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arian_dragonelf's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
This took a long while for me to get into. That’s really the only thing that kept me from giving it 5 stars. This was intense. I could handle all the fighting scenes, but it was hard for me to get through the animal deaths. Poor Buddai! I teared up imagining the faithful hound lying on his master’s chest as he died. That was rough. I did see some things coming, but that wasn’t a bad thing. I was kind of irritated that we didn’t get any information about Corban. John Gwynne had been teasing it for I don’t know how many chapters, and then the book just ends. Thankfully I do have Valor, but I don’t know if I want to go straight in. I think I need to sit in this for a little bit. I need to go read a cozy mystery or reread a favorite romance. There is only so much head chopping a person can take!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, and War
Moderate: Gore, Kidnapping, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
rachel_faerie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
The beginning was a nice slow world and character building experience but once I connected to the characters man I fell in love with it and had a great time.
Also wow John Gwynne is RUTHLESS lol I can’t believe this was his debut!? I can’t wait to get to book 2 🥲
Also wow John Gwynne is RUTHLESS lol I can’t believe this was his debut!? I can’t wait to get to book 2 🥲
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Violence, and War
thoughtsontomes's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
There is a lot of setup in this book for the greater conflict of the overall series, and as such it is pretty heavy. There’s a tension building throughout and a lot of characters involved. It can be confusing at first, especially since some storylines are similar, but they start to differentiate as the book goes on. This is a series with a lot of character death though, so be warned!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Child death, Gore, Blood, and Death of parent
Moderate: Ableism and War
chrisb913's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I am incredibly shocked this was a debut novel. The way Gwynne had me gripped to the edge of my seat as I devoured this story. I had heard there was slow pacing and that is factual. But I could not put this book down. The character work for me was phenomenal. The way he incorporated so many povs into this story, yet still was able to seamlessly weave the narrative between them and progress the overarching plot between so many different subplot going on. If this was his first novel, and everything gets better from here? I cannot wait to continue on.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Bullying, Death of parent, and War
Minor: Alcoholism, Physical abuse, and Torture
btaylorg's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I dislike giving ratings now because depending on my mood and who you are it could go lower or higher. But a friend was curious my thoughts on this book so here they are.
It was a fine book. It trode well known and worn literary roads. People complain about tropes, but they are tropes for a reason. When done well, tropes work. I did not find myself hating the obvious tropes in fact I found them to be moderately to well written.
Where this novel shines is in the action scenes. There is a certain visceral nature to the scenes, As the author describes the sword, shield, and spear combat, there is a balance in very specific combat descriptions and the frenzied nature of a battle.
Now to the negatives.
I felt there were too many point of view characters. I found myself annoyed that I was intrested in one story and then forced to jump to another that I just did not care about. I understand why that was the case given what needed to be shown in order for the book to make sense. But still that was a bit rough for me.
Also consider yourself warned. This novel has a very slow start. It does pick up. But be prepared to go though a large part of the novel before it gets more engaging.
Overall it was a enjoyable read. From what I understood this was the author's first novel so I'm giving him a little leeway. Many great authors make less then stellar, if not tired, first entries to thier series but then follow up with something truly engaging and special (I'm looking at you Pierce Brown and your Red Rising series) but this novel did what it needed. It got me engaged and had me enter a warlike fantasy world inside its pages. It may not be for everyone but I will continue the series. Excited to see Swords and spears clash with giants and gods.
It was a fine book. It trode well known and worn literary roads. People complain about tropes, but they are tropes for a reason. When done well, tropes work. I did not find myself hating the obvious tropes in fact I found them to be moderately to well written.
Where this novel shines is in the action scenes. There is a certain visceral nature to the scenes, As the author describes the sword, shield, and spear combat, there is a balance in very specific combat descriptions and the frenzied nature of a battle.
Now to the negatives.
I felt there were too many point of view characters. I found myself annoyed that I was intrested in one story and then forced to jump to another that I just did not care about. I understand why that was the case given what needed to be shown in order for the book to make sense. But still that was a bit rough for me.
