King of the Murgos

The Malloreon #2

by David Eddings

In this second book of The Malloreon, Garion and Ce'nedra continue the quest begun in Guardians of the West. In their party travel the immortal Belgarath the Sorcerer, his daughter Polgara the Sorceress, and the little Drasnian, Silk.

Garion knows that it is the mysterious figure Zandramas who is responsible for the abduction of his infant son, and he and his companions journey many miles and encounter many strange beings in their search for him.

Their way leads through the foul swamps of Nyissa, ruled over by the Snake-Queen, and on into the dark kingdom of the Murgos, where human sacrifices are still made to the dead god Torak. Further on, however, even beyond those forbidding lands, they must face the ultimate danger - not only to themselves but to all mankind...

THUS CONTINUES BOOK TWO OF THE MALLOREON

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Epic Fantasy, High Fantasy, Science Fiction Fantasy, Young Adult, Adventure

448 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1988

About the author

David Eddings was an American author who wrote several best-selling series of epic fantasy novels. David Eddings' wife, Leigh Eddings , was an uncredited co-author on many of his early books, but he had later acknowledged that she contributed to them all.

They adopted one boy in 1966, Scott David, then two months old. They adopted a younger girl between 1966 and 1969. In 1970 the couple lost custody of both children and were each sentenced to a year in jail in separate trials after pleading guilty to 11 counts of physical child abuse. Though the nature of the abuse, the trial, and the sentencing were all extensively reported in South Dakota newspapers at the time, these details did not resurface in media coverage of the couple during their successful joint career as authors, only returning to public attention several years after both had died.

After both served their sentences, David and Leigh Eddings moved to Denver in 1971, where David found work in a grocery store.

David Eddings' first books (which were general fiction) sold moderately well. He later switched to writing epic fantasy, a field in which he achieved great success. In a recent interview with sffworld.com, he said: "I don't take orders from readers."

On January 26, 2007 it was reported that Eddings accidentally burned about a quarter of his office, next door to his house, along with his Excalibur sports car, and the original manuscripts for most of his novels. He was flushing the fuel tank of the car with water when he lit a piece of paper and threw into the puddle to test if it was still flammable.

On February 28, 2007, David Eddings' wife, Leigh Eddings (born Judith Leigh Schall), died following a series of strokes. She was 69.

David Eddings died on June 2, 2009 at the age of 77.

Reviews

[MrsJoseph *grouchy* · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yet again I profess my love for all things Belgariad and Mallorean.

And yet again I'm struck by the unfairness(?)/casual Misogyny(?) in this beloved series.

One of the big personal issues that pop up in this book is Silk's parents. Silk's mom was "the most beautiful woman of her generation" until a pestilence came through the town. She was struck blind and horribly disfigured by the sickness...but they act like her fucking brain was eaten instead.

Silk drinks himself into insensibility whenever he has to see/talk to him mom - because no one lets her know how ugly she is now. WTF, people.

"A pestilence breaks out in Drasnia from time to time. It disfigures its victims horribly. My mother was blinded by its effects, fortunately."

"Fortunately?"

"She couldn't look into a mirror. Our father stayed by her side for the rest of his life and never once gave any hint about what he saw when he looked at her." Silk's face was bleak, and his jaws were tightly clenched together. "It was the bravest thing I've ever seen any man do - and it was all the worse because it went on and on and on until the day he died."
-pg 471 omnibus edition

Is she missing part of her face or something???! Did she grow devil horns?? Cause I don't understand how someone you love becoming ugly and staying with them is called brave. Why is she being ugly such a big deal??? That gives me the impression that the only worth they saw in Silk's mother was her beauty. Which is so terribly sad.

"My Pol!" Belgarath exulted, catching her in a rough embrace. "Gods, what a son you'd have made!"

"I'm your daughter, Belgarath," she replied simply, "but could any son have done better?"

"No, Pol." He laughed suddenly, crushing her to him and soundly planting a kiss on her rain-wet cheek. "Not one bit."

They stopped, startled and even a little embarrassed that the enormous love they had each tried to conceal for millennia had finally come out into the open on this storm-swept beach here at the bottom of the world. Almost shyly they looked at each other and then, unable to hold it in, they began to laugh.
- pg 495-496 omnibus edition

A son? Really??

