Natalie > Recent Status Updates

This book really leans into the (tell) side of writing. Lots of talk-no-jutsu too. Started pretty strong, the ending is so weak. Shame.

The book started very strong, but somehow lost tension. Lots of telling, not enough showing. Also the rulers are incompetent, you'd think they would have a spy network and better systems in place. All they do is just react to events.

Also I disliked the use of the word (revolution). It feels off, very overused and too cliche. Feels like the era when all YA books had to have a revolution in them (post hunger games).

Dunno if the book is a parody on Gary Stus or Rezkin is the Godfather of Gary Stus.....

I find that the story drags a lot through the middle, and the characters are losing their charm.

So much shipping melodrama...Not enough plot, I've almost lost interest in the book. Might DNF. Also all the emotions are exaggerated to the point of ridiculous. Attraction becomes earth shattering passion, fear becomes blood chilling horror, worry becomes nail biting suspense.... If Elloren buys turnips, it becomes an emotional political statement.

So much shipping melodrama...Not enough plot, I've almost lost interest in the book. Might DNF. Also all the emotions are exaggerated to the point of ridiculous. Attraction becomes earth shattering passion, fear becomes blood chilling horror, worry becomes nail biting suspense.... If Elloren buys turnips, it becomes a political statement.

So much shipping melodrama...Not enough plot, I've almost lost interest in the book. Might DNF. Also all the emotions are exaggerated to the point of annoying. Attraction becomes earth shattering passion, fear becomes blood chilling horror, worry becomes nail biting suspense....The events are ridiculous because the description that the author uses. If Elloren buys turnips, it becomes a political statement.

So much shipping melodrama...Not enough plot, I've almost lost interest in the book. Might DNF. Also all the emotions are exaggerated to the point of becoming annoying. Attraction becomes earth shattering passion, fear becomes blood chilling horror, worry becomes nail biting suspense....The events are ridiculous because the description that the author uses. If Elloren buys turnips, it becomes a lyrical statement.

The book loses the tension around the 75% mark... I'm still reading because I am invested in just one character, the titular Blackthorne. Nels loses his charm this book, he is basically a bully. Suvi is non present. Dylan is meh. Ilta also goes invisible after a certain event. A shame tho, she was a kickass character. Her and Nels are kinda boring.

Also lots of storylines that go nowhere :(

Started pretty interesting and intense then became too convenient. The conflict lost its tension. I feel like everything will wrap up too neatly in the end....

Like all the characters, Dominic too but he way too serious/intense for his own good.

Cowardly, useless and passive. None of the actions in this book came from a conscious decision, Jalan just flopped around. It is ok as a starting point leading to character development but sadly we get two books of narcissistic whiny monologue.

The word that sums up this book is frustrating. The author sets up a very interesting world with a lot of mystery, and then bogs it down with the most useless and unlikeable imbecile of an MC. Cowardly Jalan is an awful protagonist, no amount of excellent prose makes him appealing. Hoping he changes soon.

Probably the most status updates I've ever written for a book. Story is picking up, child Jalan is much more interesting than adult Jalan. Has more backbone and brains. Dunno what went wrong growing up.

There's a lot of repetition in this book: Red Vikings chase the heroes, they fight outnumbered, the heroes run from RV, this happens like three times so far. Hoping the story picks up

skipping paragraphs since the book became mind numbingly boring. Too idealistic and childish... Shame, it started out very strong.

The resolution of the conflict weakened the story. It's like the author got herself stuck in a corner and had to rely on a wishy-washy deus ex machina. Miri went from an empowered character to a mainstream YA snowflake.

Maybe better worldbuilding could have anchored the story better.

It is an entertaining read so far but loses the spirit of the first book.

While the first one has more of a unique voice, Palace of Stone reads more like a typical YA revolution/hunger-games-influenced book. World and characters need more fleshing out. Still fun to read tho...

Indeed, the book shines when it is from Snorri's POV. Jalan is a selfish imbecile who was somewhat relatable in the first book but is annoying now. Kinda one dimensional: he drinks, he whores, he whines, he's afraid of his own shadow. Rinse, lather, repeat.

Here's hoping the rest of the story fleshes him out.

So far my least fav of Mark Lawrence's book. Jalan's consistent shallowness get tiresome after a while. I thought there was more to him than just a drunk manwhore....Snorri is the more interesting of the pair, or the smarter at least.

Loving the book so far, has a good dose of worldbuilding and interesting characters. Definitely not the Cliché YA novel with a special snowflake.

Had a status update that was lost. Anyway, I love that the author is developing her main characters. Not just Elloren. It could have been so easy to create a Mary Sue, throw in a love triangle and call it a day. The Black Witch goes through great lengths to give some the characters their proper "awakening" journey. They are all fearful and hateful toward each other. Small steps have huge impact.

This is a book about a sheltered (naive) protagonist navigating a complex society. She starts with very little understanding of the world she lives in. Also, religion is the main reason of racial tension and oppression.

I think this premise provides better world-building potential than the average YA fantasy. Maybe that's why people are shocked when they read about bad things in a fictional society.

I'm really liking the story telling so far. There is a lot of world building set in place. Most importantly, its not a progressive PC world. I find that it's more interesting to read about lands-in-conflict than utopias (in fantasy at least).

Wonderful book, very engaging.

I love that this book is so easy to read, the pages just flow into each other.

put on hold... seems rather typical fantasy

currently put on hold

I waited for the series to be complete before reading the first installment! :)

Very gripping so far! can't put down the book. Hope the ending is as strong as the beginning and the middle.