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silver_valkyrie_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Okay, so most of the stories here were solidly in the "not as good as the main saga, but enjoyable enough I'll read them". That last (and longest) one though...
Look, objectively I understand that it was a beautiful redemption story. But also, that was the slowest and most depressing middle grade fantasy I've ever read. Like Chesterton pointed out about children and dragons, I don't need to be told that the world is hard and people make terrible decisions that make it even harder for themselves and everyone around them. And a large part of the reason I read middle grade and YA fantasy is because they are always pointing out the world can be better, while grown up books just want to wallow in the misery. For my taste, that story wallowed for a long time before it got around to the redemptive ending.
Look, objectively I understand that it was a beautiful redemption story. But also, that was the slowest and most depressing middle grade fantasy I've ever read. Like Chesterton pointed out about children and dragons, I don't need to be told that the world is hard and people make terrible decisions that make it even harder for themselves and everyone around them. And a large part of the reason I read middle grade and YA fantasy is because they are always pointing out the world can be better, while grown up books just want to wallow in the misery. For my taste, that story wallowed for a long time before it got around to the redemptive ending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Animal cruelty, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Death and Dementia
Minor: Child death
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