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kaine_'s review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.25
pemdas97's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
rohan_rohan's review against another edition
3.0
Probably my least favourite book of the series, but the author did stick the landing to this one.
Gruesome and non-forgiving are the major themes of this novel. The characters are against put in such painful and difficult situations that you even start empathising with the not-so-moral characters
Also the author’s spin on prophecies themes was a unique one. The revelations in this book caught my by surprise. There were some very unexpected character eliminations and survivals.
In all, it’s a highly recommendable series for its unique take on prophecies, religion and the will to forgive one of its past.
Gruesome and non-forgiving are the major themes of this novel. The characters are against put in such painful and difficult situations that you even start empathising with the not-so-moral characters
Also the author’s spin on prophecies themes was a unique one. The revelations in this book caught my by surprise. There were some very unexpected character eliminations and survivals.
In all, it’s a highly recommendable series for its unique take on prophecies, religion and the will to forgive one of its past.
madiunde23's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
hawkeyegonzalez's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
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
5.0
I've finally finished one of the largest books I've ever read, and it just so happens to be one of the best as well. The Five Warrior Angels has been a great adventure from the beginning, but it definitely saved the best for last.
Despite the book's massive size, the story is utterly gripping from beginning to end. There continues to be multi-POVs here, but none of them are boring and are important to the overall plot. The story itself isn't complex, but seeing it play out from so many different angles is something that always gets to me in the best way.
There are so many characters here that it's impossible to run through them all. I will say that I love how none of them are stereotypes. There is no chosen one or anything like that. Everyone here is just trying to survive what's coming, and as such, they will sometimes make decisions that readers will not agree with. No one here is all good or all bad, and they do things to help themselves and the people they care about, and this includes the antagonists.
Another thing I love about this book is there is no all-powerful weapon or unbeatable character. Everyone has their moments, but no one is invincible, not even the angel weapons. Every character gets beaten down at some point, some of them several times. It gives a constant feeling of dread that any character can die during any fight.
Then there's Fiery Absolution. This event was built up throughout the entire series, so I was a little nervous that it wouldn't live up to the hype. Luckily, I didn't have to worry. Fiery Absolution is one of the greatest and longest battle sequences I've ever read. For a just over 1,000 page book, this single battle takes up at least a third of it. Every character in the series that's still alive by this point is involved here, and it is bloody and brutal on a scale that I haven't seen very often. Despite that, Durfee does a masterful job with pacing and adds a few slower moments to give readers and characters a chance to breathe before the next clash.
All in all, this is one of my top 20 fantasy books of all-time, maybe even top 10, and it's one of the most underrated fantasy series ever. I can't wait to go back and read it all again.
Oh, and Beer Mug has taken the top spot away from Dresden's Mouse as my favorite animal companion.
Despite the book's massive size, the story is utterly gripping from beginning to end. There continues to be multi-POVs here, but none of them are boring and are important to the overall plot. The story itself isn't complex, but seeing it play out from so many different angles is something that always gets to me in the best way.
There are so many characters here that it's impossible to run through them all. I will say that I love how none of them are stereotypes. There is no chosen one or anything like that. Everyone here is just trying to survive what's coming, and as such, they will sometimes make decisions that readers will not agree with. No one here is all good or all bad, and they do things to help themselves and the people they care about, and this includes the antagonists.
Another thing I love about this book is there is no all-powerful weapon or unbeatable character. Everyone has their moments, but no one is invincible, not even the angel weapons. Every character gets beaten down at some point, some of them several times. It gives a constant feeling of dread that any character can die during any fight.
Then there's Fiery Absolution. This event was built up throughout the entire series, so I was a little nervous that it wouldn't live up to the hype. Luckily, I didn't have to worry. Fiery Absolution is one of the greatest and longest battle sequences I've ever read. For a just over 1,000 page book, this single battle takes up at least a third of it. Every character in the series that's still alive by this point is involved here, and it is bloody and brutal on a scale that I haven't seen very often. Despite that, Durfee does a masterful job with pacing and adds a few slower moments to give readers and characters a chance to breathe before the next clash.
