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knightradiant4's review against another edition
4.0
A fine first book. I found myself liking the villains more than the heroes to the point where i wanted the villains to win.
Also, Jim Butcher doesn't know how to write a 15-year old. He seemed like he was 12, so it wouldn't have changed much to make him 12.
Also, Jim Butcher doesn't know how to write a 15-year old. He seemed like he was 12, so it wouldn't have changed much to make him 12.
sanaastoria's review against another edition
4.0
[4 Stars] This is a 4 star rating for me! It was wonderful and I absolutely adored the ending. I'm going to try to write a longer review later because right now my head is spinning slightly, but a really great start to a fantasy book series!
bethgoldy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
3.0
jpgnelson's review against another edition
adventurous
2.5
Would be a lower score but the second half of the book was really good. Very slow start though.
jessica_ponnapalli's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
kairosdreaming's review against another edition
4.0
I've read a good portion of the Dresden Files, which, while having issues in the first few books, matured and improved as the series went on. So I was very much looking forward to this series, which is still fantasy based, but more of the traditional fantasy. And I'm pleased to say that it was just as good as what I had heard. While there are some issues (mainly characterization), largely I enjoyed the magic system, world-building, and general premise of the book.
There are a few main characters in this; so I'm not going to go into too much detail. The most important are probably Tavi, a young boy who does not have the elemental abilities much of his people do, and as such has to be capable in his own ways. And Amara, a cursor working for the main top guy in the book and capable in her own right. There are plenty of other characters of course, as I said, but really, I only cared about Bernard, because he's supposed to be the fawnable guy in this one (and he is mostly, I guess, still can't get a good read on him).
Strife, intrigue, betrayal. This book has it all. It largely follows yours standard fantasy plotline of big evil coming against good against all odds, small but scrappy group fighting, different creatures or peoples with different abilities. But the magic (elementals) was good, the plotline mostly exciting and adventuresome, and it's easy to get caught up into it. I can definitely see myself continuing with the series (and hoping that maybe, just maybe, the female characters will be a bit more nuanced than they tend to be in Butcher's earlier books).
Review by M. Reynard 2023
There are a few main characters in this; so I'm not going to go into too much detail. The most important are probably Tavi, a young boy who does not have the elemental abilities much of his people do, and as such has to be capable in his own ways. And Amara, a cursor working for the main top guy in the book and capable in her own right. There are plenty of other characters of course, as I said, but really, I only cared about Bernard, because he's supposed to be the fawnable guy in this one (and he is mostly, I guess, still can't get a good read on him).
Strife, intrigue, betrayal. This book has it all. It largely follows yours standard fantasy plotline of big evil coming against good against all odds, small but scrappy group fighting, different creatures or peoples with different abilities. But the magic (elementals) was good, the plotline mostly exciting and adventuresome, and it's easy to get caught up into it. I can definitely see myself continuing with the series (and hoping that maybe, just maybe, the female characters will be a bit more nuanced than they tend to be in Butcher's earlier books).
Review by M. Reynard 2023
ebeckett's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5