bory's review against another edition
4.0
A great improvement over A Blade of Black Steel.
There's a lot here to like. The book was fast paced and it was just plain old fun. The battles are engaging, and weird, and have a surprising amount of humor and wit woven into the gore and mayhem.
The characters, for the most part, shine. I really liked the relationship that developed between Zosia and Indsorith, especially early on, when the two old queens were reminiscing and commiserating with Diadem falling apart around them.
Hoartrap's character arc didn't go where I though it would, but I ended up appreciating the ugly ogre more than Maroto, whom I loved in A Crown for Cold Silver.
Speaking of Maroto, I developed a strong distaste for him in A Blade of Black Steel, and though he's better in A War of Crimson Embers, he never really got back to that level of lovable-ness he had in book one. I also didn't particularly liked how his arc ended. Owning up to your bullshit without really owning up to your bullshit... yeah, no.
There are some weird choices in what we get t exoperience through some of the POV characters. For example, after having to read Ji-hyeon's romantic musing for two books, it's baffling that we didn't see most of her badass adventures in the First Dark.
Overall, I think this is the strongest book of the trilogy and an awesome conclusion to the story. Most of the plot was wrapped up nicely, though with enough tantalizing threads left loose to tease a potential sequel series in this world... too bad it hasn't happened, but here's hoping.
There's a lot here to like. The book was fast paced and it was just plain old fun. The battles are engaging, and weird, and have a surprising amount of humor and wit woven into the gore and mayhem.
The characters, for the most part, shine. I really liked the relationship that developed between Zosia and Indsorith, especially early on, when the two old queens were reminiscing and commiserating with Diadem falling apart around them.
Hoartrap's character arc didn't go where I though it would, but I ended up appreciating the ugly ogre more than Maroto, whom I loved in A Crown for Cold Silver.
Speaking of Maroto, I developed a strong distaste for him in A Blade of Black Steel, and though he's better in A War of Crimson Embers, he never really got back to that level of lovable-ness he had in book one. I also didn't particularly liked how his arc ended. Owning up to your bullshit without really owning up to your bullshit... yeah, no.
There are some weird choices in what we get t exoperience through some of the POV characters. For example, after having to read Ji-hyeon's romantic musing for two books, it's baffling that we didn't see most of her badass adventures in the First Dark.
Overall, I think this is the strongest book of the trilogy and an awesome conclusion to the story. Most of the plot was wrapped up nicely, though with enough tantalizing threads left loose to tease a potential sequel series in this world... too bad it hasn't happened, but here's hoping.
sprinkled's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
aksel_dadswell's review against another edition
5.0
An incredible conclusion to one of the best fantasy series I've read. I love how each book maintains the overall tone of the series and builds its characters, while managing to veer in different and unexpected directions. This one goes all out with the monsters, and they're all gloriously gag-inducing and tactile. The way the author wrangles the big scenes and instills everything with a crazy energy is nothing short of masterful. The Crimson Empire trilogy is his most ambitious work but also his most accomplished, and what he manages to pull off is absolutely breathtaking. His characters are horrible and beautiful and brilliantly real, his world is vast and lived-in and built to perfection, and his humour is always on-point. I can't overstate how much I love this series.
tasadion's review against another edition
4.0
Here's an epic fantasy that's too funny to be grimdark, but way to real and modern in its sensibilities to fit with older works. Enjoyable, original and a ton of fun, if not a linear as it could be on occasion. Recommended.
jimmer's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
tense
- 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
4.5
wolftashie's review against another edition
5.0
It's a rare book that makes me laugh out loud, and this series consistently did so. Unique and admirable characters, few of whom would be described as "good", make up this epic high fantasy. The plot slowed a little in the middle of the series, but picked up the pace towards the end. Inventive plot twists, inventive everything. Filled with low morals, lots of drugs, violence, sex, and truly disgusting evil antagonists, I loved this book. Don't read it if you don't have a sense of humor. Cannot recommend enough.
argentrabe's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5