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Lord of the Silent Kingdom (Instrumentalities of the Night #2)
by
Glen Cook
It’s cold. The wells of power are weakening and the forces of Night grow strong. The gods are real, and still have some power, mostly to do harm. The Instrumentalities of the Night are the worst of these.
Piper Hecht, born Else Tage, survived a battle with the Instrumentalities. Now he’s Captain-General of the armies fighting a crusade for Patriarch Sublime V. Intri...more
Mass Market Paperback, 634 pages
Published
January 2nd 2008
by Tor Fantasy
(first published February 20th 2007)
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Book Two in the Instrumentalities of the Night series. Better than the first book if only because the complex tangle of names, places, characters and cultures has been explained previously and now the story can move merrily along. It does move, indeed, though I was not happy with how most of the action was summarized rather than described. But that's Cook's style and it doesn't detract all that much from the storytelling. When he feels he needs to be detailed, he's detailed enough.
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I had forgotten so much of what had happened in the first book that it was difficult to get in to this book. In addition, there's a story arc, but much of what happens is an "and then" and the deep discoveries and reveals don't occur in the natural place and some of the battles are anticlimactic. On the other hand, especially upon reflection, there's a realism of sorts to be found in this book. It is very much a chronicle. Things unfold to a certain extent as 'And then's. And the socio...more
Roman plutôt agréable, où on retrouve le style narratif si déstabilisant de Glen Cook, mais qui, comme son prédécesseur n'échappe pas aux mêmes écueils : une trame vaste, sans doute trop, et un récit dans lequel on a du mal à entrer.
Cela se lit cependant assez bien, et même avec plaisir, mais plus d'un sera "douché", je pense, par la lenteur de l'action, le héros plutôt lisse... Rien à voir avec l'excellent cycle de la Compagnie noire.
On retrouve quelques thèmes chers à l'auteur : sor...more
Cela se lit cependant assez bien, et même avec plaisir, mais plus d'un sera "douché", je pense, par la lenteur de l'action, le héros plutôt lisse... Rien à voir avec l'excellent cycle de la Compagnie noire.
On retrouve quelques thèmes chers à l'auteur : sor...more
The second book in the Instrumentalities of the Night, I have enjoyed this book more than the first one. Mainly because my main problem with the series, that it is based on a thinly disguised XIIIth century Earth, is less intrusive now that things are drifting from the historical record. It is still fairly disturbing, as there are still too many correlations, but as the events do not follow the historical script (unlike the past), it becomes more interesting.
A second problem is that,...more
A second problem is that,...more
Cook's epic wars are always filled with sarcastic humor about war, religion and world views in general. This one parallels the current East/West wars we're involved in with all the false patriotism and religious rhetoric.
#3 has yet to be published and as complex as this story is, I will probably have to re-read the first 2 once it comes out. It was a good book but his writing style probably puts some people off. The banter between characters is often choppy and hard to follow, not un...more
#3 has yet to be published and as complex as this story is, I will probably have to re-read the first 2 once it comes out. It was a good book but his writing style probably puts some people off. The banter between characters is often choppy and hard to follow, not un...more
The first book in a Cook series always has an intelligible story arc. After that, it's my impression that he lets his plots and characters drift about however seems most natural to him, without worrying much about where the story is going. Eventually, he'll tighten things up again, but the second book can meander as this one does.
I still found it enjoyable, and it might get three stars if I hadn't read it so soon after the first one.
I still found it enjoyable, and it might get three stars if I hadn't read it so soon after the first one.
I was waiting for this second part. And I liked it.
Even I am not yet sure if it is good or bad the link with historical Middle Age's Europe, it gives the story an interesting background (trying to guess if Cook will follow or not) and enjoying the new twists in history.
And so, the (alternative) story is quite interesting and leads you through a history that might have happened, which spices the reading quite nicely. Also, I still enjoy the main character just because he is not pre...more
Even I am not yet sure if it is good or bad the link with historical Middle Age's Europe, it gives the story an interesting background (trying to guess if Cook will follow or not) and enjoying the new twists in history.
And so, the (alternative) story is quite interesting and leads you through a history that might have happened, which spices the reading quite nicely. Also, I still enjoy the main character just because he is not pre...more
I believe I've finally figured out what has disappointed me in Cook's Instrumentalities of the Night. It's the same thing that spoils my enjoyment of Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series: There's nothing to fight for.
The villains of both series are suitably "bad" and, by any moral criterion, deserve to be resisted but their opponents aren't much better. Oh, the individuals the authors chose to focus on may be likable enough (more so in Cook's case than Jordan's, in my opini...more
The villains of both series are suitably "bad" and, by any moral criterion, deserve to be resisted but their opponents aren't much better. Oh, the individuals the authors chose to focus on may be likable enough (more so in Cook's case than Jordan's, in my opini...more
Kind of disappointing after Tyrrany of the Night (the first book of this series). Good solid Glen Cook, but failed to wow me.
The sequel to Tyranny of the Night. Good, and very much in the same vein. Once again, it will keep you motivated
The plot thickens even further. Made me pine for the next book!
This book is much better than its predecessor in the series -- instead of just aping the plot of a crusade against the Cathars with a touch of magic, drama, and intrigue thrown in, Cook creates a plot as good as his earlier ones.
I wasn't sure about this new series of books, but this episode moves it from a fun recapping of european history to something that can stand in its own right?
Will this series be as successful as his previous? I doubt it, the first may prove too r...more
I wasn't sure about this new series of books, but this episode moves it from a fun recapping of european history to something that can stand in its own right?
Will this series be as successful as his previous? I doubt it, the first may prove too r...more
The second installment of the series is slightly less compelling than the first, owing largely to the rushed pace of the central chapters. A main villain all but disappears - perhaps he will reappear in the next installment.
One great improvement, however, is the development of the main character, Piper Hecht. His struggle with identity and loyalty is well done, and Cook rarely misses the opportunity to pit his characters up against terrible events.
One great improvement, however, is the development of the main character, Piper Hecht. His struggle with identity and loyalty is well done, and Cook rarely misses the opportunity to pit his characters up against terrible events.
This is book 2 of what I assume is a trilogy.
Thankfully Book 2 wasn't full of short choppy sentences like Book 1.
I really like the idea(s) and plot(s), I just wish it didn't plod along so. I'm going to continue with this series because I want closure on many points. I'm not sure I'd subject anyone else to it, though...
Thankfully Book 2 wasn't full of short choppy sentences like Book 1.
I really like the idea(s) and plot(s), I just wish it didn't plod along so. I'm going to continue with this series because I want closure on many points. I'm not sure I'd subject anyone else to it, though...
Once again an absolutely fantastic read!! The plots only get deeper, (and yes I means PLOTS as in plural There are more than one.) Superb writing and an awesome story!
Very bit as good as The Tyranny of The Night, my only complaint is the the next book will not likely be out before 2009.
Maintenant que les personnages sont installés, l'intrigue est nettement plus intéressante que le premier tome.
Always like Glen Cook... this one was a little busy with characters, but Cook can always handle it well.
It winds up feeling like a middle book, but it was still quite enjoyable.
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Glen Cook aka Greg Stevens is a contemporary American science fiction and fantasy author, best known for his fantasy series, The Black Company. Cook currently resides in St. Louis, Missouri.
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