rachel_from_cambridge's review
4.0
I love this series. This is a much better introduction to the world than book 1 of the sun sword series
avis's review against another edition
5.0
I'm so emotionally invested in these characters it's crazy. I love this book <3
sodaburger's review against another edition
2.0
It started okay; but overall was too verbose and I didn't like the ending
nineteen_adze's review against another edition
4.0
This was somewhere in the 3.75 or 4 star range for me.
Content warnings: moderate to severe;
The first half is quite strong, introducing a grumpy old(ish) man, a stubborn orphan with visions, and a complex world that feels alive. The second half is much slower, introducing a lot of secondary characters who don't get time to breathe. I think there would have been more room for that is there hadn't been so many internal monologue segments and guarded conversations about gaining information.
I don't mind when books move slowly, but to me this felt like the focus just wasn't always chosen well; I would have appreciated more character interactions and less long segments of people speculating about what the others are thinking or might do. Some emotional moments also seem slow or over-explained, especially in the second half. I'll probably try the next book for this readalong, but I really hope the pacing is better.
Content warnings: moderate to severe;
Spoiler
the book features a lot of implied/ offscreen child abuse, including sexual abuse, and one offscreen rape of a far-underage girl. It's not graphic, but the dread and reality of the assault are pervasive elements.The first half is quite strong, introducing a grumpy old(ish) man, a stubborn orphan with visions, and a complex world that feels alive. The second half is much slower, introducing a lot of secondary characters who don't get time to breathe. I think there would have been more room for that is there hadn't been so many internal monologue segments and guarded conversations about gaining information.
I don't mind when books move slowly, but to me this felt like the focus just wasn't always chosen well; I would have appreciated more character interactions and less long segments of people speculating about what the others are thinking or might do. Some emotional moments also seem slow or over-explained, especially in the second half. I'll probably try the next book for this readalong, but I really hope the pacing is better.
radioactve_piano's review
3.0
The story itself was interesting and fun to read. That said, I needed a long time to get into the writing, and even then, I was jarred by the random sentence fragments. West definitely has a voice -- normally I nestle right into an author's voice; not sure why I struggled so hard to do that with this book.
Also, while the story is told from a narrator's point of view, it often focuses on one of the two main characters' perspectives. As the book went on, though, that focus would jump randomly to another character for a few pages. On the one had, I can understand the reason -- as more characters were gathered, this happened more frequently. I was put off by how late in the book it started happening, though. It felt incredibly deliberate and a bit forced -- like the author couldn't really get inside the other characters' heads, but felt like she had to try anyway.
Overall, good story, but the writing wasn't good enough to make me want to continue reading West's work.
Also, while the story is told from a narrator's point of view, it often focuses on one of the two main characters' perspectives. As the book went on, though, that focus would jump randomly to another character for a few pages. On the one had, I can understand the reason -- as more characters were gathered, this happened more frequently. I was put off by how late in the book it started happening, though. It felt incredibly deliberate and a bit forced -- like the author couldn't really get inside the other characters' heads, but felt like she had to try anyway.
Overall, good story, but the writing wasn't good enough to make me want to continue reading West's work.
vaderbird's review against another edition
3.0
5 star - Perfect
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
linluvsbooks's review against another edition
3.0
Don’t remember when I read it, but remember it did not pull me in as the Sun Sword series did. I lean more to 2.5 stars but am rounding up.
soulfulsin's review
4.0
I'm not sure how I feel about this book, all told. I was really enjoying it up until . That Duster would allow it, I had no doubt. That I was hoping for better from her, I also had no doubt. That Rath permitted it, that he was measuring Jewel up to the same standards as his sister, is disgusting.
And I'm afraid that mars the book in my mind. I will probably pick up the sequel...in a while. When my visceral reaction to an eleven-year-old's trauma and the failure of both her guardian and someone she had sworn to help fade.
Spoiler
Jewel gets rapedAnd I'm afraid that mars the book in my mind. I will probably pick up the sequel...in a while. When my visceral reaction to an eleven-year-old's trauma and the failure of both her guardian and someone she had sworn to help fade.
coris's review
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Pedophilia, Murder, and Child abuse