tfrohock's review against another edition
4.0
I'm not sure why more people aren't talking about this book. Grudging has great characters, tons of adventure, and a fast paced story.
The story is set in a pseudo-Spanish culture comprised of city-states, giving an alternative rip on early Iberian culture. The plot centers around one city-state's attempts to repel Northern "sun-worshiping" invaders.
There is the coming of age story with Ramiro, one of the young city-state warriors, who is sent to save his city by making a deal with the secretive witches that lives in the adjacent swamps, and Claire, a young witch who is just beginning to develop her magic of Song. In between Ramiro and Claire's adventures is a tense story of political intrigue with the mayor trying to save his city and buy time by negotiating with the ruthless invaders.
The characters are beautifully rendered and the plot runs an excellent balance between fast-paced action and political intrigue. The fight scenes, especially those with cavalry maneuvers, are tense and dead on.
Check it out!
The story is set in a pseudo-Spanish culture comprised of city-states, giving an alternative rip on early Iberian culture. The plot centers around one city-state's attempts to repel Northern "sun-worshiping" invaders.
There is the coming of age story with Ramiro, one of the young city-state warriors, who is sent to save his city by making a deal with the secretive witches that lives in the adjacent swamps, and Claire, a young witch who is just beginning to develop her magic of Song. In between Ramiro and Claire's adventures is a tense story of political intrigue with the mayor trying to save his city and buy time by negotiating with the ruthless invaders.
The characters are beautifully rendered and the plot runs an excellent balance between fast-paced action and political intrigue. The fight scenes, especially those with cavalry maneuvers, are tense and dead on.
Check it out!
jemifraser's review against another edition
5.0
A fabulous read! The world building is terrific with 3 unique and fascinating cultures having to deal with each other as war nears. The characters are vivid and true to their cultures - and to their hearts. Can't wait for the next instalment!
trogdor19's review against another edition
5.0
This is a meticulously plotted story of heroism and incredible odds, in a very Spanish-feeling world populated with characters obsessed with duty and wary of magic. The style makes you feel immediately that you're in another time and place- it's not stodgy, but formal enough to make it not feel too contemporary. I ended up liking Ramiro more and more as the story went on, and loved how bitter his feud was with Claire at the beginning.
The pacing of this book was perfection, with the stakes cranking a little higher with each scene, and the author not cringing back from allowing harsh disasters to befall her characters. I even loved the horse character! Will be looking for more from this author.
The pacing of this book was perfection, with the stakes cranking a little higher with each scene, and the author not cringing back from allowing harsh disasters to befall her characters. I even loved the horse character! Will be looking for more from this author.
a_l_deleon's review against another edition
3.0
It took me a while to get into the book initially, but once I got about halfway in, I began to really enjoy it. The story between Ramiro and Claire was the greatest strength in it overall and I like that the author attempted to use the story as a way to show how two different cultures could ultimately understand one another. It will be interesting to see where this goes in the next novel of this series.
bookforthought's review against another edition
5.0
I received an e-arc of this book via Edelweiss in exchange for my honest review. This did not affect my opinion of this book in any way.
I enjoyed absolutely everything about this book. From the setting, to the characters, to the story, to the writing style every aspect helped in keeping me glued to the pages.
While the plot in itself would not seem the most original in the realm of fantasy books (young hero sets out on an impossible mission to save his country and meets pretty girl with special talent in the process), there were enough original elements to make even the common tropes enjoyable. For starters, I loved the medieval Spanish atmosphere that radiated from the ciudades-estatos. It was definitely not something I had come across before, and so it kept me really interested in the setting as much as the story. Speaking of which, the world-building here was absolutely amazing! I think the author did an awesome job of incorporating different cultures and always giving just the right amount of information to understand her world, always avoiding boring info-dumps.
