For those readers interested at a potential glimpse of the content of the Avengers (Assembled) sequel this is your choice of graphic novel. InfinityFor those readers interested at a potential glimpse of the content of the Avengers (Assembled) sequel this is your choice of graphic novel. Infinity Gauntlet focuses on the proposed villain for this future movie, a villain known for meddling with the power of the Tesseract (or Cosmic Cube), and who runs by the name of Thanos. For the most part this graphic novel keeps a nice balance between message, story and visual elements, that is when the story doesn't become cosmically imbalanced by the battle between the various powerful entities.
The Marvel Universe, during its formative era, created a mixture of various entities to represent the different immortal concepts of the world. For instance Love, Hate, Eternity, Time, Death etc. The story in this particular collected tale focuses on these entities, particularly Death, and looks at how even the all-powerful Marvel heroes are powerless compared to the might of the gods. It is only the weakness of those gods which prevent the heroes from being completely destroyed.
The plot of the tale focuses around a resurrected Thanos, brought back by the feminine incarnation of Death. Thanos (whose name hints at Thanatos - the Greek personification of death) has a romantic desire towards Mistress Death and (before the story begins) has set out to perform her desire of destroying half the known universe, thus balancing the amount of dead beings with the amount of living beings. Yet to accomplish this deed Thanos persuades Death that he needs the all powerful Infinity Gauntlet, a device to make the wearer the most powerful being in existence. Of course, once he has this device, Thanos decides to use it for less noble purposes. Which causes Death to spurn him and leads to Thanos attempting various feats to win her favour. It is the abuse of power by Thanos that creates the battle filled storyline and leads to an interesting resolution.
The simple, yet more subtle message, in this volume is that of ordered control versus random control of power. At the end of the story the heroes seem to fear who is in control of the Infinity Gauntlet. Yet as Adam Warlock points out, "You fear a cosmic despot? Surely you must realise that even before Thanos you lived under such tyranny." Yet, when such tyranny seems to become reasoning and calculating, even if benign, fear exists because an intelligence is in command of such power. All of which prompts interesting questions.
An entertaining tale and one worth reading if you follow the Marvel Universe at all. Also recommended if, as mentioned, you are looking to gain insight into the ideas that may show up in the next anticipated Avengers movie....more
I rather enjoyed Lirael. It was a fine continuation of the story begun in Sabriel with the introduction of new characters and the3.5 Stars
I rather enjoyed Lirael. It was a fine continuation of the story begun in Sabriel with the introduction of new characters and the re-introduction of old characters such as the Abhorsen and the Prince. You cannot exactly consider this book a normal continuation of the storyline. Where Sabriel is on its own one book and one plot this story is set afterwards along a different plot yet with some ideas drawn from the original book. That said it was still readable on its own.
Lirael is the story of a daughter of the Clayr, Lirael, and her journey to understand why it is that she does not belong among the Clayr. Unlike the others she is extremely late in developing the desired Sight. To ignore this she becomes a librarian in a magical library where old Free Magic objects exist alongside Charter Magic. It is also the story of the young prince Sam as he struggles to live up to his destiny to become the next Abhorsen.
It was a fun story let down by the fact that it ends in a cliffhanger and the fact that I have no time to go reading Abhorsen at this moment. That said it was a clever tactic to make people read on even if it was frustrating. Unlike Sabriel it is clear that Lirael and Abhorsen directly tie into one another with events taking place in Abhorsen just after the conclusion of Lirael. Hopefully the conclusion ties up information about the Charter and the Charter stones. Still if you read Sabriel this is a worthwhile sequel and I do recommend it. I'm just warning you in advance about the cliffhanger ending. Also if you have not read Sabriel I fully recommend that you do....more
A novel centered around a 21 centuries old druid named Atticus (an assumed name) O'Sullivan living in our modern world. So, like Percy Jackson enterA novel centered around a 21 centuries old druid named Atticus (an assumed name) O'Sullivan living in our modern world. So, like Percy Jackson enter an army of gods and monsters attempting to destroy his normal life. Including a few witches, goddesses, demons, werewolves and vampires the majority of which attempt to steal some magical sword from Atticus. One which fans of Jim Butcher or Rick Riordan would enjoy!...more
I love this book. Have I mentioned before how much I love Tolkien's books? They are part of my childhood and my memories are incredibly fond of them I love this book. Have I mentioned before how much I love Tolkien's books? They are part of my childhood and my memories are incredibly fond of them (yes I'm a nostalgic type of person alright). The Hobbit in many ways is of all my books part of my childhood. I was certainly the first time that I entered Tolkien's world when I first read it ten years ago. So I decided to re-read this for the fifth time ever as part of a fantasy challenge and to re-familiarise myself with a story I know by heart. And what I found surprised me.
