Member Reviews
Enjoyed this one very much, another great supernatural action adventure fantasy from author R.A. Salvatore. Never disappoints, highly recommend!
Pinquickle’s Folly starts off really slow. Most of the first two sections of the book could have been skipped with no actual impact to the story. In fact, I think that starting the book at chapter seven is a great idea. It cuts out a lot of backstory that is unnecessary (and mostly gets rehashed later anyway) while getting right to the interesting part. The initial part did nothing to enrich the story telling or endear the characters, it just felt like page filler. The name Pinquickle didn’t even show up until chapter eight, and the title didn’t make sense until chapter thirteen.
That being said, once the action does get started, the story was very interesting and the characters were quite relatable. Quauh really goes through some shocking changes that shake up her entire world view. The nice thing is that she’s able to actually change and adjust her thinking instead of continuing to close her eyes.
Full review at link https://thecosmiccircus.com/book-review-pinquickles-folly-by-r-a-salvatore/
I am a little over half way thought the book and I have no idea what’s going on. I am pretty sure my lack of interest in the story is an example of the writers style doesn’t meet the reader’s imagination. I am struggling to keep the characters straight, and I am not sure how all the storylines connect. I feel like I am getting snippets of the world but I am not being given a story I can connect to.
I want to like this book because I have heard great things about the author but maybe he is not for me.
There was some interesting world building going on here. I hadn't read the previous series in this world so it was new to me. I liked the ingenuity of the powries' barrel boats. This is very much a swashbuckling pirate book with lots of fighting and death.
In the end, this book is mostly about racial relations and tensions and about how some few are able to overcome their biases and the lies they have been told.
R.A. Salvatore's Pinquickle's Folly sets sail into a world of high seas adventure and intrigue, where Quauh, a Xoconai sailor, and Benny McBenoyt, a powrie helmsman, embark on a daring journey. Salvatore expertly weaves a tale filled with colorful characters and gripping naval battles, painting a vivid picture of a world on the brink of chaos. Quauh's evolution from a loyal naval officer to a reluctant ally with Benny, amidst cultural tensions and political intrigue, adds depth to the narrative. The novel's slow-burn pacing allows for meticulous world-building and character development, ensuring an immersive experience for fans of high fantasy and pirate tales alike. Salvatore delivers a satisfying blend of action, adventure, and character-driven storytelling that promises an exciting start to a new series.
Cool pirate concept. Thought it was gonna be my vibe but wasn't really my vibe. I took a chance on something more outside my comfort zone but it didn't really pan out
leaving a review because Net Galley requires it (affects review %) but I never requested this one. sorry to all who see this
This was a compelling novel that I could not put down. The plot draws you in from the first page and results in a nonstop reading. There is plenty of action and an attention to detail that is amazing.
Having never read a book by RA Salvatore, I was not sure what to expect from Pinquickle’s Folly. Overall, the book was good. However, I felt disconnected from the story many times, and it took me quite a while to get through it. There is a lot of information that is given to the reader for at least the first 7 or 8 chapters. Perhaps this is how Mr. Salvatore constructs his stories, but it threw me off for the remainder of the book. He certainly set up the characters and the world very well, and he is an excellent writer. I just prefer that characters and the world are spread out evenly throughout a story.
The main character, Quauh, did have a great character arc and she was very well developed, as well as Benny. It is what you might expect from a pirate story. Adventure, treasure hunting, battles, and high sea adventures. Mr. Salvatore’s world is immersive and you feel you are right on the ship with Quauh and Benny. This spirited high fantasy in the end was a good, fun read that fans of Mr. Salvatore’s work will very much enjoy.
My sincere thanks to Saga Press Books for an eBook to read for an honest review.
Many thanks to NetGalley, author RA Salvatore, and Saga Press for providing me the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Publication date: April 16, 2024.
3 STARS
Pinquickle’s Folly is a seafaring piratical tale set in a world besieged by imperialistic oppression. The Xoconai empire asserts its power to dominate the seas, hoard the gold, and manipulate the magic of others.
Writing: The author seems to favor long-winded sentences with sometimes too many clauses. That said, I didn’t have trouble understanding what was going on or what was meant at any given time.
Pacing: falls somewhat on the slower side. Besides the battle sequences, relatively little happens over the course of hundreds of pages.
Highlights:
- Ship crew camaraderie
- Unique details regarding the “powrie” race
- Magic elements in this world
- Internal conflict that Quauh undergoes
The main character’s character growth arc was compelling if not wholly believable. Quauh is a golden child and naval officer of the colonizing Xoconai empire. During the course of the book, she gets practical experience seeing the inhuman and dehumanizing practices of her own people, as well as the humanity and goodness in the races her own have been oppressing. Her transformation is abrupt and feels unrealistic, as brainwashing and acculturated beliefs would likely be more difficult to reverse. Similarly, the anti-colonialism themes are clearly delivered; however, the execution was unsubtle and repetitious.
