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syringaflower's review against another edition
4.0
First time
15 May to 4 June 2014
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Re-read
3 to 9 September 2016
It's as good as I remember it being.
15 May to 4 June 2014
------------------
Re-read
3 to 9 September 2016
It's as good as I remember it being.
lucareve's review
informative
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? Yes
2.25
frunge's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
nikomikiri's review against another edition
5.0
As a prequel to the other Lur books, I thought it was fantastic.
One thing I found to be very well done was showing how over many years, the figure of Barl went from the sort of hated person who had a big hand in tearing their country apart to a type of god to her people. It's a really great way to show how the longer ago something happened, the less people actually remember about the person they believe they know so much about.
One thing I found to be very well done was showing how over many years, the figure of Barl went from the sort of hated person who had a big hand in tearing their country apart to a type of god to her people. It's a really great way to show how the longer ago something happened, the less people actually remember about the person they believe they know so much about.
tonyriver's review against another edition
3.0
An interesting story and world-scape. Even though it is a prequel, I have not read others of this author. Good but terribly flawed main character, so she is interesting although frustrating! Interesting story line which presumably links neatly with what happens in the series proper.
Recommended and I’ll look at the rest of the series.
Recommended and I’ll look at the rest of the series.
blodeuedd's review against another edition
3.0
You can read this before the Kingmaker, Kingbreaker series, or afterwards. I read it after and I liked it that way. I got to see how the mages came to Lur and who Morgan was. But this is a prequel that takes place hundreds of years before the other series so, your choice ;)
In the land of Dorana everyone is a mage. But the Higher families have more power and could go to College. But Barl does not belong to the finer families, but she has so much power and potential and she wants to attend a good school. She is an artisan, but she wants so much more. She really should keep that temper in check.
Then we have Morgan who is so absorbed in his work, and who falls hard and fast for her. Well let's call it what it really is, obsession. An obsession that will still echo in the next series.
But these two together is not good. They want to explore new kinds of magic, all while their country is falling apart.
Damn how things went badly here. I mean I knew things would be bad cos I read the series that comes after this book, but still!
This could easily have been an own series too. But I liked it as one book.
In the land of Dorana everyone is a mage. But the Higher families have more power and could go to College. But Barl does not belong to the finer families, but she has so much power and potential and she wants to attend a good school. She is an artisan, but she wants so much more. She really should keep that temper in check.
Then we have Morgan who is so absorbed in his work, and who falls hard and fast for her. Well let's call it what it really is, obsession. An obsession that will still echo in the next series.
But these two together is not good. They want to explore new kinds of magic, all while their country is falling apart.
Damn how things went badly here. I mean I knew things would be bad cos I read the series that comes after this book, but still!
This could easily have been an own series too. But I liked it as one book.
acepiary's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
buffyb's review against another edition
5.0
You can read about my thoughts about this book here:
http://storytimewithbuffy.wordpress.com/2013/09/15/a-blight-of-mages/
http://storytimewithbuffy.wordpress.com/2013/09/15/a-blight-of-mages/
tillybh's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
minervadashwood's review against another edition
1.0
Most of my complaints about this book have already been covered in other reviews. Additionally, I expected this book to start a series that focused on Barl, but I learned that it was simply a preamble to a series about two boys. When I learned this, I no longer wanted to overlook the problems I had with the book. It wasn't worth wading through the long-winded passages and repetitive dialogue.
I wish that both Barl and Morgan's storylines moved more quickly. Both of them had what seemed to be repetitive conversations with the family members. However, I did like that both of the leads were stubborn and determined. What also appealed to me was that, although their lives were very different, they both wanted to break free of expectations and constraints.
Some of the magic descriptions became tedious. Much like the conversations, they were repetitive. I quickly lost interest in how something happened, and it took entirely too long to get to what happened.
I also wish Morgan's political views had been established more quickly. It was hard to understand what benefits exactly he saw in the council. Furthermore the background characters, especially the council members, came off as caricatures or types simply used to further Morgan's part of the story. The lack of depth weakened the story because I never saw the rest of the council as a genuine threat.
I wish that both Barl and Morgan's storylines moved more quickly. Both of them had what seemed to be repetitive conversations with the family members. However, I did like that both of the leads were stubborn and determined. What also appealed to me was that, although their lives were very different, they both wanted to break free of expectations and constraints.
Some of the magic descriptions became tedious. Much like the conversations, they were repetitive. I quickly lost interest in how something happened, and it took entirely too long to get to what happened.
I also wish Morgan's political views had been established more quickly. It was hard to understand what benefits exactly he saw in the council. Furthermore the background characters, especially the council members, came off as caricatures or types simply used to further Morgan's part of the story. The lack of depth weakened the story because I never saw the rest of the council as a genuine threat.