thomas_hense's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
This wasn't as good as the first three in the series. I hit the wall around 75% of the way in and it was a bit of a slog to the end. My Kindle was showing 95% - "1 hour and 30 minutes left in book" when I finished a chapter expecting the next chapter to be the last chapter, but was surprised to discover the glossary on the next page.
In hindsight I can see how it could have been the last chapter. I think I was still in that slog frame of mind and didn't pick up on his things were being finalized. Sadly underwhelmed.
In hindsight I can see how it could have been the last chapter. I think I was still in that slog frame of mind and didn't pick up on his things were being finalized. Sadly underwhelmed.
siddharthageorge's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
riven010101's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
brinstarre's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
slow-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
duffypratt's review against another edition
2.0
Haven't reviewed the first three books, but I liked them pretty well. This one is the beginning of a third story arc in this long series, and for me, it pretty much seemed to be spinning its wheels. There's an awful lot of verbiage expended for not that much of a payout. There's something off-putting about Wurts' style. In short bursts, her writing can be quite beautiful. But for any extended length and the convoluted sentence constructions just start to wear on me. I particularly dislike how often she uses, improperly, the construction, If this, then... She almost always uses it where the "if" clause is not stating a condition or possibility, but rather describing something factual. Once in a while, this would be OK, but it begins to feel like the construction appears on every page, and sometimes more. And the other thing is that I typically would not notice things like that if I find a novel otherwise engaging. Here, I just do not.
Not sure whether I will continue with this series. Too bad, because the beginning had a lot of promise.
Not sure whether I will continue with this series. Too bad, because the beginning had a lot of promise.
mousie_books's review against another edition
3.0
Lysaer hunts while Arithon runs/hides.
Due to arrogance/denial/pride and the strengthening curse, the war escalates. Lysaer is turning his cause into a holy war to stop not just Arithon, but all magecraft in Athera. He is also starting to claim origins of divinity. Threatened by prophecy, the Koriani join the fray on the side of the Light, with the Prime Matriarch involved in a high stakes plot to ensnare Arithon.
Lysaer finally goes off the deep end in this one. His need to kill his brother at any cost is warping him. At the beginning of the series, he blames only Arithon's devious personality for tricking good people to his aid. This develops into a grudge against the clan that gives their allegiance to Arithon, and shortly thereafter, all clans. Then any individual who aids his brother, and now, all those who practice magic, including/especially Ath's Brotherhood and the Fellowship (and a stiff warning to the Koriani). Along with the ever widening target, the severity of his methods/sense of justice increase. It's hard to feel pity for his circumstance anymore, and blame the curse for it.
I love the plot. I'm a little obsessed with it. It's very well thought out and intricate, and it has a clear development/plan as the series progresses. I am a little surprised that the Koriani are not more threatened by Lysaer, but I think it is arrogance on their part. The Fellowship still annoys me simply because I don't understand the limits of their power/willingness to use their power. I have a better feel for it than before I started the book, but it's still unclear to me. I liked Ships of Merior and Warhost of Vastmark better mostly because the individually personality of the characters did not shine as much (except Caolle) in this book, and I like character driven books more. I'm still looking forward to the next book, and the rest of the series. However, I think I may want to read a less dense book next as a 'break'.
Due to arrogance/denial/pride and the strengthening curse, the war escalates. Lysaer is turning his cause into a holy war to stop not just Arithon, but all magecraft in Athera. He is also starting to claim origins of divinity. Threatened by prophecy, the Koriani join the fray on the side of the Light, with the Prime Matriarch involved in a high stakes plot to ensnare Arithon.
Lysaer finally goes off the deep end in this one. His need to kill his brother at any cost is warping him. At the beginning of the series, he blames only Arithon's devious personality for tricking good people to his aid. This develops into a grudge against the clan that gives their allegiance to Arithon, and shortly thereafter, all clans. Then any individual who aids his brother, and now, all those who practice magic, including/especially Ath's Brotherhood and the Fellowship (and a stiff warning to the Koriani). Along with the ever widening target, the severity of his methods/sense of justice increase. It's hard to feel pity for his circumstance anymore, and blame the curse for it.
I love the plot. I'm a little obsessed with it. It's very well thought out and intricate, and it has a clear development/plan as the series progresses. I am a little surprised that the Koriani are not more threatened by Lysaer, but I think it is arrogance on their part. The Fellowship still annoys me simply because I don't understand the limits of their power/willingness to use their power. I have a better feel for it than before I started the book, but it's still unclear to me. I liked Ships of Merior and Warhost of Vastmark better mostly because the individually personality of the characters did not shine as much (except Caolle) in this book, and I like character driven books more. I'm still looking forward to the next book, and the rest of the series. However, I think I may want to read a less dense book next as a 'break'.
majkia's review against another edition
5.0
The War of Light and Shadow Book 4.
Epic fantasy with a wide cast of characters in a sprawling landscape filled with pitfalls and betrayals and hopeless plights. Two half-brothers, both poisoned by their encounter with the Mistwraith, their gifts twisted and turned to destruction of everything they care about. Arithon, trained as a mage, at least knows what’s happening and has training enough to fight against it. Lysaer has no such protection and is totally under the Mistwraith’s spell.
By book 4, the spell has nearly consumed Lysaer. His natural sense of justice is so twisted he no longer seems himself, and is consumed with destroying Arithon.
