I <3 Sanderson. Love the idea of a soul-stamp and altering the past of objects. Works quite well as short fiction, but I'd jump at the chance to re...moreI <3 Sanderson. Love the idea of a soul-stamp and altering the past of objects. Works quite well as short fiction, but I'd jump at the chance to read a full novel.(less)
"It was ok" (2 stars) describes this pretty well. The writing style was just... odd. Is the author allergic to the word "and"? How about commas and se...more"It was ok" (2 stars) describes this pretty well. The writing style was just... odd. Is the author allergic to the word "and"? How about commas and semicolons? Interesting enough story in more capable hands; it's like Superman, but with more people and some weird "gotta kill them in order!" BS. But the teenage characters bored me. And the protagonist was constantly doing stupid shit, only to wonder why he ended up in trouble.(less)
Read this because I wanted to know the ending. So I guess it at least had that going for it, that I cared what happened to Epiny and Amzil and the Spe...moreRead this because I wanted to know the ending. So I guess it at least had that going for it, that I cared what happened to Epiny and Amzil and the Specks. Skimmed off and on when the narrative dragged too much, and OH MY GOD did it drag. I really enjoy Hobb's characters and magic, but she badly needs to learn how to edit herself, especially when the characters go into Introspection Mode.(less)
Maybe 2.5 stars. It drags like nothing else, but overall I have a pleasant feeling about the book. Like all the characters, except the protagonist. Mu...moreMaybe 2.5 stars. It drags like nothing else, but overall I have a pleasant feeling about the book. Like all the characters, except the protagonist. Much like the Assassin series! I would warn all non-Hobb fans to stay away from this series. It's weird and long-winded.(less)
Enjoyed this enough to continue in the series, but definitely has some flaws. I love Hobb's worlds. They're immersive, but not detailed to the point o...moreEnjoyed this enough to continue in the series, but definitely has some flaws. I love Hobb's worlds. They're immersive, but not detailed to the point of boring me. (Looking at you, Frank Herbert.) It's refreshing to see what's been missing from all these mediocre/terrible books I've been reading lately.
That said, this has the same flaws at the Farseer trilogy did, as much as it pains me to admit Farseer has flaws... The protagonist gets an idea in his head and won't let it go. Wimmens are considered stupid in this world. Old nobles don't like new nobles. I get it, move it along, please. Way too much introspection over the same two ideas over and over. I skimmed. Didn't keep track, but I'd guess 75 pages could be cut with no impact to the story.(less)
1. The ending was perfect. Just perfect. All loose ends (that I can remember) resolved. And I loved it. The pacing was great, the flipping from charac...more1. The ending was perfect. Just perfect. All loose ends (that I can remember) resolved. And I loved it. The pacing was great, the flipping from character to character kept it from getting boring.
2. There were way too many characters! Way too many loose ends to tie up! Even though I know what happened to everyone, I lost some connection with the characters because there were so many competing for page space. Would have loved to have some more detail, but of course that probably would have meant another 1,000 page book, so I'll take this.
P.S. - Once again, Harriet decided not to release this as an ebook for 3 months. So I was only able to read this at bedtime, not carrying this beast of a book everywhere with me. I was one of the first in line on the library wait list. So now I've read it and returned it, and they're not getting my money. Neener neener.(less)
Once again, too many characters. And my favorite character died, so that's sad. Who the hell am I supposed to be rooting for since he's killed off all...moreOnce again, too many characters. And my favorite character died, so that's sad. Who the hell am I supposed to be rooting for since he's killed off all my faves one by one? I guess there's still one left... I'm rooting for you, "no one". Oh, and Bran I guess, if we ever see him in another story. I'm starting to doubt that I'll ever see my fave characters again.(less)
I know, I said I wasn't sure I'd bother reading it. But after reading the first book my husband (who is not really a reader) demanded we watch the HBO...moreI know, I said I wasn't sure I'd bother reading it. But after reading the first book my husband (who is not really a reader) demanded we watch the HBO series season 1. I liked the series better than the book, even though it's basically the same story! With that in mind, I decided to keep reading so we can watch the second season at some point.
