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mxsallybend's review
4.0
As fantasy epics go, Chasers of the Wind is an absolutely phenomenal story, populated by fantastic characters, with a stellar approach to magic (and necromancy) that hooked me hard and deep from the first page. There's no doubt that Alexey Pehov is a man of serious talents, with an imagination much like my own, but I'm afraid the story suffers a tad due to some issues with the framing.
Let me get the negatives out of the way first, because I really want to focus on what was so enjoyable about the tale. I'm not sure how much of the issues are inherent to Pehov's original narrative, and how much is a result of Elinor Huntington's translation, but there were three stumbling blocks for me. First, as might be expected with a translation, there are some awkward passages (particularly early on) that feel forced, as if Huntington was really reaching for an approximate translation. Second, the narrative is interspersed with bracketed clarifying notes (some of them quite long) that might have had some value as footnotes, but which break the flow of the story. I don't know if they were part of the original text or are something added for English readers, but they could have been handled better. Lastly, and this is the most jarring of all, the story inexplicably switches from a third-person narration to first-person narration whenever Gray is the focus - a switch that sometimes happens mid-scene, leaving you scrambling to figure out whether you missed a transition somewhere,
Now, with that out of the way, let's focus on the good stuff.
What immediately struck me about the story was the use of magic and necromancy. Pehov makes it central to the tale, not just standard fantasy window dressing, and he makes it significant. His Walkers and Embers are a powerful combination (I really liked their symbiotic sort of relationship), and their magic is the kind upon which the fate of entire empires can pivot. Similarly, the enemy necromancers are awesome in the depth and range of their magic, with the monsters they create truly terrifying. Their ambush/attack on the Gates of Six Towers to open the tale was one of the best opening battle sequences I have ever read. If you can imagine how draining it must be to fight for your life against undead creatures that feel no pain, imagine having to do it all over again with the monsters who used to be your comrades.
Pehov populates his late with some great characters as well, particularly the soldiering team of Luk and Ga-Nor. Although the two have an awkward sort of camaraderie that lends the tale much of its humor, they're also solid, admirable heroes in their own right. I was actually quite surprised at how often Luk managed to not only hold his ground, but actually distinguish himself against the far more experienced warrior. Similarly, the team of Gray and Layen is a welcome sort of pairing for an epic fantasy, being a happily married husband and wife, one of whom happens to have access to Walker magic, and the other of which is an expert assassin. Their relationship isn't key to the story, and Pehov doesn't milk it for dramatic effect, it's just a part of who they are.
Having brought up Gary, I must say a few words about the assassins of Chasers of the Wind. This is another element, like that of the necromancers, where Pehov really manages to do something fresh and original with the genre. His assassins are an interesting society, with assassins who range from surgical sort of precision strikes to overwhelming brutality. The flashback scene in which we learn why Gray and Layen are on the run, and see how Gray's biggest job was accomplished, is exceptionally well done.
Plot-wise, this is very clearly the opening stanza in a much longer tale, so there's not a lot of story arc or complex resolution here. Much of the story consists of battles, chases, rescues, and confrontations. It's a very fast-moving tale, with the exception of a lull in the middle, that absolutely races to a conclusion. It's big, it's epic, and it's honestly awe-inspiring in places. If you find the opening narration at all awkward, like I did, stick with it and trust that the story and the characters will carry you through . . . because they absolutely do.
Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins
Let me get the negatives out of the way first, because I really want to focus on what was so enjoyable about the tale. I'm not sure how much of the issues are inherent to Pehov's original narrative, and how much is a result of Elinor Huntington's translation, but there were three stumbling blocks for me. First, as might be expected with a translation, there are some awkward passages (particularly early on) that feel forced, as if Huntington was really reaching for an approximate translation. Second, the narrative is interspersed with bracketed clarifying notes (some of them quite long) that might have had some value as footnotes, but which break the flow of the story. I don't know if they were part of the original text or are something added for English readers, but they could have been handled better. Lastly, and this is the most jarring of all, the story inexplicably switches from a third-person narration to first-person narration whenever Gray is the focus - a switch that sometimes happens mid-scene, leaving you scrambling to figure out whether you missed a transition somewhere,
Now, with that out of the way, let's focus on the good stuff.
