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mastersal's review against another edition
4.0
Finally - a fantasy which worked for me!! Phew - I was thinking I had lost my love of the genre but it turned out that I was just not reading books which worked for me (who would have thunk!?).
After almost 10 years I have finished this book. Great record I know. I bought this book in 2010, started it in 2011 and read up to page 114 (I found a bookmark there!!!!). I don’t remember why I put this down and why I never got back to it (probably because the paperbacks were stacked somewhere in the back on a shelf that I didn’t look at often).
Thankfully, despite the age of the book it held up. Being published in 2002, not surprisingly, the fantasy has dated a bit. It works firmly within the western fantasy tropes - dark lord rising, chosen ones, vaguely medieval world with kinds, prophecies etc. - without much innovation.
The synopsis doesn’t seem particularly inspiring but I am glad I decided to give this a try. I was expecting this to be a pleasant but surface read. A sword-and-sorcery romp which really didn’t challenge the reader.
In the end, the competency of each of the components of the novel - the writing, the plot, the characters, the pace - and how they all worked together engaged me. The story follows a number of characters each of which are off having their own adventures. I liked all of them but the constant back and forth was distracting. The writing was clear but not particularly lovely (except for the prelude which was great - that helped me give the book rope).
Around the mid-way point, however, the plot threads came together and the pace really picked up. The book took it’s time, which was a risk which could have lost the reader. I am still a little iffy about some of the characters but I like most of them. The weakest character was the holter who opens a book which is a shame.
The book ends in a good place with enough context that I am interested in what happens to the characters and the kingdom.
In the end I am giving this 4 stars. The book is firmly within the tropes of the genre but solidly done with care taken on the cast of characters. A strong read which has done well in setting up stakes. I can’t give this a higher rating because of the slower start. I compare this to something like [b:Red Sister|25895524|Red Sister (Book of the Ancestor, #1)|Mark Lawrence|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1481038440l/25895524._SY75_.jpg|45777900] which handled the world building and characters much better.
I am hopeful about the next book. I am looking forward to seeing if the author can maintain the pace and give us a good payoff. I am looking forward to it.
After almost 10 years I have finished this book. Great record I know. I bought this book in 2010, started it in 2011 and read up to page 114 (I found a bookmark there!!!!). I don’t remember why I put this down and why I never got back to it (probably because the paperbacks were stacked somewhere in the back on a shelf that I didn’t look at often).
Thankfully, despite the age of the book it held up. Being published in 2002, not surprisingly, the fantasy has dated a bit. It works firmly within the western fantasy tropes - dark lord rising, chosen ones, vaguely medieval world with kinds, prophecies etc. - without much innovation.
The synopsis doesn’t seem particularly inspiring but I am glad I decided to give this a try. I was expecting this to be a pleasant but surface read. A sword-and-sorcery romp which really didn’t challenge the reader.
In the end, the competency of each of the components of the novel - the writing, the plot, the characters, the pace - and how they all worked together engaged me. The story follows a number of characters each of which are off having their own adventures. I liked all of them but the constant back and forth was distracting. The writing was clear but not particularly lovely (except for the prelude which was great - that helped me give the book rope).
Around the mid-way point, however, the plot threads came together and the pace really picked up. The book took it’s time, which was a risk which could have lost the reader. I am still a little iffy about some of the characters but I like most of them. The weakest character was the holter who opens a book which is a shame.
The book ends in a good place with enough context that I am interested in what happens to the characters and the kingdom.
In the end I am giving this 4 stars. The book is firmly within the tropes of the genre but solidly done with care taken on the cast of characters. A strong read which has done well in setting up stakes. I can’t give this a higher rating because of the slower start. I compare this to something like [b:Red Sister|25895524|Red Sister (Book of the Ancestor, #1)|Mark Lawrence|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1481038440l/25895524._SY75_.jpg|45777900] which handled the world building and characters much better.
I am hopeful about the next book. I am looking forward to seeing if the author can maintain the pace and give us a good payoff. I am looking forward to it.
lesserjoke's review against another edition
5.0
This early 2000s fantasy series is a real hidden gem, one that I've always been surprised isn't more popular. I wouldn't call it a ripoff of George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire, but that feels like the best object for comparison, due to its similarly sprawling narrative and the worldbuilding that starts as a genre-standard medieval Europe flavor but then goes into intricate and distinctive depths of history and culture that seem to inform every moment of the story. The result is an immersive reading experience, and is particularly fun for how author Greg Keyes uses his academic background in anthropology to showcase slight regional variations in traditions and construct elaborate historical sound changes that become plot-relevant as characters research and translate ancient texts. (Also amusing: part of the backstory of this setting is that Virginia Dare and the lost colony of Roanoke ended up here, two thousand years before the main events.)
In this first title, there's a dawning apocalypse that has been prophesied, and certain people are beginning to see the signs and/or fall into the machinations of others who are more aware. With around a dozen protagonists across the course of the novel it would be difficult to succinctly summarize everyone's arc, but I enjoy how the writer brings them together and sends them apart in sometimes-surprising fashion. Three particular favorites: the monk and linguist who uncovers most of the critical lore for us, the initially spoiled young princess forced by hardship to grow up fast in a Malta Vestrit kind of way, and the dashing duelist as concerned with perfecting his fencing and wooing his intended as with the larger danger that stumbles upon him. I'm impressed as well by how everything builds to a natural crisis point for the climax of this book, given the disparate strands that need to unfold to reach it.