So far I'm enjoying this book MUCH more than the first. There's finally intrigue and action. Bad guys that are truly horrific, but characters that are all shades of gray. And I might just be in love with Tyrion Lannister...(less)
This is depressing. I loved this book as a kid. But it's what got me into reading fantasy, so I guess I can't complain too much. So very heavy-handed....moreThis is depressing. I loved this book as a kid. But it's what got me into reading fantasy, so I guess I can't complain too much. So very heavy-handed. Chalk this one up to a childhood love, where I probably identified with the character Meg.(less)
Somehow, it lost me in the last couple chapters. Much as I was loving the story, I just never fell in love with Sadie and Jake (wow, he uses that name...moreSomehow, it lost me in the last couple chapters. Much as I was loving the story, I just never fell in love with Sadie and Jake (wow, he uses that name a lot for characters). This novel was a grand and sweeping love story with a sci-fi bent, but it just didn't hold me once it had grabbed me. Would make an excellent movie though.
I was born in the 80's, so I've never known a world with JFK (or John Lennon, come to that). I got a little lost in the nitty gritty history of it since I never lived it.(less)
Author tries really really hard to be Lewis Carroll. Didn't work for me. I spent most of the book being highly annoyed at the ridiculousness of it all...moreAuthor tries really really hard to be Lewis Carroll. Didn't work for me. I spent most of the book being highly annoyed at the ridiculousness of it all. "Whimsy for the sake of whimsy", as another reviewer put it.
Some was clever, but this still gets a clear "I didn't like it" (one star) rating.
"September could see it. She did not know what it was she saw. That is the disadvantage of being a heroine, rather than a narrator."
"When one is traveling, everything looks brighter and lovelier. That does not mean it is brighter and lovelier; it just means that sweet, kindly home suffers in comparison to tarted-up foreign places with all their jewels on."(less)
11/7 - Just realized that the first 6 chapters were posted on Tor.com a while ago. Converted to a Kindle-compatible format and will start reading toda...more11/7 - Just realized that the first 6 chapters were posted on Tor.com a while ago. Converted to a Kindle-compatible format and will start reading today, then pick up with the purchased ebook once it's delivered :)
finished! interesting enough to keep my attention, but not sure I would read the next installment. things were a bit too obvious and, as usual, I hated the lead female character. is Sanderson taking writing lessons from heinlein?(less)
Didn't blow me away quite as much as the first book did. I really really liked it, but the pacing was off some. The time spent in the Fae was BORING,...moreDidn't blow me away quite as much as the first book did. I really really liked it, but the pacing was off some. The time spent in the Fae was BORING, and it dragged on for far too long. Sure, the pacing could have been to duplicate the timelessness feeling that Kvothe had while there, but since I was bored out of my mind I didn't really care why it was paced so poorly.
Goddammit, where are the scrael in this book?! I want to know more about them!
The book is reminding me more and more of the WOT series (the good books, not the bloated ones). Simple phrasing, names of places, the way the world works... it all came together to make me feel like I'm in the same world. For instance, the way everyone fears the University and the magic performed there, much like people fear the Tower and those who can channel.
2012 re-read: Much better book when I skimmed the part in the Fae. Still not 5 stars though.(less)
10/18/11 - So far, not great. The plot is interesting (that is, after all, why I decided to read this), but the writing is bland. The author is trying...more10/18/11 - So far, not great. The plot is interesting (that is, after all, why I decided to read this), but the writing is bland. The author is trying really REALLY hard to jam as much as possible into as few sentences as possible, and it shows. I have a daughter who is 20 months old. I'm hoping for some sort of connection to kick in for me so I can really relate to this book.
10/25/11 - I think I'm done. I'm 80% in and I just don't give a crap about finishing it. The writing is horrific, and not a good way, considering there are zombies involved.
Everything is overly described, making sentences long and lumbering. And the stuff that isn't overly descriptive is out of place. Infodumps and cut scenes to the past abound.
Example: "It was coming from the direction of a wood-shingled Cape Cod on the right side of the street, where the stick-puzzle forms of dead jasmine shrubs stood sentry in front of a lawn choked with kaysev."
Example: "She was thin and muscular in a hooded jersey and shorts and hiking sandals, and she said very little, her face partially obscured by the hood which she had pulled down over her curly brown hair."
Example: "So when Smoke seized her hand, she ran hard. She flew like a stone rocketed over a great chasm." (What...? How fast is a stone 'rocketed' across a chasm? Why would anyone shoot a rock across a chasm?)
