This book review was part of a podcast discussion.
Listen to the episode here.
Being unfamiliar with the world of Eberron, I felt a little more background wouldn’t have been amiss, but being an established world already, I understand why there wasn’t any. The pacing of the book was strange. It started rather slow, then halfway through picked up and added (rather forcefully) a character and more background for Lirra. Overall, it was a book. Not the best, not the worst. If someone asks, I’ll tell them how I feel about it, but I wouldn’t rip it out of their hands if they wanted to read it.
*SPOILERS ABOUND*
Things that seemed strange to me:
- The beginning of the book mentions that Lirra’s mother died fighting. Later on, it adds a dead brother to the death toll. I thought this an unnecessary detail that should have been included at the same time as the mother or not at all.
- Rhedyn’s love for Lirra seemed like it was included because the protagonist was female. Female protagonists always need a love interest.
- Osten looked out for Lirra, but she was a proven badass warrior and second-in-command. Why would she need a new recruit to look after her?
- Ranja joining her seemed forced, and then she named Lirra “Lady Ruin” to the dwarves. She didn’t know Lirra, and “Lady Ruin” is a weird name to pick, even for someone you know.
- The dwarves’ gift of a coin, a rare token that seemed important until it never came up again.
- The ending is a goofy cliffhanger. It’s meant to leave room for a series, or at least a sequel, but in a standalone novel it leaves a reader wanting.
Minnesota
Caty Willis works a boring day job, but in downtime fancies herself an artist and writer. She loves reading, especially fantasy, and dreams of opening a bookstore one day. Follow her on Twitter @shimmybook.
