yrc's review against another edition
5.0
"Maybe everyone is wrong and we can only choose which wrong is most acceptable to us".
This is one of my main takes from the book- the day of good and bad guys has been over for a while now. Both gods and mortals and anything between have their own motives, and all one can do is choose amongst them.
During the events in the Capital, many things happened in Jorat and Yor to a woman called Janel whom Kirhin met in the afterlife (keeping it vague to avoid spoilers). Kirhin is hunting for the Black Night which he assumes is playing against the brutal Relus Var and Duke Kane. However, almost everything that seems simple at face value is anything but.
What I found truly well done in this book in particular was the world building both socially and physically. Lyons's critique on gender politics and ethnicity was one of the most original ones I as fantasy reader have ever come across. In addition, the fact that there are no simple solutions to complex high-stake problems made the story believable. We also spent more time in Jorat and Yor, and got to see their for ice Hyaenas, how cool is that!
Despite the fact this was a challenging read (mostly because of the scope and the amount of characters and connection to the plot) it was very refreshing and easy to read compared to the slightly convoluted narrative structure in the first book. I highly recommend this and personally think This series so far is on par with modern fantasy great such as Martin, Rothfus and Jemisin!
This is one of my main takes from the book- the day of good and bad guys has been over for a while now. Both gods and mortals and anything between have their own motives, and all one can do is choose amongst them.
During the events in the Capital, many things happened in Jorat and Yor to a woman called Janel whom Kirhin met in the afterlife (keeping it vague to avoid spoilers). Kirhin is hunting for the Black Night which he assumes is playing against the brutal Relus Var and Duke Kane. However, almost everything that seems simple at face value is anything but.
What I found truly well done in this book in particular was the world building both socially and physically. Lyons's critique on gender politics and ethnicity was one of the most original ones I as fantasy reader have ever come across. In addition, the fact that there are no simple solutions to complex high-stake problems made the story believable. We also spent more time in Jorat and Yor, and got to see their for ice Hyaenas, how cool is that!
Despite the fact this was a challenging read (mostly because of the scope and the amount of characters and connection to the plot) it was very refreshing and easy to read compared to the slightly convoluted narrative structure in the first book. I highly recommend this and personally think This series so far is on par with modern fantasy great such as Martin, Rothfus and Jemisin!
ashnight's review against another edition
5.0
I really like this type of story telling. ( It can be confusing but it is still amazing).
adragoninspace's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
barbells_and_bookshelves's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
melodelfe's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
nini_w's review against another edition
5.0
I can’t deal with how amazing this book is. The twists were unexpected and the ending left me screaming. I’m counting down to the final book.
edliht's review against another edition
Too confusing to read in audiobook format for me.
bookishly_laura9813's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
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
4.5
gloomyboygirl's review against another edition
2.0
It feels like I'm reading the most intricate AU fanfiction ever for a media property I have never heard of, I have no other way of explaining what this book as like. They have horse genders.
scrollsofdragons's review against another edition
3.0
3.5
When I heard it was going to back in time from another perspective I worried it wouldn't be so good and I was kinda right. This did not live up to the first one but I have hope the series will improve. This book wasn't bad, I really liked it and could not stop reading it but it was a let down.
First of all, this book was told over a few hours? Okay. They are some fast talking you guys did. And the way them sitting in the inn taking turns to follow their story, was like but would you really mention this much in a retelling of your account of what happened? It's like let me tell you my story while I add shit I never would ever remember.
Second of all, the horse references have got to stop. Too many, like got the point from the start, stop. Like I get it from the start. And no, this doesn't make your country any less sexist then all the others.
Thirdly, Janal's story is not half as interesting as Khirin's was. And didn't need all this page time, her story could have been told in a quarter of what it actually was.
Fourthly, did not care for the romance which had such a lack of attraction and heat I don't know why it was included. And they love each other after three days of Janal just telling her story to the dude and then like a couple hours of them fighting together? Really? Where was the chemistry, cuz I didn't see none.
Fifthly, this cast of characters just weren't as great as the cast from the first book. Yes we got some of them in this but it just weren't the same.
Lastly, Janal is our main character and I just found her, alright. I like the priest but it's still just I like you and that's it. Also so many times she was too merciful like someone tries to kill her and she then saves their life, so many times I was like leave it, why are you upset over that? But then she would make such a anti-hero decision, she was a right contradiction at times.
So the sequel, my fave boy is back and I have hope he will deliver. Also I heard I am finally going to get my ship, kinda.
When I heard it was going to back in time from another perspective I worried it wouldn't be so good and I was kinda right. This did not live up to the first one but I have hope the series will improve. This book wasn't bad, I really liked it and could not stop reading it but it was a let down.
First of all, this book was told over a few hours? Okay. They are some fast talking you guys did. And the way them sitting in the inn taking turns to follow their story, was like but would you really mention this much in a retelling of your account of what happened? It's like let me tell you my story while I add shit I never would ever remember.
Second of all, the horse references have got to stop. Too many, like got the point from the start, stop. Like I get it from the start. And no, this doesn't make your country any less sexist then all the others.
Thirdly, Janal's story is not half as interesting as Khirin's was. And didn't need all this page time, her story could have been told in a quarter of what it actually was.
Fourthly, did not care for the romance which had such a lack of attraction and heat I don't know why it was included. And they love each other after three days of Janal just telling her story to the dude and then like a couple hours of them fighting together? Really? Where was the chemistry, cuz I didn't see none.
Fifthly, this cast of characters just weren't as great as the cast from the first book. Yes we got some of them in this but it just weren't the same.
Lastly, Janal is our main character and I just found her, alright. I like the priest but it's still just I like you and that's it. Also so many times she was too merciful like someone tries to kill her and she then saves their life, so many times I was like leave it, why are you upset over that? But then she would make such a anti-hero decision, she was a right contradiction at times.
So the sequel, my fave boy is back and I have hope he will deliver. Also I heard I am finally going to get my ship, kinda.