lanica's review against another edition
2.0
I really don't know what to say about this book. The main character is again starting a new life. He started his life as a the soldier son of a noble in the first book, but it was taken away from him by magic. He was forced to create a new life as a common soldier in the second book, taking happiness wherever he could find it. Again, it was taken away by magic. Now he is forced to live a third life that seems to be the will of the magic, but it soon becomes obvious that this life too will end badly. We just have to wait and see how.
In my previous review I've stated that I didn't like the main character, but I find the story interesting enough to read it anyway. This continues to be the case with this book, but less so. I like the characters around Nevare, but not Nevare himself. He's still whiny and never seems to think that anything is his fault or that his actions might hurt other people. He doesn't learn, he doesn't grow. Seeing through his eyes is annoying, but less so in this book than the others.
OVERALL: There was a great story hidden in this trilogy, I just wish it had been more concise and readable. I had great hopes for it, but very few of them were realized. I liked several of the characters, but disliked just as many. Several times, ideas were introduced but never fleshed out. Conversely, there were several times the writer introduced an idea then she beat it to death. Environmental issues and race issues were the main theme, and I think the average reader would have picked up on her points without overtly hearing them several times and in several ways. The beginning of this third book especially seemed preachy and wordy to me.
I think that this trilogy could have been one solid novel instead of three drawn out books of a trilogy.
In my previous review I've stated that I didn't like the main character, but I find the story interesting enough to read it anyway. This continues to be the case with this book, but less so. I like the characters around Nevare, but not Nevare himself. He's still whiny and never seems to think that anything is his fault or that his actions might hurt other people. He doesn't learn, he doesn't grow. Seeing through his eyes is annoying, but less so in this book than the others.
OVERALL: There was a great story hidden in this trilogy, I just wish it had been more concise and readable. I had great hopes for it, but very few of them were realized. I liked several of the characters, but disliked just as many. Several times, ideas were introduced but never fleshed out. Conversely, there were several times the writer introduced an idea then she beat it to death. Environmental issues and race issues were the main theme, and I think the average reader would have picked up on her points without overtly hearing them several times and in several ways. The beginning of this third book especially seemed preachy and wordy to me.
I think that this trilogy could have been one solid novel instead of three drawn out books of a trilogy.
izzykate93's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
slow-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
4.5
truthlessofcanada's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-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
4.5
j_wrathall's review against another edition
5.0
Loved it! Fave series potentially! And connections to the characters and that ending!
zezee's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
3.5
bookburningsheep's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-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
2.5
elisergray's review against another edition
1.0
I am so glad that this book is finally over. As many other reviewers stated, all three books in the trilogy lumber on, full of food, inner debates, and frankly, not much happening at all. All of them seem to go upward a bit at the end, which encouragingly invites the reader to try the next book. I was really hoping that, as usually happens in Hobb's writing, there would eventually be something that I liked about the protagonist. That never happened, and I am extremely relieved (and surprised) that I made it through the whole trilogy. Her writing style was as beautiful as ever, but the plot and characters (mostly Nevare) failed horribly. This was a pretty big disappointment.
v_neptune's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Death, Violence, Body shaming, Body horror, Drug abuse, and Gore
Moderate: Sexual assault and Rape
eb00kie's review against another edition
2.0
And this is what happens when you have to finish a list of native authors' works for the twelfth grade final exam. How could I ever finish a book so boring and so effing long?