Even though I know this story so very well I was surprised to find hidden depth again. For one thing I saw Tolkien's wit shine through with some quotes. For instance in the following dialogue:
Gandalf: "Indeed for your old grandfather Took's sake, and for the sake of poor Belladonna, I will give you what you asked for."
Bilbo: "I beg your pardon, I haven't asked for anything!"
Gandalf: "Yes, you have! Twice now. My pardon. I give it you. In fact I will go so far as to send you on this adventure. Very amusing for me, very good for you and profitable too, very likely, if you ever get over it."
And that's one example out of many I noted this time around. Another thing I couldn't help but do was to compare what I read with this:
I noted of course that the trailer shows a tone that hints at closer to the darkness of The Lord of the Rings and must suspect that the suggested references to Moria and the Necromancer in The Hobbit will play a larger role in the film. After all the Necromancer is Sauron. But there we go in conclusion there is an amazing film due out at the end of the year and this tale retains all of its potency and loses none of its vibrancy. If you haven't read it then 'fly you fools' to a bookshop or library and get a copy.
Appendix - again this is one of those things that's added as an afterthought and turns what I write into a second edition even though nothing's really that different.
1.
There's a new trailer out so I thought I'd link to that in my review. I personally am anticipating this film eagerly. I want to see a different view of this book on the screen, one that's (hopefully as good or better) what Peter Jackson did with 'Rings', staying to the story and yet making it into something I can look at and go: I'd never considered that in the book! (Also I can actually watch this at cinemas as I missed out on the Lord of the Rings phenomenon as a 7, 8 and 9 year old child...)
As for a further update I finally saw The Hobbit Part 1. I loved it and am actually surprised at the criticism being levelled against it. The 3D 48fps, while it took a few minutes to get used to, provided some of the best use of 3D in a film that I've seen without being forced. I'm very happy with what I got in the adaptation of my favoured childhood book.
I loved the casting. Of course as soon as I heard that Martin Freeman was going to be Bilbo I thought: brilliant choice. I thought the choice of actor for Thorin was great. A lot of people are saying he's different from in the book but I see a lot of the book character's traits in the film characterisation. Speaking of the book compared to the film I didn't think that they messed up the plot too much at all. The additions they made, in my view, fleshed it out with little details from the Lord of the Rings nicely (in fact almost everything in the film is consistent with the internal logic of Tolkien's world and these films - they messed with things a little less than with The Lord of the Rings films anyway). The pacing was great and in fact I thought it had a better overall pace than some of The Lord of the Rings films. It's still a Hobbit film to me, it's just also a Middle Earth film too... I guess probably the major change is in tone, but we all knew that the tone would be a mixture of comic relief and the dark seriousness of The Lord of the Rings. The film also made a smart move in adding Galadriel to provide a female character in a male dominated cast.
3.
Three weeks ago I did see the second part of The Hobbit 'trilogy'. There were changes I liked, some I found a touch odd and yet on the whole it was a film that was much, much better than the first. It basically is just a decent action film, and considering that the book is an adventure and action book it works. The addition of love interest may not add much to the plot, but it does add a female character (sorely lacking in an active role in the books) and a hint of romance which all good epics need. Also: Smaug, the spiders and the barrel riding scene are some of the finest scenes I have seen this year! In other words, these films are fine action films that update the book in ways some people do not like but are still good fun!...more
Before reading the rest of this review I'd like to note that this is a two part review with notes from a first reading and a second reading. Like Note
Before reading the rest of this review I'd like to note that this is a two part review with notes from a first reading and a second reading. Like with any fantasy epic beginning this entire work starts out slowly but this second part becomes much faster and more readable. I encourage reading of this book, because as noted later it was my favourite book read in 2012 and I have been eagerly waiting for this novel almost as much as I awaited the finale of The Wheel of Time.
In short I wanted to clarify that on a first reading of any novel I can be very eager and excited about the novel if it thrills me. It is the second (and potentially third and so on) readings that inform one as to whether the book is one which has stuck with me as a great work of fiction. And my re-read of The Way of Kings (both parts) left me with such an impression. This is a fine fantasy novel, one that starts off slowly perhaps, but one with plenty of twists and turns. As mentioned elsewhere, Brandon Sanderson is easily now my favourite fantasy author for his ideas, pace, energy and all round readability. His prose is not the purple prose of other authors but he continues to improve and his ideas and themes shine through strongly no matter what.
Review The First
One of the positives of being a uni student is possessing the time on my hands to read books. Okay sure I have to do all the university texts and so forth but when travelling an hour to and from campus and in between lectures a remarkable amount of time is free to read. Well it certainly beats having to attend school where there was no time to read.
How does that all relate? Oh simply on the odd coincidence that I managed to finish the last two hundred pages across the three hours I had free travelling and waiting for lectures/tutorials. And I was staggered when I finally finished book one of the Stormlight Archive. This could very well be one of the best epic fantasy series ever written. Not that I want to make claims before the series is finished...
Let me break it down.
