Working God's Mischief

Instrumentalities of the Night #4

by Glen Cook

Arnhand, Castauriga, and Navaya lost their kings. The Grail Empire lost its empress. The Church lost its Patriarch, though he lives on as a fugitive. The Night lost Kharoulke the Windwalker, an emperor amongst the most primal and terrible gods. The Night goes on, in dread. The world goes on, in dread. The ice builds and slides southward.

New kings come. A new empress will rule. Another rump polishes the Patriarchal Throne.

But there is something new under the sun. The oldest and fiercest of the Instrumentalities has been destroyed--by a mortal. There is no new Windwalker, nor will there ever be.

The world, battered by savage change, limps toward its destiny. And the ice is coming.

Working God's Mischief is the savage, astounding new novel of The Instrumentalities of Night, by Glen Cook, a modern master of military fantasy.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Epic Fantasy, Dark Fantasy, War, Science Fiction Fantasy, Alternate History

432 pages, Hardcover

First published March 11, 2014

About the author

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 malicious intent to publish in 1968, eventually producing 51 books and a number of short fiction pieces.
He met his wife of 43 years while attending the Clarion Writer's Workshop in 1970. He has three sons (army officer, architect, orchestral musician) and numerous grandchildren, all of whom but one are female. He is best known for his Black Company series, which has appeared in 20+ languages worldwide. His other series include Dread Empire and and the Garrett, P.I. series. His latest work is Working God’s Mischief, fourth in the Instrumentalities of the Night series.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/glencook

Reviews

[✘✘ Sarah ✘✘ (former Nefarious Breeder of Murderous Crustaceans) · Rating 4 out of 5]

☠ A Seasoned and Nearly Seasoned Glen Cook Mercenaries Buddy Read (SAaNSSGCMBR™) with The Real Evgeny™, Elena the Nearly Seasoned One and My Dearest Wife Choko ☠

Previous rating #1: 3 revoltingly pathetic stars.
Previous rating #2: 3.568975212896488623 pathetically revolting stars.
New temporary rating: 4 stars. And a quarter.

So. As I may or may not have perhaps mentioned previously in one of my previous pre-reviews, I wasn’t experiencing the most warmhearted feelings towards My Dearly Beloved Mr Cook (MDBMC™) when I finished reading this book. Not that I felt angry or anything. No, it wasn’t exactly that. Let’s just say I wasn’t entirely satisfied with the way this series ends.



Told you I wasn’t angry.



Nope, not angry at all.

Well it turns out this was just another case of She Who Leads Murderous Crustaceans Proves Yet Again That She Can Be As Dense As A Herd of Supremely Apathetic Barnacles (SWLMCPYATSCBADAAHOSAB™). Which is as rare an occurrence as crayfish whistling on top of a mountain. Of course it is. Right. Moving on and stuff.

As I may or may not have perhaps mentioned previously in one of my previous fascinating pre-reviews, the reason I was ever so slightly pissed off after reading this book is that I felt absolutely nothing was resolved at the end of this instalment, when it was supposed to be the final one in the series. Ha! Well it turns out it wasn’t! The last instalment in this series, I mean! Okay, so technically it is, because really it isn’t, since it was never meant to be! I bet that makes a lot of sense and stuff! Yay!

Long story short I may or may not have perhaps mentioned this previously in one of my previous pre-reviews : the #$@&!!%* lovely publishers lost interest in the series, meaning Cook never got a chance to finish it. Ergo I’m not angry at him anymore. I’m just harbouring somewhat homicidal thoughts towards the #$@&!!%* lovely publishers, that is all.



