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khazlettwrites's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Suicidal thoughts
abetz20's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
This book simultaneously felt ridiculous and excellent. The 5 main characters from our world feel like the author wanted to have people unfamiliar with the world as a vehicle for exposition, but wanted to get to his plot without having to deal with the characters reckoning with their new world. The light and dark conflict sometimes almost feels comedic in how stereotypical it is. I think I would have normally stopped reading after the first 100 pages, but I'm a sucker for worldbuilding, and this book has such a fascinating world.
At some point around a third of the way through the book, I'm not sure what happened, but I had become very invested. Something about the powerful sense of mythology and well done writing had hooked me. Although some of the characters remained flat and uninteresting, many of them began to show real motivations and tragedy that made me interested in their story. The peak of the book imo happens halfway through. There are multiple scenes with such powerful writing that I had goosebumps/tears. After that it doesn't quite reach that peak, but I knew I had to keep reading.
One side note is that this book has a slightly weird relationship with sex. I'm not sure how exactly to describe it but I think it has a weird way of interjecting sexual descriptions or comments in a way that feels unnecessary. There is also a sexual assault scene in the book near the end that just left me with a sour taste.
This book feels like stereotypical fantasy at both it's very highest highs and some of its lows. For those that like that, I think this book is excellent. Those looking for more character driven stories could come away disappointed.
At some point around a third of the way through the book, I'm not sure what happened, but I had become very invested. Something about the powerful sense of mythology and well done writing had hooked me. Although some of the characters remained flat and uninteresting, many of them began to show real motivations and tragedy that made me interested in their story. The peak of the book imo happens halfway through. There are multiple scenes with such powerful writing that I had goosebumps/tears. After that it doesn't quite reach that peak, but I knew I had to keep reading.
One side note is that this book has a slightly weird relationship with sex. I'm not sure how exactly to describe it but I think it has a weird way of interjecting sexual descriptions or comments in a way that feels unnecessary. There is also a sexual assault scene in the book near the end that just left me with a sour taste.
This book feels like stereotypical fantasy at both it's very highest highs and some of its lows. For those that like that, I think this book is excellent. Those looking for more character driven stories could come away disappointed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Sexual harassment
tavetzuigel's review against another edition
adventurous
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault
frootlupo's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Kay’s prose is beautiful, if not his most refined - with a wonderfully evocative world and soft magic system to back it up. The world really does feel brimming with magic and mysteries just waiting to be discovered!
However, the introduction did feel a bit clunky - and having too many pov’s meant that it was quite difficult to really connect with any characters until later in the book (and even then not all of them felt fleshed out).
The book does feature a sexual assault - and while quite brutal, knowing where the series goes, it doesn’t feel needlessly so. It’s written as something horrifying done by someone horrifying - and tries to give the victim as much dignity as possible. But it’s significant enough to deserve mention.
Overall - I believe this was Kay’s first major work, and it shows - but it also shows a ton of promise
However, the introduction did feel a bit clunky - and having too many pov’s meant that it was quite difficult to really connect with any characters until later in the book (and even then not all of them felt fleshed out).
The book does feature a sexual assault - and while quite brutal, knowing where the series goes, it doesn’t feel needlessly so. It’s written as something horrifying done by someone horrifying - and tries to give the victim as much dignity as possible. But it’s significant enough to deserve mention.
Overall - I believe this was Kay’s first major work, and it shows - but it also shows a ton of promise
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
jpowers89's review against another edition
I just did not like the characters and the plot jumped around so I found myself not caring.
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual assault
sflory910's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
fast-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
5.0
Dark, yet hopeful! Absolutely one of my favorite fantasy book series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail
bonnie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Sexual violence
Moderate: Rape and Murder
elakudark's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
3.0
so, judging by this first book, pretty much every guy in this series should be gay or bi, but i know they won’t be because this is 80s fantasy written by a straight dude.
that particular agony aside, i thought this book was pretty good (aside from the very last chapter, which was so shocking and gratuitous as to knock a whole star off my rating, because seriously, what the hell. big tw for sexual assault).
that particular agony aside, i thought this book was pretty good (aside from the very last chapter, which was so shocking and gratuitous as to knock a whole star off my rating, because seriously, what the hell. big tw for sexual assault).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Sexual violence
racheliswriting's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
Moderate: Rape and Violence