The Plot
This was superb. Revolving around three different main characters Sanderson plotted a whole course for his novel that I didn't see right at the beginning. Full of wonderful twists, turns, plots and sudden realisations Sanderson does a fine job of keeping his readers interested. I particularly loved how he would drop in a sudden bomb at the end of a chapter that left me going: "Hang on what! You mean Saldeas actually... You mean the visions are actually..." It was that kind of plot. I also loved the way in which Sanderson slowly provides a view into the background behind each of the character's motives. I feel that they were much more fleshed out in terms of providing me as a reader with a sense of how each character's morality worked than A Game of Thrones which I was unable to get into. That's not a cheap shot at A Game of Thrones which many have enjoyed but rather an indication that I really liked how Sanderson wrote his world.
The Worldbuilding
As in Mistborn the world is highly fleshed out. But this world is even deeper than the world of Mistborn. Religion again has its place alongside discussions of philosophy and morality. There are various native plants, creatures and people discussed which all fit neatly into a grand mythology of the Heralds and the Voidbringers. If you're looking for a Tolkienesque world with a grand level of attention to details then look at this for starters.
The creatures introduced by Sanderson were fascinating. You had the chasmfiends, the Parshendii and parshmen, the chull, the axehounds and the sky eels for starters. Each of which were nicely depicted through images in the book. In fact the elaborate artwork was something else to behold for a book. The most intriguing creatures however were the spren. These are spirits which appear in different forms and flock to various events. For example windspren fly on the breeze, firespren appear around fires, painspren are attracted to pain, rotspren are attracted to rot and so on.
The Magic
You have the supernatural featuring strongly as in all of Sanderson's books to date. There are three types of main magic mentioned along with another which is hinted at. The fourth I won't delve into as it is simply called Old Magic and may feature more in later novels. I'll put a spoiler here as I provide some details which some readers may find spoiling.
In Sanderson's world gems are powerful because they alone can collect the radiant energy of highstorms. This stormlight causes them to glow brightly. Some have the ability - like the Radiants of old - to absorb the stormlight from gems and use this to perform various lashings. These lashings bind objects together, prove gravitational pulls and change gravity. The stormlight also heals and strengthens the user
Soulcasting
Soulcasting again uses gems to change objects into other objects. For instance stone can become fog, blood can become ice, fire can become wood and so forth. The magic is done through the use of powerful objects called fabrials. Apart from that you can find out about the soulcasting more through reading.
Shardplate and Shardblades
These are weapons which turn men into unstoppable warriors. The plate strengthens a man and increases his speed and agility. The shardblade slices through any object and when it touches flesh it passes through deadening the soul. Basically if it touches your spine you will burn to death. Shardblades disappear when dropped and can be summoned by their wielder in ten heartbeats. While reading the book I kept imagining how awesome a film version would be to hear the heartbeats as the sword is summoned - and because of how much action envelopes the book. (hide spoiler)]
The Characterisation
I loved the characters of this world. They each had a strong and properly explained moral centre to their being that was observable from the start. Some may become annoyed at the lack of sexuality in the book but I disagree with it being absent. In fact I think Sanderson deserves credit for fitting a clever touch of romance during a massive war where most of the women are away from the front-lines. (view spoiler)[Oh and there is that time with the crazy priest dude and Shallan. (hide spoiler)]
Because what the book is about is not romance or action or war although those elements are visible. This is in essence a book about the characters and how they struggle through conflict, how they wrestle with turmoil and danger and in the end triumph. This is a book about overcoming the odds. The best kind of book in my eyes. Of course naturally each character must be brought low to rise again and you feel pity for their failing. But then when they rise you cheer for their victory.
So what now?
Well obviously I suggest you go read the novel if you love fantasy in its epic glory. This is a grand novel and world that for me was addictive. I'm left desiring more despite the thousand pages I've just finished. And that's a good sign of an awesome book for me. If I loved it enough to hungrily devour it. Because what I can see is that Sanderson is just a good storyteller telling good stories. And no book of his I've yet read has been worth less than five. (There's always Warbreaker but I'm an optimist). Anyway do I need to present another reason for you to enjoy this book?
Initial Update
I'm going to put this out here right now since it is the middle of the year and say this is probably my favourite book read all year (2012). Then you can have Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell in second place. Tied third places go to The Hero of Ages and Warbreaker followed by 1984 and Brave New World.
A Further Note
Having completed my re-read for this book I am both apprehensive and excited about seeing the plot twists and turns of the second book. Almost everything I noted again in my re-read has been covered across the review for part 1 and part 2 already save for one small note.
I would like to comment on a point many, many reviewers I know have made and this is in regards to Shallan's story. Some have suggested that she was far too annoying (I would agree with that in part) and not necessary to be featured in this first book (to which I disagree). I feel that her story was important in showing all the elements of what was going on across the world of Roshar - rather than focusing on one area - as well as providing a more feminine character presence. I would further add that it is in the second half of the book where, to me, Shallan becomes a more rounded out character as well as a more necessary character (for her connection to Jasnah if nothing else).
