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rickwren's review against another edition
5.0
And he did it again. Another winner. I have to say that usually I'm fed up with a series by now.
And he went to the beginning - again. This time he interwove the back-story of another of our villains, Inervera, into the narrative rather than taking up the first half of the book. Her story is great and just as engaging as that of Arlen or Leesha or Rojer. She rose from the depths of despair and learned her craft and is using it for her version of good. It just happens to be a good that pits her against Arlen and Leesha.
It's true that this book doesn't advance the plot. And that's annoying. I'd give it 4.5 stars if I could, but with rounding - what the hell.
The book is driving the characters toward a confrontation. It's a love triangle with deadly results for the world.
There is a problem though, Mr. Peter Brett. A 4th book is expected and you're being rather slow in the delivery.
And he went to the beginning - again. This time he interwove the back-story of another of our villains, Inervera, into the narrative rather than taking up the first half of the book. Her story is great and just as engaging as that of Arlen or Leesha or Rojer. She rose from the depths of despair and learned her craft and is using it for her version of good. It just happens to be a good that pits her against Arlen and Leesha.
It's true that this book doesn't advance the plot. And that's annoying. I'd give it 4.5 stars if I could, but with rounding - what the hell.
The book is driving the characters toward a confrontation. It's a love triangle with deadly results for the world.
There is a problem though, Mr. Peter Brett. A 4th book is expected and you're being rather slow in the delivery.
jeffrey_diedrichsen's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-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
4.5
blurringpages's review against another edition
3.0
I didn't enjoy this one as much as the first two. I definitely wanted more from Inevera's POV.
andrewrawr's review against another edition
2.0
What I liked:
First and foremost, PVB's world building is on point. A large portion of why I read fantasy and science fiction is to explore the interesting universes people create. PVB has handed me a cool world to explore, and I'm loving every minute of exploration we get to do.
Tied in with that a bit, due to the nature of the world, is his excellent handling of action sequences. Fight scenes in books sometimes get weighed down in too much very specific description (which often belies the author's lack of understanding of anything to do with real combat), or are vague and too hard to follow, or just don't illustrate very well the actual power or emotions of the people fighting. PVB does not fall into any of those traps. His fight scenes show just the right amount of thought from the perspective character, describe the flow of the action rather than overwhelming details, and incorporate the magic of the world believably.
He also does a good job showing many of his villains as real human beings.
Other observations:
This novel ratchets up the Hollow's interpersonal drama parts of the series. It maintains some of the intrigue and world-building plotlines, but the Hollow's drama felt like it was at the forefront to me far more than it was before.
Summary:
Intrigue and good worldbuilding are what keep me going with a whole lot of books, and this is no exception. We have a whole lot of plots being set up in this book, with a lot of payoff in the next.
First and foremost, PVB's world building is on point. A large portion of why I read fantasy and science fiction is to explore the interesting universes people create. PVB has handed me a cool world to explore, and I'm loving every minute of exploration we get to do.
Tied in with that a bit, due to the nature of the world, is his excellent handling of action sequences. Fight scenes in books sometimes get weighed down in too much very specific description (which often belies the author's lack of understanding of anything to do with real combat), or are vague and too hard to follow, or just don't illustrate very well the actual power or emotions of the people fighting. PVB does not fall into any of those traps. His fight scenes show just the right amount of thought from the perspective character, describe the flow of the action rather than overwhelming details, and incorporate the magic of the world believably.
He also does a good job showing many of his villains as real human beings.
Other observations:
This novel ratchets up the Hollow's interpersonal drama parts of the series. It maintains some of the intrigue and world-building plotlines, but the Hollow's drama felt like it was at the forefront to me far more than it was before.
Summary:
Intrigue and good worldbuilding are what keep me going with a whole lot of books, and this is no exception. We have a whole lot of plots being set up in this book, with a lot of payoff in the next.
shdnx's review against another edition
4.0
Minus one star for the cliffhanger ending. Otherwise, a great book. I loved the Inevera PoVs, and her backstory was a nice touch as well.
topdragon's review against another edition
4.0
I found this to be a very different book as compared to the first two books in the series. That is not to speak negatively in any way but rather to marvel at just how well an author can weave magic into a five-book series, keeping the characters moving forward and evolving, provide extensive backstory, and still serve the greater plot structure.
