What do you think?
Rate this book
The Elder Empire: Sea #1
Of Sea and Shadow
The Guild of Navigators has ruled the Aion Sea for centuries, using their fleet of mystical ships to collect trade for the Aurelian Empire.
Now the Emperor is dead.
For Calder Marten, Captain of The Testament, the Emperor’s death is not an end, but an opportunity. He and his crew seek the legendary Heart of Nakothi, an artifact that could raise a second Emperor…and earn Calder a fortune.
But they’re not the only ones who want the Heart.
The Consultant’s Guild, an ancient order of spies and assassins, will stop at nothing to keep the world in chaos. They seek to destroy the Heart, and prevent the world from uniting under a single Emperor ever again.
On the seas, a man works to restore the dying Empire.
In the shadows, a woman seeks to destroy it.
Will you explore the seas here with Calder? Or will you walk the shadows with Shera, in the parallel novel "Of Shadow and Sea"?
Now the Emperor is dead.
For Calder Marten, Captain of The Testament, the Emperor’s death is not an end, but an opportunity. He and his crew seek the legendary Heart of Nakothi, an artifact that could raise a second Emperor…and earn Calder a fortune.
But they’re not the only ones who want the Heart.
The Consultant’s Guild, an ancient order of spies and assassins, will stop at nothing to keep the world in chaos. They seek to destroy the Heart, and prevent the world from uniting under a single Emperor ever again.
On the seas, a man works to restore the dying Empire.
In the shadows, a woman seeks to destroy it.
Will you explore the seas here with Calder? Or will you walk the shadows with Shera, in the parallel novel "Of Shadow and Sea"?
428 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 30, 2014
2214 people are currently reading
5671 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 254 reviews
June 25, 2020
This pirate fantasy was almost as good as its parallel novel.
Having just finished reading and reviewing Of Shadow and Sea two days ago, I will inform you first now that this Of Sea and Shadow review will focus mainly on what I found superior or inferior comparatively. That means I won’t be repeating what I’ve talked about in detail on my review Of Shadow and Sea again here. Please do note that my experience of reading this novel was indeed affected because I’ve read Of Shadow and Sea before; if I’ve read Of Sea and Shadow first instead, there’s a good chance that I would enjoy it more.
Calder Marten is a Reader, a person who can read and manipulate the Intent of objects; they’re individuals who could see visions of the past, goals for the future, and many more aspects contained in an object. If you’ve read The Founders series by Robert Jackson Bennett, a Reader’s ability is more or less similar to the magic system in that series: Scriving. The main conflict of the story of Calder’s novel is pretty much the same as Shera’s story, it revolves around the Heart of Nakothi, except that this time, obviously, the story is told from Calder’s POV. I was seriously afraid that reading Shera’s book would ruin my enjoyment of Calder’s story, and although it’s true some events lose their impacts because I knew how they would unfold already, there were still more than plenty of new content to immerse myself in. For example, in Shera’s first book, we get to see the details of being a Gardener in the Consultant’s Guild and also their role in the Empire; there’s almost none of that here. Instead, we learn about more about the Elders, the Guilds—especially Blackwatch and Navigator’s Guild—and also more details into Reader’s ability. Similar to Shera’s, though, Wight fleshed out Calder’s character using two timelines: the past and present day. The chapters on Calder’s past were most likely the most enjoyable aspect of the book for me. Not only they’re uncharted territories, but the injustice and some harsh events he encountered in his past were also gripping.
I’ve been asked several times which one would be better to read first, and whether both are necessary to read. My answers to those would be to choose whichever you want to start your adventure with, but make sure to eventually read both. As I said before, there’s still a lot to learn even if you’ve read the parallel novel. Details from both books combined made this parallel series one big fantasy novel of assassin versus pirates with great characters, actions, and world-building. Of Sea and Shadow was almost as good as its counterpart, and it’s highly probable if I’ve read this one first, I might have enjoyed this one more. I definitely look forward to continuing Shera and Calder’s journey again.
You can order the book from: Amazon UK | Amazon US | Book Depository (Free shipping)
You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions
Special thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for giving me extra support towards my passion for reading and reviewing!
My Patrons: Alfred, Devin, Hamad, Jimmy Nutts, Joie, Mike, Miracle, Nicholas.
“The successful man visualizes success rather than failure,”
Having just finished reading and reviewing Of Shadow and Sea two days ago, I will inform you first now that this Of Sea and Shadow review will focus mainly on what I found superior or inferior comparatively. That means I won’t be repeating what I’ve talked about in detail on my review Of Shadow and Sea again here. Please do note that my experience of reading this novel was indeed affected because I’ve read Of Shadow and Sea before; if I’ve read Of Sea and Shadow first instead, there’s a good chance that I would enjoy it more.
“The wise man is not blinded by gold, but only a fool turns it down.”
Calder Marten is a Reader, a person who can read and manipulate the Intent of objects; they’re individuals who could see visions of the past, goals for the future, and many more aspects contained in an object. If you’ve read The Founders series by Robert Jackson Bennett, a Reader’s ability is more or less similar to the magic system in that series: Scriving. The main conflict of the story of Calder’s novel is pretty much the same as Shera’s story, it revolves around the Heart of Nakothi, except that this time, obviously, the story is told from Calder’s POV. I was seriously afraid that reading Shera’s book would ruin my enjoyment of Calder’s story, and although it’s true some events lose their impacts because I knew how they would unfold already, there were still more than plenty of new content to immerse myself in. For example, in Shera’s first book, we get to see the details of being a Gardener in the Consultant’s Guild and also their role in the Empire; there’s almost none of that here. Instead, we learn about more about the Elders, the Guilds—especially Blackwatch and Navigator’s Guild—and also more details into Reader’s ability. Similar to Shera’s, though, Wight fleshed out Calder’s character using two timelines: the past and present day. The chapters on Calder’s past were most likely the most enjoyable aspect of the book for me. Not only they’re uncharted territories, but the injustice and some harsh events he encountered in his past were also gripping.
“When men govern according to their own petty concerns, rather than for the good of all mankind, then war becomes an inevitability.”
I’ve been asked several times which one would be better to read first, and whether both are necessary to read. My answers to those would be to choose whichever you want to start your adventure with, but make sure to eventually read both. As I said before, there’s still a lot to learn even if you’ve read the parallel novel. Details from both books combined made this parallel series one big fantasy novel of assassin versus pirates with great characters, actions, and world-building. Of Sea and Shadow was almost as good as its counterpart, and it’s highly probable if I’ve read this one first, I might have enjoyed this one more. I definitely look forward to continuing Shera and Calder’s journey again.