Anyway, there isn’t much I can say about this particular instalment because spoiler spoiler spoiler and stuff, but since I’m so nice and kind and friendly and stuff, I’ll give you a few Reasons Why You Should Read This Series Even Though Argh Argh Argh It Is Not Finished Shrimp You You Heartless Publishers You (RWYSRTSETAAAIINFSYYHP™):

• Glen Cook wrote it DUH.
• The Crusades meet Fantasy = YAY.
• Extreme double octuple crossing, duodecuple backstabbing, political shenanigans, villainous tricks and Machiavellian schemes galore.
• Wickedly mischievous gods (or is it mischievously wicked gods? I forget) and monsters and demon girls and dwarves and bloodthirsty avenging spirits and awesome kids and spoiler spoiler spoiler and super cool ascendants who sometimes swim with salmons (don’t ask) and relics and doubles valves and petcocks and serial butt-grabbers (don’t ask either).
• Dark stuff + gritty stuff = yummy stuff.
• Hahahahaha dialogues and situations and, um, you know, stuff.
• My boyfriend Else Tage the tredecuple⁶ agent. He might act like an exasperating, immature, ungrateful, nitwitted brat sometimes, but he is still super hot. And he is still super MINE.
• Slightly amazing female characters. Pretty sure they’d end up ruling the this world if Cook wrote another instalment in this series. And that some of the puny male characters in it would get the Super Cute Kitty Treatment (SCKT™) as a result:



I mean, that’s what usually happens when there is a whole bunch of fierce fearless, homicidal kick-ass, batshit crazy determined superwomen at hand, isn’t it? Not in you world, you say? How terribly sad for you indeed.
• Think the Brady Bunch is the coolest family ever? Wait till you meet Double Great, Auntie H. and the rest of the Slightly Stupendous Posse (SSS™, aka S³).
• If you read this series, you will learn how sausages get made. I kid you not. You will also meet Pig Iron, the bravest donkey mercenary that ever was and ever will be. Now if that alone isn’t incentive enough to read this series, I really don’t know what might be.
• I said so. Which is the only reason you need, obviously.

➽ And the moral of this It’s Official Glen Cook Brings Out the Pathetically Braindead Crappy Non Reviewer in Me Crappy Non Review (IOGCBOtPBCNRiMCNR™) is: I could threaten the #$@&!!%* lovely publishers with severe pincer-induced bodily harm until they decide this series is worth their money time, but I won’t. Because I’m not like that. No I’m not.



P.S. “The mythic process got fucked.” Just so you know. You are quite welcome.

• Book 1: The Tyranny of the Night ★★★★★
• Book 2: Lord of the Silent Kingdom ★★★★★
• Book 3: Surrender to the Will of the Night ★★★



[Fascinating pre-review update]

I have just been informed that the BLOODY SHRIMPING ever-so-slightly disappointing ending of this book is not to be blamed on my beloved Mr Cook (who is perfect in every way and can do no wrong, as we all know. Well except maybe perhaps when it comes to spikes that are made of silver and stuff). It just so happens that the #$@&!!%* lovely publishers lost interest in the series, you see. Which explains why it feels like Glen Cook (is a God) totally kinda sorta left things hanging at the end of this instalment. I mean, he would never deliberately pull such an excruciatingly painful Inconclusive Ending Thingie (IET™) on his nefarious worshipers. (Because is perfect in every way and can do no wrong and all that crap.) I have therefore decided to most graciously forgive this involuntary failure on his part, and most generously upgrade my rating of this book. Ergo:

• Previous rating: 3 revoltingly pathetic stars.
• New temporary rating: 3.568975212896488623 stars. And a half.

I shall return with a Full Crappy Non Review extra pronto. In 2068 or something.



I knew I could count on your patience, my Little Barnacles.



[August 18, 2018]

Glen Cook, we need to talk.

WHAT THE BLOODY SHRIMPING KIND OF A STINKING FISH OF AN ENDING IS THIS?!



In this gif: Glen Cook on the right, my nefarious little self on the left. Just so you know.

Full I'm Ever So Slightly Pissed Off Right Now But This Too Shall Not Pass Crappy Review (IESSPORNBTTSNPCNR™) to come.

