opheliablack's review against another edition
5.0
Please note; my star rating on any book is completely subjective and limited to the label for each star.
1 Star I didn’t like it
2 Stars It was okay
3 Stars I liked it
4 Stars I really liked it
5 Stars It was amazing!
If I do actually have something to say about a book other than what my enjoyment factor was, I will write a review and share my thoughts. If I say I didn’t like a book but there wasn’t anything about it that I thought needed to be shared, then that’s it, I just didn’t like it.
If you’d like to start a discussion about a book or you’d like an actual review, ask any question you like and I’ll be happy to try and comply/respond.
Additional note; I do not feed the trolls. If you don’t have something constructive to say, or if you can’t say it in a respectful way, you won’t get a response from me. Ever.
1 Star I didn’t like it
2 Stars It was okay
3 Stars I liked it
4 Stars I really liked it
5 Stars It was amazing!
If I do actually have something to say about a book other than what my enjoyment factor was, I will write a review and share my thoughts. If I say I didn’t like a book but there wasn’t anything about it that I thought needed to be shared, then that’s it, I just didn’t like it.
If you’d like to start a discussion about a book or you’d like an actual review, ask any question you like and I’ll be happy to try and comply/respond.
Additional note; I do not feed the trolls. If you don’t have something constructive to say, or if you can’t say it in a respectful way, you won’t get a response from me. Ever.
astopotro's review against another edition
4.0
I liked more this book than its precedent, the worldbuilding is massive and intriguing. I found the multiple POVs confusing, also, there are some events that look like they came out of nowhere.
Finally, the ending tore my heart apart, it's so tragic and depressive. I need a break before continuing, I would like to see what happens to the Empire...
Finally, the ending tore my heart apart, it's so tragic and depressive. I need a break before continuing, I would like to see what happens to the Empire...
frogbone's review
challenging
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
this book is great, particularly the Chain of Dogs plotline, but i think Steven Erikson's mission statement "... [to] create a culture without gender bias so there would be no gender-based hierarchies of power... a world without sexism" is a bit risible in light of the Felisin plotline. you can't say that and then write a 15-year old girl to be on the receiving end of more sexual abuse than anything George R. R. Martin's written. that's just not how that works.
i have written a two line play to describe my feelings on this matter
Felisin: i saved your life
Heboric: damn. you are a straight up motherfuckin dick pig
i have written a two line play to describe my feelings on this matter
Spoiler
[IN A WORLD WITHOUT GENDER-BASED HIERARCHIES OF POWER]Felisin: i saved your life
Heboric: damn. you are a straight up motherfuckin dick pig
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Child abuse
Moderate: Body horror
matt4hire's review against another edition
5.0
Oh. My. Gosh.
I finished Gardens of the Moon, and it was...pretty good? Erikson's an obtuse writer, but I thoroughly enjoyed the world he was creating, and the plot he was setting up was really interesting. But it took me so long to get to Deadhouse Gates, because...I didn't care about any of the characters, and it was mostly interesting intellectually, and that was it.
And then I read this one, and I fell in love with so many characters (personal favorites: Duiker, Coltaine, Bult, Mappo, & Icarium). All of the humanity and warmth and humor and tragedy that was missing from Gardens of the Moon happened here. The last drive of the Chain of Dogs to Aren and its aftermath was one of the most moving scenes I've ever read in a fantasy book. So absolutely excellent.
I finished Gardens of the Moon, and it was...pretty good? Erikson's an obtuse writer, but I thoroughly enjoyed the world he was creating, and the plot he was setting up was really interesting. But it took me so long to get to Deadhouse Gates, because...I didn't care about any of the characters, and it was mostly interesting intellectually, and that was it.
And then I read this one, and I fell in love with so many characters (personal favorites: Duiker, Coltaine, Bult, Mappo, & Icarium). All of the humanity and warmth and humor and tragedy that was missing from Gardens of the Moon happened here. The last drive of the Chain of Dogs to Aren and its aftermath was one of the most moving scenes I've ever read in a fantasy book. So absolutely excellent.
nige_lu_cas's review against another edition
5.0
I did not expect this book to end in such a hopeful way. Everything up to that point was pretty f*cking depressing!
kazmx's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
rf1736's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
court00ship's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-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
4.5
kaytee's review against another edition
slow-paced
3.0
Decent story but soooooooo long and dense. Also endless explanations of battle scenes.
gyttja's review against another edition
5.0
Aldrig har jag läst om en värld som känns så stor och med så mycket historia. Detta tillsammans med riktigt intressanta karaktärer som känns väldigt levande gör detta till en av de bästa böcker jag läst. Riktigt bra epic fantasy!