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79th out of 844 books
—
1,208 voters
Guardians of the West (The Malloreon #1)
A sequel to THE BELGARIAD, Garion has slain the evil God Torak, and fulfilled the prophecy. But suddenly another prophecy is foretold. Again a great evil is brewing in the East. And again Garion finds himself caught between two ancient Prophecies, with the fate of the world resting on him....
Paperback, 438 pages
Published
February 12th 1988
by Del Rey
(first published 1985)
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May 23, 2007
Eric
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Those that liked the Belgariad
Shelves:
fantasy
Like most sequels, the Mallorean is not as good as its predecessor. But, also like most sequels, it is nice to catch up with the familiar characters you fell in love with in the original.
Although the storyline is similar to the first series (to the point that the protagonist points it out at one point in conversation), the adventure is still just as much fun.
Anyone that loved the first series (the Belgariad) will find this series a worthwhile read.
Although the storyline is similar to the first series (to the point that the protagonist points it out at one point in conversation), the adventure is still just as much fun.
Anyone that loved the first series (the Belgariad) will find this series a worthwhile read.
Jun 04, 2013
Lizza11
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
bibliotheek,
gelezen-in-2013
Als een schrijver aan een nieuwe serie begint, heeft het bijna altijd nieuwe hoofdpersonen en vaak een nieuwe wereld. Dat is ook precies de reden waarom ik niet, na een geweldige serie te hebben gelezen van een schrijver, gelijk begin aan een andere serie van dezelfde schrijver. Het is bijna altijd een teleurstelling, aangezien je nog helemaal in die eerste serie zit, in die wereld.
Maar deze tweede serie van David Eddings, de Mallorea, speelt zich af in dezelfde wereld, met dezelfde hoofdpersone...more
Maar deze tweede serie van David Eddings, de Mallorea, speelt zich af in dezelfde wereld, met dezelfde hoofdpersone...more
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After 25 years, I think it's understandable that I don't remember any specifics about this series. About 15 years ago, I remember telling a friend (who had read the Eddings' Belgariad series as a teen) that the Mallorean series' characters were exaggerated and the stories were melodramatic. You just knew that the protagonists--because of their super-human &/or magical abilities--would not only vanquish their enemies, but survive relatively unscathed. Put another way, I felt that there was a...more
Disclaimer: THE BELGARIAD was the first adult fantasy series I read, in grade 5. I loved it so much I read them probably every couple years until 2 of the books literally fell apart. I wholeheartedly recommend them as a fantastic entry-level fantasy series. I only picked up the MALLOREAN at age 31--GUARDIANS OF THE WEST is #1 of that series.
Pros: same great characters, same great land, same great sorcery premise!!! And Eddings still has some of the funny left.
Cons: same great characters...gett...more
Pros: same great characters, same great land, same great sorcery premise!!! And Eddings still has some of the funny left.
Cons: same great characters...gett...more
This review is for the five books in the Mallorean series.
Our humble Garion from Belgariad fame is now Belgarion, Lord of the Western Sea, Overlord of the West, and Godslayer. His infant son is kidnapped and Belgarion must recover the child before his son becomes a dark god. (I'm still trying to figure out why it's such a bad thing to have a son who's a god--dark, light, it's all just variations on a theme, right?)
Anyway, in the Mallorean, Garion once again sets out on a cross-continental journe...more
Our humble Garion from Belgariad fame is now Belgarion, Lord of the Western Sea, Overlord of the West, and Godslayer. His infant son is kidnapped and Belgarion must recover the child before his son becomes a dark god. (I'm still trying to figure out why it's such a bad thing to have a son who's a god--dark, light, it's all just variations on a theme, right?)