Overall, seasoned author RA Salvatore wrote a well-sequenced and well-plotted nautical story. I enjoyed the world and the story but would’ve liked the magic to play a bigger role in the plot.
7% what...., still 7% in, Jesus christ WHAT?! STILL at 7% what the fuck are you guys talking about?!
8% god damn, that's fucked up.
I'm gonna be honest. I just don't think this is for me. I had so much hope due to the amazing rating I saw for this author on goodreads. But I am now 15% in and am just not feeling it at all. Maybe I will come back to this later, but from friends I have hears not great things about the writing. The author clearly has a cult following and I am so happy that people enjoy it. I truly wish I was one of them. This world could be so cool, but it's just not for me. I would rather say that than give this book a bad review.
It reminded me of reading something mixed between Black Sails and D&D. Highly entertaining and if I was given subsequent books I would check them out.
A great high fantasy, sea adventure that delves into the Salvatore world of Corona and does not disappoint.
The characters are colorful, Quauh and Benny, and interesting. This book successfully introduces new characters to a known world, explains the known world in enough detail and description, and sets up for more to come. Clearly well researched in nautical everything, don't let this extreme amount of detail let you get distracted from the story being told.
Excellent first book! I cannot wait to see where the trilogy goes through each upcoming addition.
Fans of high fantasy, sea adventures, and R.A. Salvatore will enjoy this book.
Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the eARC of this work in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you NetGalley, Saga Press, and R. A. Salvatore for my advanced copy of this book!
Although I am an avid fantasy reader, I must admit that this was the first R. A. Salvatore book that I've read. This was a classic fantasy novel from the jump--a cast of colorful characters must join forces against an opposing enemy while at sea. I really enjoyed the characters we were introduced to, but the magic wasn't touched on as much as I would've liked. My biggest issue with this book was trying to keep the characters and ships straight, especially during the battle scenes.
Overall, I truly enjoyed my first book in this author's realm, and will definitely be looking forward to the next installment of the Buccaneers series.
R.A. Salvatore took his time to really world build in this book. While there were aspects I enjoyed, I'm not sure if I was the correct audience for this book. Keeping the names and events straight as we bounced along the storyline had me feeling like I was playing catchup or had to have my character cheat sheet at the ready.
Okay I need to say this right up front. When it comes to R.A. Salvatore I have real trouble not coming off as biased. After all I’ve been reading his work since I was in high school, and that was so much longer ago than I’d care to admit, lol. This is the start of a new series, however it does take place in a world that will be well known to fans of Salvatore. That being said I do not believe reading the other novels set within this world is needed to enjoy this adventure and the early part of the novel will get you pretty much up to speed on what you need to know anyway. (Though you’ll probably want to read the other books at some point anyway because of how good they are.) In my opinion there are simply not enough high fantasy adventures loaded with pirates and set upon the high seas, so I was instantly enamored with Pinquickle's Folly. Excellent characters, perilous adventuring, and wonderful action. Salvatore has kicked off his newest series in grand fashion and I’m already looking forward to the next book in the Buccaneers series. I’d like to thank Saga Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an eArc of Pinquickle’s Folly.
https://www.amazon.com/review/R3TILY9F84XM6S/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv
I loved the pirate and buccaneer atmosphere, which added to the adventure and was great fun. I enjoyed the characters and the storyline, and read with anticipation of what would happen next. However the first major chunk of the book felt very disjointed and I struggled to see where things would connect. I also found the world building to be a bit lackluster, and not enough description but lots of terminology and names I struggled to keep up with. Overall it was an enjoyable read and I would pick up the subsequent books in the series. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to provide my honest review.
Sure, it’s no great classic of literature, that’s not what Salvatore writes but it was a good solid adventure story. I had fun reading it, I haven’t read all his stuff by any means, so I may be missing if he’s written other books in this world or not, but that made no difference to my enjoyment of the book. Somewhere between a three and four star book depending on how picky you are about your fantasy. I am perfectly happy to read a light adventure with no underlying message or theme to it so four stars to me but perhaps three if you are finicky about your book choices. I will be reading the sequel. I liked the characters and setting.
If you're looking for a high fantasy, swashbuckling adventure, Pinquickle's Folly should be your next read! R.A. Salvatore writes a fully developed fantasy world of endearing characters and fast paced storytelling!
Thank you NetGalley and Saga Press for the ARC!
The invasion by the Xoconai of the eastern realms of Corona was quick and insidious, but you can’t conquer a free mind as resistors begin to fight for their land back in the beginning of a new trilogy in the DemonWars saga by #1 New York Times bestselling master of fantasy R. A. Salvatore.
I found out about a whole new series by the master of fantasy RA Salvatore and knew I had to give it a shot. I had a lot of fun with this one. While it may not be his best work ever, and probably not the best entry point into his work, I think long term fans of his will find plenty to like here as I have. A strong 4 star read:)