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readundancies's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
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? Yes
4.25
Alright, so the start to The War Arts Saga was freaking awesome. Like we’re talking, I was having discussions with myself about purchasing a physical copy of this at less than 150 pages in.
Because this was action-packed, fun-filled and wildly entertaining, and the story’s only just begun really.
All of the character perspectives work really well at relaying the narrative and pushing the plot along so that none of them feel redundant. But Taishi and Jian’s perspectives specifically are so at odds with one another and I loved it. Taishi was genuinely one of the best character perspectives I’ve had the pleasure of reading from this year, and her lack of tolerance for bullshit is beyond what I could’ve dreamed of. Jian was equally as compelling emotionally but in the opposite vein; he started off so thoroughly annoying, but that’s kind of the point with a character so spoiled and the fact that I loved to despise him means the writing was on point when it comes to characterization.
Sali was less interesting to me compared to the former two; one, because her newly realized Soul Keeper status didn’t really have much to do with anything relevant and two, because once Qisami was introduced I was much more captivated by her chaotic deal and they were a little too similar in voice and tone despite coming from very different backgrounds. Both were renowned, highly skilled at their crafts and snarky and privileged because of their ties to their respective noble families. There was not enough differentiating them that wasn’t basic backstory, and their roles as leaders ordering others around so often didn’t help with matters. Don’t get me wrong though, I didn’t dislike Sali or Qisami, and I actually got more excited for their perspectives as the plot progressed because they brought the drama, ya know? I just really fell in love with Jian and Taishi (especially Taishi). And I do have to say the female representation in this novel was a delight to acquaint one’s self with as a reader, all strength and introspection or deliberately antagonizing intent.
From a worldbuilding perspective, the state of the politics and establishing the tension between the Khanates and the Zhuun and the Zhuun even amongst themselves was really hammered home. As in, the entirety of the novel is mostly just letting the characters find their footing and building the world foundationally in terms of political climate and all of the political players at play.
And with respect to plot, even by the end of the book we’ve only really just gotten started with Taishi and Jian beginning their adventure, although there are quite a few dead bodies lying on the journey between Taishi and Jian meeting for the first time and Taishi actually asking Jian if he wants to take up the mantle of the Windwhisperer’s protege. We get to the see the Khanate perspective in Sali, Viperstrike and Will of the Khan who has failed and been failed by her people and religion, while also getting the perspective of Qisami, an assassin of the Consortium and shadowkill expert with an penchant for murder and a crazed determination to make her daddy’s jaw drop in awe of her skills because her inheritance is a begrudging one. But in the grand scope of things, nothing major has really happened yet other than the beginning of the training of the Prophesied Hero of Legend.
One thing that really grated on my nerves though was the map. Let’s talk about this map and within Act Two I think I only saw one location mentioned within the novel that was actually present on the map. What even was the point other than a lovely illustrated map that did not help me because there were no locations on it that were actually referenced in the story. Also why did the map have no title? Like what land is this? Aggravation is my new name when it comes to this map.
But other than that? I enjoyed myself and I am committed to the series as a whole because this was a heck of fun time. And I can’t wait until the sequel comes out and we get to see Taishi actually start training with Jian and their whole mentor-mentee dynamic properly over an extended period of time.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
booksthatburn's review
adventurous
mysterious
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
4.5
*I received a free review copy in exchange for an honest review of this book.
Jian is the Hero of Prophecy, the central figure of an entire religion. But the prophecy was wrong, a new master says he's not ready to fight, and it seems like everyone wants him dead.
I savored this, I genuinely didn't want it to be over because it does so many things so well. Jian starts out as a kind of annoying kid and then gradually transforms into a less annoying young person who has finally had to make hard decisions and live with the consequences. Taishi is a war artist who teaches Jian because his former teachers were mucking it up and she couldn't stand for it. She's curmudgeonly and extremely competent in that way that fits her character, and her dynamic with Jian is what he needs without being what he wants.
The worldbuilding is rich and detailed, with an immersive style where things are only explained as the characters have reason to think of that specific detail, and even more is conveyed through their interactions. The various factions are introduced gradually and it was pretty easy to keep track of everyone because they have distinct and memorable backgrounds and goals which are shown when they first appear. I generally have a lot of trouble keeping track of character names but I did much better this time because of how they were handled.
The explanation for how the prophecy could go wrong is nuanced and fits the world so well, it's really well done. The plot has slower times of travel or hiding, punctuated by violence when the various factions run into each other. They have different things they want which all center on a couple of people, and some of those goals are fundamentally incompatible. The pacing is good, the calm times are usually filled with smaller bits of character growth (something Jian sorely needs).