[Choko · Rating 5 out of 5]

*** 4.75 ***

I love this series! I adore this author! I really enjoyed this book... BUT, IT COULDN'T BE THE LAST BOOK IN THE SERIES! This is not an end, when we have only one issue resolved and all the rest is just hanging! We need more, Mr. Cook, much, much more! And I know you know how to finish a series in a satisfying manner - one of the all time greatest finishes of a series is that of the Black Company! So, I am just going to presume that you have been taking a longish break from writing this series and at any moment you will surprise us with a final book giving us a real ending! Don't let us hanging, Mr. Cook! We are not giving up on you!

[Eilonwy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sigh. I really enjoyed this fourth installment in The Instrumentalities of the Night series, but apparently there are no more books following this one, and may never be. So that is a terrific disappointment. Still, the four books that exist are interesting, ambitious, and definitely worth reading, so maybe I can just accept that this story may forever be left dangling.

[William Gerke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unfortunately, I can no longer give an unbiased review of Glen Cook's work. Quite simply put, there is nothing out there that scratches this itch. I've heard people recommend Steven Erikson or Joe Abercrombie (both excellent writers whose work I enjoy), but there are fundamental stylistic differences that make Cook stand out alone.

"Working God's Mischief" fits right in with the rest of the "Instrumentalities of Night" books. All the usual players are there. It moves fast. Empires rise and fall. Gods and monsters do battle. Sometimes magnificent, sometimes a bit uneven. Cook turns his characters' lives inside out, turns them into forces of nature, and turns them into corpses. This he shares with Erikson. But he moves faster, treads lighter (none of Erikson's long philosophical musings). He shows us the toughest, grittiest, greediest, and most down to earth characters. This he shares with Abercrombie. But, again, Cook moves faster. spans wider, and actually gives us a few decent sorts and redemptive moments (unlike Abercrombie who is unforgiving to all but a few characters).

Even Cook's minor characters get moments of self awareness (even as they backslide) and the level of realism is unparalleled. Some may argue that last point, but one of the things I enjoy about Cook is how his books feel like life. Characters make plans, execute, and then, instead of being foiled, the situation changes. Their plans become irrelevant, foolish, contribute to other things but on longer achieve their goals. Even major characters and major powers have this problem. And it feels like life, not narrative. Like the Rebels stealing the Death Star plans only to find out the Emperor ran out of funding and the Death Star is an abandoned, half-built hulk and the Emperor is busy fighting a rearguard action against an invading species of aliens from beyond the rim of the galaxy. What do the Rebels do now? The direction they (and the narrative had) is no longer valid.

No one else does this (except perhaps M. John Harrison, but that's an entirely different milieu). Its why, despite the odd uneven passage and the sometimes abrupt pacing, I keep coming back to this well. And will until the terrible day that it runs dry.

[astaliegurec · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is what I'd like to say to Glen Cook after I finished reading "Working God's Mischief:"

"Yo. Glen. Any time you want to give us a clue on where you intend to go with your "Instrumentalities of the Night" series, go right ahead."

So, as you can see, a point I brought up in my review of the previous book in the series still goes unanswered and actually gets more pronounced: there doesn't seem to be any direction to things. Where is all of this going? World Domination? World Peace? The End of the Night? Ascension for Piper Hecht? I have no idea. The first book in the series started out with a stated goal. But, that went by the wayside long ago and nothing has replaced it. The series has turned into nothing but The Continuing Tales of Piper Hecht. And that's part of the rating quandary I keep running into with this series: on the positive side, a pretty good set of tales in a well-researched world. On the negative side, the same old re-hashing of medieval Europe with far too many made up place and character names (with Piper having yet another new set of titles he goes by) and a continuing lack of perceived direction. Unfortunately, there's a new issue with this book: it just stops. It was bad enough when the previous book finished up in a cliff-hanger. But, this book, after picking up from there, just goes from event to event until (it seems) Cook ran out of gumption. As I said, it just stops. The characters finish up a recurring evil, but leave the major theme of the book just sitting there. It's not even a cliff-hanger. IT JUST STOPS. So, I'm dropping the book a notch down to merely an OK 3 stars out of 5 and am seriously considering whether or not I'll read anything else in the series.

