A Dance of Cloaks (Shadowdance, #1) in Sword & Sorcery: "An earthier sort of fantasy"

Aug 29, 2014 Greg (adds 2 TBR list daily) Hersom rated it liked it · review of another edition

Despite this book being personally recommended to me I was on the fence about starting it for a long time before I gave it a go. Recent experiences have left me skeptical of self-published or Indee authors especially when they’ve generated mass amounts of 5 star reviews. But I'm happy to have had Mr. Dalglish bring me around.

I was half expecting something like Brent Weeks' Night Angle -which I'm not a fan of. Admittedly, A Dance of Cloaks is similar story to Weeks' Way of Shadows but the writin ...more

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Oct 28, 2013 Jack rated it liked it

Shelves: recent-reads

I Really wanted to enjoy this novel, The arrangement with the thieve's and ruling class is an on-going battle that has the potential for a great read but with so many other novels somehow fall's short ... I cannot explain why though'
I feel like I went through a battle just reading this book, the writing is fine, characters are brought in, some you care enough about when "something happens" to them, but on the whole it just missed the mark. I would give more attention if this was written to be I Really wanted to enjoy this novel, The arrangement with the thieve's and ruling class is an on-going battle that has the potential for a great read but with so many other novels somehow fall's short ... I cannot explain why though'
I feel like I went through a battle just reading this book, the writing is fine, characters are brought in, some you care enough about when "something happens" to them, but on the whole it just missed the mark. I would give more attention if this was written to be a trilogy (which it turns out it is) but the book reads as a stand alone novel and where it should have fast paced action it drags a bit and leaves huge plot holes in the main story ... I think is about the son of the top thieves guild, but again there was not enough on his growth to really let you know nor' the people helping in his "change" to who is is to become.
If this novel had "the son" carry this book it would have been a much better read instead of using him as a pawn moved about with supporting character's.
There are some very interesting people of power in this book, Another major mistake I feel is the deletion of some of these "people" There are priest's of God's with real power, confusing in a sense that from this same source are which I really enjoyed and thought the book would be revolving around was the "cloak dancers" I was left with no real understanding of these very few but very interesting character's could have been the main focus, but no I was wrong again as they all but leave the story, And without any real depth (sad) pretty interesting assassin type'
I am just wandering around trying to write a review on a book that I find myself finished reading but with nothing really to say, I felt this way through entire novel.
I have not read any reviews on his follow-up novels and I think he has some great material to work with quite possibly be a great read, but I will not be reading them right away.
hrmmm for not knowing what to say I sure wrote a bunch of nonsense!
I think I am disappointed as this had such potential, I want to stress once more I would think his next few novels in this series will be a good read, this first was just not for me. ...more

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