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whovian223's review
4.0
A book that took a while to get going and seemed to be a lot of chess piece moving for the first 250 pages or so, but it has a stunning climax that leads into a very intriguing final book of the series.
Character work is great, and you really can't tell who will end up being the good guys and bad guys, at least to some extent.
Character work is great, and you really can't tell who will end up being the good guys and bad guys, at least to some extent.
mridzyreads's review
5.0
Probably one of the best books in the series. Everything is moving at a rapid pace towards a conclusion. It's not there yet but the plots within plots are revealed anew and the key players emerge from their shadowy places.
What began with the fall of Windwir was not the beginning. The plan was set long ago. Long before these charismatic men and women were born. But even the best-laid plans are as good as the intentions of those who follow it. Requiem is truly the story of Neb, of Rudolfo, of Vlad, of Jim and of Isaak. Ken Scholes wonderfully bridges a far-reaching quest of destiny and connects it with political intrigue and war campaigns. Filled with revenge, blood-letting, dream sequences and a lot of running and flying, this wonderful tale of fables and legends carefully fills the gaps between myths and facts.
By the end of book 4 we know there's more to the Named Lands than the people living in it. We also know the people on the moon and that the desolation of Windwir was just one of the many that ended civilisations and history. This is a grand war for the survival of humankind. Because if the Crimson Princess were to rise, the land of living will return to the Dark Ages.
What began with the fall of Windwir was not the beginning. The plan was set long ago. Long before these charismatic men and women were born. But even the best-laid plans are as good as the intentions of those who follow it. Requiem is truly the story of Neb, of Rudolfo, of Vlad, of Jim and of Isaak. Ken Scholes wonderfully bridges a far-reaching quest of destiny and connects it with political intrigue and war campaigns. Filled with revenge, blood-letting, dream sequences and a lot of running and flying, this wonderful tale of fables and legends carefully fills the gaps between myths and facts.
By the end of book 4 we know there's more to the Named Lands than the people living in it. We also know the people on the moon and that the desolation of Windwir was just one of the many that ended civilisations and history. This is a grand war for the survival of humankind. Because if the Crimson Princess were to rise, the land of living will return to the Dark Ages.
damascus922's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
kanissa's review
4.0
I really wanted to give it 3.5 stars, but I rounded up to 4 since I did keep wanting to read it.
I definitely still like this series, but I don't think this installment was as amazing as the others. While I still like the main characters, I think maybe 5 books is just too much exposure. They're no longer as exciting or surprising. Sometimes they seem like completely different people from what they were in book 3.
I also felt the plot jumped a bit too suddenly - in book 3 we had a lot of traveling and thinking and buildup. In this one, there's a bit of that but then suddenly the world is on fire! (Quite literally, in parts.)
However, I continue to enjoy Scholes' style and absolutely bat-s$&% insane world building (it's a nice change from the generic stuff you usually see). I suspect this novel just suffers from the usual penultimate novel malaise.
I definitely still like this series, but I don't think this installment was as amazing as the others. While I still like the main characters, I think maybe 5 books is just too much exposure. They're no longer as exciting or surprising. Sometimes they seem like completely different people from what they were in book 3.
I also felt the plot jumped a bit too suddenly - in book 3 we had a lot of traveling and thinking and buildup. In this one, there's a bit of that but then suddenly the world is on fire! (Quite literally, in parts.)
However, I continue to enjoy Scholes' style and absolutely bat-s$&% insane world building (it's a nice change from the generic stuff you usually see). I suspect this novel just suffers from the usual penultimate novel malaise.
mellhay's review
5.0
All the lives of people we've meet are greatly intertwined, no matter the distance between them.
Again, Ken never ceases to amaze me. The world, the story, the character depth. Plain master piece.
****FULL REVIEW****
The world is in upheaval and seems on the axis of great change. The feel all is falling further away from what everyone knows it to be.
Jin Li Tam is on an island with her son, the one the Y'Zirite's call the Child of Promise. Being worshiped as she tries to come to grips with what she now knows her destiny is. Vlad Li Tam travels the vast sea, following a ghost, to do what needs to be done with the Crimson Empress and the Child of Promise. Neb finds himself on the Moon with Petronus, and no idea what he's to do now that he's lacking the tools he needs to do what he is called to do. Lost as he tries to find his way in a new world, his world. Winters is still searching the final piece of the Final Dream. Hoping to help her people find their way home to their world. Rudolfo is struggling with the unexpected leave of his wife with his one and only son. The absence of his son weighs heavy on him, not knowing what his wife was thinking going into the center of danger as she did. Rudolfo comes to learn his own pieces in the Y'Zirite plans and makes plans of his own.
We get a feel that the people struggling to stop the downward slide are losing. Things are not going well and they are at opposite ends of the world trying to correct it on their own. None know what the other is doing. Secrets are crossing. And the results are...amazing, heartbreaking, reviving, hopeful. Everything all in one.
The beginning brings us quickly back to where we are after Antiphon. The Prelude is a refresher of what's going on in this world, yet at the same time drawing curiosity, making me want more. It's felt like ages for me since I finished Antiphon, and Ken draws me in quickly with refreshers of what happened and where we are now. Perfect. Flawless.
