Josh
Meh.
Everything good about the 1st book is here. Everything bad about the 1st book is here. You might say that this is the 1st book rewritten as the 2nd book. new quest new characters, all the same plot points.
1st Book 2nd Book Auric at home Called to League\Queen Given Quest Long Journey over Land and Sea Visit Temple above God area Kill God Skip back with League
I feel like i would like these books a lot more if there was a bit more misdirection or less foreshadowing.
I will be talking about Sin Eater on Libromancy Podcast on 1/30/22
A Very Exciting Book. So many questions near the end i'm excited to keep reading and see what happens.
CAWPILE SCORE
C-7
A-9
W-5
P-8
I-8
L-8
E-9
TOTAL-7.71/10
CAWPILECharacters.felt very real and fully formed. Lots to Like and dislike about all of themAtmospherei could really feel the "grime" of this world and the consequences of their actionsWritingFelt his writing was good, but that sometimes Mike Shel didn't trust his audience to pick up on certain things, because he would repeat things that would be important later, but that just made me unhappy that i couldn't be surprised, or take pride for noticing because he hit me over the head with it.PlotA reverse grave robbing. I'm glad it was more than just that and had enough layered in to make it real and worthwhileIntriguePacing felt a bit inconsistant sometimes, fast then slow then fast and slow again, but once i got to the barrowlands, I had a very hard time putting it down.LogicVery consistent with internal worldbuildingEnjoymentVery much enjoyed this book, especially the ending where we learn many things that question what really happened in the past of the book and what certain people know.
I will be talking about it on Libromancy 01/16/2022 https://libromancy.podbean.com/
CAWPILE SCORE
C-8
A-6
W-7
P-8
I-6
L-7
E-8
TOTAL-7.14/10
I wish I had gone in with different expectations. Don't know what expectations I had going in, but they were wrong. I found this to be a great book. good characters an interesting Plot and a very nice magic system. I am a little surprised its a standalone, but I think it ends in a good place.
CAWPILE SCORE
C-7
A-7
W-8
P-6
I-7
L-6
E-8
TOTAL-7/10
I enjoyed the book, after a few chapters I was hooked and wanted to keep going
CAWPILECharacters.The Characters were good, I really could feel like the characters were siblings both sets of siblings. Sometimes I was a bit annoyed at how flip floppy Inan was, but it did feel true to his character. AtmosphereVery immersive and intriguing. I felt like maybe too many "new" words were thrown in the beginning, but it makes it feel as if we really are just dropping into their livesWritingWriting was good. Voice was well utilized. Some of the descriptions were very well done. the Sea-Salt soul. and the dreamscapePlotthe Plot started good. do x then x then Y happens. but sometimes it felt a little too convenient for them. we need the sunstone, and we just reached the next city on our way. oh here it is. need a boat oh here is this guy you met at the Maji festival, he somehow got away easy. The coincedences felt a little too on the nose. IntrigueWhat is going on with the Magic? did she just give Magic to everybody. What really happened to the Kings 1st family. The intrigue of bringing magic back was excitingLogicSometimes the logic felt inconsistent to me. We only have X days to get across the continent sail to an island and then perform this ritual. oh but we have a day to party. I was kidnapped, that doesn't prevent us from accomplishing it at all. After Inan joins them, it feels like the Guards/King have a rubberband effect. can't go too far with being pulled into them.Enjoymentsmall critique, but using the word Cancer is always a turn off for me, unless its an earth world analogue. it just takes me right out. call it disease or plague or decay. Not Cancer.I did really enjoy the book as a whole though. Loved the powersets and way magic was reintroduced to us
I will be talking about it on Libromancy 05/02/2021 https://libromancy.podbean.com/
CAWPILE SCORE
C-8
A-8
W-8
P-7
I-9
L-8
E-9
TOTAL-8.14/10
Loved this book. I had an incredibly difficult time putting it down. I loved learning with the Scythes and seeing their methods. The Plot is exactly what it tells you will be and makes you excited to see the future. For a Low action book, it feels very high action
CAWPILECharacters.Very well done characters. it felt like that is what people would do when given immortalityAtmosphereGreat Atmosphere and world building. I invested quickly and easily.WritingThe Writing was crisp and clear and very good prose. The writing is concise and has great voice.PlotThe plot is exactly what it says. 2 apprenticeships until they graduate. I want more and will definitely keep going in the series. Very well paced plot.IntrigueThe questions of who killed Farraday, Goddard and his craziness. What is the Thunderhead going to do about the scythes. Very intriguing kept me interesting. The Thunderhead talking to Citra while she is dead.LogicNothing felt outside the realm of possibility within the book. the smallest nitpick would be how Rowan can live "off" the grid so that scythes can't find him, because they can use the Thunderhead resources. EnjoymentI greatly enjoyed this book. Very Very good
I will be talking about it on Libromancy https://libromancy.podbean.com/
CAWPILE SCORE
C-9
A-8
W-9
P-7
I-8
L-9
E-9
TOTAL-8.43/10
What a great story. Quite amazing of an ending. Beautiful prose, great plot.