“Anger is a cruel thief,” Sadesthenes said. “It gives one the illusion of focus while stealing away the real thing.”
You can order the book from: Amazon UK | Amazon US | Book Depository (Free shipping)
You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions
Special thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for giving me extra support towards my passion for reading and reviewing!
My Patrons: Alfred, Devin, Hamad, Jimmy Nutts, Joie, Mike, Miracle, Nicholas.
July 4, 2023
The Emperor of the Aurelian Empire has protected humanity from the Elders for over a thousand years. Now the Emperor is dead. Some like the Consultant's Guild have thrived in the chaos since his passing while others seek to restore the Empire by raising a new Emperor. To do that they need the help of The Navigators Guild, the only guild who can travel through the treacherous Aion Sea. Calder Martin and his crew aboard The Testament are setting out to locate the Heart of Nakothi to help raise a new Emperor. The Consultant's Guild however is out to stop them.
After re-reading Of Sea and Shadow, my review largely remained the same. I found myself enjoying and relating to Calder and his crew. However after re-reading the parallel novel Of Shadow and Sea, I felt I had to revise this review because I spoke ill of Of Shadow and Sea and I no longer feel that way.
That leads me to one of my major gripes with The Elder Empire series as a whole. The series is made up of dual novels for a total of 6 books. Three are told from the perspective of the Sea with Calder Marten, his crew, and his allies. Three are told from the perspective of Shadow with Shera, the Consultant's Guild, and her allies. The books have overlap as the two factions interact, but each book goes into details its parallel novel does not. The goal as you read the series is that you read each book one, each book two, and finally each book three. My preference would've been three longer books encompassing the overall story rather than 6 books with split perspectives.
On my initial time reading through the series I started with Of Shadow and Sea and I didn't enjoy it that much. On my re-read of the series I began with Of Sea and Shadow to mix things up. My experience with Of Shadow and Sea was very different this time. That could have been because I read Of Shadow and Sea first or perhaps it is because of a different perspective since I have read the entire series already. There were aspects in Of Shadow and Sea that I didn't remember at all and I'd say I prefer this book to Of Sea and Shadow after re-reading both.
I did enjoy the characters in Of Sea and Shadow. Calder Martin has lived an interesting life. His upbringing was quite different having lived with his thief father and Blackwatch mother at different times. He has a reason for all he does even if it is largely self serving at times. He has quite the crew as well who are dedicated to him even if they like to make fun of him. Andel the former member of the Luminian Order is the Quartermaster and the voice of reason. Urzaia Woodsman is a former Champion and the ships cook. He is a deadly combatant and his title of being a Champion brings fear to any who oppose them. The famous Dalton Foster is the Gunner. Petal is a self trained alchemist. Jyrinne or Jerri is Calder's wife. They are an eclectic bunch who are quite effective on the Aion Sea and in a fight.
Of Sea and Shadow is a good beginning that helps to lay out the current and past state of the Aurelian Empire. The difference in perspective between Calder's side and Shera's side is significant. Reading each book is necessary to get a balanced perspective of the series, the characters, and the events taking place.
My initial review
After re-reading Of Sea and Shadow, my review largely remained the same. I found myself enjoying and relating to Calder and his crew. However after re-reading the parallel novel Of Shadow and Sea, I felt I had to revise this review because I spoke ill of Of Shadow and Sea and I no longer feel that way.
That leads me to one of my major gripes with The Elder Empire series as a whole. The series is made up of dual novels for a total of 6 books. Three are told from the perspective of the Sea with Calder Marten, his crew, and his allies. Three are told from the perspective of Shadow with Shera, the Consultant's Guild, and her allies. The books have overlap as the two factions interact, but each book goes into details its parallel novel does not. The goal as you read the series is that you read each book one, each book two, and finally each book three. My preference would've been three longer books encompassing the overall story rather than 6 books with split perspectives.
On my initial time reading through the series I started with Of Shadow and Sea and I didn't enjoy it that much. On my re-read of the series I began with Of Sea and Shadow to mix things up. My experience with Of Shadow and Sea was very different this time. That could have been because I read Of Shadow and Sea first or perhaps it is because of a different perspective since I have read the entire series already. There were aspects in Of Shadow and Sea that I didn't remember at all and I'd say I prefer this book to Of Sea and Shadow after re-reading both.
I did enjoy the characters in Of Sea and Shadow. Calder Martin has lived an interesting life. His upbringing was quite different having lived with his thief father and Blackwatch mother at different times. He has a reason for all he does even if it is largely self serving at times. He has quite the crew as well who are dedicated to him even if they like to make fun of him. Andel the former member of the Luminian Order is the Quartermaster and the voice of reason. Urzaia Woodsman is a former Champion and the ships cook. He is a deadly combatant and his title of being a Champion brings fear to any who oppose them. The famous Dalton Foster is the Gunner. Petal is a self trained alchemist. Jyrinne or Jerri is Calder's wife. They are an eclectic bunch who are quite effective on the Aion Sea and in a fight.
Of Sea and Shadow is a good beginning that helps to lay out the current and past state of the Aurelian Empire. The difference in perspective between Calder's side and Shera's side is significant. Reading each book is necessary to get a balanced perspective of the series, the characters, and the events taking place.
My initial review
October 15, 2015
Excellent read! I picked up this book right after I finished THE TRAVELER'S GATE trilogy because I loved it so much and I was not disappointed.
This book was awesome and it didn't suffer from the same writing and story telling problems that bothered me in the TG trilogy. This book is tight and symmetrical. The writing and plot are a joy to behold. As in the TG trilogy, the magic system is original and interesting.
From what I understand, this series has two POVs: CALDER, a profit driven, pirate-like "Navigator"and Shera, a sleepy, assassin-like "Consultant.". These two are on opposite sides of a battle to decide the fate of an empire whose emperor had been murdered. The twist is that instead of switching between POVs in one book, each character has their own book which covers mirroring time periods. Confused? It's not the idea. It's that I'm a moron at explaining...
So, there are two book ones and two book twos and so on. I started with Calder but it doesn't matter which book you start with. Anywho, now I'm confused...
If you haven't discovered Will Wight yet, get on the ball. His books rock.
Highly recommended.
This book was awesome and it didn't suffer from the same writing and story telling problems that bothered me in the TG trilogy. This book is tight and symmetrical. The writing and plot are a joy to behold. As in the TG trilogy, the magic system is original and interesting.
