Tag Archives: fantasy

Review of “The Well of Ascension” by Brandon Sanderson

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Title: The Well of Ascension
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Series: Mistborn #2
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 578
Published: 2007, Tor Books
My Grade: 5 out of 5

GOODREADS’ DESCRIPTION

“Description contains spoilers for previous book in the series”

The impossible has been accomplished. The Lord Ruler—the man who claimed to be god incarnate and brutally ruled the world for a thousand years—has been vanquished. But Kelsier, the hero who masterminded that triumph, is dead too, and now the awesome task of building a new world has been left to his young protégé, Vin, the former street urchin who is now the most powerful Mistborn in the land, and to the idealistic young nobleman she loves.

As Kelsier’s protégé and slayer of the Lord Ruler she is now venerated by a budding new religion, a distinction that makes her intensely uncomfortable. Even more worrying, the mists have begun behaving strangely since the Lord Ruler died, and seem to harbor a strange vaporous entity that haunts her.

Stopping assassins may keep Vin’s Mistborn skills sharp, but it’s the least of her problems. Luthadel, the largest city of the former empire, doesn’t run itself, and Vin and the other members of Kelsier’s crew, who lead the revolution, must learn a whole new set of practical and political skills to help. It certainly won’t get easier with three armies – one of them composed of ferocious giants – now vying to conquer the city, and no sign of the Lord Ruler’s hidden cache of atium, the rarest and most powerful allomantic metal.

As the siege of Luthadel tightens, an ancient legend seems to offer a glimmer of hope. But even if it really exists, no one knows where to find the Well of Ascension or what manner of power it bestows.

 

MY REVIEW

The Well of Ascension was different in so many ways from The Final Empire. Well, not in writing really, it is the amazing same, not when it comes to world building either. But content-wise, focus of the story and pace differ a lot.

After finishing The Final Empire and that incredible ending, I just had to know what happened next. Yes, you learned what happened next, them trying to figure out how to rule a kingdom while being under siege from not one, not two, but three armies. What disappointed me a little bit honestly, was that we didn’t get to learn anything of the lord ruler. The first 90% of the book was all about politics, not much action. Things still happened, the story went on, it was easy to follow (not like some other fantasy that focuses on politics, George RR Martin for example). It was captivating and on a good enough level of complicated. One thing Sanderson managed to keep interesting was situations where you as a reader could be certain of the outcome, but somehow he managed to make the opposite and super u likely outcome seem logical. It’s like he’s manipulating us with his writing. It’s amazing!

Sure, war is something happening, but as soon as that 90% part of the story was over, it was like a new book. Those last pages and how it all ended. It was even worse than the ending of The Final Empire. The ending made you rethink the whole first book. That’s a feat!

I cannot say anything else than that Sanderson is my new favorite author. This was the second book of a trilogy, the pace is supposed to be naturally slower. But it builds up suspense, you never know which direction the story is going which the ending clearly show. For a “journey” mid book, it’s good. It’s really good! Easy 5 out of 5. Please read this series if you haven’t already! It kind of feels like I’m the last one to find out about this amazing author, haha!

Review of “The Final Empire” by Brandon Sanderson

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Title: The Final Empire
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Series: Mistborn #1
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 537
Published: 2006, Tor Books
My Grade: 5 out of 5

GOODREADS’ DESCRIPTION

For a thousand years the ash fell and no flowers bloomed. For a thousand years the Skaa slaved in misery and lived in fear. For a thousand years the Lord Ruler, the “Sliver of Infinity,” reigned with absolute power and ultimate terror, divinely invincible. Then, when hope was so long lost that not even its memory remained, a terribly scarred, heart-broken half-Skaa rediscovered it in the depths of the Lord Ruler’s most hellish prison. Kelsier “snapped” and found in himself the powers of a Mistborn. A brilliant thief and natural leader, he turned his talents to the ultimate caper, with the Lord Ruler himself as the mark.

Kelsier recruited the underworld’s elite, the smartest and most trustworthy allomancers, each of whom shares one of his many powers, and all of whom relish a high-stakes challenge. Then Kelsier reveals his ultimate dream, not just the greatest heist in history, but the downfall of the divine despot.

