Sasha
21 September 2022:
Okay, this book has a lot of things going on. The world building is based off of a mix of real world eastern countries culture. The magic system is present but it doesn't solve all the hurdles and is in fact a major fact in the story's plot. There's also usage of puffers and incredibly detailed and researched sword fights.
And that's all amazing but, a major, MAJOR flaw of this book is that it's trying too much all at once. While the sword fighting and the culture and history is aptly handled, the characters feel sorely lacking. They say one thing at one moment and something else the other. It's also very hard to get attached or feel some interest to follow them because the book tries to focus on conspiracy and mystery and uses it to cover up why the interactions are not more in depth. Making the relationships feel plastic and orchestrated. Not natural at all.
The middle of the book also drags a lot and the convoluted prose doesn't exactly help.
What saved it for me, at last, was the third part which made other things make a little more sense. And the ending, without which I wouldn't have given the book this rating.
Final rating: 2.5/5
August 15 2022:
This was a long read. It takes off from where the last book ends and lots of mysteries are given answers to as best as they can be. I don't have any big complaints. The ending felt a little lacking with the way it explained everything and I rather it would not have taken that direction as I'm not a big fan of such takes. Nevertheless I enjoyed everything for what it was and also sad to say good bye to all these characters.
Final rating - 3.5/5.
August 10 2022:
If the previous books were the introduction to characters then for some characters this is were the readers get to dig a bit deeper into who they are as a person what exactly happened in their pasts.
Also one thing I absolutely adore about this series is the how the drama is portrayed. Till date I absolutely abhorred reading it and wouldn't touch it with a thousand foot pole but lo and behold this series made me love it. A big part of that is thanks to characters just finding time to sit down and talk things as much as they can.
The other is the romantic tension and I keep rooting for that one couple. This is my first series where I'm actually shipping characters really hard and enjoying every moment of their interaction.
Another thing I keep appreciating is how subtle the series keeps being with hints. There's mystery and speculation but no easy answer. You have to read ahead and find out. Now with the book length it does feel tedious at first but there's also plenty of things to enjoy looking at the big cast of characters.
I would definitely say it's worth it to keep reading till the end.
Final rating - 4/5
August 2 2022:
We start with dealing with the aftermath of the last book. Some characters are pissed and some take up a stand regardless of the prejudice.
My thing about books were characters have to deal with people discriminating against them is that often there's more focus on groups who hate them and just a line or two about people who are supporting them. It's feels too unbalanced and for me it is lazy writing. Because It's so much easier to show hate page after page than depict a delicately crafted conflict that has plenty subtle hints, showing both sides of the story.
That is what is done here and there's lot of input from side characters that really fleshes them out rather than being an addition to the plot. Everyone's unique and their perspective makes sense in their experiences.
It's not a fast paced book. Infact looking at just page numbers probably all the books in this series will take a lot of time for build up and even more so in later ones. So there's people who will like that and people who won't. That's about the only con for me.
Intriguing and just good fun.
Final rating - 4/5.
July 28th 2022:
The best thing I liked about this was the character interactions. There was mystery but handled cleverly and with care. There's no complete stereotyping people say and do things but it's got reason behind it. I appreciated that a lot.
It's by no means a fast paced book but enough things are said for the world building and enough subtle hints are given to the reader to figure things out themselves.
Things don't actually get going until the last pages though so understandably that might not work with many people.
Final rating: 3.75/5
July 14th 2022:
The book was basically just a set up for the next one. Slow paced and lots of details. But there also parts I appreciated and enjoyed a lot. One thing I like best about this series is that it is really good with endings. Every book so far has ended so well, spurning me into devouring the next one.
I can't wait for book 7.
Edit:
After rereading certain chapters of this book, I l realised I loved it even more than my first time through it.
New rating: 4/5
8th July 2022:
Wow okay where do I begin.
This book has a lot going for it but also has some very obvious flaws. Especially in the beginning. The pros are the beautiful lore and the fascinating magic system. If this duology ever has a book based solely on exploring the lore and the magic I could get lost in it for days. It was that beautifully written and arranged.