The books in Glen Cooks "Instrumentalities of the Night" series are:

1. The Tyranny of the Night: Book One of the Instrumentalities of the Night
2. Lord of the Silent Kingdom (Instrumentalities of the Night)
3. Surrender to the Will of the Night (Instrumentalities of the Night)
4. Working God's Mischief (Instrumentalities of the Night)

[Pavlo Tverdokhlib · Rating 4 out of 5]

A portion of the not-Norse pantheon is unleashed onto the not-Europe of Cook's world. Piper Hecht, the mameluke-turned-mercenary captain of the HRE's Army of the Righteous finds his crush, the Empress' sister Helspeth ascending the throne and eager to reciprocate his feelings- and finally let him get on with business of conquering the Holy Lands- something he was initially sent from not-Egypt to not-Rome to prevent... Meanwhile, in the not-Provence, one of the not-Norse Instrumentalities starts playing her own game with the murderous women Kedle and countess Socia, with the not-Cathar Perfect Fathr Candle stuck in the middle....

"Working God's Mischief" continues Cook's series with an amazing pseudo-historical setting. Plots develop, characters' fates converge, and a whole lot of stuff happens. Unfortunately, as this was the last novel written and no word whether Cook will ever finish the series, it leaves a sad aftertaste. There's no real cliffhanger this time around- but it kind of feels like one, anyways. This happens because a major plot development happens to Piper- one he fails to notice, but everyone around him does- and so does the reader. Although Cook never outright states what happened, he continually barrages Piper (and the reader) with hints, and at a point the amusement from Piper's ignorance becomes annoyance. The ending sort of hints at Piper possibly soon realizing what's going on-and as the reader expects major things to happen once he does, it creates a kind of anticipation that can be compared to a cliffhanger without being one. And that's pretty annoying.

Aside from that, the series staples are here: very solid pacing, fun characters, and an amazing setting.

Everyone needs to buy this book so that we can get a sequel.

[Redsteve · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't entirely satisfied with the ending of this series. The finale of WORKING GOD'S MISCHIEF wrapped up ridiculously fast, leaving (to my mind) a lot of unresolved issues - making it feel like Cook either rushed (or had to rush) the ending, or that he planned a 5th book, which never materialized (since this book came out almost 10 years ago, it's pretty safe to say that there won't be any further installments). Oops. I just checked and apparently it WASN'T supposed to be the final book, but the publishers lost interest and Book #5 never materialized. I enjoyed it, but the "alternate history" parts have deviated pretty far from their beginnings at the start of the series, and the fantasy parts are much, much more prominent. I'll give this a solid 3 stars, but am still somewhat disappointed.

[Fantasy Literature · Rating 2 out of 5]

Working God’s Mischief is Glen Cook’s fourth installment in his THE INSTRUMENTALITIES OF THE NIGHTseries. I had a mostly positive response to the opening novel, though it had its issues, but my pleasure waned somewhat through books two and three, leaving me to say at the end of my review of Surrender to the Will of Night that “the ratio between frustration and reward” was nearing the danger zone. Unfortunately, Working God’s Mischief did little to reverse that trend and in fact, for the first time in the series, I seriously considered giving it up. I persevered, but I’m not all that sure I’m happy I did so.

My irritation with the novel began off the bat. Perhaps it’s my readerly dotage, but I’m growing less and less patient with long-running series whose new installment don’t come with at least a little bit of a recap. For god’s sake, weekly ... Read More: http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...

[G.S. Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the series. Great characters and character development, while most of the action happens "off screen."
But, if this is indeed the last book, I am highly disappointed with so many things left hanging in the end.

[Ryan St george · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting series! Looking forward to book five.

