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readerworm28's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
amy_haynes's review against another edition
3.0
It's a very bleak book with no humour or much wonder for a fantasy book. The plot is coherent enough with distinct characters and places. Yet everybody is dull. There's also so many names of places and people and they don't seem to actually be important.
crookedking's review against another edition
It was so boring I couldn’t stand it. I’m honestly starting to think that high fantasy is just not for me
blowp0p's review against another edition
3.0
So this was an ok ish book.
I didn't hate it. But I also didn't love it. And I can't put my finger on the exact reason why.
I know part of my issue with this book is about 115 pages ish in someone (either a teen or adult judging by the neatness of the writing) decided to start in pencil (and a little in pen) writing in the book and making really obvious observations. Like explaining what was just explained. X went to see his friend x. (observation: this is his friend). It frustrated me and made me want to scream and stab something. I settled for drinking tea.
It took me 100 pages to even start remotely getting into it.
I'll read the rest of the series definitely. But it's not something that I'm actively going to go "YES THIS IS WHAT I WANT!". More of a curiosity to see if it gets any better.
It was a good fantasy book though. It just wasn't MY type of fantasy. Which is ok. Because I know not everything will be my metaphorical cup of tea.
Just something about this felt a little lacking to me. And I really can't explain why.
Oh and the first 50 pages felt like they dragged on forever and ever.
Maybe it was his kind of cocky pridefulness that turned me off. Because that's not something I generally like in books. Maybe it was something else combined with that. Maybe not. But whatever it was just felt "meh" to me.
I didn't hate it. But I also didn't love it. And I can't put my finger on the exact reason why.
I know part of my issue with this book is about 115 pages ish in someone (either a teen or adult judging by the neatness of the writing) decided to start in pencil (and a little in pen) writing in the book and making really obvious observations. Like explaining what was just explained. X went to see his friend x. (observation: this is his friend). It frustrated me and made me want to scream and stab something. I settled for drinking tea.
It took me 100 pages to even start remotely getting into it.
I'll read the rest of the series definitely. But it's not something that I'm actively going to go "YES THIS IS WHAT I WANT!". More of a curiosity to see if it gets any better.
It was a good fantasy book though. It just wasn't MY type of fantasy. Which is ok. Because I know not everything will be my metaphorical cup of tea.
Just something about this felt a little lacking to me. And I really can't explain why.
Oh and the first 50 pages felt like they dragged on forever and ever.
Maybe it was his kind of cocky pridefulness that turned me off. Because that's not something I generally like in books. Maybe it was something else combined with that. Maybe not. But whatever it was just felt "meh" to me.
sourcherrysyrup's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
vronireads's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
relaxing
slow-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
3.5
moonunforgiven's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
venla_reads's review against another edition
4.0
I wish I'd read this when I was like 13-years-old. I would've loved this! I still loved it now, but it's so hard to focus on more traditional fantasy, after years of reading modern YA/NA fantasy. Where's the romance, the banter, the tension? Also I feel like I need more dialogue in order to fully immerse myself in a story. Still a really good read, I think I'll continue with the series!
jbonello's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
fast-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
4.0
penguin_emperor_of_the_north's review against another edition
3.0
I liked it. Solid, not amazing but solid.
The big upside was the exploration and description of the world as Ged travels throughout the Archipelago. Also, the plot surprised me. Subverted my expectations for a big, final conflict.
Though, I'll concede that throughout the latter half of the book I started suspecting that the book wouldn't deliver a predictable end but I didn't see the actual end coming.
The general philosophy of the book felt very eastern. Taoist, I think. I copied down several quotes that had a general thrust of encouraging one to go with the nature of things, encouraging the idea that disturbing the balance of things is a very bad idea because you can't predict the overall impact of your actions.
Also, I liked the character arc here. For the first third or so I thought Ged was an arrogant jerk but there's a big point where Ged's arrogance bites him in the butt that really changes his tone and it makes the final climax far more satisfying. Like he's forced to confront what a jerk he was and deal with that.
My biggest complaint is the magic system because it seems like Ged can do anything and he's mostly held back by the go with the flow philosophy. So, some drama is lost because you know he's just going to magic the boat into not sinking or, oh, he can turn into a falcon? Good for him, seems like that's important but we're just going to roll with it.
Considering the story is focused on that go with the flow philosophy, the magic isn't a huge impact to the story. More facilitates the flow of the story than anything but I think it did rob some of the drama.
The big upside was the exploration and description of the world as Ged travels throughout the Archipelago. Also, the plot surprised me. Subverted my expectations for a big, final conflict.
Though, I'll concede that throughout the latter half of the book I started suspecting that the book wouldn't deliver a predictable end but I didn't see the actual end coming.
The general philosophy of the book felt very eastern. Taoist, I think. I copied down several quotes that had a general thrust of encouraging one to go with the nature of things, encouraging the idea that disturbing the balance of things is a very bad idea because you can't predict the overall impact of your actions.
Also, I liked the character arc here. For the first third or so I thought Ged was an arrogant jerk but there's a big point where Ged's arrogance bites him in the butt that really changes his tone and it makes the final climax far more satisfying. Like he's forced to confront what a jerk he was and deal with that.
My biggest complaint is the magic system because it seems like Ged can do anything and he's mostly held back by the go with the flow philosophy. So, some drama is lost because you know he's just going to magic the boat into not sinking or, oh, he can turn into a falcon? Good for him, seems like that's important but we're just going to roll with it.
Considering the story is focused on that go with the flow philosophy, the magic isn't a huge impact to the story. More facilitates the flow of the story than anything but I think it did rob some of the drama.