guybrushtmp's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This blew me away. Bujold just paints in vivid strokes and delves into emotions with a knife and fork. It is such an tight story telling, I can't help but applaud. I sit wondering why it took me so long to read this and why more people don't talk about it with a frevor.
cb1984's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Good, but not as good as Curse of Chalion. I enjoyed the characters and the twisty nature of the plot, but in comparison to the previous book it just felt like something was missing.
zezee's review
adventurous
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
mantissabolt's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
pvbobrien's review
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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 violence, Violence, and War
Moderate: Grief and Gore
Minor: Infertility, Medical content, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Infidelity, Mental illness, and Rape
liri's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
ostrava's review
5.0
Better than the first book. The romance is more believable, the arch of healing and the magic are better integrated into the story, the pacing is more equally distributed and does not feel jarring after the second half...
It's also such a wholesome story! No room for bittersweetness whatsoever. And you know what? Man, was I in need for something like this in the genre. It's very sweet and it's executed quite well. So yes, I enjoyed it. A lot. It's not the deepest story ever told, but if I've got room to accept action packed novels that do not try to live up to such ideals, I don't see where the issue is with accepting a story this well built.
If you like Robin Hobb, Marillier... give it a try.
It's also such a wholesome story! No room for bittersweetness whatsoever. And you know what? Man, was I in need for something like this in the genre. It's very sweet and it's executed quite well. So yes, I enjoyed it. A lot. It's not the deepest story ever told, but if I've got room to accept action packed novels that do not try to live up to such ideals, I don't see where the issue is with accepting a story this well built.
If you like Robin Hobb, Marillier... give it a try.
eric_conrad's review
4.0
Having read The Curse of Chalion, I had certain expectations of this book. They were well met. Very likeable flawed characters and great world building.