the_pale_woman's reviews
444 reviews

I don't think I'm alone in the fact that I picked this up only because it is "performed" by the great Meryl Streep. Her "performance" was everything I expected, if not better than I expected. I wish she would "perform" more books. Why listen to a book that is merely narrated? Lol

However, this book, this story, these characters—they're just not for me. I could easily see this being someone else's five-star read. It's well written and has a few interesting moments. For me, it felt insubstantial, boring, cringeworthy, and ultimately disappointing. It's more like a romance, but without all the romance. It's not something I would recommend unless I think you're basic. 

Although this second trilogy did not resonate with me as profoundly as the first, I found it to be satisfactory overall. McClellan's remarkable character development continues, and the introduction of two new POVs in this trilogy was well-executed. Bravis and Stykes were particularly compelling characters who carried the narrative effectively. While their conclusion could have been more substantial, I thoroughly enjoyed their respective journeys.

However, my enjoyment was somewhat diminished by the treatment of certain characters from the first trilogy. Ka-poel, despite her significance to the plot, felt underutilized and lacked agency. In my opinion, she should have been given more focus and prominence as the primary female protagonist instead of Vlora. While Vlora is not an inherently bad character, she pales in comparison to the depth and intrigue of Ka-poel, Olem, Taniel, Bordador, and Nila. These characters, particularly in the first trilogy, exhibited more relatable and nuanced personalities. Unfortunately, Olem received insufficient attention in this installment, and Taniel's trajectory since "Sins of Empire" has been perplexing and disappointing. Bordador's potential was also underutilized.

Despite these minor criticisms, I genuinely enjoyed immersing myself in this flintlock world once again. I wholeheartedly recommend these books to anyone seeking an engaging and well-crafted fantasy series.

I only picked this up because I liked the movie. I was surprised that this book inspired someone to make anything. I know I've seen this author's name floating around, so I wouldn't say I had high hopes, but I did expect more. I didn't jive with any of these characters or the narrative. What I did get through was just boring. It's just not worth my time.

The love I'm feeling for this second trilogy is much more conditional than the first. While I adore the two new POVs, the established characters from the first trilogy are occasionally disappointing. Taniel, in particular, appears to have undergone a significant personality shift and lacks sufficient screen time to warrant his perceived importance to the plot. 

This may not be as great as the first trilogy yet, but it's just as enjoyable to read. Picking up about 10 years after the events of the first trilogy, we're in a new part of the world with mostly new characters. I don't think it's a spoiler to mention that you get Vlora as a POV. Ironically, she might be the reason this isn't a full five-star book for me. I wouldn't have picked her to continue the story, at least not as a POV. I understand wanting to give the readers a strong female character in a position of power, but I loved literally every other character in the first series more than her. This book did not change my mind about that. If there hadn't been some more character additions toward the end of this book, I might have been a little peeved, especially for Olem's sake. Is he only a sidekick now? 

Wow. I've known for a while that I would probably enjoy this book, but I seriously underestimated it. It is beautifully written and full of complexity. There's so much not said but so much to read into. I know I will be thinking about this story for quite some time to come. I also know upon a reread, I'll have even more to contemplate. 

I will be checking out more books by Oscar Wilde, and I'm also curious to learn more about his life. I love it when a book inspires my curiosity.

I found that this final book of the Powder Mage Trilogy was immensely satisfying. I truly enjoyed every minute. McClellan's characters are incredibly interesting. I think their moral ambiguities and quarks add the perfect something to this flintlock fantasy. The dark wit and quick humor combined with the vague world building brings the First Law series to mind. While it's not necessarily as well written as first law, it's just as enjoyable a read, in my opinion. 

I agree with Sando. This series is awesome! The titles could be better, but the cover art is pretty cool. For example, the title here... The Crimson Campaign. Yes, it's a bloody war, but it doesn't really capture the vibe of the story. Regardless, I loved every minute of this book. The characters are well-developed. They all have their own unique personalities and relationships with each other. And the world and magic systems feel like they're so much bigger than what we see in this story. I can see why he chose to keep writing in this world after this trilogy. 

I'd say this series is a must-read for any fantasy fan. Highly recommended. 

This felt too short. It's only about 50 pages. The story follows Vlora and Olem after the events of book one. Vlora doesn't get much attention in the main books, so I think this should have been more substantial.

I'm surprised by how much I enjoyed this. At first, I wasn't completely sold on the magic systems or the lack of detailed explanations. Then, the characters started coming to life, and I couldn't put this story down. All the characters have a bit of grit, but they all feel fully individualized. Even the one girl who didn't say a word the whole book felt like a fully developed character to me. It seemed like everyone had a dash of humor, which I think works extremely well with the type of grim, fast-paced story. I wish more of the mysteries had been explained, but the end, but that's what the rest of the series is for, I'm sure.