gbdub's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
wzwy's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
leksikality's review
lighthearted
slow-paced
0.25
It's a fantasy world that has exactly the same cultural aesthetics as ours with the only difference being their names. Oh, and magic.
A lot of build up for a fairly quick, obvious, and unsatisfying ending, with loads of threads just left dangling. Honestly, if I didn't have a compulsion about these things (in a real medical way, not a haha exaggeration way) I wouldn't have even finished the first book. So yeah. It's that bad. I only finished the trilogy because of a clinically diagnosed mental disorder.
A lot of build up for a fairly quick, obvious, and unsatisfying ending, with loads of threads just left dangling. Honestly, if I didn't have a compulsion about these things (in a real medical way, not a haha exaggeration way) I wouldn't have even finished the first book. So yeah. It's that bad. I only finished the trilogy because of a clinically diagnosed mental disorder.
gregg's review
3.0
I so wanted to one of these books to be 5 star book book but they never quite made it to that level for me. They are good books and decently written but just lack that little something that makes them really great at least for me. The ending was not that satisfying for me but the story was on par with the other books I think. It almost seemed like they setting up to continue the story in more books down the line which I would like to read if that was the case. A solid trilogy overall and one that will enjoy reading again at some point like most books I have enjoyed reading.
cpark2005's review
5.0
Alec Hutson concludes his sprawling, epic fantasy trilogy with The Shadow King. This is epic fantasy in a classic vein written for modern audiences. It’s excellent. The characters come alive, and we cheer for their successes and mourn for their failures. The world building continues to be phenomenal, and the plot rushes to a superb conclusion.
As the third book in the trilogy, The Shadow King has the advantage of all the setup having happened in the previous books. That means it could focus entirely on bringing threads together for a stunning endgame—and it does that perfectly. From the opening pages, we’re swept up again in a story of sorcerers and paladins, of nearly immortal plotters and upstart queens, and of a boy discovering what it means to live a life fraught with magic. If these sound like classic fantasy tropes that’s because they are, but Hutson shifts and twists each just enough to make them interesting. That’s one of the reasons I love this series so much. It feels like classic fantasy, but done in a fresh way. While the plot rushes to its epic conclusion, the characters also draw you in keeping things interesting and fresh. Our main viewpoint characters continue to be engaging in this novel. Each plot point tends to be tied into something that furthers the development of our characters as well, and that’s something I always appreciate in my fantasy. In this case, it helps to keep the sprawling plot grounded in the human lives that these events affect. This grounding is also important because Hutson has crammed an incredible amount of world building into this trilogy. It never feels like it’s too much, however. Rather, each element of the world building combines to form a spectacular backdrop on which the events of the story play out. Half the fun is discovering the history of the world and how that history has brought the world and the characters to the present crisis. This world building extends to the marvelous magic that Hutson lets us see at nearly every turn. So much of what I love about epic fantasy plays out on these pages. Masterfully done, I enjoyed every moment.
What few things I didn’t like are small. The book can move a little slowly at times, especially in the first half. I didn’t mind this because it was easy to see how things were coming together, but it might be a larger negative for those who prefer a very fast-paced narrative. In terms of the characters, they are each engaging, and they all develop in ways that feel real. However, for a few of them, I didn’t feel as much emotional connection as I might have liked. There were certain moments when I felt like a deeper emotional connection to the character might have elevated my experience of the story. Even so, I found the tale to have more than enough to adore without this.
Hutson’s The Shadow King is a wonderful conclusion to his epic trilogy. It has a perfect classic fantasy feel. A wonderful epic fantasy to read curled in a blanket on a snowy morning sipping coffee. The way the various plot threads come together in a satisfying way is a masterful achievement. It's epic fantasy comfort food in the best sense of the term.
9.0/10
4.5/5 stars.
