I DNFd this book halfway through. The prose isn't great, and I the world building is extremely odd, to the extent that it was nonsensical. I realize it's fantasy, but fantasy worlds need to be inernally consistent to be immersive, and this wasn't.
Dude! U R right about extreme hype for this book. I read an excerpt on Amazon, and I was like WTF? It was terrible. I have similar feelings about A Secret History. Huge love from every corner. I DNF'd after 150 pgs. Also just dropped Pulitzer winning, A Thousand Acres after 100 pgs.
I tried reading this book. My husband tried 2x. Neither of us (and not having the same tastes) could get into it. Just happy I only have it (still) in my kindle unlimited collection. 😂 THANK YOU SO MUCH!!
Nice to see a different take on SoK. I don't hate it, but it's extremely overhyped. The funny thing is that it's heralded as the golden standard for indie pub, whereas my stance on the book is, 'this could've been really good with good editing.' It's been over a year since I read it, but from what I can remember: a lazy history info dump at the start, an irrelevant and boring youth superhero flashback, and a redundant Marvel movie ending after the real ending. Another thing that was weird: after the duel (which I didn't like) and years of emotional abuse, Takeru does a complete 180. Things I did like: the fighting scenes, the relationship between the women, and the relationship between mother and children.
I disliked the book too and I thought there was something wrong with how book tock was raving over it. I found Poppy war covered female rage way better than Sword of Kaigen.
You are not wrong. Overall I liked about 2/3 of SoK, even though it was clunkily written. I’m willing to forgive a lot in an amateur/self-published author, so I shrugged at a lot of the logic holes you are pointing out. My biggest pet peeve is the weak editing, and the constant jumping back and forth between feudal fantasy Japan and a comicbook wish fulfillment/Teen-Titans riff. I understand that this was a sequel to earlier books by the author, but they were totally jarring and didn’t add anything. And it ruined the ending by not settling on hope for an improving marriage, but brought back this vanilla childhood-crush Robin-wannabe, setting up a further sequel I was uninterested in. ENRAGING. I will probably give A future book a try, to see how she is developing as an author, but I also have reservations about recommending this book.
finally...someone...halleluiah I'm at page 30 and it's just weird af,the author replaced measurements to some made up words,the word building is weird as fk,they got TV and cellphones? the pacing is awful,meh
It is okay for a protagonist to be limited, self-blind, and to have a contradictory set of ethics. It's annoying when an author lacks this awareness. That being said, in a gender-divided world, this is what real people's ethics are actually like.
Totally agree. This book is about realism not progressive idealism. It shows how and why people act the way they do in this broken society in a way that is very reflective of real life (ex. abused becomes an abuser, women raised in patriarchal society upholding patriarchal ideals). It does not seek to preach to the reader or tell you how people should act, but rather shows you a realistic view of how people act within the society along with their struggles. I actually really appreciated this and thought it was an extremely nuanced take. There are very few books these days that take this approach.
I hate this book more than anybody, the pacing was atrocious, and was bored throughout to care about Misaki and I wanted to throw the book away when they killed Mamoru, it was done for shock value and I hated everything that comes after because I just wasn't invested in Misaki, it would be like killing the Stark kids and the story follows Ned and Cat, that's just not compelling! And I hate the world building too, you never know how advanced the technology or why it hasn't trickled to the village, just look at the real world even at the Amazon they have smartphones, and they go to big cities to buy stuff or find work and come back with radios and stuff, they shouldn't be this isolated and out of the loop. Every character is one-note, the author also doesn't understand power scaling, the husband is just a joke. This book is a masterclass on how NOT to do exposition and worldbuilding, the hype for this book is too high, some even put it in their top 5 books of all time. Do no waste your time with this book, it's overrated just like the Realm of the Elderling books, another series that doesn't get enough hate...
