zimbozebra's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
readgreed's review
5.0
The initial setup for this book reminded me of how the young pharaohs of Egypt must have had to survive vicious politics and Mara is yanked away to become rule after her male family members are killed.
Desperate situations calls for desperate measures and Mara roping in outcast soldiers is an unconventional step that made me cheer her on! What more when she won the favors of the cho-ja, risking everything and somehow coming out triumphant.
After such gritty gains, for Mara only to be married off to forge an alliance felt tasteless - especially how what was initially a clever move turned out to backfire on a personal level. Just when the prospects looked especially bleak for Mara, an unexpected twist occurs.
Desperate situations calls for desperate measures and Mara roping in outcast soldiers is an unconventional step that made me cheer her on! What more when she won the favors of the cho-ja, risking everything and somehow coming out triumphant.
After such gritty gains, for Mara only to be married off to forge an alliance felt tasteless - especially how what was initially a clever move turned out to backfire on a personal level. Just when the prospects looked especially bleak for Mara, an unexpected twist occurs.
ritsinwonderland's review against another edition
4.0
Era uma vez uma rapariga que estava prestes a entregar a sua alma ao Templo de Lashima e devotar a sua vida aos Deuses.
Uma rapariga que, de um momento para o outro, perde a sua família e tem que vestir o manto da liderança da Casa dos Acoma. Rapidamente se transforma numa mulher destemida num reino onde só os homens ascendiam a postos elevados.
Transforma-se em alguém que enfrenta corajosamente uma ameaça no seu lar que põe em risco a sua liderança dos Acoma.
Alguém que descobre o que é o amor ao mesmo tempo que aprende como a vida pode ser diferente se encarada com outro olhar.
Revolução de costumes e tradições de uma cultura retrógrada são a base da existência desta mulher que cria perspetivas mais justas e agradáveis, tanto para os que nascem em berço de ouro como para os que nascem em berço de estanho.
Mulher esta que é mestre nas tramas políticas do Império e nos tirânicos Jogos do Conselho.
Mulher esta que vive com o coração quebrado e parte à descoberta de cura e sabedoria.
É admirada e reconhecida pelo Império como alguém merecedora de uma ovação, a pé, durante minutos, dias, eternidades.
Esta mulher é Mara dos Acoma, Filha, Serva e Senhora do Império.
Recomendo toda a trilogia vivamente. Adorei!
Uma rapariga que, de um momento para o outro, perde a sua família e tem que vestir o manto da liderança da Casa dos Acoma. Rapidamente se transforma numa mulher destemida num reino onde só os homens ascendiam a postos elevados.
Transforma-se em alguém que enfrenta corajosamente uma ameaça no seu lar que põe em risco a sua liderança dos Acoma.
Alguém que descobre o que é o amor ao mesmo tempo que aprende como a vida pode ser diferente se encarada com outro olhar.
Revolução de costumes e tradições de uma cultura retrógrada são a base da existência desta mulher que cria perspetivas mais justas e agradáveis, tanto para os que nascem em berço de ouro como para os que nascem em berço de estanho.
Mulher esta que é mestre nas tramas políticas do Império e nos tirânicos Jogos do Conselho.
Mulher esta que vive com o coração quebrado e parte à descoberta de cura e sabedoria.
É admirada e reconhecida pelo Império como alguém merecedora de uma ovação, a pé, durante minutos, dias, eternidades.
Esta mulher é Mara dos Acoma, Filha, Serva e Senhora do Império.
Recomendo toda a trilogia vivamente. Adorei!
klettie's review
2.0
A lot of people loved this book, but it felt dated to me in some seriously problematic ways. I had a hard time enjoying this because of the notions of honor (arbitrary, masculine), the casual disregard for slaves as property, and the casual brutality of this story. I finished it, but I'm not thinking I'll continue. It wasn't terrible, just... not something I feel like completing.
lizbusby's review
3.0
The story was good, but the telling was so backward. The authors only gave us the information we needed to understand the situation after it happened, rather than cleverly seeding it before. And I really hated that they wouldn't tell us any of Mara's plots beforehand. How can we worry about what will go wrong if we don't know the plan before hand? Too many authors rely on this strategy and it is starting to iritate me. And the final plot is totally deus ex machina. I mean really.
wyrmbergmalcolm's review against another edition
5.0
As much as I enjoyed the original trilogy, I was hesitant to start the next trilogy. It follows a female character, and the female characters so far, have been a bit one-dimensional I must say, I'm glad I did, this was a very enjoyable and satisfying book to read. The quality of the writing, and the characterisation of the main character was a vast improvement on the previous trilogy.
I can see how some could dismiss the story as a formulaic one-upmanship, but this made for a real feel-good experience. Her enemies weren't just bad guys, but characters with motives, ambitions and fears who simply got caught in her cross-hairs.
Considering the length of the book, I whizzed through it.
I can see how some could dismiss the story as a formulaic one-upmanship, but this made for a real feel-good experience. Her enemies weren't just bad guys, but characters with motives, ambitions and fears who simply got caught in her cross-hairs.
Considering the length of the book, I whizzed through it.
tender_took's review
5.0
I love this book. I read all of Feist's books last yeah and am re-reading them this year as well. The 'Empire' series are definitely my favourite, showing us more of the subtleties of the Tsurani world and politics than Magician did. I look forward to re-reading the rest of the trilogy.
kieralesley's review against another edition
4.0
Decided to pick this series back up after remembering I hadn't minded it the first time I read it a few years ago and I'm determined to finish one Feist series in my life. It was better than I remembered!
This is a neat political fantasy with a, frankly, ruthless female protagonist. The narrative is presented more as a series of linked events than is normally apparent in a novel, but I didn't mind the format.
I really enjoyed reading as the rules of the world were set up and Mara found smart ways to exploit them, though, at times I wanted her to lose once or twice. The darker results of her decisions were increasingly shown as the stakes got higher across the novel, but she seemed infallible. I wouldn't mind her failing a few times next book so I don't automatically assume she's going to be fine as I did in this one. It undermined the threat of the stakes a bit for me.
The writing was a bit dry and in places repetitive (if I hear about wine and fresh fruit being brought one more time...!) but the audiobook narration was wonderful and really helped move the narrative forward and gloss over some of the heavier descriptive or info-dumpy passages.
Overall the world and the intrigue were fascinating, and Mara is compelling as a protagonist - she is cold and ambitious and I quite liked that she wasn't particularly likable as a person, it helped balance her out. I'm looking forward to the next one - I'm expecting a polite and bloody ascension all the way up Tsurani society.
This is a neat political fantasy with a, frankly, ruthless female protagonist. The narrative is presented more as a series of linked events than is normally apparent in a novel, but I didn't mind the format.
I really enjoyed reading as the rules of the world were set up and Mara found smart ways to exploit them, though, at times I wanted her to lose once or twice. The darker results of her decisions were increasingly shown as the stakes got higher across the novel, but she seemed infallible. I wouldn't mind her failing a few times next book so I don't automatically assume she's going to be fine as I did in this one. It undermined the threat of the stakes a bit for me.
The writing was a bit dry and in places repetitive (if I hear about wine and fresh fruit being brought one more time...!) but the audiobook narration was wonderful and really helped move the narrative forward and gloss over some of the heavier descriptive or info-dumpy passages.
Overall the world and the intrigue were fascinating, and Mara is compelling as a protagonist - she is cold and ambitious and I quite liked that she wasn't particularly likable as a person, it helped balance her out. I'm looking forward to the next one - I'm expecting a polite and bloody ascension all the way up Tsurani society.