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tcbailey32's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Gore, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Rape and Slavery
Minor: Grief and Fire/Fire injury
dani_reis's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Gore, Violence, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, and War
Minor: Rape
Rapexta_07's review against another edition
- 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? No
4.75
While both the beginning and the end of the book were very exciting and fun to read, I had trouble maintaining my momentum through the middle. What truly carried me through were the characters. They shine in this story; they all feel incredibly real. I really particularly enjoyed
John Gwynne has a knack for taking a tangled spider web of a plot and weaving it all together in a beautiful tear stained tapestry. I am both exited and scared to pick up book 3!
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, and War
Moderate: Confinement, Rape, and Torture
josiah17's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
The plot for this series is just so digestible and captivating, even in its simplicity. It's very much a "God vs Satan" or a "Good vs Evil" conflict, but it still feels fresh and unique in it's own ways.
The character work is also an improvement in this book over Malice as this book builds on the groundwork that was laid in the previous one. Gwynne is masterful at making you feel attached to his characters.
This book also explores a really interesting portion of the world, and it gives some insight into the differences between giant clans and humans.
I'm really a huge fan of Gwynne's writing. I love it. And as I said after Malice, this series is certainly on it's way to becoming an all-time favorite.
Edit 9/8/23: 4.5 stars now. Still fantastic, but not quite 5 stars like I initially thought.
Graphic: Gore and Violence
Minor: Rape and Sexual assault
russelmcq's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
A violent, emotional upheaval that grabs you and shakes you.
As a newer fantasy reader and having gone from Tolkien to this, I can appreciate both sides immensely.
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Gore, Rape, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
bebby92's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Death, Gore, Blood, Death of parent, and War
dryhop's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Likewise, I find Gwynne's handling of description much more to my liking. Jordan can paint a scene but after pages of livery and architecture, I get it. I've probably already forgotten most of it. Gwynne sets his scene quickly and leaves it to the reader to fill in. There's a feast hall, a fire, benches, and warriors. Now let's talk plot and characters. Brilliant. Let's move right into the meat of it.
Additionally, Gwynne handles time skips well. There's a siege, it's been a couple weeks. How does Gwynne describe that? Chapter break and a couple moons later. Perfect. Need to walk somewhere. Good work everyone, you did it. I feel with Jordan that we would have a chapter for each day of the siege, each pang of hunger dragged on interminably between descriptions of the now ill-fitting silk whatever that everyone is wearing. Again, it sets a scene, but is it ultimately necessary? Gwynne keeps the action going and the important parts front and center. It's fast paced, especially for an epic fantasy, but I'm all in.
I don't mean to say that Jordan or the Wheel of Time is bad. I don't think that. But it creates a great counter to The Faithful and The Fallen. They both do things well and in their own way. I enjoy the Wheel of Time or else I wouldn't be doing a reread. But I must say I have a great deal of respect for how Gwynne moves his story along. The characters are engaging, the story interesting, and you're basically never dropped into a chapter that's there to explain something to you. Keep up; there's a war happening and it waits on no one. Coming from Wheel of Time where I may glaze over the stitching on the sleeves of noble Whoever's sleeves, I have to stay riveted to the page here because things are happening. It's a very engaging reading experience. All in all, this book was great and I highly recommend it. (Lots of gore and violence for those that aren't into that by way of content warning).
Graphic: Gore and Violence
ripxreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Gore, Slavery, Torture, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual violence
kat1105's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism, Child abuse, Trafficking, and Abandonment
Minor: Rape, Sexual content, and Sexual violence
ocean_the_reader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Theres just so much I've forgotten. I'm having a great time rereading and rediscovering
The friendships in this book are immaculate and I wish friendships like this were in more books.
I'm really hoping Veradis either changes sides or helps Nathair realize what's going on. And I knew I was right to not trust the Vin Thalun.
The last 200 pages was such a rollercoaster and the ending made me sob.
Graphic: Gore, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and War
Minor: Rape and Sexual assault