jreason's review against another edition
5.0
Well, this was another good addition to the series. I will rate it 5 stars because I enjoyed it immensely, however I had a few issues.
I found the story quite hard to follow, it was very convoluted and confusing. But an interesting story none the less.
I found the story quite hard to follow, it was very convoluted and confusing. But an interesting story none the less.
Spoiler
And I find it hard to believe, that after everything he did, that people would willingly follow the king again. Especially Dodd. I find it incredibly hard to believe he wouldn't want vengeance. But no, all the king gets is a slap on the wrist and told behaveshai3d's review against another edition
4.0
I have gotten to where I almost expect a slump in the storyline with the second book. Well I am happy to say that THE CIPHERS OF MUIRWOOD goes against the curve. While there isn't as much running from place to place, this book delves deeper into the characters themselves as Maia studies to pass her Maston test. She learns more about herself and the others around her.
There is joy in the friendship of Suzenne in this book as well as terror of what Maia's father and her abandoned husband are planning. There is a time of learning to trust in the Medium's plans. There is love in this book as well as loss. There is even a surprise appearance of a couple of beloved characters from an earlier trilogy.
I have to say that I am becoming more and more impressed by Jeff Wheeler and his world. His characters are first rate and while you won't like all of the characters, it is easy to understand why they behave as they do . I am really looking forward to reading the next book in this series. If you would like to keep up on his works, head over to Idumea: The Worlds of Jeff Wheeler.
I highly recommend this series and hope that all of my readers who enjoy fantasy will give this series a try. Personally, I am waiting impatiently for the next book to come out.
There is joy in the friendship of Suzenne in this book as well as terror of what Maia's father and her abandoned husband are planning. There is a time of learning to trust in the Medium's plans. There is love in this book as well as loss. There is even a surprise appearance of a couple of beloved characters from an earlier trilogy.
I have to say that I am becoming more and more impressed by Jeff Wheeler and his world. His characters are first rate and while you won't like all of the characters, it is easy to understand why they behave as they do . I am really looking forward to reading the next book in this series. If you would like to keep up on his works, head over to Idumea: The Worlds of Jeff Wheeler.
I highly recommend this series and hope that all of my readers who enjoy fantasy will give this series a try. Personally, I am waiting impatiently for the next book to come out.
habeasopus's review against another edition
3.0
Aaaand here I am in the middle of another Jeff Wheeler trilogy. Guess I have to read the last book to see how this ends! Really interested to see what’s going to happen with this kishion character.
habeasopus's review against another edition
3.0
Aaaand here I am in the middle of another Jeff Wheeler trilogy. Guess I have to read the last book to see how this ends! Really interested to see what’s going to happen with this kishion character.
wanderlustlover's review against another edition
4.0
Summer 2018; Trilogy review:
I should have written this one ages ago, in the summer when it was still fully flushed in my head and I was head over heels in that latest Jeff Wheeler series. While I still have my low-graded complaint that Wheeler continues to establish archetypes/monsters/magical objects and then drag them into each of his next non-world-connect stories without much explanation (instead, relying on the audience to know them already from earlier reads)--
-- what I remember loving most of all in this series was that it took the villain role (that of the Hetaira) and reinventing it. Our main character was suddenly in those shoes and we got to watch her navigate what good and ill comes of being labeled/touched by the darkness of the world. The sacrifices, the outcasting, the humility, all actions without knowing whether there could ever be a positive outcome after the earliest of mistakes.
I felt very intrigued by it and I was glad to see it's full circle in this trio.
I should have written this one ages ago, in the summer when it was still fully flushed in my head and I was head over heels in that latest Jeff Wheeler series. While I still have my low-graded complaint that Wheeler continues to establish archetypes/monsters/magical objects and then drag them into each of his next non-world-connect stories without much explanation (instead, relying on the audience to know them already from earlier reads)--
-- what I remember loving most of all in this series was that it took the villain role (that of the Hetaira) and reinventing it. Our main character was suddenly in those shoes and we got to watch her navigate what good and ill comes of being labeled/touched by the darkness of the world. The sacrifices, the outcasting, the humility, all actions without knowing whether there could ever be a positive outcome after the earliest of mistakes.
