A Worthy Followup
The following statement is a fact. I do not love John Gwynne’s books. The following is also a fact. I do like John Gwynne’s books. I just completed Valor; it took almost a month of reading to complete it. This book felt like it was about 200 pages longer than it was. There were characters I was just not vested in. As with the previous book, my favorite character was Corban. Any POV that had Corban in it was a good chapter. The others were a bit of a slog. I can’t be more honest than that. Now, I’m not here to bash Valor. I am not here to bash John Gwynne. Both Malice and Valor are very good books. They are just not among my favorites. Thing may change in the next book. I’ve heard this is the book where things ramp up. The ending of Valor cemented my decision on whether to continue the series. I am going to do so. My issue with The Faithful and the Fallen may just be a “me” issue. Malice and Valor were methodical and slower in pace that other books I have read. I recognize that. Hence the “me” issue. Lately, I have been rewarding 3-star books an extra star based on the 3rd act. I’m talking about a 3rd act that totally kicked ass and elevated the entire book. I did that with Bloody Rose by Nicholas Eames. I did that with Malice, the predecessor to this book. The extra star I’m giving is not a freebie. It is in recognition of a job well done and totally earned. It is in recognition for changing my opinion about the book as a whole. Therefore, I have no problem giving 4 stars to Valor.