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anna_hepworth's review
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Great book, but easy to put down and forget about, which is what has lost it the last 1/2 star. The writing is great, the characters are a fantastic mix of not-quite-stereotypes of sword and sorcery fantasy (whether the book counts as sword and sorcery I'm leaving to other people to argue about), the world building is complex, and the plot has so many different bits and bobs going on I was repeatedly surprised by details I hadn't noticed.
While the viewpoint character is a wandering actor who gets co-opted into a complicated political drama, I think my favourite 'character' is actually the castle. So many weird and wonderful things going on, at the intersection of the Real and the Unreal. Intriguing that the Unreal was pretty much always the stuff of nightmares, but I presume it had its less soul sucking and murderous moments. Second choice would probably be one of the ghosts.
One of the details I found frustrating was how poorly the majority of female characters were treated. Not just in world, but also how slim their characterisation and roles in the story were. Minimal to no back story, one thread (at best) of story that shows up more in its absence. The exception is the castle Steward, Taggert, who is everywhere, fighting incursions of the Unreal, and providing a foil for our viewpoint character to develop and become the kind of leader they believe in. Taggert's first scene was a turning point for how I felt about the book, although it was less about the introduction of a female character I found interesting, and more in that the Unreal was introduced in a way that took this story from the merely political to the fabulously fantastical.
While the viewpoint character is a wandering actor who gets co-opted into a complicated political drama, I think my favourite 'character' is actually the castle. So many weird and wonderful things going on, at the intersection of the Real and the Unreal. Intriguing that the Unreal was pretty much always the stuff of nightmares, but I presume it had its less soul sucking and murderous moments. Second choice would probably be one of the ghosts.
One of the details I found frustrating was how poorly the majority of female characters were treated. Not just in world, but also how slim their characterisation and roles in the story were. Minimal to no back story, one thread (at best) of story that shows up more in its absence. The exception is the castle Steward, Taggert, who is everywhere, fighting incursions of the Unreal, and providing a foil for our viewpoint character to develop and become the kind of leader they believe in. Taggert's first scene was a turning point for how I felt about the book, although it was less about the introduction of a female character I found interesting, and more in that the Unreal was introduced in a way that took this story from the merely political to the fabulously fantastical.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror
Minor: Death of parent and Murder
multiple undead characters, none of whom are having a good time.tessla's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
hotsake's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Not as funny as the first and the characters aren't as fun, interesting, or engaging either. The story was tense and exciting for most of the book until the final act where everything felt way too rushed. Don't get me wrong the ending was very exciting and I ended the book with a smile on my face. I just feel like another 100 pages or so would've helped make the pacing better and flesh out the final act a bit.
laci's review against another edition
3.0
I'm a bit disappointed. And I expected something a lot different: namely, all the things that made the first book in the series, Blue Moon Rising, entertaining and unique. This didn't include any of the endearing characters; it didn't even include the titular Forest Kingdom, darn it. And while I don't generally mind authors coming up with various names for their beasts so they don't have to call them 'demons' as everybody else, calling them "the unreal" was just dumb, immersion-breaking and unbelievable in-universe.
wishanem's review against another edition
3.0
Though less funny and still riddled with cliche, I enjoyed this book more than the first entry in the series. Not a sequel, this story has only a couple of references to the events of the previous book.
The violence and medieval court politics of Blue Moon Rising return, but this time they're accompanied by a more interesting plot and more varied fight scenes. The villains of this story are also more creatively presented, and the conflicts are resolved in more novel ways.
The violence and medieval court politics of Blue Moon Rising return, but this time they're accompanied by a more interesting plot and more varied fight scenes. The villains of this story are also more creatively presented, and the conflicts are resolved in more novel ways.
heyt's review against another edition
4.0
This was a fun adventure through the murky world of succession wars. I loved Jordan and thought he was likable and funny at times. He's in over his head in a place where the real and unreal are fighting for dominance. I thought he held his own in a castle filled with horrible people and things. I was quite satisfied at how everything turned out and would love to read more about Jordan and the Steward. There was also a nice nod to the events in Blue Moon Rising at the beginning despite the fact that the events in that book happened seven years prior.
melbsreads's review
adventurous
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Trigger warnings: gore, body horror, blood, violence, murder, death, fire
9/1/2023
This time around, I'm bumping this up to 5 stars. I love Jordan so much as a protagonist. Kate is a delight. The Unreal is creepy and unsettling and used extremely well throughout. And yeah, there are some pacing issues, but it was so much FUN that I was having a fantastic time even in the slower moments.
10/6/2017
4.5 stars.
I love the crap out of this. Jordan is such a great character, and I love how much he develops as he slowly realises that Viktor is a big ol' bag of dicks who gives zero fucks about anyone but himself. I love Kate Taggart a lot. I love the way the Unreal isn't exclusively evil. As I said last time, the pacing is a little off at times, but it's so much fun and there's so many twists and turns and I love the crap out of it.
4/11/2013
I love Simon R. Green's books. They're equal parts fantastic worlds, cringeworthy gore, and "I'm taking none of your crap" sass and humour. This is no exception. I found this book in a discount bin for $5 several years ago, and loved it pretty much from the get-go. Despite being book 2 in the Forest Kingdom series, it can serve very nicely as a stand alone. It features completely new characters, although there are passing references throughout to the Demon War, the High Warlock, and Princes Rupert and Harald.
Jordan's a pretty fabulous character. Yes, he's a bit full of himself, but he undergoes some pretty dramatic character development after arriving at Castle Midnight. Green's female characters are, as always, total badasses. But not in a stereotypical, cookie cutter way. They're complex and strong and determined, with motives that aren't revealed until the last minute. And there are only hints at romance between Jordan and Kate.
Yes, there are some pacing issues - I was surprised by how much of the story was still to come when I only had 100 pages to go - and in typical Green fashion, there were some scenes that made me downright nauseated, even on the umpteenth reread. But it's still pretty damned fabulous.
9/1/2023
This time around, I'm bumping this up to 5 stars. I love Jordan so much as a protagonist. Kate is a delight. The Unreal is creepy and unsettling and used extremely well throughout. And yeah, there are some pacing issues, but it was so much FUN that I was having a fantastic time even in the slower moments.
10/6/2017
4.5 stars.
I love the crap out of this. Jordan is such a great character, and I love how much he develops as he slowly realises that Viktor is a big ol' bag of dicks who gives zero fucks about anyone but himself. I love Kate Taggart a lot. I love the way the Unreal isn't exclusively evil. As I said last time, the pacing is a little off at times, but it's so much fun and there's so many twists and turns and I love the crap out of it.
4/11/2013
I love Simon R. Green's books. They're equal parts fantastic worlds, cringeworthy gore, and "I'm taking none of your crap" sass and humour. This is no exception. I found this book in a discount bin for $5 several years ago, and loved it pretty much from the get-go. Despite being book 2 in the Forest Kingdom series, it can serve very nicely as a stand alone. It features completely new characters, although there are passing references throughout to the Demon War, the High Warlock, and Princes Rupert and Harald.
Jordan's a pretty fabulous character. Yes, he's a bit full of himself, but he undergoes some pretty dramatic character development after arriving at Castle Midnight. Green's female characters are, as always, total badasses. But not in a stereotypical, cookie cutter way. They're complex and strong and determined, with motives that aren't revealed until the last minute. And there are only hints at romance between Jordan and Kate.
Yes, there are some pacing issues - I was surprised by how much of the story was still to come when I only had 100 pages to go - and in typical Green fashion, there were some scenes that made me downright nauseated, even on the umpteenth reread. But it's still pretty damned fabulous.
tricky's review
3.0
I did not realise that this was second in the series of Blue Moon Rising and that was a book I really did enjoy. This was fun, read it in a day, smiled in a couple of bits and found myself be transported away to a different place.
My only gripes was that book took a long time to get started and then heads off at a cracking pace. I was at about page two hundred and I was thinking there must be another book as there was so much going on. I hoped it would not be finished in a rush which can be disappointing. This was tied up nicely and it was good fun.
The characters had some depth to them and there was a fair amount to keep you intrigued.
I like Green's writing, his ideas and he really deserves a bit more recognition.
My only gripes was that book took a long time to get started and then heads off at a cracking pace. I was at about page two hundred and I was thinking there must be another book as there was so much going on. I hoped it would not be finished in a rush which can be disappointing. This was tied up nicely and it was good fun.
The characters had some depth to them and there was a fair amount to keep you intrigued.
I like Green's writing, his ideas and he really deserves a bit more recognition.
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