yvettekeller's review against another edition
4.0
What I enjoyed about the novel was being tossed into a wonderful new way to use language. Willrich has invented dialog and storytelling that derives from opposites. His writing incorporates east and west, man-on-the-street and sage, human and animal, child and adult. I can only describe my reaction toward writing so completely new and different as similar to how I felt reading Gibson’s cyberpunk for the first time. Reading this book is likely to cause a disturbance in your chi, but channeling will reward the reader tenfold.
What I had to overcome to enjoy the book was the idea that I was picking up a recreational-fantasy drug. This book requires attention, commitment and participation from its readers. If you allow it, this book can teach you more than a little bit about life’s biggest lessons. To the inattentive, I imagine this book is just a muddied flood that will wash over you, scrape you up with pointed words, and carry you away, without ever allowing you to plumb its depths of meaning.
For the full review, please visit my blog:
Aspiration Machine
What I had to overcome to enjoy the book was the idea that I was picking up a recreational-fantasy drug. This book requires attention, commitment and participation from its readers. If you allow it, this book can teach you more than a little bit about life’s biggest lessons. To the inattentive, I imagine this book is just a muddied flood that will wash over you, scrape you up with pointed words, and carry you away, without ever allowing you to plumb its depths of meaning.
For the full review, please visit my blog:
Aspiration Machine
rgreatreader's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed it but it was very difficult for me to finish; I almost gave up on it a few times.
cupiscent's review against another edition
Setting aside at page 97, something like a third of the way. It's sadly just not working for me - sadly because there's a Chinese-fantasy-fable feel to one thread of the story that I'd like to read more of, and I suspect Gaunt and Bone themselves are quite interesting. But the one storyline is also weighed with a lot of YA elements I dislike, and G&B's storyline isn't engaging me nor giving the characters a chance to shine. Plus the style of writing, while occasionally delightful, is overall less compelling that I'd like. Enthused as I am by the concept of a melding of eastern and western modes of storytelling, this isn't working for me in execution.
So: three stars because I think this is a case of mammoth "just not for me", rather than the work being flawed.
So: three stars because I think this is a case of mammoth "just not for me", rather than the work being flawed.
jamiebarrows's review
3.0
Didn't realize when I started reading his, that this book is actually not the first in the series. There are actually some short stories that came first and provide the background for this book. Wish the author had done a little more recap on the main characters for those of us who did not read the earlier short stories.
cindyc's review
4.0
The first thing I noticed when I received this book was its beautiful cover. I mean, look at it, it’s stunning! If I hadn’t received this book from the generous people at Pyr, but just stumbled across it in a bookshop, I’d definitely have bought it, because, yeah, I do judge a book by its cover sometimes. Especially when I’m on a book-shopping spree. So as a first impression, this book scored big time with me. After reading the summary I was even more eager to start reading this book. Two lovers, partners in crime, running from assassins to the other end of the world and dragons crossing their path? I’m in!
It’s been a while since I read a book like this one. If I have to describe it in one word, I’d choose “entertaining”. This book was just so much fun to read, I enjoyed every page of it. The dialogue is witty, the characters are quirky and amusing, the setting was beautifully described and there’s lots of action going on between these pages.
The Eastern setting gives a special atmosphere to the whole story. It gave me a much needed break from the Fantasy novels set in Western civilizations. Willrich created an interesting population here, dividing the people into Garden and Forrest, each with its own history and views on how life should be lived. I loved the interaction between the two camps and learning about their background and their beliefs.
The main characters Persimmon Gaunt and Imago Bone aren’t the deep fleshed out characters I normally like, but nevertheless I enjoyed reading about them greatly. They have very distinct personalities that give a special flavor to the book. Along the way they encounter a cast of different characters that will ultimately play a big role in their further adventures. All of them are great characters, each bringing that bit extra to the story. As a whole, Willrich created a great cast of characters to populate his pages. They definitely keep your attention.
The author also gives a whole new spin to dragons and their lifestyle, which I absolutely adored. There’s one moment in this book where one of the characters describes the dragons and I just itched to quote it here, it was so beautiful, but I’d rather you discovered it yourself. It’s far too amazing to spoil it for you. Just know that these dragons, though familiar, have a whole other story than the ones your used to.
Nearing the end the book felt a bit rushed, but looking back it didn’t bother me that much. Maybe I would have liked the story to evolve a bit slower during that part of the book, but I can see why the author choose this approach.
If you start this book, don’t expect a masterpiece with deep storylines and complex characters. If you go in expecting that, you’ll be disappointed. Go in it expecting to have fun and you’ll get exactly what you want. ‘The Scroll of Years’ is one of the most entertaining books I’ve read all year. If you’re looking for excitement, beautiful descriptions and an intriguing new world with fun characters and imaginative spins, you should definitely pick this book up!
It’s been a while since I read a book like this one. If I have to describe it in one word, I’d choose “entertaining”. This book was just so much fun to read, I enjoyed every page of it. The dialogue is witty, the characters are quirky and amusing, the setting was beautifully described and there’s lots of action going on between these pages.
The Eastern setting gives a special atmosphere to the whole story. It gave me a much needed break from the Fantasy novels set in Western civilizations. Willrich created an interesting population here, dividing the people into Garden and Forrest, each with its own history and views on how life should be lived. I loved the interaction between the two camps and learning about their background and their beliefs.
The main characters Persimmon Gaunt and Imago Bone aren’t the deep fleshed out characters I normally like, but nevertheless I enjoyed reading about them greatly. They have very distinct personalities that give a special flavor to the book. Along the way they encounter a cast of different characters that will ultimately play a big role in their further adventures. All of them are great characters, each bringing that bit extra to the story. As a whole, Willrich created a great cast of characters to populate his pages. They definitely keep your attention.
The author also gives a whole new spin to dragons and their lifestyle, which I absolutely adored. There’s one moment in this book where one of the characters describes the dragons and I just itched to quote it here, it was so beautiful, but I’d rather you discovered it yourself. It’s far too amazing to spoil it for you. Just know that these dragons, though familiar, have a whole other story than the ones your used to.
Nearing the end the book felt a bit rushed, but looking back it didn’t bother me that much. Maybe I would have liked the story to evolve a bit slower during that part of the book, but I can see why the author choose this approach.
If you start this book, don’t expect a masterpiece with deep storylines and complex characters. If you go in expecting that, you’ll be disappointed. Go in it expecting to have fun and you’ll get exactly what you want. ‘The Scroll of Years’ is one of the most entertaining books I’ve read all year. If you’re looking for excitement, beautiful descriptions and an intriguing new world with fun characters and imaginative spins, you should definitely pick this book up!
qwerty88's review
2.0
There is a lot of telling in this book, and difficult to follow fight scenes. Though it is book one, it's also a continuation of several earlier short stories. The relationships just seem to sit there, with very little personal growth shown.
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