arkenst0ne's review
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia
una_10bananas's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
lian_tanner's review
3.0
Three and a half really. Hobb's books almost invariably have a sort of slow burn effect - they start off with lots of world building and ordinary day to day stuff, and I get impatient and wish she'd get on with the story - and then suddenly it's the middle of the night and I really can't put the book down. This was a more difficult read than either the Farseer books or the Liveships. But the world creation is so good, and Hobb is so original in her choice of stories that I am keen to read the next one.
yak_attak's review against another edition
5.0
Better than many of the Elderlings books, I honestly don't know what people are complaining about.
Edit: Note, series has some weird issues with fat & body image. Moreover, none of it happens in this book, so you wouldn't at all see it coming. I don't necessarily want to say that it handles them wholly awfully, but it constantly trends that way, and is probably a very uncomfortable read for anyone concerned about those issues.
Edit: Note, series has some weird issues with fat & body image. Moreover, none of it happens in this book, so you wouldn't at all see it coming. I don't necessarily want to say that it handles them wholly awfully, but it constantly trends that way, and is probably a very uncomfortable read for anyone concerned about those issues.
starofterra's review against another edition
Bog-standard pedestrian exposition-heavy fantasy.
raven_acres's review
4.0
I did enjoy the book, though I thought the story was a bit slow getting started. I'm hoping the next book moves a bit faster.
greatgodbird's review against another edition
4.0
As always, excellent writing from Robin Hobb. Admittedly, this series appears a little harder to get into than the Realm of the Elderlings series, but that does not prevent the characters - Nevare and his academy friends - from being incredibly compelling and sympathetic. The story really kicked off at the academy, perhaps about a third through the book, with hazing and traumas revisited, and sneaking suspicions that Nevare has been impacted somehow by the events in the opening chapters... and a plague! What a ride!