One of my favourite elements of this book was definitely the underlying theme of clashing cultures. The peaceful society of Colina Hermosa is suddenly faced with a bloodthirsty enemy that fully intends to wipe out anyone who doesn't conform to its ideals. I really enjoyed following the political attempts to compromise with an enemy that has absolutely zero tolerance for the different. And then there's the witches. Living secluded in the swamps, completely cut out from the rest of society, the Women of the Song live in a full-on matriarchy. I was really curious about the witches' culture, and while I didn't get many answers yet as to their traditions and beliefs, I am hopeful that the author will explore this society in more detail in the next books, seeing as she did such a fantastic job with Colina Hermosa in this one!
And then, the characters. I really, really loved all of them! I adored how each of the characters, even the "minor" ones, had a clear personality and evolved throughout the book. The Northerners were easy to dislike, especially given their brutality and cruelty, but it was clear that there were reasons for their behaviour deeply rooted in their culture and religion, and I look forward to finding out more details about this in the sequels. As for the heroes, I enjoyed seeing them doubt themselves and their abilities and question their choices: none of them were perfect, predestined saviours who reached their goals effortlessly. They made mistakes and had to find their own way through trial and error, and I loved them for it. And Ramiro and Claire! Oh, I ship these two so much. I'm incredibly happy that the author avoided an instalove and went for a more realistic relationship instead.
In short, I absolutely loved Grudging and I seriously can't wait to read the second book in the series! I definitely recommend it to everyone, but especially fantasy lovers: you won't be disappointed.
Originally published on Book for Thought.
I enjoyed absolutely everything about this book. From the setting, to the characters, to the story, to the writing style every aspect helped in keeping me glued to the pages.
While the plot in itself would not seem the most original in the realm of fantasy books (young hero sets out on an impossible mission to save his country and meets pretty girl with special talent in the process), there were enough original elements to make even the common tropes enjoyable. For starters, I loved the medieval Spanish atmosphere that radiated from the ciudades-estatos. It was definitely not something I had come across before, and so it kept me really interested in the setting as much as the story. Speaking of which, the world-building here was absolutely amazing! I think the author did an awesome job of incorporating different cultures and always giving just the right amount of information to understand her world, always avoiding boring info-dumps.
One of my favourite elements of this book was definitely the underlying theme of clashing cultures. The peaceful society of Colina Hermosa is suddenly faced with a bloodthirsty enemy that fully intends to wipe out anyone who doesn't conform to its ideals. I really enjoyed following the political attempts to compromise with an enemy that has absolutely zero tolerance for the different. And then there's the witches. Living secluded in the swamps, completely cut out from the rest of society, the Women of the Song live in a full-on matriarchy. I was really curious about the witches' culture, and while I didn't get many answers yet as to their traditions and beliefs, I am hopeful that the author will explore this society in more detail in the next books, seeing as she did such a fantastic job with Colina Hermosa in this one!
And then, the characters. I really, really loved all of them! I adored how each of the characters, even the "minor" ones, had a clear personality and evolved throughout the book. The Northerners were easy to dislike, especially given their brutality and cruelty, but it was clear that there were reasons for their behaviour deeply rooted in their culture and religion, and I look forward to finding out more details about this in the sequels. As for the heroes, I enjoyed seeing them doubt themselves and their abilities and question their choices: none of them were perfect, predestined saviours who reached their goals effortlessly. They made mistakes and had to find their own way through trial and error, and I loved them for it. And Ramiro and Claire! Oh, I ship these two so much. I'm incredibly happy that the author avoided an instalove and went for a more realistic relationship instead.
In short, I absolutely loved Grudging and I seriously can't wait to read the second book in the series! I definitely recommend it to everyone, but especially fantasy lovers: you won't be disappointed.
Originally published on Book for Thought.
kayeswiss's review
4.0
I'm not crying! You're crying!
A soldier. A witch. A city under siege. This story had a lot of elements to draw me in. I love the nod to Spanish styles and history. Spanish is my second language and it made me happy.
I gave it a four star review because the story felt like it started a little slow. However, I will say that the "slow start" led to me on the verge of tears because I was so invested in the characters as individuals that when they hurt, I hurt. I adore the scenery in this book, but more so, the message in it. It is one of those books that makes you glad there is an entire series because I'm not ready to walk away from these characters yet. The evolution of the relationships in the book is realistic and believable. There is no love at first sight, except maybe me and Teresa. She needs to be my new BFF and call me every five minutes because I love her.