Anyway, in the Mallorean, Garion once again sets out on a cross-continental journe...more
Well when I was younger and had finished the Belgariad I was thrilled to see that Eddings had decided to continue the story of Garion and his friends in a brand new adventure. However as I look back now I sort of ask myself what is the point. The evil god Torak had been slain, Garion (now Belgarion as he is a sorcerer) has been crown king of the west, and he has married Ce'nedra, imperial princess and destined wife. They have also had a child, so should it not be that they now live happily ever...more
SUMMARY:
Discover the magic of The Malloreon–David Eddings’s acclaimed series, the sequel to his bestselling The Belgariad. Now the first three Malloreon books appear in a single volume, taking us on an epic quest across strange lands among gods, kings, sorcerers, and ordinary men. It is a gripping tale of two ancient warring destinies fighting a battle of good against evil.Garion has slain the evil God Torak and is now the King of Riva. The prophecy has been fulfilled–or so it seems. For there i...more
Discover the magic of The Malloreon–David Eddings’s acclaimed series, the sequel to his bestselling The Belgariad. Now the first three Malloreon books appear in a single volume, taking us on an epic quest across strange lands among gods, kings, sorcerers, and ordinary men. It is a gripping tale of two ancient warring destinies fighting a battle of good against evil.Garion has slain the evil God Torak and is now the King of Riva. The prophecy has been fulfilled–or so it seems. For there i...more
Oct 30, 2010
Beaky
added it
To be quite frank, I've read only half the book and not the series preceding it. Okay, maybe not HALF of the book, but Half minus 10 pages. At this stage I'm giving it a 1. I'll pick up the book again when I have more time and patience.
It was weary, not because I hadn't read the first series (hey, I started Order of the Pheonix first in the Harry Potter series and I got used to the huge cast of characters and plot quite easily)but because nothing was happening and if it was it wasn't particularl...more
It was weary, not because I hadn't read the first series (hey, I started Order of the Pheonix first in the Harry Potter series and I got used to the huge cast of characters and plot quite easily)but because nothing was happening and if it was it wasn't particularl...more
The first book in the second series about Garion, Belgarath and Polgara. It's been 8 years since the events in the Belgariad came to a conclusion. Now that Torak has been destroyed, Garion thinks that he can finally relax. But rumours come the ears of the West that the Bear-cult is rising once more, claiming that Garion should divorce his wife and take a new one. Meanwhile, Errand is slowly growing up in the Vale with Polgara and Durnik. He is visited by shadows of people in far off lands, some...more
It must be challenging when writing a new saga based on one that has come before, where to start, what to include from the previous story etc. It is my opinion that any new story needs to stand on its own two feet and should be able to be told independently of any story that has come before and here lies the challenge for Eddings in book one of the Malloreon. The Belgariad is one of my favorite stories in the world of fantasy, finishing book five and then starting Guardians of the West only minu...more
So the Malloreon, like the Belgariad, Is pretty eh over all. I find Eddings is too indulgent in his characters which makes them seem fake. They are more like a drawing of a character. It is almost as if the characters themselves KNOW they are characters in a book and act in ways that say HEY READER! IN CASE YOU MISSED IT THE LAST 30 TIMES THIS IS WHO I AM. Eddings is redundant with their behaviors and brow beats you with it over and over and over. On top of that, most of the characters do not gr...more
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These are not as good as his first series, that being said I still think they're well worth reading. If you're just starting on your Fantasy adventure then these books are perfect for you or if you're a kid who wants a good fantasy yarn then any of Eddings's work will be enjoyable. However if you're a veteran Fantasy reader who might be expecting a series like Erikson's or Martin's then Eddings's work is not for...more
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These are not as good as his first series, that being said I still think they're well worth reading. If you're just starting on your Fantasy adventure then these books are perfect for you or if you're a kid who wants a good fantasy yarn then any of Eddings's work will be enjoyable. However if you're a veteran Fantasy reader who might be expecting a series like Erikson's or Martin's then Eddings's work is not for...more
A classic case where the cover is more fantastical than the story! Unfortunately, perhaps to my own shameless detriment, I went into David's series expecting a modern epic on par with The Lord of the Rings. However, I was disappointed to find a rather sparse, modernist text possessing all of the necessary ingredients for a good tale, but lacking in the color, depth, and detail which I personally crave. The characters, particularly Belgarath and his overly charming daughter, Polgara, seem hollow...more
This was the first book of David and Leigh Eddings that I read and to this day it remains on my top ten list and has been read again and again.
