Jurjen
Really liked this book, a solid improvement over the first, you can tell McClellan found his footing as author with this one. The thing I like most is definitely the setting. Flintlock rifles and big line-infantries and sword wielding cavalries, a French revolution and the beginnings of democracy, powerful unions and spymasters, and all the corruption that comes with it.
Some pretty solid characterisation, though the main 3 feel like they're kinda all the same brand of person (also their names are basically the same: tamas, taniel and adamat. Too many fucking As and Ts). The thing holding this story back the most is probably some stunted dialogue, especially during the more emotional scenes the ending was great though!
But yea, I really enjoyed it a lot! Excited to read the third book
Weird book. Some fun worldbuilding, scenes, and character work at the start, then it meanders along for 200 pages seemingly going nowhere, with the story structure/pacing feeling really disjointed.
Was thinking I was gonna give it 3 stars up until the last 30 pages, when the ending pulled me back in; the perfect ending to the story, and kind of the one I was expecting/hoping for.
Maybe 4 stars is too generous as half of this book isn't particularly great, but it does stick the landing quite well.
Wow. Finished it in 2.5 days. Fantastic. Im not sure if i've ever been engrossed with a book as much as the middle half of it. Top 10 fav book of all time, veeery close to a 10/10. There were some things that felt a bit off (there's some andy weir-isms around you know... sex and general human behaviour that doesn't quite work but oh well).
There is so much I wanna say about this book but my brain is mush after reading about 200 pages in the last couple hours so i'll leave it at this: happy happy happy. I'd die for you, rocky.
What even is there to say? After almost 3 years, I have finished this behemoth of a series. I wasn't a fan of every book, and even in this last one, there were things I didn't like, but man, what a conclusion to the story.
I think i'll rank it above The Gathering Storm as my favourite of the series–but only because of what this book means for the series as a whole. It's a story that has stuck with me for longer than most, and one i'll never quite forget. You'll never hear me say that it is one of my absolute favourites, but the Wheel of Time does feel like a one-of-its-kind, and I am glad to have read all 15 of em'.
(3rd update cus its a pain to get the correct cover lol dont mind the repost, finished this yesterday)
Another great cosmere novel! I'm glad to see that The Lost Metal and Frugal Wizard being really underwhelming is probably not really indicative of the quality of Sanderson's future books. Hopefully.
Unlike Tress, it's probably best not to read it before understanding a bunch of cosmere mechanics.
Minor spoilers:
Eeeeeeasily the best romance Sanderson has written, and again, a set of fantastic main characters. The worldbuilding and setting was interesting, and the vibes were great. Only downsides are the slightly awkward way the plot came together at the end with a particular plot device that I didn't like all that much, as well it taking for granted that the reader knows their cosmere stuff.
Of the main 10 Ranger's Apprentice books, this one is definitely the weakest. Some really awkward plot devices/macguffins and substandard character work. It's still pretty fun cus RA is always fun. Would be more fun with Halt and Tug. It's no surprise that it's the weakest when it's the only RA book without either.
Like how tf is Tug just not in this book at all (or it's such a small role that I forgot)??
I like how im talking about Tug like it's an important characater. For those unaware, Tug is a horse. But he's a damn good horse.