What immediately struck me about the story was the use of magic and necromancy. Pehov makes it central to the tale, not just standard fantasy window dressing, and he makes it significant. His Walkers and Embers are a powerful combination (I really liked their symbiotic sort of relationship), and their magic is the kind upon which the fate of entire empires can pivot. Similarly, the enemy necromancers are awesome in the depth and range of their magic, with the monsters they create truly terrifying. Their ambush/attack on the Gates of Six Towers to open the tale was one of the best opening battle sequences I have ever read. If you can imagine how draining it must be to fight for your life against undead creatures that feel no pain, imagine having to do it all over again with the monsters who used to be your comrades.
Pehov populates his late with some great characters as well, particularly the soldiering team of Luk and Ga-Nor. Although the two have an awkward sort of camaraderie that lends the tale much of its humor, they're also solid, admirable heroes in their own right. I was actually quite surprised at how often Luk managed to not only hold his ground, but actually distinguish himself against the far more experienced warrior. Similarly, the team of Gray and Layen is a welcome sort of pairing for an epic fantasy, being a happily married husband and wife, one of whom happens to have access to Walker magic, and the other of which is an expert assassin. Their relationship isn't key to the story, and Pehov doesn't milk it for dramatic effect, it's just a part of who they are.
Having brought up Gary, I must say a few words about the assassins of Chasers of the Wind. This is another element, like that of the necromancers, where Pehov really manages to do something fresh and original with the genre. His assassins are an interesting society, with assassins who range from surgical sort of precision strikes to overwhelming brutality. The flashback scene in which we learn why Gray and Layen are on the run, and see how Gray's biggest job was accomplished, is exceptionally well done.
Plot-wise, this is very clearly the opening stanza in a much longer tale, so there's not a lot of story arc or complex resolution here. Much of the story consists of battles, chases, rescues, and confrontations. It's a very fast-moving tale, with the exception of a lull in the middle, that absolutely races to a conclusion. It's big, it's epic, and it's honestly awe-inspiring in places. If you find the opening narration at all awkward, like I did, stick with it and trust that the story and the characters will carry you through . . . because they absolutely do.
Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins
colorfulleo92's review
4.0
This was a very engaging book to listen and a good book to focus on while I tried to sleep. Keept my mind from the everyday stuff and I coul fall in this fantasy world.
afterwhy's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
honeycomb_system's review
adventurous
medium-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? No
3.0
bookfessional's review
3.0
Reviewed by: Rabid Reads
3.5 stars
So I don't think I've read a translated book before. At least not a recently translated book.
I've thought about it. I mean, the book was popular enough in it's native language to get translated into English and re-published, so that speaks highly for it, right? Yeah, definitely . . .
BUT.
Language is a complex and beautiful thing, and this isn't a real life interaction where only the gist of the information needs to be understood. This is LITERATURE, and there is not one thing that anyone can say to convince me that Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening doesn't lose some essential spark when it's adapted into something not-English. The words are like a dance, expertly choreographed, and that cannot be translated.
So that's why I've kind of avoided this kind of book in the past. And you know what?
I was right.
BUT.
Chasers of the Wind by Alexey Pehov was a surprisingly good read. It took awhile, but the characters grew on me. This is straight-up fantasy, so there are multiple POVs, but not too many, and the shifting perspectives are mostly focused on pairs.
My favorite pair is Ness and Layen/Gray and Weasel, an assassin husband and wife team (Gray and Weasel are their "working" names). Gray is an expert shot with almost any kind of bow, and Weasel has the Gift (MAGIC), but as far as we know, is completely unaffiliated with the magical hierarchy, the strangeness of this circumstance being communicated in various, but thankfully not obvious, ways.
Second favorite pair is Luk and Ga-Nor. Luk is a rascal and a solider who is overfond of dice, and Ga-Nor is a Northern tracker, and viewed by the majority of society as a savage. Ga-Nor keeps Luk out of trouble, Luk lightens things up for taciturn Ga-Nor, and they just work well together. I like them.