For Colina Hermosa!
A soldier. A witch. A city under siege. This story had a lot of elements to draw me in. I love the nod to Spanish styles and history. Spanish is my second language and it made me happy.
I gave it a four star review because the story felt like it started a little slow. However, I will say that the "slow start" led to me on the verge of tears because I was so invested in the characters as individuals that when they hurt, I hurt. I adore the scenery in this book, but more so, the message in it. It is one of those books that makes you glad there is an entire series because I'm not ready to walk away from these characters yet. The evolution of the relationships in the book is realistic and believable. There is no love at first sight, except maybe me and Teresa. She needs to be my new BFF and call me every five minutes because I love her.
For Colina Hermosa!
bookbriefs's review
4.0
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**
Today the Steadfast blog tour takes a stop at Book Briefs. Steadfast is the third book in the birth of saints trilogy. Because I am new to the trilogy, I decided to start at the beginning, which I thought would be a good place to start. And it was a really good idea, because author Michelle Hauck has created a very rich and detailed world, and now that all of the books in the trilogy are out, this series is the perfect binge read when you are looking for some adventure steeped in magic and witchcraft. Grudging felt like magic meets the crusades. It was really interesting and unlike anything I have read lately. I'm not sure how I missed this book when it came out in 2015, but boy am I glad I found it now.
Grudging is the first book in the birth of saints trilogy. This is a trilogy that must be read in order. Grudging follows seventeen year old Ramiro and Claire. The atmosphere that Grudging takes place in was really interesting to me. On one hand, it felt a bit like a historical book, with wonderful descriptions of a medieval city, but on the other hand there was also this fascinating magical element woven into the story with the swamp witches.
Ramiro is on the fighting side, and is the son of a city official, and Claire lives in the swamp and is the daughter of a very powerful witch. . As soon as they meet, the pace of the book really picked up. There is so much going on in Grudging, and I can't wait to see it all developed even more in the next book. The most interesting aspect of Grudging was how different all of the characters are. It makes sense, since this is a story revolving around a war, but as a history nerd, I always love seeing societal, religious and cultural differences and how they impact decisions and personalities of the people within them. This was really apparent with the differences between Ramiro and Claire's families, for example. These cultural differences did play into a majority of the roadblocks for these characters, but it was really great to see such growth in both of them by the end of the book. I can't wait to see where the next book will take them.
Grudging does have a good bit of violence in it, but it was in line with the plot of the story, and it wasn't so much that it was off putting. However; I would say this book is best for upper young adult readers. Fans of epic fantasy, who don't mind a bit of fighting in a verging war setting will love this book. The characters are all wonderful. They were my favorite part of the story and they will be the reason that I continue on. I can't wait to see where book two takes us.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
Today the Steadfast blog tour takes a stop at Book Briefs. Steadfast is the third book in the birth of saints trilogy. Because I am new to the trilogy, I decided to start at the beginning, which I thought would be a good place to start. And it was a really good idea, because author Michelle Hauck has created a very rich and detailed world, and now that all of the books in the trilogy are out, this series is the perfect binge read when you are looking for some adventure steeped in magic and witchcraft. Grudging felt like magic meets the crusades. It was really interesting and unlike anything I have read lately. I'm not sure how I missed this book when it came out in 2015, but boy am I glad I found it now.
Grudging is the first book in the birth of saints trilogy. This is a trilogy that must be read in order. Grudging follows seventeen year old Ramiro and Claire. The atmosphere that Grudging takes place in was really interesting to me. On one hand, it felt a bit like a historical book, with wonderful descriptions of a medieval city, but on the other hand there was also this fascinating magical element woven into the story with the swamp witches.
