janeywaneyb's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
mysterious
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? It's complicated
5.0
diesmali's review against another edition
3.0
More balanced than previous books, but the never ending turn of allegiances and trust lost and re-found is tiresome.
katmarhan's review against another edition
3.0
While very few of the characters are completely likable, they have become more complex in the 3rd book of The View from the Mirror quartet. And while there continue to be seemingly interminable journeys, they are shorter than in previous books. There is definitely more action.
One thing that bothers me, however, is the way some of the key characters revert back to being one or two dimensional after struggling to develop some skills or abilities or strengthen some traits. Llian becomes the proud, self-centered, story-hungry chronicler, Maigrith becomes a dependent, duty-bound tool, Shand suddenly turns blindly bigoted. It may not last, thank goodness, but it doesn't seem to take much to undo the changes the characters have achieved through hard work and effort enduring some amazing challenges and hardships.
Tallia, Lilis, Nadiril and Pender are my favorite characters. They have the least subterfuge about them and are a clear contrast to the complicated hopes, fears, vanities, and insecurities of the main characters.
One thing that bothers me, however, is the way some of the key characters revert back to being one or two dimensional after struggling to develop some skills or abilities or strengthen some traits. Llian becomes the proud, self-centered, story-hungry chronicler, Maigrith becomes a dependent, duty-bound tool, Shand suddenly turns blindly bigoted. It may not last, thank goodness, but it doesn't seem to take much to undo the changes the characters have achieved through hard work and effort enduring some amazing challenges and hardships.
Tallia, Lilis, Nadiril and Pender are my favorite characters. They have the least subterfuge about them and are a clear contrast to the complicated hopes, fears, vanities, and insecurities of the main characters.
ried's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
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