CAWPILECharacters.Great Characters as always. Everyone has their own plans, ideas, and feelings, even the robots, no one feels like a cardboard cutout. unique motivationsAtmosphereGreat atmosphere. while reading I felt like I really was there. you could feel the changesWritingAmazing writing and prose as always. Beautiful and Short. never feels out of place or overly flowery while still giving great detailsPlotTook a little bit of time for me to get into the plot. but once I was in, I was hooked and dragged straight through to the end. The fact that its a ship through space. CrazyIntrigueThe Intrigue kept me guessing but in a good way, right up to the end. Whether its Senlin and Marya, or what the Nautilus is, Questions about the Brick Layer and the Sphinx, each is answered carefully and creatively while keeping you invested with more questions about each.LogicThe Logic held consistant through the story. everything happened within reason. although parts of the hod king (mech) felt a little too much for me at times, I was easily able to see past thoseEnjoymentMy enjoyment of this book is extreme. Uniquely amazing. beautiful writing, great plot, likeable and unlikeable characters. A satisfying conclusion to an Amazing series. I look forward to future works from Josiah Bancroft
I will be talking about it on Libromancy. https://libromancy.podbean.com/
Slightly harder time getting into Fantasy. but i'm glad the plot moved there. References to Fantasy as the Fantastical were everywhere. But still a fun addition to the series and a good read.
CAWPILE SCORE
C-7
A-6
W-6
P-7
I-7
L-7
E-9
TOTAL-7/10
CAWPILECharacters.More Depth to Theo, nice to see Pansy's progression over the years. AtmosphereFantasy had a unique feel to it. Speaking in Aliteration and rhyme and verse was fun. WritingThe Writing was good. able to quickly show what was happening. Each Characters voice felt unique and easily identifiablePlotThe plot was interesting. i had ideas where it was going. and i did call that someone was stealing abilities and not just removing them.IntrigueThe story had plenty of intrigue. between what was happening with abilities to what will happen between Theo and PansyLogicThe logic is a little more skewed in Fantasy Land precisely because it is fantasy land, but nothing was so out there that i couldn't follow it.EnjoymentI enjoyed this book book, but I enjoyed the first one more. Sometimes it felt like there was just a little too much going on. The Racism against animal people felt added with no real substance.
I will be talking about it on Libromancy 08/01/2021 https://libromancy.podbean.com/
I really enjoyed this book. Once I started I really didn't want to stop until I was done. The story is well thought out and put together. And I'm excited to pick up the 2nd one.
CAWPILE SCORE
C-7
A-9
W-6
P-8
I-8
L-6
E-9
TOTAL-7.57/10
CAWPILECharacters.Pansy our MC is a blast to be with in her head. I enjoyed spending my time there. I thought most of the other characters felt real and fully formed, but in a book this size we don't get to see as much as is there. Loved the unique portrayal of the people from the different lands.AtmosphereThe Difference between Horror and Romance is great. even just the feel you get when reading it is different. I really felt like I could look up from my book and see the places in Romance. WritingThe writing is great. its clear, its concise, it says exactly what it needs to and then gets out of the way and lets you enjoy the series. The "Swears" were unique and they went along with the feel of the book.PlotThe plot did have me guessing about 2/3rds through the book, that maybe, the Haunting hadn't followed her to Romance or did it. I felt the ending was almost a Deus ex Machina, but there were enough clues foreshadowed, and it was written just right so it didn't feel that way.IntrigueThe intrigue just kept me hooked. Did the Haunting Follow her or is it her paranoia? Who is Mr. E? Is she going to be in trouble for something else. I also appreciated that there wasn't a lot of miscommunication causing Romance troubles as that is a trope that can feel worn out.LogicThe Logic here was great. I thought the world building was well thought out and not lacking. The Romance may seem a bit fast, but its takes place in ROMANCE so thats what you get. EnjoymentI absolutely loved reading this book. It was so much fun. Following Pansy as she navigates the Country of Romance in the Land of Novel
I will be talking about it on Libromancy 07/25/2021 https://libromancy.podbean.com/
Overall i enjoyed this book but the middle was tough. the first 20% was good and the Last 20% was amazing
