mysticwarden's review against another edition
5.0
This was such a treat! Mr. Sullivan knows how to tell an epic story. It was nice getting a glimpse of what Elan was really like 3,000 years before the Riyria books. There's lots of superb lore and world-building. I especially enjoyed reading about the elves and their way of life.
As usual, Mr. Sullivan did an amazing job writing his female characters. I couldn't get enough of Persephone, Suri and Minna (Princess Mononoke, anyone?), and even Arion. The Galantians and some of the villagers were also very memorable.
If I had to pick a flaw, I'd say Malcolm, Raithe, and Persephone felt like copies of characters from the Riyria Revelations. It also didn't help that the audiobook narrator used the voices of Esrahhadon, Hadrian, and Arista respectively for those characters, but that's a minor quibble.
Overall, this was a spectacular read and I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the books in this series.
Audiobook note: I started reading Mr. Sullivan's books because Tim Gerard Reynolds is his audiobook narrator. Mr. Reynolds did a superb job with the Red Queen's War, and I wanted more. I highly recommend giving the audiobook a shot if you're a fan of the medium. Mr. Reynolds never disappoints!
As usual, Mr. Sullivan did an amazing job writing his female characters. I couldn't get enough of Persephone, Suri and Minna (Princess Mononoke, anyone?), and even Arion. The Galantians and some of the villagers were also very memorable.
If I had to pick a flaw, I'd say Malcolm, Raithe, and Persephone felt like copies of characters from the Riyria Revelations. It also didn't help that the audiobook narrator used the voices of Esrahhadon, Hadrian, and Arista respectively for those characters, but that's a minor quibble.
Overall, this was a spectacular read and I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the books in this series.
Audiobook note: I started reading Mr. Sullivan's books because Tim Gerard Reynolds is his audiobook narrator. Mr. Reynolds did a superb job with the Red Queen's War, and I wanted more. I highly recommend giving the audiobook a shot if you're a fan of the medium. Mr. Reynolds never disappoints!
orygunn's review against another edition
4.0
I’d bet if you’re a total fantasy fan, this is a 5 Star. I really enjoyed the story, tale and characters, but I’m always confused the first 1/3 of a fantasy book catching up with all the new terms and odd names. (Partially because I don’t realize there’s a glossary until I’m done or don’t realize there is one.) I will finish the series though.
akemichan's review against another edition
3.0
Io questo libro non lo volevo leggere. E infatti non l'ho letto, l'ho ascoltato, e l'unico motivo per cui l'h fatto è che nel gruppo Discord su Riyria parlavano sempre di questa serie e mi ero stancata di non capirci una mazza (ed è anche la ragione per cui ascolterò anche gli altri).
Perché io mi conosco, conosco i miei gusti e immaginavo benissimo che questo non fosse il libro per me. Non avevo torto.
E intendiamoci, non perché sia un brutto libro - ho letto molto di peggio. Solo che questo libro è semplicemente uscito dal "manuale dell'epic fantasy" senza aggiungere assolutamente nulla di nuovo. In un panorama fantasy che tenta sempre più (per ovvie ragioni) di discostarsi dai soliti stilemi e cercare di presentare delle novità, qui ci troviamo in qualcosa che per worldbuilding, personaggi, trama e scene è un insieme di stereotipi di qualsiasi altro epic fantasy già stato scritto annu fa.
E non che usare stilemi sia per forza qualcosa di brutto, solo che se presenti solo quelli senza aggiungerci nulla di personale il libro non avrà mai qualcosa di speciale.
Per dire, pure Terry Pratchett nei suoi libri presenta tipologie tipiche dei fantasy (maghi, elfi, nani, ecc) ma sfido chiunque a non sentire la voce particolare dell'autore nel modo in cui ciò è narrato o descritto. Qui non c'è niente di ciò.
Le Riyria Revelation avevano gli stessi difetti a livello di trama/worlbuilding, ma erano riuscite in qualche modo a spiccare per via dei protagonisti (in effetti, il vero punto di forza di Sullivan sono i dialoghi quando riesce ad azzeccare due personaggi), cosa che non è stato possibile ripetere in questo libro.
Ci sono stati un paio di momenti interessanti, lo ammetto, ma certo non sufficienti a tenere viva la mia attenzione, che alla fine finisce concentrata solo nel capire i collegamenti con gli altri libri piuttosto che a godermi questi (e sapendo già un certo spoiler, anche a rendermi conto dei plot hole).
A qualcuno piaceranno. Qualcuno li amerà. Non saranno mai dei pilastri della narrativa, né delle mie letture.
Perché io mi conosco, conosco i miei gusti e immaginavo benissimo che questo non fosse il libro per me. Non avevo torto.
