Pre-Tolkien fantasy. And if you thought Tolkien meandered...
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I knew going into it that I probably wasn't going to adore it, but I really wanted Pre-Tolkien fantasy. And if you thought Tolkien meandered...
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I knew going into it that I probably wasn't going to adore it, but I really wanted to see what it was all about. Mainly, because someone had recommended it to me a while back, and it looked interesting from a classic fantasy sort of view. And I'm not sorry I spent my time on it. I will say that I used the same tactic that I did with Lord of the Rings and sped the narration up 2.5x. I didn't feel like marinating in all the detail that wasn't important to the main story. And there was a lot that wasn't at all important. I know there are tons of readers who enjoy just swimming around in the lyrical prose, but I'm not one of them.
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The skinny gist is that a group of men go to their lord and make known their wish that he bring magic to the royal bloodline. They simply can't think of a better way to put their village on the map. He then sends his son, Alveric, on a quest to marry the daughter of the King of Elfland. He does a bit of boring questing involving finding the border of Elfland & getting a magical sword, and then finally besting Princess Lirazel's guards. Lirazel quickly falls in love with Alveric and they run away to his home, Erl. So far, so good.
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Of course, Alveric wants to convert Lirazel to his human ways and to his human God, and Lirazel struggles with how different things are in her adopted homeland. They have a boy they name Orion and things bump along alright for a few years before Alveric really starts to pressure Lirazel to get with the program. Well, like any relationship with a huge cultural divide, things get a tad testy. Meanwhile, the King of Elfland is freaking completely out because his beloved daughter was "stolen" from him, and has moved into that world where time doesn't stand still. She's aging and he's terrified she'll die. So he sends a troll to our world with a rune that will bring her back. Except she kind of knows what it is and avoids looking at it because she loves her little boy and her husband - even though the latter is really working her nerves at this point.
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Then one day, after a particularly bad fight, she takes a peek at the rune because she's homesick and tired of Alveric's shit. BOOM! She's dragged back to Elfland! And not only that but her father moves the border and basically bars the way in so he can keep the creepy human boys away from his little girl.
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At this point, Alveric realizes what a dumbass he's been and sets out to get his wife back. Ooooh this is getting good! <--is what you probably think, right? Wrong. This is where the whole story grinds to a halt and starts to go sideways. The rest of this is an incredibly tedious bunch of quests that could. not. be. less interesting. Orion learns how to hunt and then spends an amazing amount of page time hunting unicorns. In excruciating detail. Not the killing! Just the growing up, meeting hunters, getting a dog pack, tracking the scent, running one to the ground, blah, blah, blah.
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And his dad picks a group of guys to go find the border of Elfland. Complete with a couple of crazies who eventually turn crazier and basically hold him prisoner to keep him from leaving them. And while that might sound interesting, it's not.
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Dry questing and descriptive prose take up the rest of the book. Nothing, and I mean nothing that happens to either Alveric Or Orion makes any difference one way or the other to the conclusion of the story. Meanwhile, the parliament of men who went to the original lord and asked for a magical bloodline to rule them gets more than they bargained for when trolls and other magical creatures decide to take a vacation from Elfand. Be careful of what you wish for is the moral of the story here. However, due to Lirazel missing her husband and son, the King of Elfland finally relents and they all get a happily ever after.
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I guess what Dunsany was trying to say is that if you marry a girl from Elfland, don't expect her to be anything but a girl from Elfland. Trying to convert her to your religion and tamping down her wild side isn't going to lead to a happy marriage. A hot elf chick fell in love with you - just enjoy it, idiot.
I kept seeing that this was Watson and Holmes but fantasy. And maybe it is? But only if Watson is aware that Holmes is a complete crazy person and is a I kept seeing that this was Watson and Holmes but fantasy. And maybe it is? But only if Watson is aware that Holmes is a complete crazy person and is a bit terrified of him (actually, her) as well.
