I kind of forgot I was reading this last year. That's not a great endorsement for a book, the fact that I completely forgot it existed until I saw itsI kind of forgot I was reading this last year. That's not a great endorsement for a book, the fact that I completely forgot it existed until I saw its sequel was coming out.
I wasn't overly in love with the first book for a few reasons, and this book unfortunately suffered from similar problems. One such problem, is the fact that I don't really like any of the characters. It really isn't that hard to make characters with different personalities, but these books tend to have several people I can only differentiate by name. Seriously, both of the female main characters, you can take their dialogue and switch it for the other's and wouldn't be able to notice anything weird. I don't like that at all.
Overall, I wasn't impressed. It was decently paced and it wasn't as though I suffered through reading it, I just didn't really enjoy it....more
This is seriously the only book that I have actually felt like reading in a long time, and I am so glad that it didn't disappoint. Howard was at his vThis is seriously the only book that I have actually felt like reading in a long time, and I am so glad that it didn't disappoint. Howard was at his very snarkiest throughout, to the extent that the preface was even enough to make me laugh out loud several times. Alright, I wasn't in love with the reappearance of Leonie, but the other supporting characters were magic (both figuratively and literally, now that I think of it.) Zarenyia in particular was almost always perfect, which is kind of surprising to me, but somehow Howard made it work.
My only real issues with this book is the fact that the author has said that it may or may not be the last book, it depends on how he feels. That doesn't quite work with me in this case, being that (view spoiler)[ Cabal still hasn't revived his lady, and I sort of thought that was the point of everything that he did. So, since that isn't wrapped up, I really can't believe that the series is. For some reason, two very undeserving characters instead got to be brought back to life. I was like, no. (hide spoiler)]
Oh, and one tiny little issue, George, Duke of Clarence, was not a rival of Richard III, he was his older brother. Richard was the youngest son, and all of his brothers were dead before he took the throne. George in fact actually rebelled against Edward IV more than once, and constantly undermined him, so it was in fact that king that had him executed. But other than that, the history was basically spot on....more
Ah...so this wasn't disappointing. Although, to be honest, I don't think that everything got quite as squared away as I would've liked. I know it's a Ah...so this wasn't disappointing. Although, to be honest, I don't think that everything got quite as squared away as I would've liked. I know it's a trilogy, but one more book couldn't hurt...okay, I'm not going to beg. Nope. I'm just going to deal with the immense emotional fallout from this book series. Because, again honestly, there was quite a bit of that.
Actually, to mention what I liked/disliked I basically have to stick to spoilers. But, I can say that I continued to love the character arcs, even though I don't know if I was super in love with the main plot of this one. (view spoiler)[ Loved that Vocho grew up a bit, but remained himself instead of changing everything about him and becoming lame. But...oh Petri, can't you ever pick a winning side? (hide spoiler)] Maybe because the antagonist here was kind of a soft enemy after the enormity of the previous two books. However, since I wanted to read this just to find out what happened with characters, it wasn't such a bad thing that I wasn't at all impressed by the new group of enemies.
One last thing, I think for this series. I read that the author was one who dallied often in romance novels (or fantasy romance, whatever), and yet this series did not have an obnoxious or even significant amount of romance to it at all. So, I admit, I loved this entire series despite the overwhelming pain it caused me, but I don't think I'll dally in her other works, because romance is kind of terrible.
Alright, so this was a solid follow-up to the first in the series. I decided to start this review with the my most bland observation because...(view sAlright, so this was a solid follow-up to the first in the series. I decided to start this review with the my most bland observation because...(view spoiler)[ this book broke my heart. (hide spoiler)]
Although it wasn't as profound, the character development continued throughout this book. And, as in the first book, it was believable and compelling. Like, to the extent that I am kind of jealous of the author's ability to plot out her character's emotional arcs.