[Malquiviades · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok, finally. And end of the story... more or less.

I have to admit that it has taken a good deal of time to finish this book. It might be due to the fact that it took me nine years to continue the story after "Surrender to the Will of the Night". Therefore, most of the details and wish to know about "what will happen next" have evaporated. And with them any love I had had for any of the characters or for the story itself. The distorted overlap with the middle age Europe (and Middle East) comes now as annoying, because even if you try to ignore it, the need to identify any land, country, people... keeps on gnawing your subconscious and eats away most of the fun.

So, in the end I just ploughed through it just because I want it to finish. And after reading about 400 pages I realized that the story most likely will NOT finish in the real sense of "to bring to an end". Incredible.

It is not a bad novel, but...

Interestingly, nothing of the kind happened to me with the Black Company series, which I started rereading after an even longer period and found it very thrilling again.

[Gil Brenum · Rating 2 out of 5]

Like the three versions that preceded it, Working God's Mischief suffers from far too much exposition. For a series based upon vast wars, sorcery, gods (both old and new), demons, and all manner of things that go bump in the Night, much of the book is spent with characters sitting around and talking about what the action would be like.

Add to that the fact that the book ends in "To Be Continued" fashion with no forthcoming book produced since it's 2014 publication and none on the horizon this was by far a less than satisfying experience. A good editor could have pared the 4 volumes of the Instrumentalities of the Night down to at best a trilogy.

Ultimately, the Instrumentalities of the Night ended up be more appropriately billed the Verbosity of the Night.

[No one of consequence One · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ugh this book could have been an amazing finish to an awesome book series. Instead it feels like Glen Cook got tired of the story and did his best to give it a quick ending. Leaving so many stories left unfinished. Lots of loose ends. Characters that have been key to the whole story essentially vanish without any real impact. The ending is confusing and unsatisfying. What could have been an epic tale with a fantastic finish. Instead ends with a whimper and a disappointment when compared to the first three books in the series. I really really wanted it to end well. Because I loved the first three books. But sadly Cook just leaves too much left unfinished to call this a good ending. It feels like their should be a fifth book honestly.

[Michael Richards · Rating 5 out of 5]

A whole -challenging- world awaits

Political allegory at its best. The Black Company Saga was one of the all-time best -adult, intelligent-Fantasy series ever. Cook does not disappoint.

[Matthew · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF

[Sachi Sachin.G.R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good novel, though I was expecting one or two chapters extra to close it properly

[Johny · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was good, but still with cliffhanger and apparently it's the last book, but the story isn't finished at all

[Robert Cochran · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty disappointing after how solidly built up the previous three books were.

[Zeak · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish there were more books in the series but I look forward to re-reading the books again and again. Top notch 👌

[Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great series which, apparently, may never be finished. The fact that there are only a handful of reviews on here basically tells us why. For some reason, this series never really caught on and developed a following. I honestly enjoyed it more than any of his other stuff, including the Black Company. I'd love to know what Cook had in mind for these characters. I mean seriously, what possibly could have come next? Unresolved questions for me: What the heck was going on with Else/Piper? I feel others have some idea but I'm just lost. The lost shadow, the missing hand, the odd relationship with Hourli, the reaction to Kedle, the trips through the Construct, the mood swings and personality changes, the glimpses of godhood. Is he becoming an instrumentality, has he been taken over by one, has Asgrimmer taken him over in some way? How? Why? And where is it going?

What the role of Brother Candle? I thoroughly enjoyed this character through 4 books, but have yet to see his true purpose in all of this. Why was he brought to the holy lands? I feel like he was destined to be at the heart of wherever this was all going.

Pinkus. So he's also touched by an instrumentality of some sort? Never interested in women, but suddenly all over Kedle. Seriously alcoholic at this point.

The Shining Ones. Ok, so they need worshippers. What's their plan? Is this shaping up to be a war versus the resurgent Shining Ones?