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Ana Dolabra is a wildly eccentric genius who is seemingly on the outs with the governmental police force that she works for, and Dinios Kol is the young man who has been recently assigned to work as her engraver. <-- that's a person who has been genetically modified to remember everything, in case you don't know. There's something sketchy about Din's record at the academy - he sucks for years and then suddenly aces his tests? But as long as Dolabra doesn't ask too many questions, it should be ok.
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Of course there's a murder. A governmental muckety-muck has been murdered by some kind of curse that caused a tree to explode from within him. Not cool. So, Ana is tasked with finding the killer. Soon, Din finds himself pulled into a conspiracy that goes deeper than a simple magical killing and higher into the upper echelons of the government than he would have ever imagined. But nothing is what it seems - not even Ana.
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Ok, fine. It really is Watson and Holmes in a fantasy setting. And it had a nice dose of humor. Basically, just a win-win if you like fantasy & mystery. Recommended....more
I think the whole trilogy would be something I'd recommend to anyone looking for a buddy adventure with aGreat ending to the Red Queen trilogy.
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I think the whole trilogy would be something I'd recommend to anyone looking for a buddy adventure with a humorous odd couple in a fantasy setting. And I'm not sure who needs that in their life, but I do know that I can't be the only one.
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No spoilers, because if you're reading this then you've probably already read the other two books in the series and I don't want to ruin anything for you. I'll just say my favorite thing about this one is that Jorg doesn't change. Not really. He's a scoundrel to the last page and I just love it.
This is only a review of the dramatization. The Hobbit was not an easy book for me to get through and I ended up going back over and over again, relistThis is only a review of the dramatization. The Hobbit was not an easy book for me to get through and I ended up going back over and over again, relistening to parts of the audiobook that I zoned out on. Certain writers, certain styles, and certain stories just don't work with my brain. Don't make them bad, it just means they are harder for me to pay attention to. If I'm interested, I'll block out everything else and completely become immersed in whatever it is. If I'm not, my mind wanders off to other things. Whether I'm reading a line or listening to a narrator, the result is the same.
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So. After I finished The Hobbit, I listened to the BBC Audio full cast dramatization to kind of shore up any rough spots and make sure I'd gotten the full gist of the story. And I've had great luck with BBC Radio's other dramatizations in the past. I highly recommend their Agatha Christie stuff. In other words, picking BBC was a no-brainer for me.
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Unfortunately, I would not recommend this to anyone who has the opportunity to listen to a different dramatization. There were several glaring drawbacks to this one for me.
First, the narrator telling the story pronounced Gollum's name weird. Maybe this is just a me thing, but I've heard it pronounced Gō-lum and Gă-lum but never Gō-loom. 1:05:35 <--if you want to google THE HOBBIT - 1937 J.R.R Tolkien - BBC RADIO DRAMA I'd love to know if I'm the only one that was thrown by this or if this is normal and I'm just an idiot.
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The music was AWFUL. I mean, really off-putting. They had that fantasy flute going in the background of a lot of the scenes. Normally, that's fine. The audiobook I listened to also had flute and drums and whatnot every now and then. But this director took his job to a whole new goddamn level. Okay, you know that off-key flutes playing My Heart Will Go On in the background of funny videos? I love those! They make me laugh so hard. THAT. I swear to god, that was the flute (and off-key horns) playing in the background. I was convinced by the end that the production had run out of money and it was one of the voice actor's kids on a recorder or something.
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I do love dramatizations but this ain't it, sis. I'm so glad I didn't pay money for this, and I probably need to write a letter of thanks to my library for taking that bullet for me....more
I may have teared up quite a bit during the reading of this one.
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Man, the final installment in The Chronicles of Prydain has so much heart. WhenI may have teared up quite a bit during the reading of this one.
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Man, the final installment in The Chronicles of Prydain has so much heart. When you talk about bittersweet endings - this! And I don't mean that I was sad, or that I would have wanted it to end any other way. At least, not now that I think about it. But damn.