But let's get to the pain here. I don't think I've cried reading a fiction book in some time. At least since August and then, that book was special as well. However, unlike the aforementioned book, this was more out of feelings of utter misery and sorrow rather than a bit of beauty and poignancy mixed with devastation. For that reason, I can't give this five stars. Sounds kind of mean, stated like that, but that's what authors get for ruining me and not giving anything back. Speaking of ruining...(view spoiler)[ I was having some serious flashbacks to Shivers from Joe Abercrombie's series. Badly. Almost the exact same feeling, if I think on it. (hide spoiler)] So, I'm impressed. Usually female authors aren't so vicious, but then this is an age in which grimdark fantasy is reaching ascendancy.
Final verdict: as good as the first book, just in different ways. Darker, a bit more put together, and far more soul-destroying. Well, the third book awaits....more
Me precisely one minute ago: wait...that's the end of the book?
I'm not saying that the book wasn't a bit long at parts and could have possibly been shMe precisely one minute ago: wait...that's the end of the book?
I'm not saying that the book wasn't a bit long at parts and could have possibly been shorter, but by the end I was definitely on board for some more. I am saying that I'm kind of surprised that I liked this book as much as I did. I mean, it was by far one of the best I've read this year. Sure, there were some issues (my copy had grammar mistakes) and there were a few instances of questionable wording, but I haven't been so interested in a book in a while. ( The Burned Tower doesn't count, being a novella).
The primary reason I was dedicated by the end was the character development. Seriously, well done. I wasn't too hot on any of the characters in the beginning, although they were passable and amusing enough. But there really is a slow unfolding of who the people are in depth, and I ended up liking characters I did not expect to like. Honestly, other than the quite jerkish villains, I can't think of a character I disliked all of them were complicated, with redeeming characteristics as well as realistic (and sometimes extremely dark) flaws.
The plot overall wasn't the most original, but it was also far from the basic fantasy fare. I mean, yes, the protagonists are farm folk and the best and special and blah blah blah. But, this was definitely a good twist on the usual rags-to-heroism story. Firstly, the rise to prominence was prior to the beginning of the book, and then there's the fact that they're set to rob people on the very first page. There was also a bit of steampunk thrown in, which I didn't quite love nor did I hate it. I might change my mind on this in the future, depending on how well the author handles it.
Right now my biggest fear is that this first book in the series was so good, that the next two are going to just let me down and crush my hopes and dreams. Usually when I find a first book I love, the next book ruins everything. So, that's a compliment. This book was so awesome to read that I'm more than half-scared to read the next one, but must because I seriously can't let everything end like it did....more
I waited for this for five years. Because of that, I am sorely tempted to rate this book two stars. Yes, the previous two books weren't literary masteI waited for this for five years. Because of that, I am sorely tempted to rate this book two stars. Yes, the previous two books weren't literary masterpieces, but they were fun. This book? Not so much. The plot never really hooked me at all. I mean, it was very easy to figure out what happened, but I was having a hard time wondering why I should care. That's severely disappointing in a book I have wanted to read for half a decade. I would have wanted the writer to delay it further if only the plot could be just a bit better....more
I was neither impressed nor disappointed in this book, so this is one of those reviews which is super difficult for me to elucidate. I thought the preI was neither impressed nor disappointed in this book, so this is one of those reviews which is super difficult for me to elucidate. I thought the premise was a bit new and interesting for steampunk, which is a plus, as is the lack of emphasis on any romantic angle. Usually steampunk is utterly focused on romantic subplots for some bizarre reason. So, the absence of the usual trope was admittedly refreshing. (Also, I got my 19th century gun trifecta: derringer, Remington, Colt).
Then there was the enormous cast of characters thrown at the reader in the first book of a series. For me, this was both a good and bad idea. Good, as honestly I might have preferred the minor characters that showed up the main characters, or at least some of them. (The DSI gentlemen seemed WAY more interesting and I was gratified to find out they have short stories). The bad: it felt as though I was being thrown into an established world without the benefit of any prior knowledge of the world. The book itself wasn't short, but I still don't believe there was enough plot space and time to properly introduce and manage the many characters.
Lastly, I was not absolutely enraptured by Nicki, the way ever other reader appears to be. I thought she was an unrealistic stock character, the tough, crazy pretty girl. She's so spunky! Ugh. Yeah, get it, I've read steampunk before, come across more than a million of them. Well, at least I wasn't forced to read about her in some insipid, forced romance. That's probably for the next book.
