De momento no me satisface, pero sigo con él por si mejora. Soy un mal "abandonador de libros".Una lástima, las críticas que leí eran muy buenas.Hace mucho que no leo nada nuevo de fantasía (de ciencia ficción es diferente) que me deje buen sabor de boca.[Actualización]He abandonado el libro una temporada y ahora lo retomo. Como pasa a veces, esta vez me está pareciendo mucho más interesante. Veamos si dura.[Comentario final]Es un libro demasiado largo para lo que explica, la verdad. El desenlace es muy bueno, pero la trama es un poco aburrida. Es una trilogía, así que quedan dos libros más por delante. Me ha interesado lo suficiente como para leer la continuación, pero no ahora mismo. ( )

De momento no me satisface, pero sigo con él por si mejora. Soy un mal "abandonador de libros".Una lástima, las críticas que leí eran muy buenas.Hace mucho que no leo nada nuevo de fantasía (de ciencia ficción es diferente) que me deje buen sabor de boca.[Actualización]He abandonado el libro una temporada y ahora lo retomo. Como pasa a veces, esta vez me está pareciendo mucho más interesante. Veamos si dura.[Comentario final]Es un libro demasiado largo para lo que explica, la verdad. El desenlace es muy bueno, pero la trama es un poco aburrida. Es una trilogía, así que quedan dos libros más por delante. Me ha interesado lo suficiente como para leer la continuación, pero no ahora mismo. ( )

Just as grim as the first in the series, and now the second-in-command
to the engineer is a psychopath too. ( )

It seems that this is a book that many people have a hard time determining their feelings about - some love it, some despise it and many are ambivalent.

I really liked this book in that it kept me guessing as to everyone's motives - I still am not entirely sure the motivations of the main character, Vaatzes. Alternately I liked him, pitied him and hated him.

The rest of the characters evoked similar feelings - though often they were stupid, detached, weak...utterly flabber...more It seems that this is a book that many people have a hard time determining their feelings about - some love it, some despise it and many are ambivalent.

I really liked this book in that it kept me guessing as to everyone's motives - I still am not entirely sure the motivations of the main character, Vaatzes. Alternately I liked him, pitied him and hated him.

The rest of the characters evoked similar feelings - though often they were stupid, detached, weak...utterly flabbergasted by the main character's actions as I was.

I was entertained by the wry wit of the author and the repeated references to rules of Fashion, Tolerance and statistical tables of war. The author illustrates his world's cultures solidly.

The discussions of metalworking and engineering were quite interesting, but sometimes a bit drawn out. Similarly, the portrayal of the hunt - however, having never been on a formal hunt, yet having read about many in various books, this is the first time that I felt an author fully understood what it entails and gave me a complete picture of it as well. So, while it derailed the narrative a bit, I still enjoyed it.

Unfortunately, the "evil villain" of the book falls into the trap of all cliche evil villains and explains his master plan to a captive in one of the last few chapters of the book...not quite all of it, but I'd rather have had the "Aha! He did it!" moment revealed another way than in a smug monologue.

I also would have appreciated a few more female characters, or at least more "screen time" and development for those that exist.

I will definitely go on to read the rest of the series, despite the weaknesses of the book. ( )

Fantasy isn't quite the word, since there's no magic, but nothing else seems to fit. Intricate and precise, like a fine machine. Mannered but compelling. ( )