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A review by bookishdamzel
Jaeth's Eye by K.S. Villoso
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Edit:
REREAD: July 2023
4.5 Stars*
I think I appreciate this book way more the second time around. I took my time with this read and really tried to absorb everything given. There's a lot going on in Jaeth's Eye from multiple perspectives. You see more of the world outside of Jin-Sayeng, especially with trade happening between Jinseins and Dageians. You have a backdrop of politics and foreign policy between the two while also having characters from different parts of the world of Agan. The first character, Sume, is a merchant's daughter who grew up in Akki who goes to Fuyyu to earn money since her brother has been unresponsive. Ke-if is a mercenary for the Boarshind and also happens to be an escaped Dageian mage-thrall that was saved by Sume's brother Oji. You also have Ylir, the apprentice and face of Yn Garr Industries which gained prominence with foreign trade opening up. Dai and Hana, Sume's family, also have a couple minor chapters. It is a lot to take in but once you get into it, I think it's absolutely stunning. The political and social intrigue of how characters interact or see each other is great, learning lore of ancient mages, the horror scenes (and there is body horror galore), and the characters make this story great. It takes place over a couple years and sometimes things seem to be at a standstill in some chapters, but you learn something is always being done even if the characters aren't aware of it. I love Villoso's writing so much and how much she pores into Jin-Sayeng and the surrounding areas, the way she writes creatures and the lore of her world. I do have the same sentiment that there may be too many characters to bounce between in this book, but I appreciate it way more now than I did 2 years ago.
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2021 Review: I definitely got more into this book after the half way mark and I can’t wait to read the next in the series! I think this book was easier to get into already being familiar with the world that the series is set in! It’s a multiple POV book between characters that seem to be connected by fate. This is set in a time before the events of Wolf of Oren-Yaro, where the agan is heavily present and I love it!! I love the world building, the lore, and the action. But, I feel with the amount of character’s pov and not spending enough time with each - I feel like I didn’t get attached as much to them. I still can’t wait to read the next in the series even with that aspect.
Disclosure: I received Jaeth’s Eye as an ARC and I am voluntarily leaving this review.
REREAD: July 2023
4.5 Stars*
I think I appreciate this book way more the second time around. I took my time with this read and really tried to absorb everything given. There's a lot going on in Jaeth's Eye from multiple perspectives. You see more of the world outside of Jin-Sayeng, especially with trade happening between Jinseins and Dageians. You have a backdrop of politics and foreign policy between the two while also having characters from different parts of the world of Agan. The first character, Sume, is a merchant's daughter who grew up in Akki who goes to Fuyyu to earn money since her brother has been unresponsive. Ke-if is a mercenary for the Boarshind and also happens to be an escaped Dageian mage-thrall that was saved by Sume's brother Oji. You also have Ylir, the apprentice and face of Yn Garr Industries which gained prominence with foreign trade opening up. Dai and Hana, Sume's family, also have a couple minor chapters. It is a lot to take in but once you get into it, I think it's absolutely stunning. The political and social intrigue of how characters interact or see each other is great, learning lore of ancient mages, the horror scenes (and there is body horror galore), and the characters make this story great. It takes place over a couple years and sometimes things seem to be at a standstill in some chapters, but you learn something is always being done even if the characters aren't aware of it. I love Villoso's writing so much and how much she pores into Jin-Sayeng and the surrounding areas, the way she writes creatures and the lore of her world. I do have the same sentiment that there may be too many characters to bounce between in this book, but I appreciate it way more now than I did 2 years ago.
____________________________________________________________
2021 Review: I definitely got more into this book after the half way mark and I can’t wait to read the next in the series! I think this book was easier to get into already being familiar with the world that the series is set in! It’s a multiple POV book between characters that seem to be connected by fate. This is set in a time before the events of Wolf of Oren-Yaro, where the agan is heavily present and I love it!! I love the world building, the lore, and the action. But, I feel with the amount of character’s pov and not spending enough time with each - I feel like I didn’t get attached as much to them. I still can’t wait to read the next in the series even with that aspect.
Disclosure: I received Jaeth’s Eye as an ARC and I am voluntarily leaving this review.