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leannecroft's review against another edition
3.0
What an explosive ending! Abercromie doesn't like happy endings for a good portion of his characters does he? A great read, I will have to get more of Abercrombie's books soon. I prefer not knowing what will become of the characters. This was not a predictable read. Great read.
caribheats's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
goizi's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
bookguy24's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
3.5
twoheadedluke's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
tubs411's review
3.75
Slower than the others and inconclusively concluded. Still worth reading though.
guar's review against another edition
adventurous
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
4.0
amoore04's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
slow-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? Yes
3.0
harlando's review against another edition
3.0
All the crossing, double crossing, deep-cunning gets a little too thick in this final volume.
Two big disappointments for me here:
1. I was quite disappointed that Yarvi outsmarts everyone in the shattered sea and achieves all of his goals, only to be found out at the end by a wet behind the ears princess. It was weak. it was also largely unnecessary. I think other satisfying endings could have been worked out. Leaving the ultimate extent of Yarvi's murdering and meddling ambiguous may well have made for a better ending. As it is, the best schemer around is unseated by a pretty cliched trick by a callow girl.
2. The guns settle things in the end. I found it unsatisfying. Would I have felt better if the guns were replaced by magic wands or ravenous dragons? Probably not. Yarvi usually salves his problems with cleverness. i suppose that uncovering ancient super weapons is clever, but its also deus ex machina and solves his problem a little too neatly. It also causes him too little trouble after. how does he suddenly come up with all these guards he can trust wit superweapons in a decidedly untrustworthy world? Why does he keep a sword instead of a gun? Why isn't the next was for control of the guns already starting?
The Skara-Raith and Koll-Brin romances are much more mature and real than any of the other relationships in the series and shows some growth on Abercrombie's part.
Two big disappointments for me here:
1. I was quite disappointed that Yarvi outsmarts everyone in the shattered sea and achieves all of his goals, only to be found out at the end by a wet behind the ears princess. It was weak. it was also largely unnecessary. I think other satisfying endings could have been worked out. Leaving the ultimate extent of Yarvi's murdering and meddling ambiguous may well have made for a better ending. As it is, the best schemer around is unseated by a pretty cliched trick by a callow girl.
2. The guns settle things in the end. I found it unsatisfying. Would I have felt better if the guns were replaced by magic wands or ravenous dragons? Probably not. Yarvi usually salves his problems with cleverness. i suppose that uncovering ancient super weapons is clever, but its also deus ex machina and solves his problem a little too neatly. It also causes him too little trouble after. how does he suddenly come up with all these guards he can trust wit superweapons in a decidedly untrustworthy world? Why does he keep a sword instead of a gun? Why isn't the next was for control of the guns already starting?
The Skara-Raith and Koll-Brin romances are much more mature and real than any of the other relationships in the series and shows some growth on Abercrombie's part.