From what I understand, this series has two POVs: CALDER, a profit driven, pirate-like "Navigator"and Shera, a sleepy, assassin-like "Consultant.". These two are on opposite sides of a battle to decide the fate of an empire whose emperor had been murdered. The twist is that instead of switching between POVs in one book, each character has their own book which covers mirroring time periods. Confused? It's not the idea. It's that I'm a moron at explaining...
So, there are two book ones and two book twos and so on. I started with Calder but it doesn't matter which book you start with. Anywho, now I'm confused...
If you haven't discovered Will Wight yet, get on the ball. His books rock.
Highly recommended.
November 3, 2024
3.75/5
This was really my shit... Monsters, naval battles, an evil emperor everyone worshipped and an MC who loves looking for trouble.
The magic system reminded me a lot of Foundryside.
I didn't entirely vibe with the plot twists and missing information tho.
I don't know if I need to read book 2 or book 1 of the tandem series, but I'm definitely continuing.
This was really my shit... Monsters, naval battles, an evil emperor everyone worshipped and an MC who loves looking for trouble.
The magic system reminded me a lot of Foundryside.
I didn't entirely vibe with the plot twists and missing information tho.
I don't know if I need to read book 2 or book 1 of the tandem series, but I'm definitely continuing.
March 15, 2019
Pirates vs. Ninjas, but on an epic scale
Dynamic characters and incredible world building. The dual story was a fun idea, too. Can't wait to read the story from Shera's perspective in Of Shadow and Sea
Dynamic characters and incredible world building. The dual story was a fun idea, too. Can't wait to read the story from Shera's perspective in Of Shadow and Sea
August 10, 2020
Holy crap. Imagine if Kings of the Wyld was written by Brandon Sanderson and instead of a band of warriors it’s a pirate crew. Yeah. That good.
I really enjoyed the pacing of this one. It’s laid out in a way that flashbacks and small excerpts of letters from teacher to student help progress the plot and understanding of the world organically. World-building and no info dump in sight, it’s a miracle!
This structure also worked to keep a level of mystery to the cast of characters for me. I fully enjoyed seeing the unfolding of information and backstory in this style.
Also, a series with parallel companion books? Something completely new to me!
I really enjoyed the pacing of this one. It’s laid out in a way that flashbacks and small excerpts of letters from teacher to student help progress the plot and understanding of the world organically. World-building and no info dump in sight, it’s a miracle!
This structure also worked to keep a level of mystery to the cast of characters for me. I fully enjoyed seeing the unfolding of information and backstory in this style.
Also, a series with parallel companion books? Something completely new to me!
Want to read
September 25, 2023pirates? count. me. in.
January 18, 2023
3.5 stars—-
January 17, 2021
I've put off Will Wright similar to Jeff Wheeler simply because they're like a social media star on Amazon involved in every sales, ad or recommendation in a manner that ubiquitous doesn't begin to explain.
Probably not fair.
This book was very good. I haven't read anything with a steam punk flavor that's been better than fair in a long time so this was very refreshing. I liked the world and the characters who although sticking to traditional themes were not over the top parodies.
I will continue this parallel duel series with great expectations.
Probably not fair.
This book was very good. I haven't read anything with a steam punk flavor that's been better than fair in a long time so this was very refreshing. I liked the world and the characters who although sticking to traditional themes were not over the top parodies.
I will continue this parallel duel series with great expectations.
November 14, 2019
Will Wight is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. I became a little bored during the middle third of the book but it quickly resolved and was great fun in the end. His magic systems are very unique and I love his characters. It seems that the majority of new fantasy being written is very grim and dark aka George R. R. Martin. Will Wight's books (including this one) are very fun and I love reading them.
May 9, 2023
I just haven’t been having much luck with books lately. I haven’t enjoyed hardly any that I’ve read this past month or so, this one included. I thought I’d like Calder and in the first half, I did but still didn’t care for him or the other characters if that makes sense. The moment he put on that crown, he came off as nothing but an arrogant asshat. I couldn’t stand him after he started barking commands at everyone in his path. I was so annoyed that I don’t even know how he ended up with it and I’m sure it said in there somewhere. Oh well. I won’t be continuing the series.
February 14, 2024
A very solid first entry to this series!
The biggest thing I loved here was by far the worldbuilding. The magic of this series is really, really cool and I loved seeing how it was applied and explored. There are also some slight Lovecraftian elements to this book with the Great Elders, near-unknowable beings who are so far beyond humanity. It’s not full-on Lovecraft but it’s close enough that it made my little Cthulhu Mythos-loving heart happy. I also loved a lot of scenes in this book. There are some great moments of action, worldbuilding, and excitement throughout the book that I really enjoyed. There’s also a cool structure here, going back and forth between present and flashback, which I really liked. The flashbacks may have actually been my favorite part of the book.
As for negatives, I do think the story and characters were not super memorable. There were lots of great individual moments, and all of the characters are good and serviceable, but neither the characters or overarching plot are that memorable to me. They get the job done, but other aspects of the book were far more engaging to me.
Overall this was a really enjoyable read. While the plot and characters weren’t quite amazing in my opinion, the great moments and fantastic worldbuilding at least nearly makes up for it. I’m excited to see where things go in the next entry.
Rating: 8/10
The biggest thing I loved here was by far the worldbuilding. The magic of this series is really, really cool and I loved seeing how it was applied and explored. There are also some slight Lovecraftian elements to this book with the Great Elders, near-unknowable beings who are so far beyond humanity. It’s not full-on Lovecraft but it’s close enough that it made my little Cthulhu Mythos-loving heart happy. I also loved a lot of scenes in this book. There are some great moments of action, worldbuilding, and excitement throughout the book that I really enjoyed. There’s also a cool structure here, going back and forth between present and flashback, which I really liked. The flashbacks may have actually been my favorite part of the book.
As for negatives, I do think the story and characters were not super memorable. There were lots of great individual moments, and all of the characters are good and serviceable, but neither the characters or overarching plot are that memorable to me. They get the job done, but other aspects of the book were far more engaging to me.
Overall this was a really enjoyable read. While the plot and characters weren’t quite amazing in my opinion, the great moments and fantastic worldbuilding at least nearly makes up for it. I’m excited to see where things go in the next entry.
Rating: 8/10
June 29, 2021
I love the concept of this series - two trilogies that run simultaneous and cover varying perspectives. The world is very unique, too, unlike any other fantasy world I’ve delved into before. Elder (Gods) who used to rule the world are asleep and the world is run by humans, who must continuously fight to stay in control.