Yet its glaring flaws are in the character interactions. Some things are clearly happening because the author is pushing it to be so. It completely took me out of the story and I very much disliked that part. I also hated the instant attraction elements at play here.
It could be just my suspension of disbelief not being that low but I couldn't believe the interactions were natural and the protagonist's desperation behind her actions seemed weak many a times. I couldn't be convinced.
The plot really staggers until the very last moment though understandably since this doesn't feel like a plot focused book.
My final rating: 3.5 out of 5.0 stars.
16th June 2022:
What can I say about this book except that it was absolutely amazing. Surprising twist kept coming up and till the last minute I was at the edge of my seat. I had a bloody good time.
Polly, the main character was relatable and just amazing. I loved her. Her and all the cast. They had so much personality.
The themes were very well displayed and talked about and that's not something I expect at all. I loved it. Especially the talk about loyalty to country.
This was a full on ride that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Final rating: 4.5/5.0
20th May 2022:
I don't think a book ever made me this happy while reading it. I love the monologues and observations, they were absolutely hilarious. But the one thing that didn't made it for me was the ending. I wanted a something a bit more. It felt like the author couldn't see a way to go ahead so it felt like a cop out.
Nevertheless I enjoyed what I enjoyed.
Final rating: 4/5 stars
18 May 2022:
Okay, credit where credit's due. This books hits all the spots and tangles all the questions it puts forth to the reader and even if my knowledge of science is very limited I thoroughly enjoyed this.
Project Hail Mary's strengths lie in the fact that it minimises any reasoning loopholes as much as it can why still providing a hooking enough plot, utilising the science it talks about, to the utmost. Yet, the cherry on top is the hints of emotional sentimentality that is subtly conveyed to the reader in all the interactions it has to offer. No ones a completely irrevocable villain and no one's an absolute hero either.
This was an amazing read though it did start a bit slow for me. I loved the ending but a part was really reluctant to close the book when I reached the end.
Final rating: 5 out of 5 stars.
24th April 2022:
This was a barely okay read for me. The plot was okay and the action didn't start until the very very end which was still lackluster. The high stakes didn't feel high at all.
Merlin felt very surreal and more like a stereotype than an actual character. Susan didn't feel like a part of the setting and more an anomaly which just took me out of the story.
It also had the worst writing I had ever read with sentences like these littered throughout the book:
“The team of four blinkered Clydesdales drawing the dray could be no more oblivious to the occupants of the frustrated cars behind them than the smock-wearing drivers.”
Which makes no sense whatsoever unless you're a horse person and know what a smock is and whatever the hell a dray is. It wasn't fun having to google every third word in every paragraph. There are too many references without actual descriptions to explain things. For example, saying brand names of clothes than actually explaining what kind of clothes they are.
If it wasn't for the writing I maybe have given it a higher rating.
Final rating - 2/5.
19th March 2022:
I didn't expect to like this a lot but I actually did. It didn't feel like an MG book. The main character is emphatic and good at analysing himself and people around him.
The twist was very interesting and the slow pace worked because it created good amount of suspense.
Looking forward to reading the next book.
12th March 2022:
Book 5 was more tenser and had more moral conflict than the earlier books in the series as it wasn't the focus.
Lost City of Ithos and Siege of Skyhold is where things get solidified more plot wise and give the reader an idea of where things are heading as they get more serious and darker.
Nevertheless all the books this far weren't something I didn't enjoy. There were light when starting out yes, but precisely the reason I enjoyed them. Even if the later books get more serious and darker there are still some elements that aren't lost, mainly the friendship and understanding between the crew.
But I do understand that things may seem more awkward or unexplained to some readers as much as there will be others who enjoy for those very same reasons that feel different to them.
Siege of Skyhold I thoroughly enjoyed. A consistent theme till now has been the progression in magic as fitting the genre, which in each book and this one was perfectly executed.
