nataliestorozhenko's reviews
169 reviews

   “I would have lived in peace. But my enemies brought me war.” 

   Oh, I very much enjoyed this book. While the main character is 16 years old and the themes are typical of YA fiction, this book feels more like an adult novel. I can see some similarities to the Hunger Games, mainly in terms of themes, but the setting and vibe are unique to this story. The combination of the Roman Empire, medieval survival games, and futuristic Mars really captured my imagination. The characters are interesting, although Darrow's narration is a bit dry and curt, which made it hard to fully understand their depth. Despite this, I still loved the characters, especially Sevro who really grew on me. I'm looking forward to seeing more of him in the next books. And I'm certainly glad the author didn't go down the betrayal route with Mustang.
   My main issue with the book is the first-person present-tense narration. It can be impactful in some rage-induced emotional moments, but at times it made it hard to fully understand some deep moments. However, it did give a good impression of Darrow and his personality, not to mention that it actually suits well the sci-fi genre. The world-building was well done, explaining the hierarchy clearly. However, I occasionally forgot that the story was actually set on Mars while they were surviving and fighting to become the Primus.
   I am definitely invested in this series at this point and hope that as this is just an introduction to this world the next books will be even more engaging.

   “Man cannot be freed by the same injustice that enslaved it.”

   I wanted to stay on this train and I really wanted to be into this series. But at this point, I realized that I was only interested in the Targaryen story, which was sparked by HOTD.
   While reading this book, I really had to force myself as a completionist. I truly love the Starks, but the way one of the main characters perished was very stupid, as he basically announced everything he did. Honor or not, it was clear what that place was and what awful people were around. Still, he is a legend. Overall, there are so many characters I do not care about, including Catelyn Stark. So my experience was to power through the POVs I hate to get to the few pages I was truly interested in. There are countless NPCs that are impossible to remember and numerous houses, and honestly, it just reads like dense historical fiction with very few fantasy elements and with some problematic themes that are not for everyone to stomach, specifically concerning women. I know that characters become more interesting and the world-building becomes clearer throughout the books, but if I need to force myself to get to that point, is it really worth it? For me, it is important to enjoy the full journey before the destination. Iykyk.
   So with this review, I conclude that G.R.R. Martin’s writing is just not for me. But I do appreciate his hard work and the extensive lore he created for his world.

   “Then the storm broke, and the dragons danced.”

   As the second season of “House of the Dragon” arrives, I am increasingly curious about the extent to which the actual story has been romanticized for the audience. I have always wanted to delve into the entire lore created by G.R.R. Martin, and it seems like the perfect time to do so, especially with all the ongoing discussions. I must say, delving into the history glossing over several generations of Targaryen rule has been quite a brutal and devastating read. I am particularly struck by how awful and devastating is the period of the Dance of the Dragons in contrast with the period of Jaehaerys’s rule.

   While the TV show aligns me with the blacks, reading the book makes it much harder to support either side. There are no winners and no rights, just a pointless and violent bloodshed that dealt a devastating blow to the Targaryen line, overshadowing everything Jaehaerys achieved during his wise and peaceful rule. Both sides lost everyone they loved, caused the deaths of many civilians, and led to the demise of all the dragons.

    I wouldn't say that this book is something special, but it is certainly impressive how deeply the author has thought through the history of the world he created. However, it does read like a history book and can be quite monotonous and daunting. Overall, it helps to gain a deeper understanding of the setting of A Song of Ice and Fire, which I will start reading right away.

   This journey was truly heartbreaking. It was painful to see Drizzt being rejected everywhere due to prejudices about his race. When he once again started packing his things towards the end, it really broke my heart and made me sob. The book was emotional and I was glad to see the part of the lore where he becomes a true ranger. I also enjoyed the time he spent with Mooshie and their conversation about faith. Out of the three books, I think I loved this one the most.

   «You know Mielikki’s rules as well as I. You have been following them all of your life. I offer you a name for it, that is all, and an ideal of behavior personified, an example that you might follow in times that you stray from what you know is true.»

   However, I feel like I need a break from the author's writing, even though I still plan to eventually finish Drizzt's life story. After some time, it's become apparent that something is lacking and at times it feels like reading plain facts without any artistry. I do love Drizzt, and I will return to the next series eventually, but for now, I need to satisfy myself with a different writing style.

   Okay, I'm giving up on this nightmare. It seems like the author doesn't know where this story is heading and has lost track of the magic system and the plot's purpose. The excessive suffering and killing off of characters feels pointless and wasteful. The fact that the author has to explain themselves every few chapters says it all. On the bright side, there are plenty of handsome characters here... who all end up dying... So, yeah, I will suffer no more.

   «Spirit. In every language in all the Realms, surface and Underdark, in every time and every place, the word has a ring of strength and determination. It is the hero’s strength, the mother’s resilience, and the poor man’s arm. It cannot be broken, and it cannot be taken away.
This I must believe.»

   At this point, Drizzt has truly become one of my favorite characters -- the typical Kaladin type -- a pure-hearted individual who faces life's toughest challenges. My heart goes out to him, and I hope he eventually finds his home and his people amidst all the adventures.

   The book was really intense due to the constant pursuit of Malice's spirit-wraith. The part with the mindflayers was truly unnerving, and it made me despise these creatures even more than I did because of BG3. The way they can easily turn anyone, even a skilled warrior, into a thrall gives me shivers. However, despite already having an idea of how the fight with Zin-Carla would go, I still felt such an emotional impact from this encounter. So yeah, this made me enjoy the book even more. I can't wait to see how our dear dark elf fares outside of his usual habitat.