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Dreams of Steel (The Chronicles of the Black Company #5)
by
Glen Cook
Croaker has fallen and, following the Company's disastrous defeat at Dejagore, Lady is one of the few survivors--determined to avenge the Company and herself against the Shadowmasters, no matter what the cost.
But in assembling a new fighting force from the dregs and rabble of Taglios, she finds herself offered help by a mysterious, ancient cult of murder--competent, reliab
...more
But in assembling a new fighting force from the dregs and rabble of Taglios, she finds herself offered help by a mysterious, ancient cult of murder--competent, reliab
Mass Market Paperback, 346 pages
Published
April 15th 1990
by Tor Books
(first published April 1990)
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Community Reviews
(showing 1-30)
Jul 01, 2016
✘✘ Sarah ✘✘ (former Nefarious Breeder of Murderous Crustaceans)
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
kindle,
books-i-own,
fantasy,
kick-ass-heroines,
female-lead,
series,
favourite-series,
absolute-favourites,
buddy-read,
magic,
feminism-is-not-dead,
bbb,
antidote-to-tstl-heroines,
blood-and-gore-yay,
gloriously-fucked-up-characters,
assholes-and-liars-everywhere-yay,
br-2016,
welcome-to-the-zoo,
good-ol-testosterone,
grimdark,
it-s-war,
black-company,
read-2016,
the-awesome-bunch,
cool-chicks-harem,
darker-is-cooler,
this-is-perfection,
mostest-awesomest-villains
Off With Their Heads buddy read with my fellow mercenaries Evgeny, Holly, Choko and Robin
Actual rating: 18 freaking stars. Oh yes, definitely. Because let me tell you people, this is intergalatically amazing. Whatever that means.
I was going to write one of my never-ending, pit stop-requiring, fangirling reviews here. But Ifeel both uninspired and lazy as hell today decided to be my usual magnanimous, thoughtful self and spare you the ordeal. You're welcome.
Just pointing this out in case you ...more
Actual rating: 18 freaking stars. Oh yes, definitely. Because let me tell you people, this is intergalatically amazing. Whatever that means.
I was going to write one of my never-ending, pit stop-requiring, fangirling reviews here. But I
Just pointing this out in case you ...more
“More evil gets done in the name of righteousness than any other way.”
Last book began with only seven surviving members of the Black Company trying to recreate it. This time this number was down to just one person - the rest were dead or otherwise incapacitated. This person happened to be Lady who used to be practically a demigod; anybody who can honestly say about himself/herself the following can undoubtedly qualify for demigod-ness: "I’m no believer in fate or gods, in the accepted senses, ...more
Last book began with only seven surviving members of the Black Company trying to recreate it. This time this number was down to just one person - the rest were dead or otherwise incapacitated. This person happened to be Lady who used to be practically a demigod; anybody who can honestly say about himself/herself the following can undoubtedly qualify for demigod-ness: "I’m no believer in fate or gods, in the accepted senses, ...more
Mar 14, 2016
Robin (Bridge Four)
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
4-5-stars,
buddy-read
Buddy Read with Buddies Books and Baubles. it was a bit torturous not to leap ahead after that cliff hanger. Come on Lady, I'm pulling for you.
Have you ever read a book and discovered that just about anything you said about it would be a spoiler?
This is that book for me. I have been working on how to talk about it for a week without giving everything away and I’m pretty sure that is practically impossible.
Here is what you need to know:
• Your favorite characters are probably alive….at least for t ...more
Have you ever read a book and discovered that just about anything you said about it would be a spoiler?
This is that book for me. I have been working on how to talk about it for a week without giving everything away and I’m pretty sure that is practically impossible.
Here is what you need to know:
• Your favorite characters are probably alive….at least for t ...more
"In the night the winds die and silence rules the place of glittering stone."
The great battle of Dejagore is over, with devastating consequences for the last of the Free Companies of Khatovar. The infamous black battle standard disappears in the following chaos and confusion, and several key members of the Company are lost. The battle delivers Taglios from the jaws of its enemies, but the Shadowmasters still pull the strings in secret. And all the while, greater evils arise from the darkness...
