I used to be a fan of OSC. "Ender's Game" and the Apprentice Series were fantastic reads. However...
The first book in this series was just okay. This one was slightly better in terms of writing, but it seems like I'm not the intended audience. I've never seen an author go to such great lengths to recap, spoil the twists, and explain things. It reaches a point where the story feels more like an essay, and I'm not a fan of reading essays.
It would have been interesting if Card had reversed the gender of the characters, as it might have made the physics/nature (bird & bees) aspects more sensible.
I'm officially done with this series and probably Card as an author for good.
It's pretty obvious that the book has a religious allegory going on. The author comes off as a bit arrogant and disconnected from what most teenagers are like. Because of this, the magic in the story seems more believable than the relationships between the characters.
The first few minutes of this book had me eager to dive back in. However, just like the second book of Ruins, I was left feeling disappointed. Orson Scott Card's books often have those "moments of vulgarity" that come with teenage boy characters, but they're usually easy to overlook. Unfortunately, in this case, it wasn't so easy. Additionally, I felt like the plot didn't really progress much throughout the book. It almost felt like you could skip book two and not miss out on much if you went straight to book three. At the end, OSC gives an interview where he talks about the challenges of world-building and setting up the plot while keeping it moving. It almost felt like an apology for the book. Similar to my experience with Ruins, I would suggest waiting to read this book until book three is released, and then reading them together. This book alone didn't satisfy me like the first one did.
After reading the first book in this series, I wasn't sure if I should give the second one a chance. I think my negative opinion may have been influenced by the amazing book I had just finished by Peter Hamilton before starting this one, which made it seem like a disappointment. The characters and the story in this book feel very juvenile, almost like it's meant for a younger audience. I couldn't bear to continue listening after a couple of hours because it was just so annoyingly terrible. My biggest issue is the meaningless and completely unrealistic conversations between the teenagers. It just went on and on, with 30 minutes wasted on mindless banter that had no relevance to the plot. I wish I could get those 2 hours of my life back. Stay away from this one!
Although I have a strong faith rooted in the Bible, it remains unaffected by external pressures or influences. Nevertheless, I must express my regret over purchasing this book. While I didn't mind the incorporation of old myths with new backstories in the first installment, I draw the line when Jesus is included in this particular narrative. As a longtime fan of OSC, starting with the Ender books, I have observed a shift in the "spiritual" aspect of his recent work. After encountering this, I am uncertain if I would continue to purchase his books. Typically, I don't write reviews, but if I had come across a review like this before, it would have spared me from this mistake. Therefore, I felt compelled to share my thoughts for the benefit of others who may feel the same. From a storytelling perspective, this is a well-crafted tale. However, I personally cannot tolerate the inclusion of this content.
I'm really torn on this one. I'd probably give it a 2.5 rating. I appreciate Orson Scott Card's attempt to incorporate Egyptian, Norse, and Greek mythology, as well as Judeo-Christian beliefs, into the world-building and magic system. Card himself refers to these aspects as the "boring bits," but I actually found them to be the highlights. I think he should have focused more on these elements and the overall plot.
In the first book, we meet Danny North, a Gate Mage and Gate Father who has the ability to create powerful gates that transport people to other worlds and enhance their magic. This makes him a highly sought-after target, as everyone either wants to kill him or gain his favor in order to access his gates. This tension between families has the potential to lead to war.
The first book is good and introduces well-developed characters that are easy to relate to. Unfortunately, this book doesn't continue that trend. The characters feel quite one-dimensional. Additionally, Card places too much emphasis on Danny's journey as a young god and his experiences in high school. The story focuses on Danny's interactions with his classmates, particularly girls. Card delves into the allure that powerful men have over young girls and exaggerates Danny's sexual appeal. Every young girl in the story seems to be infatuated with him, and he constantly has to reject their advances to maintain his moral standing. It becomes cliché and at times, I almost stopped reading due to boredom.
Despite my reservations, I am still curious about the third book and there are some intriguing elements in this one. I really hope the third installment is an improvement because the first book was promising and there is still potential in the series. I hope this second book is just a necessary evil in the progression of the story. I understand that writing the second book in a series can be challenging, but I was slightly disappointed that a seasoned author like Card fell into some of these pitfalls. I would recommend reading it because the first book is good, and we can hope that the third book will be great, but this second book is necessary to get there.
I'm a bit surprised by the number of mediocre reviews for this book. Personally, I found it to be an enjoyable read, although I would describe it more as a "solid" read rather than an exhilarating one. If you're seeking a book filled with non-stop action, then this might not be the right fit for you. However, I found it engaging enough that I'll eagerly await the next installment in the series. The ending did feel a bit sudden, lacking a clear climactic scene. My main gripe would be that there seems to be an excessive focus on the technical aspects of writing, overshadowing the artistic elements. There's a slight whiff of the book serving as an information dump for the middle of the series.
First things first, let me start by saying that the story of 'The Gate Thief: Mithermages, Book 2' is both intriguing and impressive. The way the narrative unfolds keeps you engaged throughout.
However, I must admit that I personally didn't enjoy it and couldn't bring myself to finish the novel. Sometimes, you come across a book that is technically well-written but just doesn't resonate with you, and this happens to be one of those for me. I mean, it's a fantasy novel, so it's expected to have elements that are unrealistic, like gods and kids with supernatural powers. But for me, there's something fundamentally lacking in the human aspect of this entire story.
You see, as human beings, we are driven by various motives such as love, hate, anger, the desire to succeed, the longing for fame, or the pursuit of power. All of these factors come together to shape our humanity. However, these novels solely focus on power and control, and it becomes evident right from the start. Even a seemingly harmless conversation about having an extra breakfast to stay fit turns into a discussion about who holds power. It's an interesting perspective to observe from a distance, but the absence of love and approval, except for one scene involving parents, leaves the characters feeling one-dimensional and solely fixated on power.
Unfortunately, this aspect of the story began to grate on me, and eventually, it became overwhelming to the point where I had to give up. But hey, if you approach books like popcorn, just looking for a mindless escape without delving into the deeper meaning, then go ahead and give it a try. But I must warn you, beneath its pretentious and seemingly logical facade, this book lacks the human touch and left me with a sense of indescribable disgust.
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