Despite the somewhat generic plot (classic questing group (wizard, sorceress, hero, heroine, spy, thief, etc.) set out to save the world) I am just so in love with the characters (mostly said questing group) and the richness of this world.
The wizard that looks like a vagabond, the thief that is ruth less and yet afraid to love, the sorceress who likes t...more
Despite the somewhat generic plot (classic questing group (wizard, sorceress, hero, heroine, spy, thief, etc.) set out to save the world) I am just so in love with the characters (mostly said questing group) and the richness of this world.
The wizard that looks like a vagabond, the thief that is ruth less and yet afraid to love, the sorceress who likes t...more
I've read the Belgariad series a few times, and finally just started the Malloreon. I like seeing all the familiar characters, and that they're off on another quest again. However, I've seen some reviews about how this series ends up being remarkably similar to the Belgariad, and I already get that sense from the first book, so it will be interesting to see if the series can hold my interest. I'm also starting to get a little annoyed at how every woman is considered in need of protection (includ...more
It's great to re-visit the characters from The Belgariad and see them in action again; unfortunately, that's the best thing that can be said about the series. It's not that it's bad; it's a completely enjoyable read. However, Eddings fails to move forward with his writing and, instead, gives us what is essentially the same plot from The Belgariad over again. If you've read The Belgariad and loved it, you should certainly read The Mallorean, as well. If you're hoping for something new, though, mo...more
I keep reading these books so I feel I have to keep reviewing them as well, but there just isn't a lot to say about them. More of the same - enjoyable and breezy but nothing that will really stick with me. This series seems to be a retread of the Belgariad, with some of the same characters, some different, but nothing really new. Really, the main difference I noticed is that Ce'Nedra has not much to do now that she's a mommy. In the previous series she raised an army and led them to battle - in...more
The Belgariad series which precedes the Mallorean series was my first venture in fantasy as a young teenager. I still have all the books and occasionally reread them. The first time I read the Mallorean series, I didn't like it as well. The writing is still okay, the story moves at a pretty decent rate, and the return of certain beloved characters makes the story still enjoyable. I missed the banter of characters like Barak and Silk. But the addition of Velvet was great. I also like how Eddings...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
The Belgariad Series and the Mallorean Series are hands down one of the best science fiction series ever written. These series along with the companion books, Belgarath and Polgara are must reads for any science fiction fans. The characters are extremely well developed. These start off slow, but they are well worth the reading. I have recommended these series to at least 30 different people and not one of them have not come away being a die hard fan. My daughters have even recruited their friend...more
i've never before realised just how boring this book is, also how ridiculous. after spending the entire belgariad convincing us that belgarath and polgara et al have been working for thousands of years to get everything in place according to the prophecies for one event, starting a whole new series predicated on completely new! and unsuspected! prophecies that were apparently in the mrin codex all along is pretty ludicrous.
i will, however, persevere for the 2010 reread. and then i might just get...more
i will, however, persevere for the 2010 reread. and then i might just get...more
This is the start of the 2nd series about Belgarion. A portion of this book is given to enjoying the peace that follows the ending of the last series. You get to see Garion and his wife CNedra fight, make up, and start to create their marriage. Until, they discover that the battle between light and dark has not been completed. Garion must once again pick up his sword and go on a long journey.