The ENTIRE BOOK is written this way.
Cass goes from thinking constantly about her daughter to never thinking about her - very inconsistent. Rather than genuinely missing her daughter (who has the cringe-worthy name of Ruthie), Cass seems to miss the idea of being a mother. How has she changed? Why is she now deserving of a child? Because she misses her sun-kissed hair and dimpled knees? (And as a mother, I can tell you that I don't ever think of my child's knees as dimpled... of all the things I would miss about her, dimpled knees is so cliched.)
Cass's romance with Smoke is stupid. It's a bad romance novel. Reminded me of Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, which I also hated. Here's an actual quote for you: "She could respect Smoke's desire for privacy. She knew well the need to keep to the shadows. So why did she want so much to know more?" And then she goes on to talk about how her crotch controls her every move. And wouldn't you know it, the big handsome stranger just happens to know that she loves to be choked, and that's what does it for her. Gee, I wish I could find me a big muscled man to throw me into bed and have his way with me. Oh wait, I can, just pick up anything from Harlequin.
Here you go, 'enjoy' the big climax: "It was a long and spectacular fall and partway down he met her there and it was like they seized each other midair so that when the final crest splintered into blinding sensation, she was aware of him there with her and it was new."(less)
Finally giving up on this. It's just SO BAD. Everyone raves that this is THE Harry Potter predecessor**, and because it was published first it's someh...moreFinally giving up on this. It's just SO BAD. Everyone raves that this is THE Harry Potter predecessor**, and because it was published first it's somehow superior. The kids say stupid shit, do stupid shit, and it's just generally uninteresting. Ooo, a bully stole your pen, and you'll do anything get back your stupid pen? Idiot.
Don't let your kids read this. Point them in the direction of Madeleine L'Engle instead!
**(I would argue that A Wizard of Earthsea is more appropriately THE Harry Potter predecessor, though I found that book trite. It could have done with some fleshing-out, but I believe that was merely the style of the time.)(less)
“The problem with growing up,” Quentin said, “is that once you’re grown up, people who aren’t grown up aren’t fun anymore.”
Indeed, Quentin. If the aut...more“The problem with growing up,” Quentin said, “is that once you’re grown up, people who aren’t grown up aren’t fun anymore.”
Indeed, Quentin. If the author ever grows up, I might find his writing fun instead of unbearable. Most of the book suffers from awful, boring characters, poor pacing, and a general lack of any coherent plot. Book avoids a one-star from me solely because of the chapter spent at Brakebills South, which was actually interesting and fun.
My biggest peeve with this book is the 'fictional' place Fillory that is talked about constantly. Am I really supposed to believe that EVERYONE had read these 'beloved' children's books? And knew them so well that that's the conclusion they jumped to when they find a button that seems to be 'radiating magic'??? I don't buy it. And the world of Fillory is stupid. Talking bunnies that hand out magical buttons, and a velvet horse that you can ride? It's like a bad cross between Lewis Carroll and CS Lewis. And the main character (who is around 17 years old in the beginning of the book) will NOT shut up about how it's his life goal to live in Fillory. Completely delusional. How am I supposed to relate to this?
Author tries very VERY hard to be clever. Know what the fail mode of clever is? And then he has to explain how clever he's being, just in case you missed it.
“Of course it matters, Vix,” Quentin said. “It’s not like they’re all the same.” “Vix” was a term of endearment with them, short for vixen, an allusion to their Antarctic interlude, vixen being the word for a female fox.
There were some cute bits where the author would reference other popular fantasy worlds, but his world was so boring that it really just made me wish I was reading one of those other books.
“Got anything for time travel? Time-turner or something?” “Not at this time,” Lovelady intoned gravely. “But I will make inquiries.” “Awesome.” Josh stood up. He saluted smartly. “Send me an owl.”
“How do you capture a square?” Gretchen waggled her fingers in the air mysteriously. “With maaaaagic! ” “Where’s the broomsticks?” Quentin was only half joking.
There was even a wizard game! But the game had no point and no rules and wasn't really explained. So it was written about a lot, and I rushed through those parts because the game was stupid.
