I like the characters because they are a product of their environment, we are past "doing what's right" since the second half of the first book, now it's just about surviving. And you feel compassion for them at least.
You have a great understand of Rin! "I hate all of these characters" is a big part of why I didn't continue on 😂 Glad to hear that you are enjoying the series, though! !
This is a great review. You really captured the feel and exploration of the mental health and vibe of everyone throughout this book without saying too much about the plot points or giving anything away. I'm impressed you're getting right into the burning God. I need a few months of breather in between. The dragon republic left me feeling emotionally exhausted and dark inside. You have pegged Rin exactly, it is so tough to read her inner dialogue and watch her decision making over and over again.
Thank you! I actually finished TDR near the beginning of November so I've had a month break because you're right it.would have been tough to jump right in.
Wow, this review is thorough and I agree with every point you made, even about not liking the characters. ESPECIALLY Rin being mad all the time being so exhausting. I gave it a 4 - luckily even though I'm a character driven reader, the plot was stellar enough to allow me to love it
Great review! I love your discussion regarding trauma, which we can't quantify or compare. Does Rin's past make it impossible for her to be held responsible for her actions? Does trauma negate free will? These questions stayed with me throughout this series. The Sorqan Sira part was my least favorite part as well. It seemed very cartoony and pulled me out of the story. This series seems kind of youthful in tone even though it deals with harsh realities of war. The issue you had with characters and not feeling like you could root for them was a bigger issue for me in The Burning God than the The Dragon Republic. In TDR, I found Rin's paranoia and volatility insufferable, but then I wanted to protect her every time she was abused or betrayed. I loved how conflicted she made me feel, so I saw that as a plus in this book. I am so excited for you to finish and review The Burning God!
Such a great comment! I think that's a question our society asks, how much agency trauma takes from you. Agree on the Sorquen part for sure. The Hesperians for me were one of the highlights. Such tools lol
@@TheLibraryofAllenxandria Thank you! I agree about the Hesperians being a highlight. So horrifying with their crazy religious justifications twisted with the old watch maker analogy argument. So well done!
The war stuff in this one is top notch! But I'm a military fantasy person so I was predisposed to like it. I will say, the book has more to say in this one than Book 1
With the end nigh (of the semester), I’ve been so busy grading that I’ve had no time to watch RUclips videos. 😢 However, I managed to sneak this in, and I’m delighted to see your mostly positive review of The Dragon Republic. Though I like Rin more than you do, I think your overall estimation of the book is higher than mine (I do like it, of course!). Great review, my friend!
Fantastic review, I find your insight into the history so interesting. I have this first 2 books but haven’t started them yet. I worry about not having a likeable character to root for and also bullying can be a trigger for me, but I still hope to give it a try next year.
If bullying is a trigger, please be aware there is a lot of it in the first book in part one especially when she's at the academy! Otherwise it's a dark and exciting read!
i love your reviews HAHAHA pretty much agree with everything you said here. i really loved this series, but everyone kind of sucked LOL also OOF all the f-bombs, especially in the burning god. i still enjoyed it, but the excessive use of cursing kind of brought down my enjoyment a bit
If you like books describing Ancient battles read Stephen Presfield’s “gates of fire”. This book describes the battle of Thermopylae, subject of the animated movie 300. But the description of battle here is noooo cartoon.
I LOVED the descriptions of the western side from the side of Rin and others, I just love how ugly they seem, which makes sense and besides The First Law I have really seen this type of negative connotation to white/pink skin but plenty for the reverse even though realistically, like we see here, different cultures will not respond well to things that look different from what they are use to. Also 18 minutes down, 32 to go!
Should she not be mad. Look at her life You even said she’s the poster child for PTSD. Look at what happened to Vecna in poppy wars What they did the babies, children and civilians
I like the characters because they are a product of their environment, we are past "doing what's right" since the second half of the first book, now it's just about surviving. And you feel compassion for them at least.
I agree with this, even if it doesn't make me like them!
You have a great understand of Rin! "I hate all of these characters" is a big part of why I didn't continue on 😂 Glad to hear that you are enjoying the series, though! !
This is a great review. You really captured the feel and exploration of the mental health and vibe of everyone throughout this book without saying too much about the plot points or giving anything away. I'm impressed you're getting right into the burning God. I need a few months of breather in between. The dragon republic left me feeling emotionally exhausted and dark inside. You have pegged Rin exactly, it is so tough to read her inner dialogue and watch her decision making over and over again.
Thank you! I actually finished TDR near the beginning of November so I've had a month break because you're right it.would have been tough to jump right in.