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I've said it before, but I'm continually amazed at how strong a character Eilonwy was for the time. I mean, you could pretty much plop her down in modern books and she would fit right in. What an incredible thing for Alexander to have done for little girls in 1968.
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Oh, and after all he had put me through with this book, I really thought Alexander was going to break my heart in half right there at the very end. (view spoiler)[
If Eilonwy & Taran hadn't been able to stay together?!
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(hide spoiler)] But he didn't. This was excellent. Highly recommended. ...more
Everywhere I looked, I saw Fourth Wing. It's a fantasy about a military school that trains young people to become dragon riders. It's very dangerous. WaEverywhere I looked, I saw Fourth Wing. It's a fantasy about a military school that trains young people to become dragon riders. It's very dangerous. Watch out! Because the other cadets are extremely cutthroat (as in, your classmates will cut your throat), the dragons will incinerate you if they think you're weak, and you have a 50/50 chance of falling off a cliff or somesuch during training. Kind of like a mash-up of How to Train Your Dragon and Red Rising. THAT SOUNDS FUCKING COOL AS HELL. And it is.
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But. And here's the secret: this is a cringy romance. Ahhhhhh. See, I didn't know that when I started reading. And I feel that it's pertinent information. So after listening to it for a bit, I thought oh well, this must be young adult because the heroine (Violet) is a bit annoying. She's not strong, her body is fragile, and yet she's wah wah wah in her attitude towards people helping her. Plus, she's in life and death situations and she's still seemingly ruled by hormones. That's fine. I was a youngster myself back in the day. I had the urges. And I love cringy romance. I'm reading a bodice ripper right now. But what I don't love is stepping into what I think will be a badass fantasy story and then hearing things like he's all sharp lines and barely leashed power or how he's always saying something "harshly" that sends a shiver down her spine. And make no mistake, there are lots of dark & growly things coming from Xaden Riorson (that name! as soon as I heard it I knew what I was in for) over the course of the story. But probably if I hadn't read this same story a million times, I'd be just as enamored as a lot of the other reviewers.
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Sadly, I've read too many books for this one to hold any surprises for me. Even the shocking twist at the end was something I expected to happen. That's not even something I fault the author for, I just didn't have my expectations lined up in the correct order. And I guess that's what I'm trying to convey. THIS IS A NEW ADULT ROMANCE. Set against a fantasy-lite backdrop. The whole book revolves around Violet and Xaden rolling around in angst while working their way toward each other's panties. It's not Young Adult because they drop the f-bomb and have the dirty sexy times. But New Adult is typically coated in as much relationship cheese as YA, and this one is no exception. So. Strap in for big declarations, reading every encounter with each other wrong, cravings for abs and bottom lips, ridiculous trust issues, and sexual attraction that must. be. fought. at. any. cost. This kind of book really isn't my jam, but for the kind of book that it is, it does its job well.
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I actually did really enjoy the underlying plot and world-building. Yarros has some excellent ideas and I would love to see what she could come up with in a setting where romance doesn't take center stage.
Audiobook review: I listened to Rebecca Soler's reading of this and...no. I think she's supposed to have that generic young girl voice but it sounds like she's holding her nose when she talks or something. I tried listening to the book at all different speeds to see if maybe that would help, but I finally gave up and went back to my normal 1.5 speed. I haven't seen any other complaints, so this may just be a me thing.
Recommended for fans of NA/YA fantasy romance....more
Not my favorite. Taran goes on a quest to find his parents and it. is. dull. If they were to make The Chronicles of Prydain into a movie, Taran WandereNot my favorite. Taran goes on a quest to find his parents and it. is. dull. If they were to make The Chronicles of Prydain into a movie, Taran Wanderer would be compacted into a montage scene and that would be that. <--unless Peter Jackson got hold of it, and then it would be a three-parter for no discernable reason.
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I don't even want to talk about this one due to how boring it was. I sped the narration up and powered through Taran learning the importance of making his own sword, cloak, & bowl. *yawn* And finally, the life lesson that parentage doesn't make the man. Bottom line: Ooof.
