phil629's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
abigcoffeedragon's review against another edition
2.0
This novel was about twice the length as book one and there is a TON of politics and war and economics in this one - so much so, that it felt over weighted with too much going on - an issue arises, and a solution is found, and the issue is gone - just in time for another issue - nothing sticks around for long story wise except for the lingering between the slave "Kevin" (Horrible name by the way, for a fantasy hero) and the Lady Mara - the Asian influence is what kept me going because the rest of this novel is just too much politics for my liking - and not much story - and a year passed - and nothing - just time passing to allow the child to grow older throughout the entire novel - I just can not stomach the end that I see coming - it is taking too long to tell the Main story, and spends so much time on these little nested stories that begin and end within a few chapters with little to add to the main overall story line - the length of this novel is not troublesome, it is the time spent on the main story that bothers me - and the time on the 'relationship' between Mara and Kevin yet he always spends months away from his friends and forgets them until he gets into a fight with Mara - that is so contrived and such a forgetful friend and kinsman - I want to strangle Kevin with every ounce of strength that I have left that I instead used to close this my FINAL chapter of this trilogy - and unless the next trilogy gets better, I may be saying farewell to the Riftwar cycle very soon - Good beginnings do not excuse bad story telling and over long plot lines.
chefgirlsatan's review
5.0
The moment we met Kevin I did something I never do - I went to the wiki of this trilogy and went straight to the end so I could see how his story turned out. While not necessarily an original character a really fantastic one to be dumped into this world against his will. I might have been in tears at the end of this book if I didn’t already know about his fate in the next book. Mara is a badass. Looking forward to the final installment.
rylee_vaughan's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.75
nicirw's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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? No
4.75
radella_hardwick's review against another edition
3.75
This book is very patchy in quality as compared to the first one, in my opinion
But the last chapter delighted me and I'm eager to see what book 3 will bring
But the last chapter delighted me and I'm eager to see what book 3 will bring
daisyysobel's review against another edition
3.0
3 stars
I was disappointed by this sequel, as I thought the Daughter of the Empire was brilliant. This book raises the stakes in terms of threat but Mara doesn't seem to mature much from the first book.
Personally I found it much harder to root for her as she kept insisting that slaves are property and not humans and it took her literal years to even allow that a slave she apparently is in love with might deserve his freedom. The romance between Kevin and Mara is so drawn out as a major plotline, even though it's totally illogical and doomed and Mara from book 1 would have been too smart to allow it. The way she handled having any bad news for him, and the end of their relationship, was childish and cowardly. If I never read the phrase "barbarian lover" again it will be too soon.
Kevin by the end was downright annoying. It was very off-putting how easily he forgot about his fellow countrymen and slaves, and how little he seemed to care about the conditions they faced for years while he swanned about having baths and feasts. He only really challenged Mara a few times very early on, and then soon stopped providing any really interesting conversations and it became all about them sleeping together.
If their romance had been simply a short part of the book, and the political threats allowed to dominate then I think it would have been an easy 4 stars but there was just way too much Kevin and Mara.
I was disappointed by this sequel, as I thought the Daughter of the Empire was brilliant. This book raises the stakes in terms of threat but Mara doesn't seem to mature much from the first book.
Personally I found it much harder to root for her as she kept insisting that slaves are property and not humans and it took her literal years to even allow that a slave she apparently is in love with might deserve his freedom. The romance between Kevin and Mara is so drawn out as a major plotline, even though it's totally illogical and doomed and Mara from book 1 would have been too smart to allow it. The way she handled having any bad news for him, and the end of their relationship, was childish and cowardly. If I never read the phrase "barbarian lover" again it will be too soon.
Kevin by the end was downright annoying. It was very off-putting how easily he forgot about his fellow countrymen and slaves, and how little he seemed to care about the conditions they faced for years while he swanned about having baths and feasts. He only really challenged Mara a few times very early on, and then soon stopped providing any really interesting conversations and it became all about them sleeping together.
If their romance had been simply a short part of the book, and the political threats allowed to dominate then I think it would have been an easy 4 stars but there was just way too much Kevin and Mara.
charcola's review
5.0
Mara is a character whose femininity makes her stronger - who can show emotion, can fail, can admit her mistakes and come back stronger. I love this sequel !
marimoose's review
3.0
I think the Great Game was perhaps the most fascinating and most refreshing change away from the usual westernized fantasy I've read. Granted, it had its kinks and obviously it had its foundations steeped in violent and unrelenting traditions. But it was different, and it was, dare I say, fresh?
So when the Great Game was put to a perilous change by the end of this second book, I was just a little miffed. I'm not sure which annoyed me more: Mara's staunch infatuation with the first exotic stranger to give her a good time (what kind of a name is Kevin?!), or the fact that I didn't see the brilliance of the Great Game being put to play in the vast expanse of this book (not to mention Arakasi being half-ignored!).
That said, I forgive Mara because even amidst the distractions of love and the eventual mistakes she faces upon her challenges, she somehow manages to pull through, and she somehow manages to sway just the right kind of influence to bring her status further up. Also, there's nothing like seeing various characters--old and new--come into play and interact within the confines--and lack thereof--of their Tsurani culture.
I do miss Mara as the Daughter of the Empire, as opposed to being the Servant.
So when the Great Game was put to a perilous change by the end of this second book, I was just a little miffed. I'm not sure which annoyed me more: Mara's staunch infatuation with the first exotic stranger to give her a good time (what kind of a name is Kevin?!), or the fact that I didn't see the brilliance of the Great Game being put to play in the vast expanse of this book (not to mention Arakasi being half-ignored!).
That said, I forgive Mara because even amidst the distractions of love and the eventual mistakes she faces upon her challenges, she somehow manages to pull through, and she somehow manages to sway just the right kind of influence to bring her status further up. Also, there's nothing like seeing various characters--old and new--come into play and interact within the confines--and lack thereof--of their Tsurani culture.
I do miss Mara as the Daughter of the Empire, as opposed to being the Servant.