The three pillars of a story are setting, character, and plot. Orson Scott Card spends a whole lot of time on this one establishing setting, and even introducing several characters who don't factor into the story at all, all for a lackluster plot. The concept is good; the action is a letdown.
At least one character who is supposed to be sympathetic is excessively violent, which is a big turnoff for me in a story. The protagonist allows himself to be led to do things by listening to his "god"--even so far as to take violent, criminal actions he himself strongly resisted--rather than figuring out his own strategies.
This is the first book in a series, so perhaps the follow-up novel ties together some plot holes and stray characters. However, I believe a novel should stand on it's own merits, not rely on the series, and on its own merits, about a third of this book should have been edited out. On the other hand, Orson Scott Card has a gift for writing style, and this book pulled me right along to finish it in only a couple of days.
At least one character who is supposed to be sympathetic is excessively violent, which is a big turnoff for me in a story. The protagonist allows himself to be led to do things by listening to his "god"--even so far as to take violent, criminal actions he himself strongly resisted--rather than figuring out his own strategies.
This is the first book in a series, so perhaps the follow-up novel ties together some plot holes and stray characters. However, I believe a novel should stand on it's own merits, not rely on the series, and on its own merits, about a third of this book should have been edited out. On the other hand, Orson Scott Card has a gift for writing style, and this book pulled me right along to finish it in only a couple of days.
