kitvaria_sarene's review
5.0
Another great sequel in the series!
Starts of with quote a twist, and brings a new perspective with it...
I dont really want to say too much, fearing I might accidentally spoiler something, suffice it to say it was just as fast paced and fun as the others! And at last as crazy...
I'm addicted, and I hope there'll be a lot more books about Amra!
Starts of with quote a twist, and brings a new perspective with it...
I dont really want to say too much, fearing I might accidentally spoiler something, suffice it to say it was just as fast paced and fun as the others! And at last as crazy...
I'm addicted, and I hope there'll be a lot more books about Amra!
maeve_spry's review
4.0
Excellent as the rest of the series
Loses a star because the end is rather a cliff hanger. Fortunately book five is available, rather than having several months wait.
Loses a star because the end is rather a cliff hanger. Fortunately book five is available, rather than having several months wait.
liesljrowe's review
4.0
Turns out the book I never knew I needed was Holgren furiously doing everything he can to get Amra back from another plane of existence including going through Hell (literally), getting involved in a civil war, and setting lots of people in fire. Interspersed with the sufficiently ominous sections of Amra trapped in a small pocket of reality, this has got to be one of my favourite installments in the Amra Thetys series yet. I can't wait for the next one.
bookmeanderings's review
3.0
3.25 stars.
“You can’t just leave a dead body outside the door, magus!”
I have such a fondness for this series. Its two main protagonists Amra and Holgren are some of my favorite characters in all of fiction. Going into this book I was both excited and somewhat anxious because of the switch to a single, Holgren POV instead of Amra like the last three books.Thankfully, I had nothing to fear.
Although Holgren’s POV was hard to get used to at first, once I got used to it I really started to enjoy this story. Throughout the events of this book we get a lot of character development for Holgren that we were unable to get in previous books because Amra was the only POV. I really enjoyed getting to know more about Holgren and being able to see the world through his eyes.
The plot felt somewhat unfocused at first, but after a little while it really started to get going. This story takes place mostly in the cities of Bellarius and Lucernis. Bellarius had such a bleak feel and was so disturbing that I felt a tangible sense of relief when Holgren left it behind. Like our main characters I am in love with the city of Lucernis, Amra and Holgren’s home. Michael McClung knows how to create specific atmospheres for the settings in his book and Lucernis is no exception. Another place that we get to learn more about is the Eleven Hells that exist in this world. It was pretty cool to walk through this world and I wish there would have been more time spent there.
“Perhaps that spoke of a regrettable lack of empathy on my part, that I could explode flesh, but not re-knit it. Or perhaps it simply reflected the truth that it is easier by far to harm than to heal.”
Holgren is on a search throughout this story. I can’t get into it too much because of spoilers, but I can say that it was easy to feel for Holgren. He is dogged and determined in pursuit of his goal and may the gods have mercy on anyone who stands in his way. Holgren is merciless and brutal at times and I have to say I did not expect to see this side of Holgren. In the previous books he was much more gentle and kind. However, as the story progress it makes more and more sense as to why he is acting the way he is.
I enjoyed this story. This was another solid entry in the Amra Thetys series and I am looking forward to reading the 5th book.
“You can’t just leave a dead body outside the door, magus!”
I have such a fondness for this series. Its two main protagonists Amra and Holgren are some of my favorite characters in all of fiction. Going into this book I was both excited and somewhat anxious because of the switch to a single, Holgren POV instead of Amra like the last three books.Thankfully, I had nothing to fear.
Although Holgren’s POV was hard to get used to at first, once I got used to it I really started to enjoy this story. Throughout the events of this book we get a lot of character development for Holgren that we were unable to get in previous books because Amra was the only POV. I really enjoyed getting to know more about Holgren and being able to see the world through his eyes.
The plot felt somewhat unfocused at first, but after a little while it really started to get going. This story takes place mostly in the cities of Bellarius and Lucernis. Bellarius had such a bleak feel and was so disturbing that I felt a tangible sense of relief when Holgren left it behind. Like our main characters I am in love with the city of Lucernis, Amra and Holgren’s home. Michael McClung knows how to create specific atmospheres for the settings in his book and Lucernis is no exception. Another place that we get to learn more about is the Eleven Hells that exist in this world. It was pretty cool to walk through this world and I wish there would have been more time spent there.
“Perhaps that spoke of a regrettable lack of empathy on my part, that I could explode flesh, but not re-knit it. Or perhaps it simply reflected the truth that it is easier by far to harm than to heal.”
