I agree completely. It is a solid book but I have no idea why it's getting hyped as one of the best books ever. The ending was interesting, I want to see what happens next, but why this has been chosen as everyone's favorite book ever I have no idea. MC accomplishes everything way too easily, it has a lot of vibes similar to the first Red Rising so it doesn't feel that fresh, and I never really felt emotionally connected to Vis ever.
I loved this one- it wasn't perfect, but I had so much fun. Listening to the audiobook helped, the narration was great and helped Vis have more character than he probably did on page. I did pick up on hints about the ending and guessed part of it, also possibly because I was listening- when I have a chonky book and read it physically I tend to skim.
I just found your channel tonight, and this is already the third video I’ve watched. I like your taste in books and appreciate the thoughtful commentary.
Vis is a Gary Stu.. and yeah I wanted more magic! I agree with your critiques it’s good but idk why people act like it’s amazing. I love flowery descriptions though
I’m currently reading on Kindle and I’m so glad to know how small the font is cause I’m like… it’s taking me AGES to get very far compared to how long it typically takes me to read pages.
I rated it 3/5. I liked some bits and I am curious enough to buy get the sequel maybe from the library or when it is on sale when it eventually comes out. But also I am trying to decide if I am too dumb for the book or I missed things but from your review and others I’m glad to know it isn’t just me being confused by some of the things in this book.
The author doesn’t explicitly state what “will” is but he does describe the effects of ceding it to the people higher up in the hierarchy. There was a scene early on in the book where he described how the children in the orphanage who were ceding their will were lethargic after it was taken from them. I believe it also shortens the lifespan of those in the bottom tier who don’t receive any will but only cede it. So in its most basic form “will” is your life force. Literally your will to live. It’s one of the reasons Vis is desperately trying to avoid ceding his will and why he thinks the practice is so repugnant. This is the way I interpreted the concept of “will” in the book. How the empire gathers the will using ancient technology is not fully explained and I’m looking forward to finding that out in future installments. I read the Licaneus Trilogy and loved it. The first book had a slow start but truly takes off at the midway point. The second book was my favorite.
This was an interesting one. Also a solid 4 star for me. I didn’t salivate over this book but I did like it and enjoyed reading it. It even got me excited for the sequel and to read other books like it (I immediately picked up red rising for the first time after finishing this). So it definitely left me feeling better than most books I read. I do think it should be YA rather than adult but it was a fun ride either way. I don’t think about this much since I read it, but when I do think about it I get excited for the sequel and chasing the fun I had reading it. So very successful but still not a 5 star.
Oh and I totally had to switch to the library ebook as well. Lmao. It was too big and the font too small. I mean, why is it so small?! It’s like mass market paperback font but in full sized hardback.
I don't know who can read that tiny font, but it wasn't me!! i've read many reviews where people also say it could be YA, bc Vis is very much a child and acts his age often. But you know, he's male character written by a man, so of course it's adult 🥴
I think the fact that they just tell and not show the magic system honestly probably not have me wanting to read the book. Because while I do like the play of magic theory and all that, I kinda prefer it being a bit more "soft" in defention where you see it happen than really talked about in the same sense. Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy "hard magic" if it's done right but.... if you're this confused still after reading a 600 page book with probably what look to be 8pt font (correct me if I'm wrong, I was trying to gadge from the font sizes I've experienced over the years personally which is between 8 and 10, as I know that's not 12pt font)... makes me think that I wouldn't enjoy it as much. (And this is coming from a person who enjoy reading text books for the fun of it.)
@@JessOwens Then I suggest that if you decide to read any of the fantasy books published in the 90s, to try to get either the ebook form or a newer print of them because a lot of the older books, while lovely to carry around, woud be around that font size. (10 is what most of them be with a few maybe being 11). Deerskin is one of those that is in the 8 font because it's 80,000 words, but it's 38 chapters and 1995 binding is only 309 pages long. I guess I'm more used to the smaller print because I grew up with those older books and the 90s had it normal to have books between 10-8 font.
this just reminded me that I made it 40% into this and did a soft dnf/did not have enough dedicated time to give it the attention it deserved. Not the books fault but I think I’ll pick it back up !
Im intrigued by the Roman setting. If you want to read a good historical novel set in this era, you should check out Colleen McCullough's "First Man in Rome" novels. Caesar's Women is book #4 but it's my favorite and I think, it stands on its own.
I dnf this book at 17%. I didn’t like the fighting scene at the beginning and I didn’t like the plot armor of the event on the way to school. It didn’t made me feel safe in the hands of the author. I struggled with the writing and the decisions the author made. Not for me and might not ever pick up another book from this author. There is plenty to read elsewhere.
This and Blighted Stars were def my fav books of 2023. I loved it. Was way better than Licanius. I liked it from the start, but the "human mist" incident during the Naumachia blew my mind and I flew through it in a day once I got to that part
*** Spoilers kind of so I would avoid if you haven’t read it****. I actually agree with a lot of your sentiments. I did give it a higher rating because it was so much better than a lot of the books I read that year. I feel like the book should have been split into two or three books and fleshed out. So the first book should have ended right as he entered the school and the second book should have ended either after visiting the ruins or before they started the competition (maybe slightly after they visit his old kingdom. The third book should have been the competition fleshed out with maybe flashbacks that revealed the planning of the situations that took place at the end 👀👀👀 if you catch my drift.
I read James Islington's other book, The Shadow of what was lost (I had to look that title up), and I didn't really like it (there as time travel, I don't like time travel in books). But this one sounds like something I'd enjoy more. Side thing, I've heard people call this book "the MLM book" Because the magic works like a pyramid scheme.
And yeah Will is capitalism lmao. I found it pretty well explained when he was in class. It was interesting. Also Catena is Latin for chains, so it's the chained empire. Catenan is pronounced "cat N in".
I rated it 3/5. I liked some bits and I am curious enough to buy get the sequel maybe from the library or when it is on sale when it eventually comes out. But also I am trying to decide if I am too dumb for the book or I missed things but from your review and others I’m glad to know it isn’t just me being confused by some of the things in this book.
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