A review by klcm96
Malice by John Gwynne
4.0
Reading this book was a bit daunting for me. I LOVE fantasy, but I have not had many forays into adult, epic fantasy. I know that they have a reputation for being very dense and requiring quite a bit of concentration. I have often been nervous that, once I finally took the plunge, I would find that this specific type of fantasy wasn’t for me.
I did find that the first 100-200 pages of this book were a bit harder for me as I worked to immerse myself fully in the world, trying to keep track of the characters and the world building. I also found the beginning to be a bit slower (though it is my opinion that quite a large majority of fantasy books are slower in the beginning, especially when it comes to the first volume of a series). Once I became more familiar/comfortable with the world itself and I began to feel attached to the characters, this story really picked up for me.
While we follow many perspectives, Corban seems to be the main protagonist. At the start, I found him pretty annoying. However, as we watch him grow up and “become a man” it endears the reader to him as his innocence is slowly stripped from him. It is also hinted that there is some greater destiny waiting for him. His became one of my favorite perspectives to read from.
I struggled with another of the main perspectives, Veradis, at the start of the story, as I found his to be a bit boring. His plight of seeking approval from his father seemed a bit cliché, but it started to make more sense as we saw where that blind desire for approval and praise would lead him. He is a character that seems to be so highly motivated by doing what he thinks is right, that it will be interesting to discover what he will do as his eyes are opened to the truth of things.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading from Nathair’s perspective, particularly as the story went on. He starts out as an incredibly likable character, and one that you want to cheer on, but quickly you begin to realize that something is not quite right. The unreliable narrator has always been one of my favorite literary devices and one the Gwynne uses beautifully in this character.
All in all, I enjoyed this book far more than I thought I would. The last third of the book was so gripping and surprisingly emotional. I found myself much more attached to the characters than I realized I was and I’m eagerly anticipating reading the second installment.
I did find that the first 100-200 pages of this book were a bit harder for me as I worked to immerse myself fully in the world, trying to keep track of the characters and the world building. I also found the beginning to be a bit slower (though it is my opinion that quite a large majority of fantasy books are slower in the beginning, especially when it comes to the first volume of a series). Once I became more familiar/comfortable with the world itself and I began to feel attached to the characters, this story really picked up for me.
While we follow many perspectives, Corban seems to be the main protagonist. At the start, I found him pretty annoying. However, as we watch him grow up and “become a man” it endears the reader to him as his innocence is slowly stripped from him. It is also hinted that there is some greater destiny waiting for him. His became one of my favorite perspectives to read from.
I struggled with another of the main perspectives, Veradis, at the start of the story, as I found his to be a bit boring. His plight of seeking approval from his father seemed a bit cliché, but it started to make more sense as we saw where that blind desire for approval and praise would lead him. He is a character that seems to be so highly motivated by doing what he thinks is right, that it will be interesting to discover what he will do as his eyes are opened to the truth of things.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading from Nathair’s perspective, particularly as the story went on. He starts out as an incredibly likable character, and one that you want to cheer on, but quickly you begin to realize that something is not quite right. The unreliable narrator has always been one of my favorite literary devices and one the Gwynne uses beautifully in this character.
All in all, I enjoyed this book far more than I thought I would. The last third of the book was so gripping and surprisingly emotional. I found myself much more attached to the characters than I realized I was and I’m eagerly anticipating reading the second installment.