Holgren is on a search throughout this story. I can’t get into it too much because of spoilers, but I can say that it was easy to feel for Holgren. He is dogged and determined in pursuit of his goal and may the gods have mercy on anyone who stands in his way. Holgren is merciless and brutal at times and I have to say I did not expect to see this side of Holgren. In the previous books he was much more gentle and kind. However, as the story progress it makes more and more sense as to why he is acting the way he is.
I enjoyed this story. This was another solid entry in the Amra Thetys series and I am looking forward to reading the 5th book.
thush's review against another edition
5.0
A book from Holgren's POV? Yes, please!.
I love Holgren and after reading and learning more about him, I love him more💚
It was a very different pace to Amra's POV but I liked it because Holgren is so focused, kinda crazy but at the same time such a cool cucumber. It made reading about his adventure all the more fun. He was also immensely relatable.
"I was tired of being around people, even the ones I liked."
"I've never been terribly good at running."
The team Holgren assembled was also really fun and interesting to read about. I hope we get to see more of Keel in the future.
As usualy the story took me through a whole lot of feels (especially when Holgren talked about Amra and in general just reading about what he would do to get her back) but it opened the door to a lot of questions about the the blades and the Eightfold Goddess that went unanswered.
So now I'm burning to read the next book...can't wait to read what crazy idea Amra and Holgren plan to pull off next!
I love Holgren and after reading and learning more about him, I love him more💚
It was a very different pace to Amra's POV but I liked it because Holgren is so focused, kinda crazy but at the same time such a cool cucumber. It made reading about his adventure all the more fun. He was also immensely relatable.
"I was tired of being around people, even the ones I liked."
"I've never been terribly good at running."
The team Holgren assembled was also really fun and interesting to read about. I hope we get to see more of Keel in the future.
As usualy the story took me through a whole lot of feels (especially when Holgren talked about Amra and in general just reading about what he would do to get her back) but it opened the door to a lot of questions about the the blades and the Eightfold Goddess that went unanswered.
So now I'm burning to read the next book...can't wait to read what crazy idea Amra and Holgren plan to pull off next!
timmason's review against another edition
3.0
I read the four books that have so far appeared in this series after it was recommended by Mark Lawrence. I will be reading book 5.
Readers have compared the books to Fritz Leiber's Grey Mouser series, and one can see the connection. However, while Leiber constructed a series of short stories held together mainly by the focus on the main characters, McClung has a story to tell; there is a progression from book to book. The heroine's character and her central dilemma - which centres on the extent to which she can exercise any degree of control over her own destiny - develop through the series, and her adversaries - or are they allies? - are bit by bit revealed.
Another difference with Leiber's approach is, I think, that Amra and her companion, Holgren, are much given to internal monologue and soul-searching in an endeavour to give them depth of character, while the Grey Mouser and Fafhrd just got on with things (it's decades since I read them, and I may be mistaken about this, but I think not). I prefer Leiber's way.
The adventures pace out nicely, and the players blunder about in the usual way (Holgren is particularly numb-skulled, getting himself mixed up in city politics for which he has not the slightest talent). The author makes much use of the deus ex machina, but it's that kind of world (if Homer could do it, why not McClung?).
The series may be a long one, as Amra seems to need to make a collection of the eight knives of the Goddess of Ultimate Destruction. By the end of the fourth volume, she's only found two of them, so this one could run and run. I'm certainly up for at least another two episodes. After that, we'll see.
Readers have compared the books to Fritz Leiber's Grey Mouser series, and one can see the connection. However, while Leiber constructed a series of short stories held together mainly by the focus on the main characters, McClung has a story to tell; there is a progression from book to book. The heroine's character and her central dilemma - which centres on the extent to which she can exercise any degree of control over her own destiny - develop through the series, and her adversaries - or are they allies? - are bit by bit revealed.
Another difference with Leiber's approach is, I think, that Amra and her companion, Holgren, are much given to internal monologue and soul-searching in an endeavour to give them depth of character, while the Grey Mouser and Fafhrd just got on with things (it's decades since I read them, and I may be mistaken about this, but I think not). I prefer Leiber's way.
The adventures pace out nicely, and the players blunder about in the usual way (Holgren is particularly numb-skulled, getting himself mixed up in city politics for which he has not the slightest talent). The author makes much use of the deus ex machina, but it's that kind of world (if Homer could do it, why not McClung?).
