#elogast

The ending.

This is my biggest gripe with this book (along with the unnecessary romantic subplot that all fantasy books seem to have these days). Arren does not seem like a villain. I understand that this is meant to be the big plot twist but it didn't work for me. Everything in Arren's nature and backstory and his past with Elo just doesn't make him feel as if he has the capacity to be a villain. He isn't power-hungry, he isn't evil, he isn't dishonourable. It just isn't him. It almost feels as if he is being manipulated by Hseth and Hestra. His entire character is to reinforce Elo's own arc, and Arren loves him (in whatever way he does- it is all a bit foggy).

It is not believable that he would betray Elo after literally saving his life. He is said to be power-hungry at the end but his whole personality contradicts this. Besides the god killing and banishing, (which, by the way is totally understandable- other than killing those who fought beside him in the war; that was a step too far, though a step in grief, which again, understandable) he is an honorable man, and a good king, who was never even going to be king in the first place. Everything about it just seems wrong and unfaithful to Arren's whole character. There isn't any hint that he is like this, no foreshadowing, nothing. That really rubs me the wrong way, even if he is this supposed 'master manipulator'. It is not a satisfying or reasonable continuation of his character.

Ugh, anyway.

The Unnecessary Romantic Subplot™

UGHHHHHHH. I am fed up with great fantasy novels shoving in bullshit romantic subplots for NO REASON. A good plot does not need an unnecessary piece-of-shit romance ALL THE TIME. In my honest opinion, Elo and Kissen did not need to be together AT ALL and this does not add to the plot whatsoever. They just don't work that way, and honestly, I kinda thought Elo loved Arren (and/or vice versa) instead (which makes a hell of a lot more sense than Kissen and Elo, but still wouldn't be necessary- though perhaps the ending would perhaps feel like a bigger betrayal). They work better as begrudging friends, if that. They've known each other for what, two weeks? It doesn't seem in Kissen's character to do this, be all blushy and UGHHHHH with some guy she barely knows, nor does it seem in Elo's (though, on his side it is somewhat slightly more in his nature). It just felt so needless and empty. I'm so fucking done with people insisting that there can't be a good fantasy novel with no romance, or writing one in as an afterthought.

NOT ALL CHARACTERS NEED A SAPPY FUCKING ROMANCE AND THESE TWO CERTAINLY DIDN'T.

Overall, I enjoyed the world-building of the various cultures, of the history of the setting and many of the characters. Seriously, 10/10 on that front. But the biggest letdowns have to be the forced villainisation of Arren just to HAVE a villain at all, the weird-ass ending and the bullshit Unnecessary Romantic Subplot™.

I'd recommend it to those who like the Unnecessary Romantic Subplot™ and amazing fantasy worlds. This is assumed to be part of a series, so the unresolved ending will hopefully be finished as well.

Overall rating: 6-7/10