cpark2005 reviewed Ember Blade by Chris Wooding
Review of 'Ember Blade' on 'Goodreads'
3 stars
The Ember Blade is an ode to classic fantasy stories with a dash of spice from newer grimdark stories. Chris Wooding has crafted a story set in a bleak world that is equal parts quest and coming-of-age tropes, with a bit of the ever-popular heist trope thrown in. It’s a story that will appeal to many fans of fantasy, though it didn’t entirely work for me.
Chris Wooding has given us a true tome of a novel. The Ember Blade clocks in at around 800 pages. At some level this tale is about oppression and friendship and loyalty. Wooding doesn’t shy away from complex themes. He’s also given us some very deep world building. There is a great deal of history to this world—much of it a history of oppression and pain. I would have enjoyed learning even more of the history of Ossia, though I’m sure plenty will be …
The Ember Blade is an ode to classic fantasy stories with a dash of spice from newer grimdark stories. Chris Wooding has crafted a story set in a bleak world that is equal parts quest and coming-of-age tropes, with a bit of the ever-popular heist trope thrown in. It’s a story that will appeal to many fans of fantasy, though it didn’t entirely work for me.
Chris Wooding has given us a true tome of a novel. The Ember Blade clocks in at around 800 pages. At some level this tale is about oppression and friendship and loyalty. Wooding doesn’t shy away from complex themes. He’s also given us some very deep world building. There is a great deal of history to this world—much of it a history of oppression and pain. I would have enjoyed learning even more of the history of Ossia, though I’m sure plenty will be revealed in subsequent books. There are also some very cool moments in this story, from an escape from what amounts to a haunted castle to several intense fight sequences. There are a number of scenes that really grip you and force you to keep reading.
Unfortunately, those scenes are about the only thing that did grip me. For much of the book I found myself plodding, not particularly interested in reading. This changed towards the end—and I think the final twenty percent of the book is truly excellent. To me, it felt like this novel wasn’t quite sure whether it wanted to be a coming-of-age story, a story about a party on a quest, or a heist story wrapped in a revolution. I just never felt like those elements were able to blend seamlessly together. It probably didn’t help that I didn’t connect with any of the characters. I have to be quick to point out, however, that I’m the minority opinion here. It’s been difficult to gather my thoughts and put them on paper because of that. Many other reviewers that I tend to share similar tastes with have really enjoyed this one. For me, it never quite worked. I hate that because this is exactly the type of book I typically love and would love to see publishers take risks on. Unfortunately, this one just didn’t work for me. Your mileage may vary, though.
If you enjoy coming-of-age stories with deeply flawed characters (abusive hero, deadbeat dad, naïve and arrogant teen), coupled with stories of revolution set in a deeply imagined world with a sizeable word count—then go check out some other reviews of The Ember Blade. This one didn’t work for me, but I feel like that may have more to do with me than the book itself. 3/5 stars.
5 – I loved this, couldn’t put it down, move it to the top of your TBR pile
4 – I really enjoyed this, add it to the TBR pile
3 – I liked it, depending on your preferences it may be worth your time
2 – I didn’t like this book, it has significant flaws and I can’t recommend it
1 – I loathe this book with a most loathsome loathing