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The Legend of Eli Monpress #3
The Spirit Eater
With the pressure on after his success in Gaol, Eli Monpress, professional thief and degenerate, decides it's time to lie low for a bit. Taking up residence in a tiny seaside village, Eli and his companions seize the chance for some fun and relaxation.
Nico, however, is finding it a bit hard. Plagued by a demon's voice in her head and feeling powerless, she only sees herself as a burden. Everyone's holiday comes to an untimely close, though, when Pele arrives to beg Eli's help for finding her missing father.
But there are larger plans afoot than even Eli can see, and the real danger, and the solution, may lie with one of his own and her forgotten past.
If only Nico could remember whose side she's on.
Nico, however, is finding it a bit hard. Plagued by a demon's voice in her head and feeling powerless, she only sees herself as a burden. Everyone's holiday comes to an untimely close, though, when Pele arrives to beg Eli's help for finding her missing father.
But there are larger plans afoot than even Eli can see, and the real danger, and the solution, may lie with one of his own and her forgotten past.
If only Nico could remember whose side she's on.
422 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 30, 2010
92 people are currently reading
1337 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Aaron
34 books3,044 followersHello, my name is Rachel Aaron, and I write the Heartstriker books, a new Urban Fantasy series about misfit dragons, starting with Nice Dragons Finish Last. I also wrote The Legend of Eli Monpress fantasy series for Orbit Books about a wizard thief and the poor bastards who have to try and stop him. PLUS I'm also the author of the new, rolicking fun Science Fiction romance Fortune's Pawn under the name Rachel Bach.
I was born in Atlanta, but I currently live a lovely, nerdy, bookish life in Denver, CO with my lightspeed son, perpetually understanding husband, and far too many plants. Besides my own books, the internet knows me best for writing very fast. The best way to get to know me is probably to read my blog or follow me on Twitter.
I was born in Atlanta, but I currently live a lovely, nerdy, bookish life in Denver, CO with my lightspeed son, perpetually understanding husband, and far too many plants. Besides my own books, the internet knows me best for writing very fast. The best way to get to know me is probably to read my blog or follow me on Twitter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 258 reviews
May 4, 2019
3.5*
A more darker story and high on tension than the previous two books. Will definitely write a detailed review for this later.
A more darker story and high on tension than the previous two books. Will definitely write a detailed review for this later.
December 25, 2011
This is a REALLY good book. But first...
Let's talk about this cover. Who ordered all that eyeliner, what is going on, who is that supposed to be from the book? Nico? Are you frikkin' kidding me?! She would never put eyeliner on, I'm so confused why this looks like a Twilight sequel cover. UUUUUUUGH
Anyway, this is the best of the three books WRITING-WISE I've read in the series, which is exciting! What I love is that the author sets up stuff that will CLEARLY come back in the next book, but she does it in a way that you still feel really satisfied with THIS book. I hate it when a book feels filler-y, and this does NOT feel like that, although I can name 10 things I know will pay off next installment.
This book we learn a lot more about the bigger plot, about the lady in white, about demons and how they work, and we deal with Nico and her struggle to resist the demon inside her. Eli is as arrogant as ever, but he actually has some real character growth, which is nice to see. Josef and his sword as USUAL kick ass, and the bad guys do not disappoint in their badness or their plotiness.
I loved seeing the world fill out, the lore is really keeping up with the potential of the world, and as always, although a bit weightier plot, the sense of humor comes through strong. Love it! Can't wait for the next one!
Let's talk about this cover. Who ordered all that eyeliner, what is going on, who is that supposed to be from the book? Nico? Are you frikkin' kidding me?! She would never put eyeliner on, I'm so confused why this looks like a Twilight sequel cover. UUUUUUUGH
Anyway, this is the best of the three books WRITING-WISE I've read in the series, which is exciting! What I love is that the author sets up stuff that will CLEARLY come back in the next book, but she does it in a way that you still feel really satisfied with THIS book. I hate it when a book feels filler-y, and this does NOT feel like that, although I can name 10 things I know will pay off next installment.
This book we learn a lot more about the bigger plot, about the lady in white, about demons and how they work, and we deal with Nico and her struggle to resist the demon inside her. Eli is as arrogant as ever, but he actually has some real character growth, which is nice to see. Josef and his sword as USUAL kick ass, and the bad guys do not disappoint in their badness or their plotiness.
I loved seeing the world fill out, the lore is really keeping up with the potential of the world, and as always, although a bit weightier plot, the sense of humor comes through strong. Love it! Can't wait for the next one!
January 31, 2024
*** 4.42 ***
The series is imaginative and this book was absolutely gripping! I am so excited to see where the author takes us! 👍😊
The series is imaginative and this book was absolutely gripping! I am so excited to see where the author takes us! 👍😊
April 23, 2021
This installment was great, definitely my favourite so far for the depth of the world that we discover, and the characters and their pasts, which we see more of.
The main characters all feel very well developed and fleshed out at this point. I feel as though I really know Eli and Josef and Nico, we really learn more about their relationship and their pasts and presents. They all have their faults, but if they can find a way to work through them they are a pretty undeniable force. In this particular book it's very focused on Nico, and her constant battle against Demons, and I really enjoyed seeing all the factions we have seen in passing before come more to the forefront here.
Eli is also an enigma we're slowly discovering more about, he's "the favourite" but why and who for is quite the mystery up until now. We also find out about his parents here, which I had some suspicion about, but it's good to see more secrets revealed.
Josef remains fairly mysterious, but I think we'll soon learn more about him in the last books.
Miranda is another key character who is hunting Eli, and we've previously focused on her quite a lot, so in this one she's a little more minor, but she still has a solid plot which pulls in lots of the organisations we've seen before in passing.
The plot of this one revolves around the demons of the dead mountain, the demonseeds being released into the world, and a missing friend of Eli's. There are bears, bandits, wizards, demons and more. It's a pretty fun story, if a little more world-threatening and darker than the previous ones. I think the depth of complexity is certainly increasing as the story goes on.
4.5*s and I've immediately ordered the next ones to finish up the series.
The main characters all feel very well developed and fleshed out at this point. I feel as though I really know Eli and Josef and Nico, we really learn more about their relationship and their pasts and presents. They all have their faults, but if they can find a way to work through them they are a pretty undeniable force. In this particular book it's very focused on Nico, and her constant battle against Demons, and I really enjoyed seeing all the factions we have seen in passing before come more to the forefront here.
Eli is also an enigma we're slowly discovering more about, he's "the favourite" but why and who for is quite the mystery up until now. We also find out about his parents here, which I had some suspicion about, but it's good to see more secrets revealed.
Josef remains fairly mysterious, but I think we'll soon learn more about him in the last books.
Miranda is another key character who is hunting Eli, and we've previously focused on her quite a lot, so in this one she's a little more minor, but she still has a solid plot which pulls in lots of the organisations we've seen before in passing.
The plot of this one revolves around the demons of the dead mountain, the demonseeds being released into the world, and a missing friend of Eli's. There are bears, bandits, wizards, demons and more. It's a pretty fun story, if a little more world-threatening and darker than the previous ones. I think the depth of complexity is certainly increasing as the story goes on.
4.5*s and I've immediately ordered the next ones to finish up the series.
July 6, 2023
Fantastic! Absolutely adore this series and this was close to getting five stars from me. Can't wait to see what Rachel Aaron has in store for next couple of books. An auto-buy author for sure.
February 9, 2024
This was so good! 😊 I have been loving this series.
December 4, 2024
Una maravilla.
“You can’t force morals on the whole world."
