katmarhan's review
3.0
7/10
This is a story with lots of promise and a few really intriguing elements, but it also is somewhat flawed. The timeline, especially in the last third of the book or so, seems a bit askew. The characters don’t have a lot of depth—most are cardboard role-players. Even those characters who are more fleshed out seem to exist, not as individuals, but as game pieces. And while I know this is fantasy, there should be some sense of reality. Ashen, having been raised in the Bale-Bog, is an amazingly quick study at courtly manners, speech, dress, and pursuits like music, dancing, and needlework. She, Oberon of the Sea-Rovers, and the men of Rendel converse easily despite speaking different languages. Even with these weaknesses, the story is interesting and I look forward to seeing what happens next in this series. I also hope for stronger writing in the rest of the series.
This is a story with lots of promise and a few really intriguing elements, but it also is somewhat flawed. The timeline, especially in the last third of the book or so, seems a bit askew. The characters don’t have a lot of depth—most are cardboard role-players. Even those characters who are more fleshed out seem to exist, not as individuals, but as game pieces. And while I know this is fantasy, there should be some sense of reality. Ashen, having been raised in the Bale-Bog, is an amazingly quick study at courtly manners, speech, dress, and pursuits like music, dancing, and needlework. She, Oberon of the Sea-Rovers, and the men of Rendel converse easily despite speaking different languages. Even with these weaknesses, the story is interesting and I look forward to seeing what happens next in this series. I also hope for stronger writing in the rest of the series.
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