All the characters were one-dimensional. Quentin (narrator) is The Emo One. Eliot is The Gay One. Josh is The Fat One. Janet is The Foul-Mouthed Party Girl. Alice is The Good One. In fact, they're so completely boring that the author feels the need to tell us (not show us) multiple times that this group is close-knit and have a "magical ability to effortlessly love one another". Really? So close-knit that I had to look up Eliot's name a few hours after finishing the book because I couldn't remember it...?
Every time the book would start to get a little bit magical and I started to be drawn in, the author would play his BUT I'M NOT JK ROWLING! card and insert several out-of-place paragraphs full of swearing and/or sex. I'm cool with that stuff. Just make it fit the story, mkay? Like he meets his girlfriend's crazy magical mother, and she has her breasts hanging out while talking to him. Sounds like the start of a bad porno, not a good book.
Near the climax of the book when they're fighting a big scary fire monster, the author takes the time to write this (and completely throw me out of the action): His huge, hairless, glowing-red cock and balls swung loose between his thighs like the clapper of a bell. He'd already described the monster. It was scary. This was just weird.
Author does get props for using his dictionary. Broke out a few words I had to look up: dipsomaniac, sommelier, miscegenation, persiflage, sangfroid, obstreperous(less)
HOLY SHIT. I was on the edge of my seat for the last half of the book. Katniss is still a little naive about everything, but it wasn't annoyingly so....moreHOLY SHIT. I was on the edge of my seat for the last half of the book. Katniss is still a little naive about everything, but it wasn't annoyingly so. Much stronger than the first book, and the first book wasn't bad!(less)
Decent read. Author was a bit too smarmy in parts (especially in the beginning), but other times the wording was incredibly clever. Might read the sec...moreDecent read. Author was a bit too smarmy in parts (especially in the beginning), but other times the wording was incredibly clever. Might read the second one in the series.(less)
Really enjoyed the magic system and the idea of the magic school (and how it controls the world, or tries to). Less likable were the characters (borin...moreReally enjoyed the magic system and the idea of the magic school (and how it controls the world, or tries to). Less likable were the characters (boring) and writing (ick). I really enjoyed reading the parts about the brother in the dungeon and how the colored light(s) worked to keep him imprisoned. May read the next book just to see what happens there.
I had tried Weeks' Way of Shadows books and didn't care for the writing. Same issue here. Turns out it's not just the story, it's the writing I don't like.
Some recurring things in the writing: "All the other boys were terrified of her. Why am I thinking about boys? My father's dead." (Character reminds self that he should be thinking of something else. Terrible segue.)
""Because I know what it's like to be alone," Gavin said. He was surprised that it was the truth." (Character saying something aloud, then realizing it's true. Lame.)
"Confess your ineptitude and fall on his mercy, Kip. "What's your name, shit shoveler?" he demanded instead. Oops." (Character saying how he should act, then saying something stupid instead, usually involving swearing, then saying "oops". I wanted to fucking punch him for the number of times he said "oops".)
""It's noble, Lord Prism, but it's not wise." What? Well sometimes when you don't know what the hell someone's talking about, the best thing to do is play along. "I don't know what the hell you're talking about," Gavin said. Oops." (Hey look, another character does the same "oops" thing!)
"She ran into an empty house-she was pretty sure all the houses were empty here. Pushing past the leavings of chickens and several dogs, and one live skinny cow-lots of people brought their animals inside during the night, both for safety and to warm the house-she found the stairs, ran up to the family's quarters, which had been hurriedly emptied, and found the ladder to the roof." (Oh my, that's a long paragraph to get from the ground floor to the roof. Sidebar.)
Far from the best book I've ever read, but it left me longing to read more. At first I found the characters (especially Shallan) one-dimensional and w...moreFar from the best book I've ever read, but it left me longing to read more. At first I found the characters (especially Shallan) one-dimensional and with annoyingly long and obvious internal dialoges. But the characters grew throughout the book, and I find myself intrigued by the characters and the story. Somewhat annoyed by the excessive use of made-up vocabulary, and I have problems telling how a Radiant and Herald are related. What exactly happened there? I'm confused. Can't wait to read more to unconfuse myself.(less)
About 25% in, not diggin it so far. It has all the tropes of fantasy, but they're just not coming together well for me. The characters are sort of bor...moreAbout 25% in, not diggin it so far. It has all the tropes of fantasy, but they're just not coming together well for me. The characters are sort of boring and fixated on one thing. Author uses weird transitions, like when a character is having an inner monologue, and the way he gets out of it and back into the story is to have the character say/think "but why am I thinking about that? I should be thinking of this other major plot point". Ug.
