aidanc22's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
klcm96's review against another edition
4.0
Reading this book was a bit daunting for me. I LOVE fantasy, but I have not had many forays into adult, epic fantasy. I know that they have a reputation for being very dense and requiring quite a bit of concentration. I have often been nervous that, once I finally took the plunge, I would find that this specific type of fantasy wasn’t for me.
I did find that the first 100-200 pages of this book were a bit harder for me as I worked to immerse myself fully in the world, trying to keep track of the characters and the world building. I also found the beginning to be a bit slower (though it is my opinion that quite a large majority of fantasy books are slower in the beginning, especially when it comes to the first volume of a series). Once I became more familiar/comfortable with the world itself and I began to feel attached to the characters, this story really picked up for me.
While we follow many perspectives, Corban seems to be the main protagonist. At the start, I found him pretty annoying. However, as we watch him grow up and “become a man” it endears the reader to him as his innocence is slowly stripped from him. It is also hinted that there is some greater destiny waiting for him. His became one of my favorite perspectives to read from.
I struggled with another of the main perspectives, Veradis, at the start of the story, as I found his to be a bit boring. His plight of seeking approval from his father seemed a bit cliché, but it started to make more sense as we saw where that blind desire for approval and praise would lead him. He is a character that seems to be so highly motivated by doing what he thinks is right, that it will be interesting to discover what he will do as his eyes are opened to the truth of things.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading from Nathair’s perspective, particularly as the story went on. He starts out as an incredibly likable character, and one that you want to cheer on, but quickly you begin to realize that something is not quite right. The unreliable narrator has always been one of my favorite literary devices and one the Gwynne uses beautifully in this character.
All in all, I enjoyed this book far more than I thought I would. The last third of the book was so gripping and surprisingly emotional. I found myself much more attached to the characters than I realized I was and I’m eagerly anticipating reading the second installment.
I did find that the first 100-200 pages of this book were a bit harder for me as I worked to immerse myself fully in the world, trying to keep track of the characters and the world building. I also found the beginning to be a bit slower (though it is my opinion that quite a large majority of fantasy books are slower in the beginning, especially when it comes to the first volume of a series). Once I became more familiar/comfortable with the world itself and I began to feel attached to the characters, this story really picked up for me.
While we follow many perspectives, Corban seems to be the main protagonist. At the start, I found him pretty annoying. However, as we watch him grow up and “become a man” it endears the reader to him as his innocence is slowly stripped from him. It is also hinted that there is some greater destiny waiting for him. His became one of my favorite perspectives to read from.
I struggled with another of the main perspectives, Veradis, at the start of the story, as I found his to be a bit boring. His plight of seeking approval from his father seemed a bit cliché, but it started to make more sense as we saw where that blind desire for approval and praise would lead him. He is a character that seems to be so highly motivated by doing what he thinks is right, that it will be interesting to discover what he will do as his eyes are opened to the truth of things.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading from Nathair’s perspective, particularly as the story went on. He starts out as an incredibly likable character, and one that you want to cheer on, but quickly you begin to realize that something is not quite right. The unreliable narrator has always been one of my favorite literary devices and one the Gwynne uses beautifully in this character.
All in all, I enjoyed this book far more than I thought I would. The last third of the book was so gripping and surprisingly emotional. I found myself much more attached to the characters than I realized I was and I’m eagerly anticipating reading the second installment.
saraishelafs's review against another edition
5.0
Enjoyable yet intriguing introduction to the series
raila_h's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/injury detail, Violence, War, and Death
nathan326's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
elizareads666's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Malice by John Gwynne
This was such an amazing book that took me on amazing adventures and combats.
It was a little slow at first but I didn't mind that as it was character building and world building for what lies ahead in the book.
We follow 2 main characters Corban and Nathair. There are a lot of characters but they are the 2 the story pivots around.
There were characters I loved from the beginning, characters I despised and some I had suspicions about and not good suspicions. But I loved the diverse array of characters this book had and how it brought them to life, each individual personality, even within a few sentences you can tell what they are like.
In this book we follow corban as he grows up and trains to be a warrior and we learn about an old prophecy about a war of gods which is finally revealing itself and coming true, but no one knows fully what the prophecy is and how it will reveal fully and what will happen when it does.
This book has war, giants, great beasts , secretly, assassinations, and betrayal.
This book took me on such an amazing journey and had my heart racing at times wanting to find out what happens in what ever conflict was going on at the time.
The ending shocked me and made me cry, so many emotions and heart stopping moments, it was amazing to say the least. Definitely worth the 4 stars, I can't wait to pick up the next book in the series and see what happens next as this story unfolds.
This was such an amazing book that took me on amazing adventures and combats.
It was a little slow at first but I didn't mind that as it was character building and world building for what lies ahead in the book.
We follow 2 main characters Corban and Nathair. There are a lot of characters but they are the 2 the story pivots around.
There were characters I loved from the beginning, characters I despised and some I had suspicions about and not good suspicions. But I loved the diverse array of characters this book had and how it brought them to life, each individual personality, even within a few sentences you can tell what they are like.
In this book we follow corban as he grows up and trains to be a warrior and we learn about an old prophecy about a war of gods which is finally revealing itself and coming true, but no one knows fully what the prophecy is and how it will reveal fully and what will happen when it does.
This book has war, giants, great beasts , secretly, assassinations, and betrayal.
This book took me on such an amazing journey and had my heart racing at times wanting to find out what happens in what ever conflict was going on at the time.
The ending shocked me and made me cry, so many emotions and heart stopping moments, it was amazing to say the least. Definitely worth the 4 stars, I can't wait to pick up the next book in the series and see what happens next as this story unfolds.
akazen's review against another edition
4.0
4.1
A solid entry book. Truthfully I started this book with the audiobook and could not get into it at all; I find that it did not do the series justice. I had to wait to get my hands on the physical version instead. Malice wasn't incredible but it was a good read, Gwynne writes action scenes incredibly enrapturing your attention at ease.
I look forward to reading Valour and seeing where the series heads.
A solid entry book. Truthfully I started this book with the audiobook and could not get into it at all; I find that it did not do the series justice. I had to wait to get my hands on the physical version instead. Malice wasn't incredible but it was a good read, Gwynne writes action scenes incredibly enrapturing your attention at ease.
I look forward to reading Valour and seeing where the series heads.
ripxw's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Animal death, Murder, Gore, Injury/injury detail, Animal cruelty, and Blood
Moderate: Torture, Death, War, and Death of parent
Minor: Alcoholism
kadiebutts's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
The world building and character building was so so good! I was hooked and fell in love with characters so fast only to find out some of my favorite characters are on the bad side of the war!! Cannot wait to get the second one and see what happens. So so so good!!