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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The Raven's Shadow books are first and foremost simply entertaining. Anthony Ryan has a strong and engaging voice that makes these books eminently readable. The key draw for me are the characters - they are all richly developed and fun and engaging to read. Whilst Vaelin is a bit of a super character, the others are all nicely flawed and limited. Even Vaelin, despite his apparent immense abilities, still finds himself frequently in the wrong place, so there is definitely a sense of risk carried through the book.
As I said in my Blood Song review, these books are not innovative or boundary breaking, but they are extremely well written. I would rather take a well written and enjoyable book over a truly innovative one. Hard to put down and a pleasure to read. I look forward to reading the final book in the trilogy!
As I said in my Blood Song review, these books are not innovative or boundary breaking, but they are extremely well written. I would rather take a well written and enjoyable book over a truly innovative one. Hard to put down and a pleasure to read. I look forward to reading the final book in the trilogy!
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
the second book in Anthony Ryans 'Raven's Shadow' series (after [b:Blood Song Raven's Shadow 1|13569581|Blood Song (Raven's Shadow, #1)|Anthony Ryan|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1363126955s/13569581.jpg|19148922], this is a departure fromt he first in that it takes chapter about to follow different but interconnected characters.
Lord Vaelin Al Sorna is still the principal protaganist of the tale, which - like the previous - is broken down into different subsections, each prefaced by an account from one character in particular (who only really appears to do so).
Again, like the previous, there's probably enough material in here for a couple of books but, unlike that other novel, this focuses more on world-building than on action/adventure. Also leaves a couple of plot-threads hanging wide open for the inevitable sequel!
Lord Vaelin Al Sorna is still the principal protaganist of the tale, which - like the previous - is broken down into different subsections, each prefaced by an account from one character in particular (who only really appears to do so).
Again, like the previous, there's probably enough material in here for a couple of books but, unlike that other novel, this focuses more on world-building than on action/adventure. Also leaves a couple of plot-threads hanging wide open for the inevitable sequel!
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
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:
No
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I enjoyed this next book in the Raven's Shadow series. Vaelin returns from his youth abroad, disillusioned by the costly war and despite his desire to settle down, finds himself on a path to yet another war. Nothing new there in terms of a storyline, but Mr. Ryan is a good storyteller. He wrote from 4 different perspectives, 3 old characters from the first book and 1 new one, and did them in such a way that you were interested in all 4 and not plowing through one perspective in hopes of getting back to the "good" one(s). As a second book this is quite good and I'm curious where this series is going. Solid 4 stars.
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No