This is fantastic, a must-read for lovers of fantasy, revolution, and assassins. I'm looking forward to the sequel!
Jian is the Hero of Prophecy, the central figure of an entire religion. But the prophecy was wrong, a new master says he's not ready to fight, and it seems like everyone wants him dead.
I savored this, I genuinely didn't want it to be over because it does so many things so well. Jian starts out as a kind of annoying kid and then gradually transforms into a less annoying young person who has finally had to make hard decisions and live with the consequences. Taishi is a war artist who teaches Jian because his former teachers were mucking it up and she couldn't stand for it. She's curmudgeonly and extremely competent in that way that fits her character, and her dynamic with Jian is what he needs without being what he wants.
The worldbuilding is rich and detailed, with an immersive style where things are only explained as the characters have reason to think of that specific detail, and even more is conveyed through their interactions. The various factions are introduced gradually and it was pretty easy to keep track of everyone because they have distinct and memorable backgrounds and goals which are shown when they first appear. I generally have a lot of trouble keeping track of character names but I did much better this time because of how they were handled.
The explanation for how the prophecy could go wrong is nuanced and fits the world so well, it's really well done. The plot has slower times of travel or hiding, punctuated by violence when the various factions run into each other. They have different things they want which all center on a couple of people, and some of those goals are fundamentally incompatible. The pacing is good, the calm times are usually filled with smaller bits of character growth (something Jian sorely needs).
This is fantastic, a must-read for lovers of fantasy, revolution, and assassins. I'm looking forward to the sequel!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child death, Cursing, Drug abuse, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Excrement, Vomit, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Minor: Ableism, Self harm, Slavery, and Cannibalism
kindra_demi's review
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Review content warning: suicide (mentioned in the spoiler section)
I was so excited going into this book because of the premise of it. Chosen one but something got messed up and he isn't the chosen one? It sounded so interesting to me! And I will give that the plot ideas are great, but the execution failed.
My biggest complaint is the fact the one thought that gets the entire ball rolling for Jian and Taishi is based on (the following is a vague spoiler of what starts Jian and Taishi journey)a false sense of security from sloppy politicians. If the dukes really did their work, they would know that the Eternal Khan will reincarnate and if Jian still has any form of power or influence as the prophecy originally said, then killing him doesn't make sense. And if he doesn't have power or influence, even staging his death to look like an accident/suicide, the people of the Tiandi religion wouldn't want to listen to the dukes and would rather go find their next prophecy child when the Eternal Khan returned.
If you ever want to read a story written with heavy influence of toxic masculinity, this is the book for you. In the beginning it did make sense, our main character Jian was trained by several different masters and had the world catered to him because he was the Hero of Prophecy. He wasn't even allowed to be scratched, so yeah it makes sense that there is going to be extreme levels of arrogance when you think the entire world is below you. But there comes a certain point where you should see a change and some growth from the characters and you don't. The characters fell flat. The women could only be strong or damsels in distress, no in between. Everyone was the best and the strongest, until they weren't. And even when they weren't, they still somehow were?
Many times it felt as if the author was just trying to hit a word count because there would be descriptions or comments that were repeated throughout the chapters for no reason or he would use certain words in an attempt to sound smart, but really it just took me out of the story so I could see what the word meant.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
I was so excited going into this book because of the premise of it. Chosen one but something got messed up and he isn't the chosen one? It sounded so interesting to me! And I will give that the plot ideas are great, but the execution failed.
My biggest complaint is the fact the one thought that gets the entire ball rolling for Jian and Taishi is based on (the following is a vague spoiler of what starts Jian and Taishi journey)
If you ever want to read a story written with heavy influence of toxic masculinity, this is the book for you. In the beginning it did make sense, our main character Jian was trained by several different masters and had the world catered to him because he was the Hero of Prophecy. He wasn't even allowed to be scratched, so yeah it makes sense that there is going to be extreme levels of arrogance when you think the entire world is below you. But there comes a certain point where you should see a change and some growth from the characters and you don't. The characters fell flat. The women could only be strong or damsels in distress, no in between. Everyone was the best and the strongest, until they weren't. And even when they weren't, they still somehow were?
Many times it felt as if the author was just trying to hit a word count because there would be descriptions or comments that were repeated throughout the chapters for no reason or he would use certain words in an attempt to sound smart, but really it just took me out of the story so I could see what the word meant.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Violence, Blood, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Bullying, and Alcohol