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Better than Den of Vipers, although sometimes the dialogue felt so awkward.
It was alright, it was a good romance, but I deducted points cause it had for me what felt like insta-love and I'm not a fan.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I wanted to wait before publishing this review, as I happened to be seeing Samantha Shannon in Conversation at Waterstones Piccadilly (and also because my Broken Binding copies shipped so I wanted a cute picture).
Now I am concerned about how exactly to write this review in a way that doesn't spoil things for people who haven't read Priory, however it seems that the books can be read as standalones where you can dive into either one and not have had to have read the other but I will keep this spoiler free and brief.
In Shannon's own words A Day of Fallen Night is longer and gayer than The Priory of the Orange Tree, taking place 500 years before, and I think I'm going to leave describing the book there.
From the first line, you're hooked, the imagery Shannon creates is beautifully; you truly feel immersed in the world. When Shannon said she spent hours at the British Museum researching what a hat would be made of in a specific time period - she meant it, her dedication to world building and every little detail shines through in ADOFN (and Rabbit is the answer).
Now ADOFN is thicker than Priory, and for good reason - we finally get to the North and explore the Priory! ADOFN focuses on four main characters: Tunuva, Glorian, Dumai & Wulf and spans several years. The storylines initially seems independent but as we go along we see how they all connect with each other. The age and hierarchical difference in the characters was done exceptionally well, especially Tunuva who is older and really isn't a character you see in popular literature - fantasy or otherwise. I do think with the characters you either love them or hate them. I liked Glorian from the get-go she is smart, self-assured and cunning and I was in a way hoping for world domination for her. The world building I cannot stress enough Shannon creates religions from the Godsingers to the Virtudom of the Queendom of Inys. ADOFN is a world you want to explore.
Now I would say it is chunky, so pace yourself if you need to, don't feel overwhelmed or intimidated by it's size ADOFN wants to be read, however you choose to read it. I do recommend perhaps Audio-booking this, just for ease.
Final words? ADOFN demands to be read.
Thank you to Samantha Shannon and Bloomsbury for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
book 7 of 2023
Now I am concerned about how exactly to write this review in a way that doesn't spoil things for people who haven't read Priory, however it seems that the books can be read as standalones where you can dive into either one and not have had to have read the other but I will keep this spoiler free and brief.
In Shannon's own words A Day of Fallen Night is longer and gayer than The Priory of the Orange Tree, taking place 500 years before, and I think I'm going to leave describing the book there.
From the first line, you're hooked, the imagery Shannon creates is beautifully; you truly feel immersed in the world. When Shannon said she spent hours at the British Museum researching what a hat would be made of in a specific time period - she meant it, her dedication to world building and every little detail shines through in ADOFN (and Rabbit is the answer).
Now ADOFN is thicker than Priory, and for good reason - we finally get to the North and explore the Priory! ADOFN focuses on four main characters: Tunuva, Glorian, Dumai & Wulf and spans several years. The storylines initially seems independent but as we go along we see how they all connect with each other. The age and hierarchical difference in the characters was done exceptionally well, especially Tunuva who is older and really isn't a character you see in popular literature - fantasy or otherwise. I do think with the characters you either love them or hate them. I liked Glorian from the get-go she is smart, self-assured and cunning and I was in a way hoping for world domination for her. The world building I cannot stress enough Shannon creates religions from the Godsingers to the Virtudom of the Queendom of Inys. ADOFN is a world you want to explore.
Now I would say it is chunky, so pace yourself if you need to, don't feel overwhelmed or intimidated by it's size ADOFN wants to be read, however you choose to read it. I do recommend perhaps Audio-booking this, just for ease.
Final words? ADOFN demands to be read.
Thank you to Samantha Shannon and Bloomsbury for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
book 7 of 2023
I got to chapter 22, which is where things really started to kick off but if I'm being completely honest I lost my motivation to finish this book a week ago. There were too many issues for/with me from the beginning.
