The Layered Page
After "The Emperor's Soul" this was my first real novel of Sanderson, and I am blown away. It is a self-contained world, with such an intruiging yet focused world design, revolving around contrasts and the theme of art and how it interacts with the spiritual world. The characters are so lovable, their struggles relatable and alltough a slow start it is real page-turner as you root for them. I am honest, I did not expect the ending. Without avoiding too many spoilers, there is a mystery tieing the two character's together, and it's "solution" I would have never imagined. I even had a tear in my eye for the final few moments.
Not many books manage to do that.
After "The Emperor's Soul" this was my first real novel of Sanderson, and I am blown away. It is a self-contained world, with such an intruiging yet focused world design, revolving around contrasts and the theme of art and how it interacts with the spiritual world. The characters are so lovable, their struggles relatable and alltough a slow start it is real page-turner as you root for them. I am honest, I did not expect the ending. Without avoiding too many spoilers, there is a mystery tieing the two character's together, and it's "solution" I would have never imagined. I even had a tear in my eye for the final few moments.
Not many books manage to do that.
Mid. Uses the tropes of LitRPG nicely however: Respawning, leveling, weaving it into themes of abilities and scene to scene strategizing. But it's the whole rest of the story -- to believably sell you what is at stake for the main protagonist set inside "just a game" -- that makes it rather cringe: Crippled main char, barely not adult; so not being taken serious, with fatally ill mother in a post apolocalyptic world, where you can basically not do anything other than be inside the game -- how convenient.
The book however thematizes nicely in game politics and has some fun character interactions. The progression to becoming a Dodge tank Is imaginative and exiting. However you can sense that the author is not a gamer. They oversimplify games to simulated worlds with abilities. Muddling gaming up as simulated worlds where laws apply the same across genres. The Arena segment is the best showcase of this narrow conceptualization, and it just triggered me.
Mid. Uses the tropes of LitRPG nicely however: Respawning, leveling, weaving it into themes of abilities and scene to scene strategizing. But it's the whole rest of the story -- to believably sell you what is at stake for the main protagonist set inside "just a game" -- that makes it rather cringe: Crippled main char, barely not adult; so not being taken serious, with fatally ill mother in a post apolocalyptic world, where you can basically not do anything other than be inside the game -- how convenient.
The book however thematizes nicely in game politics and has some fun character interactions. The progression to becoming a Dodge tank Is imaginative and exiting. However you can sense that the author is not a gamer. They oversimplify games to simulated worlds with abilities. Muddling gaming up as simulated worlds where laws apply the same across genres. The Arena segment is the best showcase of this narrow conceptualization, and it just triggered me.
Thrilling. Conniving. Beautiful.
It's a novella, and can be read across one or two attentive sessions. I wished there was a full story around the concept of the soulstamps. So fascinating!
Thrilling. Conniving. Beautiful.
It's a novella, and can be read across one or two attentive sessions. I wished there was a full story around the concept of the soulstamps. So fascinating!
It's Monty Python in space making a mockery of philosophical questions of being, meaning and existence. Every sentence is a joy to read and prone to make you giggle.
It's Monty Python in space making a mockery of philosophical questions of being, meaning and existence. Every sentence is a joy to read and prone to make you giggle.
Mid. Uses the tropes of LitRPG nicely however: Respawning, leveling, weaving it into themes of abilities and scene to scene strategizing. But it's the whole rest of the story -- to believably sell you what is at stake for the main protagonist set inside "just a game" -- that makes it rather cringe: Crippled main char, barely not adult; so not being taken serious, with fatally ill mother in a post apolocalyptic world, where you can basically not do anything other than be inside the game -- how convenient.
The book however thematizes nicely in game politics and has some fun character interactions. The progression to becoming a Dodge tank Is imaginative and exiting. However you can sense that the author is not a gamer. They oversimplify games to simulated worlds with abilities. Muddling gaming up as simulated worlds where laws apply the same across genres. The Arena segment is the best showcase of this narrow conceptualization, and it just triggered me.
Mid. Uses the tropes of LitRPG nicely however: Respawning, leveling, weaving it into themes of abilities and scene to scene strategizing. But it's the whole rest of the story -- to believably sell you what is at stake for the main protagonist set inside "just a game" -- that makes it rather cringe: Crippled main char, barely not adult; so not being taken serious, with fatally ill mother in a post apolocalyptic world, where you can basically not do anything other than be inside the game -- how convenient.
The book however thematizes nicely in game politics and has some fun character interactions. The progression to becoming a Dodge tank Is imaginative and exiting. However you can sense that the author is not a gamer. They oversimplify games to simulated worlds with abilities. Muddling gaming up as simulated worlds where laws apply the same across genres. The Arena segment is the best showcase of this narrow conceptualization, and it just triggered me.
I share the same sentiment with most readers. Exited to finish what has been a very exciting trilogy the third book simply lost me too many times in the beginning. However after getting over the whole Giva arc in the first third of the book the book shifts back to what we love. Crazy plans to overcome a system. And here it is as exciting as ever!
And the ending alone is so powerful. So sad but so beautiful. And once you understand how and why the author wrote it. It becomes all clear. Love.