I just wish the characters were more like-able. I didn’t connect with the main voice in this, and I didn’t feel like I got to know the other characters well enough to form an opinion.
I just wish the characters were more like-able. I didn’t connect with the main voice in this, and I didn’t feel like I got to know the other characters well enough to form an opinion.
April 21, 2021
Rating: 4.6/5
Review: Surprisingly, this novel suffered none of the story line progression and continuity issues that the Travelers Gate series had. The character development flowed smoothly along with the movement, the depth of the MC’s was compelling and the supporting cast, fascinating. A really well put together novel.
Not really a lot to shjtpick about other than Jyrine’s vague justified presence in the Grayweather household. A weak presence that grows into a formidable character.
Currently reading the next in the series, “Of Dawn and Darkness” and am still pleased.
August 19, 2023
A unique blend of elements inspired by the Gentleman Bastards series, the Cosmere, and the Lovecraftian mythos.
Rating: 4.25/5.
Detailed review to come shortly.
Rating: 4.25/5.
Detailed review to come shortly.
July 23, 2020
First things first: Are you new to the writings of Will Wight? Want to experience a master writer of epic, story-focused fantasy at his best and feel like starting with the Elder Empire series? Start here.
The only (big) reason this book was not a 5 star experience for me was because I thought to start with the sister novel, Of Shadow and Sea, believing from the blurbs it was possible to just dive in, as both were considered book one in a series. Personally, I think that this is not the case. I'd never read any of Mr Wight's novels, and as such knew nothing of his style or world mechanics. I shamefully thought that the withheld information and obscure references in the sister novel were a mark of poor story telling and world-building of the kind that frequently plagues indie fantasy novels.
This book cured me of any misapprehensions. The writing, the world-building, the tension... Can we get a chef's kiss?
However, having read it after finding the Shadow series opener a frustrating read, I felt a bit disappointed in having to re-read certain sections of the story in more detail considering I'd already read them. Also, I felt that the Shadow series reveals things later on that do take some of the mystery out of this story. I would have enjoyed both books so much more if I'd read them in the right order, understanding the world and how it worked (as presented here), before delving deeper into the little section of society the Shadow series opens up.
The story is a dark toned epic fantasy thing involving dead God-like beings, ambitious men, shadowy assassins, and a cheeky rogue who thought he was getting a good deal of gold for not much work. It's not the most original premise, but the world more than makes up for it.
I won't say I loved the character of Calder; he's you usual fantasy rogue/pirate who'll try his luck and get into scrapes because of it. He has a wife, though they never seem to show much of an emotional connection, which was a bit of a weakness considering how some of the narrative hangs on their supposed long-term relationship. If you're looking for love, it ain't on the Aion seas. The writer is much better at showing banter-driven friendship than attraction or romantic leanings, such as with Calder's crew of unlikely pirate-types. They might not be overly fleshed out, but they've got their quirks that makes each stand out. And while we're talking oddball, there's a wonderfully distinct character by the name of Bliss, head of the Blackwatch, who is fascinating... and reminds me immensely of a JRPG or anime character.
In fact, a lot of the characters and scenarios here had me thinking of the Tales of Xillia games because of their slightly outlandishness (and because despite being offered the "choice" of following the male character or female character when fresh into the world, play the female and you'll be left head-scratching until you go back and play the guy first - OK, I'll stop flogging that dead horse of irritation now).
An action-packed story of intrigue that would be greatly enhanced by following it with book 1 of the Shadow series. You could probably go without, but having read both I'd recommend it as a companion story that makes so much more of the world that's established here.
TL;DR: Proper good fantasy stuff. Masterful story-telling and world-building. I am certainly going to check out more.
The only (big) reason this book was not a 5 star experience for me was because I thought to start with the sister novel, Of Shadow and Sea, believing from the blurbs it was possible to just dive in, as both were considered book one in a series. Personally, I think that this is not the case. I'd never read any of Mr Wight's novels, and as such knew nothing of his style or world mechanics. I shamefully thought that the withheld information and obscure references in the sister novel were a mark of poor story telling and world-building of the kind that frequently plagues indie fantasy novels.
This book cured me of any misapprehensions. The writing, the world-building, the tension... Can we get a chef's kiss?
However, having read it after finding the Shadow series opener a frustrating read, I felt a bit disappointed in having to re-read certain sections of the story in more detail considering I'd already read them. Also, I felt that the Shadow series reveals things later on that do take some of the mystery out of this story. I would have enjoyed both books so much more if I'd read them in the right order, understanding the world and how it worked (as presented here), before delving deeper into the little section of society the Shadow series opens up.
The story is a dark toned epic fantasy thing involving dead God-like beings, ambitious men, shadowy assassins, and a cheeky rogue who thought he was getting a good deal of gold for not much work. It's not the most original premise, but the world more than makes up for it.
I won't say I loved the character of Calder; he's you usual fantasy rogue/pirate who'll try his luck and get into scrapes because of it. He has a wife, though they never seem to show much of an emotional connection, which was a bit of a weakness considering how some of the narrative hangs on their supposed long-term relationship. If you're looking for love, it ain't on the Aion seas. The writer is much better at showing banter-driven friendship than attraction or romantic leanings, such as with Calder's crew of unlikely pirate-types. They might not be overly fleshed out, but they've got their quirks that makes each stand out. And while we're talking oddball, there's a wonderfully distinct character by the name of Bliss, head of the Blackwatch, who is fascinating... and reminds me immensely of a JRPG or anime character.
In fact, a lot of the characters and scenarios here had me thinking of the Tales of Xillia games because of their slightly outlandishness (and because despite being offered the "choice" of following the male character or female character when fresh into the world, play the female and you'll be left head-scratching until you go back and play the guy first - OK, I'll stop flogging that dead horse of irritation now).
An action-packed story of intrigue that would be greatly enhanced by following it with book 1 of the Shadow series. You could probably go without, but having read both I'd recommend it as a companion story that makes so much more of the world that's established here.
TL;DR: Proper good fantasy stuff. Masterful story-telling and world-building. I am certainly going to check out more.
Read
January 14, 2015I loved Wight's Traveler's Gate series so picking this up was a no brainer. The whole idea of using two books, instead of one, to tell the story of two points of view intrigued me. The break from tradition where the stories are told in the same volume and intersect as needed means that whichever of these books you choose to start with will give you information you didn't have when reading the other. As Wight states these are both the first book in the series and both tell a complete story I don't where this experiment will take me but I am enjoying the journey thus far.