By chapter two I was very much into the book and liked it, there's a rich history and the prologue laid out the background well, giving you a good foundation to read the book and understand why things were the way the are. But I also started the book on the 15th of Jan and it took me till the 16th of Feb to get to chapter 22. Somewhere in the haze (yes that is a t-swift ref) I lost my motivation to read this which is a shame, because I think I might very well like it if I could get myself to the end, however that's not going to be happening - it could be because I've been in the longest and largest slump (3 weeks) I've ever been in and that this book unfortunately is a casualty but we'll never know until I pick it up again hopefully in a few months.
I'm interested in the plot but it also feels very much like something I've seen before, which is sad because this book was highly anticipated for me.
Other things of note:
By chapter two I was very much into the book and liked it, there's a rich history and the prologue laid out the background well, giving you a good foundation to read the book and understand why things were the way the are. But I also started the book on the 15th of Jan and it took me till the 16th of Feb to get to chapter 22. Somewhere in the haze (yes that is a t-swift ref) I lost my motivation to read this which is a shame, because I think I might very well like it if I could get myself to the end, however that's not going to be happening - it could be because I've been in the longest and largest slump (3 weeks) I've ever been in and that this book unfortunately is a casualty but we'll never know until I pick it up again hopefully in a few months.
I'm interested in the plot but it also feels very much like something I've seen before, which is sad because this book was highly anticipated for me.
Other things of note:
- I do appricate the history/explanations of the magic systems but sometimes I felt that it took away from the narrative. Not when it was explained as part of educational scenes for the character but when there were slight knowledge dumps.
- There are a lot of side characters which is fine but often they were listed or mentioned in passing so it was hard for me to keep track of everyone or remember their significance when they were just plot devices for example almost everyone in the first few chapters.
- I had a hard time connecting with any of the characters, or becoming invested in their journey.
- The connection between Lan and Zen felt kind of forced and superficial like yes, they're both cute but what else?
I would recommend this because I think it does YA fantasy well, all the key components were there, however I don't think it's the book for me in my current headspace.
Thank you to Amélie Wen Zhao and HarperCollins UK for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Started reading, forgot the plot, checked the description and realised it was book 1 in a 6 book series.
I did finish it, I just skimmed through the second half. It got to a point where I just wanted it to be over. Good though, but not what I thought it was gonna be.
So I've read other reviews for Godkiller so I can say that if you like fast-paced, multiple POV, a badass female main character you will enjoy Godkiller. The book gives off very much witcher vibes where godkillers are paid to kill gods, as the worship etc. has been banned... toss a coin to your godkiller anyone?
I too also like the above but I couldn't get into it, I really liked Kissen our main character a one-legged, sexually fluid Godkiller. There's also Inara - a young noble girl who goes to Kissen for help as she's become bound to a god of white lies - which wouldn't be a problem for Kissen normally - she could just go Godkiller on them except the god doesn't have a shrine and that's where their quest begins. They are later joined by a knight who completes this fellowship of four.
My issue is that the POVs changed constantly and that the chapters were very short. I couldn't get into because as soon as I did the POV would change. I really did have high hopes for this book but I think it's still solid, it's just not for me, I like to sit with the characters and I unfortunately couldn't do that here.
Thank you to HarperCollins UK and Hannah Kaner in exchange for an ARC for my honest review.
I too also like the above but I couldn't get into it, I really liked Kissen our main character a one-legged, sexually fluid Godkiller. There's also Inara - a young noble girl who goes to Kissen for help as she's become bound to a god of white lies - which wouldn't be a problem for Kissen normally - she could just go Godkiller on them except the god doesn't have a shrine and that's where their quest begins. They are later joined by a knight who completes this fellowship of four.
My issue is that the POVs changed constantly and that the chapters were very short. I couldn't get into because as soon as I did the POV would change. I really did have high hopes for this book but I think it's still solid, it's just not for me, I like to sit with the characters and I unfortunately couldn't do that here.
Thank you to HarperCollins UK and Hannah Kaner in exchange for an ARC for my honest review.