I share the same sentiment with most readers. Exited to finish what has been a very exciting trilogy the third book simply lost me too many times in the beginning. However after getting over the whole Giva arc in the first third of the book the book shifts back to what we love. Crazy plans to overcome a system. And here it is as exciting as ever!
And the ending alone is so powerful. So sad but so beautiful. And once you understand how and why the author wrote it. It becomes all clear. Love.
Fast paced mature Fantasy/Steampunk novel, that threats the topic of programming, digital society, hacking and artificial intelligence in a metaphorical story full of plottwists and a healthy amount of political intrigue
Fast paced mature Fantasy/Steampunk novel, that threats the topic of programming, digital society, hacking and artificial intelligence in a metaphorical story full of plottwists and a healthy amount of political intrigue
Mid. Uses the tropes of LitRPG nicely however: Respawning, leveling, weaving it into themes of abilities and scene to scene strategizing. But it's the whole rest of the story -- to believably sell you what is at stake for the main protagonist set inside "just a game" -- that makes it rather cringe: Crippled main char, barely not adult or not being taken serious, with fatally ill mother in a post apolocalyptic world, where you can basically just be inside the game -- how convenient. The book however thematizes nicely in game politics and has some fun character interactions. The progression to becoming a Dodge tank Is imaginative and exiting.However you can sense that the author is not a gamer. They oversimplify games to simulated worlds with abilities. Muddling gaming up as simulated worlds where laws apply similarly. The Arena segment close to the end just triggered me. Sorry.
Mid. Uses the tropes of LitRPG nicely however: Respawning, leveling, weaving it into themes of abilities and scene to scene strategizing. But it's the whole rest of the story -- to believably sell you what is at stake for the main protagonist set inside "just a game" -- that makes it rather cringe: Crippled main char, barely not adult or not being taken serious, with fatally ill mother in a post apolocalyptic world, where you can basically just be inside the game -- how convenient. The book however thematizes nicely in game politics and has some fun character interactions. The progression to becoming a Dodge tank Is imaginative and exiting.However you can sense that the author is not a gamer. They oversimplify games to simulated worlds with abilities. Muddling gaming up as simulated worlds where laws apply similarly. The Arena segment close to the end just triggered me. Sorry.
The book picked up a few giggles from me. I agree with most, that the magic system is interesting. The main theme of secret identities and forbidden friendships is well crafted but drifts too far into the teen-romance for my liking and feels too edgy for my taste. The book drags on for a while and takes way too long to tell a story that could have been told quicker. Especially the whole military arc. Although entertaining. All this for an ending that did not result in enough payoff, which left a bitter-sweet taste in my mouth and I think I will not continue the series.
The book picked up a few giggles from me. I agree with most, that the magic system is interesting. The main theme of secret identities and forbidden friendships is well crafted but drifts too far into the teen-romance for my liking and feels too edgy for my taste. The book drags on for a while and takes way too long to tell a story that could have been told quicker. Especially the whole military arc. Although entertaining. All this for an ending that did not result in enough payoff, which left a bitter-sweet taste in my mouth and I think I will not continue the series.
I share the same sentiment with most readers. Exited to finish what has been a very exciting trilogy the third book simply lost me too many times in the beginning. However after getting over the whole Giva arc in the first third of the book the book shifts back to what we love. Crazy plans to overcome a system. And here it is as exciting as ever!
And the ending alone is so powerful. So sad but so beautiful. And once you understand how and why the author wrote it. It becomes all clear. Love.
I share the same sentiment with most readers. Exited to finish what has been a very exciting trilogy the third book simply lost me too many times in the beginning. However after getting over the whole Giva arc in the first third of the book the book shifts back to what we love. Crazy plans to overcome a system. And here it is as exciting as ever!
And the ending alone is so powerful. So sad but so beautiful. And once you understand how and why the author wrote it. It becomes all clear. Love.
I share the same sentiment with most readers. Exited to finish what has been a very exciting trilogy the third book simply lost me too many times in the beginning. However after getting over the whole Giva arc in the first third of the book the book shifts back to what we love. Crazy plans to overcome a system. And here it is as exciting as ever!
I share the same sentiment with most readers. Exited to finish what has been a very exciting trilogy the third book simply lost me too many times in the beginning. However after getting over the whole Giva arc in the first third of the book the book shifts back to what we love. Crazy plans to overcome a system. And here it is as exciting as ever!
Mid. Uses the tropes of LitRPG nicely. Respawning, leveling, weaving it into themes of abilities and scene to scene strategizing. But it's the whole rest of the story to believably support the stakes of "just a game" that makes it rather cringe. Crippled main char, not barely adult with fatally Ill mother in a post apolocalyptic world, where you can basically just be inside the game -- how convenient. The book however thematizes nicely in game politics and has some fun character interactions. However you can sense that the author is not a gamer. They oversimplify games to simulated worlds with abilities...
Mid. Uses the tropes of LitRPG nicely. Respawning, leveling, weaving it into themes of abilities and scene to scene strategizing. But it's the whole rest of the story to believably support the stakes of "just a game" that makes it rather cringe. Crippled main char, not barely adult with fatally Ill mother in a post apolocalyptic world, where you can basically just be inside the game -- how convenient. The book however thematizes nicely in game politics and has some fun character interactions. However you can sense that the author is not a gamer. They oversimplify games to simulated worlds with abilities...