All in all, this is one of my top 20 fantasy books of all-time, maybe even top 10, and it's one of the most underrated fantasy series ever. I can't wait to go back and read it all again.
Oh, and Beer Mug has taken the top spot away from Dresden's Mouse as my favorite animal companion.
lucky859's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jntils's review
1.0
I DNF'ed this book about 1/3rd of the way through and skipped to the end for at least a small piece of resolution. This book caused me to end a 100+ day reading streak.
I thoroughly enjoyed the first book and felt there was enough action and plot movement to counter the endless world building and characterization. Essentially, I believed it would be worth it. Lots of books build to a crescendo and I truly believed this would happen.
The second book was even more world building and the plot moved at a snails pace. These are large books and every chapter I felt more and more of my will to continue taken away.
By the third book I couldn't take the slow moving plot any longer and skipped to the very end.
If you can make it, it seemed like it had a very climactic ending. I couldn't.
I thoroughly enjoyed the first book and felt there was enough action and plot movement to counter the endless world building and characterization. Essentially, I believed it would be worth it. Lots of books build to a crescendo and I truly believed this would happen.
The second book was even more world building and the plot moved at a snails pace. These are large books and every chapter I felt more and more of my will to continue taken away.
By the third book I couldn't take the slow moving plot any longer and skipped to the very end.
If you can make it, it seemed like it had a very climactic ending. I couldn't.
jmac1378's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
paromita_m's review against another edition
4.0
Oh. My. God. I was left speechless by the deft handling of twists and turns in this novel, all of which were impactful and well-earned.
Let me rewind a bit. The Lonesome Crown is the final installment in The Five Warrior Angels trilogy. I had thoroughly enjoyed the first two installments - The Forgetting Moon and The Blackest Heart - so this was a highly anticipated release for me and my expectations were sky high. The author met and actually far exceeded my expectations of what this finale would be.
Strong writing. Check.
Well-defined characters with clear motivations, (yet sufficient aura of mystery around them to ensure that none of the plot twists felt like contrivances). Check.
Interesting story. Check.
Powerful themes. Check.
This final book in the trilogy delivers on every count and resolves all the unanswered questions set up in Books 1 and 2, yet leaves the possibility open for Mr Durfee to write more in this universe. An amazing achievement.
As epic fantasy readers, we are always assailed by the concern - will a series brimming with potential stick the landing? I an pleased to report that The Five Warrior Angels definitely does and unhesitatingly recommend it to epic fantasy readers, especially fans of George RR Martin and Tad Williams' works.
I end my review with a special shoutout to the author for the moving Dedication and Acknowledgements (which made me choke up) and the beautifully constructed epigraphs at the beginning of each chapter. I recommend trying this series for the epigraphs alone. Maybe you find something "magical" - who knows?
Let me rewind a bit. The Lonesome Crown is the final installment in The Five Warrior Angels trilogy. I had thoroughly enjoyed the first two installments - The Forgetting Moon and The Blackest Heart - so this was a highly anticipated release for me and my expectations were sky high. The author met and actually far exceeded my expectations of what this finale would be.
Strong writing. Check.
Well-defined characters with clear motivations, (yet sufficient aura of mystery around them to ensure that none of the plot twists felt like contrivances). Check.
Interesting story. Check.
Powerful themes. Check.
This final book in the trilogy delivers on every count and resolves all the unanswered questions set up in Books 1 and 2, yet leaves the possibility open for Mr Durfee to write more in this universe. An amazing achievement.
As epic fantasy readers, we are always assailed by the concern - will a series brimming with potential stick the landing? I an pleased to report that The Five Warrior Angels definitely does and unhesitatingly recommend it to epic fantasy readers, especially fans of George RR Martin and Tad Williams' works.
I end my review with a special shoutout to the author for the moving Dedication and Acknowledgements (which made me choke up) and the beautifully constructed epigraphs at the beginning of each chapter. I recommend trying this series for the epigraphs alone. Maybe you find something "magical" - who knows?