NOT my favorite is Pork, the village idiot, and Tia, or Typhoid, the Overlord, or Damned, depending on who you ask. Pork is the Noah Percy in M. Night Shyamalan's The Village variety of village idiot---NOT the good kind, the creepy and sinister kind. And Tia is a spoiled brat who has probably been a spoiled brat for the entirety of her existence (over 500 years).
So the characters were pretty well-developed and mostly likable, unless the point was not to like them, then you didn't.
The world-building was . . . interesting. The book begins with the fall of the impregnable fortress. The early and very thorough takeover of the impregnable fortress doesn't happen until you've been told SIX times in four pages how awesomely awesome this fortress is, and how it will never, EVER fall.
*rolls eyes*
And that magical hierarchy I spoke of earlier? They're most often referred to as Walkers and Embers. Embers are kind of obvious. Walkers, not so much, but we didn't find out until 77% into the book what they actually were.
Then there's Luk's overuse of his favorite curse, "screw a toad." 33 times. 33 times, he swears, "screw a toad."
And that's a good intro to the language crossover issues.
Using nature inspired names is a fairly common practice. Especially in fantasy where you often find numerous magical and diverse peoples. Elves, Fae, earth magic users, etc. will have names like Rowan Whitethorn of House Somekindoftree. This happens in contemporary novels too. One of my favorite non-magical characters is named Blue Echohawk.
But what about House Strawberry?
*frowns*
Or House Butterfly?
*frowns and squints*
Okay, maybe, if we're talking about cute, little Tinkerbell fairies. Maybe. But take a gander at that book cover. Does that look like the cover of a book with cute, little Tinkerbell fairies?
NOPE.
Houses Strawberry and Butterfly are two of the seven Highborn (Elf) houses, and though we don't actually meet any of them (well, there is one, but he doesn't count), we are lead to believe that they are a rather fierce and warmongering people.
And they'd have to be. Otherwise no one would take them seriously.
So there are the bizarre name issues. And then there are the bizarre dialogue and description issues.
The dialogue issue is most obvious in a conversation between two of the Overlords, Tia and Rovan (<------the Highborn who doesn't count). Rovan is acting completely out of character, and Tia, rather than saying something like, "Who are you, and what have you done with Rovan?" which would make sense to a native English speaker, says, "I don't recognize you."
*frowns and squints AGAIN*
And I'm familiar enough with the Rascal Soldier character to assume that he is more than a joker and a gambler. But that belief was a deliberate decision, b/c there wasn't any evidence to support that claim. At least not until more than halfway through the book when Ness comments that, "Luk, despite his frivolity, is not a man to mess with," and the lack of evidence had been such that that one statement filled me with a sense of vindication.
BUT.
Overall, Chasers of the Wind by Alexey Pehov was an entertaining enough read that the obvious translation misfires were merely nuisances that I flicked away like a gnat. The alternately interesting and monstrous creatures, as well as the complexities of the magical races drew me in completely. While I'd not yet classify Chasers of the Wind as dark fantasy, there are definitely hints of darker things to come. Necromancers, overtly feared Overlords known to the masses as Leprosy and Consumption who wield great and terrible power, and wizards whose primary function is controlling demons we've yet to encounter, all promise more exciting chapters from this world. I'll definitely read the next book, and I'd recommend this to readers who like a bit of nefarious in their fantasy.
3.5 stars
So I don't think I've read a translated book before. At least not a recently translated book.
I've thought about it. I mean, the book was popular enough in it's native language to get translated into English and re-published, so that speaks highly for it, right? Yeah, definitely . . .
BUT.
Language is a complex and beautiful thing, and this isn't a real life interaction where only the gist of the information needs to be understood. This is LITERATURE, and there is not one thing that anyone can say to convince me that Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening doesn't lose some essential spark when it's adapted into something not-English. The words are like a dance, expertly choreographed, and that cannot be translated.
So that's why I've kind of avoided this kind of book in the past. And you know what?
I was right.
BUT.
