auroramw's review against another edition
3.0
I am a little uncertain of what I feel about this book. I want to say that I love it, but I can't, and that is simply because I don't. I found the plot and characters interesting, but I think that Paul's writing style is simply not for me. Therefore, I probably won't continue with this series.
zieglera's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
sillypunk's review against another edition
This is a terrible fucking book and you shouldn't read it ever: http://blogendorff.ghost.io/book-review-the-left-hand-of-god/
its_tara's review against another edition
4.0
Set in a very dark, very frightening world, this book follows Thomas Cale (normally known as Cale) and his story. It begins in The Sanctuary, home of The Redeemers, a group of religious fanatics, who take young boys (acolytes) and teach them of their religion - and to fight to kill.
One of the main strengths of this book is the sense of injustice it portays, and just how grim a world it manages to make. There are also twists and turns to the plot, which once I'd gotten into the book, kept me turning pages. Another is that, like the characters in the book, you find yourself liking Cale, but never quite understanding him, and always a little scared of him and what he will do.
In terms of weaknesses, I found this book fairly difficult to get into at first, though maybe that's because it's not me normal kind of book. Likewise, the ending was sort of anticlimatic, though this is because the book is to be a part of a series, and this leads you (I assume) right into the next book.
Overall, I enjoyed this book, and looked forward to my work lunch breaks in order to have time to read it. However, I think the claims on the cover seem to overhype it a bit, and that those with little patience for a somewhat jumpy (at times, anyway) storyline may have a few issues with it.
One of the main strengths of this book is the sense of injustice it portays, and just how grim a world it manages to make. There are also twists and turns to the plot, which once I'd gotten into the book, kept me turning pages. Another is that, like the characters in the book, you find yourself liking Cale, but never quite understanding him, and always a little scared of him and what he will do.
In terms of weaknesses, I found this book fairly difficult to get into at first, though maybe that's because it's not me normal kind of book. Likewise, the ending was sort of anticlimatic, though this is because the book is to be a part of a series, and this leads you (I assume) right into the next book.
Overall, I enjoyed this book, and looked forward to my work lunch breaks in order to have time to read it. However, I think the claims on the cover seem to overhype it a bit, and that those with little patience for a somewhat jumpy (at times, anyway) storyline may have a few issues with it.
styxx's review against another edition
3.0
I found this to be something of an odd book in some ways. I enjoyed it. The lead character was certainly intriguing. Yet I have to admit that I wondered for several chapters in the beginning exactly where the author was going with it, and I still wasn't wholly sure by the end. This is probably because this is the first book in the series and most of the story arc is longer than this one novel.
Would I read the next book to find out what happens next? Yes, but I would hope that we get a little more explanation as to what the whole thing is aiming towards.
Would I read the next book to find out what happens next? Yes, but I would hope that we get a little more explanation as to what the whole thing is aiming towards.
defran's review against another edition
4.0
Not the kind of books I usually read,but since my boyfriend insisted on me reading it,I did. It was very very very good,with and interesting and fast plot. The main character was very interesting and well-built.
ansto's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
ansto's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
bookladysreviews's review against another edition
4.0
the book is about Cale a boy who lives in the Sanctuary and his life is full of violence because he is so into fighting and the Redeemers trate him with the worst way. One day he decides to escape because he killed a Redeemer who killed a girl and was trying to kill another girl too.so he with his two friends and the girl he saved, decide to escape. When they do, they are wondering here and there until they find some dead people and some other people with horses think that they killed those people.anyway, after they answer the questions of those people, we can say that they enter a completely different world from the one they lived all those years. After they settle in that new world, Cale meets a girl and he falls in love with her. She seems to be afraid of him but after some time, they become lovers. And there comes the war between the Redeemers and those people who Cale is with. And the Redeemers want him back so they trap him and they tell to his girlfriend that is she wants to save the people whose life is in danger, she has to trap Cale. She betrays him because he is there, and he is listening when she tells that she will trap him. So we now have Cale with a broken heart, betrayed by his girlfriend and taken back to the Sanctuary. End of story.
I have to say that it was very hard, reading such a dark story but i was curious to see what was going to happen in the end. I found Cale's character very interesting because it's been a long time since i've read something where the main character is a boy. The humor was very good. It was extremely dark and sarcastic but funny at the same time. Also some schenes were full of violence and i was really suprised about how the Redeemers trated to the kids at the Sanctuary. I was also impressed by Cale's behavior and his amazing fighting skills. It wasn't one of the best books I've read but it was really good that's why i'm giving it 4 stars instead of 3
I have to say that it was very hard, reading such a dark story but i was curious to see what was going to happen in the end. I found Cale's character very interesting because it's been a long time since i've read something where the main character is a boy. The humor was very good. It was extremely dark and sarcastic but funny at the same time. Also some schenes were full of violence and i was really suprised about how the Redeemers trated to the kids at the Sanctuary. I was also impressed by Cale's behavior and his amazing fighting skills. It wasn't one of the best books I've read but it was really good that's why i'm giving it 4 stars instead of 3
salixwoods's review against another edition
3.5
So I've read this before, but that was maybe 5 years ago so I didn't remember a lot. I did however remember I enjoyed it.
I believe the book is better the first time one reads it, so because I had read it before and knew somewhat what would happen next, I used quite a long time on it this time around.
It was still enjoyable and entertaining. I kept forgetting that the main character is 13/14 years old; I kept thinking he was 16.
Think my only complaint was how some things were described; especially women (don't know if it is on purpose or how the author actually thinks....?), and objects that these boys have never seen.
To specify, they were described in a way that made it very obvious what said object were. However I wish the objects were described more from how someone who has never seen it. Like, the readers aren't dumb.
I believe the book is better the first time one reads it, so because I had read it before and knew somewhat what would happen next, I used quite a long time on it this time around.
It was still enjoyable and entertaining. I kept forgetting that the main character is 13/14 years old; I kept thinking he was 16.
Think my only complaint was how some things were described; especially women (don't know if it is on purpose or how the author actually thinks....?), and objects that these boys have never seen.
To specify, they were described in a way that made it very obvious what said object were. However I wish the objects were described more from how someone who has never seen it. Like, the readers aren't dumb.