Sarazeen Saif Ahana

Heart stopping

Revisado: 02-23-25

The words "immersive", "epic", and "unputdownable" have lost all meaning due to overuse when it comes to modern fantasy fiction, but there are no other words strong or evocative enough to describe just how captivating this book series truly is. Kristoff has crafted a true masterpiece, and I am beyond thrilled to see the vampire sub-genre getting the refresh it justly deserves.

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A fresh take on a classic

Revisado: 11-18-21

*The Wheel of Time* has a special place in my heart, as it does for countless fans around the world. I read the (paper) books during one of the most challenging periods of my life, and I honestly think I would not be where I am today if not for the hope I got from these books.

That being said, I honestly tried to like the Kramer and Reading recordings for years. I’ve listened through all the books multiple times, trying to figure out exactly why I do not enjoy their work on these books. I know they have legions of fans but, for some reason, they never worked for me. These are highly charged, extremely emotional books, and while I think Reading puts a fair bit of emotion into her performances, Kramer does not.

Once again, this is purely my personal opinion.

Pike gave me what I had hoped to get when I first bought the WOT audios. The breathless anticipation, the riveting action sequences, the tension, the drama, the romance, the thrill. The Prologue, for instance, is an extremely tense scene. There is a tremendous amount of history behind every word that is written in that one chapter, not to mention the amount of drama — Kramer’s reading felt a little… lax. Pike’s voice, on the other hand, flowed. The dialogue is emotional, the descriptions are vivid, and she has a tremendous amount of control in how she portrays these characters. The ending of the Prologue, one of the most dramatic closing scenes in any WOT book, is builds like an orchestra with Pike’s performance, the tension climbing and climbing before coming crashing down with all the force of a tsunami.

Once more, I laud Kramer and Reading for lending their voices to an incredible series of books. Personally, I struggled to enjoy their performance, and Rosamund Pike’s voice worked like magic for me. She gives a vivid, fresh face to a classic tale, and I think she does a wonderful job.

I sincerely hope she goes on to narrate the rest of the books.

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Slowing down, but still great!

Revisado: 04-04-21

I struggled with this book more than any other. Not because it’s a bad book, but because my beloved Gavin suffers horrifically here, and I just couldn’t deal with it. Weeks, like I’ve said before, is a prose-master, and he can tease apart threads of story that you’d subconsciously been reading throughout this series. I feel like Weeks REALLY got into his stride here in Book 3.

There’s intense character-development here, but there’s also plenty of story to go along with it. We’re quite literally in the middle of the series, so a little drop in pace is expected, but it did not bother me too much. We watch the fall from grace of multiple characters that we’ve witnessed struggle to rise, and it’s heartbreaking and riveting at the same time. And just when you think you’ve hit rock bottom, Weeks grins and reveals a sub-dungeon.

I think I’ll take a short break before beginning Book 4, though. Spoiler alert, but I’ll be in my corner, holding my stuffed octopus and mourning Tremblefist.

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A worthy sequel

Revisado: 04-04-21

Brent Weeks is an artist of the written word, and I will FIGHT for him. That being said, after the rollercoaster ride that was “The Black Prism”, my expectations were sky-high for Book 2. It would be wrong to say that my hopes were not fulfilled, but this book certainly moved slower in comparison. The characters continue to be compelling, and I simply LOVED the good balance between dark and light, good and evil, male and female. However, the book does slow down in the middle, and I found myself grumbling a little before picking it back up. That is NOT, however, anything against the book itself; it’s an extremely well-written story that I sincerely enjoyed, but when you compare it to the breakneck pace of “The Black Prism”, you can see where it slowed.

I have heard some people say that they found the book “sexist”, and I have to say that I respectfully disagree. Women here are not the “strong women” stereotype now unfortunately common (especially in YA Fantasy), but they were not Madonnas, either. They fight, they mess up, they laugh, and they fight some more. And they sure as heck know how to deal with Gavin the Gadha. Yes, he’s a donkey. Yes, I love him. Yes, I know I have issues.

The book ends in the most brutal way possible, with one of the most infuriating, compelling cliffhangers I’ve had the pleasure of reading in quite a while. I’m taking a star off for the pacing near the middle, but it’s a minor flaw in the second installment of a gorgeous story. Weeks is amazing, and definitely deserves more exposure.

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Unexpectedly amazing

Revisado: 04-04-21

Someone alert the media because there’s a giant hole in Dhaka. Created by my jaw. This has been sitting on my TBR for so, I’d taken it for granted. Take it from me, kids, don’t take ANYTHING for granted. Book 1, The Black Prism, is set in the world of Brent Weeks’ brilliantly-crafted Lightbringer books, a world dominated by a magic system based on light (duh!) and colors. Every person who can use magic is called a drafter, and the Prism is the only drafter who can split and use every single color in the rainbow, making him or her an emperor. This is not a hereditary title, however, and is a gifted granted by god (called Orholam). The current Prism is the new love of my life, Gavin Guile. But Gavin is not who he pretends to be. His entire life as Prism was a lie the size of which could literally destroy the world order.

There is so much to talk about here, but I promise to keep it as short as possible. First off, the magic system and worldbuilding. It’s thick, rich and layered like cake (or onions!), but it’s also presented so carefully that you are never overwhelmed. The color system is unique and utilized in a way that makes it seem almost plausible, and I loved how much variety and depth there was when it came to cultural and social diversity. Secondly, the plot. Take a hammer, change everything about it, and then slam it on your reading muscles, because the twists (yes, multiple) will leave you gasping. The beginning of every third of the book sets everything up, and then the last two paragraphs shatters everything into smithereens. And it’s BREAKTHAKING!

If Lightbringer is in your radar, and even if it’s not, read the first chapter. If you’re not hooked by then, then DM me, because I need to MEET THE PERSON WHO DOESN’T FALL IN LOVE WITH GAVIN GUILE.

Also, Kip is MINE. He’s a sweetheart, and adorable, and I will protect him with my life.

*scrambles for Book 2*

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