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yvarg's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Good god, what a slow start! The story was decent once it finally got going though.
sidneymartins's review against another edition
4.0
I'm shocked I don't hear more about this series/author but I'm so glad my husband convinced me to buy it. This book was very slow to start with a bit of a worldbuilding dump but I really loved it once it got into swing. This was traditional epic fantasy at it's finest. This has all the elements - trolls, wolves, magic swords, and traveling across the map. I loved this world and it's inherit magic. My favorite is when Dr. Morgenes keeps gaslighting Simon that magic isn't real lol.
“Never make your home in a place,” the old man had said, too lazy in the spring warmth to do more than wag a finger. “Make a home for yourself inside your own head. You’ll find what you need to furnish it—memory, friends you can trust, love of learning, and other such things.” Morgenes had grinned. “That way it will go with you wherever you journey. You’ll never lack for a home—unless you lose your head, of course . . .”
“Never make your home in a place,” the old man had said, too lazy in the spring warmth to do more than wag a finger. “Make a home for yourself inside your own head. You’ll find what you need to furnish it—memory, friends you can trust, love of learning, and other such things.” Morgenes had grinned. “That way it will go with you wherever you journey. You’ll never lack for a home—unless you lose your head, of course . . .”
evilpeon's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
tristenkozinski's review against another edition
3.0
Actual Rating 3.5
The Dragon Bone Chair is well written (if potentially a bit dry) with an excellent main character arc in Simon. Simon's growth is slow and believable, with him starting out as dreamy and a bit scatter brained and evolving in more than just competence but in tangibly maturing as well.
But I also found the book slow in general, particularly for the first hundred pages which progressed largely without conflict (narrative, action, intrigue or otherwise,) preoccupied more with bits of character and world and plot introduction in-between large swaths of description or daily life elements. As the book progresses and plot actually gets started, the narrative gets significantly stronger with actions scenes, character conflicts and growth, and stakes being far more densely packed (and all being of high quality.) The description scenes remain overburdened throughout, often encompassing whole pages in detailing environments visually.
The world building is decent, though many of the fantastical elements only emerge in the latter half of the book.
The Dragon Bone Chair is well written (if potentially a bit dry) with an excellent main character arc in Simon. Simon's growth is slow and believable, with him starting out as dreamy and a bit scatter brained and evolving in more than just competence but in tangibly maturing as well.
But I also found the book slow in general, particularly for the first hundred pages which progressed largely without conflict (narrative, action, intrigue or otherwise,) preoccupied more with bits of character and world and plot introduction in-between large swaths of description or daily life elements. As the book progresses and plot actually gets started, the narrative gets significantly stronger with actions scenes, character conflicts and growth, and stakes being far more densely packed (and all being of high quality.) The description scenes remain overburdened throughout, often encompassing whole pages in detailing environments visually.
The world building is decent, though many of the fantastical elements only emerge in the latter half of the book.
sirnitsalot's review against another edition
4.5
This is technically a reread, but I remember almost nothing about this book except for some vague and unimportant scenes about 2/3 through the book. I really loved this book. Its so slow, but I loved his prose and didn't mind the slow build.
My biggest complaint is that many of the characters feel non-distinct. Miriamele and Maegwin feel like the same person. I couldn't tell you who Guthwilf, Fengbald and Isgrimnur are and what role they have in the story and what the differences are between the lands they come from as they just sort of blend together. Other characters are obviously quite distinct like Binibik, Geloe, Josua and Elias.
My biggest complaint is that many of the characters feel non-distinct. Miriamele and Maegwin feel like the same person. I couldn't tell you who Guthwilf, Fengbald and Isgrimnur are and what role they have in the story and what the differences are between the lands they come from as they just sort of blend together. Other characters are obviously quite distinct like Binibik, Geloe, Josua and Elias.
jaduxenn's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
robdawgreads's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
4.5
eddiel95's review against another edition
3.0
I read this because I was under the impression it was one of the cornerstones of fantasy, and the audible narrator has a particularly nice reading voice. I enjoyed it, but it could've been shortened significantly without losing the story. A product of its time. A good book, non-main characters were less developed than I would like.
alexissoard's review against another edition
1.0
My first DNF of the year and the first since May 2017. I'm not one to give up on a book (I've been known to slug it out for a month on the same book) but I just couldn't get through this one. I'm sure a lot of people loved this book but, sadly, I'm not one of them. I made it about 50 pages in and, in those 50 pages, almost nothing had happened. And by nothing, I mean nothing. People talked, bits of history were given, and the main character got hired on as an apprentice. Snooze fest, as far as my tastes go.
In a weird, nostalgic way, this book reminds me of books that I used to read when I was younger. It was wordy, overly descriptive, and slow, which is how a lot of books in the 80's and 90's were. I suppose it shows that my tastes have changed. I much prefer a good, fast moving story now to one that takes its time getting setting up. And, at almost 800 pages, I have a feeling that this story was only ever going to take its time getting to the point.
In a weird, nostalgic way, this book reminds me of books that I used to read when I was younger. It was wordy, overly descriptive, and slow, which is how a lot of books in the 80's and 90's were. I suppose it shows that my tastes have changed. I much prefer a good, fast moving story now to one that takes its time getting setting up. And, at almost 800 pages, I have a feeling that this story was only ever going to take its time getting to the point.