Reviews

The Bone Shard Emperor by Andrea Stewart

Only show reviews with written explanations

timinbc's review against another edition

4.0

3.5 but I will round up because I enjoyed it.

Bone Shard magic ... BS magic, yes, that's appropriate.
The magic system is NONSENSE, especially the reaching-in stuff; the instantly finding the right shard except only sometimes; and my, she's a fast carver in battle ... but Stewart DOES follow her own rules very carefully so all is excused.

Similarly, I didn't care for some of the plot points and themes, but they were meticulously plotted and fit together very well.

it was disappointing to learn at the end that one-eyed X was what X was, but I have to admit the clues were there, even if they were not very obvious until we look back.

Jovis & Lin, sigh, how predictable. He's Hugh Grant, FFS. He a brave, capable hero, and a schlub.
They keep almost getting it on but you KNOW they won't - yet.

I like the theme that being an emperor is a complicated thing, and all the subgroups want something different.

The Dione in the notes did not seem to me to be at all compatible with, well, spoiler. More like the other person in the notes. Perhaps volume 3 will explain this.

Also for volume 3: it's interesting that so far Alanga magic use has been limited to earthshaking and water-shaping; gotta think something's being held back.

Not a classic, but enjoyable to read anyway.

jennrob415's review

Go to review page

The book dragged on for me. Kinda boring. Not enouph character development. Not enouph action.

swaye's review against another edition

Go to review page

2.0

Damn, I was so looking forward to this after The Bone Shard Daughter but it was nowhere near as good. The pacing was way off, the clunky exposition was infuriating, and so many things that happened were either too convenient or just mind-bogglingly implausible. Just as in the first book, the fight scenes didn't make a lot of sense logistically. I figured the author would improve on that with her sophomore novel but alas, with the battles being bigger, the placement and timing were even more stilted.

I didn't think I'd carry on with the series but the ending was so damn sweet! I must know more about Shark! :3

mat_hyperborealwolf's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad 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? Yes

4.0

rheagoveas's review

Go to review page

adventurous challenging emotional tense slow-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? It's complicated

4.0

nonesensed's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced

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

5.0

Lin Sukai is the new Emperor, huzzah! She's also under a lot of pressure due to rebell constructs and humans alike taking issue with her position as emperor and the empire in general. Can she trust her newly appointed bodyguard Jorvis? Can he trust her? Will they discover the truth of the empire's history before it's too late to save its people?

What a ride! I freely admit that I sometimes skimmed pages, not because there was any unnecessary words or scenes, but because I simply needed to know what happened next. Will have to reread one day so I can enjoy the story and the characters without the furious need to know What Happens Next. On to the next book, posthaste!