Will Wight is an amazing worldbuilder and I say that as a huge fan of Brandon Sanderson, Joe Abercrombie, and Brian McClellan. In fact I'd put him on par with any of those names simply for the fact his worlds are so interesting. He also ranks in my top authors for his magic systems which are well thought out, integrated in to the world so as to be inseparable, and just plain fun to read. This first book in a new world has pretty much secured Wight a place on my must read list, not that he wasn't there already based of the Traveler's Gate series, but Of Sea and Shadow cemented that decision very nicely.
I picked Of Sea And Shadow to read first because I've always like the use of seagoing characters in fantasy. The problem is that so many writers don't do it all that well. While there are no real ship to ship battles there is a theme of piracy in this volume. It's not overt but rather a hidden thought that runs underneath serving the empire. The external subtlety of this is one of the things that makes Calder, our hero, such and interesting character. His interactions with his crew, his wife, and the guilds really define his persona. Wight also makes the flashback trope work really well to help with character building by using both the flashback chapter and a characters who get flashes of the past when they touche an object. It's a very interesting gamble that paid off in deep character development without seeming contrived.
There are really two magic systems running parallel in this series. The first being imbuing objects with intent. The basics are simple, every time you use an object for a task you imbue it with Intent. Certain people, Readers, can read this Intent and have an easier time imbuing Intent. While that's a very basic overview and doesn't really include everything it's a system that's gorgeous in its simplicity. The other system is one in which powers are drawn from the Elders (Yes I did get a Lovecraft vibe from some of the verbiage). This system isn't explored as deeply in the POV we get in Of Sea And Shadow but it is a huge part of the main plot. I was very entertained with both systems and can't wait to see them explained further during this series.
I suck at writing reviews with vague plot descriptions so I won't even bother to try here. The plot itself is well thought out, the writing clean, and the editing well above average. The Elder Empire series has the promise to be even better that the Traveler's Gate series and that's a pretty high bar. I couldn't put this one down and finished in two days. It's a quick and easy read that flows really well. I cannot recommend this start to a new series highly enough.
Will Wight is an amazing worldbuilder and I say that as a huge fan of Brandon Sanderson, Joe Abercrombie, and Brian McClellan. In fact I'd put him on par with any of those names simply for the fact his worlds are so interesting. He also ranks in my top authors for his magic systems which are well thought out, integrated in to the world so as to be inseparable, and just plain fun to read. This first book in a new world has pretty much secured Wight a place on my must read list, not that he wasn't there already based of the Traveler's Gate series, but Of Sea and Shadow cemented that decision very nicely.
I picked Of Sea And Shadow to read first because I've always like the use of seagoing characters in fantasy. The problem is that so many writers don't do it all that well. While there are no real ship to ship battles there is a theme of piracy in this volume. It's not overt but rather a hidden thought that runs underneath serving the empire. The external subtlety of this is one of the things that makes Calder, our hero, such and interesting character. His interactions with his crew, his wife, and the guilds really define his persona. Wight also makes the flashback trope work really well to help with character building by using both the flashback chapter and a characters who get flashes of the past when they touche an object. It's a very interesting gamble that paid off in deep character development without seeming contrived.
There are really two magic systems running parallel in this series. The first being imbuing objects with intent. The basics are simple, every time you use an object for a task you imbue it with Intent. Certain people, Readers, can read this Intent and have an easier time imbuing Intent. While that's a very basic overview and doesn't really include everything it's a system that's gorgeous in its simplicity. The other system is one in which powers are drawn from the Elders (Yes I did get a Lovecraft vibe from some of the verbiage). This system isn't explored as deeply in the POV we get in Of Sea And Shadow but it is a huge part of the main plot. I was very entertained with both systems and can't wait to see them explained further during this series.
I suck at writing reviews with vague plot descriptions so I won't even bother to try here. The plot itself is well thought out, the writing clean, and the editing well above average. The Elder Empire series has the promise to be even better that the Traveler's Gate series and that's a pretty high bar. I couldn't put this one down and finished in two days. It's a quick and easy read that flows really well. I cannot recommend this start to a new series highly enough.
February 8, 2016
This is the second "book 1" of Will Wight's "The Elder Empire" series. I actually read the companion book, creatively titled "Of Shadow and Sea" first, which, I believe colors my perceptions of this book somewhat.
This book follows the opposing point of view from the first book. In "Of Shadow.." we follow Shera, an assassin always looking for her next nap with Calder as one of the main antagonists. In "Of Sea.." this is reversed as we read most of the book through Calder's POV. In both books, there are intermittent flashback chapters that serve to show us formative experiences in the main character's background and help to flesh out the world building that Wight has done, and done pretty well I think. Just like I said in my review of "Of Shadow..", these flashbacks are very similar to the "Stormlight Chronicles" flashbacks in that they tend to build towards an event that is obliquely referenced in the "present time" chapters and is dramatic and shocking. I will say that, in both books, I thought I knew what the event was going to be, and in both cases I was about half wrong.
This format is very interesting because of the conflicting points of view. I suppose they could have been interwoven Game of Thrones-style, but having two separate books means that you have your perception completely molded by one book before starting the second instead of gradually built up by switching in between the two. This is reflected, I believe, in some of the reviews for "Of Shadow.." that I read in which people who read "Of Sea.." first seemed to have lesser opinions of Shera and the Consultants than Calder and his crew. I wouldn't say I'm completely opposite, but I am inclined to support "Team Shera", if such a thing exists. More than anything, the two books illustrate what happens when people have to act with limited knowledge of the oppositions goals and motivations.
Both books are set in a world of humanity that, until recently, had been completely united in an Empire ruled by a long-lived and powerful Emperor. The death of the Emperor has thrown the future of the Empire into chaos with some factions wanting to maintain the status quo, some wanting a new Emperor, and some wanting a dissolution of the Empire. While the commoner may have little opinion on the matter, we observe the machinations of the different Guilds: sanctioned groups of specialists who have different powers and purposes and different goals and visions for the crumbling Empire. After reading both books, my conception of which side is "in the right" and what solution is correct is predictably scrambled. It will be interesting to see how things come together as the series goes along.
Its hard to rate one book after reading both. Wight continues his penchant for irreverence (realistic?) depiction of his characters that I enjoy. I think the world building is solid and complex, and the magic system is interesting and fairly well thought out and explained. I'm not sure what differentiates a Reader from a normal person (midi-chlorians??) but it's fine. I wouldn't describe these books as "moving", but they are a lot of fun and I'm hoping the next set doesn't take too long.
