10 Comments
Nov 29, 2022Liked by Aristophanes

Great review. I binged this series as well. Even made all those around me read it. Younger generations could definitely stand to read it and learn from it! The series gets better with each book.

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Really impressed with the way the themes mature alongside the characters. As the characters get older they confront more responsibility and an overarching theme is essentially Darrow going from a piss and vinegar young man to an elder statesman and father.

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Incredible series. Highly recommend. Recently binged a second read of the series in preparation for Lightbringer. Unfortunately it has been delayed to 2023.

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This series sounds incredible.

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It is!

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I read the first 3 (enjoyed 1 immensely, had fun with 2 & 3) and then lost interest a few chapters into 4. The tone got heavily repetitive. Darrow broods, fights, broods, gets betrayed, broods, maybe dies, didn't die, someone else dies, Darrow broods more... Does it break free from that mold and go anywhere different in 4+?

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Yeah it's a bit of a slog in 4 as the tone changes, but it gets better. 5 was very refreshing with new locales and POV characters.

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Takes a bit of betrayal and the complexity of politics, but Darrow does eventually figure out how realpolitik works and becomes something of an elder statesman.

I think what I enjoy most about the series is the way the characters evolve as they age. Darrow doesn't stop being a naïve child until he's a good bit older. Becomes a father, a celebrity, etc.

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Humble beginnings for a guy who becomes a warlord lmao

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Haha glad to hear it, it's interesting how the characters evolve. It's like the series uses this hunger games approach in book 1 to aim for younger readers, only to onboard them into a serious space opera

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