I was actually really disappointed with this entry in the series. I will say that it's engrossing and that Kristen Britain is a very engaging author. So it's easy to read and compelling.
My problem is basically with the content. I just don't like the turns the series is making (there were hints of it from the 1st book, but it still caught me by surprise) and I didn't like the increasingly romantic slants.
Her first book, Green Rider, was almost generic, and she's gotten past that (which is really nice) but now that the series has a defined tone and feel, i'm realizing that I don't like its style. I won't be following this series anymore.
I read on her webpage that the author said she likes to torture her characters (emotionally). That really came out in this book and it's not at all my style of reading.
If you've ever read George R. R. Martin's series "A game of thrones" and liked it, then you'll like this series. But if you didn't, then don't: you'll be disappointed.
My problem is basically with the content. I just don't like the turns the series is making (there were hints of it from the 1st book, but it still caught me by surprise) and I didn't like the increasingly romantic slants.
Her first book, Green Rider, was almost generic, and she's gotten past that (which is really nice) but now that the series has a defined tone and feel, i'm realizing that I don't like its style. I won't be following this series anymore.
I read on her webpage that the author said she likes to torture her characters (emotionally). That really came out in this book and it's not at all my style of reading.
If you've ever read George R. R. Martin's series "A game of thrones" and liked it, then you'll like this series. But if you didn't, then don't: you'll be disappointed.
Wow. This book is just...wow. It starts off with the ever evil Grandmother, which I won't say much about, then skips to Karigan visiting her father and four aunts (absolutely adorable aunts, might i add). If you have kept up with the previous books, you can imagine all the things that go down with this not so merry family reunion: Chaos.
After that, Karigan gets shoved into Blackveil with a few other people, including some Eletians, and all hell breaks loose. Again, I'll refrain from spilling out all the juicy details.
This book had A LOT of different plots, and being a some-what writer myself, I give Kristen Britain as much respect as I can muster. First, you have Amberhill, who completely strolls away from protocol with that weirdo ring. Then, you have Estora, >=(, and the King, =), and their whole marriage fiasco. Not to mention poor Alton over there beating his brains out at the crumbling wall. There is so much more too but saying so would ruin my attempt at not spoiling this amazing book for people.
Now, if you have read other reviews, you will realize that the ending of Blackveil wasn't satisfactory. Yes, it was a cliffhanger. Yes, KB takes a while to get her books out. Yes, usually the ending to these books are happy and not so unbelievably heart-wrenching. BUT I still think this book completely topped the others in every way. To me, best book in the series, maybe the best book I've ever read. Also, I have a funny feeling that KB wouldn't leave her characters hanging like that for 4-5 years. I hear she is now a full time writer!
So I end my review with this: read this book, love it, don't complain about the ending, and then love it some more. It will be a long time until another series comes out with an author as genius as KB.
After that, Karigan gets shoved into Blackveil with a few other people, including some Eletians, and all hell breaks loose. Again, I'll refrain from spilling out all the juicy details.
This book had A LOT of different plots, and being a some-what writer myself, I give Kristen Britain as much respect as I can muster. First, you have Amberhill, who completely strolls away from protocol with that weirdo ring. Then, you have Estora, >=(, and the King, =), and their whole marriage fiasco. Not to mention poor Alton over there beating his brains out at the crumbling wall. There is so much more too but saying so would ruin my attempt at not spoiling this amazing book for people.
Now, if you have read other reviews, you will realize that the ending of Blackveil wasn't satisfactory. Yes, it was a cliffhanger. Yes, KB takes a while to get her books out. Yes, usually the ending to these books are happy and not so unbelievably heart-wrenching. BUT I still think this book completely topped the others in every way. To me, best book in the series, maybe the best book I've ever read. Also, I have a funny feeling that KB wouldn't leave her characters hanging like that for 4-5 years. I hear she is now a full time writer!
So I end my review with this: read this book, love it, don't complain about the ending, and then love it some more. It will be a long time until another series comes out with an author as genius as KB.
This was as great as the rest of the Green Rider series, but really made me mad at the end, and if you choose to read it you will see why. Still I loved it.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Review: This book starts off fairly slow but picks up pace about halfway through. There seem to be more storylines to follow than previous. I had a bit of trouble remember who some of the newer characters were as it's been a year or two since I last read the series, but Britain does a good job of reminding the reader about who people are and where they come from.
