the_pale_woman's Reviews (542)

While I enjoyed this book, I found it lacking in many ways. There wasn't much character development, and the plot points were too convenient. I don't think I would have completed the whole series if I hadn't been listening to the audio. Kate Reading did a fantastic job. She really nailed the voice of Lady Trent. I just wish there had been more story or more time spent developing the plot and relationship between characters. Overall, it's a decent series. I just wouldn't recommend it to every fantasy fan. It's a slower burn, and despite the name, it is not packed for of dragons. 

I think this volume of the series is the best so far. It has all the same beats as the other books, but it balances the plot points more effectively. It also gave more numerous and satisfying moments with dragons, the topic that piqued my interest in the series originally. It's finally getting good, but I only have one more book to go. Hopefully, it's a good one. 

I generally love a good sea voyage, so this was a step up from the first two books for me. I also think the writing has improved slightly in this installment. It still has a lot of the basic issues I have with the characters and plots, but I find I care less about those as I continue with this series. 

I like this just as much as the first. Not really that much, but for some reason, I enjoy listening to it. I can offer no explanation for that. Maybe it's Kate Reading's audio narration, but maybe I just like the story. Like a guilty pleasure. 

Regardless of enjoyment, I have to say that I want more dragons and less white woman comes to saves the day. 

This reads more like historical fiction than fantasy. Really, it's a melding of the two. Plus, it has a narrated memoir aspect and some Sherlockesque scientific observations of various types of dragons. I could have done with more of that in the book. 

Instead of creating, this story renames everything. It obviously pulls heavily from real-life cultures and historical politics. That's a point against it in my mind. I would prefer a world that is either built more of one's imagination or a more heavily researched snapshot of a real time and place.

My other issue with this is the heroine. The "I'm not like other girls" girl. It's not my favorite, but it has its charms here. It might have worked more in my eyes if the plot hadn't been so convenient for her. 

However, I loved the narration done by Kate Reading. It's become the perfect thing to listen to while doing chores. That might not sound like praise, but it's what propelled me into continuing with the series. 

I love the cosmere, but fairy tales are not my vibe. It can come off slightly childish at times. However, even with those cringe worthy moments, I still enjoyed the read. The gorgeous kickstarter edition might have had something to do with that. It's an undeniably pretty book. The cover, interior illustrations, and even the chapter heads added to the experience of reading this story. 

I haven't listened to it, but I bet the audio narration by Michael Kramer slaps. It's the type of writing that could lend itself well to a good narrator. I think this is where the comparison to the princess bride comes into play. I might have enjoyed it more in that medium.

All in all, I was unimpressed to have this be a part of the cosmere. I wanted to have more Hoid or at least Hoid with half his Wit, and maybe even some more Dougs too. I wanted more of an exploration of that world. Yes, it explained a lot about the magic of the world. But it pointedly didn't answer some obvious questions concerning the cosmere. At least it got me more interested in what Hoid is really up to.

I have mixed feelings about this book, hence the average rating. 

On the positive side, the writing was beautiful. It wasn't just jammed with purple prose. It had a very poetic or even lyrical quality that I really enjoyed reading. I'm not a literary genius, so this seems strange to say, but I especially noticed and appreciated the use of metaphors. They weren't overused or repeated. Instead, they were apt descriptions that avoided the realm of cliche. Adding depth to the text and character that might have been missing otherwise. 

Another point of positivity goes towards the obvious amount of research that had to go into this. You get a sense that the author has a love of the classics and geek. That admiration, whether purposeful or genuine, came through the text and helped to entice my curiosity. This aspect could have come across even more pretentious than it was, so I'll give props for that. 

On the flip side, there is so much about the story and characters that I question. From the set-up to the ending, I wondered why. I questioned everything. None of it seems believable. My brain can't stop picking it apart. Sometimes, I can enjoy or even love an ambiguous story. Here, it made the story seem longer and slower than it actually was. It's less a mystery and more a vague, biased, and compromised explanation of a toxic academic life. 

I wanted to learn a secret history, but instead, I ended up with an uncommunicative one. 

All in all, it was a decent read. It's just not something I would recommend. Hence, mixed feelings. 

The ancillary juctice trilogy was one of my favorite reads from last year. I was excited to get back into that world. However, I was slightly disappointed by this book. Mostly because of the POV. She has too much fear and self-pity. Plus, her competence is only intermittent, and it seems like she's always about to cry. This makes her sound like a child. 

I did like learning more about the Geck, and I think the side characters were neat. My favorites are Geral and Tic. I wish the story had been written from their perspectives. I just didn't care if Ingrid got what she wanted in the end. It didn't feel like she earned anything. 

The plot was overly complicated. It's not like much was happening, but it was still confusing. It made some parts of the book seem too bulky or unnecessary. 

If you read and enjoyed the original trilogy, I don't think this is a waste of time, but I wouldn't go in with too many expectations.

A wholesome tale with coffee, snacks, and big cat. The author did a great good narrating the audio book. I would highly recommend this to any reader. You don't need to be a fantasy fan to enjoy this story. 

I feel like the writing took a step-up here. And the conclusion... wow. The first half of this quartet was decent, but here, it really comes into a place of its own. Great book.