Lmao. But you’re so spot on. I actually loved the first and third trilogies of Elderling series. But I also can completely agree that they’re overrated. I just read all 16.5(incl the novella) this summer and while the story was compelling and Nighteyes(RIDICULOUS NAME) was awesome - when I read Rain Wild Chronicles I seriously believed this was actually the FIRST series written by an inexperienced first time author who then set it aside, and then wrote Farseer trilogy. Because it was just sooooo bad. I loved Tawny Man because it was a final ending to Farseer -mostly. I liked Liveship because while it was a great story as a standalone series it annoyed me in every way possible with constant unlikely characters’ choices based on what the author already told us (a serious issue throughout the entire 16 books) and unlikeable characters. It’s heralded as character development at its finest but it left me think Hobb thinks everyone is a total asshole until a final moral dilemma. And don’t let me get started on the most disrespectful trilogy- Fitz & Fool. Omg. I’m still pissed off. Start readers off w the Wit in Assassins Apprentice - which is what we first found interesting and then stayed for - and ending the whole thing wrapped around the Skill which is never explained but everything hinges on it? So we don’t know have any basis to understand why we have to watch them make so many bad decisions based on something THE CHARACTERS DONT UNDERSTAND?? Such a weird feeling to be sucked in to the torturous story, loving and then hating the protagonist, finding an understanding and faith in his supposed “best friend”(?) and then feeling like the author was fkng with you, your time, your emotional investment and your interest all at once. I guess the fine line between love and hate really exists. She can write characters for sure, but she can’t end a story for shit. And I think she really does not like people at all. Real or fictional. So thank you for your comment and letting me get all that out. 😂✌🏻
(also Realm of the Elderlings is amazing, and has the best ending I've ever read. Just putting this out here for anyone seeing this comment thread and not knowing anything about it. The way I felt reading those last chapters has lingered in my mind and heart for MONTHS since I finished it. I know some people are upset by it, and I'm sorry if this is putting it too bluntly, but I think that's because some people go in holding way too tightly to their expectations of what fantasy books are, what character arcs are, what magic systems are, and what endings are. If you go in with expectations and aren't willing to let them go at some point, it WILL feel like Robin Hobb betrays you and leads you on. But that's because she's telling a different kind of story, and you must meet it on its level or you will be frustrated.) Just my experience. Not trying to invalidate anyone else's 😅 I just love that series so so much
This is a terrible analysis. You are saying the book is bad because it should’ve tackled a different theme, which could be true for any book. I wont argue with world building critiques because thats subjective, but hoping for this to be a generic progressive runaway story is dumb.
@@therandomizer4748 you didn’t understand my critique at all. It didn’t tackle the themes at all. It stayed majorly superficial and at the end reinforces and falls into the same stereotypical patterns of patriarchy storytelling is so desperately tries to break up.
@@Finsfantasybooks Thats the point you missed, it never spoke to throwing off the patriarchy. That was her initial mindset, but through her pain of loss she realized regret had caused her to push away all the good things that couldve come from her decision. Thats not to say that she wouldn’t have been successful with Robin in fact she still loved him. But she loved her family and her husband. This speaks deeply to those who grew up in a traditional Japanese society.
@@Finsfantasybooks the book tackles the themes of Love, Trauma, Regret and more. And it shows that the answer to an abuse cycle isn’t necessarily casting away the victims of abuse that are now perpetuating it but instead helping them heal. It also teaches that regret can force you in the past instead of letting you throve in the future. Like I said if you dont like the theme or the world building that is fine. What I have a problem with is trying to read into it a different theme and saying its a bad book because it shouldve dealt with a different theme. Thats the theme ML Wang decided to tackle that resonated with her and many others. And I understand if it doesnt with you, but saying it should’ve been a different theme takes away from the message that was spoken which was a very important one.
@@therandomizer4748 if you got something out of this book I’m happy for you. It’s clearly tackling and addressing gender roles in a very traditional society. And to say the book is bad imo is my right a reader. Just as it yours to say it’s great. Art and the perception of it is subjective. So there is obv no „correct“ interpretation. So claiming that an opinion on an experience of art could be wrong is a worthless discussion. It will always end with „It was/wasn’t this way for me.“ Glad you liked the book. Happy reading.
@@therandomizer4748 you are trying so hard to make it make sense. She’s staying with an abuser and rapist. The whole solution was them fighting it out which made no sense in the first place.
Finally!!! Someone else who hated Sword of Kaigen! Great summary and analysis!
I loved the Sword of Kaigen, Misaki was so kick-ass and I liked that the main female characters were all mothers, unusual in the fantasy genre.
I appreciate this review. I was about to buy this book but now I will hold that lol
I'll try to see if my local library has it
I DNFd this book halfway through. The prose isn't great, and I the world building is extremely odd, to the extent that it was nonsensical. I realize it's fantasy, but fantasy worlds need to be inernally consistent to be immersive, and this wasn't.
