gcamelopardalis's review against another edition
3.0
I definitely like this book more than the first one, mainly because Sonea actually does things in this one.
The school aspects of this book are really fun and very Tamora Pierce-esque. The classic outsider girl in the school, the attractive, classist, asshole bully.
But that was just Sonea's portion, this is also Dannyl's story and has an additional POV from Administrator Lorlen, who is a snore fest. Dannyl's story is more interesting, especially his relationship with T...I forgot his name and honestly I usually just look at reviews to remember characters names but I couldn't find one that mentions his name. Dannyl's assistant. I think thats maybe a bad sign.
I don't like books that jump around POVs. I get invested in a section and then suddenly we have to focus on someone entirely different.
Akkarin is a low-key major asshole, even though its clear he is doing black magic because of mysterious and probably valid reasons. I can't remember the third book's plot, but thats heavily suggested in this book.
I'm still gonna read the third book, but I don't think these books are my thing.
The school aspects of this book are really fun and very Tamora Pierce-esque. The classic outsider girl in the school, the attractive, classist, asshole bully.
But that was just Sonea's portion, this is also Dannyl's story and has an additional POV from Administrator Lorlen, who is a snore fest. Dannyl's story is more interesting, especially his relationship with T...I forgot his name and honestly I usually just look at reviews to remember characters names but I couldn't find one that mentions his name. Dannyl's assistant. I think thats maybe a bad sign.
I don't like books that jump around POVs. I get invested in a section and then suddenly we have to focus on someone entirely different.
Akkarin is a low-key major asshole, even though its clear he is doing black magic because of mysterious and probably valid reasons. I can't remember the third book's plot, but thats heavily suggested in this book.
I'm still gonna read the third book, but I don't think these books are my thing.
authornikola's review against another edition
5.0
I had such a blast reading this! Trudi Canavan is becoming one of my favourite authors and I cannot wait to read the rest of her work, after I finish this triology, of course.
mxajlikesbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Homophobia
2h2a2n's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
4.5
j0s5i3's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
angelofthetardis's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Book two of the Black Magician trilogy, Sonea has now been inducted into the Guild and is learning to hone her skills as a magician. But she's the odd one out, and so it's not long before the whispers, stares and taunts start. And not only does she have to deal with all of the usual 'playground' politics, but the spectre of the High Lord's secret only serves to put her and all those she cares about in danger.
This is so much better than the first book in basically every way. There's a narrative plot that actually serves to move the story forward, the character development is deeper, it's got several sub-plots bubbling away nicely that hopefully will carry forward to book three, and generally it's just so much easier to read.
I particularly enjoyed following Lord Dannyl's travels. He comes across to me as one of those people who are quiet, well meaning and happy to help, but can be quite naive and not always entirely entirely understanding of the bigger picture. So it's lovely to see him coming out of his shell. I think he's my favourite character overall, and something tells me a lot of the resolutions are going to fall on his shoulders once he manages to piece together exactly what's going on in the Guild. The clues are all there; he just has to put them together!
The High Lord has me on edge - in my head I see a Voldemort-esque figure, who surely can't be anything but evil, right? Except there's some lovely layering being done in this book which suggests that all is not as it seems. For me, this really adds an edge to the narrative; it's really difficult to even try and guess what his motives are. He's just creepy!!!
There are a few tropes in here though that do frustrate me. The fact that no-one is talking to each other because they're too scared has so many holes I could strain tea with it! And while the outcast being bullied by a fellow student with an over-inflated ego absolutely makes sense in this context for the wider story, at the same time each encounter becomes less and less effective and begins to just feel like filler. The inevitable resolution to this also feels like something of a disappointment.
I do have to keep reminding myself that Sonea is older than her peers. She says that most of her first class are immature because their attendance at the Guild effectively extends their childhood for five years, but she herself doesn't exactly come across as 'grown up'.
I am now definitely interested in how the story will resolve itself - there's plenty of questions left to answer! And the next book is already in transit to my local library, so hopefully not too long to wait!
This is so much better than the first book in basically every way. There's a narrative plot that actually serves to move the story forward, the character development is deeper, it's got several sub-plots bubbling away nicely that hopefully will carry forward to book three, and generally it's just so much easier to read.