Lo seguiré diciendo: esta autora está infravalorada y no entiendo cómo no es más conocida, así como no se han traducido sus obras al español.
Por cada libro que leo más me molesta. Si es cierto que tiene clichés, pero como la mayor parte de los libros, sin embargo, la autora tiene buenas ideas, personajes igual de buenos además de una prosa rica y ligera. No ha habido libro de ella que por el momento no me haya gustado.
Igualmente pueden no ser lo mejor de mundo, pero pongo la mano en el fuego que he visto libros peor escritos y aun así son más conocidos y publicados en español.
Se tenía que decir y se dijo.
“You can’t force morals on the whole world."
Lo seguiré diciendo: esta autora está infravalorada y no entiendo cómo no es más conocida, así como no se han traducido sus obras al español.
Por cada libro que leo más me molesta. Si es cierto que tiene clichés, pero como la mayor parte de los libros, sin embargo, la autora tiene buenas ideas, personajes igual de buenos además de una prosa rica y ligera. No ha habido libro de ella que por el momento no me haya gustado.
Igualmente pueden no ser lo mejor de mundo, pero pongo la mano en el fuego que he visto libros peor escritos y aun así son más conocidos y publicados en español.
Se tenía que decir y se dijo.
September 16, 2020
This third volume in the series continues and deepens the dark turn that volume two began to take with the further development of Nico's battle with the demon who speaks in her mind, through the medium of the demonseed. Finally we learn how Nico was used as an incubator for the seed, a fate befalling other wizards, especially children. We also see how she is manipulated by the demon who seeks to drive a wedge between her and Eli in particular.
As the story opens, Eli Monpress has decided to lie low for a while, and he and Josef and Nico travel to the remote village in the plains where we finally learn what he has been doing with all the wealth he has been stealing. But the chance for a holiday (and not a seaside holiday as the blurb has it) is lost when Pele, daughter of the Shaper wizard, Slorn, arrives to beg their help. Her mother has been murdered for the demonseed inside her, a seed which Slorn had fought to help her contain for the past decade, and Slorn has gone after the murderer. Now she fears something awful has happened to him.
Meanwhile, Spirtualist (a type of wizard who forms contracts with the spirits in nature and inanimate objects - not the spirits of the dead as the name might lead readers to expect) Miranda has been offered a job in charge of a branch of government dealing with Eli's capture. However, she and her ghosthound Gin are soon co-opted for a joint team to go after him in person, at the instigation of Sara, the eccentric head of the Council's wizards and someone who has many agendas. They have a side mission of finding Slorn, and this will bring them to the same area in which Eli begins the search.
It soon becomes clear that the men whom Sara assigns to accompany Miranda have their own orders, kept secret from her. I do also wonder if one of them could connect with a late revelation in the book, so it will be interesting to see how that develops - certainly his abilities do seem rather more than the normal human ones.
The positive aspects of this book were the focus on Nico and the various revelations about aspects of the back story which are now coming into focus and becoming interesting, including the story of the previous battle against the Master demon and a greater insight into the League whose job it is to contain his seeds. There are a couple of good revelations at the very end, including surprising news about Eli.
The less good aspects are firstly that Eli is even less of a character than ever. His main role in the story is to be pushed around by various people who want to capture him, either to bring him to justice (Miranda) or to obtain the reward for him (Bandit Izo) or to satisfy Sara's secret agenda. He also acts like a stroppy teenager at one stage. Similarly, Josef doesn't do any more than we have seen him do before, although he does now have a better relationship with his Awakened sword, Heart of War, and the sword's true nature is finally revealed. But there have been rather too many occasions now where Josef has been seriously, even fatally, wounded and then brought back from the brink. And Miranda, who was the strength of the previous books, has a very minor role in this.
However, given the various interesting revelations and the focus on Nico and her struggle against the demon, this volume is an improvement on the first two, and I therefore rate it at 4 stars.
As the story opens, Eli Monpress has decided to lie low for a while, and he and Josef and Nico travel to the remote village in the plains where we finally learn what he has been doing with all the wealth he has been stealing. But the chance for a holiday (and not a seaside holiday as the blurb has it) is lost when Pele, daughter of the Shaper wizard, Slorn, arrives to beg their help. Her mother has been murdered for the demonseed inside her, a seed which Slorn had fought to help her contain for the past decade, and Slorn has gone after the murderer. Now she fears something awful has happened to him.
Meanwhile, Spirtualist (a type of wizard who forms contracts with the spirits in nature and inanimate objects - not the spirits of the dead as the name might lead readers to expect) Miranda has been offered a job in charge of a branch of government dealing with Eli's capture. However, she and her ghosthound Gin are soon co-opted for a joint team to go after him in person, at the instigation of Sara, the eccentric head of the Council's wizards and someone who has many agendas. They have a side mission of finding Slorn, and this will bring them to the same area in which Eli begins the search.
It soon becomes clear that the men whom Sara assigns to accompany Miranda have their own orders, kept secret from her. I do also wonder if one of them could connect with a late revelation in the book, so it will be interesting to see how that develops - certainly his abilities do seem rather more than the normal human ones.
The positive aspects of this book were the focus on Nico and the various revelations about aspects of the back story which are now coming into focus and becoming interesting, including the story of the previous battle against the Master demon and a greater insight into the League whose job it is to contain his seeds. There are a couple of good revelations at the very end, including surprising news about Eli.
The less good aspects are firstly that Eli is even less of a character than ever. His main role in the story is to be pushed around by various people who want to capture him, either to bring him to justice (Miranda) or to obtain the reward for him (Bandit Izo) or to satisfy Sara's secret agenda. He also acts like a stroppy teenager at one stage. Similarly, Josef doesn't do any more than we have seen him do before, although he does now have a better relationship with his Awakened sword, Heart of War, and the sword's true nature is finally revealed. But there have been rather too many occasions now where Josef has been seriously, even fatally, wounded and then brought back from the brink. And Miranda, who was the strength of the previous books, has a very minor role in this.
However, given the various interesting revelations and the focus on Nico and her struggle against the demon, this volume is an improvement on the first two, and I therefore rate it at 4 stars.
May 21, 2011
Well, I have to say that I'm sincerely glad I picked all of these books off the library shelf at once, because I know I wouldn't have remember the plotlines unless I'd read them back-to-back...
This one was even better than the last, and I must admit that it's more of a 3.5-star rating this time 'round. I like how each book is delving deeper into each character; I was especially looking forward to reading Nico's. It was a wee, wee bit disappointing in that I still don't feel like Rachel Aaron's characters are fully developed, but I'm enjoying the ride, so I guess I shouldn't complain. (But I will.) I loved Sparrow (but we didn't get to learn enough about him), I loved Tesset (but we didn't get to learn enough about him), I loved Josef (but we...
I think you get the gist. I appreciate the fact that Aaron tries to make each character have his/her own motivations, strengths, and weaknesses - and these are usually enough to flesh out a character - but... something's still missing. I'm not sure if I'm just whining because the books are too short? But it's just like... Eli, Josef, and Nico hit a problem, come up with the best possible solution, and try to work their way towards it... There's no... interest or clash of personalities, or general on-the-road difficulties that they have to face together. It's almost as though Aaron focuses on each character doing their own thing and can't focus on them being together, which is a huge shame, because they're great characters, they make a great team, and forcing them together would create more depth to each of them. Does that even make sense? They do fight in this book, which is interesting, but it's still sort of a given that they all mostly trust each other. Which makes no sense, given their backgrounds, and even given the way they act around each other. It just doesn't meld, somehow.