Polgara is...the epitome of womanhood in this series. Polgara is:
-the most powerful sorceress alive
-the most beautiful alive
-one of the greatest healers alive
-Richer than whole kingdoms
-so wise that everyone comes to her to talk
-a loving nurturer
-an excellent cook - if not one of the best in the world
-an excellent seamstress
-the ONLY female disciple of a GOD

But he says "a son."


Favorite quote:

"After breakfast, Polgara put on her blue cloak and went out on deck. The Murgo captain changed his plans almost as soon as she began to speak to him. Then he climbed the mainmast and spent the rest of the morning with the lookout in the wildly swaying crow's nest high aloft."
-pg 481 omnibus edition

I love Polgara.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I like nice, simple situations and nice, easy solutions," said Belgarath.

"Good and Evil?" Durnik suggested.

"That's a difficult one, Durnik. I prefer 'them and us.' That clears away all the excess baggage and allows you to get right down to cases."


I want a bracelet that says "What Would Belgarath Do?"

[Sotiris Karaiskos · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the second part, our story follows the traditional plot development of high fantasy books by leading to the classic journey of our heroes to a destination where everything will be decided. In the case of this series there is also the extra element of the exploration of the unknown places of the imaginary world where we still know only one part. In this journey, our heroes meet many adventures and many interesting people, giving the writer the chance to make the story more exciting and add even more humorous dialogues. The latter, of course, is a key feature of this and the previous series, but in this book, I have the feeling that this humor is particularly caustic and much more deals with situations of the real world. The problem, however, is that several times the writer overdones it by giving the book an excessively light tone. Of course this lightness and non-seriousness is the great virtue of the whole series, but it would be better if there was some restraint. Of course this does not change the fact that this is a very entertaining reading that makes you enjoy your time, so what I expected to find in this second part I found it and ... I keep on going.

Στο δεύτερο μέρος η ιστορία μας ακολουθεί την παραδοσιακή εξέλιξη των βιβλίων υψηλής φαντασίας και οδηγείται στο κλασσικό ταξίδι των ηρώων μας προς έναν προορισμό όπου θα κριθούν τα πάντα. Στην περίπτωση αυτής της σειράς υπάρχει και το πρόσθετο στοιχείο της εξερεύνησης των άγνωστων τόπων του φανταστικού κόσμου όπου ακόμα γνωρίζουμε μόνο ένα μέρος. Σε αυτό το ταξίδι οι ήρωες μας συναντάνε πολλές περιπέτειες και πολλούς ενδιαφέροντες ανθρώπους, κάτι που δίνει στο συγγραφέα την ευκαιρία από τη μία να κάνει την ιστορία περισσότερο συναρπαστική και από την άλλη να προσθέσει ακόμα περισσότερους χιουμοριστικούς διαλόγους. Το τελευταίο φυσικά είναι ένα χαρακτηριστικό στοιχείο και αυτής και της προηγούμενης σειράς, σε αυτό το βιβλίο, όμως, έχω την αίσθηση ότι αυτό το χιούμορ είναι ιδιαίτερα καυστικό και διακωμωδεί πολύ περισσότερο καταστάσεις του πραγματικού κόσμου. Το πρόβλημα, όμως, είναι ότι αρκετές φορές ο συγγραφέας το παρακάνει δίνοντας στο βιβλίο έναν υπερβολικά ελαφρύ τόνο. Φυσικά αυτή η ελαφρότητα και η μη σοβαρότητα είναι το μεγάλο προσόν όλης της σειράς αλλά θα ήταν καλύτερο να υπήρχε κάποια αυτοσυγκράτηση. Βέβαια αυτό δεν αλλάζει το γεγονός ότι πρόκειται για ένα ιδιαίτερα διασκεδαστικό ανάγνωσμα που σε κάνει να περνάς ευχάριστα την ώρα σου, οπότε αυτό που περίμενα να βρω σε αυτό το δεύτερο μέρος το βρήκα και... συνεχίζω.