D ...more
The great battle of Dejagore is over, with devastating consequences for the last of the Free Companies of Khatovar. The infamous black battle standard disappears in the following chaos and confusion, and several key members of the Company are lost. The battle delivers Taglios from the jaws of its enemies, but the Shadowmasters still pull the strings in secret. And all the while, greater evils arise from the darkness...
D ...more
Mar 07, 2016
Choko
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
fantasy,
fantasy-grim
*** 4.36 ***
A buddy read with the mercenaries from BB&B!
I love the Lady and her black and Bloodthirsty heart! My heart aches for the Black Company and the many hardships it has been forced to endure as of late... The previous book ended by spearing me through the chest and left me at the mother of all cliffhangers!!! The first sentence in this one solved most of my questions and by the middle of the book things are back on a typical for the company track. By the end I am sure we are in for a ...more
A buddy read with the mercenaries from BB&B!
I love the Lady and her black and Bloodthirsty heart! My heart aches for the Black Company and the many hardships it has been forced to endure as of late... The previous book ended by spearing me through the chest and left me at the mother of all cliffhangers!!! The first sentence in this one solved most of my questions and by the middle of the book things are back on a typical for the company track. By the end I am sure we are in for a ...more
Wow! Wow, wow, wow!
This installment picked up right from the cliffhanger at the end of Shadow Games, and carried on relentlessly. I'm completely absorbed in these books when I'm reading them -- the world and mythology are so vivid, so real, and the characters so interesting. I'm just blown away by how freaking brilliant Glen Cook is, and the powerful way he's telling this huge story, filling in details without ever bogging down in too many words or descriptive passages, and dropping hints abou ...more
Dec 03, 2015
Athena Shardbearer
rated it
it was amazing
Shelves:
fantasy,
scifi,
war,
own,
paperback,
fan-fucking-tastic,
epic,
sci-fi-fantasy,
high-fantasy,
audiobook,
darkfantasy,
re-read,
buddy-read,
cook-cook-cook
This, by far, is my favorite book yet! And if you love the Lady, which I now do, you will love this book. Lady, you are and will always be the best villain and lesser of villains ever! You're bad...oh so bad!
The Lady is the new Annalist and the new captain of The Black Company, and she is out for blood and revenge.
We are missing a few from the company, One-Eye, Goblin, Croaker and we met new people, Narayan and the Goddess Kina. I'm scared of where that is going to go. She has some crazy psych ...more
While the first book in the Book of the South series was a bit of a lull for The Black Company series this one was a return to top form. Dreams of Steel was as action packed and interesting as the early books in the series.
After the events at the end of Shadow Games we have a new annalist and captain of The Black Company in the form of its former adversary Lady. She is every bit as interesting as Croaker and very easy to like despite some of the stuff she gets up to. As well as the Shadow Maste ...more
After the events at the end of Shadow Games we have a new annalist and captain of The Black Company in the form of its former adversary Lady. She is every bit as interesting as Croaker and very easy to like despite some of the stuff she gets up to. As well as the Shadow Maste ...more
OMG I've just read Indiana Jones Black Company and the Temple of Doom.
Ok guys, you can boo me all you want, but I didn't enjoy this book. I hardly even liked it, to be honest. Out of the whole series it was the weakest one for me. Hear me out, please.
The last 1/3 of it saved it from total failure, but the first 2/3 wasn't even close to goodness of previous volumes. The action from the start was slow like a stoned turtle, with anything barely happening - mostly it was Lady grouping and regrouping ...more
Ok guys, you can boo me all you want, but I didn't enjoy this book. I hardly even liked it, to be honest. Out of the whole series it was the weakest one for me. Hear me out, please.
The last 1/3 of it saved it from total failure, but the first 2/3 wasn't even close to goodness of previous volumes. The action from the start was slow like a stoned turtle, with anything barely happening - mostly it was Lady grouping and regrouping ...more
Hell of a ride that left me breathless. G.Cook really knows how to deliver on the last book . If the previous one had some shortcomings this book more than made it up for them.