This book follows the opposing point of view from the first book. In "Of Shadow.." we follow Shera, an assassin always looking for her next nap with Calder as one of the main antagonists. In "Of Sea.." this is reversed as we read most of the book through Calder's POV. In both books, there are intermittent flashback chapters that serve to show us formative experiences in the main character's background and help to flesh out the world building that Wight has done, and done pretty well I think. Just like I said in my review of "Of Shadow..", these flashbacks are very similar to the "Stormlight Chronicles" flashbacks in that they tend to build towards an event that is obliquely referenced in the "present time" chapters and is dramatic and shocking. I will say that, in both books, I thought I knew what the event was going to be, and in both cases I was about half wrong.
This format is very interesting because of the conflicting points of view. I suppose they could have been interwoven Game of Thrones-style, but having two separate books means that you have your perception completely molded by one book before starting the second instead of gradually built up by switching in between the two. This is reflected, I believe, in some of the reviews for "Of Shadow.." that I read in which people who read "Of Sea.." first seemed to have lesser opinions of Shera and the Consultants than Calder and his crew. I wouldn't say I'm completely opposite, but I am inclined to support "Team Shera", if such a thing exists. More than anything, the two books illustrate what happens when people have to act with limited knowledge of the oppositions goals and motivations.
Both books are set in a world of humanity that, until recently, had been completely united in an Empire ruled by a long-lived and powerful Emperor. The death of the Emperor has thrown the future of the Empire into chaos with some factions wanting to maintain the status quo, some wanting a new Emperor, and some wanting a dissolution of the Empire. While the commoner may have little opinion on the matter, we observe the machinations of the different Guilds: sanctioned groups of specialists who have different powers and purposes and different goals and visions for the crumbling Empire. After reading both books, my conception of which side is "in the right" and what solution is correct is predictably scrambled. It will be interesting to see how things come together as the series goes along.
Its hard to rate one book after reading both. Wight continues his penchant for irreverence (realistic?) depiction of his characters that I enjoy. I think the world building is solid and complex, and the magic system is interesting and fairly well thought out and explained. I'm not sure what differentiates a Reader from a normal person (midi-chlorians??) but it's fine. I wouldn't describe these books as "moving", but they are a lot of fun and I'm hoping the next set doesn't take too long.
July 4, 2020
The Elder gods/monsters could have easily stepped out of a Lovecraft novel. Very imaginative, magic galore with constant action amidst creepy creatures and humans.
I would suggest reading the two series, shadow and sea in tandem. You'll find they complement each other.
I would suggest reading the two series, shadow and sea in tandem. You'll find they complement each other.
dnf
May 29, 2022DNF like 60 something in probably? I just realized I had no investment or idea what was going on. Maybe I’ll come back to this but I think I’d need to reread it physically or something to truly get invested again
November 5, 2024
This book can be summed up in three words: intriguing, interesting, and entertaining. If you’re looking for a fantasy with ships, pirates, and adventure on the high seas, this book has you covered. I was definitely in the mood for a good naval fantasy, and this story scratched that itch perfectly.
The world-building here is unique and pulls you in. Magic binds certain characters to specific objects, and each guild (that characters are part of) come with their own morals, adding a lot of personality to the world. It’s the kind of story you can really get lost in, but it’s not a beginner-friendly fantasy. There’s a lot to keep track of with different factions and detailed lore, but once you get the hang of it, the story becomes really absorbing.
The book also shifts between two timelines, which I thought was done really well. Both timelines were equally engaging, which kept things interesting.
However, there were a few downsides. Sometimes, the story relied on convenient solutions, especially in dangerous scenes. If you don’t enjoy easy resolutions to life-or-death moments, these parts might feel a bit frustrating. The sequel might explore these scenes more, but here they occasionally felt like shortcuts.
I also didn’t enjoy the god-like entities in the story. Personally, I’m not a fan of gods or religious elements in books, so that part didn’t really work for me. And then there were the Eldritch horror elements—monsters that felt more like something out of sci-fi than fantasy. If I’d known in advance about these “tentacle-human-bat hybrids” and lots more strange creatures, I probably wouldn’t have picked this up. I love monsters like in The Witcher, but the strange hodgepodge of creatures in here just wasn't for me.
One last thing, no map. For a world this complex, a map would have been helpful to make it easier to visualise the world.
Verdict: I enjoyed reading this book, but I won’t be continuing the series. I suspect the next books will lean even more into the gods and monster elements, and that’s just not my thing. But overall, this was a fun read, and fans of dark, sea-based fantasy will probably enjoy it a lot.
The world-building here is unique and pulls you in. Magic binds certain characters to specific objects, and each guild (that characters are part of) come with their own morals, adding a lot of personality to the world. It’s the kind of story you can really get lost in, but it’s not a beginner-friendly fantasy. There’s a lot to keep track of with different factions and detailed lore, but once you get the hang of it, the story becomes really absorbing.
The book also shifts between two timelines, which I thought was done really well. Both timelines were equally engaging, which kept things interesting.
However, there were a few downsides. Sometimes, the story relied on convenient solutions, especially in dangerous scenes. If you don’t enjoy easy resolutions to life-or-death moments, these parts might feel a bit frustrating. The sequel might explore these scenes more, but here they occasionally felt like shortcuts.
I also didn’t enjoy the god-like entities in the story. Personally, I’m not a fan of gods or religious elements in books, so that part didn’t really work for me. And then there were the Eldritch horror elements—monsters that felt more like something out of sci-fi than fantasy. If I’d known in advance about these “tentacle-human-bat hybrids” and lots more strange creatures, I probably wouldn’t have picked this up. I love monsters like in The Witcher, but the strange hodgepodge of creatures in here just wasn't for me.
One last thing, no map. For a world this complex, a map would have been helpful to make it easier to visualise the world.
Verdict: I enjoyed reading this book, but I won’t be continuing the series. I suspect the next books will lean even more into the gods and monster elements, and that’s just not my thing. But overall, this was a fun read, and fans of dark, sea-based fantasy will probably enjoy it a lot.
February 2, 2022
3.5 out of 5 (happy to round up to 4). I think it's a good story, a fun tale of pirates vs ninjas with some magic thrown in. But the descriptions get tedious and drone on but are not good enough to really help me picture the whole event. It will describe something too quickly then move on to describe something else. It keeps the story going but it makes it harder to follow.
That being said, by the end I knew all I needed to know to understand the story. The overdone and yet underdone descriptions don't make the book hard to get into.