[Brecht Denijs · Rating 5 out of 5]

What makes an Eddings novel so great?
Is it his wonderfull fantasyland which we get to explore in great detail? His rich, detailed background history? His engaging story?
Possibly, but for me there is one thing that sticks out: his characters. These people are amazing and just can't get enough of them. The dialogues are amazing, with sarcasm dripping off the pages. I went from laughter to tears and back again. I LOVE this series. It proves that you do not need to switch to 63 different point of views to keep your novel interesting. Eddings remains with the same set of character from start to finish and yet there is never a dull moment! I hated to see it end.
Very highly recommended!

2022 reread: I miss my enthusiastical younger self that read this for the first time. Being older, I'm more critical than I used to be, which isn't as fun. The Mallorean really is one big story spread over 5 novels, King of the Murgos doesn't really have a decent beginning nor a decent ending, if you can find these books in an omnibus, I would advise reading them that way. There are some things that haven't aged too well in these books, some stereotypes I find it hard to look past and I generally don't like predetirmined/fated story lines. Still these books are very entertaining and relaxing. If you look at them as slightly dated escapism, you really can't fault them much. I'm not going to change my star rating because, even if I'm not as enthusiastic as I once was, I still really enjoyed reading this book again and I'm certain it is one I will return to in the future.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laugh-out-loud funny and endearing new characters, like the King of the Murgos himself. Garion has become an increasingly strong ruler, determined and decisive, and the developments in him and the rest of the cast adds to the enjoyment of the book. Don't let anyone tell you that the first series is better; this one is just as good, if not better! More action and excitement and faster pacing, Eddings keeps his readers turning the pages as fast as possible to find out the next part.

[Lel · Rating 3 out of 5]

As much as I love this series overall I felt that in this book not much really happened. The company seem to be just travelling throughout their world in search of Gerion but not getting any closer or much actually happening in the book. There is a few action scenes in the book that make it interesting but I just can't help but feel it was a bit of a time gap filling book.
That being said the characters more than make up for it. I love the budding relationship between Silk and Velvet, hes so clueless bless him.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

The road trip gets a big sloggy in this one (I think it might work better in the earlier books because they are shorter?), but the Urgit stuff is fun and the beginnings of Velvet and Silk's dance is genuinely delightful.

[Matt Braymiller · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is always interesting for me to read through the David Eddings novels I have and see how his focus shifted over the course of sixteen books encompassing the two pentalogies, the Belgariad, and Malloreon, and the Elenium and Tamuli trilogies.

The Belgariad series deals with Garion's coming of age story woven in with a dualist plot that sort of took a back seat to the main story, even though it *was* the main story. In this current series, Garion has come into his own and Eddings was free to focus on his dualism as the main story. As such, this series has a darker overtone than the first. I think that tone led Eddings to write the Elenium trilogy, which was something of a precursor of the current "grimdark" fantasy genre.

But, none of that really matters as I look at this novel. I find the Malloreon books as a whole to be more richly plotted than the first series. I like that Eddings took his time with the pacing and produced such nice long books. As long as they are, I still wish he'd taken the time to more thoroughly develop and show us the other side of the struggle in this story. Our perspective remains firmly on the side of the child of light. The antagonists in this story are thinly drawn and their behavior is reflected in their lack of depth.

Still, Eddings was a master of his craft and produced some of my very favorite fantasy novels. He is also responsible for Durnik of Sendaria, my single favorite literary character ever. So my rating of his work is rather biased.

[Narilka · Rating 4 out of 5]

King of the Murgos is the second book in The Malloreon by David Eddings. The quest is under way! The Prophecy has clearly given everyone their instructions. Garion's task is to track down Zandramas and rescue his son while Belgarath must seek the final meeting place where the choice will be made in the various Mysteries. Guided by the Orb, the party heads south first through the swamps of Nyssa and then on into the lands of the Murgos. The trip is quite perilous as the party must travel through a war zone as well as dodging traps set by the enemy.

This is a slightly slower installment, though due more to all the travel involved rather than the need to set the stage. There are two big highlights in this book for me. The first is when the party finally makes it to Cthol Murgos. I quite enjoyed going through an area of the world not visited before. It adds nicely to the world building and I wish there was more of it. And the Murgo King is such a fun character! The second part is the character banter. Especially between Silk and Liselle. I think it's become an unspoken contest to see which can best eachother's cleverness.

