Reviews

Hall of Smoke by H.M. Long

booklifer's review against another edition

adventurous tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

spacexgay's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious 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? No

5.0

jazmineteaa's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

writer_a_fox's review against another edition

challenging emotional tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

booklover444's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

mbennett78's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

4.25

jeannaoreo's review against another edition

Never-ending journey, slow plot advancement

yoshisaura's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark 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? No

4.25

yexius_'s review against another edition

4.0

I really enjoyed this book! It was something in and out of my comfort zone if that makes sense. The characters snd plot were interesting. I haven’t read something like that in a while. The one thing I didn’t like was how much death/killing there was… but like that’s on me because I picked a book about a battle. Definitely more a me thing than a book thing. I would read the other books in the series. 

thebookwormsfeast's review against another edition

4.0

4 - 4.5 stars

I very much enjoyed the world building unfurling ahead of me in this Norse inspired fantasy. This book does a wonderful job of fully fleshing out the world it takes place in, without all the info dumpy first chapters you usually find. It feels rich and full, and the stakes ever evolving as the main character, Hessa, finds out more about the destruction of her home and the wider narrative.

Odd sections did slow up over the journey for me, but I really loved the culmination and how it all comes together. I can't wait to see more from H.M. Long!

Also, menstruation! A fantasy (or just book in general), where it's acknowledged - and even better, it's not hamfisted, and is worked in seamlessly and naturally. I actually really liked that it was just another thing that Hessa had to deal with in her ordeals.