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samgalanor's review against another edition
3.0
If you're looking for a fantasy story, with several different humanoid species, where the society isn't racist, sexist or queerphobe, orcs aren't stupid muscles and elves are poc. This is the book for you!
Not 4 stars, because it lacks description of the humanoid species. It's not really clear if someone is orc, elf or human.
Also the NAMES! At least it comes with a pronounce guide...
Not sure if it's because I've read so much Tolkien lately, but the story could have been a little more detailed and slower here and there. But I'm also glad Larkwood didn't pulled a Sanderson and made this into three books with 700 pages.
Not 4 stars, because it lacks description of the humanoid species. It's not really clear if someone is orc, elf or human.
Also the NAMES! At least it comes with a pronounce guide...
Not sure if it's because I've read so much Tolkien lately, but the story could have been a little more detailed and slower here and there. But I'm also glad Larkwood didn't pulled a Sanderson and made this into three books with 700 pages.
starblaze's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
erinlcrane's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this a lot! It’s a mix of fast and slow paced, but in a very different way than most SFF. I don’t think it’s a flaw as much as it is just different and therefore prone to be disliked if you want more traditional pacing. There are multiple climaxes in this book that each feel like they could be the climax of their own book. But it’s not pedal to the floor - it’s still slow sometimes. I think each climax just feels plot-wise like something we’re used to being at the end of a book, and here it’s a middle step. That did not make it feel rushed for me as much as it just felt different.
One of my complaints is often that first books feel like giant prologues - here you get something in between. The first quarter of this book is like a prologue. Which is just not the kind of structure we’re used to, but I liked it.
Also unusual is the minimal info dumping. What’s there is important. The setting can feel a bit fuzzy sometimes because of this. Again, to me this is not a flaw. I really appreciated the concision. But I understand that many, if not most, fantasy readers want to be immersed in a full world.
I found the character arcs all really compelling. By the end no one felt cartoonishly villainous. Characters in conflict with another move in and out of working with each other. Most of them are learning how to be break free from something.
There *were* times I wanted more from the story. Csorwe gets trained to fight with a mercenary group and she’ll mention missing them, but we don’t see any of her time there. If she didn’t bring it up again afterward, I wouldn’t have cared, but since she does, I wished I had seen why she misses them.
The story includes romance but it’s very innocent and sweet. Appropriate to the lack of experience they both seem to have. It was a romance I could enjoy since it didn’t feel overwrought.
Really fun read, but one that won’t work for all fantasy lovers.
One of my complaints is often that first books feel like giant prologues - here you get something in between. The first quarter of this book is like a prologue. Which is just not the kind of structure we’re used to, but I liked it.
Also unusual is the minimal info dumping. What’s there is important. The setting can feel a bit fuzzy sometimes because of this. Again, to me this is not a flaw. I really appreciated the concision. But I understand that many, if not most, fantasy readers want to be immersed in a full world.
I found the character arcs all really compelling. By the end no one felt cartoonishly villainous. Characters in conflict with another move in and out of working with each other. Most of them are learning how to be break free from something.
There *were* times I wanted more from the story. Csorwe gets trained to fight with a mercenary group and she’ll mention missing them, but we don’t see any of her time there. If she didn’t bring it up again afterward, I wouldn’t have cared, but since she does, I wished I had seen why she misses them.
The story includes romance but it’s very innocent and sweet. Appropriate to the lack of experience they both seem to have. It was a romance I could enjoy since it didn’t feel overwrought.
Really fun read, but one that won’t work for all fantasy lovers.
ashbluewinters's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
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
5.0
ashley_heuser's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
jessicaswhirled's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
The last 100 pages are a 5 for me, but upon my second read it does feel a bit like this book is a prequel for a much larger universe. However, I fully forgot the twist at the end, which still makes sense in hindsight. “All theee of us were raised for death. I’d rather we chose it. And “all strength fails. But not just yet.”
booktreasuresau's review against another edition
4.0
When I saw the stunning cover of ᴛʜᴇ ᴜɴꜱᴘᴏᴋᴇɴ ɴᴀᴍᴇ by A. K. Larkwood, I fell straight in love. It also resembles the dark mood of the story perfectly.
The author showcases a very detailed, thrilling writing style, which I definitely enjoyed. The plot has been worked out well and the author has built in quite a few unexpected twists and turns. Furthermore, the world building in this story has been absolutely epic. Even though there have been quite some places to visit throughout the story, I have been impressed about how easy it was to imagine every little detail in this amazing world.
