Eric Appelbaum
The Poet Empress is so full of soul. My heart aches for these characters.
At its heart, it's a will she won't she story that drags you through emotional highs and lows. It's expertly crafted. Shen Tao has shown such an understanding for what makes us hate and what makes us love, and the truth that lies in both.
She tackles sensitive topics with such grace. She does not shy away, but it lacks the gratuity that some might have come to see in the Grimdark stories of late. I implore anyone to take in her warning at the beginning of the book, but to be brave. She will not let you down for your bravery.
I don't have much more to say without spoiling this wonderful experience, just my full heartfelt recommendation.
The Poet Empress is so full of soul. My heart aches for these characters.
At its heart, it's a will she won't she story that drags you through emotional highs and lows. It's expertly crafted. Shen Tao has shown such an understanding for what makes us hate and what makes us love, and the truth that lies in both.
She tackles sensitive topics with such grace. She does not shy away, but it lacks the gratuity that some might have come to see in the Grimdark stories of late. I implore anyone to take in her warning at the beginning of the book, but to be brave. She will not let you down for your bravery.
I don't have much more to say without spoiling this wonderful experience, just my full heartfelt recommendation.
The Strength of the Few is a solid book, that unfortunately suffers from elevated expectations. With The Will of the Many, we are left stunned by the crescendo of the ending and the hook from the 2 epilogue chapters. It's a hard act to follow, and the 3 plotline structure of the book doesn't do itself any favors.
Where The Will of the Many felt lean, The Strength of the Few felt starved. The 3 plotlines are competing for space that in the end results in the major plot points lacking the necessary impact. I don't get enough time with any individual story to be truly invested. This is already a long book, but I think it would actually benefit from some extra length.
To the themes, I was left confused. In some ways it felt like this book undermined a lot of the interesting discussion from The Will of the Many. The other topics it brought forth felt like a step backwards and, like the plot, did not have room to be as nuanced. How can I appreciate how different environments shape us, if the shape isn't fully formed?
Speaking of not fully formed, the side characters barely feel like characters. Again, this is a symptom of the 3 plotlines, but the side characters arguably suffer the most. I felt zero attachment to anyone, and at best they feel like tools for Vis' development.
Overall I still enjoyed the book, and look forward to the next entry tying things up. I have faith that I will be wowed; because, while the twists don't have that same emotional impact, it doesn't make them any less bombastic. If Book 3 is structured like the Part 3s from the other books, it will be an exciting end.
The Strength of the Few is a solid book, that unfortunately suffers from elevated expectations. With The Will of the Many, we are left stunned by the crescendo of the ending and the hook from the 2 epilogue chapters. It's a hard act to follow, and the 3 plotline structure of the book doesn't do itself any favors.
Where The Will of the Many felt lean, The Strength of the Few felt starved. The 3 plotlines are competing for space that in the end results in the major plot points lacking the necessary impact. I don't get enough time with any individual story to be truly invested. This is already a long book, but I think it would actually benefit from some extra length.
To the themes, I was left confused. In some ways it felt like this book undermined a lot of the interesting discussion from The Will of the Many. The other topics it brought forth felt like a step backwards and, like the plot, did not have room to be as nuanced. How can I appreciate how different environments shape us, if the shape isn't fully formed?
Speaking of not fully formed, the side characters barely feel like characters. Again, this is a symptom of the 3 plotlines, but the side characters arguably suffer the most. I felt zero attachment to anyone, and at best they feel like tools for Vis' development.
Overall I still enjoyed the book, and look forward to the next entry tying things up. I have faith that I will be wowed; because, while the twists don't have that same emotional impact, it doesn't make them any less bombastic. If Book 3 is structured like the Part 3s from the other books, it will be an exciting end.
The Strength of the Few is a solid book, that unfortunately suffers from elevated expectations. With The Will of the Many, we are left stunned by the crescendo of the ending and the hook from the 2 epilogue chapters. It's a hard act to follow, and the 3 plotline structure of the book doesn't do itself any favors.
Where The Will of the Many felt lean, The Strength of the Few felt starved. The 3 plotlines are competing for space that in the end results in the major plot points lacking the necessary impact. I don't get enough time with any individual story to be truly invested. This is already a long book, but I think it would actually benefit from some extra length.