Overall, this was just about average steampunk fare. There were some interesting parts, but the confusion and plot pacing detracted from what should have been a better book. However, it was also the best Gail Z. Martin book I've read in a long time, so kudos on choosing a good writing partner....more
For me, this was basic fantasy fare. It continues on the whole "to save England" story line that was present in the first two books, making everythingFor me, this was basic fantasy fare. It continues on the whole "to save England" story line that was present in the first two books, making everything always as high stakes as possible...even while the characters are taking downtime to play family. Ugh. That might be my biggest complaint in this book and this series: I just did not like the characters or the way that the characters interacted. It didn't feel organic at all, but that the author had decided they wanted people to do things and the people did those things. I don't know, I am not a fan of writing that feels so forced.
Despite many efforts at "oh snap" moments, none of the moments was particularly shocking or interesting, leaving me with a so-what? kind of response. (view spoiler)[Imogen's death seemed like the writers didn't know what else to do with her arc, and she was holding back her so-amazing sister, so it had to happen. (hide spoiler)] Based on that bit, I would think there might be a continuation of the story, but I'm kind of hoping that inkling is wrong, because, while readable, these books tend to feel like a waste of reading time....more
This is not a self-published book. I think I need to keep reminding myself of the fact, because honestly, it felt like one. I thought that the charactThis is not a self-published book. I think I need to keep reminding myself of the fact, because honestly, it felt like one. I thought that the characterization was just terrible, the plot was uninteresting and inconsistently paced and utterly predictable. None of the characters was actually likable, which sometimes can work in a book, but not when it's clear that the author intended that I should like at least a few of them.
I picked this up because I love me some steampunk and I kept reading because at various intervals I thought that the author might do something different and interesting and I just had to be patient. Well, no, the author did not and I feel like I wasted my time reading this young adult-esque drivel. The End....more
Negatives first: there was one grammatical error that I am certain of, and there were a few instances of clunky/repetitious word choice. That's about Negatives first: there was one grammatical error that I am certain of, and there were a few instances of clunky/repetitious word choice. That's about all I can complain about.
I am so jonesing for Cabal that even little snippets like this make me happy. I'm a little surprised I didn't figure out the point of Ouroboros Ouzo sooner, but maybe it was better for me that it slowly dawned. So, that was all good and fun and metaphysical.
Even the author note at the back was fun to read, and I usually never touch those things. So, overall it was absolutely worth my time and I would recommend to any Cabal fans....more
Firstly, I Was looking forward to this book since I finished the last page of the previous book, and I really did like it overall, I'm just saying it Firstly, I Was looking forward to this book since I finished the last page of the previous book, and I really did like it overall, I'm just saying it was a minor letdown. Not enough of a letdown to bring it to three stars, but nearly that, and for this series that's not a typical feeling for me.
One of my biggest complaints, and this is odd because I like him, is that there was entirely too much Horst for my taste. I like him, and I'm glad to see him back in the series, but he's not what I read for. Hopefully, the next book won't suffer from the same issue for me.
For too much of a character, there was FAR too much of the plane girls. I thought they were tolerable at best when they showed up and still they only got worse from there. All of their parts just fell flat with me.
Still, I liked the Johannes and Horst interactions, since those were probably the best aspect of the first book as they are for this. It might be because I like siblings in fiction just for their certain kind of banter, or maybe just because they're personalities are perfect for a sort of combative camaraderie or probably both.
Overall, I'm less excited for the next book probably because of the letdown and quite a bit because of the lack of (view spoiler)[a cliffhanger ending. (hide spoiler)]...more
I picked this up because I'm kind of a fan of the author's other book, Sharps and I thought maybe it would be something like that. Well, it was much lI picked this up because I'm kind of a fan of the author's other book, Sharps and I thought maybe it would be something like that. Well, it was much longer and far, far less interesting than that was. I didn't get really attached to any of the characters, even when I tried. I understood everyone's motivations fine, but I never felt like they were full, real people, and that's not something I like in a book.
