3 Star Reviews
Age of Assassins: Wounded Kingdom, Book 1
Score: 3.75 Stars
TLDR: A club-footed assassin apprentice and his master become entangled in a murderous struggle for power. The scenery of this book may not change much, but the characters more than give enough flavour for an entertaining listen.
Free the Darkness: King’s Dark Tidings, Book 1
Score: 3.75 Stars
A sheltered uber-assassin is let slip of his leash and released to seek his destiny. This book might be a little tropey at times, but it more than makes up for it in satisfaction.
One Day as a Lion: Gordian Knot, Book 1
Score: 3.75 Stars
TLDR: Explosions, gunfire, and old-fashioned guts. Not a lot of depth to this military sci-fi, but then who needs depth when you’re just here for some fast-paced, good quality action?
Red Sister: Book of the Ancestor, Book 1
Score: 3.75 Stars
TLDR: Ninja nuns in training in a world that is slowly dying. This is a slow-paced book but full of characters with immense depths. It won’t often leave your heart pumping, but it will constantly leave your mind churning.
Rythm of War: The Stormlight Archive, Book 4
Score: 3.75 Stars
TLDR: This forth instalment in Sanderson’s extremely epic series is a very long slog with a gratifying end. It won’t get your pulse racing constantly, but if it did then you’d probably have a heart attack considering its length.
The Malice: The Vagrant, Book 2
Score: 3.0 Stars
TLDR: A return to the demon-infested lands as a now twelve-year-old Vespa takes up her father’s sword. The main storyline may be lacking compared to its predecessor, but the side stories and lore-filler we are provided with almost make up the shortfall. Almost.
The Mercenary Code: The Shattering of Kingdoms, Book 1
Score: 3.75 Stars
TLDR: A good old fashioned action adventure in the realm of epic fantasy. Nothing astoundingly unique here but still entertaining. Definitely worth a listen if only as a setup for greater things to come.
The Poppy War: The Poppy War, Book 1
Score: 3.75 Stars
TLDR: The story of a young woman forced to come to grips with her powers and the darkness of human nature in an original fantasy world set within an Asian analogue. A novel magic system and dark deeds make this a unique read that hits a lot of points that most fantasy novels seem to miss.
The Stone of Aer: The Shattering of Kingdoms, Book 3
Score: 3.75 Stars
TLDR: Book 3 has a damnably dragging beginning and middle but a hell of an ending. If only Moss could spread that wonderfully spicy sauce of storytelling more evenly, then he’d have a book in need of devouring instead of nibbling.
The Vagrant: The Vagrant, Book 1
Score: 3.0 Stars
TLDR: A voiceless man traverses a demon-infested landscape with nothing but an enchanted sword at his side and a baby on his back. This beautifully written and bleakly unique story is engaging, but it may not be your cup of tea if you are after witty banter between characters or any sort of a feel-good listen.
The Wretches of Muirwood: Legends of Muirwood, Book 1
Score: 3.0 Stars
TLDR: A slow burn journey of a girl with burgeoning powers and a young man she must protect. If you’re more into deep characters than you are a swashbuckling adventure, then this is a book for you.