clarissep's review against another edition
4.0
Really good one! Excellently narrated too! I love that we get multiple POVs, but the threads of each character clearly run towards a single direction. Though they each take a different path and will undoubtedly go through different difficulties and trials getting there, I can feel that they are being pulled towards a single end. The characters themselves are very interesting and very different from one another. I had a good time getting to know them. It’s interesting that Kaden, the character who doesn’t have his memories in this book, actually feels the most solidly written. Next would be Wirr. I only hope Davian comes into his own soon, because he is a very typical protagonist so far and nothing is setting him apart in my mind yet.
The pacing of this is pretty good, and the way the characters weave in and out of each other’s storylines is very well done. There isn’t one moment out of place, and every seemingly random event is purposefully planted for something that unfolds in the future. Can’t wait to know what happens next!
The pacing of this is pretty good, and the way the characters weave in and out of each other’s storylines is very well done. There isn’t one moment out of place, and every seemingly random event is purposefully planted for something that unfolds in the future. Can’t wait to know what happens next!
fireheartstar_90's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
5.0
megang815's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-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? Yes
4.25
ljstrain28's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this book. Sometimes you can see what is coming from a mile away, but the characters are interesting and there is a lot of room for growth. I'm pleased I already have the second one and will start reading it soon!
xchelav's review
adventurous
challenging
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
aidnoah's review against another edition
3.0
This book..... I don't know if it needed to be as long as it was
Why is all the adult fantasy lately such doorstops, I don't know. Maybe it's because I could only read this once a week that I just couldn't keep track of anyone or anything going on, but I do know too many janky names that I can't mentally pronounce tends to turn me off quite a bit.
That being said I know I would read 100-150 pages at a time so it wasn't the worst experience.... but I doubt it's going to leave any sort of lasting impression on me.
Why is all the adult fantasy lately such doorstops, I don't know. Maybe it's because I could only read this once a week that I just couldn't keep track of anyone or anything going on, but I do know too many janky names that I can't mentally pronounce tends to turn me off quite a bit.
That being said I know I would read 100-150 pages at a time so it wasn't the worst experience.... but I doubt it's going to leave any sort of lasting impression on me.
jamrock's review against another edition
5.0
This book falls somewhere between Raymond Feist's Magician trilogy and Garth Nix Old Kingdom series. It's a mix of fantasy and grimdark but with enough timey-wimey stuff to satisfy a sci-fi fan. Easy to settle into bit full of intrigue and subterfuge with a jaw-dropping reveal in the epilogue. This book has been stuck on my TBR for a year but my favourite Goodreads reviewer gave the final book in the trilogy an outstanding rating so I am jumping straight in and already onto book two!
aang_arang's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
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
3.75
There was so much I loved about this book. I went out on a limb here and read this book for my personal book club with my best friend, and neither of us are high fantasy readers but we wanted to try something different and I love beefy books. Immediately upon reading I knew I loved the writing style and execution of this book. It's very friendly to new fantasy readers and while it takes getting used to names and places, it was very engaging the entire time, and nothing ever felt like a slog to get through. Asha's storyline was my favorite. I loved seeing her journey through the different worlds and I feel like her point of views is where we gained some of the most world building.
I also really dislike when books leave you questioning for too long but this book answers just enough tiny questions to keep you chugging on. I also thing it worked in favor of the narrative style. You find out information in real time with the characters, you're never given larger overarching info that you're left sitting on waiting for the characters to find out. It really made you feel like you were apart of the journey as well.
Now that I've said that, I also thing this book lacked in many ways. This book is 680 pages of exposition. And for a book that long I really don't think that there should be unanswered questions or open plot lines to this extent. We should get a full circle story arc and line for a boom despite if it's a trilogy or not. I'm not sure I could really name what the plot was if asked. I knew we were traveling and building to something but you dont really know what that is until the very last chapters of the book. It didn't feel like the journey had stakes because I was unsure of what we were trying to build to.
There was a good world building but I can't help but feel like there are aspects to the Tols and rest of the world that are still questionable.
I'm going to sit on the book for a week and see if I feel like finishing the series.
I also really dislike when books leave you questioning for too long but this book answers just enough tiny questions to keep you chugging on. I also thing it worked in favor of the narrative style. You find out information in real time with the characters, you're never given larger overarching info that you're left sitting on waiting for the characters to find out. It really made you feel like you were apart of the journey as well.
Now that I've said that, I also thing this book lacked in many ways. This book is 680 pages of exposition. And for a book that long I really don't think that there should be unanswered questions or open plot lines to this extent. We should get a full circle story arc and line for a boom despite if it's a trilogy or not. I'm not sure I could really name what the plot was if asked. I knew we were traveling and building to something but you dont really know what that is until the very last chapters of the book. It didn't feel like the journey had stakes because I was unsure of what we were trying to build to.
There was a good world building but I can't help but feel like there are aspects to the Tols and rest of the world that are still questionable.
I'm going to sit on the book for a week and see if I feel like finishing the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Torture, Murder, and War
Minor: Sexual assault and Rape
lolsford's review
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5