But even with the best criminal crew ever assembled, Kel’s plan looks more like the ultimate long shot, until luck brings a ragged girl named Vin into his life. Like him, she’s a half-Skaa orphan, but she’s lived a much harsher life. Vin has learned to expect betrayal from everyone she meets. She will have to learn trust if Kel is to help her master powers of which she never dreamed.

 

MY REVIEW

I think I said this in my review of Elantris, but Sanderson is definitely one of my favorite authors! The main reason being his ability to come up with amazing and captivating stories that you really become a part of.

The Final Empire has: a great story arc, a new imaginative magic system, and a world you really find yourself in. I at least see very clearly everything that is happening. Even the fighting scenes which I usually only see blurs.

I wouldn’t say that Sanderson is using an easier way of writing, but his writing is easier to follow. I don’t miss details like I can do in other author’s style of writing (I will leave a small comparison to Robert Jordan here for example).

This book doesn’t leave you as the reader to think for yourself, which I think is a good thing. When I am really engulfed in a story, I don’t want to end up having to put the book aside to think about what certain things mean or not. I want a flow where I can continue to read and still be surprised when plot twists arise for example. And that’s how The Final Empire is. You can just continue to read in that flow and be completely inside the story.

The story is amazing. Something is always happening. Something good in the right direction, some setbacks, some more setbacks until you are questioning if things really are going to work out, which makes you understand why there are two more books in this trilogy. But then comes the ending. And you understand why there are two more books, but for other reasons than you previously thought.

Brandon Sanderson does it so well! The last part was so intensive that I couldn’t put the book down! I started The Well of Ascension straight after. 5 out of 5!

Review of “The Fellowship of the Ring” by J.R.R. Tolkien

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Title: The Fellowship of the Ring
Author: J.R.R. Tolkien
Series: The Lord of the Rings #1
Narrator: Andy Serkis
Genre: Fantasy
Length: 22 hours 38 minutes
Published: 2021, HarperCollins (originally published 1954)
My Grade: 5 out of 5

GOODREADS’ DESCRIPTION

One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.

In ancient times the Rings of Power were crafted by the Elven-smiths, and Sauron, the Dark Lord, forged the One Ring, filling it with his own power so that he could rule all others. But the One Ring was taken from him, and though he sought it throughout Middle-earth, it remained lost to him. After many ages it fell into the hands of Bilbo Baggins, as told in The Hobbit.

In a sleepy village in the Shire, young Frodo Baggins finds himself faced with an immense task, as his elderly cousin Bilbo entrusts the Ring to his care. Frodo must leave his home and make a perilous journey across Middle-earth to the Cracks of Doom, there to destroy the Ring and foil the Dark Lord in his evil purpose.

 

MY REVIEW

Wow! Is that enough for a review? I feel like it kind of is. But at the same time, no of course not. It has been years and years since I read the Sweidsh translation of The Fellowship of the Ring. I think I was 12 years old. Still not too bad to even try to read these ones at that age. But I was too young to truly appreciate them. I’m not sure how I would appreciate them now if I had read them properly, but I can say that I am the complete opposite of dissappointed after listening to them. I did the right choice in waiting until the Andy Serkis versions came out on audiobook platforms in Sweden. Because just wow!

I remember the long prologue and backstory of the hobbits. Serkis made it swoosh by. The history of hobbits was so interesting and it was impossible to zone out. Great start and the whole book was over in a flash!

As one who have seen the movies countless times, I can’t help but compare of course. They are so similar and Peter Jackson truly got the spirit of the story and did such an amazing job. And I see the brilliance of the movies even clearer now. He used the dialogue, quotes straight from the books and scenes that were exactly the same. But, there differences as well. I think every Lord of the Ring fan out there, no matter if they read the books or not, have heard of Tom Bombadill. What a weird character. And such a long part of the story. Another major difference is that in the book, everyone knows what’s going on from the very start. Information is not withheld from any characters for the sake of suspense which it does in the movie. Or newer books for that matter. It felt refreshing, even if the book was 70 years old.

