You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
elzbethmrgn's Reviews (667)
I'm leaving my original thoughts here but, on reread, this book is not great. Not terrible, but I've levelled up in my expectations as a reader and my expectations of Sanderson; Sanderson, in return, has levelled up as a writer. I had another read in preparation for [b:Rhythm of War|17250966|Rhythm of War (The Stormlight Archive, #4)|Brandon Sanderson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1587089436l/17250966._SY75_.jpg|23840265] and to see what I could see about that universe, which crosses over into Warbreaker.
If you do pick it up, try and persevere through the first third. It does resolve itself in the end, but the beginning is really quite average.
original review:
So we'll get this out of the way first:Nightsong is the sword given to Szeth, right?
I am loving everything Sanderson has set in his Cosmere universe, this book included. The similar-but-not-ness of the magic systems in each world is nice.
This is the story of two sisters (and some villans and gods), as a stand-alone I think it hit the right notes. Certainly, action started happening before the 75% mark, which was a nice change in pacing from the books I've previously read by Sanderson.
Vivenna really annoyed me the whole way through, but with good reason.She doesn't all of a sudden lose her privileged-princess upbringing when she rides off to save her little sister, or when the shit hits the fan, and then even when it does her level of naivety is both completely irritating and completely keeping character right through to the end.
Again, the theology really drew me in, and I'm wondering if this is a Thing in this universe, or if Sanderson does it in all his books? And, now that I've read Internet Spoilers and realised that characters are crossing worlds (and series), I'm going to have to re-read the Stormlight Archive.
If you do pick it up, try and persevere through the first third. It does resolve itself in the end, but the beginning is really quite average.
original review:
So we'll get this out of the way first:
I am loving everything Sanderson has set in his Cosmere universe, this book included. The similar-but-not-ness of the magic systems in each world is nice.
This is the story of two sisters (and some villans and gods), as a stand-alone I think it hit the right notes. Certainly, action started happening before the 75% mark, which was a nice change in pacing from the books I've previously read by Sanderson.
Vivenna really annoyed me the whole way through, but with good reason.
Again, the theology really drew me in, and I'm wondering if this is a Thing in this universe, or if Sanderson does it in all his books? And, now that I've read Internet Spoilers and realised that characters are crossing worlds (and series), I'm going to have to re-read the Stormlight Archive.
This was a delightful surprise: I picked it up because it sounded like a SF I could manage (I'm trying to up my SF reading this year), and instead I found a novel detailing the emergence of a society and a culture with a historian as protagonist.
You know I'm all about history and religion in my SFF.
I absolutely loved my time with Portia and Bianca and Fabian, and although the deus ex machina of the conclusion bugged a little, it was absolutely set up and believable in the context of the story .
You know I'm all about history and religion in my SFF.
I absolutely loved my time with Portia and Bianca and Fabian
.jpg)
Well I thought I really liked the first book in the series, but it turns out I was here for the human girl / damaged immortal boy thirst. Chakraborty put less of that and more story in this one.
I mean, it's a good story and if you liked the first one, do continue. Characters evolve and grow and they're far more interesting. But it still won't be for you if you liked the first one for the YA romance trope.
I mean, it's a good story and if you liked the first one, do continue. Characters evolve and grow and they're far more interesting. But it still won't be for you if you liked the first one for the YA romance trope.
Yes. Yes. The second Stormlight Archive was just as good, if not better, than the first. I was actually pretty impressed with myself for seeing some of the plot twists straight up, because usually I am oblivious to that sort of thing, but they turned out they way I wanted in the end. Which may not be a good thing for the characters concerned. But there were definitely fist pump moments on my part when something I'd suspected throughout most of the book eventually happened.
The only real downfall is Adolin, I think. All the male characters seem fairly 2-dimensional compared to the women who are more fully-fleshed out - or maybe I forgive Sanderson for the women because I can better relate to/project on to them - and it was nice to see something beyond Duty turn Kaladin's head. Adolin in particular, however, doesn't seem to have any depth yet.Given the events towards the end, however, that may change, as the people around him have sparkly magic powers and he does not. .
And Szeth! I am interested to see if his story is going where I think it isand consequently, if the view of the world we have is perhaps not as it really is - who is to determine what is good and what is evil anyway?
The only real downfall is Adolin, I think. All the male characters seem fairly 2-dimensional compared to the women who are more fully-fleshed out - or maybe I forgive Sanderson for the women because I can better relate to/project on to them - and it was nice to see something beyond Duty turn Kaladin's head. Adolin in particular, however, doesn't seem to have any depth yet.
And Szeth! I am interested to see if his story is going where I think it is
There's far more to dig into with this story. It'll needs more than one reading. I wouldn't have expected anything less from Clarke, to be honest.
On the surface, there's a mystery to unravel, but it's more than that.
Having only just finished it (and without spoilers), to me it's a story of surviving, of reconciling the different people you are throughout your life. Personally, I read it as a metaphor for incorporating things that suddenly change - whatever that might be: mental or physical health, parenthood, grief (to name only a few sudden changes) - into who you see yourself as. It's a solitary journey.
I actually really enjoyed it, and given enough time to digest, I'll probably find more layers.
On the surface, there's a mystery to unravel, but it's more than that.
Having only just finished it (and without spoilers), to me it's a story of surviving, of reconciling the different people you are throughout your life. Personally, I read it as a metaphor for incorporating things that suddenly change - whatever that might be: mental or physical health, parenthood, grief (to name only a few sudden changes) - into who you see yourself as. It's a solitary journey.
I actually really enjoyed it, and given enough time to digest, I'll probably find more layers.
.jpg)
Yesss. This had the perfect mixture of ass-kicking teenage girl (blue-haired and living in Prague, of course), fantasy, angst, romance and heartbreak. Enough fairy tale to weave it all together but not break the spell. Not perfect, but I loved it.
.jpg)
If this was the first in the series, I probably wouldn't have continued. The story switches between Akiva and Karou, but also gives POVs from new people (to show what Akiva and Karou are doing). It doesn't flow as nicely, and certainly isn't linear as the author switches up the order of events to heighten the drama. It didn't suck, but it wasn't my favourite.
But. I love the world, I love the concept, I love Karou and Akiva (and the cast of old friends and enemies), and so I was happy just to be pulled along for the ride.
But. I love the world, I love the concept, I love Karou and Akiva (and the cast of old friends and enemies), and so I was happy just to be pulled along for the ride.