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I've heard the last book is much better, so onward and upward! Recommended. But only because you have to read it to finish the series....more
If, prior to reading this, someone said to me, Wanna read a comic that's loosely classified as a Steampunk Fantasy? Well, I would have politely (anIf, prior to reading this, someone said to me, Wanna read a comic that's loosely classified as a Steampunk Fantasy? Well, I would have politely (and slowly) backed away from them while turning the offer down in no uncertain terms. Because...no. I mean, is Steampunk even still a thing? I remember it was all the rage there for a while, and then it just seemed to peter out of vogue -kinda like sparkly vampires and shirtless werewolves. For those of you who may love and/or live this genre, please don't take offense by that. I only have the vaguest notion of what Steampunk is, anyway. Something, something, alternate timeline, something, something, steam powered stuff, something, something, big lacy tophats, something, something, gears cramed into every conceivable space, something, something...
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Now, add in some weird fantasy element and, in all likelihood, you're going to lose me forever. Unless it's a REALLY good story. And I thought this was a really good story.
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Sure, because of the whole Fant-Punk* element this thing has going on, there's gonna be some strange wooo-wooo style stuff in the storytelling. And there's going to be things that just don't make sense or aren't fully addressed in this volume. Brace yourself, normies. I feel your pain!
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There will be questions, there will not always be answers. But you have to admit, this shit is fucking awesome to look at! And if you scrape away all the 10-eyed, hairy tentacled, fox-faced, cyclops baby, 5 tailed talking cat stuff? Well, it's just a story about surviving in a dangerously prejudiced, war-torn environment. While trying to keep an immortal god from ripping out of your chest and eating everyone... So, yeah. Pretty typical stuff.
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Anyway. I was gifted a copy from a good friend, otherwise I never would have bothered to read this - which would have been a shame. This was neat-o. Definitely recommended!
*(view spoiler)[Ok, not to toot my own horn - Fuck that...TOOT! TOOT! - but I'm totally claiming the word Fant-Punk from here on out! It needs to be a thing, am I right?! Right? It's cool! Right, guys? Guys...? Pfft. Whatever. (hide spoiler)]
Merged review:
If, prior to reading this, someone said to me, Wanna read a comic that's loosely classified as a Steampunk Fantasy? Well, I would have politely (and slowly) backed away from them while turning the offer down in no uncertain terms. Because...no. I mean, is Steampunk even still a thing? I remember it was all the rage there for a while, and then it just seemed to peter out of vogue -kinda like sparkly vampires and shirtless werewolves. For those of you who may love and/or live this genre, please don't take offense by that. I only have the vaguest notion of what Steampunk is, anyway. Something, something, alternate timeline, something, something, steam powered stuff, something, something, big lacy tophats, something, something, gears cramed into every conceivable space, something, something...
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Now, add in some weird fantasy element and, in all likelihood, you're going to lose me forever. Unless it's a REALLY good story. And I thought this was a really good story.
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Sure, because of the whole Fant-Punk* element this thing has going on, there's gonna be some strange wooo-wooo style stuff in the storytelling. And there's going to be things that just don't make sense or aren't fully addressed in this volume. Brace yourself, normies. I feel your pain!
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There will be questions, there will not always be answers. But you have to admit, this shit is fucking awesome to look at! And if you scrape away all the 10-eyed, hairy tentacled, fox-faced, cyclops baby, 5 tailed talking cat stuff? Well, it's just a story about surviving in a dangerously prejudiced, war-torn environment. While trying to keep an immortal god from ripping out of your chest and eating everyone... So, yeah. Pretty typical stuff.
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Anyway. I was gifted a copy from a good friend, otherwise I never would have bothered to read this - which would have been a shame. This was neat-o. Definitely recommended!