E intendiamoci, non perché sia un brutto libro - ho letto molto di peggio. Solo che questo libro è semplicemente uscito dal "manuale dell'epic fantasy" senza aggiungere assolutamente nulla di nuovo. In un panorama fantasy che tenta sempre più (per ovvie ragioni) di discostarsi dai soliti stilemi e cercare di presentare delle novità, qui ci troviamo in qualcosa che per worldbuilding, personaggi, trama e scene è un insieme di stereotipi di qualsiasi altro epic fantasy già stato scritto annu fa.
E non che usare stilemi sia per forza qualcosa di brutto, solo che se presenti solo quelli senza aggiungerci nulla di personale il libro non avrà mai qualcosa di speciale.
Per dire, pure Terry Pratchett nei suoi libri presenta tipologie tipiche dei fantasy (maghi, elfi, nani, ecc) ma sfido chiunque a non sentire la voce particolare dell'autore nel modo in cui ciò è narrato o descritto. Qui non c'è niente di ciò.
Le Riyria Revelation avevano gli stessi difetti a livello di trama/worlbuilding, ma erano riuscite in qualche modo a spiccare per via dei protagonisti (in effetti, il vero punto di forza di Sullivan sono i dialoghi quando riesce ad azzeccare due personaggi), cosa che non è stato possibile ripetere in questo libro.
Ci sono stati un paio di momenti interessanti, lo ammetto, ma certo non sufficienti a tenere viva la mia attenzione, che alla fine finisce concentrata solo nel capire i collegamenti con gli altri libri piuttosto che a godermi questi (e sapendo già un certo spoiler, anche a rendermi conto dei plot hole).
A qualcuno piaceranno. Qualcuno li amerà. Non saranno mai dei pilastri della narrativa, né delle mie letture.
jojoteddy's review against another edition
Not for me, I'm not engaging with this one
tezzarudge's review against another edition
4.0
Firstly, it's so great to be back in a Sullivan built world. There are not many authors better at creating a world where you quickly become so fully enveloped, this book is no exception.
This is very much book 1 of a wider series. Where Sullivan writes the entire series before sectioning off as books, I have found the opening books of his series sometimes don't have the dynamic story, twists or turns as the later books. This unfortunately was also the case for this one.
That said, I think Sullivan is fantastic at writing characters and as someone who's main interest in a story is how I connect with the characters, this book delivered.
I really enjoyed the way the female characters were the focal point and of course, I adored the fact we have a wolf companion !!
Looking forward to the next one
This is very much book 1 of a wider series. Where Sullivan writes the entire series before sectioning off as books, I have found the opening books of his series sometimes don't have the dynamic story, twists or turns as the later books. This unfortunately was also the case for this one.
That said, I think Sullivan is fantastic at writing characters and as someone who's main interest in a story is how I connect with the characters, this book delivered.
I really enjoyed the way the female characters were the focal point and of course, I adored the fact we have a wolf companion !!
Looking forward to the next one
nightswim78's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
4.5
I don’t have much to say about this book but what a fun read and a great start to a series! Raithe’s inner dialogue had me laughing out loud, and I loved seeing the shifts in relationships as the book went on. I can’t wait to see where the series go!
I don’t have much to say about this book but what a fun read and a great start to a series! Raithe’s inner dialogue had me laughing out loud, and I loved seeing the shifts in relationships as the book went on. I can’t wait to see where the series go!
loganmaloney's review against another edition
5.0
4.7
I think this deserves 5 stars just for those looking at possibly reading this book because it’s amazing! But wasn’t one of my favorite books of all time which is why it goes to a 4.7 in my book!
This book was absolutely incredible! It sucked me in pretty quickly with a world that is pretty brilliant and simple to understand. It is very easy to fall in love with the main characters and hate the antagonists of this book. You see the characters develop well over time creating bonds that you would not expect to be possible in the cultural divisions that the author creates in this book. I also really love that the author tied the loose storylines that were necessary but left soooo much to be able to write about in the incoming series. I’m extremely interested to see how Persephone and her misfit band of peeps continue to fight in these next few books!
I think this deserves 5 stars just for those looking at possibly reading this book because it’s amazing! But wasn’t one of my favorite books of all time which is why it goes to a 4.7 in my book!
This book was absolutely incredible! It sucked me in pretty quickly with a world that is pretty brilliant and simple to understand. It is very easy to fall in love with the main characters and hate the antagonists of this book. You see the characters develop well over time creating bonds that you would not expect to be possible in the cultural divisions that the author creates in this book. I also really love that the author tied the loose storylines that were necessary but left soooo much to be able to write about in the incoming series. I’m extremely interested to see how Persephone and her misfit band of peeps continue to fight in these next few books!
mcmallow's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
sophiepmeeks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
4.0