seanpatricklittle's review against another edition
5.0
My first go-round with de Castell's books were his incredible Greatcoats series. Now, I've been reading fantasy since I was six years old. (My mom got me the Dragonlance Chronicles for Christmas and I've been hooked since.) I have sampled all the realms, seen more magic systems than I care to count, and read enough pages about blood-soaked blades to last a lifetime. (Not mine...someone else's, though.)
The Greatcoats vaulted themselves into my pantheon of my favorite books. De Castell now sits on a shelf with Rafael Sabatini, Christopher Moore, Alex Bledsoe, Craig Johnson, Sherman Alexie, Terry Prachett, and Margaret Weis.
The Greatcoats had all the goods: wonderful characters, stupidly heroic stands against impossible odds, and some of the best dialogue I've ever read. Not to mention, the world building de Castell did was fantastic. The idea of Saints and Gods walking among people in a sort of pseudo-18th Century, pre-industrial revolution France-like place was incredible.
When TYRANT'S THRONE came out earlier this year, I pushed everything else off my reading shelf so that I could journey with Falcio, Kest, and Brasti once again. Now, sadly--that journey came to an end. De Castell promised they'd be back...someday.
Well, until that day occurs, we have a new hero in a different world in de Castell's new YA series: SPELLSLINGER.
Kellen is a young mage who is nearing the time of his trials. Pass them--he becomes a mage. Fail them, and he becomes a servant for mages. Only problem: Kellen has yet to spark any of the magical bands on his arms that help him focus his powers. His younger sister, Shalla, has sparked all six. She is growing to be a powerful mage, but Kellen has all but lost any power he once had.
In his quest to prove himself a mage of his clan, Kellen uncovers some hard truths about his people, and uncovers a mystery that threatens his family and society.
Like the Greatcoats series, this had everything I want: a solid hero who is too stupid not to take a punch, humorous banter, exciting set pieces where cleverness beats strength, and squirrel-cats.
I need a squirrel-cat.
It would all be fine and dandy if the book only had this going for it, but like a lot of YA literature, it doesn't stop there. Something YA often does better than stuffy adult fiction is to touch on themes that important to today's society, particular to the YA readership.
In SPELLSLINGER, de Castell finds the time and genius to make us think about oligarchy, about slavery, about living up to our parents' expectations, about what family really means, and about what it means to be true to yourself and accepting of who you are. In this aspect of the book, he delivers the best magic.
In the opening salvo of a new series that's sure to be another hit, SPELLSLINGER paves the way for a grand adventurer into a world that has just begun to be built. The second book in the series is already on the way, and it is at the top of my to-be-read list.
Five stars.
The Greatcoats vaulted themselves into my pantheon of my favorite books. De Castell now sits on a shelf with Rafael Sabatini, Christopher Moore, Alex Bledsoe, Craig Johnson, Sherman Alexie, Terry Prachett, and Margaret Weis.
The Greatcoats had all the goods: wonderful characters, stupidly heroic stands against impossible odds, and some of the best dialogue I've ever read. Not to mention, the world building de Castell did was fantastic. The idea of Saints and Gods walking among people in a sort of pseudo-18th Century, pre-industrial revolution France-like place was incredible.
When TYRANT'S THRONE came out earlier this year, I pushed everything else off my reading shelf so that I could journey with Falcio, Kest, and Brasti once again. Now, sadly--that journey came to an end. De Castell promised they'd be back...someday.
Well, until that day occurs, we have a new hero in a different world in de Castell's new YA series: SPELLSLINGER.
Kellen is a young mage who is nearing the time of his trials. Pass them--he becomes a mage. Fail them, and he becomes a servant for mages. Only problem: Kellen has yet to spark any of the magical bands on his arms that help him focus his powers. His younger sister, Shalla, has sparked all six. She is growing to be a powerful mage, but Kellen has all but lost any power he once had.
In his quest to prove himself a mage of his clan, Kellen uncovers some hard truths about his people, and uncovers a mystery that threatens his family and society.
Like the Greatcoats series, this had everything I want: a solid hero who is too stupid not to take a punch, humorous banter, exciting set pieces where cleverness beats strength, and squirrel-cats.
I need a squirrel-cat.
It would all be fine and dandy if the book only had this going for it, but like a lot of YA literature, it doesn't stop there. Something YA often does better than stuffy adult fiction is to touch on themes that important to today's society, particular to the YA readership.
In SPELLSLINGER, de Castell finds the time and genius to make us think about oligarchy, about slavery, about living up to our parents' expectations, about what family really means, and about what it means to be true to yourself and accepting of who you are. In this aspect of the book, he delivers the best magic.
In the opening salvo of a new series that's sure to be another hit, SPELLSLINGER paves the way for a grand adventurer into a world that has just begun to be built. The second book in the series is already on the way, and it is at the top of my to-be-read list.