Dark, bloody and twisted. And I loved every bit of it. Hardly any sarcasm or humour, which usually is a must in grimdarks for me, but suspense is held masterfully and I could not peel my eyes of. Breath of old death, seeping blood of the thousands, cruel old gods, dark cults, human sacrifices. Intrigues layered with myster ...more
Dark, bloody and twisted. And I loved every bit of it. Hardly any sarcasm or humour, which usually is a must in grimdarks for me, but suspense is held masterfully and I could not peel my eyes of. Breath of old death, seeping blood of the thousands, cruel old gods, dark cults, human sacrifices. Intrigues layered with myster ...more
2.5
Pensaba no comentar nada porque estoy leyendo libros cortos furtivamente mientras estudio y se me pasa la peor etapa del verano que es la de adelantar materias antes de retomar los dos ladrillos que estoy leyendo. Pero tuve tantos problemas y gracias también con este libro que al menos quiero decir algo breve.
Sí, es el quinto de la saga de la Compañía Negra y el segundo... de otra saga por lo visto, claramente no sigo la saga porque sino lo sabría bien. La Compañía Negra, sin embargo, era una ...more
Pensaba no comentar nada porque estoy leyendo libros cortos furtivamente mientras estudio y se me pasa la peor etapa del verano que es la de adelantar materias antes de retomar los dos ladrillos que estoy leyendo. Pero tuve tantos problemas y gracias también con este libro que al menos quiero decir algo breve.
Sí, es el quinto de la saga de la Compañía Negra y el segundo... de otra saga por lo visto, claramente no sigo la saga porque sino lo sabría bien. La Compañía Negra, sin embargo, era una ...more
There is only one member of the Black Company left standing, and it's the company's past employer/then enemy/then ally. If you say you saw that coming in book one, I'll call you a liar.
After hating her, wanting her dead, not liking her, not trusting her, maybe liking her a little, and now I'm cheering for her??? I haven't had that kind of change of heart towards a character since Jaime Lannister. This is her book and mostly her POV, which is really interesting - even if you still hate her. Her s ...more
After hating her, wanting her dead, not liking her, not trusting her, maybe liking her a little, and now I'm cheering for her??? I haven't had that kind of change of heart towards a character since Jaime Lannister. This is her book and mostly her POV, which is really interesting - even if you still hate her. Her s ...more
Following the cliff hanger conclusion of the fourth book in The Black Company Series, Shadow Games, this fifth book picks up immediately after and finds the actual members of the Black Company down to a single soul…The Lady. One must always capitalize her name for she is one of the best drawn, most intriguing, least apologetic, and most devilishly beguiling women in all of fantasy fiction. This time, finally, she is the one telling the tale. And we get to see events from her point of view.
This n ...more
This n ...more
Although the book ended on a solid note for me, I disliked most parts of the books because I think the book dragged in some parts especially soul catcher and croaker part where they just seem to be hanging around a place for the sake of it.Also lady getting her powers back was some what rushed for me because if lady gets her powers back then will darling also get her powers back ?The last two books in the black company series which I have read did not have the company itself, and I think cook ba
...more
This is the book I was really looking forward to re-reading. It's the one where the Lady does the narration. I enjoyed it much more than the first book of the South. It's much more spooky and menacing and the main character is probably the worst of everyone. This is where you have the first mention of the fake Kali cult of Kina. The Lady is starting to get her powers back and does some pretty dispicable things but you still like her anyway as she seems like her most human. The sad part is that h
...more
Po ankstesnės dalies buvo įdomu skaityti ir sužinoti, koks likimas ištiko pagrindinius veikėjus, pasitikrinti, kiek teisingai pati tai sugebėjau nuspėti. Džiaugiausi šios dalies pasakotoju, labai norėjau išgirsti būtent šio veikėjo įvykių versiją. Kiek keista, nes skaitydama pirmą, o ir antrą dalis nebūčiau pagalvojus, kad taip nuomonė pasikeis. Kiek čia buvo visokių pripainiotų, supainiotų įvykių, taip ir laukiau, kaip ir kada viskas išsipainios. Aišku, viskas ir neišsipainioja, bet visgi, laba
...more
I am happy that the Lady proved at least somewhat more interesting as the narrator than she did as the love interest in the previous book. That gave at least some real drama to one of the villains, the cult plot was pretty solid, and while I rolled my eyes really hard at the ongoing "why am I puking every morning? This is so weird" thing, it at least hints at interesting story to come.
