scifi's reviews
409 reviews

As quiet as it was kept, THE JUSTICE OF KINGS was one of the best fantasy debuts overall last year, and maybe even my favorite new-to-me book that I read. Such an intriguing mystery and low level but dangerous magic system. The sequel, THE TYRANNY OF FAITH, immediately went to my #1 anticipated books of 2023. For the most part, I wasn’t let down. Tyranny is a good follow up to to Justice in nearly every way.

Now, dear reader, you may have noticed my reluctance to say that this installment surpasses or even matches the quality of the first book. As well you should—but we will come to that in a just bit.

Picking up immediately where Justice ended, we find our party traveling towards the Empire’s capital, Sova, as Vonvalt now seeks to discover just how deep the treachery goes within his own order of the Magistratum and the capital at large. It’s great stuff, and Swan really knows how to pace the story in such a way you’ll have a hard time putting the book down. The political intrigue and posturing of the first act was very fun to read.

From the second act onward Swan once again sets Helena and co.‘s minds to solving a mystery, and once again it is cleverly pieced together, feeling like a bonafide Holmes mystery at times. This mystery element is a particular strength of these books, and it never fails to reel me in and get me theorizing.

The concluding act, and indeed the conclusion itself has a bit less punch than I would have preferred here. Sure, people may die and empire’s my begin to crumble but for me I never really felt how high the stakes were, I was just told. Also, Swan weirdly undercuts his own narrative by having multiple characters state several times that should the empire fall all the characters involved have enough money to flee to another country and live out their days in relative peace? I suppose the threat of Claver’s imminent march on Sova with his friends on the other side is still an issue but that man does not feel threatening nor competent enough for me to be seriously worried about anything he has going on. Similarly, besides the Trickster, there’s no demon/entity that seems interested in the affairs of humans. So unfortunately that entire subplot just doesn’t do it for me.

You what else doesn’t do it for me? Swan’s, quite frankly, sick deformation of Vonvalt and Helena’s relationship. Where in the last book I thought it was beyond settled that the pair had nothing more than a loving familial bond, akin to a father and daughter, here Swan elects to go back on that and in doing so does a disservice to both characters.

The overall story is less for this subplot. Every time it came I physically recoiled. I can only hope that after this book it is soundly put to bed we don’t have to speak or read about it again in the next one.

Yes, you did read that right. Despite my issues with this book, Swan’s EMPIRE OF THE WOLF series is still one of the best new ongoing fantasy series at the moment and I plan of seeing it to it’s conclusion. He’s managed to leave us with enough interesting unresolved mysteries that I think seeing where those lead alone will make reading the follow-up worth it.

Hopefully he can find his footing again and carry us across the finish line on a high note. Helena’s story deserves no less.

M. Night couldn’t do it!

“God bestows upon us fate. The fate called encounters.” 

Easily easily my favorite collection/sequence of volumes since the Eclipse Arc. So much development for Guts (and others!) + wonderful expansion of the lore and world. It feels distinctly different from everything that came before. We get more characters and we see Guts starting to trust and let people in. Even though previously it’s been an arduous process for him to do so. I just love the new additions to the party so much, their distinct personalities really add a rich texture to the story. It’s so good. It’s soooooo fucking good!

As always, fuck Griffith. Fuck his mother. Fuck his father. Fuck his childhood pet. Fuck the first person who ever gave him encouragement. Fuck his horse. Fuck his hair stylist. And then fuck his father and mother again. 

Just like the film, this book is surprisingly hilarious with the book having the added benefit of being able to be more effective and biting with its commentary. Being in Patrick’s head does get suffocating at times but I never found myself bored. Bret’s writing is very engaging in that sense. 

I think I’m going to watch the movie again now. Just a great story.

“If you see God, tell him this: Leave me the hell alone!”

I mean, what else is there to be said? This is fire. Exactly 0 notes. Beautifully writing, beautiful art. Griffith has to fucking die. 

MIURA-DONO, ITSUMO ARIGATO GOZIMASU‼️

How does he do it? How does Miura manage to keep the story going forward at such a disciplined pace but at the same time never lose any of the emotional tension in the doing? Rather, he keeps building and adding more elements that I just. I love every single thing about it. 

I can’t stop reading, it’s incredible. 

WARNING: a heartbreaking, fully immersive tragedy unfolds in this volume and it will sear itself into your brain as surely as the tears sear your face. I couldn’t stop crying while reading v13/conclusion of the Eclipse. What a fucking book.

@Griffith, you’re going to die screaming and be sent to hell. I know because I’m gonna be the one to do it. 

Why do I always see these things after they’re done and gone?

Some of the best fantasy I’ve ever read. Guts, Casca and Griffith’s intertwining relationship is some of the best writing I’ve come across in my life. It makes me dizzy, realizing that someone as talented as Miura shared a bit of their genius with us. How these volumes* keep getting better is…such a feat. 

*I’m reading the individual volumes, but using the Deluxe Editions to log on SG, as to not inflate my reading count any higher (Not that these aren’t books, they’re some of the best literature out there.) Just more efficient this way.