So although I'm excited for the next book, I can well imagine that by the time it comes out, I will have forgotten all about this series. The ideas are great, but the relationships and individual characters are just not strong enough keep me on the edge of my seat. (On the other hand, if character development isn't wildly important to you, but fight scenes make or break the book, I think you'd love this series.)
This one was even better than the last, and I must admit that it's more of a 3.5-star rating this time 'round. I like how each book is delving deeper into each character; I was especially looking forward to reading Nico's. It was a wee, wee bit disappointing in that I still don't feel like Rachel Aaron's characters are fully developed, but I'm enjoying the ride, so I guess I shouldn't complain. (But I will.) I loved Sparrow (but we didn't get to learn enough about him), I loved Tesset (but we didn't get to learn enough about him), I loved Josef (but we...
I think you get the gist. I appreciate the fact that Aaron tries to make each character have his/her own motivations, strengths, and weaknesses - and these are usually enough to flesh out a character - but... something's still missing. I'm not sure if I'm just whining because the books are too short? But it's just like... Eli, Josef, and Nico hit a problem, come up with the best possible solution, and try to work their way towards it... There's no... interest or clash of personalities, or general on-the-road difficulties that they have to face together. It's almost as though Aaron focuses on each character doing their own thing and can't focus on them being together, which is a huge shame, because they're great characters, they make a great team, and forcing them together would create more depth to each of them. Does that even make sense? They do fight in this book, which is interesting, but it's still sort of a given that they all mostly trust each other. Which makes no sense, given their backgrounds, and even given the way they act around each other. It just doesn't meld, somehow.
So although I'm excited for the next book, I can well imagine that by the time it comes out, I will have forgotten all about this series. The ideas are great, but the relationships and individual characters are just not strong enough keep me on the edge of my seat. (On the other hand, if character development isn't wildly important to you, but fight scenes make or break the book, I think you'd love this series.)
June 22, 2021
3.5 Stars
Full review will follow later!
Full review will follow later!
May 9, 2019
Rating: 3.5 stars
The Spirit Eater is the third in The Legend of Eli Monpress series by Rachel Aaron. The story is a lot less lighthearted as things take a serious turn.
With Eli's notoriety at an all time high, Eli decides it's time for the team to lay low for a while and relax by heading Home. Unfortunately for Nico the voice of the demon in her head is growing stronger by the day and she feels powerless, both to stop it and like she's letting the team down due to her weakness. Their holiday comes to an abrupt end when Pele arrives in a panic - her mother has been murdered and her father gone missing. Of course Eli must help out, even if he's not entirely sure what he's getting his team into.
This is definitely Nico's book. I enjoyed learning more about her character and the greater struggle between demons and spirits. It adds nicely to the world building. The story feels like a set up a bigger battle ahead where the fate of the world may be at stake.
I'm not sure if it was my mood, the pacing or what but I found the first half of the book easy to set aside. Come to think of it, it might have been that I had the wrong expectation for what I thought this series was going to be about. Eli does no thieving, there is no fun caper. While there is some humor, the overall tone is much more serious now that we the reader begin to understand the world better.
I am curious enough to see where all this is going so I'm looking forward to the next book. I also hope we get Josef's background soon!
The Spirit Eater is the third in The Legend of Eli Monpress series by Rachel Aaron. The story is a lot less lighthearted as things take a serious turn.
With Eli's notoriety at an all time high, Eli decides it's time for the team to lay low for a while and relax by heading Home. Unfortunately for Nico the voice of the demon in her head is growing stronger by the day and she feels powerless, both to stop it and like she's letting the team down due to her weakness. Their holiday comes to an abrupt end when Pele arrives in a panic - her mother has been murdered and her father gone missing. Of course Eli must help out, even if he's not entirely sure what he's getting his team into.
This is definitely Nico's book. I enjoyed learning more about her character and the greater struggle between demons and spirits. It adds nicely to the world building. The story feels like a set up a bigger battle ahead where the fate of the world may be at stake.
I'm not sure if it was my mood, the pacing or what but I found the first half of the book easy to set aside. Come to think of it, it might have been that I had the wrong expectation for what I thought this series was going to be about. Eli does no thieving, there is no fun caper. While there is some humor, the overall tone is much more serious now that we the reader begin to understand the world better.
I am curious enough to see where all this is going so I'm looking forward to the next book. I also hope we get Josef's background soon!
August 13, 2017
The Good
- The ideas - the spirits, the world, the lore - are amazing. As a general rule, I wouldn't exchange my story ideas for anyone else's. Rachel Aaron is an exception. I wish I'd had her ideas first.
The Bad
- The characterisation could have been a lot deeper with a lot of them seemingly only driven by the needs of the moment with no deeper history or weight of psychology.
The Ugly
- The Eli Monpress series was sold to me as a magical thief doing thief stuff. Well, not in this book he doesn't. It's a fun Epic Fantasy adventure, but the misplaced expectation tripped me a little and made me sad. There's a lot of Epic Fantasy adventures only there, but only so many Epic Fantasy heists.
- This book has a big prominent sense of humour. If you like it you're on side, if you don't you're not. I was kinda in the middle - it was Eddings-esque at its best, out of place and unsubtle at its worst.
- I very rarely call out characters are being bad moral people, but some of Eli's "Screw the world, what about me" moments left me sour - possibly because most of the book feels quite light of heart and then bam!
- I prefer less adventure/action and more intrigue as a rule
TL:DR - Fun action-adventure book that you'll love if you like the sense of humour, not so much if you don't, and might not fully satisfy character-first readers.
- The ideas - the spirits, the world, the lore - are amazing. As a general rule, I wouldn't exchange my story ideas for anyone else's. Rachel Aaron is an exception. I wish I'd had her ideas first.
The Bad
- The characterisation could have been a lot deeper with a lot of them seemingly only driven by the needs of the moment with no deeper history or weight of psychology.
The Ugly
- The Eli Monpress series was sold to me as a magical thief doing thief stuff. Well, not in this book he doesn't. It's a fun Epic Fantasy adventure, but the misplaced expectation tripped me a little and made me sad. There's a lot of Epic Fantasy adventures only there, but only so many Epic Fantasy heists.
- This book has a big prominent sense of humour. If you like it you're on side, if you don't you're not. I was kinda in the middle - it was Eddings-esque at its best, out of place and unsubtle at its worst.
- I very rarely call out characters are being bad moral people, but some of Eli's "Screw the world, what about me" moments left me sour - possibly because most of the book feels quite light of heart and then bam!
- I prefer less adventure/action and more intrigue as a rule
TL:DR - Fun action-adventure book that you'll love if you like the sense of humour, not so much if you don't, and might not fully satisfy character-first readers.
September 26, 2018
I like it for what it was - a story about Nico.
I like the details we learn about how Nico came to be and about Demonseeds in general. I like we get to know a bit more about how the League works and about the Demon. I love how and that Nico wins.
I love the details and background about the Heart of War. Wow. And, poor Josef!
I'm very curious what Miranda and Slorn will discover.
I do not like that, once again, fin a book in a series that tells the Legend of Eli Monpress? There has been barely any Eli Monpress in it. Yes, he's been in it and had his parts but he has not been the main character. :/
I like the details we learn about how Nico came to be and about Demonseeds in general. I like we get to know a bit more about how the League works and about the Demon. I love how and that Nico wins.
I love the details and background about the Heart of War. Wow. And, poor Josef!
I'm very curious what Miranda and Slorn will discover.
