violetshemitz's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
stviasso's review
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
sunflowerscottie's review
5.0
What a fantastic ending to this duology. I had a great time reading this (as I expected).
Not only does the world-building continue to amaze me, but also the way all of the world-building and mythology doesn't overwhelm the plot. Larkwood manages to strike a balance between complex world and complex plot that makes the novel a joy to read (even when I'm distressed over what's happening to the characters).
Not only does the world-building continue to amaze me, but also the way all of the world-building and mythology doesn't overwhelm the plot. Larkwood manages to strike a balance between complex world and complex plot that makes the novel a joy to read (even when I'm distressed over what's happening to the characters).
vegetablemathematics's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
bachaboska's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
kaystover525's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
maratini's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.0
I feel a little bad giving this a lower rating, since I really did enjoy its predecessor, but I get more and more annoyed the longer I think about it, so a 2.75 2 it is.
There were redeeming qualities, of course, which is what's keeping me from an even lower rating. I loved Tal's POV, and I felt those sections didn't fall victim to the worst of the problems I had with the book. His were far and away the best sections, and what really kept me reading.
The rest though? Infuriating.
The pacing was so bad I'm honestly shocked it got through editing! I let the pacing issues in the first book slide because at least the story maintained some coherency, but here all of that flies out the window. It felt like something that should have been double the length, and split into two books, with the speed at which plot points came and went, and the number of plot-important events which just get pushed off to a mention as something that happened offscreen.
It was frustrating, to say the least, and made the whole book feel like simultaneously everything and nothing was happening - it was like reading a summary of a bigger story.
My other big issue, which I even could have let some of the pacing issues slide had it bot been for this, was the treatment of Csorwe and Shuthmili throughout the book. Without giving too many spoilers... does anyone else feel like lesbians are getting possessed and/or lobotomized a lot in sff lately?
There were redeeming qualities, of course, which is what's keeping me from an even lower rating. I loved Tal's POV, and I felt those sections didn't fall victim to the worst of the problems I had with the book. His were far and away the best sections, and what really kept me reading.
The rest though? Infuriating.
The pacing was so bad I'm honestly shocked it got through editing! I let the pacing issues in the first book slide because at least the story maintained some coherency, but here all of that flies out the window. It felt like something that should have been double the length, and split into two books, with the speed at which plot points came and went, and the number of plot-important events which just get pushed off to a mention as something that happened offscreen.
It was frustrating, to say the least, and made the whole book feel like simultaneously everything and nothing was happening - it was like reading a summary of a bigger story.
My other big issue, which I even could have let some of the pacing issues slide had it bot been for this, was the treatment of Csorwe and Shuthmili throughout the book. Without giving too many spoilers... does anyone else feel like lesbians are getting possessed and/or lobotomized a lot in sff lately?
Content Warnings
Mind Control, Possession, Loss of self
peppermintlegs's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
didn’t expect this one to rip me to shreds! rare instance of a well executed child character too
manwithanagenda's review
adventurous
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
A good follow-up to 'Unspoken Name', but it lacked a certain something. I'm chalking it up to a mid-trilogy slump, but we shall see.
In the years since Csorwe, Shuthmili and Tal left Sethennai's service they've attempted to move on with their lives. However, greater events are still stirring that will draw them back into the center of events in their corner of the multiverse.
Once started it was hard to put this down. Larkwood still moves her story along at a breakneck pace. This time, without the weight of world-building, it left the big events feeling a little hollow. This, coupled with the modern language/idioms used throughout made this not as enjoyable as it might have been. I don't know. The language wasn't an issue the first time around, so your mileage may vary.
This had a satisfying end, but I can sense there's more to come.
The Serpent Gates
Next: '?'
Previous: 'The Unspoken Name'
In the years since Csorwe, Shuthmili and Tal left Sethennai's service they've attempted to move on with their lives. However, greater events are still stirring that will draw them back into the center of events in their corner of the multiverse.
Once started it was hard to put this down. Larkwood still moves her story along at a breakneck pace. This time, without the weight of world-building, it left the big events feeling a little hollow. This, coupled with the modern language/idioms used throughout made this not as enjoyable as it might have been. I don't know. The language wasn't an issue the first time around, so your mileage may vary.
This had a satisfying end, but I can sense there's more to come.
The Serpent Gates
Next: '?'
Previous: 'The Unspoken Name'
gay's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75