Scan barcode
A review by sheddy
A Star-Reckoner's Lot by Darrell Drake
4.0
DISCLAIMER: I received this book free from the author in exchange for a review.
A Star-Reckoner's Lot - Darrell Drake
Without faffing about let me say I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it to any fantasy reader. It was a very fun, fast-pace ride through the world of Ashtadukt (a star-reckoner), Tirdad (her cousin) and Waray (a div we meet a few chapters into the story) set in ancient Iran, a very needed breath-of-fresh-air location compared to the stereotypical medieval Europe setting rife in fantasy the past few decades. Without getting too spoiler-y, let me give a few pros and cons for ASRL:
PROS:
- Darrell Drake knows what he is talking about, exhibiting a Steven Erikson-esque archeologist knowledge on the location the story is set in
- The real-world locations within the story, I particulary enjoyed searching place and geographical names to see where the characters were heading
- The prose is wonderful, easily up there with the top notch fantasy writers of today
- The story never has a dull moment and is also self-contained, even though there are sequels out
- STRONG FEMALE CHARACTERS! Ashta and Waray are some of the most complex women in fantasy I've come across in quite some time
- While we are on her, WARAY! Dammit, what a character, totally original and out-right hilarious
- Morally grey characters (my favourite type), all the main characters have their endearing qualities while not being perfect angels, specters of light and holiness.
- Magic that is simple to understand but also mysterious
- Some of the scenes in the book are so crazy, you can't help but crack-up laughing - especially one particular scene with birds
- Wonderful comic-book like adventures for the first half of the story which I could easily see becoming a TV show
My feelings for this story are overwhelmingly positive but I still do have some cons, none are too major but still important.
CONS:
- I felt some of the dialogue is a bit too modern/juvenile for the setting in story takes place in
- Gushnasp felt a bit disposable to the story - I feel we didn't get to know him well enough for the relationship between him and Ashta to be meaningful or for us to care about it
- On Gushnasp, a very taboo subject is talked about all the way through the book. It did feel icky at times, but for the time the story is set in, I guess it was a lot more socially acceptable.
- One characters development is so dramatic at times it feels like it's a totally different character and they become quite unlikable at the end, whether on purpose or not I'm not sure but in terms of the story, it is very interesting.
- Another character disappears for nearly half the story, at least the more important part of the story
- The last third could've been a hundred pages longer; it wasn't rushed at all, but felt like it needed a bit more room to breathe.
To conclude, Darrell Drake's A Star-Reckoner's Lot is a whirlwind adventure with some shocking, funny and emotional moments that any fantasy reader would get a kick out of. I look forward to continuing the series in the future.
A Star-Reckoner's Lot - Darrell Drake
Without faffing about let me say I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it to any fantasy reader. It was a very fun, fast-pace ride through the world of Ashtadukt (a star-reckoner), Tirdad (her cousin) and Waray (a div we meet a few chapters into the story) set in ancient Iran, a very needed breath-of-fresh-air location compared to the stereotypical medieval Europe setting rife in fantasy the past few decades. Without getting too spoiler-y, let me give a few pros and cons for ASRL:
PROS:
- Darrell Drake knows what he is talking about, exhibiting a Steven Erikson-esque archeologist knowledge on the location the story is set in
- The real-world locations within the story, I particulary enjoyed searching place and geographical names to see where the characters were heading
- The prose is wonderful, easily up there with the top notch fantasy writers of today
- The story never has a dull moment and is also self-contained, even though there are sequels out
- STRONG FEMALE CHARACTERS! Ashta and Waray are some of the most complex women in fantasy I've come across in quite some time
- While we are on her, WARAY! Dammit, what a character, totally original and out-right hilarious
- Morally grey characters (my favourite type), all the main characters have their endearing qualities while not being perfect angels, specters of light and holiness.
- Magic that is simple to understand but also mysterious
- Some of the scenes in the book are so crazy, you can't help but crack-up laughing - especially one particular scene with birds
- Wonderful comic-book like adventures for the first half of the story which I could easily see becoming a TV show
My feelings for this story are overwhelmingly positive but I still do have some cons, none are too major but still important.
CONS:
- I felt some of the dialogue is a bit too modern/juvenile for the setting in story takes place in
- Gushnasp felt a bit disposable to the story - I feel we didn't get to know him well enough for the relationship between him and Ashta to be meaningful or for us to care about it
- On Gushnasp, a very taboo subject is talked about all the way through the book. It did feel icky at times, but for the time the story is set in, I guess it was a lot more socially acceptable.
- One characters development is so dramatic at times it feels like it's a totally different character and they become quite unlikable at the end, whether on purpose or not I'm not sure but in terms of the story, it is very interesting.
- Another character disappears for nearly half the story, at least the more important part of the story
- The last third could've been a hundred pages longer; it wasn't rushed at all, but felt like it needed a bit more room to breathe.
To conclude, Darrell Drake's A Star-Reckoner's Lot is a whirlwind adventure with some shocking, funny and emotional moments that any fantasy reader would get a kick out of. I look forward to continuing the series in the future.