Another positive aspect of this book for me, has been the list of names and the pronunciation guide at the very beginning of the book. It definitely came in very handy while reading this story.
Unfortunately, this book hasn't exactly been an easy read, which was mostly due to the hard to pronounce names of characters and places. I'm one of those people, who always have to get the names right and even though I'm very grateful for the pronunciation guide mentioned above, it did take some time to always go back to it.
The characters are simply stunning. They're a broad range of courageous, cunning, loving, skilled fighters, who all experience some kind of betrayal. All of them know very well what sacrifice means and handle their adventures with their chins up.
ᴛʜᴇ ᴜɴꜱᴘᴏᴋᴇɴ ɴᴀᴍᴇ by A. K. Larkwood is a story full magic, glorious adventures, and wonderful characters. While reading this book, you will see time and again how the various characters are sacrificing themselves as well as their dreams for others, without hesitation. I can highly recommend this book to every fantasy lover.
The author showcases a very detailed, thrilling writing style, which I definitely enjoyed. The plot has been worked out well and the author has built in quite a few unexpected twists and turns. Furthermore, the world building in this story has been absolutely epic. Even though there have been quite some places to visit throughout the story, I have been impressed about how easy it was to imagine every little detail in this amazing world.
Another positive aspect of this book for me, has been the list of names and the pronunciation guide at the very beginning of the book. It definitely came in very handy while reading this story.
Unfortunately, this book hasn't exactly been an easy read, which was mostly due to the hard to pronounce names of characters and places. I'm one of those people, who always have to get the names right and even though I'm very grateful for the pronunciation guide mentioned above, it did take some time to always go back to it.
The characters are simply stunning. They're a broad range of courageous, cunning, loving, skilled fighters, who all experience some kind of betrayal. All of them know very well what sacrifice means and handle their adventures with their chins up.
ᴛʜᴇ ᴜɴꜱᴘᴏᴋᴇɴ ɴᴀᴍᴇ by A. K. Larkwood is a story full magic, glorious adventures, and wonderful characters. While reading this book, you will see time and again how the various characters are sacrificing themselves as well as their dreams for others, without hesitation. I can highly recommend this book to every fantasy lover.
shadesofkate26's review against another edition
It's wasn't bad, just not what I thought it would be. If I pick it up again it will be on audio
kmkasiner's review against another edition
5.0
The Unspoken Name centers on Csorwe, a prophesied sacrificial lamb who rejects her destiny. She runs away with a wizard named Sethennai (who I would describe as a more menacing version of Howl) and becomes his right hand woman(orc).
The first third of the book is about Csorwe meeting Sethennai and training with him, it's slow paced and doesn't spend a lot of time explaining the worldbuilding, but the characters drew me in. In most of this part, Csorwe and Sethennai are traveling through a surreal landscape of teleportation links (I think?) called the Maze. The way this was described was cinematic and fascinating, even though I still have no idea how it really works.
The transition to the second part was jarring because we're suddenly thrown into a time jump and introduced to a bunch of new characters. I'm glad I kept reading, because once I adjusted to the change, the book really picked up. It's a fun adventure with twists and turns along the way. I fell in love with Csorwe and the two other characters, Shuthmili and Tal. None of them are traditionally likeable, honestly, but they're OUR flawed weirdos and they must be protected at all costs. Even though the plot was a little convoluted at times with a barely explained magic system, I wanted to keep reading to find out what happened to everyone. The ending was satisfying but still left it open for the second book, which I ordered at the library immediately!
The first third of the book is about Csorwe meeting Sethennai and training with him, it's slow paced and doesn't spend a lot of time explaining the worldbuilding, but the characters drew me in. In most of this part, Csorwe and Sethennai are traveling through a surreal landscape of teleportation links (I think?) called the Maze. The way this was described was cinematic and fascinating, even though I still have no idea how it really works.
The transition to the second part was jarring because we're suddenly thrown into a time jump and introduced to a bunch of new characters. I'm glad I kept reading, because once I adjusted to the change, the book really picked up. It's a fun adventure with twists and turns along the way. I fell in love with Csorwe and the two other characters, Shuthmili and Tal. None of them are traditionally likeable, honestly, but they're OUR flawed weirdos and they must be protected at all costs. Even though the plot was a little convoluted at times with a barely explained magic system, I wanted to keep reading to find out what happened to everyone. The ending was satisfying but still left it open for the second book, which I ordered at the library immediately!
bookcoin's review against another edition
adventurous
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
3.5