Dude! U R right about extreme hype for this book. I read an excerpt on Amazon, and I was like WTF? It was terrible. I have similar feelings about A Secret History. Huge love from every corner. I DNF'd after 150 pgs. Also just dropped Pulitzer winning, A Thousand Acres after 100 pgs.
I tried reading this book. My husband tried 2x. Neither of us (and not having the same tastes) could get into it.
Just happy I only have it (still) in my kindle unlimited collection. 😂
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!
I appreciate your opinion 😊
Will watch after I read the book...as I have not seen "I don't like it" videos for that book....you are first I stambled upom 🤗
Nice to see a different take on SoK. I don't hate it, but it's extremely overhyped. The funny thing is that it's heralded as the golden standard for indie pub, whereas my stance on the book is, 'this could've been really good with good editing.' It's been over a year since I read it, but from what I can remember: a lazy history info dump at the start, an irrelevant and boring youth superhero flashback, and a redundant Marvel movie ending after the real ending.
Another thing that was weird: after the duel (which I didn't like) and years of emotional abuse, Takeru does a complete 180.
Things I did like: the fighting scenes, the relationship between the women, and the relationship between mother and children.
I disliked the book too and I thought there was something wrong with how book tock was raving over it. I found Poppy war covered female rage way better than Sword of Kaigen.
Thanks for the video. The book sounds like a propaganda than an actual story.
same w blood over bright haven. dnf at 15%
You are not wrong. Overall I liked about 2/3 of SoK, even though it was clunkily written. I’m willing to forgive a lot in an amateur/self-published author, so I shrugged at a lot of the logic holes you are pointing out.
My biggest pet peeve is the weak editing, and the constant jumping back and forth between feudal fantasy Japan and a comicbook wish fulfillment/Teen-Titans riff. I understand that this was a sequel to earlier books by the author, but they were totally jarring and didn’t add anything. And it ruined the ending by not settling on hope for an improving marriage, but brought back this vanilla childhood-crush Robin-wannabe, setting up a further sequel I was uninterested in. ENRAGING.
I will probably give A future book a try, to see how she is developing as an author, but I also have reservations about recommending this book.
This book is so overrated, and I don’t get it at all.
finally...someone...halleluiah I'm at page 30 and it's just weird af,the author replaced measurements to some made up words,the word building is weird as fk,they got TV and cellphones? the pacing is awful,meh
It is okay for a protagonist to be limited, self-blind, and to have a contradictory set of ethics. It's annoying when an author lacks this awareness. That being said, in a gender-divided world, this is what real people's ethics are actually like.
Totally agree. This book is about realism not progressive idealism. It shows how and why people act the way they do in this broken society in a way that is very reflective of real life (ex. abused becomes an abuser, women raised in patriarchal society upholding patriarchal ideals). It does not seek to preach to the reader or tell you how people should act, but rather shows you a realistic view of how people act within the society along with their struggles. I actually really appreciated this and thought it was an extremely nuanced take. There are very few books these days that take this approach.
I hate this book more than anybody, the pacing was atrocious, and was bored throughout to care about Misaki and I wanted to throw the book away when they killed Mamoru, it was done for shock value and I hated everything that comes after because I just wasn't invested in Misaki, it would be like killing the Stark kids and the story follows Ned and Cat, that's just not compelling! And I hate the world building too, you never know how advanced the technology or why it hasn't trickled to the village, just look at the real world even at the Amazon they have smartphones, and they go to big cities to buy stuff or find work and come back with radios and stuff, they shouldn't be this isolated and out of the loop. Every character is one-note, the author also doesn't understand power scaling, the husband is just a joke. This book is a masterclass on how NOT to do exposition and worldbuilding, the hype for this book is too high, some even put it in their top 5 books of all time. Do no waste your time with this book, it's overrated just like the Realm of the Elderling books, another series that doesn't get enough hate...
Lmao. But you’re so spot on.
I actually loved the first and third trilogies of Elderling series. But I also can completely agree that they’re overrated. I just read all 16.5(incl the novella) this summer and while the story was compelling and Nighteyes(RIDICULOUS NAME) was awesome - when I read Rain Wild Chronicles I seriously believed this was actually the FIRST series written by an inexperienced first time author who then set it aside, and then wrote Farseer trilogy. Because it was just sooooo bad.
