daisyysobel's review against another edition
4.0
4 stars
This is an excellent read. Magician by Raymond Feist is one of my all time favourite books and I have read every other book in the Riftwar saga apart from the Empire Trilogy. It was brilliant to get back into that world and see Kelewan from a new angle, although no prior knowledge is needed and you can take this as a standalone story.
Mara is a brilliant protagonist, the politics is complex and full of intrigue without being too overwhelming. The world building (unsurprisingly) is fantastic and did make me want to go back and re-read the whole saga.
I'm taking one star off because I'm not desperate to read the next one. Maybe I don't have as much time/brain space as I used to, but I read the first five or six of the saga back to back without stopping because I loved the characters so much and I don't feel that pull with this one. I'll have them ready and waiting on my tbr but no immediate plans to jump to it.
This is an excellent read. Magician by Raymond Feist is one of my all time favourite books and I have read every other book in the Riftwar saga apart from the Empire Trilogy. It was brilliant to get back into that world and see Kelewan from a new angle, although no prior knowledge is needed and you can take this as a standalone story.
Mara is a brilliant protagonist, the politics is complex and full of intrigue without being too overwhelming. The world building (unsurprisingly) is fantastic and did make me want to go back and re-read the whole saga.
I'm taking one star off because I'm not desperate to read the next one. Maybe I don't have as much time/brain space as I used to, but I read the first five or six of the saga back to back without stopping because I loved the characters so much and I don't feel that pull with this one. I'll have them ready and waiting on my tbr but no immediate plans to jump to it.
zozoisgolden's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Review to come.
yasdnilr's review against another edition
4.0
I first read this as a teenager and really liked it. I spose I liked it again but found myself impatient with a view of honourable Japanese/Korean society as seen by two white dudes. I loved Mara when I was 16; now the serious simpering was a bit dull. Still the best are the cho-jag and the gorgeous Acoma retainers who are alternatively indulgent and impatient by the young charge.
I won't bother with the other two until I'm on a desert island or something again.
I won't bother with the other two until I'm on a desert island or something again.
kultapanda's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
hkraftcheck's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Death
Minor: Violence, Blood, Grief, Slavery, Infidelity, and Pregnancy
agnieszka_na_grzbietowisku's review against another edition
4.0
Honour and the ferocious game of the council are all that is important in Tsuranni life.
This was my first journey with Mara of the Acoma. A fight for her life and her house honour, a story full of politics, intrigue and treachery. A breathtaking adventure that left me in the need to start the second volume instantly after finishing the first one.
This was my first journey with Mara of the Acoma. A fight for her life and her house honour, a story full of politics, intrigue and treachery. A breathtaking adventure that left me in the need to start the second volume instantly after finishing the first one.
marimoose's review against another edition
5.0
Right. It goes without saying that I rated this terribly high because of one character and one character only: Mara, the Lady of the Acoma. And considering this is her story, well, that makes for everything, doesn't it?
Granted that Mara was surrounded by some of the best possible allies, it was really mostly her doing that she'd come to gain these allies in the first place. And while she relied on the likes of Keyoke, Papewaio, Nacoya, Jican, and the overly-fantastic Arakasi for their skills, in the end, it was her cockamamie plans that somehow worked wonders in her survival in the Game of the Council. For that, I frelling loved her.
The story itself was also delicious, mostly because I loved the intrigue of the court. The dangerous game being played was--while subtle and not "war"-centric--probably just as violent as if throwing armies against each other. You really didn't see much fighting physically (minus the occasional scuffles to throw action in there). But you saw how the moves of the different factions affected the plot, and you saw the different minds at work. I'm not ashamed to admit that I reveled in Mara's victories just as much as I reveled in the downfall of her numerous opponents.
One can only tell what comes after this!
Granted that Mara was surrounded by some of the best possible allies, it was really mostly her doing that she'd come to gain these allies in the first place. And while she relied on the likes of Keyoke, Papewaio, Nacoya, Jican, and the overly-fantastic Arakasi for their skills, in the end, it was her cockamamie plans that somehow worked wonders in her survival in the Game of the Council. For that, I frelling loved her.
The story itself was also delicious, mostly because I loved the intrigue of the court. The dangerous game being played was--while subtle and not "war"-centric--probably just as violent as if throwing armies against each other. You really didn't see much fighting physically (minus the occasional scuffles to throw action in there). But you saw how the moves of the different factions affected the plot, and you saw the different minds at work. I'm not ashamed to admit that I reveled in Mara's victories just as much as I reveled in the downfall of her numerous opponents.
One can only tell what comes after this!
radella_hardwick's review against another edition
5.0
A truly intelligent female protagonist who works within the rules of her society. And the realism of that society is simply exquisite.
At no point does this book drag, there's always something happening, even if we can't immediately see what Mara is trying to accomplish.
At no point does this book drag, there's always something happening, even if we can't immediately see what Mara is trying to accomplish.