The one other addition to this note that I can make would be to encourage you to read this book if you are into supernatural literature in any regard. There are themes of war, love, betrayal, necessary evil, honour and religion wrapped around a grand story that is fascinating. Again, it starts out slowly and the characters can at first seem unlikeable but one of the true joys about this novel is that none of the characters are really unlikeable for long in that you understand that even the villainous characters have fleshed out motives for their actions. And that is what truly makes compelling characters - not merely giving characters evil actions to undertake and calling them 'noble' despite it....more
This, though only part one of an entire book, was so epic that in itself it gains five stars. I don't believe I can name any other book - well apartThis, though only part one of an entire book, was so epic that in itself it gains five stars. I don't believe I can name any other book - well apart from the magnificent Lord of the Rings - that while divided in parts retains its pulling power.
The world Sanderson creates is astonishing, populated by larger than life heroes, some anti-heroes and basically human beings who have varying motives for doing what they consider moral. Its an intriguing and satisfying world that drew me in and left me wanting more. Well it was only part one of a full novel.
The power of this work shall be elaborated upon further in my review of the second part. However it shall suffice to say bow that Sanderson may have one of the great epic fantasies on his hands here. So long as he knows how to properly conclude it. Yet for now this stands superb.
It has action scenes so brilliant they leave you racing through pages; it has mysterious spirits; supernatural powers abound; political movements and ceaseless - and almost pointless - wars; religious movements; intrigue and above all depth. For Sanderson creates a world here rather than simply paint a thin veneer for the reader to skim and admire. No he fills a world with such depth that the characters almost breathe, that you feel for the decisions they must make, that you question their motives and dealings. Yes this is a great work. Although I am yet to finish this as it stands.
Fully worth reading and perhaps (if all concludes nicely) my personal favourite epic fantasy. It certainly is immerse and addictive reading. To be properly extrapolated and enhanced with review two. In which I shall discuss the plot, the characters and everything Sanderson.
Review Update
I do not believe in altering to a great deal the words of the past. If you cannot allow something to stand then you should not set it in place to begin with. So to add to my humble original review I merely add the following points noted during my re-read.
1. There is a sense in this novel and in other novels by Sanderson that the characters all seem to have moments of tragic clarity about what they are doing in life. However, these moments are all part of the fall and rise and rise and fall of his characters. Sanderson does not create characters who border on the fringes of evil or good necessarily (though some of Jasnah's actions at the end of this book are suggestive of her particular morals) but he does create heroes - individuals who act according to what is heroic and right (not that they are perfect, but that they seek to perform actions for a greater good).
2. There is also a sense that many of Sanderson's magic systems seem to rely upon currency or some item of great value in order to work. For instance in Mistborn precious metals are the most powerful of the metals and coins are often used to enhance 'pushing' or 'pulling'. In Warbreaker it is the soul which harbours magic. In this novel it is gems and currency in connection which hold the power of the Stormlight. I see this as a metaphor of the magical transforming power of currency in a way.
3. Jasnah is one of the more interesting characters Sanderson has created. She provides him with a means to show the ways in which many other religious individuals view atheism or even agnosticism and I think this highlights a strength of his writing. Sanderson is someone who actively seems to think about ways he can prompt discussion about our world through other words and the fantastic. The argument between Jasnah and the King in this section of the entire book, about religion, shows a way in which some can look at God: that he serves only to provide moral meaning to the world. When for some we see that far more exists than merely morals.
4. I cannot help but note the similarities to US involvement in the Middle East and the Alethkar war against the Parshendi. As noted within this volume, the Alethkari people have come to almost live on the battlefront of the Shattered Plains and this is where the real fighting occurs. Some could say similarly about the wars of 100 years and 50 years ago or as I suggest, the wars in the Middle East today which lead to a sort of governmental presence of certain nations in that section of the world.
5. As with any kind of long slow series this starts off slow but the impressive part about it is the sheer detail and imagination of this work. For me it's clearly better than most fantasy out there but it tends to be a love it or hate it work and I'll use my last point to explain why I believe this is the case. I clearly love it, but then I love slow moving epics.
6. Characterisation tends to be a concern with readers - 'why should I care about the characters and their short story style struggles'? Well I personally love the two male characters of Kaladin and Dalinar and their struggles - the whole hero dynamic that continues throughout this entire novel. However, Shallan is a very frustrating character and I believe she is created to be such intentionally. There seems to be a subtle prompting from Sanderson (adverse to the unsubtle blasting of Shallan's dialogue) that Shallan is not as witty as she seems to think herself and that her cleverness is wasted on poor retorts and comments. In other words, she is intellectually strong (I think the story does enough to show us why and how) but emotionally weaker - due in part to, I believe, her lack of female role models in her life. In many ways she is shown to be more masculine than feminine therefore and it is, as mentioned, Jasnah who is the more interesting female character....more
A brilliant take on the dragon-rider concept. Naomi Novik takes a much used concept (featured in Eragon, The Dragonriders of Pern and countless otherA brilliant take on the dragon-rider concept. Naomi Novik takes a much used concept (featured in Eragon, The Dragonriders of Pern and countless other fantasy novels) and plunges it into a fictional history during the Napoleonic Wars.
