jayde's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
jade_b's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mhedgescsus's review against another edition
2.0
Check out my new youtube channel where I show my instant reactions to reading fantasy books seconds after I finish the book.
One of the worst fantasy books I've ever read
I really hate to give such a bad rating here because I felt like the first book showed so much promise, and I truly enjoy the protagonist. Senlin feels like a real person that you can connect with and his initial quest to save his wife felt compelling and worth investing in. The first book showed a fun, inventive episodic story about a man slowly moving up a tower that had extremely unique floors.
The problem for me is that he's the only character I like. The rest of the characters feel so weak and uninteresting, and it's extremely frustrating that the second and third book here are making them more and more of the focus. The story is also turning into a frustrating "mystery", and I only find mystery stories interesting when the story has strong characters to move the story along - which I do not feel is the case here.
This book essentially abandons a major character that we as the reader have been heavily invested in. It then requires that the reader re-invest into different characters that would struggle to hold up a chapter, let alone a book. It also sells us in the first book of this fun concept of a constantly changing landscape of different environments, and then makes us read for 500+ pages about the same location.
I'm disappointed that I have not gotten the enjoyment out of this that so many others have, and sadly I think I am going to give up on this series. I have a typically hard policy of not giving up on a series when I am more than halfway, but this one is the exception for me. I just can't.
One of the worst fantasy books I've ever read
I really hate to give such a bad rating here because I felt like the first book showed so much promise, and I truly enjoy the protagonist. Senlin feels like a real person that you can connect with and his initial quest to save his wife felt compelling and worth investing in. The first book showed a fun, inventive episodic story about a man slowly moving up a tower that had extremely unique floors.
The problem for me is that he's the only character I like. The rest of the characters feel so weak and uninteresting, and it's extremely frustrating that the second and third book here are making them more and more of the focus. The story is also turning into a frustrating "mystery", and I only find mystery stories interesting when the story has strong characters to move the story along - which I do not feel is the case here.
This book essentially abandons a major character that we as the reader have been heavily invested in. It then requires that the reader re-invest into different characters that would struggle to hold up a chapter, let alone a book. It also sells us in the first book of this fun concept of a constantly changing landscape of different environments, and then makes us read for 500+ pages about the same location.
I'm disappointed that I have not gotten the enjoyment out of this that so many others have, and sadly I think I am going to give up on this series. I have a typically hard policy of not giving up on a series when I am more than halfway, but this one is the exception for me. I just can't.
echllrd's review against another edition
4.0
By far the best entry so far into the series. After nearly giving it up during book 2, I was surprised at how good this one was. Bancroft seems to have found his footing with character perspective, pacing, and plot in this book.
hashashash's review against another edition
5.0
what a book, what a writer
wasn't a massive fan of the way the viewpoint chapters were spread, but everything else was perfect - incredible writing, tons of twists, and a very interesting storyline in the hods' cause (and potential fall of babel?). so strange to read a series that can be so whimsical and heartbreaking at the same time.
standout characters have to be edith and senlin (and the parrots)
wasn't a massive fan of the way the viewpoint chapters were spread, but everything else was perfect - incredible writing, tons of twists, and a very interesting storyline in the hods' cause (and potential fall of babel?). so strange to read a series that can be so whimsical and heartbreaking at the same time.
standout characters have to be edith and senlin (and the parrots)
truthlessofcanada's review
4.0
Another extremely solid entry.
This was split into 3 main PoVs, I liked the first and last more than the middle one. Was pretty easily the strongest end to a Babel book so far though. Bancroft made some bold decisions in this book.
8.4/10
This was split into 3 main PoVs, I liked the first and last more than the middle one. Was pretty easily the strongest end to a Babel book so far though. Bancroft made some bold decisions in this book.
8.4/10
hylian_pirate's review
5.0
The best book in the series so far. It really goes places. Can't wait to start the next one.
straystarlight's review against another edition
4.0
I'll admit I complained a little about Voleta in my review of Arm of the Sphinx, but this book really did a lot to add some more nuance to her character, and she grew on me. I appreciated that the action was quicker to get going than in the previous installments, because my attention span really isn't what it used to be. Can't wait for the last book to be released.
llmacrae's review against another edition
5.0
I'm pretty tired at the moment, so this may not be a full review. But.
Wow.
I adore this series. I adore the narration. I remember when The Hod King first came out, so many people were raving about it, saying how incredible the book was. Having already read and loved the first to Books of Babel, I expected it to be good, but wasn’t sure whether the other reviews were exaggerating.
They aren’t.
I gasped. Laughed out loud. Choked back sobs.