Do I even need to say anything about the worldbuilding? It’s extraordinary. The world comes alive through thorough dialogue and extensive descriptions. Some parts are too long, like the council of Elrond. I think that one scene might have been four hours long? And I also think that Andy Serkis is a great reason for bringing all the characters even more alive than the storytelling itself. He reads all the characters with different voices and they sound so much alike to the actors in the movies. You can really tell when it’s Pippin who’s talking. I don’t have any memories of him reading Gollum as the movie voice though. Strange? Gollum is not a big part of this story though.

There are several scenes which are not really contributing to the story and I do understand why Jackson kept them out of the movie. But they do add some more worldbuilding. Not that it is actually needed, but it fills out.

Listening to The Fellowship of the Ring narrated by Andy Serkis was the best decision I could have made. Just wow! You should do it as well! 5 out of 5, easily!!

Review of “The Color of Magic” by Terry Pratchett

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Title: The Colour of Magic
Author: Terry Pratchett
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 287
Published: 1985, Corgi Books (first published 1983)
My Grade: 2.5 out of 5

GOODREADS’ DESCRIPTION 

In a world supported on the back of a giant turtle (sex unknown), a gleeful, explosive, wickedly eccentric expedition sets out. There’s an avaricious but inept wizard, a naive tourist whose luggage moves on hundreds of dear little legs, dragons who only exist if you believe in them, and of course THE EDGE of the planet…

MY REVIEW

I’ve heard so many good things about Discworld. That it was supposed to be easy-going and witty fantasy. Maybe I started with the wrong book (I’ve heard so many different theories on where to start, but I always like to start in the beginning), but I am not impressed. I even had to re-read the first 80 or so pages because I couldn’t understand what was going on. Maybe it was just so different from anything else I’ve read. But I couldn’t really get into it.

It wasn’t necessarily bad, but the story didn’t really feel like it had a purpose. Things happened but the different sections of the book didn’t really lead anywhere and didn’t feel connected. But maybe that’s the idea? Rincewind is not supposed to be a hero and the story is not a hero-story. It might make sense. But I didn’t quite get it. For me, it just felt incoherent and just a straight line. No definite ending, the story just rolled along.

It is funny and the world-building is cool. And I think I should give Discworld another chance one day. But not right now. The first book of Discworld gets a 2.5 out of 5.

Review of “The Path of Daggers” by Robert Jordan

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Title: The Path of Daggers
Author: Robert Jordan
Series: Wheel of Time #8
Narrator: Michael Kramer and Kate Reading
Genre: Fantasy
Length: 23 hours 25 minutes
Published: 2008, MacMillan Audio (originally published 1998)
My Grade: 2.5 out of 5

GOODREADS’ DESCRIPTION

The Seanchan invasion force is in possession of Ebou Dar. Nynaeve, Elayne, and Aviendha head for Caemlyn and Elayne’s rightful throne, but on the way they discover an enemy much worse than the Seanchan.

In Illian, Rand vows to throw the Seanchan back as he did once before. But signs of madness are appearing among the Asha’man.

In Ghealdan, Perrin faces the intrigues of Whitecloaks, Seanchan invaders, the scattered Shaido Aiel, and the Prophet himself. Perrin’s beloved wife, Faile, may pay with her life, and Perrin himself may have to destroy his soul to save her.

Meanwhile the rebel Aes Sedai under their young Amyrlin, Egwene al’Vere, face an army that intends to keep them away from the White Tower. But Egwene is determined to unseat the usurper Elaida and reunite the Aes Sedai. She does not yet understand the price that others—and she herself—will pay.

 

MY REVIEW

23 hours must be his shortest book, isn’t it? It didn’t feel short though.

I must admit that I am starting to lose some faith in this series now, eight books in. It’s slow. Like really slow. There are so many characters, new ones introduced all the time. And even if they have small roles, they mix up with the main characters and it’s really hard to follow and understand the interactions between characters. Which of course makes it impossible to follow the story as well as I might have wanted to.

