Le Dieu de glace

Raven #3

by Robert Holdstock, Angus Wells, Richard Kirk

Raven, Swordmistress of Chaos, and her companion-mentor, Spellbinder, ride deep into the lost land of Quwhon to challenge their mortal enemy, the evil weaponmaster Karl ir Donwayne

Genres: Fantasy, Sword and Sorcery, Fiction

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1978

About the author

Robert Paul Holdstock was an English novelist and author who is best known for his works of fantasy literature, predominantly in the fantasy subgenre of mythic fiction.

Holdstock's writing was first published in 1968. His science fiction and fantasy works explore philosophical, psychological, anthropological, spiritual, and woodland themes. He has received three BSFA awards and won the World Fantasy Award in the category of Best Novel in 1985.

Pseudonyms are Chris Carlsen, Robert Faulcon,Robert Black, Steven Eisler and Richard Kirk.

Reviews

[Tina · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a bathroom book. Despite reading only small segments at a time over a few months I had no problem remembering what had happened because the plot was pretty simple. The entire book was like a really bad 70s sci-fi movie that tries too hard. If it had been ridiculous or a pastiche of the genre then I would have enjoyed it. Instead, it was serious and, because of that, pretty lame. Raven and Spellbinder were, well, boring. Maybe I missed a lot of their character development because this was actually the third story featuring the "sword mistress of chaos", but still, they were so typecast. The mysterious mage and the hot-tempered warrior woman - what an original pairing! They also talked in a way that tried to suggest that they were medieval, but it came off as pretentious and emotionless. There was also SO MUCH deus ex in the story. One example is when the bird shows up to help them find a hidden entrance to a cave (without it they would have died a pretty hilariously lame death) but there is no explanation for why this bird followed them around. If Raven's name had been "Rhino", would that animal have appeared to help them out?

I wasn't expecting much when I picked up this novel, but I expected a LITTLE more than what I received.

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good female sword slinger book in the "Raven" series.

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

As much as I like S&S and heroic fantasy, I really wanted to like this book. It mostly bored me and put me to sleep when I tried to read it. The villain(s) seem new until you read a little further and discover that they are in fact the very same villains from the first two books. The backstory of the Frozen God is typical with nothing new or novel to add to anything. I have the British edition so the cover is of the Frozen God in all his fiendish hideousness. Finishing the story I was left wondering if the same villains will return in the next two sequels. Lackluster read.

[Little Timmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice fantasy series. Quick easy reads. Recommended