Five stars.
booksandlemonsquash's review against another edition
5.0
I actually sort of want to give the book more than five stars, I enjoyed it that much!! Thoroughly un-put-down-able. I have to say it gets bonus points for not really having the protagonist be a special snowflake
hidingzeus's review against another edition
4.0
I don't know why I thought this was something other than fantasy, but I think I had the vaguest idea it was post-apocalyptic. I was very wrong. I loved this book. Even a day after finishing it, I want to read more.
thebookwormsfeast's review against another edition
5.0
“First thing you learn wandering the long roads, kid. Everyone thinks they're the hero of their own story."
Although the storyline is pretty dark, this was quite a fun read. I went in with zero expectations, hell, I didn’t even read the blurb. The cover drew me in and I'd heard it was meant to be pretty fun. As I've said, I agree with that, but I didn’t expect the darkness of the story due to that.
Kellen's clan is divided into two classes; the Jan'Tep, powerful mages of which his father is one of the strongest - and Sha'Tep, those who show no magical promise and become servants, but essentially slaves, to the Jan'Tep. Already, not fun.
Kellen is fast approaching his mage trials where he'll earn his mage name, or be forced to join the Sha'Tep. His problem is, he's never shown much promise at anything magical - failing to spark any of his bands (there are six, one for each of the types of magic). He does have one thing going for him though, his wits.
To briefly sum up, Spellslinger follows Kellen's story up to his trial. We meet a mysterious woman, a feisty squirrel cat who's my favourite, and uncover secrets along the way. The main characters bring so much life and humour to the story, that’s it's still enjoyable - which isn't a word I find I can usually give a book with these sorts of themes. I can still think they're amazing, well written etc., but not a joy like this one.
To bring it back to, this isn’t a sunshine and rainbows kind of story, trigger warning for animal cruelty/abuse.
Although the storyline is pretty dark, this was quite a fun read. I went in with zero expectations, hell, I didn’t even read the blurb. The cover drew me in and I'd heard it was meant to be pretty fun. As I've said, I agree with that, but I didn’t expect the darkness of the story due to that.
Kellen's clan is divided into two classes; the Jan'Tep, powerful mages of which his father is one of the strongest - and Sha'Tep, those who show no magical promise and become servants, but essentially slaves, to the Jan'Tep. Already, not fun.
Kellen is fast approaching his mage trials where he'll earn his mage name, or be forced to join the Sha'Tep. His problem is, he's never shown much promise at anything magical - failing to spark any of his bands (there are six, one for each of the types of magic). He does have one thing going for him though, his wits.
To briefly sum up, Spellslinger follows Kellen's story up to his trial. We meet a mysterious woman, a feisty squirrel cat who's my favourite, and uncover secrets along the way. The main characters bring so much life and humour to the story, that’s it's still enjoyable - which isn't a word I find I can usually give a book with these sorts of themes. I can still think they're amazing, well written etc., but not a joy like this one.
To bring it back to, this isn’t a sunshine and rainbows kind of story, trigger warning for animal cruelty/abuse.
nathe7285's review against another edition
5.0
La verdad que amé este libro.
Me esperaba algo meh, con una historia sencilla pero me equivoqué... me encontré con una historia muy completa, con personajes auténticos y llenos de vida.
Me gustó mucho como manejaron el concepto de "La historia la cuentan los que ganan" mostrando que no siempre los que ganan son los buenos.
Amé el universo que de Castell creó en este libro y ya estoy esperando saber más de él en el próximo.
Me esperaba algo meh, con una historia sencilla pero me equivoqué... me encontré con una historia muy completa, con personajes auténticos y llenos de vida.
Me gustó mucho como manejaron el concepto de "La historia la cuentan los que ganan" mostrando que no siempre los que ganan son los buenos.
Amé el universo que de Castell creó en este libro y ya estoy esperando saber más de él en el próximo.
ophee's review against another edition
3.0
It took me a little bit of time to get into the story but once there I could not wait to find out what the next challenge would be. And Reichis is just the perfect sidekick unless he decides to bite your eyes off obviously!
halahmad's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
llona_llegaconlalluvia's review against another edition
3.0
vedo che le altre recensioni sono più entusiaste delle mie (te pareva!)
mi è piaciuto ma è un libro da ombrellone non la rivelazione letteraria del secolo
è leggibilissimo, scorrevole, le 400 pagine finiscono in un baleno e questo è tutto il buono che si può dire sullo stile.
Il protagonista è azzeccato e il suo "famiglio" è divertente per le prime 3 pagine.
per il resto c'è margine di miglioramento
mi è piaciuto ma è un libro da ombrellone non la rivelazione letteraria del secolo
è leggibilissimo, scorrevole, le 400 pagine finiscono in un baleno e questo è tutto il buono che si può dire sullo stile.
Il protagonista è azzeccato e il suo "famiglio" è divertente per le prime 3 pagine.
per il resto c'è margine di miglioramento
danicamidlil's review against another edition
1.0
I slogged through 8 of 9 CDs but I just did not care enough to keep going. I'm done. What a let down.
jurkba's review against another edition
3.0
Kdyby někdo toužil po mých random názorech. ---> http://jurkba.blogspot.cz/2017/11/kolik-problemu-nadelaji-tarotky.html