I do not like that, once again, fin a book in a series that tells the Legend of Eli Monpress? There has been barely any Eli Monpress in it. Yes, he's been in it and had his parts but he has not been the main character. :/
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 18, 2019
The entire story was a dance between Josef and Nico. In this, Eli was nothing but a priced possession. More about this Spirit world and the world ending calamity revealed in this book
April 20, 2019
Still a fun adventure, just more repeats from the first two books, with decreasing emotional impact as the story goes on. I really lost the thread of the plot this time. I do like the focus on Nico's struggle with the demon, but even though she was in more danger than ever this time, her struggle didn't hit me as hard as it did in book 2, and certainly not as hard as it did in book 1. There's also some continuity issues in terms of power-crawl and character dynamics that are starting to get pretty obvious. It's hard to tell just how capable Eli is after seeing his mix of failures and achievements, and we're told that he and Josef are great friends, but I really only get a super distant acquaintance vibe from them. Also, Miranda barely did anything this book, poor girl. XD Most jarring of all is Josef, because there's only so many times he can be "at his limit" and nearly die in his fights before I just stop buying it completely.
Still gonna finish the series, though. I've heard the last two books are great.
Still gonna finish the series, though. I've heard the last two books are great.
June 14, 2015
Oh, my dear reading friends. I want to say first that the Eli Monpress series has consistently defied my fondest wishes and hopes. This isn’t a series that takes itself seriously–Eli is absurd (from his motivations to his methods), his companions are ridiculously powerful (and equally angst-ridden over this fact), and his shenanigans would make lesser men weep.
Plus he’s charming, witty, and loyal. He takes nothing from anyone and won’t bend his ways simply because someone says “I said so!” I love him and adore him and would run off with him in a flat second if he asked me to. However, let’s put aside my “Eli is #1″ fangirl’ing; this book dug deeper into the mythology of the world and the twisted motivations of those therein. If I didn’t say it before, I’ll say it now–Benehime is a menace. A complete and utter menace.
Some of what is hinted at, but not definitively said, in Book 2 (about Eli’s parents) is said quite clearly in this book. I laughed. I really did. Eli’s family is such a disaster that even if Miranda knew, I think she’d doubt it. I suppose it’s what comes of three people who are all so strong-willed and stubborn. They can’t possibly be in the same room; it would implode (from their egos if not their one-upmanship).
This book was darker than the other two, as we learn about Josef and Nico’s partnership and the destructive power of a demonseed come to fruition. Though Eli is more somber then usual and the antics are kept to a minimum, the book doesn’t suffer. The heart of the series, as corny as this sounds, is the belief that everybody can be who and what they want to be if they try hard enough. When the characters hold onto that belief, nothing and no one can stand in their way.
We learn more about Josef’s sword (The Heart of War), including some very disturbing notions involving Benehime (which make me wonder at the coincidence of it all) and the Great Demon from which the seeds came. We also learn that while Eli is currently wanted for more money than his crimes warrant, he’s underestimated to a great degree. It’s a very costly mistake for a number of people, but it brings him closer to his goal. He also is kind of a Robin Hood-like figure.
Aaron still spends more time building the characters and the situations than flushing out the details of the world, but this isn’t a real problem. The books are primarily about Eli and his shady adventuring; what details we need are provided, and what details are unnecessary are left out. This makes more a more streamlined reading, but frustrates readers like myself who like to know everything.
The one drawback I’ve come across is that while the road to victory is rocky and filled with obstacles, the victory is still an absolute certainty in this series. There is no true permanent damage done, no one dies or is injured to the point where there’s a shred of doubt cast upon their continuing presence. Evil Rises, Eli (and co.) Vanquish, and then they make off with more bounty on their heads. It steals some of the tension from otherwise oppressive moments (such as the ending with Nico and…).
The book also included an excerpt from Book 4, The Spirit War. I find the titles an interesting trend. We went from the intriguing The Spirit Thief to the mildly worrisome The Spirit Rebellion to the alarming The Spirit Eater and now the fear-inducing The Spirit War. What’s Book 5, called The Spirit Annihilation? (I have no idea, this is random curiosity.)
Plus he’s charming, witty, and loyal. He takes nothing from anyone and won’t bend his ways simply because someone says “I said so!” I love him and adore him and would run off with him in a flat second if he asked me to. However, let’s put aside my “Eli is #1″ fangirl’ing; this book dug deeper into the mythology of the world and the twisted motivations of those therein. If I didn’t say it before, I’ll say it now–Benehime is a menace. A complete and utter menace.
Some of what is hinted at, but not definitively said, in Book 2 (about Eli’s parents) is said quite clearly in this book. I laughed. I really did. Eli’s family is such a disaster that even if Miranda knew, I think she’d doubt it. I suppose it’s what comes of three people who are all so strong-willed and stubborn. They can’t possibly be in the same room; it would implode (from their egos if not their one-upmanship).
This book was darker than the other two, as we learn about Josef and Nico’s partnership and the destructive power of a demonseed come to fruition. Though Eli is more somber then usual and the antics are kept to a minimum, the book doesn’t suffer. The heart of the series, as corny as this sounds, is the belief that everybody can be who and what they want to be if they try hard enough. When the characters hold onto that belief, nothing and no one can stand in their way.
We learn more about Josef’s sword (The Heart of War), including some very disturbing notions involving Benehime (which make me wonder at the coincidence of it all) and the Great Demon from which the seeds came. We also learn that while Eli is currently wanted for more money than his crimes warrant, he’s underestimated to a great degree. It’s a very costly mistake for a number of people, but it brings him closer to his goal. He also is kind of a Robin Hood-like figure.
Aaron still spends more time building the characters and the situations than flushing out the details of the world, but this isn’t a real problem. The books are primarily about Eli and his shady adventuring; what details we need are provided, and what details are unnecessary are left out. This makes more a more streamlined reading, but frustrates readers like myself who like to know everything.
The one drawback I’ve come across is that while the road to victory is rocky and filled with obstacles, the victory is still an absolute certainty in this series. There is no true permanent damage done, no one dies or is injured to the point where there’s a shred of doubt cast upon their continuing presence. Evil Rises, Eli (and co.) Vanquish, and then they make off with more bounty on their heads. It steals some of the tension from otherwise oppressive moments (such as the ending with Nico and…).
The book also included an excerpt from Book 4, The Spirit War. I find the titles an interesting trend. We went from the intriguing The Spirit Thief to the mildly worrisome The Spirit Rebellion to the alarming The Spirit Eater and now the fear-inducing The Spirit War. What’s Book 5, called The Spirit Annihilation? (I have no idea, this is random curiosity.)
May 10, 2016
In this third addition to The Legend of Eli Monpress series we actually dig a bit deeper into the story arc. We find out a little bit more about who the Shepherdess is and meet a few other interesting characters as well. The Spirit Eater is mainly Nico's book and I really enjoyed reading about her in more detail. There are some interesting developments in this one and I'm curious to see what happens next.
March 20, 2019
I need to read this series quicker. It's always good to be back with Eli, but always takes me just a little bit to get into the books. Almost rated down on this one because the demon was really pissing me off, but I suppose it was supposed to. :)
October 10, 2017
I want to give this a two stars for some of the drag in places and the over complication at others. It really felt like a transition book and a lot of things that were very interesting were thrown at us at the very very end. Still the end battle was like 4 battles one right after another and I was just exhausted and wanted it to be over. Still the over all book was very entertaining.
Some of the beginning and middle dealt with all new people or very secondary people and brought them in to have them all have differing agendas at the end. This was tiring and took away from time with Eli and his gang. We don't get to see Eli's wit here so much as the other books and he doesn't prove himself like he does in the other book. We do get to see a little of the Robin Hood persona though that is still for his own gain. Miranda is a little overbearing and self-righteous. which after the last two books, I would've thought that she would've started thinking for herself. At the end, she seemed to do this but it was a little too late for me to see any growth in her. In this book, only Nico really grows.
