This book was actually more like a detective novel than a fantasy novel, and takes place in an alternate history medieval setting where most of the characters are middle-class citizens. Magic is a part of everyday life, mainly in the form of astrology, where the stars determine the lives of the people. There were no coming-of-age rites or epic quests to go on as per the usual fantasy fare; instead the plot revolves around Nicolas Rathe, who works a job equivalent to that of a policeman and investigates a mystery involving disappearing children. The story is utterly simple as all the scenes are basically just Rathe running around the city questioning people-- basically the unglamourous and often uninteresting work that make up what real-life detectives actually do, without any sort of real excitement or action. I wasn't interested in the mystery at all, which there were no real clues about all through the book and then was solved through a series of last-minute revelations. What ultimately kept me interested in the book was its superb world-building, which was detailed, intricate, and felt very real-- probably some of the best world-building I've ever encountered in any story-- and completely outshined everything else in the book. ( )

This has a measured pace and it pauses to describe things, something that could be really annoying, but it somehow matches the main character. Nico Rathe is a pointsman (policeman) who is observant and thinks before he acts. The other characters are nicely drawn, too. The mystery is intriguing and actually mysterious. And ... they get to call in the cavalry at the end.

I'm reading the next one immediately. ( )

Phew, that was a monster read. It seemed to take forever but I enjoyed every minute of it. I particularly liked the last 20% when our MCs were finally in the all the same scenes. Up to this point they spent more time apart than together. That said, although there appears to be the start of an attraction, there is no hint of a romance in this book. I'm hoping in book two they have more on page time together and this blossoms into a relationship of sorts.

That said as a work of fantasy this was amazing. The world building was quite excellent, the story superb and it work its way to a climax that went off with a bang.

Loved it.

NB My only real issue was the editing. There were occasions of no full stops, double commas, missing speech marks, two different characters speaking in the same paragraph, and 1st person internal thoughts stuck into the middle of paragraphs with no italics or other indicators. ( )

Well written with a complex and engaging story line. I couldn't put the book down! My only problem was that the world was a bit TOO complicated at times. Hahaha. It made my head spin though I understood what was happening . . . essentially. It was still an amazing read. You should pick it up. You won't be sorry. ( )

Points of Hopes is a fantasy mystery with a historical feel, although it’s set in a different world. In the city of Astreiant, children are disappearing. Rafe is one of the watchmen investigating the case, but there are few clues as to who is taking the children. And in the mean time, the city simmers on the edge of its boiling point.

This book was not suited to me, especially during final exam season. The prose is dense, and my mind kept drifting off as I tried to read. It was also really slow going. I did want to learn what was happening to the children, but so very little happened in the first two hundred pages. I also think that the authors needed to drop more clues as to the solution of the mystery earlier on, since the necessary information came almost out of the blue. Or maybe they did drop a clue and I missed it because I wasn’t paying close enough attention?

Astreiant wasn’t my favorite fantasy setting ever, but I do think it was well developed. The people of Astreiant have an obsession with the stars, which predict everything from your death to which careers would best suit you. It’s also a world that has no trouble with same-sex relationships, which are considered a normal part of society. Both the main characters are bisexual, and while there was no romance in this book, I’m told they get together in the sequel.

It’s hard for me to evaluate how well the protagonists were characterized. I never felt connected to them or had much of a sense of them, but someone who was more engaged in the book might feel differently.

I can see other people liking Point of Hopes, but it didn’t work for me. Something about the writing style didn’t jive, although it’s hard for me to describe it beyond “dense.” I’m not likely to be recommending it, but I wouldn’t discourage anyone from reading it either.

Originally posted on The Illustrated Page. ( )