TV networks looking to adapt the next Game of Thrones would be wise to check out this quartet, especially since it was completely finished back in 2008 and contains far less misogyny and rape. (There are a few threats of sexual violence and a minor figure who mentions being abused as a child, but nowhere near Westeros levels of such atrocity on the page.) And if you're one of the many readers who have missed it until now, the four volumes are probably waiting on your library shelf anytime you're ready.
[Content warning for torture, gore, underage sexuality, and potentially problematic romantic age gaps of 15F/19M and 19F/43M.]
Find me on Patreon | Goodreads | Blog | Twitter
In this first title, there's a dawning apocalypse that has been prophesied, and certain people are beginning to see the signs and/or fall into the machinations of others who are more aware. With around a dozen protagonists across the course of the novel it would be difficult to succinctly summarize everyone's arc, but I enjoy how the writer brings them together and sends them apart in sometimes-surprising fashion. Three particular favorites: the monk and linguist who uncovers most of the critical lore for us, the initially spoiled young princess forced by hardship to grow up fast in a Malta Vestrit kind of way, and the dashing duelist as concerned with perfecting his fencing and wooing his intended as with the larger danger that stumbles upon him. I'm impressed as well by how everything builds to a natural crisis point for the climax of this book, given the disparate strands that need to unfold to reach it.
TV networks looking to adapt the next Game of Thrones would be wise to check out this quartet, especially since it was completely finished back in 2008 and contains far less misogyny and rape. (There are a few threats of sexual violence and a minor figure who mentions being abused as a child, but nowhere near Westeros levels of such atrocity on the page.) And if you're one of the many readers who have missed it until now, the four volumes are probably waiting on your library shelf anytime you're ready.
[Content warning for torture, gore, underage sexuality, and potentially problematic romantic age gaps of 15F/19M and 19F/43M.]
Find me on Patreon | Goodreads | Blog | Twitter
calbowen's review against another edition
1.0
Meh ... nothing to see here ... this failed the 25% test - I had zero interest in any characters at the 25% point, and the plot, was as jumpy as the character jumps, from one chapter to another, without following any direct course to a story.
The names are also unmemorable, as some are bad intentional misspellings of names and others are fantasy standards, which is to say, could be pronounced in one of a dozen ways.
the dialog does give the sense of the culture of the speaker, which is at least a positive about this story, unfortunately everyone is either high and mighty making them annoying and unlikable; or lower class, making them sound and appear unintelligent and undeserving of your time.
So many times this comes up as a 'must read', and the jacket cover even states 'starts with a bang' - well, this bang fizzled for me, because there is nothing worth reading in the first ten chapters.
Huge disappointment.
The names are also unmemorable, as some are bad intentional misspellings of names and others are fantasy standards, which is to say, could be pronounced in one of a dozen ways.
the dialog does give the sense of the culture of the speaker, which is at least a positive about this story, unfortunately everyone is either high and mighty making them annoying and unlikable; or lower class, making them sound and appear unintelligent and undeserving of your time.
So many times this comes up as a 'must read', and the jacket cover even states 'starts with a bang' - well, this bang fizzled for me, because there is nothing worth reading in the first ten chapters.
Huge disappointment.
alexisbranham4's review against another edition
1.0
Not incredible. It was hard to stay focused on the characters and the constantly shifting story lines, I rarely don't finish books especially in the fantasy genre but I had other more important things looming.
strayfe_angel's review against another edition
4.0
The first chapter annoyed me (which was probably just me) - but then I was sucked in. I got this free on Kindle and just bought the 2nd one. Which is a great reason - publishers - to release older first of series books free on kindle.
If you like the GRR Martin fantasy series - you will like this. Maybe more.
If you like the GRR Martin fantasy series - you will like this. Maybe more.
evilstudygroup's review against another edition
3.0
A good book to have @ work, the characters grow on you.
hank's review against another edition
4.0
That was surprisingly good. Surprising in that the first part was a bit tough to get through. The story seemed silly and it was a fire hose of new information. The names seemed ultra made up and it was setting up to be a been there done that fantasy. Not sure how it happened but the characters sort of snuck up on me and I started caring even though they started of a bit cookie cutter. The book also has a bit of a dark edge to it which helped set it apart.
I can't put my finger on what I liked about the characters, they seemed obviously trope-y but Keyes did not belabor the points, just moved on and made them different and better. The old, grizzled forester refusing to let the young pretty girl melt his heart. Been there, but although that was the set up, it moved past it quickly and on to a very real feeling struggling relationship. A too smart priest with no real world experience appears, in other books his coming to realize how little he knows would have lasted the entire story. The Briar King gets to the point faster and then moves on.
It may be I am "reading" too much into it but I read 100 page chunks until I was done which says something and I am definitely going to finish the series.
I can't put my finger on what I liked about the characters, they seemed obviously trope-y but Keyes did not belabor the points, just moved on and made them different and better. The old, grizzled forester refusing to let the young pretty girl melt his heart. Been there, but although that was the set up, it moved past it quickly and on to a very real feeling struggling relationship. A too smart priest with no real world experience appears, in other books his coming to realize how little he knows would have lasted the entire story. The Briar King gets to the point faster and then moves on.
It may be I am "reading" too much into it but I read 100 page chunks until I was done which says something and I am definitely going to finish the series.
mikimeiko's review against another edition
4.0
It looked better in the beginning; about halfway through I started to get slightly bored, but then thankfully it got better again. Now I'm curious about the rest of the series :D