We don't really learn some of the bigger magic systems and world building until the end. And not like a plot twist or the climax, just wrapping it up. I am curious to read the other first book from the other perspective as well as the next book, assuming it continues the same story. I am curious to learn more.
That being said, by the end I knew all I needed to know to understand the story. The overdone and yet underdone descriptions don't make the book hard to get into.
We don't really learn some of the bigger magic systems and world building until the end. And not like a plot twist or the climax, just wrapping it up. I am curious to read the other first book from the other perspective as well as the next book, assuming it continues the same story. I am curious to learn more.
September 18, 2022
I didn't think that I would like the Sea version of the story more than I liked the Shadow version, but I do.
I like the camaraderie. I like how Calder constantly razzes his crew and they razz him back. They have a good relationship based on mutual trust and respect, instead of a relationship based on mutual brainwashing and training like Shera and the other Consultants.
Not only that, but I like Bliss. I think she might possibly be my favorite character, and I would love to know more about her. I'm almost sad that I have to work my way through another Shadow book before I get to find out more about her.
I like the camaraderie. I like how Calder constantly razzes his crew and they razz him back. They have a good relationship based on mutual trust and respect, instead of a relationship based on mutual brainwashing and training like Shera and the other Consultants.
Not only that, but I like Bliss. I think she might possibly be my favorite character, and I would love to know more about her. I'm almost sad that I have to work my way through another Shadow book before I get to find out more about her.
September 16, 2025
I’ve read enough fantasy books where they each remind me of others. In this case I was reminded of three previous tales. I fear that after a while, they all start to blend together.
What was especially good about this one was the closeness of Calder’s crew. Not all the crew members were fully realized but that may happen in subsequent volumes. I thought the gladiator / cook had the most interesting history. The monsters were suitably terrifying, disgusting, or both.
The switches between past and present got confusing; the background was important but it would have been clearer to have it in the first half of the book. I started by reading the glossary and the guide to the Guilds but that was almost an excess of information; it was easier to just start reading at the beginning and figure things out from context.
I enjoyed these adventures and I may read more in the series. I thought this first one was good but not fabulous.
What was especially good about this one was the closeness of Calder’s crew. Not all the crew members were fully realized but that may happen in subsequent volumes. I thought the gladiator / cook had the most interesting history. The monsters were suitably terrifying, disgusting, or both.
The switches between past and present got confusing; the background was important but it would have been clearer to have it in the first half of the book. I started by reading the glossary and the guide to the Guilds but that was almost an excess of information; it was easier to just start reading at the beginning and figure things out from context.
I enjoyed these adventures and I may read more in the series. I thought this first one was good but not fabulous.
October 12, 2020
This is a different fantasy book. Like if Lovecraft met Samuel Taylor Coleridge and they wrote a steampunk fantasy, like a darker Brandon Sanderson.
Yeah, it's that weird. In a good sense. It was slow going in the beginning, on account of it being weird and dropping you in the deep end of the ocean (see what I did there?). But after you get into it, it gets going, fast. The world-building is deep, the characters have hidden dimensions and there is always a forward motion for them.
Now off to read the other first book...
Yeah, it's that weird. In a good sense. It was slow going in the beginning, on account of it being weird and dropping you in the deep end of the ocean (see what I did there?). But after you get into it, it gets going, fast. The world-building is deep, the characters have hidden dimensions and there is always a forward motion for them.
Now off to read the other first book...
December 22, 2022
I liked the overall concept and plot of the story, the thing holding me back from a five star rating is the author. The author is constantly repeating information, most of the time in the same words he has done so before. I really didn’t need seven descriptions of the black watch crest. There were cases when i thought my audiobook had jumped backwards because succeeding passages began with same plot/information dump.
Bliss as a character is a blast, so much fun and creepiness compacted in such a tiny person.
Also there seems to be a miniature version of Cthulhu as comic relief.
Bliss as a character is a blast, so much fun and creepiness compacted in such a tiny person.
Also there seems to be a miniature version of Cthulhu as comic relief.
June 8, 2021
What fun! Swashbuckling with a healthy dose of old magic. I love this world where items can be infused with intent and their histories read; the soul-bound and the elders/their spawn make for great titans of adventure. I’m going to have to switch sides and read the ninja perspective next, before continuing on
September 22, 2021
storygraph rating: 3.75
Ultimately, I liked this story a lot. A promising start to another interesting series from Will Wight.
TLDR, this is a more ambitious first novel than either "Unsouled" (Cradle #1) or "House of Blades" (Traveler's Gate #1), but the sheer volume and complexity Wight is trying to achieve deserved (or needed) a longer novel. The result is a novel which promises much but ultimately delivers more breadth than depth. However, it largely recovers itself by the denouement, and there are five more books in this series which can potentially make up for the error, so I have high hopes.
To go more in-depth, a little background is required. The six book Elder Empire series is actually a pair of complementary trilogies taking place in the same universe concurrently, called (perhaps somewhat obviously) the "Sea" and "Shadow" books. The complement to this first book is called "Of Shadow and Sea," and as far as I could tell I could have read either this book or that book first. While I'm not yet entirely sure what the relation between each complementary pair will be, the conceit represents Wight's most ambitious narrative architecture yet.
In addition to a more daring structure, Wight also tries to fit way more STUFF in this first (or half-first) novel than in his other first novels. More characters, more (personal and world) history, more advanced storytelling devices, and more lore. Above all, more lore. And I love that! I want to see ambition in a novel - I'd prefer a passably-executed novel of great ambition than a perfectly executed book of tired tropes and worn plots (which, to digress briefly, is why "The Last Jedi" is the least bad of the Sequel Trilogy; it may be a poorly paced mix of plot holes and character deviations, but at least it tries to be something other than a boring rewrite of "A New Hope" or whatever the hell we want to call the shitshow that was "The Rise of Skywalker' - I can respect Johnson's failed ambition far more than Abram's professional and polished turd).
"Of Sea and Shadow," unlike the first novels of the Cradle and Traveler's Gate, features a protagonist who isn't a neophyte in his own world. He's not an isolated villager who doesn't understand the history, magic, or politics of his milieu, he's an experienced Captain. This means that the easiest expositional device (I don't know the name, but the deal where the main character is as clueless about the world as you - Harry Potter arriving to Hogwarts knowing nothing about magic, Percy Jackson knowing nothing about Demigods and such, etc. - it's a super common way to ease exposition, so I assume it has a name) is not available to Wight. This shouldn't be an issue, as there are just as many novels which don't use that sort of crutch to introduce their world and its lore, but for Wight it presents an issue where it feels for about 2/3 of the novel that he's sort of not giving any given element its due. He presents a dual storyline where he switches back and forth between a flashback sequence and the present day of the novel (think "Lies of Locke Lamora"), which works fine, but because there is such a vast amount of conceptual work to be done in addition to character development and worldbuilding, we end up feeling somewhat rushed. Again, this mostly evens out toward the end of the novel, but until then one is left with the impression NOT that there is mystery he's leaving unexplained, but rather that what's being explained to us isn't being given its due weight and consideration.