Did things really happen except in the last 6 chapters? It sure doesn’t feel like it. Some scenes are memorable, but they are few. For example when the Asha’man start to feel the taint on saidin, or when Elayne is back at the throne room in Caemlyn. Or just all the story in the White Tower. I am not starting to symphatize with Elaida, the Amyrlin Seat of the White Tower, but I realize as I’m trudging along that I want to know what will happen to her and Tar Valon in general.

The last 6 chapters were memorable. Things happened. There was a war, many plot twists that were a little bit hard to follow along with.

This middle part of the series is slower but I will make it through to the end. But this one gets 2.5 out of 5. The lowest of the series so far. I hope it will turn upward now.

Review of “A Crown of Swords” by Robert Jordan

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Title: A Crown of Swords
Author: Robert Jordan
Series: Wheel of Time #7
Narrator: Michael Kramer and Kate Reading
Genre: Fantasy
Length: 30 hours 24 minutes
Published: 2006, MacMillan Audio (originally published 1996)
My Grade: 3.5 out of 5

GOODREADS’ DESCRIPTION

Now ruling Tear, Andor, and Caemlyn, among other nations, Rand is recruiting all men capable of channeling to be trained as his Asha’man soldiers. The warrior Aiel clans have pledged loyalty to Rand, acknowledging him as their chief of chiefs, even though the Shaido Aiel remain a threat.

Split into two factions, the Aes Sedai of the White Tower and their rebel counterparts both seek to ally themselves with the Dragon Reborn. Rand knows all too well the manipulative nature of the Aes Sedai, no matter which side of their internal war they stand upon. But even he cannot predict just how desperate, cruel, and treacherous they can be.

And in the shadows, the Forsaken and the Dark One are conjuring even more chaos…

 

MY REVIEW

Thirty hours is on the “shorter” end for Jordan, for sure. But I’m still impressed that he manages to write that many pages on a storyline that takes place in basically just one place. Of course it doesn’t. But this book’s main focus lies with Nynaeve and Elayne and their quest of finding the bowl of winds in Ebou Dar. There are so many new characters introduced that I find it very hard to follow honestly. And it’s impossible to know whether a character is going to be of great importance or no. At this point, seven books into it, it’s starting to become a little confusing and overwhelming.

This book focused on fewer storylines than previous, at least it felt like it. And I’m not sure whether that is a good thing or if it’s better to jump between several characters all the time. With long sections at a time, there are so many details crammed into the story which makes it a little bit harder to focus sometimes. But at the same time, it’s better to really get into the story.

Another thing that is starting to bug me is the descriptions of people. They are always the same. I have lost count on how many times a new female character is described as slender…

It’s still a good listen. But I really want it to move forward now. The story is progressing way too slow. But I’m not gonna give up, I’ve heard that it will end epically!

3.5 out of 5 for this instalment in Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan.

Review of “Elantris” by Brandon Sanderson

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Title: Elantris
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 638
Published: 2005, Tor Fantasy
My Grade: 5 out of 5

GOODREADS’ DESCRIPTION 

Elantris was the capital of Arelon: gigantic, beautiful, literally radiant, filled with benevolent beings who used their powerful magical abilities for the benefit of all. Yet each of these demigods was once an ordinary person until touched by the mysterious transforming power of the Shaod. Ten years ago, without warning, the magic failed. Elantrians became wizened, leper-like, powerless creatures, and Elantris itself dark, filthy, and crumbling.

MY REVIEW

Why haven’t I read anything by Sanderson before this? I’ve heard so many great things about Sanderson in general. “Mistborn is supposed to be amazing”, “Stormlight Archive is the best ever”. Elantris I’ve been told has been incredible as well, but definitely his weakest novel. Which is understandable since it was his very first published book. I haven’t read anything by him until now. And all I can say is, if this is his weakest writing, I can’t wait to get into his other works!

At first, I had a hard time getting into the worldbuilding. So many new words were used like I was supposed to know them. If it is correctly written, you should know by context, but that wasn’t quite the case here. Of course, you got there eventually and forgot how much you didn’t understand at first.