Finished it, and didn't like it. "It was ok" (the two-star rating) describes my feelings for it pretty well. There was too much going on, the characters blended together, the writing was clunky... And I kept hoping the characters he implied were dead had really died so that I wouldn't have to read about them again. I'm curious about the next book in the series... I really liked Dorian's character and I'm curious where he'll go. But the writing was so jarring that I don't know if I'll waste my time on it.
A couple things that bothered me (the ones I bothered to highlight):
"The chamberlain took him through a vast entry hall with dual stairs that climbed three stories flanking an enormous marble statue of two men, twins, facing each other in battle, each seeing the same opening in the other’s defense, each lunging." (It's like he forget to add commas, then realized it and made up for it in the last half of the sentence.)
"His memory was as sharp as the daggers that they’d once found under the royal pillows." (I rolled my eyes at that one)
"Kylar’s afternoon had been frantic. He’d had to get Logan to get someone else to get him an invitation" (to get to get to get to get to get)
"Silhouetted, black blood dripped from the tip of Retribution. Drip, drip. Durzo’s voice strained like bending steel. “Kylar, this is your last chance.”" (How does a voice sound like bending steel??? Also, last chance warnings are lame. And writing "drip drip" is also lame.)
"It seemed as if the black tattoos that all of them wore had torn free of their hands and were holding each other, pulsing with power. The wytches were sweating as if under tremendous strain. Water swelled as if an immense arrow were passing just under the surface of the sea" (as if as if as if as if as if as if...... oh, and wytches that practice magyk. That's how you know it's a Fantasy Book, because there are Y's in the words.)
Initial impression, 3 chapters in: ug. Just ug. I loved the Mistborn series, and I've heard good things about this as well, but so far the writing is...moreInitial impression, 3 chapters in: ug. Just ug. I loved the Mistborn series, and I've heard good things about this as well, but so far the writing is just terrible. We'll see if the storyline can redeem the writing.
Halfway through now, and I'm still bored out of my mind. The writing is bad, the plot is (so far) predictable. I'm only tolerating this because no less than 3 people (whose opinions I respect) have told me that the magic system in this book is incredibly inventive. But here I am halfway through and there's not been any explanation of the magic system yet... :(
About 3/4 through, and I'm still not interested. This book is taking FOREVER to read, considering the size of the book. Too predictable, the dialog is unbelievable: too quaint and sassy, with a lot of "oh, by the way" info dumps. Blech. Made it this far, may as well finish it. Can't believe this is the same author who did Mistborn and the final WOT books!
Finished. Oh my goodness was this horrible. The action didn't grab me, the characters sucked, everything was boring, and the "wonderful magic system" I've heard so much about was just sort of lame. Maybe it would have been cooler if the magic system had appeared before the last 15 pages of the book? (less)
Tor is apparently refusing to issue this as an ebook. Guess I'll have to see. I like the series, but I won't read large paper novels anymore. I simply...moreTor is apparently refusing to issue this as an ebook. Guess I'll have to see. I like the series, but I won't read large paper novels anymore. I simply don't have the space or the wrist strength for it.
11/20 - Found the hardback in a used book store. Bought it, will sell it again when I'm done, then buy the ebook in a couple years (maybe). Tor will NOT have my money twice (and maybe not at all), and I don't want to support the hardback format. It's so difficult to hold and transport, so it sits on my nightstand and I read it occasionally. This is going to take a while...
11/28 - Finished! I LOVED this book. It's one of my favorites in the series, right behind Book 1. Most importantly: SO MUCH HAPPENED! There were plot lines I'd completely forgotten about that progressed. And, in what was possibly the funniest thing in all of 2010, Nyaneve's braid was burned off!!! I laughed so hard I lost my page. Thank God Sanderson is finishing this and not Jordan!
Mat's back to his old lovable self. Perrin finally stopped whining and grew a pair. Rand stopped acting like a child and grew up. Lots of character development, lots of action, love love love it!(less)
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