Chasers of the Wind by Alexey Pehov was a surprisingly good read. It took awhile, but the characters grew on me. This is straight-up fantasy, so there are multiple POVs, but not too many, and the shifting perspectives are mostly focused on pairs.
My favorite pair is Ness and Layen/Gray and Weasel, an assassin husband and wife team (Gray and Weasel are their "working" names). Gray is an expert shot with almost any kind of bow, and Weasel has the Gift (MAGIC), but as far as we know, is completely unaffiliated with the magical hierarchy, the strangeness of this circumstance being communicated in various, but thankfully not obvious, ways.
Second favorite pair is Luk and Ga-Nor. Luk is a rascal and a solider who is overfond of dice, and Ga-Nor is a Northern tracker, and viewed by the majority of society as a savage. Ga-Nor keeps Luk out of trouble, Luk lightens things up for taciturn Ga-Nor, and they just work well together. I like them.
NOT my favorite is Pork, the village idiot, and Tia, or Typhoid, the Overlord, or Damned, depending on who you ask. Pork is the Noah Percy in M. Night Shyamalan's The Village variety of village idiot---NOT the good kind, the creepy and sinister kind. And Tia is a spoiled brat who has probably been a spoiled brat for the entirety of her existence (over 500 years).
So the characters were pretty well-developed and mostly likable, unless the point was not to like them, then you didn't.
The world-building was . . . interesting. The book begins with the fall of the impregnable fortress. The early and very thorough takeover of the impregnable fortress doesn't happen until you've been told SIX times in four pages how awesomely awesome this fortress is, and how it will never, EVER fall.
*rolls eyes*
And that magical hierarchy I spoke of earlier? They're most often referred to as Walkers and Embers. Embers are kind of obvious. Walkers, not so much, but we didn't find out until 77% into the book what they actually were.
Then there's Luk's overuse of his favorite curse, "screw a toad." 33 times. 33 times, he swears, "screw a toad."
And that's a good intro to the language crossover issues.
Using nature inspired names is a fairly common practice. Especially in fantasy where you often find numerous magical and diverse peoples. Elves, Fae, earth magic users, etc. will have names like Rowan Whitethorn of House Somekindoftree. This happens in contemporary novels too. One of my favorite non-magical characters is named Blue Echohawk.
But what about House Strawberry?
*frowns*
Or House Butterfly?
*frowns and squints*
Okay, maybe, if we're talking about cute, little Tinkerbell fairies. Maybe. But take a gander at that book cover. Does that look like the cover of a book with cute, little Tinkerbell fairies?
NOPE.
Houses Strawberry and Butterfly are two of the seven Highborn (Elf) houses, and though we don't actually meet any of them (well, there is one, but he doesn't count), we are lead to believe that they are a rather fierce and warmongering people.
And they'd have to be. Otherwise no one would take them seriously.
So there are the bizarre name issues. And then there are the bizarre dialogue and description issues.
The dialogue issue is most obvious in a conversation between two of the Overlords, Tia and Rovan (<------the Highborn who doesn't count). Rovan is acting completely out of character, and Tia, rather than saying something like, "Who are you, and what have you done with Rovan?" which would make sense to a native English speaker, says, "I don't recognize you."
*frowns and squints AGAIN*
And I'm familiar enough with the Rascal Soldier character to assume that he is more than a joker and a gambler. But that belief was a deliberate decision, b/c there wasn't any evidence to support that claim. At least not until more than halfway through the book when Ness comments that, "Luk, despite his frivolity, is not a man to mess with," and the lack of evidence had been such that that one statement filled me with a sense of vindication.
BUT.
Overall, Chasers of the Wind by Alexey Pehov was an entertaining enough read that the obvious translation misfires were merely nuisances that I flicked away like a gnat. The alternately interesting and monstrous creatures, as well as the complexities of the magical races drew me in completely. While I'd not yet classify Chasers of the Wind as dark fantasy, there are definitely hints of darker things to come. Necromancers, overtly feared Overlords known to the masses as Leprosy and Consumption who wield great and terrible power, and wizards whose primary function is controlling demons we've yet to encounter, all promise more exciting chapters from this world. I'll definitely read the next book, and I'd recommend this to readers who like a bit of nefarious in their fantasy.
sarah42783's review against another edition
4.0
✔ The good thing about this book is that it’s, um, you know, slightly pretty good and stuff.
