely be improved. I haven't read any of Britain's other works, but this did seem to jump straight into adventuring mishaps that felt way over our main character's head a bit too soon. It left her being, understandably, incapable of using her brain or learnt skills as she'd literally just begun her journey. It would have been more effective to see this as a gradual learning curve, as by the end Karigan definitely does seem more capable.
I had a few issues with the side characters. While the adventure itself felt quite meandering, and often backtracked in some places, the relationship Karigan forms with those around her, and those on screen when she isn't around, felt developed at a break-neck pace. By the end of the book we're supposed to feel Karigan's continuing adventure as a 'leaving home again' sort of sadness which doesn't feel earned.
Overall, I enjoyed it but aren't sure I'll continue with the series.
Though, ironically, I did actually enjoy the sneak peek chapter of book 2. Damnt!!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual violence
Minor: Rape
starlitpage's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Rape, and Murder
brandysbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-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
TW: violence against women, attempted sexual assault
I enjoyed this book and I do look forward to reading more from this series. Our mc is thrust into a world that she basically knows nothing about and I found that refreshing. As she learns so do we and I quite enjoyed her not knowing who everyone was and the history behind everything. Her personality felt a little all over the place sometimes. She’s really smart but also extremely naive and there was one instance where I was literally thinking “Wow that’s really really dumb what in the heck are you doing!?!?!”
There did seem to be an awful lot of death and a few when it was happening on the page I felt as if I was 3rd hand reading it. Like it was information passed through someone to someone else who told me.
The characters overall were interesting but I don’t feel that they are as fleshed out as they could be. This could just be because the author is showing us things from our mcs lens and like I said above she seems very naive and hasn’t spent her life around nobility really so her aptitude for politicking and intrigue is next to none.
The magic system seems to be part song/rhythm and part inert ability. We learned very little about the worlds magic in this book but it is set up to be explored more in the continuation (or at least I hope so).
Overall I did enjoy myself and I’d give this a solid 3.75 which I rounded up to a 4
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual violence
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