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brettmichaelorr's review against another edition
4.0
I absolutely loved this sequel to "The Vagrant", which was one of my most unexpectedly loved books of all time. In The Malice, we follow Vesper, the baby from the first book all grown up, as she runs away with the living sword of Gamma, and realises she now has a burden to save the world from the Breach.
It's less horror than the first book, filled with more comedy thanks to a new goat, and seemingly more self aware now. There are still moments when the depravity and darkness of the world presses against the reader though, and those moments serve to remind us of exactly what's at stake and how bad the world has become. The continual conflict between Gamma's bearers and her apathetic sibling gods is a powerful and subtly underlining aspect to this series, and it'll be interesting to see this conflict come to a head in the next book.
With some extra backstory chapters thrown in to flesh out the history of the Breach and the Empire itself, the lore is starting to build into a more cohesive piece than the initially vague backstory of the first novel. These flashbacks also serve to throw the Empire into a different light, and really play into The Malice's theme that not all internals are evil - and that not every righteous soldier is inherently good.
Overall I really loved The Malice, and can't wait to see where the series goes in the third novel, The Seven, releasing April of 2017.
4 goats out of 5!
It's less horror than the first book, filled with more comedy thanks to a new goat, and seemingly more self aware now. There are still moments when the depravity and darkness of the world presses against the reader though, and those moments serve to remind us of exactly what's at stake and how bad the world has become. The continual conflict between Gamma's bearers and her apathetic sibling gods is a powerful and subtly underlining aspect to this series, and it'll be interesting to see this conflict come to a head in the next book.
With some extra backstory chapters thrown in to flesh out the history of the Breach and the Empire itself, the lore is starting to build into a more cohesive piece than the initially vague backstory of the first novel. These flashbacks also serve to throw the Empire into a different light, and really play into The Malice's theme that not all internals are evil - and that not every righteous soldier is inherently good.
Overall I really loved The Malice, and can't wait to see where the series goes in the third novel, The Seven, releasing April of 2017.
4 goats out of 5!
micahhortonhallett's review against another edition
3.0
I felt like I should have enjoyed this more than I did: The characters were good, the monsters monstrous, the world building just two notches down from China Mieville, the tropes were twisted out of true, the writing was solid and the 'there and back again' heroes journey was played with just enough. I didn't though. Maybe it was because the book (which I didn't know until I looked it up on goodreads) was second in a series, although the story seemed complete on its own. Oh well. Next!
tatdine's review against another edition
5.0
Is this book as good as the Vagrant? Absolutely not. But I still loved it.
I’m genuinely shocked by how underrated these books are. They’re honestly different from any other sci-fi/fantasy amalgamation I’ve ever read before. It’s kind of like reading an acid-trip video game.
Maybe the storytelling isn’t up everyone’s alley, but the sheer talent of the writer is undeniable.
I’m genuinely shocked by how underrated these books are. They’re honestly different from any other sci-fi/fantasy amalgamation I’ve ever read before. It’s kind of like reading an acid-trip video game.
Maybe the storytelling isn’t up everyone’s alley, but the sheer talent of the writer is undeniable.
telamcgrupp's review against another edition
4.0
Wow. I loved following Vesper go on her own unintended adventure. Newman's prose is easy to read, his descriptions of the landscape immerse you into the world. Vesper in my mind: Oops, I didn't mean to be the one to carry Gamma, but let me show you how much of a bad ass girl I am now that I've grown up a bit! Digging deeper into the Infernals was interesting and fun to finally see how spread out they really are. Vesper gets herself into some trouble, but it builds to a nice climax and really sets up book 3.
gbdub's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
scrollsofdragons's review against another edition
2.0
I fell for the Vagrant. His daughter grown up, I have zero interest in. Therefore it took me way over halfway for me to get into it. I wanted to stay with the Vagrant and Harm, learn their relationship and way of living, because I dig it. But no, let's go YA all of a sudden because Vesper was very typical ya heroine.
pandakitties's review
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
drusca78's review against another edition
4.0
An interesting sequel. A world in continuous development, I really liked it. I can't wait to continue.