Scan barcode
pandothiel's review
3.0
3.5 stars
This instalment was soooooo much better than the previous one. I'm actually glad I continued this series even though the previous instalment made me want to quit. The pace picked up, we finally had a whole lot of action and learned new and interesting things.
Let's start with the setting. Pendark. I don't know if the goal of this book was to make us love or hate this place, but I definitely did not like it. If anything, seeing such a bloodthursty land with violent people just made me long for the peace and simplicity of Vertigon. A bit like wanting to be back in the Shire with Sam and Frodo when they venture into Mordor. Okay, Pendark isn't quite as bad as Mordor... but it's no heaven either.
Siv and Dara really work best when they are together. They manage to bring out the best out of each other, and figure out the mysteries when they both put their minds to it. It was heart-wrenching to have them separated and yet so close... but necessary to see the change in Dara.
Let's talk about Dara. She goes through a lot during her months in Pendark. Her life savior Wyla turns into a jailor, and not even a nice one. I get Dara's choice at the end, but I'm still glad Khrillin acted as he did. Dara forgets her past, even her roots and lineage, and drowns in her wish to gain more, and more power. Be it to save herself, the man she loves, or her land... she still wishes to achieve more and obtain more, just like her father, for reasons she thinks are noble and right. But when does wisdom turn to folly, and right becomes wrong? The line is so thin and blurry she could cross it any moment. Thankfully she can count on her friends to bring her back to reason.
Siv is not that smart either; rather than fighting, he could be seeking alliances, get more power to help his family and save his kingdom. He only finds an ally who sought him out from the beginning, risks his life after giving into his wish for competition and a simpler life. In this novel, I once again felt like he is stepping backward rather than evolving. Siv from the first novel (and the second) was young and foolish, but he never forgot about his duty and his kingdom. He rode the line between acceptable and not, especially with Dara, but he still kept in line to act in order to do what was best for his kingdom. Here, he faces death again and again... for not much. In the end, he helped Dara escape, but can he count on the only ally he made?
Not much happened with Sora... except that she became the pawn the Ruminors wanted her to become. I had high hopes during her first chapter... but she went back to her usual demeanor. But those Fire weapons, though. Those Fire weapons.
This book marks the beginning of Selivia's chapters. I liked Selivia, despite her young and immature behaviour. She is only a witness and passive character during her entire storyline... except for the end. Predictable, and yet satisfying. However, Fenn is the worst bodyguard ever to let her slip like that.
It was, overall, a pretty solid instalment that left me begging for the last one, the closure of this series. It still suffered from a lot of flaws, once more overall predictability, and I can guess pretty well who's gonna be able to master the true dragon... because it's definitely not Selivia.
There's also a lack of thinking about the bigger picture: what happens to one kingdom doesn't affect the other, or so it seems. Trouble did not reach Pendark. There's no price on Siv's head even though wayyy too many people know he's alive. Dara is not a target even though she's a known Fire Worker powerful enough to challenge her father, or suspected to have helped organise the coup on Vertigon. Armies are marching and powers are waging war... and yet the consequences are still very local. There should be unrest in Pendark, on top of the new vent. The news of Watermight being used by Soole (okay, that was a surprise) should have traveled faster. And people should really learn to beware of Air and Air Sensors (still can't get used to that name... Air Whisperers, Air Feelers, anything but Sensors could have worked so much better).
We also know that the main characters are not going to suffer long-lasting injuries or even die, so I find myself unable to fear for them; they'll be fine. Even terrible Wyla doesn't come across as that scary since we never witness her 'punishments'.
Let's hope the final instalment will bring a satisfying end to this (a bit too) long journey.
This instalment was soooooo much better than the previous one. I'm actually glad I continued this series even though the previous instalment made me want to quit. The pace picked up, we finally had a whole lot of action and learned new and interesting things.
Let's start with the setting. Pendark. I don't know if the goal of this book was to make us love or hate this place, but I definitely did not like it. If anything, seeing such a bloodthursty land with violent people just made me long for the peace and simplicity of Vertigon. A bit like wanting to be back in the Shire with Sam and Frodo when they venture into Mordor. Okay, Pendark isn't quite as bad as Mordor... but it's no heaven either.
Siv and Dara really work best when they are together. They manage to bring out the best out of each other, and figure out the mysteries when they both put their minds to it. It was heart-wrenching to have them separated and yet so close... but necessary to see the change in Dara.
Let's talk about Dara. She goes through a lot during her months in Pendark. Her life savior Wyla turns into a jailor, and not even a nice one. I get Dara's choice at the end, but I'm still glad Khrillin acted as he did. Dara forgets her past, even her roots and lineage, and drowns in her wish to gain more, and more power. Be it to save herself, the man she loves, or her land... she still wishes to achieve more and obtain more, just like her father, for reasons she thinks are noble and right. But when does wisdom turn to folly, and right becomes wrong? The line is so thin and blurry she could cross it any moment. Thankfully she can count on her friends to bring her back to reason.
Siv is not that smart either; rather than fighting, he could be seeking alliances, get more power to help his family and save his kingdom. He only finds an ally who sought him out from the beginning, risks his life after giving into his wish for competition and a simpler life. In this novel, I once again felt like he is stepping backward rather than evolving. Siv from the first novel (and the second) was young and foolish, but he never forgot about his duty and his kingdom. He rode the line between acceptable and not, especially with Dara, but he still kept in line to act in order to do what was best for his kingdom. Here, he faces death again and again... for not much. In the end, he helped Dara escape, but can he count on the only ally he made?
Not much happened with Sora... except that she became the pawn the Ruminors wanted her to become. I had high hopes during her first chapter... but she went back to her usual demeanor. But those Fire weapons, though. Those Fire weapons.
This book marks the beginning of Selivia's chapters. I liked Selivia, despite her young and immature behaviour. She is only a witness and passive character during her entire storyline... except for the end. Predictable, and yet satisfying. However, Fenn is the worst bodyguard ever to let her slip like that.
It was, overall, a pretty solid instalment that left me begging for the last one, the closure of this series. It still suffered from a lot of flaws, once more overall predictability, and I can guess pretty well who's gonna be able to master the true dragon... because it's definitely not Selivia.
There's also a lack of thinking about the bigger picture: what happens to one kingdom doesn't affect the other, or so it seems. Trouble did not reach Pendark. There's no price on Siv's head even though wayyy too many people know he's alive. Dara is not a target even though she's a known Fire Worker powerful enough to challenge her father, or suspected to have helped organise the coup on Vertigon. Armies are marching and powers are waging war... and yet the consequences are still very local. There should be unrest in Pendark, on top of the new vent. The news of Watermight being used by Soole (okay, that was a surprise) should have traveled faster. And people should really learn to beware of Air and Air Sensors (still can't get used to that name... Air Whisperers, Air Feelers, anything but Sensors could have worked so much better).
We also know that the main characters are not going to suffer long-lasting injuries or even die, so I find myself unable to fear for them; they'll be fine. Even terrible Wyla doesn't come across as that scary since we never witness her 'punishments'.
Let's hope the final instalment will bring a satisfying end to this (a bit too) long journey.
the_one_krissy's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.0
shinysylveon's review against another edition
4.0
Much better than the 3rd, which was a bit of a slog to get through. As others have mentioned, this could have easily been combined with the 3rd book and slimmed down. However, I do appreciate that things take time to accomplish and several months worth of activity isn't taking place in a week, which most YA books are usually very guilty of.
emmar's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
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? It's complicated
4.5
studycat's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
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
rnorvegicus's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
- 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
morj's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5