The series may be a long one, as Amra seems to need to make a collection of the eight knives of the Goddess of Ultimate Destruction. By the end of the fourth volume, she's only found two of them, so this one could run and run. I'm certainly up for at least another two episodes. After that, we'll see.
realmsofmymind's review against another edition
5.0
Amra Thetys is missing. After saving the city of Bellarius from total destruction, the thief turned (very) reluctant hero has disappeared. Holgren, Amra’s partner (business and romantic), has magically determined that Amra isn’t dead just…somewhere else. Which means she can be retrieved, if Holgren can just find out where she is. But doing so takes very complicated magic and plenty of concentration, something that is continuously interrupted as competing factions in Bellarius struggle for control of the ruined city. All the factions are convinced that Holgren is a dangerous competitor for power. But those who try to end Holgren quickly find he is something worse: a mage who only views the factions as obstacles to be removed by any means necessary.
THE THIEF WHO WASN’T THERE is a fantastic next installment in the grimdark world of AMRA THETYS that asks you to root for a character is very often on the dark side of the grey scale. Holgren has been trying to put magic behind him, both because of some wayward steps made as a young sorcerer, and after being magically compelled by an ancient being to use his powers against Amra. He didn’t like the person magic made him – and it turns out, Holgren might have been right to worry.
Holgren knows that magic is the only way to retrieve Amra from wherever she went, and he plunges back into the deep end of the pool without a moment’s hesitation. You know that trope of a detached wizard who can’t be bothered with the petty squabbles of the common man as they’re too wrapped up in their own projects? Now imagine that as a first-person POV character and you have the tone of THE THIEF WHO WASN’T THERE. McClung does an excellent job of shifting the voice of the story to Holgren’s, and manages to make both a thoroughly entertaining story that also makes you very concerned about the main character’s state of mind.
You see, Holgren is a man with one goal: Bring Amra back. And he really, REALLY doesn’t care about anyone or anything else. So when the civil war in the city of Bellarius spills into his life, Holgren just tries to remove that annoyance as efficiently as possible (with varying degres of success). And if that means casually killing people, so be it. Readers are put in the uncomfortable position of rooting for a character while at the same time going “Umm…maybe…maybe don’t do that?” Holgren’s actions are mitigated slightly by the fact that Bellarius is a very grimdark world, and pretty much no one in it is a saint, but it becomes fairly clear that without Amra to remind Holgren where the line is, Holgren doesn’t really see a line at all.
Returning to this story is Keel, Amra’s hired assistant from the last book who has now attached himself to Holgren. Keel is as close to a saint as you get in this book, a former gang member who now is the one stabilizing influence on Holgren, reminding him to do things like eat and sleep, and generally taking care of the mundane parts of life Holgren keeps forgetting about. Keel is the bright spot to remind you the world isn’t a TOTAL loss, and I hope he continues to return in the next book.
THE THIEF WHO WASN’T THERE is tailor-made for people who like to sink their teeth into a good character over all else. There’s plenty of conflict going on in the book, but all of that is extraneous to Holgren and his quest. The star of the book is Holgren, who at the end of the day really isn’t that good a person, but who you still find yourself utterly compelled to watch as he steamrolls his way through Bellarius and beyond. It’s definitely a darker installment in the AMRA THETYS series, but one that is absolutely worth the read.
THE THIEF WHO WASN’T THERE is a fantastic next installment in the grimdark world of AMRA THETYS that asks you to root for a character is very often on the dark side of the grey scale. Holgren has been trying to put magic behind him, both because of some wayward steps made as a young sorcerer, and after being magically compelled by an ancient being to use his powers against Amra. He didn’t like the person magic made him – and it turns out, Holgren might have been right to worry.
Holgren knows that magic is the only way to retrieve Amra from wherever she went, and he plunges back into the deep end of the pool without a moment’s hesitation. You know that trope of a detached wizard who can’t be bothered with the petty squabbles of the common man as they’re too wrapped up in their own projects? Now imagine that as a first-person POV character and you have the tone of THE THIEF WHO WASN’T THERE. McClung does an excellent job of shifting the voice of the story to Holgren’s, and manages to make both a thoroughly entertaining story that also makes you very concerned about the main character’s state of mind.