I felt very intrigued by it and I was glad to see it's full circle in this trio.
alexk02's review against another edition
4.0
I RECEIVED THIS BOOK FROM NETGALLEY IN EXCHANGE FOR MY HONEST OPINION.
This was a good second book in the trilogy, and it was definitely a great book explaining everything a bit more from the first book. What I had a bit of trouble with was the repetitive nature of Collier and how many times he said he wanted to kiss Maia and everything like that but he couldn't. It was okay the first two times, but after the seventh time around or so it was plain annoying and old. I really enjoyed the love plot between Collier and Maia and I was so excited that it got continued in this book, I love them together so much. But, WHY JEFF WHEELER. WHY. ARGUS. WHY WOULD YOU DO SUCH A THING. NOOOO. That was the most upsetting part of the whole book. Other than those things it was a great book and I'm definitely excited to continue on and finish out this trilogy!
This was a good second book in the trilogy, and it was definitely a great book explaining everything a bit more from the first book. What I had a bit of trouble with was the repetitive nature of Collier and how many times he said he wanted to kiss Maia and everything like that but he couldn't. It was okay the first two times, but after the seventh time around or so it was plain annoying and old. I really enjoyed the love plot between Collier and Maia and I was so excited that it got continued in this book, I love them together so much. But, WHY JEFF WHEELER. WHY. ARGUS. WHY WOULD YOU DO SUCH A THING. NOOOO. That was the most upsetting part of the whole book. Other than those things it was a great book and I'm definitely excited to continue on and finish out this trilogy!
once_upon_a_tome's review against another edition
4.0
I love so much how Wheeler ties his series together, making them feel like one giant world but still able to be read as a separate series. I am definitely more partial to the Kingfountain series, but that may be because I read that one before any of Jeff Wheelers other works (I still have the Whispers of Mirrowen to start and finish). I have enjoyed them all but there's a constant pattern I think could be changed up a little (merely my observation though). All the series I have read by Wheeler the protag seems to NEED a love interest, even when the love interest isn't really a good person. I know, as time goes on, some of them develop as characters but they typically come off as very rude and undeserving of the character's love. I mean, forced into marriage? And then eventually falling for them? Sounds a little Stockholm Syndrome to me. I am hoping with the new Harbinger series, since the main characters are so young, that it might be more about being empowered by friends and your inner strength rather than constantly battling with a love interest, especially since I think like, at least in the case of this particular series (Covenant), the love interest doesn't add much to the story other than adding to Maia's feeling a helplessness. Perhaps I am just reading too much into it though! It is there and I accept it. Keep on writing Mr. Wheeler!
aziz_reads's review against another edition
5.0
I read the first installment of this series in graphic novel form, which has its merits. The last time I read a series in split formats was when I read Spy Goddess. I don't believe reading just one format for an entire series makes the experience any more or less enjoyable, but that's just me. Anyway, I got this version from NetGalley after reading the first book. In this installment, Maia finds a for of freedom from her father, and meets other powerful women like her training to be ciphers. Of course, in this world everyone is scared of the power a woman can wield, so her father and ex husband have plans to pass a law that would give her father far too much power. I really liked watching Maia develop as a person and seeing her deal with the sudden information that she needs to basically save the world with powers she doesn't have a complete hold on just yet. Pair this with the fact that nearly everyone she meets seems to not like her at all, it's inevitable that we get to see her find inner strength.
It takes talent and guts to release books so closely together as Wheeler is doing. It's not a bad thing--the previous book is fresh in our mind, we're still excited--but what a deadline! this book is set to release just a few months after the last one. Will we be reading the last one before Christmas? Luckily, Wheeler's prowess at writing keeps readers at the edge of their seats anyway, so he's doing a public service releasing these so close together.
