Christian

I want to love this book. I am excited to read the next book in the series and I am hopeful. However, I can’t give this book a great review despite how much I want to. Reading this book was enjoyable and Robin Hobb is an excellent writer. The characters are relatable and their struggles matter to me as a reader. The world feels real. The magic system does a lot for me, at least. Unfortunately, being a good writer and telling a good story are not excitedly the same. The story felt slow, it felt like a long read. I had hope that it would, much like the way of kings, would lead to a meaningful and powerful ending with an intense cliff hanger. Sadly it did not. There was nothing that made the read feel satisfying. The good news is that I suspect the series as a whole is set up for a great conclusion but readers should not have to wait multiple novels for that…