I particularly enjoyed following Lord Dannyl's travels. He comes across to me as one of those people who are quiet, well meaning and happy to help, but can be quite naive and not always entirely entirely understanding of the bigger picture. So it's lovely to see him coming out of his shell. I think he's my favourite character overall, and something tells me a lot of the resolutions are going to fall on his shoulders once he manages to piece together exactly what's going on in the Guild. The clues are all there; he just has to put them together!
The High Lord has me on edge - in my head I see a Voldemort-esque figure, who surely can't be anything but evil, right? Except there's some lovely layering being done in this book which suggests that all is not as it seems. For me, this really adds an edge to the narrative; it's really difficult to even try and guess what his motives are. He's just creepy!!!
There are a few tropes in here though that do frustrate me. The fact that no-one is talking to each other because they're too scared has so many holes I could strain tea with it! And while the outcast being bullied by a fellow student with an over-inflated ego absolutely makes sense in this context for the wider story, at the same time each encounter becomes less and less effective and begins to just feel like filler. The inevitable resolution to this also feels like something of a disappointment.
I do have to keep reminding myself that Sonea is older than her peers. She says that most of her first class are immature because their attendance at the Guild effectively extends their childhood for five years, but she herself doesn't exactly come across as 'grown up'.
Spoiler
Which does give Dorrien's interactions with her a little bit of an 'ick' factor IMO. I have no problem with age-difference relationships (would be hard for me to when my husband is 11 years older than me!), and as much as the characters seem like they might be a good fit one day, something just doesn't sit right with me at this stage.I am now definitely interested in how the story will resolve itself - there's plenty of questions left to answer! And the next book is already in transit to my local library, so hopefully not too long to wait!
patsunami's review against another edition
4.0
Me parte el alma a MÍ LA PRIMERA ponerle cuatro de cinco pero es que con toda la intriga y la emoción de TODO el libro que termine con ese final es como ?????????.
En realidad, pensándolo bien, probablemente sea un 4,999999999 estrellas. Vale que el final intenta ser impactante (y no deja de serlo) pero se queda corto; sin embargo, los personajes están tan currados que se lo perdono. Dorrien y Tayend son los best personajes ever, Rothen es muy cuqui, Dannyl es un caso aparte al que quiero mencionar luego (junto con Akkarim) y Sonea... bueno, Sonea también se merece una mención especial.
Voy a extenderme.
El hecho de que Dannyl se sanara a sí mismo para evadir los sentimientos que él pensaba, estaban mal, me parece un punto interesantísimo. Lo siento como una metáfora. Al fin y al cabo, nosotros también evadimos ciertas cosas de nosotros (no siempre referidas a sexualidad, aunque desgraciadamente también ocurre bastante) que nos duelen o sentimos que no están bien, que son heridas que no han acabado de cerrarse. Además que tiene los mejores diálogos del libro, por favor. Él y Tayend. Shippeo máximo :'(
Por otro lado quiero hablar sobre Akkarim. No sé cómo tomármelo porque me parece complejo hasta el infinito. No le siento un personaje del todo malo, a pesar de que en libro lo intentan colocar como antagonista prácticamente todo el tiempo (junto con Regin). Pasándome a este, a Regin, y a su historia con Sonea, la verdad es que me exasperó un poquito. ¿Hay bullying? Sí. ¿Es importante que se hable del bullying en la literatura? Por supuesto. El problema: NO trata el tema. La acosan, sí, vale, es cierto y el motivo es perfectamente factible: un niño mimado que no acepta a nadie fuera de lo común. Lo que yo pienso que falla es que la historia no te da soluciones, ni apoyo, ni absolutamente nada. Simplemente la acosan durante todo el libro, ella no hace nada, reta en duelo a Regin, gana, y cesa el acoso. Ya está. ¿Qué enseña eso a una persona que sufre bullying? Además que encuentro al personaje de Regin súper forzado. Es como si sólo viviera para tocarle las narices a Sonea.
Lorlen es otro que también me exasperó la vida entera porque es que literalmente no hizo NADA por arreglar la situación. Que ok, es cierto que también era bastante complicada por sí misma, pero joder, es el maldito administrador. La persona más fuerte después de Akkarim. ¿Cómo puede cruzarse de brazos y pasar de todo? (Este inciso de Lorlen ya es puramente por descargarme, no es como que sea nada malo del libro, porque en realidad encuentro su comportamiento lógico, aunque no encuentro así el que le dieran el puesto de administrador a un tío que cuando el gremio se encuentra en problemas se mete en su cama a llorar, pero bueno).