Helspeth. So she'll have the baby, but definitely going to go crazy if left alone for 9 months. And with Piper being tempted right and left. And what of the baby? Part instrumentality? Again, what's going on with Piper?

Big picture. The war seems over. The big bad got his. Imdala is on his last legs. Nothing left in Dreanger. Even Tsistimed got battered. Karma requires that Piper and friends are due for a let down, after literally everything going their way for so long. Does this evolve into a war of the gods, and what does that mean for the world?

Will we ever get answers? Seems unlikely, but I guess there's always hope. Cook obviously put a lot of time and effort into this, and there must be some personal incentive to tie it all up, right?

[Shawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Glen Cook doing what he does best: Dark Fantasy with complicated characters. But with more humor than most of the GrimDarkers who call themselves his successors. This is book FOUR. And it most certainly is a series. Which means if you haven't started The Instrumentalities of the Night from Book 1: Tyranny of the Night, you really, REALLY, need to.

For those not familiar with the series, here it goes: Imagine an early Renaissance Mediterranean world with sorcery, the contest of pagan gods and monotheistic religions, Crusades, and 500 years of European history crushed into a single lifetime. Got it? The lead character is a former Sha-Lug named Else Tag (think Janissary), exiled for being too successful, to serve as a spy in the western world, now named Piper Hecht. He does something unusual along the way: He eschews any idea of politically attached feudal armies, and constructs a fully professional fighting model that refuses to fight by any rules but getting the job done.

But this point in the series, that has made him a *very* dangerous man. Without spoilering, it's sufficient to say that in this book, the long promised Crusade kicks off. The relationship with the Grail Empire (and its Empress) continues to strain that with Anna at home. The Night continues to use and be used by Piper, to ends that are not yet fully clear. Nothing is completed, though some things are consummated. And that perhaps is my one point of frustration. In the end, I'm not sure if this book is anything more than "How Piper gets to the Holy Land." Did it need a whole book to do that? Meh. Not sure. Still a very good read. But I'm hoping the next book begins to tie things up in the series. The waits between them are too long for them not to.

[Bard Bloom · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ow, ow, ow. Glen Cook is generally one of my favorite authors, but he has a characteristic flaw. In most of a series he develops a strong military character, and in the last book he kind of drops him into a mess of personality issues, crappy romances, and pissing off all his friends. That's this book. The rest of the Instrumentalities series was quite good, but this one was about the worst quality-per-word ratio that I've read in any Glen Cook book.

Spoilers: Piper acquires a gaggle of outright gods and modernized near-gods as his loyal assistants. He uses them fairly effectively. This is a militarily useful thing, but it really, really doesn't help the book. Also Piper has quite blatantly gotten merged with Zyr (≈ the Norse god Tyr), but nobody notices and says anything. And other plot threads come to near-conclusions, but the conclusions are dulldulldull.

(Unlike the previous book in the series, where Heris – a woman whose top-rated skill was initially "making coffee" — takes out the Big Bad God That All The Other Gods Are Scared Of all by herself, and then destroys him while the rest of the protagonists are off fussing with something far less important. That's Glen Cook at his best.)

[Renee · Rating 1 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via a Goodreads Giveaway.

It should be noted right off the bat that I read this book without reading the first three in the hopes that it would either a) provide a brief summary of what has happened or b) intrigue me enough to cause me to want to read the others. I am disappointed to say that it did neither.

I found it hard to identify with any of the characters. The novel was very much plot driven rather than character driven with the majority of the characters being one-dimensional. There were a lot of characters, places, and objects which were not explained and which I can only presume to have originated in the previous books. An index of sorts would have been helpful. I also found the writing style to be irritating with short and simplistic sentences throughout, including the dialogue between characters. This made the story unrealistic and tedious to read.

Exmaple:

Hecht summoned his staff. "What's happened?"
De Bos Asked, "What brings that on?"
"I suddenly felt like something big was shaking."
"We haven't heard of anything." Suspiciously intent.

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been so long since I've read the previous books, I'm stuck re-reading them to get to this latest addition. Having read The Black Company so many years ago I haven't preconceived expectations as to what I want from Cook. It's hard to top his best seller but I love his writing style and his grasp of warfare and the battle humor of soldiers.
It's obvious from the ending there will be more books to this world. At first it seems like a rip-off of current affairs in the real world until Cook's acerbic humor starts in on his obvious dislike of religions in general and especially the bloodshed ensured by Believers. By this fourth book the "Instrumentalities of the Night" are more active and fine examples of old gods who have lost their followers. Much more magic, mayhem and deception arises by their goals of regaining power (which comes from the faith of believers; a common concept.) Cook also addresses the way religions in current favor turn the gods of older religions into their devils. Adding depth is a protagonist who is constantly conflicted by his own religious concepts.

[Charty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Glad Tor picked this series up - the third book left you with quite a cliff-hanger and it would have sucked to not have known what happened. That being said, this book plunges you right into the story where book 3 left off without any helpful back story for new readers, or anyone who read the last book some 3-4 years ago. Once I got back into it, at least I remembered enough of the main cast of characters to keep running with the story. He inter cuts to other story lines with other characters and perspectives I didn't care about as much (and hence remember little of) so I sort of skimmed those. All in all, vintage Cook. If you've never read him before I'd suggest starting with the first book otherwise you'll be hopelessly lost If you've been a fan of his current series you should enjoy the ride. I'll be waiting patiently for the next installment.

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally finished Working God's Mischief. It picks up right after the cliff-hanger of the last book, then meanders all over the map with Piper Hecht sleeping through part of the book. I wonder when a character will realize that Piper keeps switching personalities because the god in the egg he was carrying out of the Realm of Gods slipped into him during a transition. But he is having success in carrying out his mission of conquering the Holy Lands because of The Shining Ones he enlisted. Part of the problem with the series is the sheer number of viewpoint characters Cook is using; which is also part of the richness of the series since we see events through different lenses at different time scales. I am still enjoying the series, so will look forward to the next book.

[Viktor Davion · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is fourth book in Instrumentalities of the Night cycle. Honestly I hoped this will be the last one in the series. I hoped the third one will be last one. But it's not, sometimes I think Cook just doesn't know where to stop. A lot of his books (which are part of series) are ended abruptly (like books in Darkwar series). But this is probably only thing I don't like in this book. It is all good and well-rounded: story is captivating (and well connected to previous events), characters are well fleshed out. There were no serious addition to the world though (except for new mythology lore). And story ended abruptly, so there definitely should be one more book in the series.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was such a weird book. There was no conflict. At all. Piper Hect's journey in this book was like watching a Civilization match with godmode enabled. Literally. He was unchallenged constantly. All of the 'good guys' had everything they needed in order to accomplish their goals. It was tremendously boring. Piper himself became incredibly unlikable, and while I think that was the point (he lost his shadow, etc), it grew irritating because his POV was, as usual, the only good one.

The ending was great, but knowing that the series will likely never be finished due to these books not selling well is tough. Hopefully the next Black Company books come soon!

[Andre · Rating 3 out of 5]

Back to the mythical middle-age version of earth with Cooks, the gods and godslayers. It's been a while since I read the last one and I never got excited to get back into it. The writing was fine and things are progressing but I found that I was left hanging at the end of it (felt as if the major point was unresolved and half the characters were off-stage). I'll keep reading but, as a separate in time read from the other ones, a slight let-down from my expectations.

[Troy Lefman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started expecting another book in the series with about 100 pages to go. Quite a few loose ends tied up here.

Next title choices:
A Journey Into Twilight
Darkness Always Comes

I'm voting for the second one.

Good read.

What happens when you mix multiple mythologies with the Crusades while adding magic, intrigue, military warfare, etc.