Overall: I'd get it a library, and recommend it to friends. I wouldn't quite buy it for myself, but I would get a print version for my sister and then my daughter when she's old enough, so it still counts. 5/5
It takes talent and guts to release books so closely together as Wheeler is doing. It's not a bad thing--the previous book is fresh in our mind, we're still excited--but what a deadline! this book is set to release just a few months after the last one. Will we be reading the last one before Christmas? Luckily, Wheeler's prowess at writing keeps readers at the edge of their seats anyway, so he's doing a public service releasing these so close together.
Overall: I'd get it a library, and recommend it to friends. I wouldn't quite buy it for myself, but I would get a print version for my sister and then my daughter when she's old enough, so it still counts. 5/5
aziz_reads's review against another edition
5.0
I read the first installment of this series in graphic novel form, which has its merits. The last time I read a series in split formats was when I read Spy Goddess. I don't believe reading just one format for an entire series makes the experience any more or less enjoyable, but that's just me. Anyway, I got this version from NetGalley after reading the first book. In this installment, Maia finds a for of freedom from her father, and meets other powerful women like her training to be ciphers. Of course, in this world everyone is scared of the power a woman can wield, so her father and ex husband have plans to pass a law that would give her father far too much power. I really liked watching Maia develop as a person and seeing her deal with the sudden information that she needs to basically save the world with powers she doesn't have a complete hold on just yet. Pair this with the fact that nearly everyone she meets seems to not like her at all, it's inevitable that we get to see her find inner strength.
It takes talent and guts to release books so closely together as Wheeler is doing. It's not a bad thing--the previous book is fresh in our mind, we're still excited--but what a deadline! this book is set to release just a few months after the last one. Will we be reading the last one before Christmas? Luckily, Wheeler's prowess at writing keeps readers at the edge of their seats anyway, so he's doing a public service releasing these so close together.
Overall: I'd get it a library, and recommend it to friends. I wouldn't quite buy it for myself, but I would get a print version for my sister and then my daughter when she's old enough, so it still counts. 5/5
It takes talent and guts to release books so closely together as Wheeler is doing. It's not a bad thing--the previous book is fresh in our mind, we're still excited--but what a deadline! this book is set to release just a few months after the last one. Will we be reading the last one before Christmas? Luckily, Wheeler's prowess at writing keeps readers at the edge of their seats anyway, so he's doing a public service releasing these so close together.
Overall: I'd get it a library, and recommend it to friends. I wouldn't quite buy it for myself, but I would get a print version for my sister and then my daughter when she's old enough, so it still counts. 5/5
tigerlinus's review against another edition
3.0
3.5. Would have rated higher but for some repetitive references, i.e., Collier and Maia not being able to kiss, always tucking her hair behind her ear, smoothing her dress. Also, as with Wheeler's other worlds, the magic comes a bit too easily and is not always well explained, or is explained after the fact, and, while I don't dislike Maia, Maia is too perfect a character in this series. Perfect in the sense that she is able to forgive everyone, able to make sound decisions ALL the time, just one of those characters that always gets it right, even though we read of her conflicting emotions in most situations she finds herself. She is always able to look beyond the challenge, the evil actions and thoughts of another character, and is surprisingly able to do the impossible time and time again.
Having said that, I like this world - though not more than the Kingfountain series, and I am a fan of Wheeler's characters overall. On to the Void of Muirwood.
Spoiler
Not a fan of Argus's death, which is fine if it helps advance the story and/or makes sense in the setting, but Maia was no longer in any danger when Argus came to her defense. The kishion had walked away, and Maia was safe on Muirwood grounds, so there wasn't any cause for Argus's death at the hands of the kishion. The killing was pretty much glossed over - it wasn't mentioned but a few times toward the conclusion. Just really odd how the whole thing played-out, and the timing of the killing. In addition, even though I enjoyed Lia and Colvin from the first Muirwood trilogy, I thought it a bit odd when they appeared centuries later in this book, and not as spirits.Having said that, I like this world - though not more than the Kingfountain series, and I am a fan of Wheeler's characters overall. On to the Void of Muirwood.