Red Sister (Spoiler Free Review)
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 17 окт 2024
- 3/5 stars. A book with several strong parts, but has too many boring sections to be anything more than "average". Written by Mark Lawrence, part of the "Book of the Ancestor" trilogy.
𝐏𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞:
www.amazon.com...
𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐬:
Discord: / discord
Twitter: / mattbookreviews
Goodreads: / mattsfantasybookreview
#fantasybooks #bookreview #bestbooks #fantasybooks #booktube #booktuber #books #bookstagram #bookworm #booklover #booknerd #bookish #book #reading #read #booktubers
I totally understand your criticisms - I just finished this one, too. Being someone who generally loves slow, character-driven stories, even I found parts of this book a bit boring. That said, overall I really liked it and am excited to read the rest of the series. I did find this book to be a bit Robin Hobb-esque in the tight focus on a few characters, but I agree with you that the character work wasn’t the best in the world. I think the same exact story in the hands of Hobb would’ve been an easy 5 star rating. And I’ll say this, even with the somewhat uneven pacing and solid, but not not amazing, character work, I found it really hard to stop reading this one. Thanks for the review!!
I read it, about a year ago. I don't like slow books too much but somehow I was so invested in the world and the mysteries. My real complaint was Nonas's wise monologs it didn't seem possible for such a young and naive girl to come up with this deep thoughts but it gets better and better in books 2 and 3 in every aspect though.
It's was a really enjoyable experience
Yeah agreed about the wise monologues - good point!
I'm curious which Audio version you listened to. As far as I know, there's a UK and US narrator. I personally really enjoyed the UK narrator, Helen Duff.
Also there are actually notes on characters, especially regarding the 'sis' and caste system, that iirc aren't in the audiobook.
I would definitely recommend reading a physical copy. There's a fair amount of world building early, which you really praised, so it's surprising that you struggled after the intro. That said, as much as I love the book, I do think there are pacing issues. But I mainly wonder if the narration of your copy had any effect on your enjoyment of the book.
I listened to Helen O'Neill. Yeah I think physical would have been much more enjoyable!
The series gets better with each book. Holy Sister was incredible and is a top 20 series for me
Great to hear!
I'm currently 75% of the way through this book, trying to convince myself to keep reading. I think I hit the lull you talked about in the middle of the book and mentally just checked out. I'm really glad that the ending was good for you, because I'm currently sitting at a 2 star, not-going-to-pick-up-the-sequel, place, but I'm hopeful that that changes! I guess I'll know in a day or so. 😅
Yeah don't hold your breath TOO hard. But good to finish it out and consider going forward from there.
@@MattsFantasyBookReviews I finished it this morning. I don't think I'm going to keep going. I'm honestly just not sure that Mark Lawrence is the author for me. I'm glad the book brought me to your channel, though! I binged a ton of your content last night.
I have not been a fan of the Broken Empire trilogy, and also was not blown away by Red Sister. However, I am reading Grey Sister atm and have a blast. Really good.
Yeah I keep hearing that, I might have to give it a try.
Thanks for the helpful, balanced review!
You are most welcome Josh!
That’s funny, I remember falling asleep listening to the Audiobook at night, so was I just tired or bored… either way, my gripe is that I felt I missed out on these apparent training montages, as my takeaway was that Nona arrived upon her abilities over night without any preamble. I am only halfway though
Wow, I'm surprised it didn't do much for you. I personally HATED his Prince of Thorns series but really, really loved this one. I found the characters very likeable, the world fascinating and the plotting to be very strong. I actually liked the training chapters too!
By the way, I'm reading The Forgetting Moon by Brian Lee Durfee based on your review and I absolutely love it so thanks for the recommendation!
So glad you are liking Forgetting Moon, it only gets better from there too!
I recently read this trilogy. Dug it. Cranked through all three pretty quickly. 4 outta 5 for me.
Another big yes to everything you said. Love Marc but cannot commit to his books
I want so badly to love them. But if the next book isn't to my liking Im going to have to drop him
I debated on reading this series but the premise doesn't appeal to me much. Interested to hear your thoughts on the entire series to see if I really should pick it up!