5 – I loved this, couldn’t put it down, move it to the top of your TBR pile
4 – I really enjoyed this, add it to the TBR pile
3 – It was ok, depending on your preferences it may be worth your time
2 – I didn’t like this book, it has significant flaws and I can’t recommend it
1 – I loathe this book with a most loathsome loathing
As the third book in the trilogy, The Shadow King has the advantage of all the setup having happened in the previous books. That means it could focus entirely on bringing threads together for a stunning endgame—and it does that perfectly. From the opening pages, we’re swept up again in a story of sorcerers and paladins, of nearly immortal plotters and upstart queens, and of a boy discovering what it means to live a life fraught with magic. If these sound like classic fantasy tropes that’s because they are, but Hutson shifts and twists each just enough to make them interesting. That’s one of the reasons I love this series so much. It feels like classic fantasy, but done in a fresh way. While the plot rushes to its epic conclusion, the characters also draw you in keeping things interesting and fresh. Our main viewpoint characters continue to be engaging in this novel. Each plot point tends to be tied into something that furthers the development of our characters as well, and that’s something I always appreciate in my fantasy. In this case, it helps to keep the sprawling plot grounded in the human lives that these events affect. This grounding is also important because Hutson has crammed an incredible amount of world building into this trilogy. It never feels like it’s too much, however. Rather, each element of the world building combines to form a spectacular backdrop on which the events of the story play out. Half the fun is discovering the history of the world and how that history has brought the world and the characters to the present crisis. This world building extends to the marvelous magic that Hutson lets us see at nearly every turn. So much of what I love about epic fantasy plays out on these pages. Masterfully done, I enjoyed every moment.
What few things I didn’t like are small. The book can move a little slowly at times, especially in the first half. I didn’t mind this because it was easy to see how things were coming together, but it might be a larger negative for those who prefer a very fast-paced narrative. In terms of the characters, they are each engaging, and they all develop in ways that feel real. However, for a few of them, I didn’t feel as much emotional connection as I might have liked. There were certain moments when I felt like a deeper emotional connection to the character might have elevated my experience of the story. Even so, I found the tale to have more than enough to adore without this.
Hutson’s The Shadow King is a wonderful conclusion to his epic trilogy. It has a perfect classic fantasy feel. A wonderful epic fantasy to read curled in a blanket on a snowy morning sipping coffee. The way the various plot threads come together in a satisfying way is a masterful achievement. It's epic fantasy comfort food in the best sense of the term.
9.0/10
4.5/5 stars.
5 – I loved this, couldn’t put it down, move it to the top of your TBR pile
4 – I really enjoyed this, add it to the TBR pile
3 – It was ok, depending on your preferences it may be worth your time
2 – I didn’t like this book, it has significant flaws and I can’t recommend it
1 – I loathe this book with a most loathsome loathing
marktimmony's review
4.0
A great conclusion to this debut trilogy by one of my favorite new fantasy authors.
I really wasn't sure how Hutson was going to wind up all the various threads he'd begun weaving over books 1 and 2. And to be honest I like series - long series. I like to sink my teeth into epic fantasy worlds and live with the characters and explore the story and worldbuilding for some time. But wind up all the reads Hutson did. Well, the main ones ;)
This is a rip-roaring yarn of a novel. Alive with vibrant world building and crafted with a powerful vision and strong writing, Hutson has fill this book with action as the reader is swept along towards the final chapter. I found my self reading great chunks of the novel and often wanting to continue when I had to put the book down, leaving me very eager to pick it back up again.
I hope that Hutson continues to write in this world. I want more of Keilan's journey, and Cho Lin's - amongst others. I certainly feel there is more story to tell; and it was hinted at in the epilogue.
For the inevitable comparisons, if you enjoy Robert Jordan, Brandon Sanderson and Peter V. Brett, then give Alec Hutson a try. You won't regret it.
I really wasn't sure how Hutson was going to wind up all the various threads he'd begun weaving over books 1 and 2. And to be honest I like series - long series. I like to sink my teeth into epic fantasy worlds and live with the characters and explore the story and worldbuilding for some time. But wind up all the reads Hutson did. Well, the main ones ;)
This is a rip-roaring yarn of a novel. Alive with vibrant world building and crafted with a powerful vision and strong writing, Hutson has fill this book with action as the reader is swept along towards the final chapter. I found my self reading great chunks of the novel and often wanting to continue when I had to put the book down, leaving me very eager to pick it back up again.
I hope that Hutson continues to write in this world. I want more of Keilan's journey, and Cho Lin's - amongst others. I certainly feel there is more story to tell; and it was hinted at in the epilogue.