There wasn't any major plot development in this book, at least not until the very end. However, I enjoyed the story that was told. Some more mysteries are figured out about the wall, along with some positive character development with Alton. I enjoyed the group that went into the forest, with the exception of Grant. He seemed to be along to cause unneeded drama, both when he was well and when he was unwell. You could have removed him from the story easily. Grandmother continues to be a creepy old woman. Give who her "God" turned out to be I found it very funny that she was laughing at the Groundmites for acting like he was their god. Her granddaughter is going to be a very, very creepy and powerful bad guy. I also enjoyed the Amberhill story line. It's clear that something cool is going to happen with him and he'll probably be very important to the plot in the future.
I didn't really see the point of the Zachary/Estora storyline. I just made good characters into unlikeable characters, forced Zachary and Estora into an awkward early marriage and just generally took up space and made more unneeded drama.
I was very unhappy with the ending of the book. I never like cliffhangers, in TV, movies or books. I dislike them even more when I'll have to wait 4-5 years for a resolution instead of a year or less.
This book was darker than previous books, but I think the series is naturally heading that way, so I'm fine with that.
Overall an enjoyable book to read.
Review: This book starts off fairly slow but picks up pace about halfway through. There seem to be more storylines to follow than previous. I had a bit of trouble remember who some of the newer characters were as it's been a year or two since I last read the series, but Britain does a good job of reminding the reader about who people are and where they come from.
There wasn't any major plot development in this book, at least not until the very end. However, I enjoyed the story that was told. Some more mysteries are figured out about the wall, along with some positive character development with Alton. I enjoyed the group that went into the forest, with the exception of Grant. He seemed to be along to cause unneeded drama, both when he was well and when he was unwell. You could have removed him from the story easily. Grandmother continues to be a creepy old woman. Give who her "God" turned out to be I found it very funny that she was laughing at the Groundmites for acting like he was their god. Her granddaughter is going to be a very, very creepy and powerful bad guy. I also enjoyed the Amberhill story line. It's clear that something cool is going to happen with him and he'll probably be very important to the plot in the future.
I didn't really see the point of the Zachary/Estora storyline. I just made good characters into unlikeable characters, forced Zachary and Estora into an awkward early marriage and just generally took up space and made more unneeded drama.
I was very unhappy with the ending of the book. I never like cliffhangers, in TV, movies or books. I dislike them even more when I'll have to wait 4-5 years for a resolution instead of a year or less.
This book was darker than previous books, but I think the series is naturally heading that way, so I'm fine with that.
Overall an enjoyable book to read.
This series is one of the best I have ever read. While I am a bit disappointed that his book did not bring the story to it's conclusion, I have to admit that it makes me happy that there will be more to come of the ever intriguing heroine. If you are a fan of fantasy and sci-fi, this is a series that you have to try. It keeps you on the edge of your seat with the intrigues of court life, the mysteries of love and the impending doom of the antagonist. Love, love, love it. Can not wait until the next installment.
I've been reading this series again and again since I first picked up Green Rider back in middle school several years ago. My paperback copy of Green Rider is missing it's back cover, it fell off somewhere between my 12th and 14th reads. To this day it has remained my favorite series of books of all time and Blackveil was once again another great installment of Karigan and Co.
I like how Kristen Britain ties all the different story lines together in a logical, faily easy to follow way. Blackveil seems more of journey book than any of her previous books have been. The main events of the other three take place in or near Sacor City. Here you get to see more of the Country both on the messenger runs and on the Company's journey to Balckveil and then into Blackveils itself. You also saw more of the evil side's power developing and where it might go in the future.
The only thing I will say is that Kristen Britain has mentioned she enjoys torturing her readers along with her characters and be prepared, especially the ending. I wanted to smack her upside the head with the book and say "Why?!" when I finished blackveil, but of course with that kind of a cliffhanger I am going to buy the next book the day it comes out. Overall it was worth the year and half that I spent anxiously awaiting this book's arrival.
I like how Kristen Britain ties all the different story lines together in a logical, faily easy to follow way. Blackveil seems more of journey book than any of her previous books have been. The main events of the other three take place in or near Sacor City. Here you get to see more of the Country both on the messenger runs and on the Company's journey to Balckveil and then into Blackveils itself. You also saw more of the evil side's power developing and where it might go in the future.
The only thing I will say is that Kristen Britain has mentioned she enjoys torturing her readers along with her characters and be prepared, especially the ending. I wanted to smack her upside the head with the book and say "Why?!" when I finished blackveil, but of course with that kind of a cliffhanger I am going to buy the next book the day it comes out. Overall it was worth the year and half that I spent anxiously awaiting this book's arrival.
I love this series and I am going to find it hard to wait for the next installment...come on, Kristen, don't make us wait too long!!
