This is one of my favorite series. The story diverts the standard tropes of contemporary fantasy without eschewing them altogether - letting the reader snuggle into a familiar fantasy setting, but keeping the story and themes fresh.
There is a LOT of cursing, if that sort of thing bothers you. It's definitely not a good book for kids. The main characters are snarky, sarcastic, and prone to dark, crude and extremely witty banter. I found this to be one of my favorite aspects of the book - so often fantasy protagonists take everything so seriously, but here we have to young men who behave like, well, young men. That they go off to become some of the most powerful men in their world just makes their irreverence and awkwardness more amusing.
This is a "gray" fantasy, in which there isn't so much an absolute evil that the brave you warrior must fight against. Instead the antagonists are powerful men with skewed world views. They aren't exactly likable guys, but it's more complex and political than just "The good guy fights the EVIL DARKNESS OF DOOM". The protagonist himself struggles with finding his own moral compass, which in many ways is the most compelling aspect of the book. It's rare for a fantasy hero to make a mistake, or question his own actions.
The book is appropriately paced (whatever that means) as I never felt bored, or like anything was weirdly rushed. The world is complex, but not mind-bogglingly complex, like in some series, where on the first page people are just throwing out nonsense words and you have no idea what's going on for a few chapters. This series eases you into the greater picture of the world. Starting in one place and following the protagonists as they explore their own world, and learning as they learn, which makes it a lot easier to feel like you not only know what's going on, but know the place as if you experienced it yourself. In many ways, the same is true of the characters. We are along for the ride, as they grow and come to know one another and themselves better, creating an extremely complex sense of character.
I could go on for days, but at $4.99 for the trilogy, if you've read this far, you should probably just read it yourself.
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I loved this! I will miss Dante and Blays now that I finished it.
I really loved this book series. It made me laugh, love that type of humor, it made me cry, it made me bite my nails in excitement, it gave me nights with not much sleep because I couldn't put it down. I feel like Dante and Blays are my friends after reading it. 5 stars from me. I will miss them now that I finished it.
Top reviews from other countries
Summer Sun
Welche Taten lassen sich im Namen des Guten rechtfertigen?
Reviewed in Germany on October 22, 2016Podium Publishing Inc.
You can get audio for $2.99 if you buy this!
Reviewed in Canada on July 22, 2015