I enjoyed this book a great deal. It was a reread for me. I loved seeing the characters that I've enjoyed...more
I enjoyed this book a great deal. It was a reread for me. I loved seeing the characters that I've enjoyed...more
I have to comment on this book. It started out great. The first part was fantastic. The second was a little less so, but still drove me on to reading. But then I hit the third part, I'm not sure what happened with Eddings. I have high hopes for the other books, but that third section was a complete mess. There were so many casual idiocies. Characters were writing things off as insignificant when they *knew* it was important- then it quickly bit them on the rear. Not to mention again and again wi...more
Guardians of the West begins as an answer to that question any enjoyable book or series presents at its conclusion. What happens next? As a result, it takes a painfully long time for anything to happen. Guardian's of the West is filled with internal and logical inconsistencies which wouldn't bother most readers, but which are aggravating to a nerd like me. Also, the premise of the new quest and all the other prophecies,, unmentioned in the Belgariad, is quite forced and all seems to come as an a...more
With the publication of the Malloreon, we learned an important fact about David Eddings: He only has one story in him. The plot of the Malloreon is essentially identical to that of the Belgariad, and the books suffer from all the same weaknesses. That said, the characters are now old friends, and Eddings knows and writes them better. The likable characters were the chief charm of the first series, and if you enjoyed the first series for that, then the characters may be enough to get you through...more
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Mar 20, 2013
Amber
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Middle Schoolers, People who like Fantasy Staples & Tropes, Adults who aren't familiar with Fantasy
I wasn't feeling overly generous today, so three stars it is. It's not that I didn't really like the first book of the Mallorean, its just that the overall story arch was a bit weird for this first book. It was obviously building toward the rest of the series, another 4 or 5 books I believe. I was happy to get back with the old gang, it was cool to get a bit more info an Eriond in the first part of the book. Like I said, the overall story arch of this particular novel, Ce'Nedra's apparent infert...more
I really enjoyed the Belgariad, but I found the writing in the first couple books a little amateur, so it put me off a little on continuing. I'm really glad I did, because this follow-up series seems promising.
I was told the Malloreon was basically the same story as the Belgariad, and so far my view on that is "sorta-kinda". If you've never read Eddings, he's got a cool concept of two conflicting prophecies, with opposing forces each trying to help one prophecy be fulfilled. This takes some stra...more
I was told the Malloreon was basically the same story as the Belgariad, and so far my view on that is "sorta-kinda". If you've never read Eddings, he's got a cool concept of two conflicting prophecies, with opposing forces each trying to help one prophecy be fulfilled. This takes some stra...more
This book is the first of 'The Mallorean' series, a sequel to Eddings' 'Belgariad' series, and as such includes all the major characters of that previous series albeit several years later.
The plotline is surpringsly similar to the first series (even to the point of it being commented upon by one of the characters in the book itself), and as such I found it hard in the beginning to justify rating this book more than 3 stars due to that similarity. In the end I gave it 4 stars because as a book (a...more
The plotline is surpringsly similar to the first series (even to the point of it being commented upon by one of the characters in the book itself), and as such I found it hard in the beginning to justify rating this book more than 3 stars due to that similarity. In the end I gave it 4 stars because as a book (a...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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This might have been another case where the sequels just don't hold a candle to the original. Guardians of the West certainly had its appeal, and there were a ton of upsides to having read it. But I should probably start with the downsides first.
It was definitely more drawn out than it should have been. More often than not, I found that the characters practically twiddled their thumbs and went about with their lives. The bigger picture slowly dribbled through, but nothing was really done about i...more
It was definitely more drawn out than it should have been. More often than not, I found that the characters practically twiddled their thumbs and went about with their lives. The bigger picture slowly dribbled through, but nothing was really done about i...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Not as good as the first series, but worth reading! | 6 | 34 | Apr 13, 2013 09:17am |
David Eddings is an American author who has written several best-selling series of epic fantasy novels. David Eddings' wife, Leigh Eddings, is uncredited as co-author on many of his early books, but he has lately acknowledged that she contributed to them all.
David Eddings' first books (which were general fiction) sold moderately well. He later switched to writing epic fantasy, a field in which he...more
More about David Eddings...
David Eddings' first books (which were general fiction) sold moderately well. He later switched to writing epic fantasy, a field in which he...more
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“The place had enormous possibilities. He realized that at once. The stream, of course, was perfect for sailing toy boats, for skipping stones, and, in the event of failing inspiration, for falling into. Several of the trees appeared to have been specifically designed for climbing, and one huge, white old birch overhanging the stream promised the exhilarating combination of climbing a tree and falling into the water, all at one time.”
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