As someone who is both a fan of history and fantasy I found this very enjoyable to be reading a novel incorporating both aspects in an enjoyable and excellent manner. His Majesty's Dragon was both short and at the same time well written.
The tale of a man devoted to his duty to serve his country who forms a strong bond with his dragon steed was in my view perhaps the best written example of this genre. I did however have a complaint with how often the male ex ship captain turned dragon rider called his male dragon "my dear." To me that simply felt a very feminine thing for him to be saying and completely out of character. And because it was very noticeable it wrecked the flow of the book for me.
I must note too that this reminded me of the film: How to Train a Dragon. So I couldn't help but feel that perhaps the film makers/ script writers had read this book in the process of creation. There was mention of fire-breathing dragons, acid-spitting dragons, water spouting dragons and wind breathing dragons all of which seemed to appear in the afore-named film. Or perhaps that was just me making a correlation.
Apart from minor disturbances this was a very solid novel and worth reading. A prime example of fantasy and how it should be written.
All that needs to be written now is a novel in which they run a reality TV show to become a dragon rider. Then the fantasy genre's fixation with dragons will be complete....more
Stardust follows the adventure of one Tristran Thorn from his unusual birth through to his eventual marriage. Well this is a modern fairytale for Stardust follows the adventure of one Tristran Thorn from his unusual birth through to his eventual marriage. Well this is a modern fairytale for older audiences after all. He desires to win the love of one girl called Victoria whom he names the most beautiful of all. And to win her love he must hunt down a star fallen from the sky who has ended up deep within Faerie. And so begins a most unusual adventure at once reminiscent of The Complete Grimm's Fairy Tales, Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland and The Chronicles of Narnia and yet in its own way something entirely different. It was a charming book that I would highly recommend to anyone over the age of say twelve who still appreciates fairytale stories. There is a little mature content which would certainly go over the heads of young children.
Gaiman's prose is very British in its tone - which I love. I certainly can never find fault with his writing ability, the unique mix of quirkiness, wit and fantasy which is his trademark. He did pen one of my favourite Doctor Who episodes of Series Six and I must say that all I have read of his I have enjoyed. Yet something about his work prevents me from fully loving it as I would love another similar fairytale fantasy. Either way this is a book all who have ever invested their time in fable, fairytale or mythology. It certainly is a clever, well knit book with few faults and yet for some reason hard to love. Is it simply that I find it dry and therefore it lacks that simplest of things: a full emotional resonation? ...more
A brilliant and witty piece of storytelling that I thoroughly enjoyed although I took my time to read it due to the style of Gaiman's writing3.5 stars
A brilliant and witty piece of storytelling that I thoroughly enjoyed although I took my time to read it due to the style of Gaiman's writing and the cruise I was on. I will keep this review short as I have little to add to the numerous reviews about the book merely stating that if you haven't read this read it. I will eagerly devour more of Gaiman's books when possible.
UPDATE:
This is sort of an adult's version of Alice in Wonderland. An odd idea since Alice in Wonderland is in many ways already very adult. Also odd since it doesn't have many of the features we associate with 'adult books'. There is very little cursing, very little sexuality and in fact the only thing I think that makes it 'adult' is the mature nature of the themes.
This is a fine urban fantasy but with this book Gaiman's writing ran cold for me and wasn't as gripping as in his other books that I've read. To be fair this was also my first taste of his novels and perhaps he is an acquired taste. Or perhaps he is more of an ideas person with some beautiful and florid writing. There is something about his pacing and plotting that occasionally rubs me up the wrong way. That's the moment that I frown and go 'hmmm' when something doesn't quite fit with me in terms of style, expression or pacing. I do hope it's not his Britishness...
Either way this is a fantasy novel to read. It has magic, an angel, rats and rat speakers and other bizarre and fascinating characters. Just what you want in a fantasy or any fairytale type of book....more
A complex and multi-tiered depiction of the epic Arthurian legend. This book is unlike any other I've read either focusing on the myth or simply in A complex and multi-tiered depiction of the epic Arthurian legend. This book is unlike any other I've read either focusing on the myth or simply in terms of fantasy writing.
While the story begins with The Sword in the Stone, a novel I had already read years ago it was refreshing to re-familiarize myself with T.H. White's eccentric and unique style of portraying the character of King Arthur as a child. In fact I believe The Sword in the Stone is the deepest depiction of the childhood Arthur I have read as many other stories gloss over this. Yet it is important to understand Arthur's beginnings in order to understand his growth of character and this firstly sets T.H.White's work apart from the other tales about Arthur.