*(view spoiler)[Ok, not to toot my own horn - Fuck that...TOOT! TOOT! - but I'm totally claiming the word Fant-Punk from here on out! It needs to be a thing, am I right?! Right? It's cool! Right, guys? Guys...? Pfft. Whatever. (hide spoiler)]...more
Starts off with a bang as Sonja befriends a unicorn. <--is she actually getting a unicorn?! Short answer, no. ButStill rocking that metal bikini.
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Starts off with a bang as Sonja befriends a unicorn. <--is she actually getting a unicorn?! Short answer, no. But it's still a cool story.
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The rest of the issues are all loosely connected as she roams from one adventure to another, this time with a new admirer in tow. I do appreciate how some good-looking guy always shows up to be her sidekick for a quest or two before she inevitably has to rescue them by the end of the story arc. And then (despite his sad eyes) she leaves him to continue on as a lone wolf. Very nice, Mr. Thomas. I see what you did there, sir.
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So far, I have no real complaints and could honestly recommend this to anyone looking for a sword & sorcery comic. The issues hold up surprisingly well, even if they would probably be considered a little hokey by today's standards. But if you'd like to see where Red Sonja got her comic book start, this is still quite a lot of fun to read.
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From what I can find, I believe this contains Red Sonja #8-14, but don't hold me to that. Recommended....more
My favorite book so far in The Chronicles of Prydain! I was afraid this would be a letdown after all the fun of The Black Cauldron but I enjoyed this sMy favorite book so far in The Chronicles of Prydain! I was afraid this would be a letdown after all the fun of The Black Cauldron but I enjoyed this so much more than I expected.
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Princess Eilonwy must learn to be a lady (much to her dismay) and is going to go live for a while at the royal court at the Isle of Mona, so Taran and Gurgi are escorting her there. Of course, the closer they get, the more Taran realizes that he feels more than just annoyance for his overly talkative and quite bossy companion. Awwwwwww.
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And then she gets kidnapped. I won't give spoilers but it's a fun adventure that includes the part-time King & full-time wandering bard known as Fflewddur Fflam, an incognito Prince Gwydion, and the return of the evil Achren. The new characters that were introduced were just perfect! The bumbling Prince Rhun was such a surprise and by the end of the book I was kind of shocked at how much he had grown as a person - and grown on me, too! But the one who really stole the show was the giant mountain cat, Llyan, who was "created" by the hapless Glew in the search for an easy way to become bigger. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens with Fflewddur Fflam's new pet in the next book.
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My favorite part (besides Eilonwy telling Taran she isn't talking to him anymore) has to be that Alexander had Eilonwy point out to Taran and Prince Gwydion that none of this would have happened if they hadn't been trying to "protect" her by refusing to tell her that there was any danger. Because wow, that is such an annoying trope in books!
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Anyway. If you haven't started this classic series yet, and are looking for a fantasy with humor, adventure, and a lot of heart, I'd definitely encourage you to give these books a try. Recommended....more
Everything I had hoped it would be. I was so afraid Turner was going to break my heart. She didn’t. Obviously. But it felt like I held my breath for thEverything I had hoped it would be. I was so afraid Turner was going to break my heart. She didn’t. Obviously. But it felt like I held my breath for the entire book, dreading some huge misstep on her part.
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This last installment takes us to the end of the journey with Gem and this whole cast of characters that I came to genuinely care for, and I wasn’t really ready. It’s not easy to write a review about a book you love. Much easier to complain about what you didn’t like, because usually what you do like is so difficult to articulate.
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This time the story is told through the journal of a crippled young man who can’t speak in the traditional way, inserted into Gen’s court as a pawn by his hateful grandfather. I wasn’t sure if I would like this new character, but he quickly grew on me and I was rooting for him as hard as I had rooted for all of the others.
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The peek at the brutal choices the kings and queens made for the good of the many, tempered with the deep love and friendships they feel for the few was so well done. And the subtle way the gods nudged and poked the characters into action was superb. They are such a huge part of the world, but you never really feel as though they are taking over what ends up being a very human story. And I don’t want to ruin it for anyone who hasn’t read this series yet, but I loved what Turner did when it came to incorporating the last book into this one.