I’ve never read anything like this before and I absolutely love it. Yes, in certain parts, the pacing is a little slow, but that allows for such in-depth, fantastical world-building. I wish I could spend a few minutes inside Josiah Bancroft’s head, just to get a glimpse at the scope of the creativity!
John Banks is one of my all time favourite narrators. I am in awe of the number of voices he can do, of the emotional depth he brings to every role - even minor side characters who only have a line or two of dialogue, he brings so much. This is how audiobooks should sound!!
This book is split into three parts, largely following the antics of one major character - although events happen concurrently, for the most part. Senlin, Voleta (who I have to say is possibly one of my favourite characters of all time) and Edith each have journeys to go on, mix with unsavoury people, and end up being inextricably linked to events in the ringdom of Pelthia within the tower.
Senlin is so different in the third book to how he started the series. He’s traversed multiple ringdoms in search of his wife, Marya, with whom he became separated right at the start of Senlin Ascends. During said traversing, he’s annoyed, pissed off, and made an enemy of multiple (rather powerful people). So he goes into Pelphia as a spy for the Sphynx, in disguise. Fortunately for Senlin, his wife is living in this ringdom - married to a new husband.
Voleta, in her own mission, has to infiltrate the same ringdom to get close to Marya. Her journey is epic, gut-wrenching, and emotional. I fell in love with her all over again and she is definitely one of my most favourite characters in all of fiction.
Edith’s journey is less grand, but no less powerful. Her journey is more personal and just as emotional as Senlin’s and Voleta’s.
When each story converges in a thrilling climax, I was on the edge of my seat. I love the side characters that come to the fore. I love how our main characters get their own real journeys and arcs. And I love how I cannot predict where things will go or what will happen to our cast.
I can’t begin to imagine what’ll happen in the fourth and final book and cannot wait to read it!
Wow.
I adore this series. I adore the narration. I remember when The Hod King first came out, so many people were raving about it, saying how incredible the book was. Having already read and loved the first to Books of Babel, I expected it to be good, but wasn’t sure whether the other reviews were exaggerating.
They aren’t.
I gasped. Laughed out loud. Choked back sobs.
I’ve never read anything like this before and I absolutely love it. Yes, in certain parts, the pacing is a little slow, but that allows for such in-depth, fantastical world-building. I wish I could spend a few minutes inside Josiah Bancroft’s head, just to get a glimpse at the scope of the creativity!
John Banks is one of my all time favourite narrators. I am in awe of the number of voices he can do, of the emotional depth he brings to every role - even minor side characters who only have a line or two of dialogue, he brings so much. This is how audiobooks should sound!!
This book is split into three parts, largely following the antics of one major character - although events happen concurrently, for the most part. Senlin, Voleta (who I have to say is possibly one of my favourite characters of all time) and Edith each have journeys to go on, mix with unsavoury people, and end up being inextricably linked to events in the ringdom of Pelthia within the tower.
Senlin is so different in the third book to how he started the series. He’s traversed multiple ringdoms in search of his wife, Marya, with whom he became separated right at the start of Senlin Ascends. During said traversing, he’s annoyed, pissed off, and made an enemy of multiple (rather powerful people). So he goes into Pelphia as a spy for the Sphynx, in disguise. Fortunately for Senlin, his wife is living in this ringdom - married to a new husband.
Voleta, in her own mission, has to infiltrate the same ringdom to get close to Marya. Her journey is epic, gut-wrenching, and emotional. I fell in love with her all over again and she is definitely one of my most favourite characters in all of fiction.
Edith’s journey is less grand, but no less powerful. Her journey is more personal and just as emotional as Senlin’s and Voleta’s.
When each story converges in a thrilling climax, I was on the edge of my seat. I love the side characters that come to the fore. I love how our main characters get their own real journeys and arcs. And I love how I cannot predict where things will go or what will happen to our cast.
I can’t begin to imagine what’ll happen in the fourth and final book and cannot wait to read it!
nikolastotiev's review against another edition
5.0
I really liked this book, it was a very good change from the mediocre arm of the sphinx. Or not mediocre but sluggish, kind of really different from Senlin Ascends.
The first part is amazing I loved the chain of events, I loved the adrenaline I was filled with, with every page. I felt that the part with Voleta was extremely slow but ultimately lead to a brilliant climax.
I have some reservations about some of the new members of the crew but I dont want to talk before I see what Bancroft has in store in the last book
The first part is amazing I loved the chain of events, I loved the adrenaline I was filled with, with every page. I felt that the part with Voleta was extremely slow but ultimately lead to a brilliant climax.
I have some reservations about some of the new members of the crew but I dont want to talk before I see what Bancroft has in store in the last book