This reread is reminding me how I've missed reading medieval-based fantasy. I read a lot of other sub-genres this year. It feels good to go back to my fantasy reading roots.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nostalgia made this a four star read. It should probably be three star. I love this series so hard from childhood that it becomes very difficult to read it objectively. There are many niggles. This was when I started giving some scenes the side eye - some of the relationships between the men and the women, the power plays and the idea that they were so different from each other. Polgara started to piss me right off, with her holier than thou attitude, and I don't that ever went away again.

In truth, probably a series that shouldn't be read past about sixteen years of age, but still lots to love.

[Mollie Clarke · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is very different to the first one of the series. With a much faster pace this book has some excellent twists and turns in it. This book will make your ideas of certain people change in dramatic ways!

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good. Though, I will admit, it's my love of the characters as much as anything that contributes to my enjoyment of The Malloreon.

[Andreas · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars

[Jonel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Action, adventure, magic, and danger all make their way into this unforgettable addition to Eddings’ series. Phenomenal descriptions and world building combine throughout as I was drawn fully into the plot that wouldn’t let go.

I love the way that this cast of characters grows and changes throughout. Ce’Nedra’s less whiney attitude made her easier to swallow here, yet she does still seem quite childish for a queen. Eddings makes the change in personality easy to understand based on circumstance.

Eddings has done an amazing job with this tale and I definitely can’t wait to see where this series goes from here.

[Hope Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember when I fist read this series, years and years ago, and how much I loved it them. I am glad that that has not changed.
There are some things I wish were done differently, the stereotypical gender roles for one. But this is a product of different time and you have to go with it. Once you get over this, it is a great series.

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally posted on Once Upon a Bookcase.

In King of the Murgos by David Eddings, the second book in the Malloreon, Garion and his friends' quest to find find his abducted son - and the final meeting between the Child of Light and the Child or Dark, as foretold by the prophecies - finally begins. And, oooh, it's still just as exciting as it was the first time I read it!

In the first book, Guardians of the West, we learnt about Harakan, an underling of Urvon, a former disciple of Torak, who had managed to take control of the Bear-cult and scheme to murder Garion's wife Ce'Nedra and kill their son Geran - not abduct, that had Garion and the Alorn armies going after the Bear-cult. In this book, we learn about Naradas, an Angarak with only white for irides. We do not yet know who he is working for, but he has been causing all kinds of trouble in the West, throwing obstacles in Garion and his friends' path. Still, they manage to make it to Cthol Murgos under the guise of slavers, when they are captured by the Dagashi, highly trained Murgo assassins, who have a task for a group of slavers - to go to Rak Hagga by ship, including another person in their party. They end up at the Drojim palace, where they meet the King of Cthol Murgos, Urgit.

I loved this book! I loved meeting Urgit again, and having the group of friends get to know him and help him as a King. Urgit not a bad man, Garion is disappointed to find, but he is a weak King, and is bullied around by his staff. He's nothing like the Murgos the group has ever met in the past, and has no desire to be the King his father, Taur Urgas, was. I just really like him, and, knowing where the story goes from reading the series previously, I enjoyed all the surprises that occurred along the way.

However, there were a number of things that happened in this book that I had completely forgotten about. I knew that the group would meet Urgit, I just couldn't remember how that happened, so being captured by the Dagashi and the events that led to the group meeting Urgit were a surprise, as was pretty much everything that happened after leaving the Drojim palace. I remembered pieces; I knew the group would meet certain people at some point in the story, but I didn't know when - which book - or how. All those details had been lost to me over the years, so it was great to rediscover the story again. It was almost like reading it again for the first time, and I was completely captivated.