I would love to find out what happened next, but it appears the next book may be a rewrite of this time period f ...more
I would love to find out what happened next, but it appears the next book may be a rewrite of this time period f ...more
ok! as it turns out, book #1 of the South, which appeared to be old wine in a new bottle, was really only the prelude to a whole new set of real badguys, with the 'good guys' (who are not so good) weakened. These books of the south have taken the black company through some alternative/post appocolyptic Africa & India in search of The Company's origin, which is only rumor and myth even to them...only to find that their origins are much more sinister, and outworldly, then anyone could even ima
...more
So you would think that five books into a swords and sorcery series would definitely take the bloom off the rose (unless you happened to be Terry Pratchett). I'm happy to report that Glen Cook manages the rare feat of making the fifth book in the 'Black Company' series into one of the better books he has written. After a casual start Cook sets the hook and then sets up a rousing tale of twisty, turny plots and counter-plots and vengeance and ancient gods. That modern, colloquial way of speaking
...more
Reading about Lady's conquest in the south is like what I imagine Pat Rothfuss' most zealous fans feel when they reread Kvothe's ridiculous misadventures for the hundredth time. It's an absolutely sublime experience. This is arguably one of the best and definitely my favorite book of the whole lot. Top toot!
Good book with an ending that kinda leaves you hanging.
Continuing the saga of what is very little left of a recognizable Black Company. More company lore was revealed through the Books of the South, as the Lady is forced to pick up the pieces and rebuild after Croaker (view spoiler) I enjoyed reading the book of the Lady, but did find myself missing Croaker's point of view. The Lady is just too unrelateable, too crass, too harsh. Croaker has a personable feel to him, a human quality the Lady just can't match.
Keeping ...more
Keeping ...more
This is the best book in the series so far!
This time around we have Lady as narrator and the keeper of the Annals hence begins The Book of Lady and what a wonderful voyage that was!
This time around we have Lady as narrator and the keeper of the Annals hence begins The Book of Lady and what a wonderful voyage that was!
Due to the dramatic ending of the previous book, I had to start Dreams of Steel right away! Although not the best in the series, it is still good and gives us a new perspective into the Black Company.
Unlike all the other books, this book is narrated by Lady, which provides a different perspective for the story. It is interesting to get to know Lady better and learn more about her history and feelings towards Croaker. I am really starting to like her! I enjoy seeing her as a more human character, ...more
Unlike all the other books, this book is narrated by Lady, which provides a different perspective for the story. It is interesting to get to know Lady better and learn more about her history and feelings towards Croaker. I am really starting to like her! I enjoy seeing her as a more human character, ...more
One thing that is great about the black company series is just how damn resilient the black company is. The only member of the black company that isn't trapped or dead is Lady, and Lady is more of a tag-a-long or girlfriend or wildcard to the company than someone we think of as a member.
That is true no longer, however, because she becomes a personification of the Company in this book. It is fascinating to see both how she shapes the direction of the company, and how the company shapes her decisi ...more
That is true no longer, however, because she becomes a personification of the Company in this book. It is fascinating to see both how she shapes the direction of the company, and how the company shapes her decisi ...more
Dec 10, 2014
Janice Bonczek
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Fans of fantasy
Shelves:
fantasy,
dark,
fiction,
war,
survival,
action-adventure,
love,
read-2014,
religion,
magic,
military,
series,
epic-fantasy,
female-pov,
girl-power,
multiple-pov,
moral-ambiguity,
character-memoir,
siege,
multiple-narrators,
gods
Wow. This was a good one. The fifth book in the Chronicles of the Black Company by Glen Cook. I didn't think I would like this book at the beginning. But it turned out to be very good.