To the themes, I was left confused. In some ways it felt like this book undermined a lot of the interesting discussion from The Will of the Many. The other topics it brought forth felt like a step backwards and, like the plot, did not have room to be as nuanced. How can I appreciate how different environments shape us, if the shape isn't fully formed?
Overall I still enjoyed the book, and look forward to the next entry tying things up. I have faith that I will be wowed; because, while the twists don't have that same emotional impact, it doesn't make them any less bombastic.
The Strength of the Few is a solid book, that unfortunately suffers from elevated expectations. With The Will of the Many, we are left stunned by the crescendo of the ending and the hook from the 2 epilogue chapters. It's a hard act to follow, and the 3 plotline structure of the book doesn't do itself any favors.
Where The Will of the Many felt lean, The Strength of the Few felt starved. The 3 plotlines are competing for space that in the end results in the major plot points lacking the necessary impact. I don't get enough time with any individual story to be truly invested. This is already a long book, but I think it would actually benefit from some extra length.
To the themes, I was left confused. In some ways it felt like this book undermined a lot of the interesting discussion from The Will of the Many. The other topics it brought forth felt like a step backwards and, like the plot, did not have room to be as nuanced. How can I appreciate how different environments shape us, if the shape isn't fully formed?
Overall I still enjoyed the book, and look forward to the next entry tying things up. I have faith that I will be wowed; because, while the twists don't have that same emotional impact, it doesn't make them any less bombastic.
Will of the Many builds. Much like the pyramid motif of the Hierarchy, it builds. That isn't to say this is a setup book, no. But it took some time for me to really get into this book. However, by the last third I finished it without putting it down.
James Islington has built a world that felt really alive. I felt the anger and sadness of the characters, the tension, the catharsis, not just from our main character, Vis, but much of the cast as well. There are many plot threads to follow, conflicting motivations, a ruthless game to climb to the top by whatever means necessary. You're constantly trying to figure out these characters, and it got me so invested.
For all its length, Will of the Many feels lean. It's unafraid to get the the important part, not wasting your time. For some looking for the slice of life that academia novels can be known for, you won't really find it here. This book is building, and it only needs the strongest foundation stones to get there.
The themes are poignant. When I was still very early on in the book, my girlfriend and I were having a discussion, unrelated, about the importance of speaking out and what it means to accept status quo. The next day, the book was asking me the same questions, and to the earlier point about characters with conflicting motivations, you get to see multiple views on these themes through the characters.
Incredibly well done book, absolutely gripping end.
Will of the Many builds. Much like the pyramid motif of the Hierarchy, it builds. That isn't to say this is a setup book, no. But it took some time for me to really get into this book. However, by the last third I finished it without putting it down.
James Islington has built a world that felt really alive. I felt the anger and sadness of the characters, the tension, the catharsis, not just from our main character, Vis, but much of the cast as well. There are many plot threads to follow, conflicting motivations, a ruthless game to climb to the top by whatever means necessary. You're constantly trying to figure out these characters, and it got me so invested.
For all its length, Will of the Many feels lean. It's unafraid to get the the important part, not wasting your time. For some looking for the slice of life that academia novels can be known for, you won't really find it here. This book is building, and it only needs the strongest foundation stones to get there.
The themes are poignant. When I was still very early on in the book, my girlfriend and I were having a discussion, unrelated, about the importance of speaking out and what it means to accept status quo. The next day, the book was asking me the same questions, and to the earlier point about characters with conflicting motivations, you get to see multiple views on these themes through the characters.
Incredibly well done book, absolutely gripping end.
This was a tough book to rate. There were some things I really enjoyed about this, the structure and plot where interesting. But I found that the overall themes did not resonate with me. I spent a large amount of time, more than I spent reading, thinking of what this book was trying to say. About life, about the meaning that can exist in pure random chance, about the true weight of eternity.
I think it's saving grace is it's length. I could appreciate what it said in brief, and find that it was worth the read. Even though not everything resonated with me.
This was a tough book to rate. There were some things I really enjoyed about this, the structure and plot where interesting. But I found that the overall themes did not resonate with me. I spent a large amount of time, more than I spent reading, thinking of what this book was trying to say. About life, about the meaning that can exist in pure random chance, about the true weight of eternity.
I think it's saving grace is it's length. I could appreciate what it said in brief, and find that it was worth the read. Even though not everything resonated with me.