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I know I didn’t do it justice in this review, but Return of the Thief was the perfect (for me) ending to what will certainly go down as one of my favorite fantasy series. Highly Recommended....more
I'm glad it's over. The thing that killed it for me was the emotional immaturity of all the characters. Something big would happen, and they'd make thiI'm glad it's over. The thing that killed it for me was the emotional immaturity of all the characters. Something big would happen, and they'd make this big inner declaration about how they realize that {insert other character here} is 100% worthy of their loyalty and trust. And 3 pages later they're freaking out for no good reason, assuming that same character just lied to them, betrayed them, is out to get them, etc. It happened so much that I couldn't take anything any of them said seriously.
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The same people kept doing the same things. Again. And again. And again. There was no personal growth as none of the lessons from previous dumbassery seemed to stick with them for more than a page or two.
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And the constant flip-flopping with the love interests. Oh, fucking hell this was an irritation. I know YA is sort of known for love triangles and angst, but this was a bit much.
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However, if you've made it through the other 5 books, you might as well go ahead and finish it out. I will say that everything gets a resolution, and Rhodes doesn't leave dangling plot threads. And if you don't think you'd have any issues with the complaints I've listed, this does have great world-building and a cool magic system.
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I think if the author had knocked it off with adolescent temper tantrums and allowed the carousel of potential lovers to come to a halt a few books back, I would have been able to recommend this series. As it is, this will not go on my re-read list....more
Red Sonja meets up with Dynamite's version of a super team. I'd never seen any of them before and it seemed very much like a gOk. Well, that happened.
Red Sonja meets up with Dynamite's version of a super team. I'd never seen any of them before and it seemed very much like a generic Superfriends. I could be very wrong and this might be my introduction to my favorite team of all time. Who knows? For now, I'm not terribly impressed.
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The gist is that this group of super pals run across Big Red and end up taking her up to their space station to see if she can be recruited as the newest member of their team. I should mention that they are tasked with policing Dynamite's version of the multiverse. I forget what they call their multiverse, but that's what it is. There's a crossover with my girl Vampirella that doesn't make much sense outside of two heroes fighting each other. I mean, that's a reason...right? Right.
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Honestly, the tipping point was that Sonja's translator (or whatever) make her sound dumb. She sounded like a caveman. Sonja angry. Sonja not understand. Sonja like food. Ugh. Knock it off. I'm probably not going to read more of this but never say never. If this gets good, someone let me know....more
I loved this badass bitch in her chain mail bikini.
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Ok, I really thought this would probably be kind of boring and silly. Just some poorly writtI loved this badass bitch in her chain mail bikini.
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Ok, I really thought this would probably be kind of boring and silly. Just some poorly written stories meant to showcase a hot redhead swinging a sword around in a metal swimsuit. It was not.
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I was actually really into this entire volume and flew through it much quicker than I would have thought possible. She faces off with creepy wizards, alligator men, sorceresses, bear gods, and common royal douchebags who just think they're gonna touch her titties with zero repercussions. It does not go well for any of them, let me tell you.
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There are shenanigans in this that probably wouldn't fly in a modern comic, but I really didn't feel at all icky after I finished. I mean, Sonja was bad as hell, stood on her own two feet, and didn't take any shit. If the worst thing about this is that she did all of that while in an unreasonable skimpy outfit, I'll take it.
The writing was good (in a campy way) and the plots and wacky characters were just terrific. I'm definitely going to continue with this series. Recommended....more
It was readable, though. And it's not like that's always the case. The art is serviceable if noIt's about what you'd expect from a movie tie-in.
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It was readable, though. And it's not like that's always the case. The art is serviceable if nothing to write home about, but at least it doesn't make your eyes bleed. Small favors.