White's use of humor and his linking of the myth to the present was incredibly clever. He was in part able to both tell the tale and provide a join critique and analysis of the legend. And such a deep analysis was able to be therefore used to reflect upon the human condition, upon human beings, their wants and desires and what it is that drives them to do such acts as Guenevere in being unfaithful to Arthur. Or as Mordred desiring her as his own. It is a more effective analysis than Freud's simple conclusion that men are simple carnal beings I feel, for what it showed me is that White recognizes that yes few men are truly good but at the same time few men are truly base. It is the way they react to the events of life that makes them ignoble or even noble.
It was an incredibly deep book with so many angles that it simply astounded me. Was it a fantasy, a fairytale to enjoy with magic and well constructed characters? Was it a commentary? Was it a critique? Was it for children or for adults? Was it an analysis? Was it a collection of psychological observations? I believe that this book was all of these and yet none at the same time. It is a book that derives aspects from all of these and yet is never truly one of these alone. For here T.H.White has created a grand epic that I recommend all people read.
However, for all of its depth and magnificence I felt it was let down at times, particularly right near the end. This was majorly due to its pacing. At times it was fast and furious and at others it was slow and ponderous. It never truly was consistent. And for me this made it difficult to get into at times. I would recommend Roger Lancelyn Green's tales of Arthur instead for their pace. However T.H.White's work has a greater depth than any other Arthurian tale I have read and it is for that it is to be admired....more
Warning there may be a few spoilers ahead but I'm not bothering to hide them. Just be careful with those eyes of yours.
3.5 Stars
I'm going to be honestWarning there may be a few spoilers ahead but I'm not bothering to hide them. Just be careful with those eyes of yours.
3.5 Stars
I'm going to be honest and say that as an overall novel there were parts where this felt like a three star book and parts that felt four star. For instance upon reading the author's name this felt like a four star book (Garth Nix - good writer and a fellow Australian). But after delving fifty pages into the world of Sabriel I was less than impressed. However upon completion my initial expectations had come full circle and I realised that this, while not the greatest fantasy ever, was still impressive and a solid novel.
The story focuses on the adventures of an eighteen year old girl with limited knowledge of Charter Magic and the use of Abhorsen bells. Despite these limited 'good' necromancer abilities she has to contend with the most fearsome dead in the Old Kingdom and find a way to properly send them back where they belong.
So I shall now proceed to do an examination of fantasy novels and why I enjoyed Sabriel compared to the many other's I've read. The three topics I'd like to examine are: 1. magic system 2. Characters and creatures and 3. Location and world-building.
1. Magic System
While refreshingly different from the run-of-the-mill fantasy pulp available the magic system did not grab me. Compared to Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn (which I rate as one of the more interesting systems of magic use) the system seemed average. Let'explain it shall I? Basically it runs like this:
Various types of people called Charter Mages can use the bound magic. But only in the Old Kingdom or near to the wall because the wall weakens magic as a defence mechanism for those who live behind it. To control charter magic charter marks (another word for runes basically) are signed (and then they gain power through the mage). Scattered throughout the Old Kingdom are Charter Stones with those runes flowing all over them which strengthens the binding of magic as far as I understood it. And then on top of that some magic remains Free Magic and unpredictable but that wasn't really defined by the author.
2. Characters and creatures
Of course we have the: main female character, her wizardly father (who's often absent), the prince who's honour bound to protect the princess - I mean main female character - and a strange creature which acts as a guide. Perhaps not so unique a mix of stock characters...
Sabriel was an interesting protagonist. I always enjoy reading novels from the point of view of a female protagonist and in this case I enjoyed what she stood for. I did find the author's attempt to create her emotional feminine side rather weak. Particularly whenever he attempted to form any kind of romantic lead for her. Yet on the whole she remained a complex character, essentially a schoolgirl thrust into a world where she finds out that she's now the Abhorsen because her father's dead. Something about the whole dynamic of her character was fascinating.
Plus there was her 'guide' so to speak. Basically a cat (which reminded me of the boggart in Revenge of the Witch) which is actually a mystical creature. If you want to know what that really is I'll leave you to read the book and find out. But as far as guides go he was interesting.
And then again there's the swordsman bound by honour. And with hidden mysteries in his past. Although he was rather wooden as a character and I guess his circumstances explained that. (view spoiler)[ After all he was frozen in place as a wooden statue kind of like: [image]. Only he was a naked wooden statue being used as a figure-head for a ship. (hide spoiler)].
