Scan barcode
etoiline's review against another edition
5.0
I got three hours of sleep last night thanks to this wonderful book. Carol Berg stays at the top of my favorite authors list with this one, because it kept me reading from 8 pm until 5 am. Yes, 5 am. Oh, there were interruptions of dinner and a chat with the roommate and Pirates 3 (it was quiet in the apartment, what can I say? I have to stare at Orlando), so I could have finished sooner, I suppose.[return:][return:]Not quite the less-than-six-hours marathon of finishing HP 7, but close. I never wanted to sleep. I begrudged the time it took to shower and get ready for bed. Valen is as real to me as anyone, and I could see him in my mind as he leapt and danced, which is not at all usual (a phrase often applied to Valen in the book). I have a hard time visualizing characters, but my hands are itching to take a shot at drawing what I see for him.[return:][return:]I felt like a bad fan. I knew this book was coming out and I was looking for it, but I didn't know the exact release date, so I was actually a little late getting it. It wasn't until Carol sent out her sweet little email yesterday that I knew it was even available, and you can be sure that the hours I had to wait until I could leave work and head off to Borders were pretty darn long. But I have it now, and I'll be riding the high from reading it for a while.[return:][return:]I had to finish. It was too wonderful to stop, and I honestly didn't want to. Well done, Carol. Words can't express how happy I was to be reading it. It makes me want to write that well, and I hope I come close. I love Valen so much right now. For once, my speculations were right, but the story never made it too obvious.[return:][return:]So nice to read the rest of the story I got a glimpse of during those private readings with Carol at Archon in August. What a fitting conclusion to Flesh & Spirit.[return:][return:]Sleep deprivation will hit me a little later, but it was worth it.[return:][return:](from my site: http://etoiline.com/coronach/2008/01/04/breath_bone.php)
jselliot's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
While not my favorite duology, the setting was intriguing enough to deal with the rather unlikeable protagonist (who was, frankly, a man-whore who thought he was god's gift to women and that all women should fall at his feet because he flirted with them - thankfully he eventually realizes how entitled he was, but it took him a while).
doublemm's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
krayfish1's review against another edition
3.0
In this series the first book is all set up and the second book is all payoff. So on reread I only read the second.
thewashouts's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
bookbirb's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
kaeritha's review against another edition
5.0
AAAAARRRRGH! The book was excellent. But man she gets hard to read sometimes with all the crap that happens to her characters (but that's why I like her writing so....).
octavia_cade's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars, rounding up to 4. I note that my predictions after reading book 1 as to who the lost prince was, and my idea about what the gift was, were right on the money. The easy guessing continues here, as it was blatantly obvious who the old woman was; I got it some time before Valen did.
In general, another likable read, though my indifference for the main character, and my absolute dislike for his never-ending addiction storyline remains. For all that Valen goes on and on and on about what a threat nivat is to him, he overdoses on it so bloody regularly that it loses all sense of threat (or interest). Of far more interest is dodgy prince Osriel, who at least seems to have a brain and a willingness to use it to make hard choices; he's a fantastic character. What really makes this book - and its predecessor - stand out, however, is the world-building, which continues to be excellent. There's a real sense of place and culture here that's genuinely enjoyable. I don't know if Berg's done more in this world, but I'd be super interested in reading it if she has - I'm a sucker for stories where the king is magically bound to the land and vice versa.
In general, another likable read, though my indifference for the main character, and my absolute dislike for his never-ending addiction storyline remains. For all that Valen goes on and on and on about what a threat nivat is to him, he overdoses on it so bloody regularly that it loses all sense of threat (or interest). Of far more interest is dodgy prince Osriel, who at least seems to have a brain and a willingness to use it to make hard choices; he's a fantastic character. What really makes this book - and its predecessor - stand out, however, is the world-building, which continues to be excellent. There's a real sense of place and culture here that's genuinely enjoyable. I don't know if Berg's done more in this world, but I'd be super interested in reading it if she has - I'm a sucker for stories where the king is magically bound to the land and vice versa.
readerrachelle's review
4.0
Breath and Bone is a satisfying ending to the storyline begun in Flesh and Spirit. The conclusion left all of the necessary strings tied up but also left room to return to the world and these characters should the author wish too. I would live to read more about this world and the adventures following the epilogue of Breath and Bone.
I enjoyed this duology immensely. I found the magic system deeply intriguing, the character development to be realistically paced as well as relatable and the writing to be unusual and captivating.
Several other reviews I read before starting Breath and Bone said they felt as though this was just part two of Flesh and Spirit. While I can understand those feelings, the two books were quite distinct for me. Flesh and Spirit was the main character discovering who he is as a human being,finding the true expression of his personality and cementing it. Breath and Bone focused on the journey the character took with his magic, learning it's subtle nuances and coming to terms with the way his magic effects him and the people and land around him.
Truly a wonderful series for fantasy lovers and I would highly recommend it for most adult readers interested in fantasy and magic... But who doesn't love a bit of magic now and then?
This is not a series for anyone under the age of fifteen as it deals with some very adult themes such as addiction.
I enjoyed this duology immensely. I found the magic system deeply intriguing, the character development to be realistically paced as well as relatable and the writing to be unusual and captivating.
Several other reviews I read before starting Breath and Bone said they felt as though this was just part two of Flesh and Spirit. While I can understand those feelings, the two books were quite distinct for me. Flesh and Spirit was the main character discovering who he is as a human being,finding the true expression of his personality and cementing it. Breath and Bone focused on the journey the character took with his magic, learning it's subtle nuances and coming to terms with the way his magic effects him and the people and land around him.
Truly a wonderful series for fantasy lovers and I would highly recommend it for most adult readers interested in fantasy and magic... But who doesn't love a bit of magic now and then?
This is not a series for anyone under the age of fifteen as it deals with some very adult themes such as addiction.
storysgraphically's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this, but felt that there was no way for them to have gotten so much accomplished in so little time. If dancing takes years to perfect, how did he learn to in, like, two sessions?