✘ The bad thing about this Slightly Pretty Good Book™ is that it ends on a Cliffhanger of Doom and Oblivion™.
✘ The bad, BAD thing about this Slightly Pretty Good Book of the Cliffhanger Doom and Oblivion Ending™ is that THE BLOODY SHRIMPING PUBLISHER HAS NO BLOODY SHRIMPING PLAN TO BLOODY SHRIMPING PUBLISH THE REMAINDER OF THE SERIES IN ANY LANGUAGE KNOWN TO A CERTAIN FORMER NEFARIOUS BREEDER OF MURDEROUS CRUSTACEANS.
To think I’m the one with the bad rep around here, and that most decapods think I’m ruthless and heartless and evil and cruel and diabolical and stuff! That’s only because they don’t know the Wickedly Malevolent Tor Books Overlords, if you ask me. Humph and harrumph and stuff! I am quite outrageously put out and stuff!
Okay, so I could do the lazy-as-a-lethargic-barnacle-on-extra-strength-valium thing, and decide not to review this book at all. I mean, what would be the point, anyway? It’s not like anyone is going to bother to pick it up, now that I’ve revealed the awful, ugly, YOU-WILL-NEVER-KNOW-WHAT-HAPPENS-NEXT-UNLESS-YOU-LEARN-RUSSIAN truth about it. So those who are a little Russian might be willing to give it a try. And those who are slightly fluent in Evil Russian Speakation™, too. But the rest of the Lowly Barnacled Bunch™? Pretty sure they don’t give a fish about this Slightly Pretty Good Book™ and/or what the shrimp it might be about. Anyway. My point is (because yes, I have one. Point, I mean. I also have crustacean-launching cannons, just so you know), I could have not reviewed the book because why bother and stuff but I’m feeling super extra energetic and bold and audacious today so I will and no no, really, I insist, my pleasure and stuff.
Don’t ask.
So, you should read this Slightly Pretty Good Book™ (even though YOU WILL NEVER KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT) because:
① If you don’t the Evil Russians™will might come for you, and you will might never be heard of again.
② The world is pretty yummilicious. It kind of reads like your standard Fantasy fare at first, but turns out to be deliciously dark and epic and original and fresh and stuff. There’s Super Extra Cool Magic™, Delightfully Delightful Necromancy™ *waves at her boyfriend Johannes Cabal*, Ha Ha Ha Stuff™, and a most delectable array of Exquisitely Diverse Characters™ (exploding fish-like people and winged people and return-of-the-living-dead-type-people, oh my!).
③ There are delicious, ancient villains whose names alone make my exoskeleton tingle and shiver and flutter and stuff. I mean, these evil guys and chicks are named after horrendous diseases! How amazing is that?! We’ve got Leprosy! We’ve got Typhoid! We’ve got Consumption! Aren’t those the cutest names ever?! I’m feeling super inspired all of a sudden, and can’t wait for the next batch of murderous crustaceans to hatch. My new babies are going to have the coolest, most charming names ever! I am all excite and stuff!
④ The most scrumptious cast of characters is most eclectic and most scrumptious. And the most scrumptious thing about the scrumptious cast is that none of its scrumptious members are entirely very good. And that’s pretty scrumptious, if you ask me. There is a scrumptious husband-wife team of yummy assassins with bucket loads of scrumptious thugs at their heels. There is also a most scrumptious red-haired, kilt-wearing, Viking-type scout dude who may or may not be residing in my High Security Harem as we speak. There is also Viking-type scout dude’s reluctant sidekick whose main reason for being scrumptious resides in the fact that he has a thing for toads being screwed (don’t ask). There are also most scrumptious traitors but spoiler spoiler spoiler so spoiler spoiler spoiler. All in all, I would almost be tempted to say that the cast of characters is nearly most scrumptious. A little.
I’m with you on that one, O Onion-Ringed One.
