lordnikon's review against another edition
1.0
DNF.
Man, this book stated out with such promise and then dropped into the toilet. Will not be reading book 2.
Man, this book stated out with such promise and then dropped into the toilet. Will not be reading book 2.
tylerbrown7844's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
xeni's review against another edition
3.0
There are no spoilers in this review, though I do discuss my feelings about the ending.
---
I'm reading the entire Essalieyan series with a book club. This is the first.
And it might be the last.
Don't get me wrong, I loved this story a lot. I loved the slow approach to letting us get to know the key characters - Rath, the old disguiser and thief, and Jewel (Jay), the very young orphan who begins to collect a family of other orphans off the streets against Raths' better judgement. I loved the world, a faux-medieval fantasy city-scape full of secrets to discover and explore and wonder at, as well as enemies great and small to test ones mettle on.
To me, this felt like the beginnings of the Lies of Locke Lamora, but more refined, more gentle, and ultimately more detailed with no bait-and-switch as to what the story was about. I appreciated all of it far more in The Hidden City.
The second half of the story took a turn I was not expecting. At first, I didn't mind it, but then it was clear what the ending was building up to. And then, while the gist of the most egregious parts of the ending took place off screen, I do not understand why the author sought to not just have most of the orphans, but also our key main character, wounded in the way that she choose. To me it speaks more of the time period that this book was written in, rather than in any literary merits. I won't go so far as to say that the ending ruined the story for me (in fact, I'm still rating this book as 5/5 stars - phenomenal), but it leaves me feeling unhappy, unsatisfied, and unsure if I want to continue reading.
---
I'm reading the entire Essalieyan series with a book club. This is the first.
And it might be the last.
Don't get me wrong, I loved this story a lot. I loved the slow approach to letting us get to know the key characters - Rath, the old disguiser and thief, and Jewel (Jay), the very young orphan who begins to collect a family of other orphans off the streets against Raths' better judgement. I loved the world, a faux-medieval fantasy city-scape full of secrets to discover and explore and wonder at, as well as enemies great and small to test ones mettle on.
To me, this felt like the beginnings of the Lies of Locke Lamora, but more refined, more gentle, and ultimately more detailed with no bait-and-switch as to what the story was about. I appreciated all of it far more in The Hidden City.
The second half of the story took a turn I was not expecting. At first, I didn't mind it, but then it was clear what the ending was building up to. And then, while the gist of the most egregious parts of the ending took place off screen, I do not understand why the author sought to not just have most of the orphans, but also our key main character, wounded in the way that she choose. To me it speaks more of the time period that this book was written in, rather than in any literary merits. I won't go so far as to say that the ending ruined the story for me (in fact, I'm still rating this book as 5/5 stars - phenomenal), but it leaves me feeling unhappy, unsatisfied, and unsure if I want to continue reading.
shai3d's review against another edition
5.0
Amazing book! This book drags at the heartstrings. I can say that I became emotionally involved with all of the characters.
patremagne's review against another edition
3.0
I'd probably give this a 3.5 or so. The plot was glacial, but the characters were great and the prose was gorgeous when it didn't get in its own way - which it often did.
The sequel looks to be a few hundred pages shorter, so it's likely that the pace will be improved so I'll likely give it a go.
The sequel looks to be a few hundred pages shorter, so it's likely that the pace will be improved so I'll likely give it a go.
rachel_from_cambridge's review against another edition
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.