CAWPILE SCOREC-6A-8W-7P-7I-7L-5E-7TOTAL-6.14/10CAWPILECharacters.Characters felt inconsistent and times but overall were just fine.AtmosphereThe Atmosphere was good it really drew me into what was happening and whereWritingWriting had a couple issues, mainly just words that didn't fit within the story. They pulled me out of the book everytimePlotThe Plot was great. starting off by talking about resurrection Beasts and the threat they pull and then switching to God is bad guy, and lied to us. i just wish the twist had been a little more than just the last bit of the bookIntrigueI loved the letters that Harrow wrote to herself after performing Memory modification but i wished they had more of an impact on the story, because they change very little about what actually happens. LogicGod or John felt very inconsistent. He refused to tell his Saint of Duty to stop killing Harrow, but stops Harrow from fighting back at every instance. The decisions made sometimes confused me. like why God/John acted afraid of Resurrection Beasts for 10,000 years just to test some loyalties. and the fact that Gideon is the son of a Lyctor and God/John. that really came out of nowhere. the logic of denying resurrection beasts their energy. and most of the actions taken by Harrow and Ianthe are true to their characterEnjoymentOverall i really enjoyed the beginning and the Ending of this book. the middle could've lost about half and been just fine. I probably won't reread it, but I'd recommend it to people.
I will be talking about it on Libromancy 05/02/2021 https://libromancy.podbean.com/
CAWPILE SCORE
C-7
A-8
W-5
P-7
I-9
L-6
E-8
TOTAL-7.14/10
A fun book. Takes a little bit to get into it, but once you are there it really keeps you going.
When I picked up this book the thing I had heard over and over again was that Gideon the Ninth was Lesbian Necromancers in Space. This while true is also not true. There is a Necromancer, but the "love" story was definitely a tertiary at best plot line. Didn't hurt the story, but when thats what you hear most about the book when you don't see any indication of it till over 50% through you start to wonder if you're reading the same book.Characters.The Characters did feel real, at least Harrow and Gideon did, some of the other characters were very flat. I felt like the 2nd, and 8th especially.AtmosphereThe Atmosphere is good and really puts you into the same space that the characters are feeling.WritingSometimes I felt like there was a lot of extra thrown in. Random words that didn't need to be there or that felt out place or not important to the story. The parts of her story that were horror were very good. This book needed in my opinion a little bit stronger hand on the editing. PlotThe Plot is well hidden and thought out. IntrigueThe Intrigue was great. I never knew what was coming or who and how. I loved that part of it. Kept me on my toes.LogicNobody makes crazy unrealistic leaps of logic or thought, but the progression between Gideon and Harrow even in life threatening situations felt unrealistically fast for 2 people who hated each other to the core. even with the revelations it still takes more than a minute to process and change those feelings.EnjoymentI enjoyed this book, but it really took me to get to the 50% mark to get invested in it. Then after that it was great. Some parts were horror which was done well.
I will be talking about it on Libromancy 07/11/2021 https://libromancy.podbean.com/
I really enjoy these books. Small, Fun, Simple. scratch that, less simple but great. it strikes the perfect balance between being easy to understand and having new complications from the magic or the characters that never feels off or completly out of nowhere
This story progressed the plot but asked a couple of important questions near the end that really make me excited
CAWPILE SCORE
C-8
A-8
W-7
P-8
I-8
L-7
E-9
TOTAL-7.86/10
This book started with a couple of False starts in that i thought the book was going to be about X and then it wasn't. But it was good, it kept me engaged and I like the path of the book.First Maud and her Daughter. I did call that she would fall in "love" with Arland and that they would go together. I felt proud of calling that. but that was an easy shot. Helen her daughter was super adorable in every scene.The Hiru and Draziru. I kinda thought that something like it was going to happen, but i was really impressed with the decisions made in the book and the way it went.Dina. surviving the death of the Inn. wowow. just amazing a representation of grief that is real. Her getting together with Sean Evans. Finally. love it. Also who is SEBASTION NORTH is it the CAT, Is it a Coincedence. what is the Innkeepers council going to say? What really happened to her parents. TELL ME!!
I will be talking about it on Libromancy 07/04/2021 https://libromancy.podbean.com/
a good, quick book. some typical Urban Fantasy Tropes.