So all the time away from the growth of the characters slowed down the story line but it was for a purpose and all the differing agendas roll over each other in the end. A bit fun and entertaining but not enough for me to love it. This was just barely on the side of good. I still love the characters and want to see what happens next but I'm not running to the next one yet.
Some of the beginning and middle dealt with all new people or very secondary people and brought them in to have them all have differing agendas at the end. This was tiring and took away from time with Eli and his gang. We don't get to see Eli's wit here so much as the other books and he doesn't prove himself like he does in the other book. We do get to see a little of the Robin Hood persona though that is still for his own gain. Miranda is a little overbearing and self-righteous. which after the last two books, I would've thought that she would've started thinking for herself. At the end, she seemed to do this but it was a little too late for me to see any growth in her. In this book, only Nico really grows.
So all the time away from the growth of the characters slowed down the story line but it was for a purpose and all the differing agendas roll over each other in the end. A bit fun and entertaining but not enough for me to love it. This was just barely on the side of good. I still love the characters and want to see what happens next but I'm not running to the next one yet.
April 28, 2016
3.5 stars rounded down because:
First, the good things, because I’m positive like that. And also because the good is so much shorter than the bad.
One of the main attractions of this series will always be…wait for it…the man himself. Eli Monpress. In all his awesome snarky childishness.
I like my protagonists snarky and sarcastic. Eli is all that and more. Although I worry about this every time I start a new Monpress book, it is always for naught, because I always find him there in all his childish glory.
I also appreciate the attempts the author makes to extend the plot. There are several seeds planted in this book that I’m sure will come into fruition in one of its sequels.
But…that’s about it. Those are the two things that really stood out to me in a positive light. So now, I guess, onto the bad.
First, a petty complaint: I don’t like Miranda. I didn’t like her in the previous books and I don’t like her now. She’s what I would be like if I were in Eli’s world, and one of me is very much enough, thankyouverymuch.
I mean, how many stuck up, bratty girls do we need?
Oh, poor wittle baby. I’m sorry no one’s here to coddle you and sing your praises and tell you everything you want to know. Wait. Actually. I’m not. Where the fuck does her sense of entitlement come from? I can’t remember her background exactly, but I seem to vaguely recall something about her being a favourite daughter in a rich and reputable family, so maybe it’s that. But whatever the case, when the fuck will she learn the world doesn’t revolve around her? She’s been extremely lucky in getting the Great Spirit, and being sent after Eli, but when will she learn that luck doesn’t translate into skill? The only reason she stands where she does is because of some of fluke of chance which has nothing to do with who she is and what she can do.
That. That is what someone should say every time before she opens her mouth and ruins the whole fucking scene.
Another thing: the plot is so tired. You know what it reminds me of? A flamboyant party guest who has overstayed their welcome. Sure, they’re fun to have at first. But after a while, you get tired of their childish jokes and their lack of depth, and you wonder: when will they mature? Or, if not, when will they leave?
This book is basically a repeat of the first two. Eli gets up to one of his shenanigans. Miranda goes after him. Stuff happens.
And it is. For the first 700 or so pages of the series. But then you start to think, isn’t this a little bit repetitive? When is the depth going to come in? In this one aspect, it could really borrow a leaf from the Mistborn series. You need a villain to tie things together. Yes, it’s great that there are all these little escapades for Eli to get into, but I want to see a mastermind opposing him. I want there to be some continuity to the series, some kind of unfinished business at the end of each book so I will want to go back and finish the series. Because right now, there is nothing compelling me to return to the Monpress series but a misplaced sense of obligation to see the series through and Eli Monpress’s snark.
I would still recommend it. Everything you loved in the last book is still there. It’s just, that’s it. Except for the elements present in the last book, this book has nothing new to offer.
First, the good things, because I’m positive like that. And also because the good is so much shorter than the bad.
One of the main attractions of this series will always be…wait for it…the man himself. Eli Monpress. In all his awesome snarky childishness.
“Home?”
Josef nodded. “It’s as low as we get. No one will find us there.”
“But home is so boring,” Eli said. “Nothing happens.”
Josef crossed his arms over his chest. “Nothing’s supposed to happen. Do you not understand the concept of lying low?”
I like my protagonists snarky and sarcastic. Eli is all that and more. Although I worry about this every time I start a new Monpress book, it is always for naught, because I always find him there in all his childish glory.
“What’s wrong with him?”
“Nothing,” Alric said. “He’s just had a bit of a fright. But it doesn’t matter. His bounty is good whether he’s dead or alive, correct?”
This question was directed at Phillipe Whitefall, though it took a few moments for the bounty office director to realize that.
“Yes,” he said, his voice trembling as he bent over for a closer look at Izo’s terror-stricken face. “Izo, scourge of the north, wanted dead or alive for one hundred and fifty thousand. But how did you catch him?”
Alric closed his eyes and took a deep, calming breath. “I didn’t. Izo the Bandit King was captured by Eli Monpress. I’m only here to deliver him.”
I also appreciate the attempts the author makes to extend the plot. There are several seeds planted in this book that I’m sure will come into fruition in one of its sequels.
The woman made an irritated sound. “Your reward is the same as ever. Three years of service, and then I will bring you to Zarin. All you have to do is keep reporting and not blow your cover and it’s a done deal. That is, unless you keep bothering me about it.”
But…that’s about it. Those are the two things that really stood out to me in a positive light. So now, I guess, onto the bad.
First, a petty complaint: I don’t like Miranda. I didn’t like her in the previous books and I don’t like her now. She’s what I would be like if I were in Eli’s world, and one of me is very much enough, thankyouverymuch.
I mean, how many stuck up, bratty girls do we need?
Miranda knew she looked petulant, but she couldn’t help it. Lately, it seemed she was always the last to know anything.
Oh, poor wittle baby. I’m sorry no one’s here to coddle you and sing your praises and tell you everything you want to know. Wait. Actually. I’m not. Where the fuck does her sense of entitlement come from? I can’t remember her background exactly, but I seem to vaguely recall something about her being a favourite daughter in a rich and reputable family, so maybe it’s that. But whatever the case, when the fuck will she learn the world doesn’t revolve around her? She’s been extremely lucky in getting the Great Spirit, and being sent after Eli, but when will she learn that luck doesn’t translate into skill? The only reason she stands where she does is because of some of fluke of chance which has nothing to do with who she is and what she can do.
“Forgive my companion,” Sparrow said, his voice honeyed and dripping with sincerity. “She is a Spiritualist and a native of Zarin, and as such suffers from an overinflated sense of importance.”
That. That is what someone should say every time before she opens her mouth and ruins the whole fucking scene.
Another thing: the plot is so tired. You know what it reminds me of? A flamboyant party guest who has overstayed their welcome. Sure, they’re fun to have at first. But after a while, you get tired of their childish jokes and their lack of depth, and you wonder: when will they mature? Or, if not, when will they leave?
This book is basically a repeat of the first two. Eli gets up to one of his shenanigans. Miranda goes after him. Stuff happens.
And it is. For the first 700 or so pages of the series. But then you start to think, isn’t this a little bit repetitive? When is the depth going to come in? In this one aspect, it could really borrow a leaf from the Mistborn series. You need a villain to tie things together. Yes, it’s great that there are all these little escapades for Eli to get into, but I want to see a mastermind opposing him. I want there to be some continuity to the series, some kind of unfinished business at the end of each book so I will want to go back and finish the series. Because right now, there is nothing compelling me to return to the Monpress series but a misplaced sense of obligation to see the series through and Eli Monpress’s snark.