John Bierce is particularly good at “show don't tell”. That shined in the previous book and here things change a bit in the sense that pacing is well balanced but the tension is well maintained and well built into the details.
In the end, I felt a lot and lot of emotions and the ending was once again shockingly incredible.
Can't wait to read book 6 when it comes out.
I won't deny though these books need some better editing. But it isn't as bad as to the point that it's impossible to read. Just a little nitpick.
My final rating, is 5/5.
10th March 2022:
This was straight out the best book of the series for me. Maybe I would change my mind after reading book 5. Or the other future books. But for now this was the best in the series.
It got really really dark when Ithos was being described. Usually when places like Ithos are talked about in stories is makes me itch so much to read about this history. But that was less with Ithos, not because of bad writing but infact quite the opposite. Everything was described so well. Mage Errant wasn't a series that ever struck out to me as dark but in this particular part of the book, everything was so eerie and horrible. The Ash piles, the darkness and cold, the graffiti that described feelings of the people as they had been trapped by the exile splinter. It was uncharacteristic but not odd. And so well executed that my curiosity was well quenched.Even the matter about the cold minds and the heir!
The characters as always out did themselves. As the story got dark it effect the relationships but personally it was handled very, very well.
Though I would admit the 4 four apprentices may at times appear unnaturally mature, but it is certainly not a huge problem for me cause I'm not fan of immature characters.
Another fact I loved about these books is that the matureness of the characters infact made me rethink the normal mindset to have in fantasies. Cause if you're always up facing one battle on another, why not have the people save time over pointless and needless miscommunication and just have healthy relationships?
The ending made me have so many emotions and really was mind blowing.
I can't really talk about any cons because I really did love this book a lot.
My final rating is 5/5
5th March 2022:
The ending might have a bit too optimistic I would admit that. But I was reminded a lot of the online freelance world so it wasn't that unrealistic.
I did like that Anda became more confident at the end, more willing to branch out.
The world's a big capitalistic mess but even then I guess a little ray of hope and sunshine every now and then isn't so bad.
WHAT THE ACTUAL HELL?
-My thoughts at the end of this book.
Pros:
Plot:
I enjoyed the slow parts for the characters' interactions and the fact that the reader gets to see Hugh and them learn more stuff, actual magic and become more powerful becomes more and more rewarding each time the action comes around.
Plus the ending was absolutely amazing for me.
Characters:
Talia had a lot more growth and exposure in this one and I think I've moved on from my neutral standpoint on her and actually begin to like her.
She isn't perfect but still enjoyable to read about.
Hugh was a bit whiny here but I don't hate it because it was realistic and I don't think I can explain without going into spoilers.
Got a lot of insight into many different characters, students, masters. Artur and Alustin. Especially Alustin. I can't wait to see more in the following books.
Action:
It shifts, there's lots of povs, lots of things happening that intersect with one another and I love it. Because I love knowing what effect an event can cause on different characters.
Plus I love it when Hugh smiles. :D
Cons:
Plot:
The pacing might be dragging for some and not really enjoyable at all.
Not everything might make sense. And I think if it wasn't for the ending I might not have enjoyed this much. Just might.
Characters:
So, while I love the positive character interactions in this book, it feels there's a bit of disconnect with the series and gruesome part some times. I would completely understand if someone drops this series just because of that.
But the part of me that loves healthy relationships still enjoys this very, very much. Even if it does sound unrealistic, I'd like to believe it isn't because it's a fantasy world setting. It's fiction. Things can happen and having positive and healthy relationship interactions even if there is danger shouldn't be the most illogical thing. I willing to make an exception here because I'm tried of screaming angsty relationships in books and want the shouting angsty arguments then to stop being a norm.
Action:
It shifts a lot. Even though it's the reason I enjoy it, for someone else it can be thoroughly baffling. Admittedly I did have to re read stuff even if I did enjoy reading.
All in all, this book gets 5/5 stars for me for that spectacular ending.
Like I said in my book 2 review.
THE ENDING!!!
Edit: sometime having passed I have changed my mind. My final rating now is : 3/5 stars
