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alwaysreadmore's review
adventurous
reflective
medium-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? Yes
4.25
Orson Scott Card once again creates beliveable, complex characters; consistent worldbuilding; and interesting twists on real historical fiqures. The plot is well-crafted. The prose is sophisticated.
itsfreelancer's review
4.0
Rating a book is never easy. And the worst mistake one does is my comparing a book with another. This book deserves a solid 4 star.
Orson Scott Card is no Brandon Sanderson or Patrick Rothfuss. Those guys get 5 stars just for being them. Everything is different from their books. From the pace of the tale to the language it speaks to you, from the intricate magical systems to minimalist plot lines. I've seen people give 3 stars to Robin Hobb just because it didn't entice them as much as Abercombie's words did.
Keeping everything in mind and upon reading book 4 of Alvin Maker, I was actually thoroughly pleased to have read it. Alvin continues his journey of being a Maker finds himself in jail (of all places) with some serious folks deadfast against him. This book also finally starts the story of Calvin, Alvin's brother. Reminds me of Kane and Abel, those two. Funny how disharmony always begins at home. So we have the two brothers going separate ways trying to be the best of the best men in this world, while the Unmaker aka the really evil dark lord or some shitbag enigmatic presence is trying his best to destroy what they create.
2 books left and the best bits are yet to come. I'm hoping for a showdown.
Orson Scott Card is no Brandon Sanderson or Patrick Rothfuss. Those guys get 5 stars just for being them. Everything is different from their books. From the pace of the tale to the language it speaks to you, from the intricate magical systems to minimalist plot lines. I've seen people give 3 stars to Robin Hobb just because it didn't entice them as much as Abercombie's words did.
Keeping everything in mind and upon reading book 4 of Alvin Maker, I was actually thoroughly pleased to have read it. Alvin continues his journey of being a Maker finds himself in jail (of all places) with some serious folks deadfast against him. This book also finally starts the story of Calvin, Alvin's brother. Reminds me of Kane and Abel, those two. Funny how disharmony always begins at home. So we have the two brothers going separate ways trying to be the best of the best men in this world, while the Unmaker aka the really evil dark lord or some shitbag enigmatic presence is trying his best to destroy what they create.
2 books left and the best bits are yet to come. I'm hoping for a showdown.
callmecat's review
3.0
I enjoyed the courtroom drama. And the ending. It was a good story. I wish I could hurry up and finish the series but someone else is renting the books before me and I have to wait on them. ugh!
larix10dua's review
3.0
Not quite as exciting as the first three, but still looking forward to the next one!
dianelikesfrogs's review
2.0
For quite some time now, I have been trying to pinpoint the exact date when one of my favorite authors, Orson Scott Card, officially made the jump from writing understated, powerful novels about fundamentally good, human, exquisitely rendered characters in fantastical settings, to writing over-analyzed crap with too much dialogue, too much pontificating about political machinations and without a single bloody word edited out.
Having read both Prentice Alvin and Alvin Journeyman within the past 24 hours, I am pleased to announce that it definitively happened sometime between 1988 and 1995.
I am just plain pissed to say that the amazing and wonderful Alvin Maker series appears to be another innocent bystander, felled in this senseless self-destruction of literary talent.
Having read both Prentice Alvin and Alvin Journeyman within the past 24 hours, I am pleased to announce that it definitively happened sometime between 1988 and 1995.
I am just plain pissed to say that the amazing and wonderful Alvin Maker series appears to be another innocent bystander, felled in this senseless self-destruction of literary talent.
hagbard_celine's review
3.0
So, most of this book seems to re-litigate some of Joseph Smith's sexual controversies. That's a weird thing to do for several hundred pages.
But our hero Alvin Smith totally didn't boink an old lady and a child. So hooray for him. Scholars within and without the church, however, seem to have the receipts on Joseph's, um, prolific proclivities.
Still continuing the series.
But our hero Alvin Smith totally didn't boink an old lady and a child. So hooray for him. Scholars within and without the church, however, seem to have the receipts on Joseph's, um, prolific proclivities.
Still continuing the series.
benlundns's review
4.0
OSC a la John Grisham. This book revolves around a court case as Alvin returns to Hatrack River for the third? time. For all the talk of being the whole American Frontier, Alvin seems to move between Hatrack RIver and Vigor Church almost exclusively.
Anyway, court case so OSC puts on his lawyer hat as Makepeace Smith gets Alvin into more trouble. I liked this book more then the previous 3 mostly because I feel like some major things happen, and things start to get moving. Maybe it's because I am a fan of courtroom books already, maybe it's because I feel like things can finally get moving, whatever it is, I'm excited for what happens next.
Anyway, court case so OSC puts on his lawyer hat as Makepeace Smith gets Alvin into more trouble. I liked this book more then the previous 3 mostly because I feel like some major things happen, and things start to get moving. Maybe it's because I am a fan of courtroom books already, maybe it's because I feel like things can finally get moving, whatever it is, I'm excited for what happens next.
matthewwester's review
4.0
I'm giving this fourth book in the series another 4.5 stars. I skipped the second and third books because, well, I stumbled upon this fourth one first in a used book sale, yeah-ah.
I especially enjoyed the sections where Calvin and Alvin were learning more about their own knacks. And while some other reviewers were not fans of the courtroom scenes, those were actually some of my favorite parts.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes Orson Scott Card's writing and/or thinks they would be interested in alt-history folk magic.
I especially enjoyed the sections where Calvin and Alvin were learning more about their own knacks. And while some other reviewers were not fans of the courtroom scenes, those were actually some of my favorite parts.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes Orson Scott Card's writing and/or thinks they would be interested in alt-history folk magic.
neglet's review
Although the setting and characters are still distinctive and entertaining, for a book about a "journeyman" it sits still in one place for a very long time.