I have to say, being a feminist now, I'm noticing the misogyny in Guardians of the West and King of the Murgos than I did in previous reads. But I'm actually really enjoying how it's done. Whenever I read a male character being sexist, I immediately get angry, but as each instance goes on, it's made very clear what Eddings thinks of these characters views, and that character is always made a mockery of.  One example from Guardians of the West; King Rhodar of Drasnia dies, but his son and heir, Prince Kheva, is only six years old. The other Alorn Kings - Garion, Cho-Hag of Algeria, and Anheg of Cherek - must decide what should be done. The obvious choice to Garion and Cho-Hag is for Queen Porenn, Rhodar's wife and Kheva's mother, to act as Queen Regent until Kheva is old enough to rule, not just because of who she is, but because of how capable she is. Anheg has a problem with this, though. A woman can't rule. It's not so much that he thinks Porenn can't do it, but that he's uncomfortable with a woman ruling a country. Eddings manages to make him look such a fool as Garion and Anheg criticise his objections, and it's actually quite an amusing moment. Another example in King of the Murgos is when Polgara has to do something (can't say, spoilers) that she really struggles with. She is unhappy and feels guilty, and hates that it was something she had to do. When talking to Garion, Belgarath criticises her, putting it down to the compassion of women, implying that compassion is a weakness, and men don't bother themselves with compassion. But Garion points out some Belgarath did in the first series with Mordai's Fenlings, where he gave them the power of human speech, something that he wouldn't gain from or give him any advantage in their quest at that time, something he did for Mordai out of compassion. Being reminded makes Belgarath embarrassed, and Garion gently scolds and mocks him for his folly in criticising Polgara. Being a Medieval England based high fantasy, I think the misogyny is actually realistic (though of course, authors could write fantasy without the real life prejudices the time is inspired by), but I love that each instance of misogyny and sexism is shown to be ridiculous. It feels like Eddings is saying, "Look at these stupid men!" and is laughing with us and the characters.

I really enjoyed reading King o the Murgos, and with that ending, I'm really looking forward to where the story goes next in Demon Lord of Karanda!

[Raviteja · Rating 4 out of 5]

★★★★

This gets better; Some good, fun scenes/conversations, some exploration of the rest of the world and overall, a good page turner and a comfortable read.

[David Sarkies · Rating 2 out of 5]

An unnecessary sequel
22 July 2012

It looks as if a few people have noted that this series is pretty much a re-hash of the earlier series, with the same people just different places and a different villain. Okay, the object that was stolen is also different, but other than that it seems that Eddings simply took the script that he used for the Belgariad, made some slight changes, and made it the Mallorean. I gather that here they must get to the 'Place that is No More' which is always interesting because if the place is no more, then how can one get there. Well, I vaguely recall that it may have been some ruins which is why it is no more, but then if it is ruins then it is still there, at least as a corpse.
Somebody made a comment on how slow they seem to go to fulfil a quest that is absolutely urgent. My response is that Eddings did have to full five books of stuff so I guess that is why they seem to plod along. Anyway, that aside, we still need to remember that we are in a fantasy world, and not all fantasy worlds have instant teleportation, even if you have a sorcerer that is centuries old travelling with you. I don't seem to remember any teleportation in the Belgariad.
Travel in medieval realms is something we tend not to really appreciate. Remember, it is really slow. You either travel as fast as a horse (or some creature that may be faster) when you are on land, and when you are on the water you are pretty much at the mercy of the winds. If you are lucky and have a strong wind behind you then you could go quite fast, however as soon as the wind changes, or stops, then you're stuffed. So, let us not get caught up in the plodding across the world criticism because if all you have are horses and sailing ships, then unfortunately, you have no choice but to plod.
As for stopping at every citadel you encounter, well, of course you are, especially if you are trying to find information, because cities are (as you probably know) places where people congregate, and where people congregate information can be found. If they happen to have an adventure in every citadel they enter (they don't by the way) it is probably because there are people trying to stop them from fulfilling their quest, or because they simply have to help. Remember, these guys are heroes, and they are noble heroes at that, meaning that they are generally not going to turn their back on a damsel in distress.
As for mountains, well, I am sorry, even if you do have an airplane, that is no guarantee that you are going to be able to fly over mountains. I remember one episode of Top Gear (I generally don't watch it, but I do remember seeing one) where they were trying to see if it was faster to get from Rome to Paris by car or by plane (turned out the car was faster). Anyway, while the car could drive under the mountains thanks to all the tunnels that had been drilled through them, the poor Cesna simply did not have the power to go that high. As soon as the plane reached the Alps, they had to fly around them because the altitude at which the plane could go was quite limited. Mind you the British Airways plane that I took from London to Greece was powerful enough to get us over the Alps, but that is another story. My point being is that these days mountains can be very hard to get over, so imagine what it was like for people who only had horses (and ropes) to rely upon.

[Stacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Notes from a re-read after a decade away. Has it held up? Very much so, if you ignore Polgara's misandry. But occasionally Polgara's opinions of and treatment of men is really rather painful to read.
The quest begins in Tolnedra, with some things to be accomplished and people added. Then they move to Nyssa, where things are done & people added. Lastly they end up in Cthol Murgos, where more things are done and some things are revealed but no people are added.
Ce'Nedra is often treated as though she is little more than a child, likely the result of her tiny stature & rather whiny attitude, but she is the same age as Garion. Yet they constantly shelter her as if she was younger than Eriond.
Velvet adds some female strength & accomplishment to the group, being a spy & willing to kill if needed, something you don't really see other women doing in the series.
Sadi, the Nyssian eunuch, has always been a favorite of mine & I'm glad to see he's given a larger role in this series.
I also really enjoyed watching Urgit, the King of the Murgos, become a better king thanks to Garion & Silk's influences
Overall still an enjoyable read.

[Mark Austin · Rating 3 out of 5]

With Lord of the Rings under my belt, I was hungry for more of this 'fantasy' thing I'd discovered. Enter the Belgariad. I consumed the two five-book series in a few months, getting in trouble in school for reading when I should have been paying attention (I either didn't care or had already done the homework for whatever it was they were teaching while they were teaching how to do it).

When complete, I read the whole series again in half the time. Then again in half that. The half-lives continued until I read all ten books in slightly over a week then put them down forever as I drifted into the Shannaras.

My copies of the books have long since wandered away; it would be interesting to read them again as currently all that remains in my memory are tiny snippets of demon summoner duels, walk walkers phasing people through stone, a pair of thousand-year old wizards tinkering in the affairs of nations, a feisty love interest, and the usual hapless teenageish boy that somehow ends up the hero of these things.

[Tony Hisgett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m in the process of re-reading the Mallorean series after nearly thirty years and I realise that my tastes have changed over the intervening years.
This was an enjoyable read and I still find it refreshing to read an epic fantasy that concentrates on the story.

However, I think reading numerous more modern ‘Urban Fantasies’ has made me more enamoured of the decisive ‘kickass’ hero/heroine, who doesn’t put up with any nonsense.

Sometimes I didn’t understand what this group were doing. They contained some of the most powerful people in the world yet they allow themselves to be sidetracked, delayed and even captured. The way the author decides whether they are going to resist or just capitulate seems entirely random. Obviously he has a plan, but at times I just find it annoying.

If I was reading this for the first time I would probably give it 3 stars, but I have quite a bit of affection for this series so have given it 4 stars.

[Gav451 · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second in the Mallorean. This book took me longer than I expected to read it as I was reading this at home and then Matters on the train to and from work. They took it in turns to grab my attention and it turned into quite a disjointed way of reading books.

I still have the same quibbles about the second series that I did with the first book. The prophecy trope has worn thin, another end of everything event has arrived and once more we are heading towards it. Relying upon fate, especially fate as a character weakens the narrative a bit because it takes away some of the danger within the book but, and this is a big but….

I really like these characters, I like their company and even if there are aspects of the book that are not quite right my enjoyment of this book is actually increasing as I read through it. There are dark days ahead and there are tough times but being among this group of friends as they wade through it is a joy.

[☆Ruth☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are definitely more flaws in the plot - it's looser and not as well constructed as the Belgariad, but I don't care! I'm enjoying these stories far too much to be bothered about occasional illogical behaviour by the protagonists.
Frankly, I don't know how I'm going to cope when I finish the Malloreon, David Eddings epics have subtly infiltrated my life... a chapter or two with every meal, something to look forward to at the end of a humdrum workday and a few more pages before nodding off at night :)

[Jenni · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was just as good as the first one. I'm really enjoying learning about the other cultures in Eddings' world. I especially like that the people of other cultures don't have to be evil just because the religious aspects of their culture are grotesque.

[Keziah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I forgot how much I enjoy the little reveals in this book.

[Joshua Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This had a far more compelling narrative than book 1, with some good new characters and revelations. Plus a great cliff-hanger ending.

