jellybean_gene's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Second and final book in the series and even more fast-paced.
Great expansion of magic history, cultures and locations. And just as dark as ever. Also I think every character in this book throws up at least once.
Great expansion of magic history, cultures and locations. And just as dark as ever. Also I think every character in this book throws up at least once.
eb00kie's review
5.0
Couldn't put it down.
Also first time ever foreign language winner of the
In all fairness, someone somewhere probably swore more artfully and I haven't read it yet. Odds are, it won't even come near this one in terms of plot and characters, so I stand by my verdict.
Also first time ever foreign language winner of the
Creative and Improper swearing Romanian stamp of approval
In all fairness, someone somewhere probably swore more artfully and I haven't read it yet. Odds are, it won't even come near this one in terms of plot and characters, so I stand by my verdict.
kvinwtm_'s review against another edition
3.0
Duology review
Keeping it sweet and short since I don't want this page to be too negative. ☺️ The gist of it is there's just better out there. Bear in mind that it's the author's first series so it makes sense it's not on a par with what's out there already.
It wasn't bad. It was just average really. The main character is some sort of Harry Dresden (Dresden Files) meets Ryhalt Galharrow (Raven's Mark) but without the humour. The world goes to hell. Daemons, powerful magi, weird creatures, blood and guts everywhere anytime there's a battle scene... Déjà vu.
Keeping it sweet and short since I don't want this page to be too negative. ☺️ The gist of it is there's just better out there. Bear in mind that it's the author's first series so it makes sense it's not on a par with what's out there already.
It wasn't bad. It was just average really. The main character is some sort of Harry Dresden (Dresden Files) meets Ryhalt Galharrow (Raven's Mark) but without the humour. The world goes to hell. Daemons, powerful magi, weird creatures, blood and guts everywhere anytime there's a battle scene... Déjà vu.
annasirius's review against another edition
4.0
3.6 Did not captivate me as much as the first book but still far above the usual fantasy fare.
lexicon_luthor's review against another edition
5.0
My new favorite Grimdark series. Bitter fights till the very end. But despite the overwhelming odds and stakes there is a glimmer of hope. Cameron Johnston is my new author to keep an eye on.
mlejoy's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed it - it was fast-paced and interested, I thought the ending was great. I liked the characters and appreciated that there could be a quasi-romance where the woman wasn't stunningly beautiful.
jennyengel's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this duology very much for a lot of reasons. It's refreshing with fantasy where the MC is someone my own age, probably a bit older in this case, I'm 35, but I sometimes feel like an old hag when reading a lot of fantasy. More middle aged heroes please!
As well as getting older, I'm also learning more about my self, who I am and what I like, in people and books. I think I've gotten quite a bit rude in my "old age", haven't got time or energy to waste on being nice to people who doesn't like me. Point of this is that I find my self more and more enjoying MC's who are more like me in this aspect as well, not being mean for the sake of it, but not full of excuses just for existing either. Also People who've been around, seen shit, done shit and are somewhat reluctant heroes in their own story.
Another thing is that I'm very tired of the binarity of classic coming of age stories, such as Star Wars (which I kind of realized today is telling pretty much the same story in all three trilogies). Life, and people, are seldom as easy to categorize as good or evil, and the "struggle against the inherit evil in ourselsves" doesn't really do it for me anymore. What Johnston does quite well in this duology, similarly to fx. Erikson and Abercrombie, is to show that there isn't simply a good side fighting for a good cause. War is never that simple, and I believe that few soldiers on any side does it just because they want to be bad and make other people miserable. Most people (especially in a more feudal setting) do what they have to in order to get by, and it can probably be a good thing to remember that history books are generally written by the winners.
All this rant just to say that even though not perfect, this duology is well worth both the money and the time. So buy it, read it.
Oh, I almost forgot: It's bloody funny as well!
As well as getting older, I'm also learning more about my self, who I am and what I like, in people and books. I think I've gotten quite a bit rude in my "old age", haven't got time or energy to waste on being nice to people who doesn't like me. Point of this is that I find my self more and more enjoying MC's who are more like me in this aspect as well, not being mean for the sake of it, but not full of excuses just for existing either. Also People who've been around, seen shit, done shit and are somewhat reluctant heroes in their own story.
Another thing is that I'm very tired of the binarity of classic coming of age stories, such as Star Wars (which I kind of realized today is telling pretty much the same story in all three trilogies). Life, and people, are seldom as easy to categorize as good or evil, and the "struggle against the inherit evil in ourselsves" doesn't really do it for me anymore. What Johnston does quite well in this duology, similarly to fx. Erikson and Abercrombie, is to show that there isn't simply a good side fighting for a good cause. War is never that simple, and I believe that few soldiers on any side does it just because they want to be bad and make other people miserable. Most people (especially in a more feudal setting) do what they have to in order to get by, and it can probably be a good thing to remember that history books are generally written by the winners.
All this rant just to say that even though not perfect, this duology is well worth both the money and the time. So buy it, read it.
Oh, I almost forgot: It's bloody funny as well!
murcatto's review against another edition
5.0
An excellent ending to this fantastic duology! I think most writers would have padded out this second book and created a trilogy, but I love how Johnston put everything in two books.
The story is extremely action-packed, has great characters and a lot of depth to its worldbuilding. Add to that a good dash of gallows humour and you've got grimdark at its best!
I'm definitely looking forward to anything else Cameron Johnston will write!
PS: I listened to the audiobook and Paul Woodson did an excellent job and gave the story even more depth.
The story is extremely action-packed, has great characters and a lot of depth to its worldbuilding. Add to that a good dash of gallows humour and you've got grimdark at its best!
I'm definitely looking forward to anything else Cameron Johnston will write!
PS: I listened to the audiobook and Paul Woodson did an excellent job and gave the story even more depth.
balefire's review against another edition
5.0
Edrin walker rules
Bloody good book this. Funny and brutal and exactly the grimdark fantasy I love. Edrin walker was brilliantly written and grew a lot through both books. I am sad that there are only two books but I will be looking for the next book this author writes.
Bloody good book this. Funny and brutal and exactly the grimdark fantasy I love. Edrin walker was brilliantly written and grew a lot through both books. I am sad that there are only two books but I will be looking for the next book this author writes.
woodge's review against another edition
4.0
The "tyrant" magus Edrin Walker is back leading his coterie of the doomed into near certain death against a mind-controlling adversary up in the frozen rocky lands of the Clandholds. Being a "tyrant" means Walker is gifted with the ability to get into people's heads and alter their thoughts, read them, even control them if necessary. It's a skill that means he is feared and distrusted by many and doesn't have a lot of friends. He's a bit arrogant and crude to boot. But deep down you know he's not a complete tool. The parasitic adversary has marshalled altered clanfolk, magi, and daemons against Walker's coterie -- ("coterie" is a word the author uses a LOT) -- and it all makes for a fun, bloody, magic-infused battle. It's got a few surprises in it too.