Son of Solitude

preachy

Reviewed: 12-30-24

one of the best story tellers and world builders I've ever encountered. excellent magic systems and character building also. he writes in a way that strongly encourages going through the material many times. each time giving you a sharper focus. I'm impressed with ever one I've read. he's managed to work in all the things younger people these days seem to be so passionate about while keeping the preaching to a minimum or nearly subliminal, never letting it dominate the story. until this last book where he turned it all way up. not once in the many times I listened to 1-4 did I ever roll my eyes but this final installment, produced many. take it back a notch is all. it's an escape to another world, not a preaching venue. love your work man.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

narration crippled this story

Reviewed: 03-07-24

story is great. narration from Stephen H is so over the top its hard to handle. everything is so over dramatic with his slow down at the end of every sentence. (he wanted to use a fork BUT THERE WASN'T ONE AVAILABLE! and so.. he.. reached.. for.. the.. spoon...) 4 books in and I'm not sure I'll make it through another one. He reads well and clearly but the cadence gets more irritating the longer it goes. I'm sorry Stephen.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Did he really write this?

Reviewed: 02-19-24

I don't want to believe he wrote this. I regret buying this series. the main character is the most unlikable character I've ever come across. I've got 6 hrs left in the series and I've decided to stop punishing myself. if it wasn't for the depth of this story I would believe it was pulled from the HFY groups on reddit.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

wow she's really annoying

Reviewed: 02-13-24

He's a great story teller and the overall story is interesting as always. It does come off a bit like fantasy fantasizing about being science fiction. A bit. The main character though, she's super irritating.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Not the same quality as Mistborn but still worth it.

Reviewed: 02-10-24

I really like what he's doing here. It's still well written and engaging although there seem to be some inconsistencies that try to break my brain. Also a few scenes I thought were stupid or silly. They aren't enough to overshadow the rest. The scope of this project is breathtaking. I don't even really like fantasy much but this writers stories are so good I consider him one of the top 5 authors I've encountered in my 50+ years.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

A wider and deeper look at the world

Reviewed: 02-09-22

There are some fascinating aspects to this book. I think the Adem culture was one of the best parts. A culture that is extremely conservative with its verbal interactions and relies exclusively on its hand gestures to communicate emotion. This was so well done and very intriguing.

Except for the information conveyed in the Felurian part, I could really have done without that and all the other sex parts. Alas, the book wasn't written for me and this part of the biography takes place during the period when the main character was 16 or 17 perhaps. It would hardly be realistic if a young man's desires didn't play a part in his coming of age story. I just found his absolute ignorance and insecurity around women to be one of his few endearing qualities. Now that part is over.

Despite the story being told by him, about him, these stories are really about the world they take place in. He's just a device that takes the reader on a tour of the world and from that perspective, it's an amazing place with a rich history, filled with enticing mysteries that I have no doubt will be unveiled in the third book.

I'm sorry to say some of us may never know the ending. I can't say I blame the author as much as I'd like. If I had poured my life into a story that meant as much to me as this one does to this author, and a bunch of pretentious self entitled jerks only interested in shallow, politically and socially charged stories tore it apart like a pack of rabid wolves... Well I'd probably hold my last story back too. Unlike most authors who tell stories as a source of income, this author has only one story to share and he was trying to share it with US. It was more of a gift than a job. Income was nice but ultimately incidental.

That's how I see it anyway. I get the strong sense that this author wears his heart on his sleeve and any criticism hurts more than it would most authors. Viscous and particularly cruel criticisms like I've read here and elsewhere can break a person like that. People can be so mean and I'm ashamed to say I'm guilty of a little callous review writing myself. That's a tragedy really, because it's a marvelous creation even with its flaws. Perhaps a generation or two too late.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Deserves deep thought and full attention

Reviewed: 02-05-22

Most people here seem to want surface stories that are shallow and short. If you are one of those people, skip this book. If you expect it to push a modern political or social agenda, skip it.

