morticia_59's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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? Yes
4.0
rxh05d's review against another edition
5.0
How Carey weaves her mythology with “real” mythology is nothing short of genius.
eak1013's review against another edition
4.0
A little deus-ex-the-plot-goes-this-way-now!, but should I have really expected anything different from a series of books with a god's name in the title?
This was the book where I finally saw the transition from the little-bit-shallow-little-bit-irritatingly-self-centered Phedre to the touched! by! the! gods! Phedre really come out. I like Phedre #2 better than Phedre #1, but she does walk the line awfully close to too-precious-for-this-world from time to time.
Points to Carey for not just telling us (repeatedly) that Darsanga was creepy and evil but also showing it. Also points for making really long trips feel really long - though not in a bad way. Simply in a way of conveying how far apart these places are and how freaking long it takes to get there.
Points again for actually making me care about Phedre and Joscelin. Again, it's the lighter-hearted moments that really flesh out the characters. Plus, who doesn't love a giant fish?
This was the book where I finally saw the transition from the little-bit-shallow-little-bit-irritatingly-self-centered Phedre to the touched! by! the! gods! Phedre really come out. I like Phedre #2 better than Phedre #1, but she does walk the line awfully close to too-precious-for-this-world from time to time.
Points to Carey for not just telling us (repeatedly) that Darsanga was creepy and evil but also showing it. Also points for making really long trips feel really long - though not in a bad way. Simply in a way of conveying how far apart these places are and how freaking long it takes to get there.
Points again for actually making me care about Phedre and Joscelin. Again, it's the lighter-hearted moments that really flesh out the characters. Plus, who doesn't love a giant fish?
quiraang's review against another edition
2.0
Much like the previous two books in the trilogy, intermittent political intrigue, violence, and sex, but no pirates this time. Fairly obvious story line - I saw the end coming and I had to take a break half way through, but managed to finish it.
luosymekawa's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
diannamorganti's review against another edition
5.0
This was the best book in the trilogy, and one of the most engrossing series I've ever read. This is in the top five books of all time for me. When I started book one on audio, I definitely glazed over some of the politics. I thought I'd hate it, but actually, once I committed myself to learning the ins and outs of the politics in the book I found it very rewarding. The plot is really complex, but what's really compelling are the simple relationships among the complex world. Her simple and platonic but true friendship with Hyacinthe, the unerring draw she has towards Melisande despite the complications, and her willingness to go into the fire rather than walk away. I can't wait to read the Imriel trilogy that follows, but I will wait a while.
nogenreleftbehind's review against another edition
5.0
Ten years have passed for Phedre and Joscelin. Years of peace and happiness uninterrupted by intrigue. The only damper is the knowledge that her best friend, Hyacinthe, is stuck as master of the straights, fulfilling an age old curse. But one again the gods have a higher purpose for them, a message seen in dreams and in the form of a plea for help from the traitor, Melisande. her son, hidden away for the past ten years, has been kidnapped. Thus begins the most imporatant journey of Phedre's life. A journey to not only save an innocent boy, but finally a way to free Hyacinthe and thwart an evil that no one realizes even exists.
A fantastic conclusion to the trilogy. Phedre takes Joscelin to hell and beyond and pushed both of their vows, to each other and to their gods, to the test. As they decend into near madness they realize how great sacrifice can lead to such amazing rewards. The journey takes to places few have heard of and brings them back home full of rewards, but scarred for life.
This is my favorite book of the series by far. I keep wanting to say more about the story, but I don't want to give too much away for those that haven't read the first two yet. What I can say is that if you haven't read these yet, you must! There is a follow up series that I have all but the first one for, and I know that it has moved up to the top of my wish list for books to buy.
5/5
A fantastic conclusion to the trilogy. Phedre takes Joscelin to hell and beyond and pushed both of their vows, to each other and to their gods, to the test. As they decend into near madness they realize how great sacrifice can lead to such amazing rewards. The journey takes to places few have heard of and brings them back home full of rewards, but scarred for life.
This is my favorite book of the series by far. I keep wanting to say more about the story, but I don't want to give too much away for those that haven't read the first two yet. What I can say is that if you haven't read these yet, you must! There is a follow up series that I have all but the first one for, and I know that it has moved up to the top of my wish list for books to buy.
5/5
delaneybull's review against another edition
5.0
This was such a great ending. The plot was expansive as always, and I loved seeing all the new places Phedre traveled to (with one notable exception). I'm glad Melisande played a smaller role in this book, since she weighed down the plot of the last two quite a bit, and this one was able to keep a good pace throughout I think because it was more action and less intrigue. Sad to see this series go!
miles862's review
dark
slow-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
2.5
I found this one to be quite a slog. I wasn't pulled into the story. I felt like I was reading the second book again - with new antagonists and some more problematic cultural elements. Events that were clearly meant to be tense and charged fell flat for me.