I loved Tawny Man because it was a final ending to Farseer -mostly. I liked Liveship because while it was a great story as a standalone series it annoyed me in every way possible with constant unlikely characters’ choices based on what the author already told us (a serious issue throughout the entire 16 books) and unlikeable characters.
It’s heralded as character development at its finest but it left me think Hobb thinks everyone is a total asshole until a final moral dilemma.
And don’t let me get started on the most disrespectful trilogy- Fitz & Fool. Omg. I’m still pissed off. Start readers off w the Wit in Assassins Apprentice - which is what we first found interesting and then stayed for - and ending the whole thing wrapped around the Skill which is never explained but everything hinges on it? So we don’t know have any basis to understand why we have to watch them make so many bad decisions based on something THE CHARACTERS DONT UNDERSTAND??
Such a weird feeling to be sucked in to the torturous story, loving and then hating the protagonist, finding an understanding and faith in his supposed “best friend”(?) and then feeling like the author was fkng with you, your time, your emotional investment and your interest all at once.
I guess the fine line between love and hate really exists.
She can write characters for sure, but she can’t end a story for shit. And I think she really does not like people at all. Real or fictional.
So thank you for your comment and letting me get all that out. 😂✌🏻
I don't know how you can quantify that it was done for shock value.
It is an essential turning point in the character arcs of both Misaki and Takeru
(also Realm of the Elderlings is amazing, and has the best ending I've ever read. Just putting this out here for anyone seeing this comment thread and not knowing anything about it. The way I felt reading those last chapters has lingered in my mind and heart for MONTHS since I finished it. I know some people are upset by it, and I'm sorry if this is putting it too bluntly, but I think that's because some people go in holding way too tightly to their expectations of what fantasy books are, what character arcs are, what magic systems are, and what endings are. If you go in with expectations and aren't willing to let them go at some point, it WILL feel like Robin Hobb betrays you and leads you on.
But that's because she's telling a different kind of story, and you must meet it on its level or you will be frustrated.)
Just my experience. Not trying to invalidate anyone else's 😅 I just love that series so so much
Yes! I did not like this book.
This is a terrible analysis. You are saying the book is bad because it should’ve tackled a different theme, which could be true for any book. I wont argue with world building critiques because thats subjective, but hoping for this to be a generic progressive runaway story is dumb.
@@therandomizer4748 you didn’t understand my critique at all. It didn’t tackle the themes at all. It stayed majorly superficial and at the end reinforces and falls into the same stereotypical patterns of patriarchy storytelling is so desperately tries to break up.
@@Finsfantasybooks Thats the point you missed, it never spoke to throwing off the patriarchy. That was her initial mindset, but through her pain of loss she realized regret had caused her to push away all the good things that couldve come from her decision. Thats not to say that she wouldn’t have been successful with Robin in fact she still loved him. But she loved her family and her husband. This speaks deeply to those who grew up in a traditional Japanese society.
@@Finsfantasybooks the book tackles the themes of Love, Trauma, Regret and more. And it shows that the answer to an abuse cycle isn’t necessarily casting away the victims of abuse that are now perpetuating it but instead helping them heal. It also teaches that regret can force you in the past instead of letting you throve in the future. Like I said if you dont like the theme or the world building that is fine. What I have a problem with is trying to read into it a different theme and saying its a bad book because it shouldve dealt with a different theme. Thats the theme ML Wang decided to tackle that resonated with her and many others. And I understand if it doesnt with you, but saying it should’ve been a different theme takes away from the message that was spoken which was a very important one.
@@therandomizer4748 if you got something out of this book I’m happy for you. It’s clearly tackling and addressing gender roles in a very traditional society. And to say the book is bad imo is my right a reader. Just as it yours to say it’s great. Art and the perception of it is subjective. So there is obv no „correct“ interpretation. So claiming that an opinion on an experience of art could be wrong is a worthless discussion. It will always end with „It was/wasn’t this way for me.“ Glad you liked the book. Happy reading.
@@therandomizer4748 you are trying so hard to make it make sense. She’s staying with an abuser and rapist. The whole solution was them fighting it out which made no sense in the first place.
Eg. The writing is bad but it agrees with my world view?