This story is the biography of someone who became a legend in his time. A hero to some but ultimately responsible for many terrible things that happened as a result of his actions. His many accomplishments have left him with just a many burdens on his heart that he struggles to carry. People say he's a mary sue. A mary sue doesn't have character flaws, is always right, doesn't have to struggle to overcome obstacles and never fails. This character has flaws, failures and struggles to achieve but also has a great mind and great determination. He's arrogant and prideful to the point of being a jerk sometimes. He's impulsive to the point of stupidity at other times. He's a kid. These people confuse mary sue with talented and exceptional. An average person of average ability just doesn't become a legend, but this guy is definitely not a mary sue.

Most of the characters are very likable. Some are outstanding. I don't think the main is one of them although in my mind that strengthens the story rather than retracts from it.

The world building is amazing on many levels. In fact, I'd recommend focusing more on the world and less on the main character. Mythologies, histories, languages, customs and curses all painted a deep and rich world. I can't help but think the critics of this have only looked at the surface and haven't plumbed the depths. There are many layers and hidden clues woven into the story. This creation and the array of wisdom the author shares on life is worthy of at least one listen.

The sympathy magic system in this world is very intriguing. An equal to anything Brandon Sanderson has come up with. (He's still the king) Hard rules laid out so well that only talent and creative execution can decide the outcome. You find yourself with a complete understanding of the limitations and trying to solve problems ahead of the author. That's a good system by any measure.

Overall I found the writing to be excellent and very descriptive. Dialog could be dramatic and poetic at times, reminding me of Alexandre Dumas. At other times, some of the verbal conflicts and bantering could be extremely funny. Anything that makes you laugh out loud in the middle of the grocery store or in line at the bank is truly great.

I'm in my 50s and have been an avid reader or listener my entire life. This (admittedly) unfinished trilogy is in the top 3 on a list that took a lifetime to build and it was his first novel. An amazing accomplishment. It's truly a work of art.

Worth a closer look just based on that in my humble opinion. The narrator was very good.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

gritty but intriguing

Reviewed: 01-18-22

there's a lot of fuel for the imagination in these stories. I keep finding myself wondering if it will turn out to be a cyclical story like BSG. All this has happened before and will happen again kind of thing. it's a very good premise to explain dragons, elves, orcs and the like. I think the Sci fi/apocalypse/fantasy mix with Renaissance reenactors turning out to save civilization was a very interesting approach.

I got annoyed at reviews of the previous book because some were having melt downs over there being rape in the story. I mean, in dark times dark things tend to happen. Having said that, this book turned out to push my boundaries too. I've never felt that good stories require sex of any kind. I dropped altered carbon right away because that's about all it was. this one was difficult to get through for the same reason. if there has to be stuff like that for the story, I'd certainly prefer it to be referenced and glossed over rather than detailed descriptions. The last third or so of this book, while I suppose it was realistic as well, was uncomfortable.

Some authors will change location and characters with a new paragraph without any notice and completely lose the listener. happens to me all the time. this author does a lot of that but in such a way that I didn't get lost once. some of that is the narrator who did a fine job. I think it was mostly that the story was intriguing enough that my mind didn't wander even for a second.

I won't quibble about some characters being very close to unrealistically over powered because there was reason or one side being unbelievably lucky because the despots were kind of stupid. I'll just say that it was enjoyable until the Meghan part near the end. then I discovered the story crossed boundaries I didn't really want to follow it past. I probably won't finish the trilogy because I'm apparently too sensitive and it seems to be heading into more of the kind of thing that I find uncomfortable and mostly unnecessary. However, if you aren't bothered by that and many won't be, this is a good story. You should go for it.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

A bit shallow

Reviewed: 01-04-22

Might be for young listeners. I prefer books where every victory is hard won through superior tactics and the outcome of each struggle is by no means guaranteed. Humanity just isn't as awesome or lucky as this book makes it out to be. I also seriously doubt other species would be so incredibly stupid. It made for a very shallow story but has some interesting elements that could have taken it to another level. If this is the authors first book, I'd say they have promise but need to grow into it a little more.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

background was interesting

Reviewed: 12-19-21

no one likes a Mary Sue no matter the gender. epically over powered main character

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!