For the inevitable comparisons, if you enjoy Robert Jordan, Brandon Sanderson and Peter V. Brett, then give Alec Hutson a try. You won't regret it.
swiff's review
5.0
The Raveling trilogy is a throwback, classic epic fantasy story that is smartly plotted and tightly written, with detailed world-building and a deep well of rich lore that draws on both eastern and western cultures. It is also an extremely polished work, and would fit perfectly in the bookshelves of any fantasy enthusiast. The Shadow King concludes what is a truly thrilling adventure that will have you pumping your fist while grimacing with anticipation. Although the trilogy may be over, I hope we’ll see a lot more of this world. Regardless, whatever Hutson decides to write will be a first-day purchase.
This is a fully-realized world with a lot of moving parts, and I'll admit I was a bit concerned how (and if) everything was going to tie together in just one novel, especially in the ambiguous way that The Silver Sorceress concluded. Not only do we have major characters split across the world, we're introducing terrible new threats, and we're still unclear about the motivations of some of the major players.
One of the numerous aspects of the story that impressed me was how each of these concerns were addressed so well, and how each character was given enough pages to provide a balanced and powerful conclusion. It was thrilling to see the web of storylines finally tighten, bringing all the major players together in the same part of the world, albeit for different reasons. And the threats themselves -- remember the spider warren in The Crimson Queen? The brief foray into a monster-laden dungeon? That was Disney World compared to what our cast has to contend with in the last act of the story. In the many books I've read that have evil, elder gods as antagonist threats, I've never read anything quite so awesome as what Hutson put together here.
There are other aspects to the book that elevates Hutson's writing beyond just the story. There's a cadence in the writing; a steady prose that offers a balanced blend of description, meter, and dialogue.
“The Mazespinner. The Black Lady. The Night Huntress. Caryxes, worshipped in these depths for ages undreamt.”
“If she ever wanted to pass a message to future generations she would hide it in the lyrics of a children’s song.”
In addition, the book *looks* fantastic. The whole trilogy is produced with a professional sheen that stands out, from the covers to the editing and typography. These books are self-published but are ‘camera-ready’ to stand side-by-side with any trad-published book in a Barnes and Noble or Waterstones.
The Raveling is a trilogy I can easily recommend. Like any good story, it gets better the further in you go. The finale hits hard, and while it satisfies the major arcs, it also leaves some doors open to explore in future books. As it should! This is a rich and wonderous world with characters you won’t want to leave behind. Any lover of fantasy who grew up reading Weis & Hickman, David Eddings, Robert Jordan, or Terry Brooks should pick up this trilogy as soon as they can.
9.0 / 10
This is a fully-realized world with a lot of moving parts, and I'll admit I was a bit concerned how (and if) everything was going to tie together in just one novel, especially in the ambiguous way that The Silver Sorceress concluded. Not only do we have major characters split across the world, we're introducing terrible new threats, and we're still unclear about the motivations of some of the major players.
One of the numerous aspects of the story that impressed me was how each of these concerns were addressed so well, and how each character was given enough pages to provide a balanced and powerful conclusion. It was thrilling to see the web of storylines finally tighten, bringing all the major players together in the same part of the world, albeit for different reasons. And the threats themselves -- remember the spider warren in The Crimson Queen? The brief foray into a monster-laden dungeon? That was Disney World compared to what our cast has to contend with in the last act of the story. In the many books I've read that have evil, elder gods as antagonist threats, I've never read anything quite so awesome as what Hutson put together here.
There are other aspects to the book that elevates Hutson's writing beyond just the story. There's a cadence in the writing; a steady prose that offers a balanced blend of description, meter, and dialogue.
“The Mazespinner. The Black Lady. The Night Huntress. Caryxes, worshipped in these depths for ages undreamt.”
“If she ever wanted to pass a message to future generations she would hide it in the lyrics of a children’s song.”
In addition, the book *looks* fantastic. The whole trilogy is produced with a professional sheen that stands out, from the covers to the editing and typography. These books are self-published but are ‘camera-ready’ to stand side-by-side with any trad-published book in a Barnes and Noble or Waterstones.
The Raveling is a trilogy I can easily recommend. Like any good story, it gets better the further in you go. The finale hits hard, and while it satisfies the major arcs, it also leaves some doors open to explore in future books. As it should! This is a rich and wonderous world with characters you won’t want to leave behind. Any lover of fantasy who grew up reading Weis & Hickman, David Eddings, Robert Jordan, or Terry Brooks should pick up this trilogy as soon as they can.
9.0 / 10
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