I sort of didn't believe reviews saying that the main character is just too much of a jerk, but (view spoiler)[he's a literal psychopath, ugh (hide spoiler)] and I'm surprisingly not keen on that either. I get that it's supposed to be gritty, but that doesn't mean you can't make a somewhat sympathetic character, at least give another side to your jerkass characters. I don't know, that's my thinking.
So, basically, I'm not sure if I even want to go on to the next book if the plot is going to meander over several hundred pages with characters that are basically flat....more
To be honest, (as I usually am in reviews, but for some reason I tend to use that phrase in them,) I think that the biggest reason that this doesn't gTo be honest, (as I usually am in reviews, but for some reason I tend to use that phrase in them,) I think that the biggest reason that this doesn't get five stars is because it was a novelette, and I wanted a full book. I do like the fact that there is not time wasted, but I also just wanted more. With all of this series, I tend to have more things that I can praise than criticize, and I usually don't know where to start. That's the case here. I love the little references, the bits of German, the villain protagonist...too much to mention. I also love the sort of fairy tale-esque way that Howard writes. It's a good foil to the darkness of the plot/character; it adds to the snarky feel of the whole thing. Another reviewer said that this is like an appetizer that only makes you hungrier for the real thing, and I absolutely agree. If I was jonesing for the next book thirty minutes ago, I am positively dying for it right now....more
I'm being nice, giving this three stars. (view spoiler)[Okay, I got to laugh at stupid Veronica at the end, so I think it's put me in a better mood. (I'm being nice, giving this three stars. (view spoiler)[Okay, I got to laugh at stupid Veronica at the end, so I think it's put me in a better mood. (hide spoiler)] I was rather bored for most of the book, and I kind of figured out who was behind everything about 60? pages in. It was pretty easy. I don't know if it was supposed to be a surprise, but it wasn't at all for me. Also, I read the previous book, yet everything they were referencing (and what made up half the book) was pretty much unfamiliar to me. Except the owl, I read that short story.
So, this was sort of like an overgrown short story. Not a whole lot happened, there was absolutely no character development, and everything could really have been solved in about 50 pages if people weren't going around chatting with one another. Or veronica-ing about. I sincerely hope Amelia won't become a veronica; she actually seems to have an ounce of personality.
Oh well, on to the next book, because, I don't know....more
Again, I have the same issue with the lack of polish, and the occasional glaring grammar errors/typos. And again I am finding myself liking Amaranthe Again, I have the same issue with the lack of polish, and the occasional glaring grammar errors/typos. And again I am finding myself liking Amaranthe less and less, (interesting since her name is the same as my favorite band) and wishing that her parts were fewer and shorter. Some parts are over-described that shouldn't be, and details that I think are more important seem to be left out. I was also disappointed in that this was the Maldynado book, and yet he didn't really get any character development or a very interesting subplot like the other characters seemed to in their respective books. Still, these books are cute, the character interactions are sometimes amusing, and the plot moves (if at sometimes too fast) so at least I don't often get bored while reading. This was still good for a self-published endeavor, and is better than some mainstream fantasy I've tried to read....more
Ok, I'm gonna start this review off a bit different than usual. I want to say firstly that this is very well written for indie fantasy. Sure there areOk, I'm gonna start this review off a bit different than usual. I want to say firstly that this is very well written for indie fantasy. Sure there are clunky bits of description, and occasionally there are plot jumps, but not too much more than I've read in mainstream fantasy. Actually, the pacing of these books is better than a lot of what I try to read. And yes, the characters are nothing new or special, but they're done well, and are consistent. Surprisingly, the romance is not done too badly; I really like the slow and believable progression.
My issues with this book are pretty much the same as with the previous books in the series. Amaranthe is sometimes just too Mary Sue-ish. She's alleged to be charming, but where there is supposed to be charm, I see quirk. She's a quirky girl; that should not endear her to most of the people she meets. And will someone stop letting her do plans? Seriously. The supporting female characters also tend toward the flat and obnoxious, which is odd considering a woman wrote the book.
Overall, a solid book, and I'll be reading the conclusion....more
Ubiquitousbastard
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