The first surprise, was that half of this book is narrated by Lady! Since (view spoiler), he cannot narrate. So Lady has begun her own entry into the annals of the Black Company, the Book of Lady.
There is third person narration for the rest of the ...more
The first surprise, was that half of this book is narrated by Lady! Since (view spoiler), he cannot narrate. So Lady has begun her own entry into the annals of the Black Company, the Book of Lady.
There is third person narration for the rest of the ...more
7/31/2013 Started
This was pretty standard for the Black Company books. Enjoyable. Major power players. But at times it would drag on a bit. Like actually being in the military I imagine...long stretches of not much to do with sporadic phases of chaos.
I must admit with the cliffhanger ending I am more interested in immediately starting the next book :).
One thing I wish was more clear is who each of the Shadowmasters represented from the Taken. I can't figure out if Longshadow is the Faceless Man ...more
This was pretty standard for the Black Company books. Enjoyable. Major power players. But at times it would drag on a bit. Like actually being in the military I imagine...long stretches of not much to do with sporadic phases of chaos.
I must admit with the cliffhanger ending I am more interested in immediately starting the next book :).
One thing I wish was more clear is who each of the Shadowmasters represented from the Taken. I can't figure out if Longshadow is the Faceless Man ...more
The previous book was little slow as the Black Company advanced on towards its ancestral home. But Dreams of Steel is fast paced as the central conflict between Talgios and the Shadowmasters do no conclude. With people playing game from every side, Lady finds it difficult to accustom herself as the Captain of the Black Company whereas Croaker tries his very best not to help Soulcatcher in her plots. And the mad Murgog trying to command the Black Company still surviving in Dejarore as the remaini
...more
Je pense avoir largement trop attendu avant de lire ce cinquième volume, j’ai oublié une bonne partie des personnages et de détails. Toutefois je me suis replongée avec bonheur dans Rêves d’acier, certains éléments me revenant peu à peu en mémoire. Le personnage de Madame tient les rênes, Toubib est prétendu mort, aux prises avec Volesprit. Ce volume comporte beaucoup de manœuvres militaires, Madame reconstitue la Compagnie Noire, s’allie à une secte de fanatiques plus ou moins marginaux adorant
...more
Croaker has fallen and, following the Company's disastrous defeat at Dejagore, Lady is one of the few survivors--determined to avenge the Company and herself against the Shadowmasters, no matter what the cost.
But in assembling a new fighting force from the dregs and rabble of Taglios, she finds herself offered help by a mysterious, ancient cult of murder--competent, reliable, and apparently committed to her goals.
Meanwhile, far away, Shadowmasters conspire against one another and the world, weav ...more
But in assembling a new fighting force from the dregs and rabble of Taglios, she finds herself offered help by a mysterious, ancient cult of murder--competent, reliable, and apparently committed to her goals.
Meanwhile, far away, Shadowmasters conspire against one another and the world, weav ...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fantasy Book Club...: Dreams of Steel (The Chronicles of the Black Company #6) Chapters 1-80 | 9 | 22 | Aug 30, 2013 08:00AM |
Glen Cook was born in New York City, lived in southern Indiana as a small child, then grew up in Northern California. After high school he served in the U.S. Navy and attended the University of Missouri. He worked for General Motors for 33 years, retiring some years ago. He started writing short stories in 7th grade, had several published in a high school literary magazine. He began writing with m
...more
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“More evil gets done in the name of righteousness than any other way.”
—
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“The man who counts on the aid of a god deserves the help he doesn't get.”
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Thank you so much, Evgeny!:D My utter love for my Lord ...more
Mar 14, 2016 11:00AM
HAHAHAHAHA! I bet you are going to pick the series up again in no time!
updated Mar 14, 2016 11:15AM