Ramiro is on the fighting side, and is the son of a city official, and Claire lives in the swamp and is the daughter of a very powerful witch. . As soon as they meet, the pace of the book really picked up. There is so much going on in Grudging, and I can't wait to see it all developed even more in the next book. The most interesting aspect of Grudging was how different all of the characters are. It makes sense, since this is a story revolving around a war, but as a history nerd, I always love seeing societal, religious and cultural differences and how they impact decisions and personalities of the people within them. This was really apparent with the differences between Ramiro and Claire's families, for example. These cultural differences did play into a majority of the roadblocks for these characters, but it was really great to see such growth in both of them by the end of the book. I can't wait to see where the next book will take them.
Grudging does have a good bit of violence in it, but it was in line with the plot of the story, and it wasn't so much that it was off putting. However; I would say this book is best for upper young adult readers. Fans of epic fantasy, who don't mind a bit of fighting in a verging war setting will love this book. The characters are all wonderful. They were my favorite part of the story and they will be the reason that I continue on. I can't wait to see where book two takes us.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
bookishwendy's review
5.0
Grudging starts with a cinematic bang when a peloton of bearded, Spanish-speaking horse soldiers charges an invading troupe of horse-fearing Northerners in an exciting sequence. The lens widens to include four different POVs from different walks of life, bringing texture to the story: an untried young cavalryman living in the shadow of his brother, a young "witch" from the swamps who doesn't know her own power, a civic leader responsible for a besieged city, and a man of the cloth who gives himself over to an enigmatic enemy army. The setting is intriguing--not a typical European medieval setting, but a southwest environment not unlike Tucson, with saguaros, ocotillo, and that Spanish-mission vibe. I was even getting a [b:A Canticle for Leibowitz|164154|A Canticle for Leibowitz|Walter M. Miller Jr.|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1450516880s/164154.jpg|250975] vibe, to the point where I started suspecting this *might* some distant post-apocalyptic future (probably not), though whether this is alternate-history, future, or pure fantasy is never fully explained. The magic isn’t typical, either. The young “witch” Claire wields a kind of psychological telepathy that preys on people’s thoughts and fears in clever ways, and turns out to have a pretty epic payoff. I enjoyed the Claire and Ramiro story-line most, all the more because several gut-wrenching emotional moments that moved me as much as the main characters. If you are a fantasy reader (and maybe even if you aren’t), give this one a read.
(Oh, and did I mention that the sequel comes out next month?)
(Oh, and did I mention that the sequel comes out next month?)
jamiezakian's review
5.0
Grudging: Birth of Saints was an amazing epic fantasy. This novel not only combines nail-biting action and elements of magic, but it also highlights the struggles that can spawn when different cultures clash. Hauck has developed a thrilling cast of diverse characters and even slipped in some romance, which is always excellent. The world building in this story is very immersive, drawing me in and putting me smack in the middle of these realms.
With its grand battle scenes, eerie splash of occult, and political ruses, Grudging: Birth of Saints is a definite top read for any epic fantasy fan.
With its grand battle scenes, eerie splash of occult, and political ruses, Grudging: Birth of Saints is a definite top read for any epic fantasy fan.
katkat's review
5.0
A really great read. Engaging story with tons of twists and turns, and plenty to love... (see below)
Some absolute highlights:
-The Shakespearean-feeling witty banter between the crew heading off on adventure.
-So many interesting POV characters! I love seeing a story from different sides, and this one delivers on that for sure. The reader gets to see so many angles.
-Some really heartbreaking moments. Wow. I was totally surprised by a certain scene that I won't spoil. But no punches are pulled.
Can't wait for the next book. I loved the world and loved the descriptions of the city. You can really see things unfold in your mind.
Also I have no desire to ever go to a swamp after reading this! ha :)
Some absolute highlights:
-The Shakespearean-feeling witty banter between the crew heading off on adventure.
-So many interesting POV characters! I love seeing a story from different sides, and this one delivers on that for sure. The reader gets to see so many angles.
-Some really heartbreaking moments. Wow. I was totally surprised by a certain scene that I won't spoil. But no punches are pulled.
Can't wait for the next book. I loved the world and loved the descriptions of the city. You can really see things unfold in your mind.
Also I have no desire to ever go to a swamp after reading this! ha :)