Now onto the creatures. They were great because unlike say Robert Jordan or Terry Brooks they weren't taking The Lord of the Rings' Nazgul and Orcs and re-naming them. Instead what Garth Nix does is make creatures based on the whole idea of his main character being a 'good' necromancer. That is someone who sends the dead back to the realm of death. So all the creatures were beings with bodies of ooze and slime, or corpses with different human souls implanted in them. Which all was rather macabre but made for interesting reading. Apparently Death has a river with multiple gates throughout. Various creatures attempt to avoid total Death beyond the ninth gate by holding onto earlier gates. Over time in Death these creatures mutate and once they break free of Death they must feast on the living to survive falling back into Death.
3. Worldbuilding
While not to the level of J.R.R Tolkien, Robert Jordan or Brandon Sanderson the world of Sabriel was solidly fleshed out. There were set laws for magic, technology, language and the various cities that existed. There was information about how good and bad necromancers existed and in particular the various gates of Death were explained very well.
So...in conclusion:
At times the plotting dragged. Particularly nearer to the start. And the characters and settings were not so detailed as some of the truly great fantasy novels I've read. However ultimately Sabriel was enjoyable with its twists and turns. Even if some explanation was overly complicated or even lacking at times. To add to that there were also several occasions where I felt that elements of the novel simply existed to try and provide a sound reason for elements of the plot. Which of course made the book that little more convoluted. Perhaps a little more freedom with expression and allowing this book to air out and it could have really grabbed me. As it was I still thoroughly enjoyed it and read it in one sitting. ...more
Before writing my own review I browsed a few other reviews about this novel. I found it most interesting how some reviews were full of such venom (notBefore writing my own review I browsed a few other reviews about this novel. I found it most interesting how some reviews were full of such venom (not in a humorous ranting way but a pure hate-filled way) and wondered why they felt this way. In some cases the reviewer had simply taken one single little flaw (because to be honest this is a flawed novel) and turned it into a major issue. I seriously don't get why some people do that personally. However I get where they come from and it always interests me when I read different reviews with different flaws pointed out.
For me this was a relatively fast paced and interesting novel about a wizard detective in the modern era fighting off paranormal crime. Sure it was no masterpiece but it was fun and enjoyable for me on the whole. Plus the fact that I could race through it in just over an hour made it worth reading.
In fact as someone who has stated that they dislike Paranormal Novels in general for me to like this shows that it (at least for me) stood above such works as Hounded which failed to hit the proper tone. I felt this had the correct tone for what it aimed to do.
However I don't know if I'd rush out and read the rest of the books. Firstly I've got too much else to read before University begins (Such as the Complete Sherlock Holmes and Complete Shakespeare) and secondly because it wasn't super compulsive reading. I may in the future pick up the second however, just not now....more
I again find myself wishing that Goodreads offered me a half-star option. In the instance of this story I will grant it the higher of the optionsI again find myself wishing that Goodreads offered me a half-star option. In the instance of this story I will grant it the higher of the options between three and four but I would prefer to diagnose it with a three and a half.
It was great, it was okay, it was weak, it was strong. It ebbed and flowed still holding onto Terry Pratchett's unique tone. Like Douglas Adams this tone is a blend of random detail and wit, utilizing deus ex machina elements at times for the sake of comedy.
On the whole it was an enjoyable fantasy and those who like a clever-enough plot that serves the humor of the writer should enjoy this. And what is it in short? A tale of a wizard who tries to escape death and the naive tourist in a dangerous land who he leads around. Only problem is there's a spell stuck in his head...
If that sounds interesting enough read it. I can't adequately describe the book in my review suffice to say it was enjoyable....more
Steven Erikson's first entry in the ten book series The Malazan Book of the Fallen is a promising opening entry for the series. It is also to me a Steven Erikson's first entry in the ten book series The Malazan Book of the Fallen is a promising opening entry for the series. It is also to me a masterclass in how to create entertaining gritty fantasy fiction. There were visible flaws in dialogue and it took a brief time to adjust to the novel's unique method of showing events but once I did it was very much worth it. I feel that over the next nine novels everything will improve even more and have some sense of wrapping up in a conclusion. That said I am not sure that Gardens of the Moon is for any reader, but if you like fantasy try this book. If you particularly want something a little different from the standard Tolkienesque fantasy and liked Martin's Game of Thrones then try this for something a little between the two.
When I say between the two this is what Gardens of the Moon is: a precisely calibrated and well balanced novel with a lot of potential in terms of vision and scope. Erikson creates a world with history, magic and mythology that runs according to its own laws and precepts, and he does a brilliant job of writing such a world.
The premise for this initial book is that the Malazan Empire holds control of most of the known world save for one area which resists. A long and brutal war is being fought to overthrow this final bastion against the Empire: the city of Darujhistan. The Empress sends her Adjunct to see that this final city falls. And so the Adjunct plans to unleash ancient and uncontrollable sorcery to see that this occurs. But of course the old gods have different ideas and so they pick characters to perform roles for them. Think of the political scheming of Game of Thrones but on the level of deities rather than kings.