To be as simplistic as possible, the first book, [b:The Warded Man|3428935|The Warded Man (Demon Cycle, #1)|Peter V. Brett|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1354571949s/3428935.jpg|6589794], was mostly about Arlen Bales and his evolution towards becoming the hero that would begin to lead the cowering human settlements in the North towards becoming an offensive threat to the demons that threaten their very existence each night. The second book, [b:The Desert Spear|6736971|The Desert Spear (Demon Cycle, #2)|Peter V. Brett|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1388219761s/6736971.jpg|6527274], was essentially about creating an alternative “Deliverer” in the form of Ahmann Jardir, an equally impressive man from the desert culture of the south who rises to lead his warrior society in the same purpose as Arlen, with the added goal of conquering all the rest of humanity. This third book switches gears and focuses (mostly) on a single month in both cultures and how they prepare for the coming new moon when the demon’s power and threat is at its greatest.
We also get treated to the origin story of Jardir’s wife Inevera, a primary character in book two but who had remained somewhat of a mysterious bitchy character. She had mastered the art of reading the future by creating and throwing a set of dice. [Side note: having a main character throw sets of dice ala D&D and read the future certainly appeals to my own geeky life, I admit]. But now with her origin story told in a series of flashback chapters, we see a whole new side of her. Indeed, Peter Brett is adept at creating characters that you loath and then providing a backstory that makes you not only understand their motivations but also begin to sympathize with.
As the middle book of a projected 5-book series, I was just fine with the nature of the novel. Not everybody is and some have called it a “filler” book but I completely disagree. Yes, the ending is a total cliffhanger but I was OK with that as well because for me, I saw it as a metaphor for the entire novel. My only issue with the novel, and what knocked it down one star for me was the pacing. Much of it is a bit slow and very detailed. I confess to growing a little inpatient and I think it ran on too long. But I have a feeling that much of the events in this book (not just the ending) will have major consequences for the final two volumes.
I very much look forward to seeing what comes next.
To be as simplistic as possible, the first book, [b:The Warded Man|3428935|The Warded Man (Demon Cycle, #1)|Peter V. Brett|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1354571949s/3428935.jpg|6589794], was mostly about Arlen Bales and his evolution towards becoming the hero that would begin to lead the cowering human settlements in the North towards becoming an offensive threat to the demons that threaten their very existence each night. The second book, [b:The Desert Spear|6736971|The Desert Spear (Demon Cycle, #2)|Peter V. Brett|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1388219761s/6736971.jpg|6527274], was essentially about creating an alternative “Deliverer” in the form of Ahmann Jardir, an equally impressive man from the desert culture of the south who rises to lead his warrior society in the same purpose as Arlen, with the added goal of conquering all the rest of humanity. This third book switches gears and focuses (mostly) on a single month in both cultures and how they prepare for the coming new moon when the demon’s power and threat is at its greatest.
We also get treated to the origin story of Jardir’s wife Inevera, a primary character in book two but who had remained somewhat of a mysterious bitchy character. She had mastered the art of reading the future by creating and throwing a set of dice. [Side note: having a main character throw sets of dice ala D&D and read the future certainly appeals to my own geeky life, I admit]. But now with her origin story told in a series of flashback chapters, we see a whole new side of her. Indeed, Peter Brett is adept at creating characters that you loath and then providing a backstory that makes you not only understand their motivations but also begin to sympathize with.
As the middle book of a projected 5-book series, I was just fine with the nature of the novel. Not everybody is and some have called it a “filler” book but I completely disagree. Yes, the ending is a total cliffhanger but I was OK with that as well because for me, I saw it as a metaphor for the entire novel. My only issue with the novel, and what knocked it down one star for me was the pacing. Much of it is a bit slow and very detailed. I confess to growing a little inpatient and I think it ran on too long. But I have a feeling that much of the events in this book (not just the ending) will have major consequences for the final two volumes.
I very much look forward to seeing what comes next.
jackson_p's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-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? No
4.5
nerdkitten's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Death, Gore, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body horror, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Slavery, Torture, Vomit, Medical content, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Child death, Cursing, Gore, Incest, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Excrement, Abortion, and Death of parent