I do want to reiterate that all the elements of this story are SUPER interesting - great characters, intricate politics, eldritch creatures, a unique magic system, etc - but until the end of the book you feel like your interactions with each element are pretty surface-level. The breadth far outpaces the depth. However, like I said above, I want to see ambition in a novel; if it takes a novel or two of cramped exposition to lay the groundwork for a towering edifice later in the series, then so much the better. I'll be more than willing to forgive it.
I rated this novel 3.75 stars in accordance with the Guide below, because while the flaw is significant, the story still went hard enough to compensate, and I have high hopes for the rest of the series.
———————————————————————————
Guide to my Rating Scale, based on the Storygraph Rating:
* 5 Stars: This book was more or less flawless. One of the best things I’ve ever read.
* 4.75 through 4.25 Stars: This book had slight flaws, but I REALLY loved it. Marked as 4 stars on Goodreads.
* 4 Stars: This book had slight flaws, but I loved it.
* 3.75 through 3.25 Stars: This book had significant flaws, but I REALLY liked it. Marked as 3 stars on Goodreads.
* 3 Stars: This book had significant flaws, but I liked it just fine.
* 2.75 through 2.25 Stars: This book was extremely flawed, but I thought it had some merit. Marked as 2 stars on Goodreads.
* 2 Stars: This book was extremely flawed, but I didn’t actively dislike it. It was a waste of my time but not odious.
* 1.75 through 1.25 Stars: This book was irreparably flawed, and I actively disliked it. Marked as 1 star on Goodreads.
* 1 Star: This book was irreparably flawed. I actively hated this book and am worse off for having read it.
Ultimately, I liked this story a lot. A promising start to another interesting series from Will Wight.
TLDR, this is a more ambitious first novel than either "Unsouled" (Cradle #1) or "House of Blades" (Traveler's Gate #1), but the sheer volume and complexity Wight is trying to achieve deserved (or needed) a longer novel. The result is a novel which promises much but ultimately delivers more breadth than depth. However, it largely recovers itself by the denouement, and there are five more books in this series which can potentially make up for the error, so I have high hopes.
To go more in-depth, a little background is required. The six book Elder Empire series is actually a pair of complementary trilogies taking place in the same universe concurrently, called (perhaps somewhat obviously) the "Sea" and "Shadow" books. The complement to this first book is called "Of Shadow and Sea," and as far as I could tell I could have read either this book or that book first. While I'm not yet entirely sure what the relation between each complementary pair will be, the conceit represents Wight's most ambitious narrative architecture yet.
In addition to a more daring structure, Wight also tries to fit way more STUFF in this first (or half-first) novel than in his other first novels. More characters, more (personal and world) history, more advanced storytelling devices, and more lore. Above all, more lore. And I love that! I want to see ambition in a novel - I'd prefer a passably-executed novel of great ambition than a perfectly executed book of tired tropes and worn plots (which, to digress briefly, is why "The Last Jedi" is the least bad of the Sequel Trilogy; it may be a poorly paced mix of plot holes and character deviations, but at least it tries to be something other than a boring rewrite of "A New Hope" or whatever the hell we want to call the shitshow that was "The Rise of Skywalker' - I can respect Johnson's failed ambition far more than Abram's professional and polished turd).
"Of Sea and Shadow," unlike the first novels of the Cradle and Traveler's Gate, features a protagonist who isn't a neophyte in his own world. He's not an isolated villager who doesn't understand the history, magic, or politics of his milieu, he's an experienced Captain. This means that the easiest expositional device (I don't know the name, but the deal where the main character is as clueless about the world as you - Harry Potter arriving to Hogwarts knowing nothing about magic, Percy Jackson knowing nothing about Demigods and such, etc. - it's a super common way to ease exposition, so I assume it has a name) is not available to Wight. This shouldn't be an issue, as there are just as many novels which don't use that sort of crutch to introduce their world and its lore, but for Wight it presents an issue where it feels for about 2/3 of the novel that he's sort of not giving any given element its due. He presents a dual storyline where he switches back and forth between a flashback sequence and the present day of the novel (think "Lies of Locke Lamora"), which works fine, but because there is such a vast amount of conceptual work to be done in addition to character development and worldbuilding, we end up feeling somewhat rushed. Again, this mostly evens out toward the end of the novel, but until then one is left with the impression NOT that there is mystery he's leaving unexplained, but rather that what's being explained to us isn't being given its due weight and consideration.
I do want to reiterate that all the elements of this story are SUPER interesting - great characters, intricate politics, eldritch creatures, a unique magic system, etc - but until the end of the book you feel like your interactions with each element are pretty surface-level. The breadth far outpaces the depth. However, like I said above, I want to see ambition in a novel; if it takes a novel or two of cramped exposition to lay the groundwork for a towering edifice later in the series, then so much the better. I'll be more than willing to forgive it.
I rated this novel 3.75 stars in accordance with the Guide below, because while the flaw is significant, the story still went hard enough to compensate, and I have high hopes for the rest of the series.
———————————————————————————
Guide to my Rating Scale, based on the Storygraph Rating:
* 5 Stars: This book was more or less flawless. One of the best things I’ve ever read.
* 4.75 through 4.25 Stars: This book had slight flaws, but I REALLY loved it. Marked as 4 stars on Goodreads.
* 4 Stars: This book had slight flaws, but I loved it.
* 3.75 through 3.25 Stars: This book had significant flaws, but I REALLY liked it. Marked as 3 stars on Goodreads.
* 3 Stars: This book had significant flaws, but I liked it just fine.
* 2.75 through 2.25 Stars: This book was extremely flawed, but I thought it had some merit. Marked as 2 stars on Goodreads.
* 2 Stars: This book was extremely flawed, but I didn’t actively dislike it. It was a waste of my time but not odious.
* 1.75 through 1.25 Stars: This book was irreparably flawed, and I actively disliked it. Marked as 1 star on Goodreads.
* 1 Star: This book was irreparably flawed. I actively hated this book and am worse off for having read it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 254 reviews