Arithon is so harried and pursued across the world, he has no safe haven. All his allies are in deadly danger and under constant pressure from Lysaer armies of nearly fanatical believers. Only his natural bent toward brilliant tactics and subtle planning have given him any hope at all of surviving and of keeping his allies alive. He hopes to find a refuge for his people, where he can protect them from the Alliance of Light.
Intense emotions, depths of character, twisty plots and seemingly hopeless odds. All combine to make this book, as were the rest, compelling.
Epic fantasy with a wide cast of characters in a sprawling landscape filled with pitfalls and betrayals and hopeless plights. Two half-brothers, both poisoned by their encounter with the Mistwraith, their gifts twisted and turned to destruction of everything they care about. Arithon, trained as a mage, at least knows what’s happening and has training enough to fight against it. Lysaer has no such protection and is totally under the Mistwraith’s spell.
By book 4, the spell has nearly consumed Lysaer. His natural sense of justice is so twisted he no longer seems himself, and is consumed with destroying Arithon.
Arithon is so harried and pursued across the world, he has no safe haven. All his allies are in deadly danger and under constant pressure from Lysaer armies of nearly fanatical believers. Only his natural bent toward brilliant tactics and subtle planning have given him any hope at all of surviving and of keeping his allies alive. He hopes to find a refuge for his people, where he can protect them from the Alliance of Light.
Intense emotions, depths of character, twisty plots and seemingly hopeless odds. All combine to make this book, as were the rest, compelling.
vinjii's review
4.0
Since this is the fourth book in the Wars of Light and Shadow, I would rather not speak about the plot. I don't want to accidentally spoil someone who has just started the series.
This is a remarkable instalment. It also begins a new arc in this epic series. The conflict widens and the tension is almost unbearable by now. The twists, turns, and intrigues are still surprising. The plot remains compelling. The characters are wonderfully developed, growing more in each book.
The prose is beautiful and the work Janny Wurts has put into this series shows in every sentence.
Anyone who loves epic high fantasy, should definitely try [b:The Curse of the Mistwraith|28660|The Curse of the Mistwraith (Wars of Light and Shadow, #1)|Janny Wurts|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1328835513s/28660.jpg|1945432].
What makes this read even better for me is the incredible group on Goodreads that is currently buddy reading it, and the fact Janny Wurts is answering all our questions in an ongoing Q&A.
This is a remarkable instalment. It also begins a new arc in this epic series. The conflict widens and the tension is almost unbearable by now. The twists, turns, and intrigues are still surprising. The plot remains compelling. The characters are wonderfully developed, growing more in each book.
The prose is beautiful and the work Janny Wurts has put into this series shows in every sentence.
Anyone who loves epic high fantasy, should definitely try [b:The Curse of the Mistwraith|28660|The Curse of the Mistwraith (Wars of Light and Shadow, #1)|Janny Wurts|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1328835513s/28660.jpg|1945432].
What makes this read even better for me is the incredible group on Goodreads that is currently buddy reading it, and the fact Janny Wurts is answering all our questions in an ongoing Q&A.
seak's review against another edition
5.0
Just when I thought it couldn't get any more gut-punching, Fugitive Prince comes along and destroys me. And that's a good thing.
Things are bad coming into Fugitive Prince. The things Prince Arithon has had to do in his attempts to reduce the amount of lives lost are soul-searing. And yet his brother, the mistwraith-controlled Prince Lysaer continues to hound him. And now, Lysaer makes things thousands of times worse. He's threatened to turn those who support Arithon, the clans, into slaves. And he follows through. The ultimate betrayal of humanity ... and the paravians. But I don't want to spoil too much.
With Arithon's "gift" (if you can call it that at this time) of compassion, he is wracked with guilt over his actions from Warhost of Vastmark - all necessary and considered to save the most amount of people, Arithon is in bad shape and yet he only gets worse throughout the course of this book.
The Mad Prophet's layers are pealed back in this book. We see new depths of compassion, hard work, and ethics coming from the drunken louse. I miss his usual hilarity he brings to the story, but his depth of character that Wurts brings out is astounding.
I can't say enough high praise for this series. The unmitigated devotion to detail and the power of each character, down to the lowly, devoted pack horse is astounding. This series is coming to a close very soon and if you have't already jumped in, it's high time!
5 out of 5 Stars (get ready to cry)
Things are bad coming into Fugitive Prince. The things Prince Arithon has had to do in his attempts to reduce the amount of lives lost are soul-searing. And yet his brother, the mistwraith-controlled Prince Lysaer continues to hound him. And now, Lysaer makes things thousands of times worse. He's threatened to turn those who support Arithon, the clans, into slaves. And he follows through. The ultimate betrayal of humanity ... and the paravians. But I don't want to spoil too much.
With Arithon's "gift" (if you can call it that at this time) of compassion, he is wracked with guilt over his actions from Warhost of Vastmark - all necessary and considered to save the most amount of people, Arithon is in bad shape and yet he only gets worse throughout the course of this book.
The Mad Prophet's layers are pealed back in this book. We see new depths of compassion, hard work, and ethics coming from the drunken louse. I miss his usual hilarity he brings to the story, but his depth of character that Wurts brings out is astounding.
I can't say enough high praise for this series. The unmitigated devotion to detail and the power of each character, down to the lowly, devoted pack horse is astounding. This series is coming to a close very soon and if you have't already jumped in, it's high time!
5 out of 5 Stars (get ready to cry)
vaderbird's review against another edition
3.0
5 star - Perfect
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish