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jwels's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this book so much so that I've already finished the 2nd book in the series. I liked the character development and it has enough suspense that I don't know exactly what is around the corner. There are still some mysteries that I can see aren't as black and white as they may seem.
littlepanda's review against another edition
5.0
It is an epic fantasy with everything to love and on the plus side there is a monk. The fight scenes were awesome and especially the war battle in the first chapter.
https://littlepandareads.wordpress.com/2019/12/14/november-and-october-wrap-up/
https://littlepandareads.wordpress.com/2019/12/14/november-and-october-wrap-up/
linyarai's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
emmarj's review against another edition
1.0
Nah, I'm good.
I kept reading and reading this because there is seriously a really good story under all this ill-conceived writing. I'm finally giving up though.
The back breaking straw? Realizing after 150 pages of some scary greffyn monster in the woods that the author meant gryphon. There are several spellings for the name of this mythical creature. Greffyn isn't one of them. The world did not need you, Greg Keyes, to make up a new one. Completely self-indulgent. Ridiculous. Being embarrassed and feeling stupid makes me angry.
This goes on and on with made up names, made up spellings (Vergenya or whatever), made up words (sceat? SKEET?! WHAT KIND OF BOOK IS THIS?!). I read a lot of historical fiction and I read a lot of fantasy so this isn't a new trick to me, it is just way, way overdone here.
It's too bad when an author ruins his own story.
I kept reading and reading this because there is seriously a really good story under all this ill-conceived writing. I'm finally giving up though.
The back breaking straw? Realizing after 150 pages of some scary greffyn monster in the woods that the author meant gryphon. There are several spellings for the name of this mythical creature. Greffyn isn't one of them. The world did not need you, Greg Keyes, to make up a new one. Completely self-indulgent. Ridiculous. Being embarrassed and feeling stupid makes me angry.
This goes on and on with made up names, made up spellings (Vergenya or whatever), made up words (sceat? SKEET?! WHAT KIND OF BOOK IS THIS?!). I read a lot of historical fiction and I read a lot of fantasy so this isn't a new trick to me, it is just way, way overdone here.
It's too bad when an author ruins his own story.
bleepnik's review against another edition
4.0
I'm not much of a fantasy reader. This book was a free download for the Kindle from Amazon.com, so I thought, why not? I've noticed that many of the free Kindle books from Amazon are first in a series, and this title is no exception. I've read many grumbly comments about this, but I think it's brilliant marketing. I didn't find Keyes' writing particularly fantastic, but the story's a good one and the pace is brilliant, making this a thoroughly entertaining page-turner. I look forward to reading the next volume.
iamshadow's review against another edition
5.0
I picked up The Briar King from a bargain bin, and was pleasantly surprised to find a genuinely good fantasy book. Having existed in tamed and relative peace for centuries, the land starts to awaken, and grim and perilous creatures begin to roam the the land. Assassination plagues the royal family of Dare, and a priest, a green country knight and a woodsman are all somehow tied to mankind's fate. A genuinely good tale of dark fantasy, for likers of Robert Jordan, for example.
wynwicket's review against another edition
5.0
The first book in the Kingdoms of Thorn and Bone quartet introduces some intriguing characters (my favorite of which is Stephen, a young priest with a talent for deciphering ancient languages) and plenty of dark, wild magic. All the elements of traditional epic fantasy are there, but it's so well-written, with dashes of Old English for flavor and some beautiful language, that the occasional cliche can be overlooked. I will definitely be reading the rest of the series.
eb2114's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
shirezu's review against another edition
4.0
I don't know why but I went into this book expecting not to like it. I cannot figure out why. I don't remember anyone talking about this book to me but I'd been pushing it to the back of my challenge list with the other books I'm not looking forward to.
But once I started reading it I really enjoyed it. There was a lot of cliche, predictable in parts, but I enjoyed a lot as well. The not really discussed link to Roanoke. The faneways and the Briar King. Lots of things not quite explained but that fit well. I think I will have to put the sequels into my TBR list and not near the bottom either.
But once I started reading it I really enjoyed it. There was a lot of cliche, predictable in parts, but I enjoyed a lot as well. The not really discussed link to Roanoke. The faneways and the Briar King. Lots of things not quite explained but that fit well. I think I will have to put the sequels into my TBR list and not near the bottom either.