I would still recommend it. Everything you loved in the last book is still there. It’s just, that’s it. Except for the elements present in the last book, this book has nothing new to offer.
April 7, 2017
My favorite so far. This book is mostly about Nico and her past and if she can overcome it. Several characters come back and all play roles in this adventure. Nice to learn a little more about the demon and it's seeds. Good solid adventure. Nice to have the current story resolved in one book instead of over several. Plus, you find out who Eli's parents really are. Enjoyable read.
August 8, 2019
Actual rating 3.5 stars
Finally the plot seems to be getting deeper than just Eli and friends pulling off another impossible heist. We're also starting to learn more about the world and characters, so everything doesn't feel as light and surface level as the previous books, which is nice. I'm really looking forward to the next book in this series.
Finally the plot seems to be getting deeper than just Eli and friends pulling off another impossible heist. We're also starting to learn more about the world and characters, so everything doesn't feel as light and surface level as the previous books, which is nice. I'm really looking forward to the next book in this series.
March 16, 2025
This has become a new favorite series for me! I can’t put it down and the magic system is so fascinating!
I loved her nice dragons finish last series and it got me into this one too! It’s even better!
I loved her nice dragons finish last series and it got me into this one too! It’s even better!
February 24, 2015
I was won over by the book very early on when it was revealed that Eli was a mayor of a town. I didn't expect that but it makes a lot of sense. He is such a narcissistic and extravagant person that it fits him. It was a nice surprise. It was absolutely delightful and it was those nice touches in the characters that make reading the series enjoyable. It has a good story and the world is whimsical. I loved this book.
I was devastated when Nivel died. I was dreading it when Sted came to the forest. I had that feeling in my stomach that something awful was going to happen to the Slorn family. It was especially devastating because Slorn was about to work on the improved manacles. It would have bought the husband and wife time together. Unfortunately, it was cut short by Sted's violence. Nivel was a great minor character. Even with little snippets, her personality shines through. She was strong in spirit and held her own against the demon.
I felt similarly towards Nico. I admired her fight with the demon and temptations. I just adore her and Josef is just swoon-worthy. His admonition of Eli and unconditional support of Nico won my heart over. Eli was a bit bratty but I do expect that behaviour from a narcissist. I just thought everybody was great.
My two stand out scenes are Eli as mayor and Eli talking to the crappy sword. It was absolutely hilarious. The sword didn't have much spirit and so wasn't very aware. Eli's efforts to talk him into fighting and the sword's subsequent look at all the dead swords was hysterical. It was so ridiculous and funny.
The adventure continues with Eli and the gang. They had been laying low since Nico isn't in the greatest health. Her fight with the demon took a toll on her and so they couldn't plan a new heist. They went home to Eli's town, Home. There they found Pele, distraught over her missing father. She revealed that Sted had killed Nivel and Slorn disappeared after. He had been gone for three weeks and he hasn't been in contact. She is worried that something happened to him and begged Eli to find him. Eli reluctantly agreed. Josef wanted to go for Nico's sake and Nico felt obliged. They travelled to the Great Spirit of the Bear. He asked an impossible favour from Eli, for reasons that Eli knew and Josef didn't. Josef demanded to know why and Eli wouldn't say. A big fight ensues that threatened to break their friendship and Nico intervened, succumbing a little to the demon's influence. They travelled to the Dead Mountain. Nico and Josef stayed behind. Nico couldn't go because she might be influenced and Josef couldn't go because the Heart of War refused. Eli went alone and there he discovered a town. It was a slave town where children were being groomed to be demonseeds. He also found The Master, who revealed where Sted is and put suspicion on Eli's friendship with Nico. Eli distrusted her soon after. Meanwhile, Nico and Josef fought the Lord of the Storm. He was about to deal a killing blow to Nico when Eli intervened. The shepherdess stopped and punished him. They made their way to the bandit camp where Sted attacked Josef. Unsatisfied by the fight since Josef was injured, Sted kept him alive to recover. Meanwhile, Eli was captured by Miranda and Nico was captured too. When negotiations were under way, bad blood began to develop. Sted's desires were being ignored and so he kidnapped Eli to make sure that Josef would fight him. Miranda and Slorn met each other and worked together. Slorn revealed that he orchestrated the whole event to have a chance at investigating Nivel's seed. The date of the fight came and Josef fought Sted with crappy swords. He was able to defeat Sted but Sted transformed into a demon. The Spirit council intervened and fought the demon. They won but Nico transformed into the demon forcibly. She became the daughter of the dead mountain when she was forcibly fed spirits. Eli was being pressured to summon the shepherdess. He refused. Despite the destruction, Nico protected Josef leading the sword and Eli to believe that Nico was still there. Eli gave her a chance and let her fight the demon. She won and realized that she had the will to control herself. In return for stopping Nico, Eli asked to turn in the bandit king via a proxy. He asked that the reward be added to his bounty.
Miranda went with Slorn to the shaper mountain and abandoned the useless task of imprisoning Eli.
I was devastated when Nivel died. I was dreading it when Sted came to the forest. I had that feeling in my stomach that something awful was going to happen to the Slorn family. It was especially devastating because Slorn was about to work on the improved manacles. It would have bought the husband and wife time together. Unfortunately, it was cut short by Sted's violence. Nivel was a great minor character. Even with little snippets, her personality shines through. She was strong in spirit and held her own against the demon.
I felt similarly towards Nico. I admired her fight with the demon and temptations. I just adore her and Josef is just swoon-worthy. His admonition of Eli and unconditional support of Nico won my heart over. Eli was a bit bratty but I do expect that behaviour from a narcissist. I just thought everybody was great.
My two stand out scenes are Eli as mayor and Eli talking to the crappy sword. It was absolutely hilarious. The sword didn't have much spirit and so wasn't very aware. Eli's efforts to talk him into fighting and the sword's subsequent look at all the dead swords was hysterical. It was so ridiculous and funny.
The adventure continues with Eli and the gang. They had been laying low since Nico isn't in the greatest health. Her fight with the demon took a toll on her and so they couldn't plan a new heist. They went home to Eli's town, Home. There they found Pele, distraught over her missing father. She revealed that Sted had killed Nivel and Slorn disappeared after. He had been gone for three weeks and he hasn't been in contact. She is worried that something happened to him and begged Eli to find him. Eli reluctantly agreed. Josef wanted to go for Nico's sake and Nico felt obliged. They travelled to the Great Spirit of the Bear. He asked an impossible favour from Eli, for reasons that Eli knew and Josef didn't. Josef demanded to know why and Eli wouldn't say. A big fight ensues that threatened to break their friendship and Nico intervened, succumbing a little to the demon's influence. They travelled to the Dead Mountain. Nico and Josef stayed behind. Nico couldn't go because she might be influenced and Josef couldn't go because the Heart of War refused. Eli went alone and there he discovered a town. It was a slave town where children were being groomed to be demonseeds. He also found The Master, who revealed where Sted is and put suspicion on Eli's friendship with Nico. Eli distrusted her soon after. Meanwhile, Nico and Josef fought the Lord of the Storm. He was about to deal a killing blow to Nico when Eli intervened. The shepherdess stopped and punished him. They made their way to the bandit camp where Sted attacked Josef. Unsatisfied by the fight since Josef was injured, Sted kept him alive to recover. Meanwhile, Eli was captured by Miranda and Nico was captured too. When negotiations were under way, bad blood began to develop. Sted's desires were being ignored and so he kidnapped Eli to make sure that Josef would fight him. Miranda and Slorn met each other and worked together. Slorn revealed that he orchestrated the whole event to have a chance at investigating Nivel's seed. The date of the fight came and Josef fought Sted with crappy swords. He was able to defeat Sted but Sted transformed into a demon. The Spirit council intervened and fought the demon. They won but Nico transformed into the demon forcibly. She became the daughter of the dead mountain when she was forcibly fed spirits. Eli was being pressured to summon the shepherdess. He refused. Despite the destruction, Nico protected Josef leading the sword and Eli to believe that Nico was still there. Eli gave her a chance and let her fight the demon. She won and realized that she had the will to control herself. In return for stopping Nico, Eli asked to turn in the bandit king via a proxy. He asked that the reward be added to his bounty.
