Habib
I'm struggling to rate and review this book because it is probably the most unique novel I have ever read. The entire experience of weaveworld feels eerily close to what Wonderland is described to be within the book - a world teetering at the edge of human comprehension. I'm very unsure who I would recommend this book to, all I can really be sure about is that I thoroughly enjoyed it.
The core of the book is really good, character work is amazing and if the book ended about 80% of the way through it would've been perfect. The set up and execution up to this point bounces between 2 characters and feels flawless, the contrasts and similarities in perspective colouring the world around you. After this point though the narrative shifts into almost a set up section which felt unnecessary for a stand alone story separate from the other books in the universe. I loved the dive into grief and duty but the usual “person(s) in power is corrupt/selfish” felt like it could've been handled a bit more interestingly
I enjoyed the dynamic between student and teacher here, but the conclusion as a whole felt a bit weak. I'm not sure what I want from a chosen one storyline, but this dark gritty lens the whole world is shown to us as a reader feels less impactful when there's a nice little bow at the end where a lot of the consequences seems to dissipate.
It probably still would've gotten a higher rating if not for the fact that most of the female characters here felt really weirdly written? Almost all of them seemed to be cemented into the perspective of another male, as if their existence was reliant on a males orbit? I'm not sure how to describe it otherwise.
Just a very solid progression fantasy. I thoroughly enjoyed the way trauma was handled in the perspective of each character through this series, as well as the representation of higher outside civilization interacting with humanity. I think the best part about this ride with Carl is every step of the way you feel just as unbalanced as he is in these situations, and the slight mania his actions start taking feel very much like both yours and his retribution against the whole system constructed in this interesting world.
Everything Malazan does well, it does really well. Characters are all introduced with very solid and human foundations, you can see decisions ripple out and affect pages in the future and locations miles away.
Its biggest fault comes in the cast itself. Every interaction, though interesting seems to be in some accelerated timeline, where one night with 2 characters is enough to set up an absolute infatuation with one another. Or where one conversation can crumble the foundation of a character's morals that they have themselves described to grow old with. Reading any character “evolve” in this book felt like they were growing past their own personalities within the space of each word. Its so fast that i struggled to understand the same characters' motivations within the same chapter. Culling the perspective of half the cast would probably ruin a lot of the books magic, but essential time growing each character is missing, so its left to the reader to fill each of these gaps themselves.
3.8/5
Very interesting concept with a cunt of an MC that you gotta love. Development of all the characters and relationships are very interesting in the unique setting of time travel and explored very well. Also just a really solid ending that tied up every narrative puzzle, usually a weak point in long serials.
These web serial authors on some of good stuff.
the entire book has some beautiful prose and a fascinating narrative structure and world. I loved everything about the book except for the main perspective, the longer you get to know the character the less consistent he seems, sometimes lacking depth, and other times seeming to have certain emotions or feelings solely to accentuate the more interesting characters of the novel.
Beautiful ending, made me cry. I've loved everything in the realm of the elderlings, and this wrapped everything up, whilst still ending the book with the same robbin hobb intensity.
Left my heart hollow, yet, soul hopeful.
It isn't a bad book at all, I just didn't feel that the relationship between the 2 main characters progressed naturally. Ending also put me off reading any sequential books.
2.5
Interesting premise, let down by characters that feel like they can only exist inside some delusional definition of a person. Every character's motivations and intentions seem to be randomly forgotten for the sake of forwarding a romantic plot which is then randomly forgotten when the main character remembers they have to hate everything and everyone for the rest of the chapter. Then the loop begins again. One could say this represents teen angst or awkwardness, to me it just comes off and inconsistent.
Pratchet's works always balance and enticing story with entertaining literature amazingly. A short but sweet adventure with a unique style of writing unique to this author and it's obnoxious world.
A short but enjoyable read about some viking men out of their prime. No surprises in the book, you get exactly what you expect from the blurb + the next few chapters, but it doesn't drag itself and the perspective is pretty fresh. Also pretty funny.
Hobbs prose still remains amazing in this final instalment, however the middle portion of the book becomes repetitive and pretty useless to the story. The trilogy is ended off at a nice place, especially as you see fitz' and fools relationship explored more, however I was just not a fan of starling at all and it took a bit away from the ending. The Series as a whole was still amazing and I can't wait to finish the story.
I adore this book. Each and every character feels alive and individual, constantly exceeding the reader's expectation. Lynch describes a world so full of life you can see it breath and move between chapters. No twist or turn in the story felt impossible to predict but somehow the reader is just as a victim of the con as the targets.
An under-appreciated part of the novel though is the world building. It definitely takes a back drop to Locke's schemes that it's almost forgettable, but that is just what makes it so amazing. The world is so seamlessly explored and described that, every instance of something magical and fantastical slots into place is perfectly normal when reading the book. It's integrated so well into the story you never realised you are exploring this insane blend of sci-fi and fantasy.
5/5, 10/10, 100/100
Very enjoyable read, a classic and consistent fantasy in every right, but Jesus does Sanderson yap for too long sometimes.
It's clear that this has a YA focus but it falls into the usual pitfalls of shallow and simplistic characters and fast paced story. The main character seems to switch from mood to mood every line in an attempt to mimic hormonal emotions of a teen but it's so constant that it just feels dizzying and disconnecting. Quick read though, pretty good when compared to Harry potter c:
I really wanted to enjoy this, the characters and the world are all really interesting. The pacing combined how every issue each character faces as they grow to better themselves is always written to be some insurmountable or terrifying conflict. The ending after all the build up also just felt rushed.
Bit of a guilty pleasure read. Take all the classical wuxia progression systems and add actual pacing and a little character depth into it. A must read if you are a fan of progressive fantasy, sometimes I just wanna read about a guy on that grind.