Usually when there are multiple storylines and characters to follow, I pick favorites and there are some chapters I almost kind of want to skip, but of course don’t. But not with Elantris. I truly loved all three of the characters: Raoden, Sarene and Hrathen. I was as excited to read about Roaden’s experience inside Elantris, as of Sarene’s political plots outside in Kae as I was reading about Hrathen’s religious invasion and insecurities.

The absolute best part of Elantris was the worldbuilding though. Everytime I picked up the book, I was there. Every scene played up in my mind like it was right in front of me and that was so amazing! Many authors are great at that, but I think this was the best that I can remember ever reading.

Brandon Sanderson’s debut was fantastic and I’m sad I didn’t pick it up sooner. But I now know that I am in for a treat. This easily gets the highest grade, 5 out of 5!

Review of “Lord of Chaos” by Robert Jordan

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Title: Lord of Chaos
Author: Robert Jordan
Series: Wheel of Time #6
Narrator: Michael Kramer and Kate Reading
Genre: Fantasy
Length: 41 hours 32 minutes
Published: 2004, MacMillan Audio (originally published 1994)
My Grade: 4 out of 5

GOODREADS’ DESCRIPTION

Now ruling Tear, Andor, and Caemlyn, among other nations, Rand is recruiting all men capable of channeling to be trained as his Asha’man soldiers. The warrior Aiel clans have pledged loyalty to Rand, acknowledging him as their chief of chiefs, even though the Shaido Aiel remain a threat.

Split into two factions, the Aes Sedai of the White Tower and their rebel counterparts both seek to ally themselves with the Dragon Reborn. Rand knows all too well the manipulative nature of the Aes Sedai, no matter which side of their internal war they stand upon. But even he cannot predict just how desperate, cruel, and treacherous they can be.

And in the shadows, the Forsaken and the Dark One are conjuring even more chaos…

 

MY REVIEW

I guess there are two reasons why it took me 6 months to finish this audiobook, the sixth in the order. One of the reasons is that if was over 40 hours long, the other because it was kinda dull. I was prepared that the middle part of this series would be dragged out and that not much would happen. That statement is both correct and untrue. Things are happening, it’s just not things that I find interesting. Don’t get me wrong, I love world building and leaving this world behind for a while when reading/listening to a book. But when the world building mostly consists of political situations, dialogues and intrigues, I can’t really say that I follow.

But when things are happening, they really are happening! About halfway through this book I got so surprised at the turn of events that I was almost speechless. I had to really bite my tongue not to spoil anything to my boyfriend (who only saw the first season of the tv series but enjoyed it a lot). And from there, it just kept going. It was exciting and the last 15 hours or so went by really fast.

This 6th instalment of the series came with a great introduction of previous events and you as a listener was right on track from the start. And something that annoyed me was Kate Reading pronouncing Moghadien’s name differently from previous books. Oh well. I got used to it in the end.

Even if the series has slowed down a bit, it is super eventful at times and I generally really like this story and am very curious as to where it will continue. I have heard great things of the ending and can’t wait until I get there. It is a great story, and overall, it is a 4. I honestly have some trouble keeping the books apart since I’m listening to all of them back to back and have been for the past almost 2 years.

Review of “The House in the Cerulean Sea” by T.J. Klune

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Title: The House in the Cerulean Sea
Author: T.J. Klune
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 394
Published: 2020, Tor Books
My Grade: 5 out of 5

GOODREADS’ DESCRIPTION 

A magical island. A dangerous task. A burning secret.

Linus Baker leads a quiet, solitary life. At forty, he lives in a tiny house with a devious cat and his old records. As a Case Worker at the Department in Charge Of Magical Youth, he spends his days overseeing the well-being of children in government-sanctioned orphanages.

When Linus is unexpectedly summoned by Extremely Upper Management he’s given a curious and highly classified assignment: travel to Marsyas Island Orphanage, where six dangerous children reside: a gnome, a sprite, a wyvern, an unidentifiable green blob, a were-Pomeranian, and the Antichrist. Linus must set aside his fears and determine whether or not they’re likely to bring about the end of days.