Miranda went with Slorn to the shaper mountain and abandoned the useless task of imprisoning Eli.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 27, 2019
2.5 Maybe? I did enjoy it all the way through, but here're my hot takes:
I don't know, the Josef and Nico story(/stories) Are just... less interesting to me. I felt decently invested in Nico by the end so that's good but it was mostly internal character struggles though, which was a little bit of a bummer. I wish the girl would talk to the people around her a little! Maybe that will change, who can say.
Lots of weird plot/character inconsistencies. Mostly in people learning or doing something in a previous scene and then forgetting it entirely three chapters later. This also includes Mellinor knowing about Eli's patron and never talking about it or addressing it again. It made it feel like the book was written out of order and not everything was caught in editing.
Some more big conversation info-dumps, which I thought we were done with but alas. It's pretty obvious when one is happening, and lots of people conveniently explaining their motives too, in mildly forced feeling conversations.
How will Josef be mortally wounded while fighting this time! Also featuring: Eli being basically tortured a bunch(one time by Miranda even?) and that being weirdly played off for laughs. Nico being verbally abused by her demon dad and not talking to anyone about it ever but eventually discovering that the real power was in her all along. Josef being SUPER hypocritical about how 'the past doesn't matter'. Eli I think you need new friends and/or better inter group communication! Proto-Bob is here too in this strange peacock man Sparrow. (Okay maybe that's a stretch but it's what I thought when he was first introduced! THe voice the narrator chose didn't help.) And lots of Eli being a third wheel, but a third wheel that everyone wanted to keep tacking onto conversations and scenes and motivations.
The book also harped on a lot about Josef and Eli being best buds but it never really felt like that was the case in the other books? Previously I thought they leaned more into mutually beneficial coworkers while Nico and Josef were friends. There were a lot of strange moments like that where I couldn't suspend my disbelief and let it ride.
The audiobook was never a chore to listen to though, and it moved along at a steady clip. It almost felt too fast at points. If you want a fun book that you don't need to think too hard about to enjoy I would still recommend this. These are definitely a junk food type book though. Mostly empty but for the crunch and the seasoning, but pretty damn tasty and hard to stop eating.
There are some fun character interactions, I like the way the characters got split into little teams and then split again and thrown in with another interesting character. Still really enjoying Eli's incredibly messed up birth family's dynamics. Wish there was more character building dialogue vs plot convenient dialogue though.
(Edit: Grammar.)
I don't know, the Josef and Nico story(/stories) Are just... less interesting to me. I felt decently invested in Nico by the end so that's good but it was mostly internal character struggles though, which was a little bit of a bummer. I wish the girl would talk to the people around her a little! Maybe that will change, who can say.
Lots of weird plot/character inconsistencies. Mostly in people learning or doing something in a previous scene and then forgetting it entirely three chapters later. This also includes Mellinor knowing about Eli's patron and never talking about it or addressing it again. It made it feel like the book was written out of order and not everything was caught in editing.
Some more big conversation info-dumps, which I thought we were done with but alas. It's pretty obvious when one is happening, and lots of people conveniently explaining their motives too, in mildly forced feeling conversations.
How will Josef be mortally wounded while fighting this time! Also featuring: Eli being basically tortured a bunch(one time by Miranda even?) and that being weirdly played off for laughs. Nico being verbally abused by her demon dad and not talking to anyone about it ever but eventually discovering that the real power was in her all along. Josef being SUPER hypocritical about how 'the past doesn't matter'. Eli I think you need new friends and/or better inter group communication! Proto-Bob is here too in this strange peacock man Sparrow. (Okay maybe that's a stretch but it's what I thought when he was first introduced! THe voice the narrator chose didn't help.) And lots of Eli being a third wheel, but a third wheel that everyone wanted to keep tacking onto conversations and scenes and motivations.
The book also harped on a lot about Josef and Eli being best buds but it never really felt like that was the case in the other books? Previously I thought they leaned more into mutually beneficial coworkers while Nico and Josef were friends. There were a lot of strange moments like that where I couldn't suspend my disbelief and let it ride.
The audiobook was never a chore to listen to though, and it moved along at a steady clip. It almost felt too fast at points. If you want a fun book that you don't need to think too hard about to enjoy I would still recommend this. These are definitely a junk food type book though. Mostly empty but for the crunch and the seasoning, but pretty damn tasty and hard to stop eating.
There are some fun character interactions, I like the way the characters got split into little teams and then split again and thrown in with another interesting character. Still really enjoying Eli's incredibly messed up birth family's dynamics. Wish there was more character building dialogue vs plot convenient dialogue though.
(Edit: Grammar.)
September 23, 2019
Reader thoughts: There wasn't as much Eli in this book, but the other characters got more stage time and made a beautiful story just fine without him in the spotlight.
After this 3rd book, I do shake my head at the repetition between the books. Eli must steal something big, Miranda comes after him, a famous swordsman comes after Josef, League tries to take Nico, Miranda loses Eli, Josef nearly dies, Nico nearly loses her humanity, and Eli's bounty doubles.
(Not to give anything away, but books 4 and 5 break the mold. Without losing any epicness.)
This makes the plot sound a little predictable, but it's not. There are so many ways the characters keep showing more sides of themselves, showing what they're willing to risk to achieve what ends. Also, we learn a lot more about the Shepherdess in this book. She's a little crazy.
Oh, and I've noticed the characters don't seem to mind a bunch of pain, since they're usually healed again in a relatively short time frame (stabbed through the back takes less than five days to heal; broken bones take a couple minutes). I suppose mountain swords make expert doctors (obviously), but it's still a little unreal.
New characters! Sparrow and Tesset and Sara and Alric (although we've sort of seen him before), and more with Slorn and the Heart.
Also, the demon(s) of the world are sounding scarier. They can't be killed . . . which is very bad news. But, thankfully, I'm sure Eli and Josef and Nico and Miranda and Gin will solve it.
I'm already mourning the fact that there are only 2 more books in the series. Sigh.
Writer thoughts: I love how well Aaron gives out hints in her books. We get hints at Eli's past and his involvement with the Shepherdess. We get hints at Nico's past and her involvement with the demon. We get hints at Miranda's past and her involvement with Banage. We get hints of Josef's past (or, we do in book 4). Above all, we get hints of the world's past, where it came from, and why the sky is so dangerous and spirits are falling asleep.
This tactic keeps the readers guessing. They're given just enough information to make up their own ideas, but not enough to understand the whole piece of trouble that everyone has landed in.
After this 3rd book, I do shake my head at the repetition between the books. Eli must steal something big, Miranda comes after him, a famous swordsman comes after Josef, League tries to take Nico, Miranda loses Eli, Josef nearly dies, Nico nearly loses her humanity, and Eli's bounty doubles.
(Not to give anything away, but books 4 and 5 break the mold. Without losing any epicness.)
