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and_abelard_reads's review against another edition
5.0
I would have enjoyed this even if it didn't feature Fantasy!Welsh proto-chartists and a culture that had Bards and Colleges and Canals and intricate Guild politics at the same time; But it did.
simone84's review against another edition
2.0
DNF
I had to return it to the library and just didn't care about finishing it first. The concept was kinda fresh, a legal battle in a fantasy setting, but it felt like it was trying too hard to cram in things to please fans of the original multi-series-series and didn't care much about making the characters seem like new and different people and fresh voices. The language used in the original Deverry books is quite iconic and this book was just far too similar for me for something that's supposed to be a few hundred years in the future (of the series). I really vaguely remember reading a Patreon post from the author that said she had to write a new book fast for some money for medical bills*, and while I empathise with that... the book really does feel rushed and half-baked.
*I'm probably remembering wrong, don't take this as fact
I had to return it to the library and just didn't care about finishing it first. The concept was kinda fresh, a legal battle in a fantasy setting, but it felt like it was trying too hard to cram in things to please fans of the original multi-series-series and didn't care much about making the characters seem like new and different people and fresh voices. The language used in the original Deverry books is quite iconic and this book was just far too similar for me for something that's supposed to be a few hundred years in the future (of the series). I really vaguely remember reading a Patreon post from the author that said she had to write a new book fast for some money for medical bills*, and while I empathise with that... the book really does feel rushed and half-baked.
*I'm probably remembering wrong, don't take this as fact
saffybooks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
apiecalypsejen's review against another edition
emotional
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
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longpastmybedtime's review against another edition
does anyone know if i can read this without reading the other 15 books before?
redheadreading's review against another edition
3.0
It has been fun to return to Deverry once again! You don't need to have read the other series to enjoy this one as it's set 300 years later and follows its own narrative arc. That said, there are lots of little tidbits and appearances that will make you smile if you have read the others!
One thing I really liked about this was the increased number of women. Don't get me wrong, there have been some fantastic female characters in the original series and the cast grew as it went on, but I loved getting to see the legacy of Lady Rhodda's learning and to see women scholars playing such an active role in the narrative. I got a bit irked by Cavan's continuous viewing of Alyssa as Not Like Other Girls. I think the presence of all the other strong women in this book is clearly challenging his viewpoint and showing that it's his own bias, but it was still a bit annoying to repeat so often.
I also appreciate that this book is doing a lot of very different things to the original Deverry series. Where that series is concerned with the recurring lives, ramifications playing out over generations, and suchlike, Sword of Fire has a plot that is founded among disputes. Challenging the unfairness of the legal courts is the crux that the plot centres around, but that in itself spirals out to reveal a myriad of feuds and tensions that have built over time and are beginning to form into something more serious. I appreciated this new focus, even if I wasn't always particularly invested in it.
Another niggle I have with the series is that by now I feel fairly overfamiliar with some of the character archetypes that Katharine Kerr is obviously drawn to. Cavan was once a nobleman but due to his impulsive temper and the betrayal of a family member he is stripped of his rank and forced to become a silver dagger. So far, remarkably similar to Rhodry! For me, some of the strongest characters are those who are slightly more on the sidelines of the narrative like the Rhommardda.
On the whole, I will always enjoy Kerr's Deverry series because I relish having a heavily Celticised fantasy world to sink my teeth into. This particular installment has not dazzled as strongly as some of her others, but I am interested enough that I will likely continue it as the rest of the trilogy is published. After all, I'm 16 books deep at this point!
One thing I really liked about this was the increased number of women. Don't get me wrong, there have been some fantastic female characters in the original series and the cast grew as it went on, but I loved getting to see the legacy of Lady Rhodda's learning and to see women scholars playing such an active role in the narrative. I got a bit irked by Cavan's continuous viewing of Alyssa as Not Like Other Girls. I think the presence of all the other strong women in this book is clearly challenging his viewpoint and showing that it's his own bias, but it was still a bit annoying to repeat so often.
I also appreciate that this book is doing a lot of very different things to the original Deverry series. Where that series is concerned with the recurring lives, ramifications playing out over generations, and suchlike, Sword of Fire has a plot that is founded among disputes. Challenging the unfairness of the legal courts is the crux that the plot centres around, but that in itself spirals out to reveal a myriad of feuds and tensions that have built over time and are beginning to form into something more serious. I appreciated this new focus, even if I wasn't always particularly invested in it.
Another niggle I have with the series is that by now I feel fairly overfamiliar with some of the character archetypes that Katharine Kerr is obviously drawn to. Cavan was once a nobleman but due to his impulsive temper and the betrayal of a family member he is stripped of his rank and forced to become a silver dagger. So far, remarkably similar to Rhodry! For me, some of the strongest characters are those who are slightly more on the sidelines of the narrative like the Rhommardda.
On the whole, I will always enjoy Kerr's Deverry series because I relish having a heavily Celticised fantasy world to sink my teeth into. This particular installment has not dazzled as strongly as some of her others, but I am interested enough that I will likely continue it as the rest of the trilogy is published. After all, I'm 16 books deep at this point!
dinapetko's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
awesomeemo's review against another edition
2.0
I will preface this by saying that I have never read any books from this author before not have have I read any classic low-fantasy books that this is reminiscent of.
This is a very uneventful, instalove story of two very interchangeable main characters, Alyssa and Davina(or something similar), who have to manouver a very patriarchy driven political world, and the dragons were mentioned twice.
Not much happened during this novel of any importance that would be of any interest. Maybe I’m being harsh, as I “don’t know anything about the background of this world” etc.. but I don’t think I should, this should be able to stand on it’s own, and yet I can’t tell you much about it after the 500 pages.
This is a very uneventful, instalove story of two very interchangeable main characters, Alyssa and Davina(or something similar), who have to manouver a very patriarchy driven political world, and the dragons were mentioned twice.
Not much happened during this novel of any importance that would be of any interest. Maybe I’m being harsh, as I “don’t know anything about the background of this world” etc.. but I don’t think I should, this should be able to stand on it’s own, and yet I can’t tell you much about it after the 500 pages.
laurencarter's review against another edition
3.0
*3.5*
I think I would love it more if I read the original series first
I think I would love it more if I read the original series first