Reviews

I really wanted to love this book, but sadly it fell flat for me :(

The pros: The story picked up and became interesting nearing the halfway point, which was what drove me to finish the book. Also! The side characters were quite fun! Lance and Mallet forever have my heart, and Lestr is my favourite old man.

As for my cons:
I highly agree with some other reviewers that this book needed more editing. The worldbuilding is quite dense, which would have been fun if it wasn't bombarding the reader with infodumps within the first quarter of the book. I had to get a notebook out at some point just to jot down the noble names mentioned a couple times over because they seemed important at the time.

Imagine my surprise when, like, half of them were reduced to cannon fodder at the end :D

.

As for our main man, Balen... There's just something about him that makes me... Unsatisfied? Frustrated. I think the idea of his character is fun, but he just doesn't feel whole. I went through this wild ride of a journey whilst being in his mind, and I still feel like I didn't get to properly know him. Same goes for Zavrius. Both of them, and their relationship is like an puzzle that is left unfinished because the pieces are mismatched. :(

Not to mention, there are a couple plot holes here and there, a few even making the last battle sequence feel... Confusing? Again, more of a problem with editing than the author's writing prowess.

mycupoftealcsw's review against another edition

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DNF at 10% - The writing is all over the place and I can't really picture what is happening because no one seems to be in a place that makes sense for what is supposedly going on.

rd_pires's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Reforged by Seth Haddon is a fast-paced, fantasy novel, brimming with gripping action sequences and sweeping romance. Delivering the reader (or listener, in my case) straight into a textured fantasy world, Reforged has all the markings of an epic romantasy series in the making.

My favorite aspect of the novel had to be the dynamic between Zavrius and Balen, which felt compelling even when competing for pages with the foreground plots of political turmoil and power struggles. Zavrius's reluctant acceptance of his role as king and Balen's unwavering dedication to his duty as Prime create a captivating dynamic that I always wanted to hear more of.

However, despite the strengths of the character depictions, I felt the execution fell short at times. Characters, notably Balen, occasionally make perplexing decisions that seem at odds with their established traits or training. While these moments drew me out of the story, however, I never found them so outrageous that I couldn't move on.

In spite of this, "Reforged" remains a satisfying read, offering a thrilling blend of action and romance. With its gripping narrative and well-drawn characters, I happily give it 3.5 out of 5 stars and will return for the sequel.

enajunca's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

eruanna317's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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