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Basically, it's not a comic you'll want to read if you're looking for a good comic. And I'm not an expert on the tabletop game but I don't even think this would be something that hardcore fans of the RPG would be all that interested in. I could be wrong! But if you're a massive fan of the D&D movie, this might be a fun collectible item for you.
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The skinny gist is that this gives a peek at the lives of the characters before the opening scene of the movie. The main questers, and then another story with Xenk. Nothing you can't live without, just a little extra tale. And no worries, this doesn't spoil anything about the plot of the film.
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Recommended -if you're a superfan of the movie....more
A fairytale fantasy told with the unmistakable voice of Stephen King.
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Like most of Mr. King's books, this adventure went on a bit too long for mA fairytale fantasy told with the unmistakable voice of Stephen King.
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Like most of Mr. King's books, this adventure went on a bit too long for my personal taste. There are a lot of squealing fan reviews giving this a million stars, which is fair because this is a good book, but it's not a fast-paced adventure. Just know what you're getting into, that's all I'm saying. I was several hours into the audiobook and not a magical land in sight. In fact, I went back and re-read the blurb just to make sure I hadn't misunderstood something because, at that point, we were still dealing with grumpy old Bowditch recovering from surgery and learning to use a laptop, while Charlie narrates his life in flashbacks and takes care of Radar the dog. This brings me to the part where you really have to love dogs to feel any urgency.
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But I mean, who doesn't love dogs? Ok. I'm a cat person, but I'm not a monsterous weirdo. I love dogs, too. They just aren't independent enough for me to have at this point in my life. Or maybe ever again. I don't know. They're a lot of work. And cats are all the snuggly things minus the hyper-needy shit. (view spoiler)[And don't give me that cats are sneaky and mean shit. There are vicious dogs out there that maul people, but I don't clump all dogs into one category. It all depends on the animal and what sort of environment it was raised in, and those dogs were probably abused. So if you come across a mean cat, he has probably been kicked a few times by some asshole. (hide spoiler)] Just saying. I'm going to be honest though, Old Me is just not going to risk my life and the sobriety of a loved one to save a dog from dying of old age. Especially a dog who was much loved in her lifetime. But Younger Me would have risked a lot for my favorite cat (whose name ironically was Charlie). So the part of my heart that isn't shriveled and cold was really rooting for this kid to come out of this adventure with a not-dead pup.
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Alight. The skinny gist is that Charlie discovers the opening to another world, and in that world is a way to turn back the clock for a dog he loves. He decides to risk everything and go on this mission through a dangerous land, and along the way discovers that everyone in that world is in need of saving. Spoilery things happen and he has to reach deep inside himself to see if he has what it takes to save the people around him that he has come to care about during his time there. It's a good coming-of-age story.
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I didn't like this one as much as I loved King's other fantasy book, The Eyes of the Dragon, but that's more than likely just a "me" thing. It would also be fair to say I'm not a diehard Stephen King fan, even though I've read quite a few of his books and I do respect him greatly as an author and a storyteller. His stories are just too goddamn long for me.
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So. While I can't foresee this being one that I re-read, it is a wonderfully imagined book about a boy and his dog who travel to a magical land and fight evil. If you're an audiobook fan, this one doesn't disappoint. And I would definitely recommend this to anyone who is not a fan of horror but has always wanted to read a Stephen King book. Recommended....more
No, it's not quite the same as the other books. And I understand why other readers may have been a bit put off because this installment was told from SNo, it's not quite the same as the other books. And I understand why other readers may have been a bit put off because this installment was told from Sophos' point of view with him as the main character, but I really loved it. I wanted to know what had happened to him, so this was perfect for me.
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Oh, and I loved the way Sophos' initial story narration ended that first time. (view spoiler)[It quite surprised me that he was telling this story to the Queen of Eddis. And so cute that it stopped at the point she walked into his room! (hide spoiler)]
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Besides all the swashbuckling adventure time, the backstabbing politics, the family drama, the "finding yourself" montage, and the reunions? A love story. Awww. Come on now, you know you love a love story.
