zoeelizabethk's Reviews (642)

Definitely not my favorite of Sanderson’s works but definitely enjoyable

Ok so I was under the impression that this was a duology, but it appears that there will be more. Torn because honestly this book just didn’t quite live up to the (admittedly) massive expectations that I had from Skyward. It was good, and Brandon pulled together a lot of loose ends in his typically masterful way, so I don’t know if it was the different cast of characters or the rather frustrating ending, but I feel kinda unsure and vaguely let down by this one. I’ll read the rest of the series. But I might just wait until it’s done before I continue. The suspense is too much....3.5 stars

Very enjoyable. The pacing seemed quicker in this one (though that might just be because I listened to this one) and there was more action and more twists. Though there were a lot of threads left hanging, the way things ended makes me want to rush right into the next book.

I do wish that there weren’t so many characters that we have to miss one every book. I missed Mat. There were some random other viewpoints that were helpful but they felt a little jarring and I would have rather heard from Mat. 3.5 stars

I feel bad for giving Congress of Wonders a low rating. I think the writing is good, but I think the short story format, the rather absurdist, atmospheric descriptions, and unique tone are not going to be for everyone. The writing was reminiscent of Mark Twain to me and the stories reminded me a bit of reading Gogol and absurdist Russian literature. For most of each story, you have no idea why what's going on or why the characters are important, but then there's a moment near the endings that makes you think and takes you deeper. I'm glad I read this book, but I'm not quite sure that I liked it.

Delightful blending of myth, fantasy, and heroic epic

I really enjoyed The Forge of the Covenant. The novella format is perfect for Nicholas Kotar I think. The beginning pulled me in and the pacing remained strong throughout, mirroring the settings and situations in a wonderful retelling of slavic folklore. While the slavic influence is notable in all his novels, Kotar weaves the fairy tale, time travel, and his own fantasy world seamlessly. It also illuminates some pressing questions left over from The Heart of the World. This makes me really look forward to book 5 coming out this year!