Tengo que añadir que también pienso que las 500 páginas del libro podían haberse resumido, porque hay ciertas partes que son bastante repetitivas y ciertos personajes que se introducen y que tampoco aportan gran cosa. Aun así la novela me enganchó, he de decir, se lee muy rápido y es muy entretenida; además, lo que es el mundo mágico está muy bien creado y estructurado. También admito que al haber leído este libro sin leerme el primero de la saga puede influir en ciertas cosas que no me han gustado, y que sinceramente, fue una lectura que me gustó mucho. Y lo es. Me parece una historia en la que los personajes no tienen miedo de tener miedo, y me parece algo importante para mencionar.
Y creo que eso es todo. Ya me descargué. Me siento feliz.
En realidad, pensándolo bien, probablemente sea un 4,999999999 estrellas. Vale que el final intenta ser impactante (y no deja de serlo) pero se queda corto; sin embargo, los personajes están tan currados que se lo perdono. Dorrien y Tayend son los best personajes ever, Rothen es muy cuqui, Dannyl es un caso aparte al que quiero mencionar luego (junto con Akkarim) y Sonea... bueno, Sonea también se merece una mención especial.
Voy a extenderme.
El hecho de que Dannyl se sanara a sí mismo para evadir los sentimientos que él pensaba, estaban mal, me parece un punto interesantísimo. Lo siento como una metáfora. Al fin y al cabo, nosotros también evadimos ciertas cosas de nosotros (no siempre referidas a sexualidad, aunque desgraciadamente también ocurre bastante) que nos duelen o sentimos que no están bien, que son heridas que no han acabado de cerrarse. Además que tiene los mejores diálogos del libro, por favor. Él y Tayend. Shippeo máximo :'(
Por otro lado quiero hablar sobre Akkarim. No sé cómo tomármelo porque me parece complejo hasta el infinito. No le siento un personaje del todo malo, a pesar de que en libro lo intentan colocar como antagonista prácticamente todo el tiempo (junto con Regin). Pasándome a este, a Regin, y a su historia con Sonea, la verdad es que me exasperó un poquito. ¿Hay bullying? Sí. ¿Es importante que se hable del bullying en la literatura? Por supuesto. El problema: NO trata el tema. La acosan, sí, vale, es cierto y el motivo es perfectamente factible: un niño mimado que no acepta a nadie fuera de lo común. Lo que yo pienso que falla es que la historia no te da soluciones, ni apoyo, ni absolutamente nada. Simplemente la acosan durante todo el libro, ella no hace nada, reta en duelo a Regin, gana, y cesa el acoso. Ya está. ¿Qué enseña eso a una persona que sufre bullying? Además que encuentro al personaje de Regin súper forzado. Es como si sólo viviera para tocarle las narices a Sonea.
Lorlen es otro que también me exasperó la vida entera porque es que literalmente no hizo NADA por arreglar la situación. Que ok, es cierto que también era bastante complicada por sí misma, pero joder, es el maldito administrador. La persona más fuerte después de Akkarim. ¿Cómo puede cruzarse de brazos y pasar de todo? (Este inciso de Lorlen ya es puramente por descargarme, no es como que sea nada malo del libro, porque en realidad encuentro su comportamiento lógico, aunque no encuentro así el que le dieran el puesto de administrador a un tío que cuando el gremio se encuentra en problemas se mete en su cama a llorar, pero bueno).
Tengo que añadir que también pienso que las 500 páginas del libro podían haberse resumido, porque hay ciertas partes que son bastante repetitivas y ciertos personajes que se introducen y que tampoco aportan gran cosa. Aun así la novela me enganchó, he de decir, se lee muy rápido y es muy entretenida; además, lo que es el mundo mágico está muy bien creado y estructurado. También admito que al haber leído este libro sin leerme el primero de la saga puede influir en ciertas cosas que no me han gustado, y que sinceramente, fue una lectura que me gustó mucho. Y lo es. Me parece una historia en la que los personajes no tienen miedo de tener miedo, y me parece algo importante para mencionar.
Y creo que eso es todo. Ya me descargué. Me siento feliz.
maidofbees's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I really enjoyed this book! Keeping things as spoiler-free as possible, the LGBTQ aspect had me hooked and I can't wait for the next book. I think this book is a good comfort read in a lot of ways- although the world has societal problems (classism, homophobia) the characters you follow tend to be innocent, heart-of-gold figures who are trying their best in tricky situations.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia