tikimoof's review
2.0
Any problem I have with actual data from the book is probably my fault - I am *heavily* skimming. The dialogue is too awkward, and characters in general are a bit too one-note for me to want to look for anything meaningful.
It's an infuriating mix of too much detail in conversations and actions, followed by lots of glossing over, as somebody gets where they should. A bunch of scenes very poorly connected.
Ashe's temper is what gets me. He comes in and makes ridiculous demands, then gets incredibly angry if anybody thinks about doing the same to him, even his wife - in the same scene! He and Rhapsody are both going around and talking to people saying "oh, of course you've been deceived" and then get pissed off when nobody believes them immediately. And oh, all of the consent issues.
Rhapsody and Ashe can't decide how severity works. We have tens of thousands dying in each (SUPER-SHORT) battle, but yes, let's take time to care about wartime atrocities. It'll totally be that easy to keep all of the men from raping/pillaging. Just because I said so. Yep.
Achmed had some cool action scenes. At least I've got that.
It's an infuriating mix of too much detail in conversations and actions, followed by lots of glossing over, as somebody gets where they should. A bunch of scenes very poorly connected.
Ashe's temper is what gets me. He comes in and makes ridiculous demands, then gets incredibly angry if anybody thinks about doing the same to him, even his wife - in the same scene! He and Rhapsody are both going around and talking to people saying "oh, of course you've been deceived" and then get pissed off when nobody believes them immediately. And oh, all of the consent issues.
Rhapsody and Ashe can't decide how severity works. We have tens of thousands dying in each (SUPER-SHORT) battle, but yes, let's take time to care about wartime atrocities. It'll totally be that easy to keep all of the men from raping/pillaging. Just because I said so. Yep.
Achmed had some cool action scenes. At least I've got that.
kshippy's review
3.0
I LOVED the original trilogy books of this series - a friend and I found them in high school and I'm pretty sure I read Rhapsody 10 times by the time we graduated. Because I read those first three books at an important time in my life (all 15 year old girls should find a book with a kick ass female character), I'm probably biased, but it seems like each book has gotten more rushed and less detailed, with The Hollow Queen being the worst.
Part of the joy of the Rhapsody books is reading something tiny - a comment someone makes, a tiny gesture, a random gift that's brushed off, etc. - and then having it come back 100 pages/a book later and it turns out that thing set off this huge waterfall of events and was super important. You had to remember all those little details, because nothing could be taken at face value. Hardly any of that depth was found in The Hollow Queen. Crazy things happen, and everyone just....accepts it? That's not how the characters I've followed for 10+ years now would do, at least not in my head!
I did read the book, and I didn't hate it, but it also didn't add anything to the series for me.
Part of the joy of the Rhapsody books is reading something tiny - a comment someone makes, a tiny gesture, a random gift that's brushed off, etc. - and then having it come back 100 pages/a book later and it turns out that thing set off this huge waterfall of events and was super important. You had to remember all those little details, because nothing could be taken at face value. Hardly any of that depth was found in The Hollow Queen. Crazy things happen, and everyone just....accepts it? That's not how the characters I've followed for 10+ years now would do, at least not in my head!
I did read the book, and I didn't hate it, but it also didn't add anything to the series for me.
amy_harboredinpages's review against another edition
5.0
I love this series! Yes, there may have been a few issues I had, but minor; they didn't take away from the story. I laughed, wept, and hooted with victory when justice was served. Not all ends were all tide up but I still have hope that they will be in the next book. ... such should be hitting my doorstep anytime! 😄sqweee!
siniterin's review
3.0
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
This is the 8th book in a the "Symphony of Ages" series. I'm not sure, but from what I understand there will be one more book. I hope that's true, because even though a lot was tied up neatly, there are still some open ends, that I would like to see resolved.
I liked the first half of the book, even though a lot was simply information on what had happened before. Since this is quite the complex story, I was glad for it. I would have been lost otherwise. Also there was also a lot of the layered build-up, for which I like the series.
Sadly the solutions to this build-up didn't live up to my expectations. They seemed way too easy and straight-forward to me, like there was too much to resolve and to little time or space in the book to resolve it. It should have been longer, to allow for more twists and more worthy resolutions.
What disappointed me most though, was that there were rarely any character interactions, because I love the characters and the interactions between them (especially those among the Three) are what I love most about this series. In this installment though almost all characters had their own storylines and they rarly entwined. I want the Three to have to go on another mission together!!!!
No matter what I still recommend the book and the series in generell.
This is the 8th book in a the "Symphony of Ages" series. I'm not sure, but from what I understand there will be one more book. I hope that's true, because even though a lot was tied up neatly, there are still some open ends, that I would like to see resolved.
I liked the first half of the book, even though a lot was simply information on what had happened before. Since this is quite the complex story, I was glad for it. I would have been lost otherwise. Also there was also a lot of the layered build-up, for which I like the series.
Sadly the solutions to this build-up didn't live up to my expectations. They seemed way too easy and straight-forward to me, like there was too much to resolve and to little time or space in the book to resolve it. It should have been longer, to allow for more twists and more worthy resolutions.
What disappointed me most though, was that there were rarely any character interactions, because I love the characters and the interactions between them (especially those among the Three) are what I love most about this series. In this installment though almost all characters had their own storylines and they rarly entwined. I want the Three to have to go on another mission together!!!!
No matter what I still recommend the book and the series in generell.
amy_harboredinpages's review against another edition
5.0
I love this series! Yes, there may have been a few issues I had, but minor; they didn't take away from the story. I laughed, wept, and hooted with victory when justice was served. Not all ends were all tide up but I still have hope that they will be in the next book. ... such should be hitting my doorstep anytime! 😄sqweee!
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