You see, Holgren is a man with one goal: Bring Amra back. And he really, REALLY doesn’t care about anyone or anything else. So when the civil war in the city of Bellarius spills into his life, Holgren just tries to remove that annoyance as efficiently as possible (with varying degres of success). And if that means casually killing people, so be it. Readers are put in the uncomfortable position of rooting for a character while at the same time going “Umm…maybe…maybe don’t do that?” Holgren’s actions are mitigated slightly by the fact that Bellarius is a very grimdark world, and pretty much no one in it is a saint, but it becomes fairly clear that without Amra to remind Holgren where the line is, Holgren doesn’t really see a line at all.
Returning to this story is Keel, Amra’s hired assistant from the last book who has now attached himself to Holgren. Keel is as close to a saint as you get in this book, a former gang member who now is the one stabilizing influence on Holgren, reminding him to do things like eat and sleep, and generally taking care of the mundane parts of life Holgren keeps forgetting about. Keel is the bright spot to remind you the world isn’t a TOTAL loss, and I hope he continues to return in the next book.
THE THIEF WHO WASN’T THERE is tailor-made for people who like to sink their teeth into a good character over all else. There’s plenty of conflict going on in the book, but all of that is extraneous to Holgren and his quest. The star of the book is Holgren, who at the end of the day really isn’t that good a person, but who you still find yourself utterly compelled to watch as he steamrolls his way through Bellarius and beyond. It’s definitely a darker installment in the AMRA THETYS series, but one that is absolutely worth the read.
maeve_spry's review against another edition
4.0
Excellent as the rest of the series
Loses a star because the end is rather a cliff hanger. Fortunately book five is available, rather than having several months wait.
Loses a star because the end is rather a cliff hanger. Fortunately book five is available, rather than having several months wait.
sarah42783's review
5.0
➽ And the moral of this reread is: "live and let live," you say? Oh, please. That's totally passé and stuff. Just ask my yummy (if a bit one-eyed) boyfriend Holgren Angrado. Pretty sure he'll tell you that being slightly vindictive and blowing people to bits is the in thing to do these days. Much to my nefarious delight, obviously.
➽ And the other moral of this reread is: my dear Mr McClung, I am done with my reread of the series, so please do finish writing book 5 post haste. I might unleash the murderous crustaceans on you if you don't. But hey, no pressure and stuff.
P.S. Just so you know, "Gorm on a stick!" has now officially become my second favorite expression of all time. After "Kerf's withered testicles!" of course.
· Book 1: The Thief Who Pulled on Trouble's Braids ★★★★★
· Book 2: The Thief Who Spat in Luck's Good Eye ★★★★★
· Book 3: The Thief Who Knocked on Sorrow's Gate ★★★★★
· Book 5: The Thief Who Went to War ★★★★★
· Short stories: The Last God ★★★★★
[Original review]
➽ Previously, on Amra Thetys:
● Episode 1: Amra got a little revenge act going.
● Episode 2: Amra & Holgren got a little hero quest act going.
● Episode 3: Amra got a little "poof, I’m gone" act going.
➽ Presently, on Amra Thetys:
Watch out world, Holgren Angrado is coming for you! His mission? Savingprivate thief badass Amra Thetys from something. Somewhere. Somehow. This now one-eyed, semi-retired mage's got his work cut out for him. Chaos and mayhem ensue. So do a few casualties. A few. It's not like Holgren atomizes people or anything. It's just that sometimes he gets a little frustrated with the distractions getting in the way of his mission. So he does some spring cleaning and gets right back on track. Gotta admire such unfailing tenacity.
My poor Holgren. These silly people have the worst timing. I mean, did they really have to start a civil war now? What's the big idea? Sigh. These locals really are useless, might as well get rid of them all. I mean, did they help you find a rift spawn and get into hell? No, they just keep thwarting your insanely suicidal plans with their frivolous pursuits. And in the meantime, what is Amra doing? Frolicking away with a knife. Somewhere. Somehow. No wonder you slightly struggle to keep your cool, and have very minor self-control issues.
My dear Holgren. May I venture to offer you a piece of advice? No, no, no, please don't flick your fingers at me just yet, I promise to behave and not to waste your time. Besides, you are now safely under lock and key in my harem, you've got nothing better to do right? Muahahahahaha. Anyway, here's my advice for you: you might want to work on your social skills a little. Because being a cold, insensitive bastard with the morals of a barnacle rarely helps in the allies-making department (please notice I'm not even talking about making friends here. Making allies would be improvement enough on the current situation). What is it? You didn't know barnacles had morals? Well they don't, that's the whole point, my dear. Oh please don't feel insulted, you might be cold-hearted and uncaring but I still love you. Why else would I have kidnapped you and secured you away in my harem, you silly? I swear, for all your cunning mage ways, you can be really slow to catch on sometimes. Yet another shining example of your stellar social skills at work.