But the children aren’t the only secret the island keeps. Their caretaker is the charming and enigmatic Arthur Parnassus, who will do anything to keep his wards safe. As Arthur and Linus grow closer, long-held secrets are exposed, and Linus must make a choice: destroy a home or watch the world burn.

An enchanting story, masterfully told, The House in the Cerulean Sea is about the profound experience of discovering an unlikely family in an unexpected place—and realizing that family is yours.

MY REVIEW

This book was a change of pace and kind of reminds me of Rick Riordan’s books. It was a long time ago I read anything of his, but the type of writing and the wittiness reminded me of him.

It was fast paced, many things happened, nothing too extreme, but there was always something just about to happen so it was hard to put down.

In the beginning I felt like all the characters were to witty and sometimes also mean. They always had snarky remarks to everything but that eventually toned down but I guess that makes sense. As the story progresses, they get to know each other and relax in each other’s companies and the dialogue gets more clever rather than witty.

Like I just mentioned, there was always something happening, not too many setbacks and I have to admit that the bad turns of this story were a bit lame. The story built up intensely and you kept wondering why that was so, and they made a big deal out of something that then turned out to be nothing at all basically. Which leads me to the conclusion that this was just a feel-good book. It was cozy, super well-written, it was funny, and cute as well as inclusive. It was an easy read with a happy ending and honestly, not a very surprising one either.

I feel like I have to write something about this Sixties Scoop thing as well. Honestly, I’ve read reviews of this book where they say they loved the book, until they heard about the Sixties Scoop in Canada and then they rated the book on the minus scale. These children are orphanages and are being taken care of in an orphanage. Sure, they are regulated, but that’s just the harsh reality of this FANTASY novel where “normal” people are afraid of the supernatural. So should all books about orphanages be boycotted? This is hardly the first or the last. Super silly to even make this comparison in my opinion. It was a great book, and you definitely didn’t get a “glorified version of the Sixties Scoop”. It was a cute fantasy novel about including everyone and finding family.

I give it a full rating of 5. No questions there!

Review of “The Hobbit” by J.R.R. Tolkien

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Title: The Hobbit
Author: J.R.R. Tolkien
Series: The Lord of the Rings #0
Illustrator: Alan Lee
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 289
Published: 1997, HarperCollins Publishers (originally published 1937)
My Grade: 5 out of 5

GOODREADS’ DESCRIPTION

In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort.

Written for J.R.R. Tolkien’s own children, The Hobbit met with instant critical acclaim when it was first published in 1937. Now recognized as a timeless classic, this introduction to the hobbit Bilbo Baggins, the wizard Gandalf, Gollum, and the spectacular world of Middle-earth recounts of the adventures of a reluctant hero, a powerful and dangerous ring, and the cruel dragon Smaug the Magnificent.

 

MY REVIEW

I was thirteen the first time I read this book. At that time, I was devouring books like I can’t even imagine today. But I do remember not thinking that this was a children’s book. Probably because I was a child and The Lord of the Rings as a whole is marked as adult fantasy. This time I could tell. Focus only lay on where the action was, the journey was not described in words at all (which I remember the first two of the trilogy had lots of (I was too young to be able to even begin the third)). The dialogue was also very easy. Well, short and old-fashioned maybe. Fitting for the age in which it takes place. But sometimes, because of the dialogue, it didn’t feel like a children’s book at all.

The reason I wanted to read Tolkien’s works again is because I don’t feel like I was mature enough to appreciate it when I was thirteen. And also, I’ve seen the movies countless times and want to know more. And since I have many of them illustrated now, I figured it was time.

I kinda don’t want to bring in the movies in this review, but I have to say, the full story of the book is represented in the movies. With a lot more of course! But it’s all there. I remember being initially disappointed over this relatively short book being turned into a trilogy on screen. But adding Gandalf’s part of finding out about the Necromancer and his council with the white wizards was great.

Anyway, the movies are great because they are adapted from a great book. 5 out of 5.