I enjoyed that the Plot wasn't entirely focused on the Romance and that while it was there it was subdued. I dislike it when the Romance takes over the plot, so this was perfect. It was interesting to learn that this book was written and released chapter by chapter online. even with that I never felt the delay or the change.
I also liked that near the End the story resolved itself in such a way that i'm excited to see what happens next, but not worried about “power creep” or crazy scaling or Romance taking over the whole thing.
I am also really in love with the Magic of the Inns, very unique and very exciting.
CAWPILE SCORE
C-7
A-8
W-6
P-7
I-6
L-8
E-9
TOTAL-7.29/10
CAWPILECharacters.The characters all play there role, there is a little bit of being a stereotype, but they diverge enough to be just fine.AtmosphereThe Atmosphere is clear, and truly feels like it could be on earth.Writingi never felt like it was too infodumpyPlotThe Plot is good. starts with a small mystery and slowly expands and grows into something more. while keeping many mysteries and future things available.IntrigueThe intrigue of the world and the Innkeepers and what happened with Dina's Parents really brought me in.LogicNothing felt too out of place or illogical, some small "conincidences" but to be expectedEnjoymentI enjoyed this book a lot, it hit all the right notes without hitting them too hard or too often.
I will be talking about it on Libromancy 06/20/2021 https://libromancy.podbean.com/
CAWPILE SCORE
C-8
A-7
W-8
P-6
I-7
L-8
E-7
TOTAL-6.14/10
For a book as old as this it really holds up well. This is a book deserving of a second longer/slower read through, because i'm sure there are things that i missed as i was reading it.
CAWPILECharactersGreat Characters, fully realized. even with the Body Swapping you could tell who was who.Atmospherethe World felt real and exciting. i got the sense that i was where the book was taking place.WritingThe Writing was amazing and quite "playful" i enjoyed every minute of reading it, the writing never felt anachronistic even using more modern words, thanks to the world and great prose.PlotThe Plot sometimes felt off paced, moving in leaps then slowing, but i think that this is more of a character driven story, with a good plot. IntrigueThe intrigue of the why the hindu gods, why not share tech, what powers each has and how they are going to overcome each other played well in the story.LogicEnjoymentI did enjoy this book quite a bit.
I will be talking about it on Libromancy 06/15/2021 https://libromancy.podbean.com/
I got an arc of this book and i really enjoyed it. it was a good adventure following Kinch around. Never felt like an info dump. beautiful integration of Languages mixing and misinterpretation. No map, but the geography wasn't confusing. I never felt lost in the story.
CAWPILE SCORE
C-9
A-9
W-9
P-7
I-7
L-8
E-9
TOTAL-8.29/10
CAWPILEI don't enjoy songs in books, but i thought they were done well, just not for me.Characters.Characters are all people, some people we only meet briefly don't necessarily feel 100%, but most are.AtmosphereAtmosphere is amazing, it really pulls you into the story and you don't want to leaveWritingBeautiful writing, excellent prose and word choice. very creative cursing and general amazing use of language. could have a bit shorterPlotThe Plot is good, but mostly hidden from us and Kinch for the Majority of the book, but i think he forshadowed enough things to not completely surprise me so i enjoyed thatIntrigueThere was a lot of intrigue, and misdirection but it all played well towards a good endLogicLogic existed and was used. Nothing was every brought up that was outside the bounds of what was explainedEnjoymentI very much enjoyed this book and look forward to many things from Christopher Buehlman in the future
I will be talking about it on Libromancy 06/06/2021
https://libromancy.podbean.com/e/the-blacktongue-thief/
A great book. parts a little unbelievable within the story but nothing i'd choose to hold against it. I was very impressed with the knowledge about bread/breakmaking and the Magic system in general.
The characters were good and likeable, Spindle felt older than 10 after a few pages
CAWPILE SCORE
C-7
A-7
W-8
P-7
I-8
L-8
E-9
TOTAL-7.71/10
A great book, reading it now after reading it as a child has only increased my love for this book. which certainly encouraged me to enjoy reading more and more.
From Dictionopolis to Digitopolis. I love it all. The Mountains of Ignorance. and all the plays on words and sentances its so funny. i was laughing out loud multiple times, even while learning about books.
The “plot” of this book is weak, but thats because the plot has nothing with the adventure taken, but is more about learning to appreciate life and all the things we can do.
In short a great book, mostly for kids, but anyone can enjoy it