I'm sorry, it only just occurred to me that there might be people reading this review. Please forgive me, I tend to get carried away when it comes to my Holgren. I'm not sure Amra would approve if she knew, but she's not here to kick my ass so I'll enjoy it while it lasts. Actually, I sometimes wish Holgren wasn't so intent on rescuing her at all costs. It would be just him, the cold insensitive bastard, and me, the cold hearted cynic, until the end of times...A match made in heaven.
But I digress. Where was I? Oh yes, there might be people reading this review (well there might only be one of them left at this point but I'll just pretend that there's a crowd out there, cheering me on). I'm supposed to actually tell these lovely people something about this book, right? Something non-Holgren obviously. Damn. I hate writing reviewssometimes. Okay, here goes: this book is amazing, this book is freaking fantastic, this book is brilliant, this book awesome, this book is cool… Sorry, did you just say something? Oh, you were expecting something a little more descriptive? More detailed, maybe? Okay, right, I can do that, no problem. Well I can try anyway. This book is amazing-freaking fantastic-brilliant-awesome-cool because it features: villainous villains, severed body parts (I think I see a trend there), deadly magic, demons, blood-and-gore-yay, a god of fools and drunkards, pigs' hearts, lots of action, frogs dancing jigs, nefarious knives, great dialogues, sarcastic teenage sidekicks, good old testosterone, weird creatures, a fantastic cast of secondary characters, a teensy little bit of Amra (it's not the quantity that counts) and Hell (all eleven levels of it).
What else? I don't know… Let's see… Errr, I love this book? This has become one of my favourite series ever? I'm in ♥ with Amra? I'm in ♥ with Holgren?I'm in ♥ with severed body parts? I think that's about it. In other words:
ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Pre-review nonsense :
Damn. Michael McClung did it again. And with almost no Amra to be had. Damn. I've fallen in love with a one-eyed mage who's seen better days. Damn. This is so freaking cool even Florence Welch is fangirling about it.
Damn (yeah, yeah, yeah, I know I keep repeating myself). This is going to be a hard one to review. But I shall do it. For Amra. For Holgren. For Michael. For the world.
➽ And the other moral of this reread is: my dear Mr McClung, I am done with my reread of the series, so please do finish writing book 5 post haste. I might unleash the murderous crustaceans on you if you don't. But hey, no pressure and stuff.
P.S. Just so you know, "Gorm on a stick!" has now officially become my second favorite expression of all time. After "Kerf's withered testicles!" of course.
· Book 1: The Thief Who Pulled on Trouble's Braids ★★★★★
· Book 2: The Thief Who Spat in Luck's Good Eye ★★★★★
· Book 3: The Thief Who Knocked on Sorrow's Gate ★★★★★
· Book 5: The Thief Who Went to War ★★★★★
· Short stories: The Last God ★★★★★
[Original review]
➽ Previously, on Amra Thetys:
● Episode 1: Amra got a little revenge act going.
● Episode 2: Amra & Holgren got a little hero quest act going.
● Episode 3: Amra got a little "poof, I’m gone" act going.
➽ Presently, on Amra Thetys:
Watch out world, Holgren Angrado is coming for you! His mission? Saving
My poor Holgren. These silly people have the worst timing. I mean, did they really have to start a civil war now? What's the big idea? Sigh. These locals really are useless, might as well get rid of them all. I mean, did they help you find a rift spawn and get into hell? No, they just keep thwarting your insanely suicidal plans with their frivolous pursuits. And in the meantime, what is Amra doing? Frolicking away with a knife. Somewhere. Somehow. No wonder you slightly struggle to keep your cool, and have very minor self-control issues.
My dear Holgren. May I venture to offer you a piece of advice? No, no, no, please don't flick your fingers at me just yet, I promise to behave and not to waste your time. Besides, you are now safely under lock and key in my harem, you've got nothing better to do right? Muahahahahaha. Anyway, here's my advice for you: you might want to work on your social skills a little. Because being a cold, insensitive bastard with the morals of a barnacle rarely helps in the allies-making department (please notice I'm not even talking about making friends here. Making allies would be improvement enough on the current situation). What is it? You didn't know barnacles had morals? Well they don't, that's the whole point, my dear. Oh please don't feel insulted, you might be cold-hearted and uncaring but I still love you. Why else would I have kidnapped you and secured you away in my harem, you silly? I swear, for all your cunning mage ways, you can be really slow to catch on sometimes. Yet another shining example of your stellar social skills at work.
