Scan barcode
A review by jlannh
The Unspoken Name by A.K. Larkwood
3.0
This is a solid debut with a lot of cool ideas (some of which I'd like to see developed further). If I liked Csorwe's character more I would have likely bumped my rating up. Her perspective is emotionally stunted and muted (and her obliviousness mocked by other characters); this is believable given that she is essentially a cult survivor, bouncing from one charismatic personality to another, but I still do not love it as the dominating point of view. I enjoy whiny, snarky Tal and "cinnamon roll of death" Shuthmili a lot more though, so will definitely read the second book!
The pacing is another area where readers may find issues. The book is made up of four parts - each consisting of its own plot arc. In the hands of another fantasy author cough[a:Robert Jordan|6252|Robert Jordan|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1538507642p2/6252.jpg]cough each part could probably become its own epic 600-page book or two (or three). I'm glad that each plot point doesn't overstay its welcome, but I found it exhausting and a bit formulaic at times. Two time jumps also occur during Part I and between Part II, to the sum of eight years, and... meh.
Books with things in common: [b:Gideon the Ninth|42036538|Gideon the Ninth (The Locked Tomb, #1)|Tamsyn Muir|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1546870952l/42036538._SY75_.jpg|60943229] and [b:The Copper Promise|18667112|The Copper Promise (The Copper Cat, #1)|Jen Williams|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1381703646l/18667112._SY75_.jpg|26492094] (ex - necromancy, oppressive cults, caverns of dark secrets, callous and cruel gods, LGBT+ POV characters).
The pacing is another area where readers may find issues. The book is made up of four parts - each consisting of its own plot arc. In the hands of another fantasy author cough[a:Robert Jordan|6252|Robert Jordan|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1538507642p2/6252.jpg]cough each part could probably become its own epic 600-page book or two (or three). I'm glad that each plot point doesn't overstay its welcome, but I found it exhausting and a bit formulaic at times. Two time jumps also occur during Part I and between Part II, to the sum of eight years, and... meh.
Books with things in common: [b:Gideon the Ninth|42036538|Gideon the Ninth (The Locked Tomb, #1)|Tamsyn Muir|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1546870952l/42036538._SY75_.jpg|60943229] and [b:The Copper Promise|18667112|The Copper Promise (The Copper Cat, #1)|Jen Williams|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1381703646l/18667112._SY75_.jpg|26492094] (ex - necromancy, oppressive cults, caverns of dark secrets, callous and cruel gods, LGBT+ POV characters).