Reviews

Son of the Storm by Suyi Davies Okungbowa

Only show reviews with written explanations

naquare's review against another edition

Go to review page

It’s so boring and just does not pick up or gain my interest.

sanguis_lilium's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

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

3.0

Rating may change depending on the way the series goes but so far it's pretty okay. It has its strengths and weaknesses for sure but my main issue was the pacing felt kind of off. Chapters will repeat the same information quite a few times and some events lack a lot of emotion and depth where I feel the focus should have been at key moments. The characters are complex but with the lack of emotion of the storytelling they don't feel very alive. Some fantasy novels have an issue with information dumping, this one doesn't with the exception of the occasional spouts of repeated information -- there's plenty of plot in-between learning the world and it's cultures. I do really enjoy the magic system and look forward to learning more about it in book 2.

timinbc's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

I think book 3 of this series will be great. This one just seems to have a lot of rough edges.

I haven't decided what to think of magic that seems to know what you want, and sometimes what you ought to want.

Bassa is silly, but I admit that our world has had cultures just as silly.

Danso starts as a complete tit (too much so) and continues as a guy who can't think things through (good!)

The Codex -just how many key people sneaked in and read it? It's apparently super-guarded except when it isn't.

The ibor - seems to select who can wield it, and gosh, it chooses three key people. I think it's made of narrativium.

Esheme seems ordinary, but is a Mary Sue. In every unexpected situation, she thinks for five seconds then announces her idea, and it always works. Feh.

Igan is a one-person army right out of Chinese wuxia. Too much.

The Breathing Forest was a letdown. Not even Rodents Of Unusual Size! And how is it that if you exit the forest to Bassa it's "Aiee, burn the witches!" but anywhere else it's "Oh, hello."

The tunnel: the lead scouts take a rope, and tug on it after an HOUR. What's the rope made of, spider silk? Carbon nanotubes? If not, how did they lift it?

The showdown: Sure was a convenient meetup.

ALL that is stuff that a more experienced writer will avoid without even trying to, so I probably will read #2 and give it 4 stars.