The connections to the world (and moon) all become clearer. The further we follow Ken through his Whymr maze the closer we come to the truths of what is happening and why. It seems now, as things come out, that it was tried very hard to replicate the culture lost on the moon. But things were never quite right. Things are still incomplete but starting to come in the open on how to fix them. All that the Wizards and Younger Gods fought over, and the results becoming clearer with each page.
We have all our familiar characters Point Of Views. And love seeing the troubles they get themselves into. We also have a new POV, Marta. Marta gives us a view of innocence and a connection to one we want to see more of and his connections to everything. I found all the POV's intriguing. I loved what I learned from all the views. The history and workings of the Y'Zirite are heavy and well designed that you need all these POV's to get the feel for what is happening and why. It's so easy to follow these POV's. Ken writes them with a grace that makes you feel he's been doing this for lifetimes. I really enjoyed getting to see more POV from Vlad Li Tam as well. Wow, the Li Tam family has got serious connections through out the world and can influence just about anything it seems, but this still has them in a bind as well.
Oh my gods! This series is amazing. Out-of-the-box crazy-amazing read. Love it! A book to be savored by each word. This read is not a light one. When you pick it up be ready to be submersed and mentally mapping all that's happening. This is a read to read over with an eyeglass and ponder over with a pipe Yes, all that and more!
Absolute read for fantasy fans.
Again, Ken never ceases to amaze me. The world, the story, the character depth. Plain master piece.
****FULL REVIEW****
The world is in upheaval and seems on the axis of great change. The feel all is falling further away from what everyone knows it to be.
Jin Li Tam is on an island with her son, the one the Y'Zirite's call the Child of Promise. Being worshiped as she tries to come to grips with what she now knows her destiny is. Vlad Li Tam travels the vast sea, following a ghost, to do what needs to be done with the Crimson Empress and the Child of Promise. Neb finds himself on the Moon with Petronus, and no idea what he's to do now that he's lacking the tools he needs to do what he is called to do. Lost as he tries to find his way in a new world, his world. Winters is still searching the final piece of the Final Dream. Hoping to help her people find their way home to their world. Rudolfo is struggling with the unexpected leave of his wife with his one and only son. The absence of his son weighs heavy on him, not knowing what his wife was thinking going into the center of danger as she did. Rudolfo comes to learn his own pieces in the Y'Zirite plans and makes plans of his own.
We get a feel that the people struggling to stop the downward slide are losing. Things are not going well and they are at opposite ends of the world trying to correct it on their own. None know what the other is doing. Secrets are crossing. And the results are...amazing, heartbreaking, reviving, hopeful. Everything all in one.
The beginning brings us quickly back to where we are after Antiphon. The Prelude is a refresher of what's going on in this world, yet at the same time drawing curiosity, making me want more. It's felt like ages for me since I finished Antiphon, and Ken draws me in quickly with refreshers of what happened and where we are now. Perfect. Flawless.
The connections to the world (and moon) all become clearer. The further we follow Ken through his Whymr maze the closer we come to the truths of what is happening and why. It seems now, as things come out, that it was tried very hard to replicate the culture lost on the moon. But things were never quite right. Things are still incomplete but starting to come in the open on how to fix them. All that the Wizards and Younger Gods fought over, and the results becoming clearer with each page.
We have all our familiar characters Point Of Views. And love seeing the troubles they get themselves into. We also have a new POV, Marta. Marta gives us a view of innocence and a connection to one we want to see more of and his connections to everything. I found all the POV's intriguing. I loved what I learned from all the views. The history and workings of the Y'Zirite are heavy and well designed that you need all these POV's to get the feel for what is happening and why. It's so easy to follow these POV's. Ken writes them with a grace that makes you feel he's been doing this for lifetimes. I really enjoyed getting to see more POV from Vlad Li Tam as well. Wow, the Li Tam family has got serious connections through out the world and can influence just about anything it seems, but this still has them in a bind as well.
Oh my gods! This series is amazing. Out-of-the-box crazy-amazing read. Love it! A book to be savored by each word. This read is not a light one. When you pick it up be ready to be submersed and mentally mapping all that's happening. This is a read to read over with an eyeglass and ponder over with a pipe Yes, all that and more!
Absolute read for fantasy fans.
mjfmjfmjf's review
2.0
This book plain fell over from its own weight. I think the author has some grand ideas in this series and I loved the first book. But the complexities in the end have proven too much to handle. And at this point I don't care about the characters or their world. And I want to care. This book has a mythic quality to it which unfortunately added to the ponderous feel. Disappointing.
cornosaurus's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
wmhenrymorris's review
I've looked at other reviews of Requiem, and I find it interesting that it has had a rather lukewarm reception. I, personally, found it a fantastic reading experience. As with Elizabeth Bear's Shattered Pillars, the lyrical prose and multiple switches in point of view (that is every few pages -- not all in one section), drew me in and linked the various storylines in allusive, character-driven way. This is a book that unfolds. It does so by awakening many of its characters to new things/situations/awarenesses and by layering (almost more daubing) on more hints and reveals of the technologies and histories at play. This worked for me.