kaiouelios's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
olityr's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
ncragoe's review against another edition
2.0
I'm embarrassed to say, I did enjoy reading this book, in the same way I enjoy sitting on the couch and eating ice cream while watching a crap television show. I hadn't let myself get lost in a poorly constructed, formulaic fantasy story in a while, and it was due. However:
-An alternate title for this book might've been "Gender Wars: Payback Time, Bitches." For all his hedging with the (eminently male) main character considering all sides of the central conflict, this was still a book about women capturing and pacifying men, and how innately evil a feminist society would be. Not that Madrien is an accurate representation of a feminist society, but rather a kind of anti-feminist nightmare society where men are shackled like animals. Not cool, Mr. Modesitt.
-The characters had no depth, at all, whatsoever. There was the magic guy who just wants to live the simple life, and the one-dimensional girl who pines for him. There's the gruff old man, and the nameless soldiers, and the evil queen, and blah blah blah characters ad infinitum with nothing going on below the surface.
-The plot has a similar problem to most fantasy genre fiction. It goes something like folksycharm-folksycharm-war-war-war-war-war-war-war-war-magic-folksycharm-end.
-The dialogue at the conclusion was *painful.* I mean dialogue wasn't the strong suit here in general, but once there was no more conflict to be had, there was just no blood flowing to it anymore.
If you want a piece of fluff that you don't have to think about (assuming you can ignore the rampant genderfail), involving some magic, some fighting, and a bland, emotionless badass, then this book might be for you.
-An alternate title for this book might've been "Gender Wars: Payback Time, Bitches." For all his hedging with the (eminently male) main character considering all sides of the central conflict, this was still a book about women capturing and pacifying men, and how innately evil a feminist society would be. Not that Madrien is an accurate representation of a feminist society, but rather a kind of anti-feminist nightmare society where men are shackled like animals. Not cool, Mr. Modesitt.
-The characters had no depth, at all, whatsoever. There was the magic guy who just wants to live the simple life, and the one-dimensional girl who pines for him. There's the gruff old man, and the nameless soldiers, and the evil queen, and blah blah blah characters ad infinitum with nothing going on below the surface.
-The plot has a similar problem to most fantasy genre fiction. It goes something like folksycharm-folksycharm-war-war-war-war-war-war-war-war-magic-folksycharm-end.
-The dialogue at the conclusion was *painful.* I mean dialogue wasn't the strong suit here in general, but once there was no more conflict to be had, there was just no blood flowing to it anymore.
If you want a piece of fluff that you don't have to think about (assuming you can ignore the rampant genderfail), involving some magic, some fighting, and a bland, emotionless badass, then this book might be for you.
vaderbird's review against another edition
3.0
5 star - Perfect
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
sleightholme's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
jeremybost's review against another edition
5.0
Let's see...military + magic + handsome, strong, smart, magically powerful young man + basically 1 POV = a wonderful story. I read Henty's historical fiction for the "good young soldier books" and others for the fantastical magic. I have to enjoy when it is combined.
Modesitt has less of the funny sound effects that were in previous books (horses "whuffing", etc), though a few repeated words (he likes to use "[he/she] offered" a bit much in replace of "[he/she] said").
In spite of those few flaws, I'll eat up this series, and then want more, I'm sure.
Modesitt has less of the funny sound effects that were in previous books (horses "whuffing", etc), though a few repeated words (he likes to use "[he/she] offered" a bit much in replace of "[he/she] said").
In spite of those few flaws, I'll eat up this series, and then want more, I'm sure.
bookishchef's review against another edition
1.0
This is the most boring book I've ever read with the most underdeveloped female characters I've ever seen. It started off so promising, but my God, it went absolutely nowhere for most of the book.
The plot only picks up during the last 100 pages of this 634 page book, and because of that, the ending feels unearned, rushed and cliche.
The plot only picks up during the last 100 pages of this 634 page book, and because of that, the ending feels unearned, rushed and cliche.
ctgt's review
4.0
My first Modesitt Jr. book. I really enjoyed the writing style, although the tropes were pretty familiar.
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