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The Thousand Names (The Shadow Campaigns, #1)

Django Wexler

Start date: March 8, 2022

Finish date: March 21, 2022

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What Members Thought

Apr 06, 2017 Veronica rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: buddy-read, fantasy, sff-botm-challenge

3.5 to 4 stars

I suppose this counts as flintlock fantasy, not sure, but whatever it is it made for an enjoyable read. The worlds and cultures are wholly the invention of the author but they are nevertheless familiar and easily relatable to our own world. And while the plot and characters don't really offer up any surprises, the writing style is fluid and engaging enough to keep me turning pages so that the book felt shorter than it actually is. Divided into three parts, the story is told in alte 3.5 to 4 stars

I suppose this counts as flintlock fantasy, not sure, but whatever it is it made for an enjoyable read. The worlds and cultures are wholly the invention of the author but they are nevertheless familiar and easily relatable to our own world. And while the plot and characters don't really offer up any surprises, the writing style is fluid and engaging enough to keep me turning pages so that the book felt shorter than it actually is. Divided into three parts, the story is told in alternating POV chapters featuring two main characters: Senior Captain Marcus d'Ivoire and SGT Winter Ihernglass (with an occasional additional POV chapter from a secondary character tossed in). I will say that the second part of the book was on the battle heavy side and it started to feel like it was too much but that's my own personal preference because I prefer the more character centric bits. The two main characters, Marcus and Winter, who take us readers through their world and the story, are wholly likeable. The fact that Winter is a gay female who has snuck into the army is pretty cool and she more than earns her right to be there. I was engaged enough in the story that I'm interested in reading the next book in the series. Plus, there are some new characters that I'd like to meet. If I had one quibble it's that (view spoiler) But, I think it's just not that type of book.

**Reread February 2018: I still really enjoyed the book. I was less enamored with some of Winter's storyline this time around though. I've read a lot more fantasy since first reading this and I've become a lot more wary of magical M&Ms (view spoiler) There's no real tension if there are no real consequences. The battles are still cool though. ** ...more

19 likes · Like · see review

Oct 24, 2022 Karen ⚜Mess⚜ rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: chonker

Overview: Good story plot and characters. Interesting "magic", but mostly lacking in the story. Got a good visual of the story and the action scenes is where the author excels.

WOULD HAVE BEEN a 5 star read if it wasn't for all the boring parts. Like...most of the book. Can't fight the feeling that Django Wexler sacraficed himself to the Word Count God. I quickly learned that Winter's POV was worth the reading. Marcus is a bit of a poof.

I really liked the magic in this story and would have like ...more

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Mar 20, 2022 Dave rated it really liked it · review of another edition

The Thousand Names is military flintlock fantasy. Yes, that is quite the specific sub-genre. Think military life and strategy, battles with muskets and bayonets, with a little magic/mysticism thrown in, all taking place in a foreign world. It is an interesting mix, which I enjoyed for the most part, except at a couple of points where I felt that the pacing suffered a bit when the story became more bogged down in military detail than I would have preferred.

The story itself focuses mainly on two p The Thousand Names is military flintlock fantasy. Yes, that is quite the specific sub-genre. Think military life and strategy, battles with muskets and bayonets, with a little magic/mysticism thrown in, all taking place in a foreign world. It is an interesting mix, which I enjoyed for the most part, except at a couple of points where I felt that the pacing suffered a bit when the story became more bogged down in military detail than I would have preferred.

The story itself focuses mainly on two points of view. One is Captain Marcus, one of the more level-headed senior officers in the army that follow throughout the book. This serves to provide us with the higher level military strategy and world building. Second is Winter, a sergeant, through whose eyes we see more of the daily life of the soldiers. Winter also has a secret (that we the readers are privy to immediately) in that she is actually a woman in disguise. I was suspicious that this was merely a gimmick, and seemed like a nearly impossible detail to hide in context of a military campaign setting, but I went along with it for the sake of the story. I did find that all of these details reminded me a bit of another book I had read previously, an alternate history novel about the American Civil War by Harry Turtledove, named The Guns of the South.

Most of the battles and tactics in the book are very similar to traditional ones fought 200 years ago in our own history, between armies or smaller army units. Muskets and cannons are used, with fighting often coming eventually to hand-to-hand combat. Magic plays a fairly minimal role in this book, and what magic is there is not explained very concretely to the reader, giving it a rather strange and mysterious aura.

The Thousand Names is the first book in The Shadow Campaigns series, and while it does provide some setup for the second book, it also does bring many of the events of this story to a pretty satisfying conclusion. So the opportunity is there for jumping into a larger series, but I think that there is enough closure to the story for anyone who wants to stop here. Overall this is a pretty solid flintlock fantasy for anyone who likes their military fantasy with lots of muskets and battle tactics. And it is probably a fantasy sub-genre with currently not a whole lot of options. ...more

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Dec 14, 2014 Sara rated it really liked it

This book was good! I had a few problems with it, mostly with the fight scenes and how many there were, but overall I really loved the characters and the time period. I'm giving it a 4/5 stars and will be picking up the next books for sure!!! ...more

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Nov 29, 2018 Mridupawan Podder rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy

Wow!

what a tale! I know I know I'm late but I'm powering through the entire series as I type. Flintlock fantasy is always a great genre and hell, who doesn't love a good warfare, bombs, assassins, strategy and magic way beyond your control.

I love Winter. And Janus. And Bobbbbbbyyyyyy!!!

...more

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Feb 24, 2015 David Miles rated it really liked it

Excellent book. Almost put it down during the Prologue, but it grabbed me at the first Chapter and I couldn't stop reading. Well-written and engaging. Am going to immediately find and read the sequels. ...more

1 like · Like · see review