[Kaan Sengurkan · Rating 4 out of 5]

"... Karanlık diye bir şey yoktu! Bu kadar engin ve bu kadar ezici görünen şey ışığın yokluğundan başka bir şey değildi. Işığın Çocuğu bunu aklından çıkarmadığı sürece Karanlığın Çocuğu onu hiçbir zaman yenemezdi."

[Mark Oppenlander · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've continued reading this series, largely out of a sense of duty and a desire for completion, but I've frequently been underwhelmed by Eddings' work. The storytelling has often felt mundane and/or the world-building simply not as deep and rich as other epic fantasies of the same era (e.g. Tad Williams). Thus, King of the Murgos was a pleasant surprise. It is significantly more entertaining than the previous installment and it may be the best in the entire series to date (counting back to the The Belgariad, a total of seven books).

Here we have the troupe of adventurers continuing South in pursuit of the mysterious Zandramas, who presumably has Garion and Ce'Nedra's son in her clutches. Bigger than the kidnapping however it is becoming clear that there will be a new and more final confrontation, foretold by prophecy, between the Child of the Light and the Child of the Dark. This clash will be the ultimate destination of our heroes, and of the series.

The tale remains episodic, with stops in Nyissa and then an encounter with the desert-dwelling Dagashi, followed by a trip to Rak Urga, where the travelers encounter Urgit, the titular King of the Murgos. Urgit may be the best thing to happen to the series in a long while. He's a more nuanced and complicated character than most of the others, many of whom seem to be types at best. His attempts to overcome his worst instincts and be a better king provide some of the most compelling moments in the book. From Rak Urga, there is a sea voyage to an island, a visit with a group of religious zealots and a final chapter that ends on a bit of a cliffhanger.

To be sure, there is some very familiar stuff here too. The band of travelers keeps picking up additional people along the way and there are vague references to the fact that these people are "needed" to fulfill the prophecy. Silk plays the scoundrel, Ce'Nedra freaks out and Polgara and Belgarath bicker; it's like a greatest hits tour from previous installments. But there are also signs of new life: Belgarion shows that he has a dark side and must confront the question of whether his moral compass is fully aligned. Moments such as that give me hope that there will be more interesting and complex material to come in the last several books.

[Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

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David Eddings’ King of the Murgos, the second installment in The Malloreon series, deepens the epic saga that began in The Belgariad, offering a story rich with character development, intricate world-building, and a thoughtful exploration of morality and power. As the quest to recover Garion and Ce’Nedra’s kidnapped son Geran continues, the narrative moves further into unfamiliar and often hostile territories, introducing new cultures, challenges, and revelations that expand the scope and emotional weight of the series.At the center of the novel is the ever-evolving company of heroes. Garion, now a king and father, must wrestle with the terrifying uncertainty of his son's fate, while balancing the responsibilities of leadership and the spiritual burden of prophecy. His development continues in a realistic and emotionally resonant way—no longer the uncertain boy of The Belgariad, but not yet the fully realized figure prophecy demands. Ce’Nedra, meanwhile, is portrayed with greater depth as she grapples with feelings of helplessness and guilt over her son’s abduction. Her passionate, sometimes impulsive nature is tempered by a more vulnerable side that makes her arc especially compelling.The group’s dynamic is one of the great strengths of the novel. Characters like the ancient sorcerer Belgarath, with his gruff wisdom and vast experience, and Polgara, the powerful, poised matriarch with a fierce protective streak, offer both magical prowess and emotional grounding. Their ageless perspective contrasts with the younger characters’ evolving worldviews, particularly Garion’s. Silk, the Drasnian spy and prince, is once again a highlight, bringing dry wit, political insight, and street-level cunning to every situation. His ability to manipulate and observe is vital, not just for strategy, but for keeping the group grounded in a world that is often shifting beneath their feet.Newer additions, such as Sadi, the Nyissan eunuch and poison master, enrich the party with his refined intelligence and pragmatic, morally ambiguous worldview. He represents a different kind of power—one not drawn from physical strength or sorcery, but from knowledge, secrecy, and diplomacy. His interactions with the rest of the party, especially his unflappable demeanor and dark humor, add an intriguing edge to the group dynamic. There is also the enigmatic young girl Liselle, whose presence hints at greater mysteries to come, adding a quiet but potent sense of foreboding.The journey across the eastern lands—especially the empire of Cthol Murgos—adds new depth to the world. Previously portrayed as one-dimensional villains, the Murgos are revealed here as a culture shaped by harsh terrain, rigid hierarchy, and complex religious dogma. Rather than monsters, they are people struggling under a deeply entrenched system of fear and control, and Eddings handles this revelation with care, offering a more nuanced take on good and evil than seen in earlier books. The exploration of Murgo society, its austere cities, its brutal religious practices, and its secret political rifts adds realism and weight to what could have been a purely antagonistic nation.

