benehime's review
adventurous
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Perfection
drkappitan's review against another edition
4.0
There are a few more deux ex machina moments than are really justified in this one, I think, and I didn't love it as much as the first. Even so, it remains a compelling story, and I'm definitely going to listen to the third book asap.
thirdcoast's review against another edition
3.0
Read the review here http://www.scrivler.com/reviews/book-reviews/eternal-sky-trilogy-by-elizabeth-bear/.
michaeljohnhalseartistry's review against another edition
3.0
My second novel of 2016. The book is called Shattered Pillars, and is the second of the Eternal Sky trilogy written by American author Elizabeth Bear. The story is set in a fantasy world that’s a reimagining of Asian and Middle Eastern cultures, which is something that’s rarely tackled in fantasy. It follows the young, self-exiled prince Temur, as he seeks to reclaim his father’s vast kingdom of grassy steppes and high hills; and the princess-turned-wizard Sarmarkar as she helped Temur in his pursuit.
I read the first book in this series, Range of Ghosts, in May 2015, I might have even posted about it, but I was a little unsure if I liked it. I know I liked Shattered Pillars more, but it could be that I’m now familiar with these characters so I as more invested in the story (Mostly, though, I’m invested in the sentient-tiger-fighter Hrahima and the wizard surgeon Hong-la, WHO ARE MY FAVOURITE CHARACTERS).
The reason I have mixed feelings about this book and it’s predecessor, has to do with the writing. I absolutely LOVE the world-building in this series. Bear’s created one of the most unique and interesting fantasy world, that dominated by these kingdoms with differing skies, each one reflecting the political structure and religion of the kingdom they sit under. The religion and cultures are so incredibly fleshed out that they feel real, and her descriptive writing is magical and easily whisked me away.
The problem I had was with the dialogue. To me, it almost doesn’t fit. It’s written oddly modern and westernized, and feels out of place among the asian-themed cultures and customs. And it read so different for me, almost to the point where it was like a rude interruption from her masterful descriptive paragraphs.
However I do recommend reading this series. It’s a very different take on fantasy than I’ve read, and I find Bear’s descriptive writing style and world-building to be incredibly inspiring, especially to a newbie fantasy author like myself. I do plan on finishing the series with the final book in the trilogy, Steles of the Sky, buuuuut, I still have to buy it, haha.
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FOR MORE BOOK REVIEWS, PHOTOS, AND MY OWN NOVEL SERIES, CHECK OUT MY BLOG:
www.michaeljohnhalse.wix.com/michaeljohnhalse
I read the first book in this series, Range of Ghosts, in May 2015, I might have even posted about it, but I was a little unsure if I liked it. I know I liked Shattered Pillars more, but it could be that I’m now familiar with these characters so I as more invested in the story (Mostly, though, I’m invested in the sentient-tiger-fighter Hrahima and the wizard surgeon Hong-la, WHO ARE MY FAVOURITE CHARACTERS).
The reason I have mixed feelings about this book and it’s predecessor, has to do with the writing. I absolutely LOVE the world-building in this series. Bear’s created one of the most unique and interesting fantasy world, that dominated by these kingdoms with differing skies, each one reflecting the political structure and religion of the kingdom they sit under. The religion and cultures are so incredibly fleshed out that they feel real, and her descriptive writing is magical and easily whisked me away.
The problem I had was with the dialogue. To me, it almost doesn’t fit. It’s written oddly modern and westernized, and feels out of place among the asian-themed cultures and customs. And it read so different for me, almost to the point where it was like a rude interruption from her masterful descriptive paragraphs.
However I do recommend reading this series. It’s a very different take on fantasy than I’ve read, and I find Bear’s descriptive writing style and world-building to be incredibly inspiring, especially to a newbie fantasy author like myself. I do plan on finishing the series with the final book in the trilogy, Steles of the Sky, buuuuut, I still have to buy it, haha.
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FOR MORE BOOK REVIEWS, PHOTOS, AND MY OWN NOVEL SERIES, CHECK OUT MY BLOG:
www.michaeljohnhalse.wix.com/michaeljohnhalse
bormgans's review against another edition
5.0
Click for the full review on Weighing A Pig Doesn't Fatten It.
It’s always a thrill when the second book you read of an author turns out to be as good as the first. Thrilling, but sometimes daunting too, since it usually means my TBR-pile grows with a substantial number of titles. 26, in the case of Elizabeth Bear. Shattered Pillars is even better than Range of Ghosts, the book it is a sequel to.
(...)
It’s always a thrill when the second book you read of an author turns out to be as good as the first. Thrilling, but sometimes daunting too, since it usually means my TBR-pile grows with a substantial number of titles. 26, in the case of Elizabeth Bear. Shattered Pillars is even better than Range of Ghosts, the book it is a sequel to.
(...)
sarahbotreads's review against another edition
4.0
This is an excellent continuation of the story and the world that Elizabeth Bear set up in Range of Ghosts - it continues to put pieces of an epic story in place, but still stays grounded in the characters and the very personal stakes they feel in the situation. And we get to meet even more characters, all of whom are as individual and real-feeling as the main characters introduced in the first book.
The one downside I had with this installment of the series is that, as the cast of characters grew, I sometimes found it hard to keep names straight - there are a few who are similar. I'll also say that I'm glad I had the 3rd book (Steles of the Sky) already purchased and waiting, because I would have been very impatient if I'd had to wait for the conclusion after the climax of this book.
The one downside I had with this installment of the series is that, as the cast of characters grew, I sometimes found it hard to keep names straight - there are a few who are similar. I'll also say that I'm glad I had the 3rd book (Steles of the Sky) already purchased and waiting, because I would have been very impatient if I'd had to wait for the conclusion after the climax of this book.
curgoth's review against another edition
4.0
Book 2 of the Eternal Sky trilogy. As is typical with Bear's books, I am in love with the characters, and find the villain threatening, but understandable. It was a fair bit of cognitive dissonance to read this while, in parallel, listening to the Game of Thrones audiobook. It makes the problematic shortcuts Martin takes with the Dothraki really, really stand out.
The only story line that I'm feeling shaky about is Edene's, but I won't know how I feel about it until book 3 when I find out how it resolves.
The only story line that I'm feeling shaky about is Edene's, but I won't know how I feel about it until book 3 when I find out how it resolves.
xan_van_rooyen's review against another edition
4.0
Excellent read as expected. Incredibly lush world-building, poetic writing, and an engrossing plot. Can't wait to read the last book in this trilogy!
gbonesy's review against another edition
4.0
i think what i appreciate most about these books is how visceral and grimy and gross they are while not descending into the USUAL haunts of Low Fantasy- which is to say, rape, rape, rape, endless parade of rape. there's pus, effluvia, viscera, ineffective magic, ineffective leadership, half-measures and lost causes galore, but at the same time, everyone's pretty much funny and friendly and trying their best to keep their world together. i really liked the wizards trying to find a cure for the plague (GOD HOW GROSS GOD HOW REAL GOD HOW DEPRESSING AND DELIGHTFULLY SAD), and i love everything about the pseudo-mongolia querynsk culture.
also the horses. so many horses. so many people who love the shit out of their horses. oh and that amazing eagle hunt scene. and edene in the kingdom of erem. and hrahihma the failed tiger monk. and DELIGHTFUL SEGUEWAYS ABOUT PSEUDO-ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE.
also the horses. so many horses. so many people who love the shit out of their horses. oh and that amazing eagle hunt scene. and edene in the kingdom of erem. and hrahihma the failed tiger monk. and DELIGHTFUL SEGUEWAYS ABOUT PSEUDO-ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE.