a_libraryghost's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I have mixed feelings about the pacing of the book. The siege definitely felt very slow paced and the book felt like it was taking a time to read which is something I usually don’t enjoy, but at the same time the tension was really good. I was always afraid for the characters and despite the slow pacing I never wanted to stop reading.
The one thing I absolutely did not like was Zane. I wanted someone to kill him every time he appeared he just annoyed me so much. I did like his and Straf’s storyline and the plot twist with the poison, but Zane as a character was unbearable.
The best thing though was the ending. I’d actually managed to be spoiled on a couple of things so I expected not to enjoy it as much but there were still surprises and even the things I knew were coming happened in a different way than I expected. It was exhilarating and anxiety inducing!
Graphic: Death and Violence
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Ableism and Addiction
jodean's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
<Spoiler>I love Sazed so much and how dare you hurt him so.
I hated Zane, as a person and a character. His toll on Vin was difficult to read and went nowhere. The constant insistence on things he couldn't have known about was frustrating.
The ending left me slack jawed. I'm still in shock. It's the perfect antagonist to these characters.
Graphic: Death, Classism, Abandonment, War, Grief, Violence, Murder, and Blood
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Stalking, Gore, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Ableism
Minor: Medical content, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Slavery, Pregnancy, Drug use, Religious bigotry, and Addiction
zeppelinnyx's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book is a really good example of how good reveals and plot twists hit when they’re delivered effectively. It doesn’t feel like anything comes out of nowhere, and the result leaves the reader feeling surprised but satisfied. Also, really fantastic characters. They all feel very deep and real. It’s a pretty gloomy book, though. Leaves off on hella sad vibes; I don’t expect that to change given the series track record. This makes me feel apprehensive about the final installment.
Quality of Writing: 9/10
Pacing: 7/10
Plot Development: 8/10
Characters: 10/10
Enjoyability: 7/10
Ease of Reading: 5/10
Ending: 9/10
Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Self harm, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexism, Death, Addiction, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Rape, Slavery, Violence, Abandonment, Physical abuse, Blood, Colonisation, Grief, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, War, Cannibalism, Classism, Drug use, Gore, Body horror, and Sexual violence
noellelovesbooks's review against another edition
4.5
I think if I would have had this book on hand, as soon as I finished Mistborn, I would have immediately dove in. When I was finally able to order, and receive, this book I think it took me a bit to pick it up because I was worried. If you’ve ever read fantasy series before…sometimes as the series continues the books continue to be brutal on your emotions. However I was determined to read this book this month, so I set out a goal and within roughly 12 days I completed it.
We pick up roughly a year after Kelsier and the Lord Ruler were murdered. The young nobleman Vin fell for, in Mistborn, is now the King of Luchador. Between King Elend, the crew, and Vin they’re desperately trying to ensure their kingdom’s future. As if running a [recently liberated] kingdom isn’t hard enough they’re also faced with multiple armies outside their gates. Armies that are eager to take them over and reinstate so many of the Lord Ruler’s laws just with a new figurehead in place.
This book was a lot of fun because I feel like, media-wise, we’re used to seeing things liberated or conquered but rarely see the after-effects or what it takes to move on. I mean think about how many things we watch and read that have a mission to overcome and then it’s over and…we’re left thinking everything continued on perfectly? Nah, the struggle is real.
We jump between roughly ten different POVs throughout the book, of course, Vin is the primary narrative we see. It’s interesting seeing how Sanderson will sometimes have a POV added that literally get’s part of a chapter and then we never see them again, or we don’t see them until the next book. Really kept me on my toes thinking…will this person be important?
The majority of this book felt slower-paced, although enemies are numerous and things are happening, it felt like we have a steady pace until about 2/3 of the way through, and then we hit warp speed. Roughly the last 200 pages had a chokehold on me and I couldn’t stop until I knew what was going to happen.
I now have so many more questions and look forward to starting the final book, in the trilogy, very soon!
Graphic: Violence, Gore, Death, Child death, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, War, Rape, Blood, Murder, Animal death, and Body horror
Moderate: Ableism and Slavery
lazy_reader_nz's review
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Minor: Ableism