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brendalovesbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Why I read it: kept hearing that it was good
The Plot: Royce Melborn, a skilled thief, and his mercenary partner, Hadrian Blackwater make a profitable living carrying out dangerous assignments for conspiring nobles until they become the unwitting scapegoats in a plot to murder the king. Sentenced to death, they have only one way out…and so begins this epic tale of treachery and adventure, sword fighting and magic, myth and legend. It seems like stories about thieves are really big in fantasy right now. I've seen them all over the place. I like the concepts here, though, where they're doing jobs for nobles, and once the story gets going, it's for sure not your typical thief book.
The Characters: I liked the characters, but don't feel we really got to know any of them particularly well. There were a lot of varied characters, and that kept things interesting. Of our two main characters, I definitely liked Hadrian better.
The Setting: This is a pretty typical fantasy world, but the author does a good job of setting it up and making it real, although there are times when he goes a little too far and it takes the reader out of the story.
A Sample of the Writing:
Archibald Ballentyne held the world in his hands, conveniently contained within fifteen stolen letters. Each parchment was penned with meticulous care in a fine, elegant script. He could tell the writer believed that the words were profound and that their meaning conveyed a beautiful truth. Archibald felt the writing was drivel, yet he agreed with the author that they held a value beyond measure. He took a sip of brandy, closed his eyes, and smiled.
Who Should Read This? Fantasy fans who are looking for a good new series.
Final Thoughts: I like that this book was fairly short, and although it's a series, the book itself was pretty self-contained. No crazy cliffhangers here, and that's a huge plus for me. I like reading series, but I also like to not be left hanging, especially when I have no idea when I'll be able to get to the next book. I really wish my library carried these--to get this one, they had to do inter-library loan with a library in another state. I guess I'll have to do that for every book. But the writing was good enough to go through a bit of extra work to read this series, and since I read recently on another blog that the series has been picked up by Orbit, maybe the library will finally decide to get them.
Grade: B
Cover Thoughts: The cover is awfully boring, and if I were browsing a bookstore, this would definitely not catch my eye.
The Plot: Royce Melborn, a skilled thief, and his mercenary partner, Hadrian Blackwater make a profitable living carrying out dangerous assignments for conspiring nobles until they become the unwitting scapegoats in a plot to murder the king. Sentenced to death, they have only one way out…and so begins this epic tale of treachery and adventure, sword fighting and magic, myth and legend. It seems like stories about thieves are really big in fantasy right now. I've seen them all over the place. I like the concepts here, though, where they're doing jobs for nobles, and once the story gets going, it's for sure not your typical thief book.
The Characters: I liked the characters, but don't feel we really got to know any of them particularly well. There were a lot of varied characters, and that kept things interesting. Of our two main characters, I definitely liked Hadrian better.
The Setting: This is a pretty typical fantasy world, but the author does a good job of setting it up and making it real, although there are times when he goes a little too far and it takes the reader out of the story.
A Sample of the Writing:
Archibald Ballentyne held the world in his hands, conveniently contained within fifteen stolen letters. Each parchment was penned with meticulous care in a fine, elegant script. He could tell the writer believed that the words were profound and that their meaning conveyed a beautiful truth. Archibald felt the writing was drivel, yet he agreed with the author that they held a value beyond measure. He took a sip of brandy, closed his eyes, and smiled.
Who Should Read This? Fantasy fans who are looking for a good new series.
Final Thoughts: I like that this book was fairly short, and although it's a series, the book itself was pretty self-contained. No crazy cliffhangers here, and that's a huge plus for me. I like reading series, but I also like to not be left hanging, especially when I have no idea when I'll be able to get to the next book. I really wish my library carried these--to get this one, they had to do inter-library loan with a library in another state. I guess I'll have to do that for every book. But the writing was good enough to go through a bit of extra work to read this series, and since I read recently on another blog that the series has been picked up by Orbit, maybe the library will finally decide to get them.
Grade: B
Cover Thoughts: The cover is awfully boring, and if I were browsing a bookstore, this would definitely not catch my eye.
hueofgray's review against another edition
4.0
Most of the book is ok but the characters and humour really sold me on it
trashroyal's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
tanadeet's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
shdnx's review against another edition
2.0
Not a well-written book. The story suffers a lot from pacing issues, and a lot of the writing is just very... awkward? It reads a lot like the work of a beginner author. Most of the characters are completely unconvincing and uninteresting.
Having said all of that, I did manage to finish the book, though not with all that much enthusiasm.
Having said all of that, I did manage to finish the book, though not with all that much enthusiasm.
desertlover's review against another edition
4.0
"..this is the problem with these good deeds of yours; they never end."
This book is an absolute delight and so far removed from the typical epic fantasy tropes. There are rogue main characters, who are filled with quick whit and banter, while constantly out maneuvering everyone. There is little world building and the action is nonstop and entertaining. At times, it didn't even feel like fancy, but more historical with a magical twist. I can't ever remember reading a fantasy while grinning most of the time.
I will definitely be reading book 2 ASAP.
This book is an absolute delight and so far removed from the typical epic fantasy tropes. There are rogue main characters, who are filled with quick whit and banter, while constantly out maneuvering everyone. There is little world building and the action is nonstop and entertaining. At times, it didn't even feel like fancy, but more historical with a magical twist. I can't ever remember reading a fantasy while grinning most of the time.
I will definitely be reading book 2 ASAP.
anouk_luypaert's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
murderinpeace's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25