⑤ Severed limbs and detached heads, yay! I should have started with that one, come to think of it. I mean, blood, gore and jolly dismemberment are all one really needs in life to be gloriously and blissfully happy, is it not? I knew you’d agree with me on that one, Comely Arthropods Mine.
⑥ Alternate first and third person POVs. Okay, so it seems that some People of the Despicable Book Taste™ who read paper/digital/whatever editions of this book think alternating between first and third person narrative was sometimes confusing and clunky and clumsy and stuff.They obviously read the book wrong. They obviously should have done the Superiorly Clever Thing™, like my little self, and listened to the audio version. Because there are two separate narrators, one for the first person POV, and one for the third person POV. Ha. And both do a pretty wondrous job, too. Ha². So no confusion, clumsiness or clunkiness this side of the Mariana Trench. Ha³. Not to mention that none of the translation issues some People of the Despicable Book Taste™ mentioned in their reviews are noticeable in the audio version. Ha⁴.
So. My advice to you Boldalicious Barnacles would be to read this Slightly Pretty Good Book™ (even though YOU WILL NEVER KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT), and then either learn how to read Russian in 10 minutes or rent a platoon of murderous crustaceans from me (at the reduced priced of $1,000,000) and threaten to unleash them on Tor Books if the rest of the series isn’t released in Englishwithin the next two months by the end of the year (“but hey, no pressure” message included in the rental price). Pretty sure one of these solutions will work great for you. Especially the second one. Just a feeling my bank account has I have. In the meantime, I’ll be personally contributing to the Wind and Sparks War Effort™ by innocently casting the baleful, vindictive glare of a thousand pissed-off, homicidal shrimps on the lovely Tor Books people. I expect positive results post haste.
[Pre-review nonsense]
That feeling you get when the book you just finished ends in a Bloody Stinking Cliffhanger (BSC™) butthe lovely people at Tor the Bloody Shrimping Publisher (BSP™) has no plans to release the rest of the series:
And also:
And also, also:
➽ Full Someone Better Release The Rest of This Series Post Haste Or Else Someone Might Perhaps Maybe Possibly Unleash A Bunch Of Murderous Crustaceans On Someone But Hey No Pressure And Stuff Crappy Non Review (BSPYBRATBITSPHOESMPPMUABOMCOYBHNPASCNR™) to come.
[October 2017]
The Evil Russians™ super enthusiastically rated this book 3 miserable little stars, so of course I had to read it. That's crustacean logic for you. Or maybe Exceptionally Efficient Long Distance Russian Brain Hacking (EELDRBH™) at work.
Ha! I knew it! Okay, Evgeny, you can ditch the silly costume now, we all know it's you. The axe is a nice touch, though. I think you should keep it.
✘ The bad thing about this Slightly Pretty Good Book™ is that it ends on a Cliffhanger of Doom and Oblivion™.
✘ The bad, BAD thing about this Slightly Pretty Good Book of the Cliffhanger Doom and Oblivion Ending™ is that THE BLOODY SHRIMPING PUBLISHER HAS NO BLOODY SHRIMPING PLAN TO BLOODY SHRIMPING PUBLISH THE REMAINDER OF THE SERIES IN ANY LANGUAGE KNOWN TO A CERTAIN FORMER NEFARIOUS BREEDER OF MURDEROUS CRUSTACEANS.
To think I’m the one with the bad rep around here, and that most decapods think I’m ruthless and heartless and evil and cruel and diabolical and stuff! That’s only because they don’t know the Wickedly Malevolent Tor Books Overlords, if you ask me. Humph and harrumph and stuff! I am quite outrageously put out and stuff!
Okay, so I could do the lazy-as-a-lethargic-barnacle-on-extra-strength-valium thing, and decide not to review this book at all. I mean, what would be the point, anyway? It’s not like anyone is going to bother to pick it up, now that I’ve revealed the awful, ugly, YOU-WILL-NEVER-KNOW-WHAT-HAPPENS-NEXT-UNLESS-YOU-LEARN-RUSSIAN truth about it. So those who are a little Russian might be willing to give it a try. And those who are slightly fluent in Evil Russian Speakation™, too. But the rest of the Lowly Barnacled Bunch™? Pretty sure they don’t give a fish about this Slightly Pretty Good Book™ and/or what the shrimp it might be about. Anyway. My point is (because yes, I have one. Point, I mean. I also have crustacean-launching cannons, just so you know), I could have not reviewed the book because why bother and stuff but I’m feeling super extra energetic and bold and audacious today so I will and no no, really, I insist, my pleasure and stuff.