Wow, this review is thorough and I agree with every point you made, even about not liking the characters. ESPECIALLY Rin being mad all the time being so exhausting. I gave it a 4 - luckily even though I'm a character driven reader, the plot was stellar enough to allow me to love it
Great review! I love your discussion regarding trauma, which we can't quantify or compare. Does Rin's past make it impossible for her to be held responsible for her actions? Does trauma negate free will? These questions stayed with me throughout this series.
The Sorqan Sira part was my least favorite part as well. It seemed very cartoony and pulled me out of the story. This series seems kind of youthful in tone even though it deals with harsh realities of war. The issue you had with characters and not feeling like you could root for them was a bigger issue for me in The Burning God than the The Dragon Republic. In TDR, I found Rin's paranoia and volatility insufferable, but then I wanted to protect her every time she was abused or betrayed. I loved how conflicted she made me feel, so I saw that as a plus in this book. I am so excited for you to finish and review The Burning God!
Such a great comment! I think that's a question our society asks, how much agency trauma takes from you. Agree on the Sorquen part for sure. The Hesperians for me were one of the highlights. Such tools lol
@@TheLibraryofAllenxandria Thank you! I agree about the Hesperians being a highlight. So horrifying with their crazy religious justifications twisted with the old watch maker analogy argument. So well done!
As much as a struggled with the first book, the fact that I have it and your enthusiasm still make me want to give book 2 a shot...
The war stuff in this one is top notch! But I'm a military fantasy person so I was predisposed to like it. I will say, the book has more to say in this one than Book 1
Great review Allen and thank you for the refresher! You've made me super excited to start The Burning God
I have got to get my hands on these books and read them next year! Great review! 😊
With the end nigh (of the semester), I’ve been so busy grading that I’ve had no time to watch RUclips videos. 😢 However, I managed to sneak this in, and I’m delighted to see your mostly positive review of The Dragon Republic. Though I like Rin more than you do, I think your overall estimation of the book is higher than mine (I do like it, of course!). Great review, my friend!
Thanks for watching! I'm swamped by work as well! I've started TBG and look forward to your thoughts on it. I've found it a slower start than TDR.
Thanks for the review, I’ve been wanting to check this series out!
Fantastic review, I find your insight into the history so interesting. I have this first 2 books but haven’t started them yet. I worry about not having a likeable character to root for and also bullying can be a trigger for me, but I still hope to give it a try next year.
If bullying is a trigger, please be aware there is a lot of it in the first book in part one especially when she's at the academy! Otherwise it's a dark and exciting read!
The Burning.God next. I await with bated breath...as usual Allen, fantastic rewire.
i love your reviews HAHAHA
pretty much agree with everything you said here. i really loved this series, but everyone kind of sucked LOL
also OOF all the f-bombs, especially in the burning god. i still enjoyed it, but the excessive use of cursing kind of brought down my enjoyment a bit
I got a taste of her idiocy at the end of poppy war so I’m not looking forward to that but I can’t wait to see where this series goes!
I loved this book! Now I can't wait to see you read the Burning God.... I still don't have my thoughts and emotions together after reading that one!
I didn’t know you were a dark tower fan! It’s great
If you like books describing Ancient battles read Stephen Presfield’s “gates of fire”. This book describes the battle of Thermopylae, subject of the animated movie 300. But the description of battle here is noooo cartoon.
Me for 18 mins and 48 seconds: "YESS! YESS! YESS!
Yesss!!!
Yes, I really really didn’t like the characters and as a character driven reader I still haven’t convinced myself to continue after book one
I can absolutely understand the struggle for a character-driven reader in these books.
I LOVED the descriptions of the western side from the side of Rin and others, I just love how ugly they seem, which makes sense and besides The First Law I have really seen this type of negative connotation to white/pink skin but plenty for the reverse even though realistically, like we see here, different cultures will not respond well to things that look different from what they are use to. Also 18 minutes down, 32 to go!
I thought Kaigen did a good job making white feel like the other as well!
@@TheLibraryofAllenxandria you are right! My brain went back to the time I read Dragon Republic, which was before Sword of Kaigen
To me Rin is one of the most realistic characters I’ve ever read and to me I very relatable. But I can understand why you wouldn’t like her.
I will agree about the realism of Rin for sure! 👍
Should she not be mad. Look at her life
You even said she’s the poster child for PTSD.
Look at what happened to Vecna in poppy wars
What they did the babies, children and civilians
sure, she has every right to be mad. I'm not sure that makes her POV less exhausting tho
Does Harry Potter trivia make you mad lol JK
Hahahhaha i mean, no, but I don't know any of the answers.
@@TheLibraryofAllenxandria how is the elbow lol I saw you power slam it into your desk during Harry Potter madness
@@AndrewsWizardlyReads fine today but MAN that hurt so bad!!