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cpark2005's review
5.0
I am related to the author and so this review should be read from that perspective. I have endeavored to provide a fair and unbiased review even so.
Cursebreaker, the sequel to 2018’s Banebringer, is a wonderful, character-driven story that builds on all the things I loved so much about the first book. Picking up around a year and a half after the events of Banebringer, it continues Vaughn and Ivana’s story. There’s lots of magic and mythology, ample character development for the two main characters, and some wonderful development for side characters as well. Lots of the questions we had at the end of Banebringer receive answers, but more often than not those answers drop tantalizing clues for new reveals sure (I hope!) to come in the third book.
Readers who loved Banebringer won’t be disappointed by Cursebreaker. It builds on every facet of the original. The first thing I loved was the continued story of Vaughn and Ivana, especially as individual characters. They both have their own character arcs in this novel. This allows the opportunity for some intense emotional beats throughout the story. There is one scene, in particular, that just gutted me, and several others that threatened to do so. One of the things I love about fantasy is when I connect with the emotions of the characters, or at least feel deeply for them. That’s certainly the case in Cursebreaker, for both Vaughn and Ivana. Don’t worry! Their two stories continue to intersect, but we also see them grow as individuals. In fact, sometimes the way that their individual arcs interact with one another is so powerful. Though there are plenty of places where the two characters frustrated me as well, often in very realistic ways. Park also introduces a third viewpoint character, Driskell. It didn’t take long until I was loving his viewpoints. He’s quite different from Vaughn and Ivana, younger and much less worldly-wise. In some ways, he serves as a foil for their own character arcs, something to compare against and—most of the time—lighten the mood a bit. The attaché to the Ri of Donia, Driskell is incredibly earnest, perhaps a bit nerdy, and swept up into events he never imagined. In the midst of this he strikes up the best bromance with a character readers of Banebringer will already be familiar with, and I absolutely loved it. There continues to be exceptional banter between all the characters, so if you are like me and love some fun banter, this is one not to miss. Thrax may take the crown from Vaughn for snarky comebacks. The magic of the world continues to play a huge role in the story, and I loved every aspect of it. I can’t say much more than that, as nearly any reveal concerning this would be a spoiler. Suffice it to say that if you enjoyed the magic in the first novel, you’re going to love it in the sequel. Those who love the magic in Sanderson or Weeks will be right at home here. The novel is long, 600 pages, but the pacing and plotting, especially after the first twenty percent, is so tight that it doesn’t feel like it’s that long. After an initial period of setup, it reads much more like an action-adventure story than a nearly 200,000-word epic fantasy.
It’s possible that the initial period of setup and getting reacquainted with the characters could have been a little shorter. Of more significance to me were the lack of villains I cared about. In Banebringer, the main villain remains off stage for much of the action, but he is somehow incredibly menacing and threatening even so. In Cursebreaker, the villains might have more screen time, but they failed to capture my imagination as much as Gildas. On the other hand, other things tended to serve as the antagonists in this story, so I’m not sure that I noticed that lack of a menacing villain as I was reading.
Cursebreaker takes us on an emotional rollercoaster ride. It’s a magnificent character story wrapped in an epic fantasy. It’s heartwarming at times, and heart wrenching at others. If you love deep character work, fascinating and exciting magic, and explorations of mythology, you’re going to find a lot to love in this one. I left loving the cast of characters even more than before, and I can’t wait to see what Park does in the final volume of the trilogy!
9.2/10
4.6/5 stars.
5 – I loved this, couldn’t put it down, move it to the top of your TBR pile
4 – I really enjoyed this, add it to the TBR pile
3 – It was ok, depending on your preferences it may be worth your time
2 – I didn’t like this book, it has significant flaws and I can’t recommend it
1 – I loathe this book with a most loathsome loathing
Cursebreaker, the sequel to 2018’s Banebringer, is a wonderful, character-driven story that builds on all the things I loved so much about the first book. Picking up around a year and a half after the events of Banebringer, it continues Vaughn and Ivana’s story. There’s lots of magic and mythology, ample character development for the two main characters, and some wonderful development for side characters as well. Lots of the questions we had at the end of Banebringer receive answers, but more often than not those answers drop tantalizing clues for new reveals sure (I hope!) to come in the third book.
Readers who loved Banebringer won’t be disappointed by Cursebreaker. It builds on every facet of the original. The first thing I loved was the continued story of Vaughn and Ivana, especially as individual characters. They both have their own character arcs in this novel. This allows the opportunity for some intense emotional beats throughout the story. There is one scene, in particular, that just gutted me, and several others that threatened to do so. One of the things I love about fantasy is when I connect with the emotions of the characters, or at least feel deeply for them. That’s certainly the case in Cursebreaker, for both Vaughn and Ivana. Don’t worry! Their two stories continue to intersect, but we also see them grow as individuals. In fact, sometimes the way that their individual arcs interact with one another is so powerful. Though there are plenty of places where the two characters frustrated me as well, often in very realistic ways. Park also introduces a third viewpoint character, Driskell. It didn’t take long until I was loving his viewpoints. He’s quite different from Vaughn and Ivana, younger and much less worldly-wise. In some ways, he serves as a foil for their own character arcs, something to compare against and—most of the time—lighten the mood a bit. The attaché to the Ri of Donia, Driskell is incredibly earnest, perhaps a bit nerdy, and swept up into events he never imagined. In the midst of this he strikes up the best bromance with a character readers of Banebringer will already be familiar with, and I absolutely loved it. There continues to be exceptional banter between all the characters, so if you are like me and love some fun banter, this is one not to miss. Thrax may take the crown from Vaughn for snarky comebacks. The magic of the world continues to play a huge role in the story, and I loved every aspect of it. I can’t say much more than that, as nearly any reveal concerning this would be a spoiler. Suffice it to say that if you enjoyed the magic in the first novel, you’re going to love it in the sequel. Those who love the magic in Sanderson or Weeks will be right at home here. The novel is long, 600 pages, but the pacing and plotting, especially after the first twenty percent, is so tight that it doesn’t feel like it’s that long. After an initial period of setup, it reads much more like an action-adventure story than a nearly 200,000-word epic fantasy.
It’s possible that the initial period of setup and getting reacquainted with the characters could have been a little shorter. Of more significance to me were the lack of villains I cared about. In Banebringer, the main villain remains off stage for much of the action, but he is somehow incredibly menacing and threatening even so. In Cursebreaker, the villains might have more screen time, but they failed to capture my imagination as much as Gildas. On the other hand, other things tended to serve as the antagonists in this story, so I’m not sure that I noticed that lack of a menacing villain as I was reading.
Cursebreaker takes us on an emotional rollercoaster ride. It’s a magnificent character story wrapped in an epic fantasy. It’s heartwarming at times, and heart wrenching at others. If you love deep character work, fascinating and exciting magic, and explorations of mythology, you’re going to find a lot to love in this one. I left loving the cast of characters even more than before, and I can’t wait to see what Park does in the final volume of the trilogy!
9.2/10
4.6/5 stars.
5 – I loved this, couldn’t put it down, move it to the top of your TBR pile
4 – I really enjoyed this, add it to the TBR pile
3 – It was ok, depending on your preferences it may be worth your time
2 – I didn’t like this book, it has significant flaws and I can’t recommend it
1 – I loathe this book with a most loathsome loathing
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