Don’t ask.
So, you should read this Slightly Pretty Good Book™ (even though YOU WILL NEVER KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT) because:
① If you don’t the Evil Russians™
② The world is pretty yummilicious. It kind of reads like your standard Fantasy fare at first, but turns out to be deliciously dark and epic and original and fresh and stuff. There’s Super Extra Cool Magic™, Delightfully Delightful Necromancy™ *waves at her boyfriend Johannes Cabal*, Ha Ha Ha Stuff™, and a most delectable array of Exquisitely Diverse Characters™ (exploding fish-like people and winged people and return-of-the-living-dead-type-people, oh my!).
③ There are delicious, ancient villains whose names alone make my exoskeleton tingle and shiver and flutter and stuff. I mean, these evil guys and chicks are named after horrendous diseases! How amazing is that?! We’ve got Leprosy! We’ve got Typhoid! We’ve got Consumption! Aren’t those the cutest names ever?! I’m feeling super inspired all of a sudden, and can’t wait for the next batch of murderous crustaceans to hatch. My new babies are going to have the coolest, most charming names ever! I am all excite and stuff!
④ The most scrumptious cast of characters is most eclectic and most scrumptious. And the most scrumptious thing about the scrumptious cast is that none of its scrumptious members are entirely very good. And that’s pretty scrumptious, if you ask me. There is a scrumptious husband-wife team of yummy assassins with bucket loads of scrumptious thugs at their heels. There is also a most scrumptious red-haired, kilt-wearing, Viking-type scout dude who may or may not be residing in my High Security Harem as we speak. There is also Viking-type scout dude’s reluctant sidekick whose main reason for being scrumptious resides in the fact that he has a thing for toads being screwed (don’t ask). There are also most scrumptious traitors but spoiler spoiler spoiler so spoiler spoiler spoiler. All in all, I would almost be tempted to say that the cast of characters is nearly most scrumptious. A little.
I’m with you on that one, O Onion-Ringed One.
⑤ Severed limbs and detached heads, yay! I should have started with that one, come to think of it. I mean, blood, gore and jolly dismemberment are all one really needs in life to be gloriously and blissfully happy, is it not? I knew you’d agree with me on that one, Comely Arthropods Mine.
⑥ Alternate first and third person POVs. Okay, so it seems that some People of the Despicable Book Taste™ who read paper/digital/whatever editions of this book think alternating between first and third person narrative was sometimes confusing and clunky and clumsy and stuff.
So. My advice to you Boldalicious Barnacles would be to read this Slightly Pretty Good Book™ (even though YOU WILL NEVER KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT), and then either learn how to read Russian in 10 minutes or rent a platoon of murderous crustaceans from me (at the reduced priced of $1,000,000) and threaten to unleash them on Tor Books if the rest of the series isn’t released in English
[Pre-review nonsense]
That feeling you get when the book you just finished ends in a Bloody Stinking Cliffhanger (BSC™) but
And also:
And also, also:
➽ Full Someone Better Release The Rest of This Series Post Haste Or Else Someone Might Perhaps Maybe Possibly Unleash A Bunch Of Murderous Crustaceans On Someone But Hey No Pressure And Stuff Crappy Non Review (BSPYBRATBITSPHOESMPPMUABOMCOYBHNPASCNR™) to come.
[October 2017]
The Evil Russians™ super enthusiastically rated this book 3 miserable little stars, so of course I had to read it. That's crustacean logic for you. Or maybe Exceptionally Efficient Long Distance Russian Brain Hacking (EELDRBH™) at work.
Ha! I knew it! Okay, Evgeny, you can ditch the silly costume now, we all know it's you. The axe is a nice touch, though. I think you should keep it.
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