Other parts of the vast Mallorean continent are also unveiled—landscapes ranging from desolate deserts and fortified mountain passes to bustling cities governed by complex systems of rule and ritual. These regions aren’t merely scenic backdrops but are integral to the unfolding of the plot and the evolution of the characters. Each location challenges the protagonists in different ways—physically, emotionally, politically—and helps underscore the sheer scale and diversity of Eddings’ world.Magic in King of the Murgos is woven seamlessly into the fabric of the story. The central system, known as the Will and the Word, remains elegant and subtle, requiring both intention and understanding rather than incantations or mystical items. Garion’s use of magic is growing, but it is tempered by caution and the knowledge that great power always comes at a cost. Belgarath and Polgara’s command of the craft remains awe-inspiring, but it is never treated as a catch-all solution. What truly stands out, though, is how prophecy continues to drive the deeper metaphysical tension of the story.

The two great destinies—embodied by the Child of Light and the Child of Dark—are more than mythic titles; they are living forces that influence dreams, decisions, and even the flow of time. The sense that the characters are part of something larger than themselves gives the novel an ongoing feeling of destiny in motion.

Eddings’ inclusion of cultural and religious magic among the Angarak peoples adds another dimension. The followers of Torak practice rituals steeped in blood, fear, and control, highlighting the contrast between spiritual tyranny and the freer, more intuitive use of power by the Western sorcerers. But even here, Eddings complicates expectations—some of these beliefs, while foreign and intimidating, are rooted in genuine reverence or survival, not just cruelty.

Technology, while appropriately minimal in this pre-industrial world, is sophisticated in its own right. Communication networks, advanced spycraft, and detailed understanding of poisons and medicinal herbs show a world where intelligence and craft matter as much as magic. Eddings doesn't rely on steampunk anachronism or misplaced science—instead, he grounds the world in believable systems of governance, trade, and warfare. Tactics in battle, the use of fortifications, and the structure of monarchies and religious orders all reflect thoughtful design and realism. Political intrigue is another strong thread in King of the Murgos.

The alliances of the West are more personal than institutional—held together by bonds of friendship, loyalty, and shared history. In contrast, the Angarak alliance is one of fear and control, with factions constantly vying for dominance. The looming threat of civil unrest and religious schism in Murgo society adds urgency to the group’s mission and provides insight into the fragility of power structures built on obedience alone. Throughout the journey, new relationships are formed that cross old divides, suggesting that even in a world torn by war and prophecy, understanding and cooperation are possible.What makes King of the Murgos stand out is how it balances grand scale with personal stakes. The fate of the world may rest on Garion’s shoulders, but his grief and determination to save his son is what truly drives the narrative. The story never loses sight of the characters’ humanity, even as it weaves in elements of myth, magic, and political drama. There’s humour, heartache, reflection, and growth—delivered with Eddings’ characteristic warmth and lightness of touch.In sum, King of the Murgos is more than just a middle chapter in a fantasy saga. It is a rich, satisfying continuation that expands the world, deepens the themes, and raises the emotional stakes for everyone that is involved. With its memorable characters, detailed cultures, restrained yet epically off the scale literally powerful magic, and thoughtful treatment of moral complexity, it offers both adventure and introspection in equal measure. For readers who appreciate epic fantasy that values friendship, courage, and emotional depth as much as world-shaking events, this book is a deeply rewarding experience.

[Murat Kahveci · Rating 5 out of 5]

Serüven 3. kitabı ile devam ediyor. Okuyucunun ilgisini üzerinde tutmayı başaran fantastik ve eğlenceli bir kitap. Karakterlerin güzel ve ayrıntılı işlenmiş olması seriyi ayrıca ilginç kılıyor.