This makes the plot sound a little predictable, but it's not. There are so many ways the characters keep showing more sides of themselves, showing what they're willing to risk to achieve what ends. Also, we learn a lot more about the Shepherdess in this book. She's a little crazy.
Oh, and I've noticed the characters don't seem to mind a bunch of pain, since they're usually healed again in a relatively short time frame (stabbed through the back takes less than five days to heal; broken bones take a couple minutes). I suppose mountain swords make expert doctors (obviously), but it's still a little unreal.
New characters! Sparrow and Tesset and Sara and Alric (although we've sort of seen him before), and more with Slorn and the Heart.
Also, the demon(s) of the world are sounding scarier. They can't be killed . . . which is very bad news. But, thankfully, I'm sure Eli and Josef and Nico and Miranda and Gin will solve it.
I'm already mourning the fact that there are only 2 more books in the series. Sigh.
Writer thoughts: I love how well Aaron gives out hints in her books. We get hints at Eli's past and his involvement with the Shepherdess. We get hints at Nico's past and her involvement with the demon. We get hints at Miranda's past and her involvement with Banage. We get hints of Josef's past (or, we do in book 4). Above all, we get hints of the world's past, where it came from, and why the sky is so dangerous and spirits are falling asleep.
This tactic keeps the readers guessing. They're given just enough information to make up their own ideas, but not enough to understand the whole piece of trouble that everyone has landed in.
January 16, 2011
Re-posting my review as it appears from my column "Reading Realms" at The Outhouse Website:
http://www.theouthousers.com/index.ph...
Eli Monpress might be the star of this series, but in this volume he seemed more a secondary character. The book suffered none for it however, as every character in Rachel Aaron's work is as strong as the main. The demonseed Nico, as seen on the cover of the book, might be considered the star this time; though her friend Josef as well as returning Spiritualist Miranda play solid roles as well.
The overall story takes a darker turn than the last couple books. Both because of the growing reader knowledge of the demon threats to the world and the lack of Eli's lighthearted quips. But the direction is welcome as the characters and world have become more than just liked, but familiar and loved. We have come to see a much larger story unfold than just Eli's capers from book to book.
Though I try to keep reviews somewhat spoiler free, I'll dance a little on the edge here since I would assume anyone following this closelly would have read the previous two books: We get to meet a few new characters in the game and a few characters from the past return as well: Slorn and Sted playing key roles. We learn more about Josef's sword "The Heart of War", Eli, The Shaper Mountain and the god-like figures in background of the saga.
Bottom Line:
This series has been one of my favorite this year. I can't think of a series where I've liked every single character as much as I do in these books. My concerns in the review of first volume of Rachel Aaron overusing magic and powerful characters in the series has come to seem silly to me as she has weaved her tale with a masterful balance. I couldn't recommend this book more to anyone interested in a fun fantasy adventure series.
http://www.theouthousers.com/index.ph...
Eli Monpress might be the star of this series, but in this volume he seemed more a secondary character. The book suffered none for it however, as every character in Rachel Aaron's work is as strong as the main. The demonseed Nico, as seen on the cover of the book, might be considered the star this time; though her friend Josef as well as returning Spiritualist Miranda play solid roles as well.
The overall story takes a darker turn than the last couple books. Both because of the growing reader knowledge of the demon threats to the world and the lack of Eli's lighthearted quips. But the direction is welcome as the characters and world have become more than just liked, but familiar and loved. We have come to see a much larger story unfold than just Eli's capers from book to book.
Though I try to keep reviews somewhat spoiler free, I'll dance a little on the edge here since I would assume anyone following this closelly would have read the previous two books: We get to meet a few new characters in the game and a few characters from the past return as well: Slorn and Sted playing key roles. We learn more about Josef's sword "The Heart of War", Eli, The Shaper Mountain and the god-like figures in background of the saga.
Bottom Line:
This series has been one of my favorite this year. I can't think of a series where I've liked every single character as much as I do in these books. My concerns in the review of first volume of Rachel Aaron overusing magic and powerful characters in the series has come to seem silly to me as she has weaved her tale with a masterful balance. I couldn't recommend this book more to anyone interested in a fun fantasy adventure series.
June 11, 2017
I really enjoy reading Rachel Aaron's Eli Monpress series. They are fun reads and they always leave you wanting a lot more. On her third outing with Monpress she hands the book over to Niko. She is the focus as Aaron starts to build up the party that surrounds Monpress. The second book gave us more information on Josef and the Heart of the War. So this one shows us who Niko is and what her struggles are.
Miranda once again shows up but her abilities have nothing to do with what is happening in this book. Aaron not only is giving more depth to Eli's party but also to the Universe that surrounds him. There is a number of new characters introduced in this book. Not only around Eli. The deities that control this world are also started to be explained. The League of Storms as well as the Council are taking shape.
The best thing about the book is that even with Aaron building up the Universe and filling out the characters she does not skimp on the story. This is an exciting read. The action is ever present and you feel you are riding one rally long roller coaster. One that has lots of cool things for the now and you know has a lot left for the future.
On this book Eli hears about the loss of a friends wife. He knows he needs to help and he goes to the last place anyone might guess. The lost mountain where the Demon lies. After a fight and an escape Eli and Josef are caught by the Bandit king. He intends to trade Eli for a Kingdom. But it seems everyone wants a piece of Eli or his companions and this escalates until we get a rematch of Josef and Berek Sted. Sted has become a Demon seed. All the while Eli and his group is being hunted.
Just how will he manage to escape?
Get the book you'll enjoy it.
Miranda once again shows up but her abilities have nothing to do with what is happening in this book. Aaron not only is giving more depth to Eli's party but also to the Universe that surrounds him. There is a number of new characters introduced in this book. Not only around Eli. The deities that control this world are also started to be explained. The League of Storms as well as the Council are taking shape.
The best thing about the book is that even with Aaron building up the Universe and filling out the characters she does not skimp on the story. This is an exciting read. The action is ever present and you feel you are riding one rally long roller coaster. One that has lots of cool things for the now and you know has a lot left for the future.
On this book Eli hears about the loss of a friends wife. He knows he needs to help and he goes to the last place anyone might guess. The lost mountain where the Demon lies. After a fight and an escape Eli and Josef are caught by the Bandit king. He intends to trade Eli for a Kingdom. But it seems everyone wants a piece of Eli or his companions and this escalates until we get a rematch of Josef and Berek Sted. Sted has become a Demon seed. All the while Eli and his group is being hunted.
Just how will he manage to escape?
Get the book you'll enjoy it.
July 23, 2012
From the beginnings of the series I thought this was a fun fantasy romp that made me want to keep reading, and thought the series was a solid four star read. This book broke into the five star boundaries though. At some point I realized that I no longer knew who the main character of the story was anymore. The series is called The Legend of Eli Monpress, and yes, he is a driving force that everyone seems to revolve around, whether they work for him, are hunting him, or are losing their fortunes to his thieving ways, he is a main point of the series. What of Miranda Lyonette though? The spiritualist who has been hunting Eli now through three books, inadvertently having to work with the thief a number of times to bring down bigger threats, and a woman with bonds to her spirits stronger than anyone has ever seen? Or Nico, the young girl child who holds the strongest demonseed created within her and who is constantly fighting with it to remain in control of her own soul, the girl who the strongest swordsman has sworn to protect, the League of Storms has sworn to destroy, and who Eli himself can't make heads or tails of despite that she is a part of his team. All three of these characters could be called the lead in their own right; all three demand your attention, and all three will have you rooting for them. But who will be the final victor and how with that affect everyone else?
I can't wait to read the next book.
I can't wait to read the next book.
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