Yeah I'm really hoping for good things!
I couldn't finish it. I want to like Lawrence too, and I did really like his prince of fools trilogy. I dnf'd the broken empire like 50 pages into the first book and I dnf'd this book at 25%. I might give it another go. I read the first book of the other trilogy taking place in this world and it was like a 3/5 too, I haven't continued on with it yet but I might.
I've read the whole trilogy. I thought it was maybe slightly better than average, but overall it was really over-hyped to me.
Yeah, definitely overhyped.
I loved this trilogy, I think the almost all women world was lovely and unusual. And I am a loud reader and the wording was pleasant out loud.
You should read Witcher, Riftwar Saga trilogy, and memory sorrow, and thorn trilogy. Some suggestions
All of those are on my 2023 reading list!
I definitely thought Red Sister was the weakest of the three, just a note.
The books slowly move back towards the tone and inertia of the intro as time goes along.
Awesome, that's great to hear!
I felt exactly the same with this one-I genuinely don’t understand the love for it!
Did you keep going with the series?
@@MattsFantasyBookReviews nope I didn't even finish it -- I was about halfway through and was just so so bored in the school scenes. I wish now I would have at least got to the ending since you say it popped off there, and I do feel like it has more potential with the next books past all the set-up
Meh is exactly what I thought after finishing it 😂
Yeah I wanted to write something more in depth here but "meh" was the prevailing thought here!
I liked Red Sister well enough, I had many of the same problems you had with it. I have mixed opinions on the 2nd book. The 2nd book is so boring for like the first half and the 2nd half is quite good.
How about the 3rd book?
@@MattsFantasyBookReviews Haven't gotten to it yet, it was pushed pretty far down my TBR since the series has just been decent so far.
@@MattsFantasyBookReviews third book is shorter and a bop
You have to try to read Anthony Ryan too
Never heard of it. Is that an author?
@@MattsFantasyBookReviews blood song by Anthony Ryan. It had a framing narrative like The Name of the Wind but has more battle training. It’s a great first book of a trilogy. Pretty weak after the first one. Anthony Ryan is becoming prolific and has a good number of hits out now.
With Anthony Ryan read blood song and treat it as a standalone. The next two books were unfortunately pretty bad. The duology after it tho is very good
@@MattsFantasyBookReviews yes he is a Scottish author and his first novel Blood Song was a big hit. But as others have said the next two books in the trilogy were not as good. He then wrote the draconis memoria Trilogy which I have not read but has pretty good ratings. Now he wrote two books in the Covenant of steel series which has really good reviews!
PS I found the audio a bit confusing, too, with the multiple names. I ended up reading it and listening to the audio at the same time and it improved my experience.
Yeah I should have done the same!
This video felt so Fassst compare with the others hahahaha
LOL totally
I'm still trying to force myself through the 3rd book..and it's small. The second book is even more boring ^^
Ugh - not what I wanted to hear!
100% disagree. Grey sister was a 4 for me and Holy is easily a 5
Book of the Ancestor goes on my over-rated list.
Yeah for sure!
@@MattsFantasyBookReviews you’ve barely read it yet but ok
Nevernight by Jay Kristoff is soooo much better
I'm reading that one in 2023!
@@MattsFantasyBookReviews you will see the similarities but nevernight has a great plot, incredible world building and Amazing characters that will stick with you forever, especially Mia
@@lukinski1 I already really like Kristoff so I'm sure I'll also like that!
Fantasy and audio, they don't do well in my opinion, I just get lost. Especially since English ain't my mother tongue.
Yeah the first language thing is probably very difficult.
Also the opening sentence might be the stupidest sentence ever written.
Stupid? Your reading fantasy, not non-fiction
Is this your first fantasy book
"It is important, when killing a nun, to ensure that you bring an army of sufficient size."
This is passive, awkward, wordy, and redundant in at least two different ways.
@@raswartz oh so it “breaks the sacred rules” so its bad
Basically everyone loves this opening, including Matt.
I think that’s a better barometer than some arbitrary rules.
@@reaper2r Rules exist for a reason, and this sentence breaks one with almost every word.