I'm sorry, it only just occurred to me that there might be people reading this review. Please forgive me, I tend to get carried away when it comes to my Holgren. I'm not sure Amra would approve if she knew, but she's not here to kick my ass so I'll enjoy it while it lasts. Actually, I sometimes wish Holgren wasn't so intent on rescuing her at all costs. It would be just him, the cold insensitive bastard, and me, the cold hearted cynic, until the end of times...A match made in heaven.
But I digress. Where was I? Oh yes, there might be people reading this review (well there might only be one of them left at this point but I'll just pretend that there's a crowd out there, cheering me on). I'm supposed to actually tell these lovely people something about this book, right? Something non-Holgren obviously. Damn. I hate writing reviews
What else? I don't know… Let's see… Errr, I love this book? This has become one of my favourite series ever? I'm in ♥ with Amra? I'm in ♥ with Holgren?
ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Pre-review nonsense :
Damn. Michael McClung did it again. And with almost no Amra to be had. Damn. I've fallen in love with a one-eyed mage who's seen better days. Damn. This is so freaking cool even Florence Welch is fangirling about it.
Spoiler
Don't know who Florence Welch is? Sigh. There definitely is no hope for you.Damn (yeah, yeah, yeah, I know I keep repeating myself). This is going to be a hard one to review. But I shall do it. For Amra. For Holgren. For Michael. For the world.
catsy2022's review
3.0
Took longer to read than I thought it would.
After Amra teleport herself and the Telemarch to a new dimension, Holgren sets out to rescue her from the void with a crazy plan that involves several new settings in this world.
I really liked the side characters in this book. Keel gets more spotlight and I liked Marle a lot, too. Holgren'a perspective helps to flesh out his character a bit more and I didn't expect the interludes with Amra to actually even be a part of this book, so it was nice to have her perspective back. Halfmoon was really altogether quite minor in the story but I hope he comes up in the next book.
Unfortunately I struggled a little to feel like Holgren and Amra were truly separate characters. Partly because of the length of time between the previous book and this one but also with how they speak and think. Holgren is an unforgiving, soulless mage bent on rescuing the love of his life. The brief flashbacks with Amra bring up how she does have morals and isn't so evil, but she did do some inadvertently horrible stuff just by chance. Holgren does it on purpose, like Amra honestly I feel like just cares about living a peaceful life, drinking and being rich but not overt. I still don't ship them, sorry.
As always the settings were really strong and very interesting. My favourite parts were exploring the different realities and then heading to the hells to find out what's happening there. I also really love the expiration of gods, which is always one of my favourite things in fantasy. Additionally with this reminding me so much of Plandscape Torment...
I already have the other books so they'll be on my list to read this year. My copy on Kindle had some really awful typos as well. Hopefully they are fixed in the future.
After Amra teleport herself and the Telemarch to a new dimension, Holgren sets out to rescue her from the void with a crazy plan that involves several new settings in this world.
I really liked the side characters in this book. Keel gets more spotlight and I liked Marle a lot, too. Holgren'a perspective helps to flesh out his character a bit more and I didn't expect the interludes with Amra to actually even be a part of this book, so it was nice to have her perspective back. Halfmoon was really altogether quite minor in the story but I hope he comes up in the next book.
Unfortunately I struggled a little to feel like Holgren and Amra were truly separate characters. Partly because of the length of time between the previous book and this one but also with how they speak and think. Holgren is an unforgiving, soulless mage bent on rescuing the love of his life. The brief flashbacks with Amra bring up how she does have morals and isn't so evil, but she did do some inadvertently horrible stuff just by chance. Holgren does it on purpose, like
Spoiler
when he set off the telemarch's trap in Bellarius, and killed hundreds of people because he wanted to stay neutral and out of the political war - and focus on getting his GF back.As always the settings were really strong and very interesting. My favourite parts were exploring the different realities and then heading to the hells to find out what's happening there. I also really love the expiration of gods, which is always one of my favourite things in fantasy. Additionally with this reminding me so much of Plandscape Torment...
I already have the other books so they'll be on my list to read this year. My copy on Kindle had some really awful typos as well. Hopefully they are fixed in the future.