Also consider yourself warned. This novel has a very slow start. It does pick up. But be prepared to go though a large part of the novel before it gets more engaging.
Overall it was a enjoyable read. From what I understood this was the author's first novel so I'm giving him a little leeway. Many great authors make less then stellar, if not tired, first entries to thier series but then follow up with something truly engaging and special (I'm looking at you Pierce Brown and your Red Rising series) but this novel did what it needed. It got me engaged and had me enter a warlike fantasy world inside its pages. It may not be for everyone but I will continue the series. Excited to see Swords and spears clash with giants and gods.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and War
happyknitter2020's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-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? It's complicated
5.0
Absolutely loved it. My first John Gwynne book, become attached to the characters, developed an ecomap of each group, so could keep up with the POVs as they developed & listened to the audio book to reflect on what I had read. Thiscreally helped me get through the first half, after this I felt I was in their world.
So many people that I cared for died so quickly without preparing.
So many people that I cared for died so quickly without preparing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Gore, Blood, Grief, Murder, and War
ashleykhoffman's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75
Now this is a war fantasy. Some authors try to write war, but every character comes out relatively unscathed, but this is dark and twisty and heartbreaking. There are a LOT of characters and places, and for a first book in a series, I think a lot of them were unnecessary and just made this slower to get through. I had to take notes to make sure I was even kind of following earlier parts of the book. It does seem like the series will be much easier to follow in subsequent books, but be aware if you're a mood reader that this one takes focus and determination to plow through the world building. But the end is worth it and I'm excited for book 2.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Violence, and War
Moderate: Grief
hails2dabails's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence, Blood, Murder, and War
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Addiction, Animal death, and Alcohol
kmack79's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
4.0
Even the brave will fall"
There are humans, draighs, giants, wyrm, wolven, and a talking bird.
The world building was good and the magic system I feel is just the beginning in this book.
The black sun is gaining its ascendency and there are going to be far larger problems to come than this war. The prophesy indicates darkness and light will demand two champions, the Black Sun and the Bright Star. They would be wise to seek out both, for if the Black Sun gains ascendancy, mankind’s hopes and dreams will fall to dust
Corban is a young warrior who is learning to protect and serve under King Brenin. He finds a wolven who he raises from a pup that now has grown and is his protective companion. He is the main character in this book so you definitely root for him.
Veradis is a very skilled swordsmen who is in the High prince Nathair's warband. He seems like a cool character. Seems like a Jamie Lanister type except isnt so cocky. ; )
Nathair- the High Prince, doesn't agree with his father (High King Aquilus) to summon his fellow kings to council.
The book reminded me of Game of thrones in many ways. Its violent. Don't get too comfortable with characters they may die!
There are humans, draighs, giants, wyrm, wolven, and a talking bird.
The world building was good and the magic system I feel is just the beginning in this book.
The black sun is gaining its ascendency and there are going to be far larger problems to come than this war. The prophesy indicates darkness and light will demand two champions, the Black Sun and the Bright Star. They would be wise to seek out both, for if the Black Sun gains ascendancy, mankind’s hopes and dreams will fall to dust
Corban is a young warrior who is learning to protect and serve under King Brenin. He finds a wolven who he raises from a pup that now has grown and is his protective companion. He is the main character in this book so you definitely root for him.
Veradis is a very skilled swordsmen who is in the High prince Nathair's warband. He seems like a cool character. Seems like a Jamie Lanister type except isnt so cocky. ; )
Nathair- the High Prince, doesn't agree with his father (High King Aquilus) to summon his fellow kings to council.
The book reminded me of Game of thrones in many ways. Its violent. Don't get too comfortable with characters they may die!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, and War
lejones1785's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Not for the faint of heart. There are a lot of characters and storylines to keep track of. I loved every minute of it. It's like game of thrones without bad language and nakiness. I had a hard time putting this book down because I was so invested in the characters and the stories. My only complaint is to be prepared for a cliffhanger. I can't wait to start the next book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Violence, and War