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The explanation Helen gives Sophos at the end! Stop. I love it. (view spoiler)[Sophos thinks he's ruined everything and that by asking her to marry him it means she will lose the sovereignty of her country to Gen. BUT! Remember the dream about Eddis (the country) basically being destroyed by a volcano or something? Ok, well Helen (Eddis the queen) has been trying to find a way to evacuate her people and resettle them somewhere else before that happens. So by marrying Sophos (now King of Sounis) and having to pledge her country right along with him to Gen (King of Attolia.), it means she can now save Eddis. Did she and Gen plan this all along? (hide spoiler)] I'm still not sure how it will all work out but it makes me love Eddis, Sophos, Irene & Gen even more than I did before.
Gillen did a fantastic job with the finale. And while I'm sorry to see it go, I'm glad he didn't try to stretch the series out any further. It was timeGillen did a fantastic job with the finale. And while I'm sorry to see it go, I'm glad he didn't try to stretch the series out any further. It was time to wrap it up, as things were starting to get convoluted.
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Also, for once I just really don't have any complaints as to how it all concluded. I won't give any spoilers, but I think it all went down in a way that will make most fans of the title happy. I'm happy, at any rate.
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While this started out as a fantasy mixed with Arthurian legend, it morphed and incorporated everything from Beowulf to Robin Hood. And I did get confused sometimes! <--because I didn't get who some of these characters were, so I didn't feel like I was getting all the references. But in a way that made me want to go check out the source material, not in a way that made me want to toss the book. Your own mileage will vary.
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As a complete series, I'd give the whole thing 5 stars and it will go into my favorites pile to be re-read. Highly Recommended.
A boy discovers he has the power of magic within him.
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I'm glad I finally read this classic young adult/middle-grade fantasy book, but I'm just A boy discovers he has the power of magic within him.
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I'm glad I finally read this classic young adult/middle-grade fantasy book, but I'm just not completely invested in the series yet. I didn't love it. However, 3 stars means that the book was good. As in, I liked it. So don't come for me!
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Thing is, after a pretty interesting start, I struggled a bit as the story trudged toward the end. It felt dry and crunchy and I just wasn't all that engaged in what was happening. Now, I know I have to give it allowances as it is meant for a younger audience and it was also published in 1968.
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I mean, it has all the right elements (magic, arrogance, guilt, redemption), it just didn't make my heart go pitty-pat. Maybe it's because there just isn't much tension as to whether or not Sparrowhawk will survive, since it literally tells you that this is the story of how this kid becomes the world's most powerful wizard. Maybe it's because it felt like the storytelling was a little on the dull side for me. I don't know. I'm not ready to call it quits on this one, though, and I plan on coming back to the series at some point....more
I can see why this is a beloved children's fantasy. It's good vs. evil and right vs. wrong, but there is just enough give in the story so that it doesnI can see why this is a beloved children's fantasy. It's good vs. evil and right vs. wrong, but there is just enough give in the story so that it doesn't feel like the world is uncomfortably rigid. The characters really are quite lovable. They try to be good and do the right thing. And if they fail at that, then they try to learn from their mistakes. I'm not terribly sappy but I enjoy this sort of thing when it comes pre-packaged with magic, loyalty, and danger.
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The assistant pig keeper, Taran, finds himself on another epic adventure with his friends Fflewddur Fflam, Princess Eilonwy, Doli & Gurgi. This time our heroes are hunting down the evil bucket from the last book- the Black Cauldron. It needs to be found and destroyed before the Death Lord Arawn makes any more of his Cauldron-Born. And this time around Arawan's plans for the cooking pot of death are worse than before!
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There were some very cool new characters in this one, not the least of which were the 3 witches Orddu, Orwen, and Orgoch. They were somehow dangerous and hilarious at the same time and I kind of loved them for that.
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Not going to ruin anything for those of you who haven't read it yet, but this installment definitely has a lot of heart. I can see why this series means so much to so many people. Recommended....more
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