I really couldn't get along with this book at all- the writing style was very elaborate, almost overwritten in places(especially at the beginning), which had the effect of making the whole story seem quite stiff and stage-y, and the characters all come off as a bit pompous. In the end, I didn't really care about their story the way the writer clearly did- I got tired of being told that they were important and magical et cetera et cetera. I imagine if you really love high fantasy in the style of The Name of the Wind, you'll really like this- the two share a bunch of DNA. But as for me, I didn't enjoy it at all.

I really wanted to like this book but it was written in a style which put me off rather than drew me in. Also I found the main character, Ari, very difficult to identify with as he was not a very likeable character and so I found I had little interest in him or his stories.

An interesting premise but ultimately the style came across as pretentious and simply wasn't for me.

While RR Virdi's writing is descriptive, I found the delivery of the story to be tedious at best. The main character, Ari, is a mysterious storyteller who likes to work his crowd up into a curious, captivated frenzy before he finally gives them a tale. The book is written in much the same way - drips and drabs of information that leave you with more questions than answers, with the intention of spurring you into reading on. Instead, it left me frustrated and impatient. I would not be sitting in a tavern with bated breath waiting for one of Ari's tales, either, as the questions I had were not burning enough for the wait to be worth the answers, and as a result the story felt as self-important as Ari was.

Ari, as a whole, was an unlikable and quite frankly pretentious character. I had no investment or interest in his journey or his success, nor that of anyone he crossed paths with.

It's a shame and I do wish that I had enjoyed it more, as the worldbuilding is rich and detailed, and there was some interesting lore.

It quite simply wasn't for me, but there is most definitely an audience who will love this.

It took me a chapter or two to really get into this book due to it being slightly different then what I'm used to. However, after that initial difficulty I loved it! The writing is beautiful and the world is so different and unique. Im big on world building so it was very refreshing to see something so different and well thought out. I also adored the characters, who doesn't love a mysterious bard.

100% buying this as a physical copy the minute it comes out.

I really enjoyed this book, it is well written with a good storyline, well developed characters and a good level of world building. I look forward to reading more by this author.