The writing style of this book was interesting. For the most part Erikson writes like many other fantasy authors, at times reminding me of Martin or Sanderson but certainly writing in his own way. Every so often a more fanciful piece of prose would enter the story and I would notice with interest (particularly after just having read How Fiction Works which mentions how prose sometimes slips in which does not adhere to the rules of the narrative). In many ways this revealed that the book was certainly a first novel by a talented author; minor flaws existed but the story idea was strong and so I look forward to seeing the improvement. I quite liked the poetry that begun each new chapter I must admit also, this fascinated me and added to the legend or epic feel of the book.
Why read fantasy if not for the fantastical elements? This is a question that I would ask of any fantasy reader. Erikson's world certainly has many fantastical elements whether it be the various human and non-human races, the assassins, the magic weapons and the magic system with warrens. Or more fascinatingly the list of gods and heroes. I loved the fact that this work made the gods such a physical and intangible presence at the same time.
If you want to read epic fantasy reminiscent of ancient mythology but with a definite contemporary feel then Malazan's opening chapter is the way to go. I for one will be reading the following books and enjoying every chapter.
As for a brief update I wanted to reflect upon the fact that while some may believe Erikson's writing to be terrible I disagree. He is certainly, at least not from this first volume, a natural storyteller (at least, his prose reads a little awkwardly and he lacks a little talent in building a hook to pull the reader in). Also calling it complex is a let off for Erikson when compared to far superior epics or philosophical ventures. That said, the scope of his story is interesting and there is far greater depth to my view than as with other fantasy authors - not that that excuses Erikson either. I was ultimately willing to give him the benefit of the doubt for the main reason that in the end it is part one in a long series and many people in the loop have advised me that. However, there is a warning, if you are not the kind of person who wants to read books in the long spiralling or winding vein of G.R.R Martin or Robert Jordan then I recommend wisely staying away. While I do believe it is snobbish to look down on certain books and readers I do also believe that to ignore a book with the understanding that you would not appreciate it is not snobbish but rather, wise selection of reading material....more
Having found Kay's Tigana overly cluttered and too much for a single novel, it was with trepidation I sat down to read The Summer Tree. Would it beHaving found Kay's Tigana overly cluttered and too much for a single novel, it was with trepidation I sat down to read The Summer Tree. Would it be better, would it be worse or would it be the same? Only the conjunction of my mind and eyes with the paper pages of the book would reveal. I was not let down by the contents of this book, overall. However I felt that were some elements of the text better handled this book could have earned a five star rating instead of the four stars I gave it.
The plot and the world building of this story was phenomenally entertaining. Certainly not to the level of J.R.R Tolkien but then Kay was not attempting to write for the self same reason was he. He set out to write an entertaining read and he succeeded. His characters possessed flaws and yet were ultimately heroic making them both likeable and entertaining.
However despite such positives I felt that some aspects of the book appeared poorly explained (I know, because I often stumble over my words and have to rewrite my work, how easily it happens). I personally felt the reasons for bringing the characters into the world of Fionavar was poorly explained and that Kay could have written those opening scenes with more finesse. Also the inclusion of gods interfering in mortal actions in crucial scenes ended up coming across as almost deus ex machina (ironically). I felt that some scenes could have done without the involvement of the gods to give a more realistic and polished edge to the novel.
When all's said and done however this is an impressive piece of fantasy fiction. I have now finally observed Kay put his talents to work crafting a fine and uncluttered piece of fiction and I am to say the least impressed. I recommend reading this series and shall read more of his work in the future. In many ways his poetic style reminded me of the way I like to write and this provided an affinity with his work. I particularly wish to continue with this series....more
Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell is Susanna Clarke's bestselling Fantasy History Novel. And it is amazing, astounding, supertastical, and brilliant.Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell is Susanna Clarke's bestselling Fantasy History Novel. And it is amazing, astounding, supertastical, and brilliant. These are all just a handful of the real (and created) adjectives possible to throw at this tome. Were one to enter into an adjective war this book would defeat them hands down. For the potency of the words inside is incredible. And having done so would commence to bury in a pile of prose so powerful that I would be diabolically destroyed.
Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell is a hauntingly beautiful book. It was well written with the careful and clear strokes of a master artist. A woman who clearly loves words and language and with abounding wit. An author who believed in her world with passion. She wasn't simply writing but creating a world with such clarity.
If you're looking for more books featuring magicians I'd also recommend: The Prestige and possibly The Night Circus though The Night Circus is a polarising book and should be picked up with that in mind. That said, The Night Circus is also a relatively easy novel to read compared with this and may appeal more to younger readers. ...more
The Lies of Locke Lamora was an interesting novel that I very much liked but not quite enough to love. It was one of those few novels that sit The Lies of Locke Lamora was an interesting novel that I very much liked but not quite enough to love. It was one of those few novels that sit awkwardly between: very much liked it and it was okay. So what I have decided to do is to quickly write three points on what worked for me and three points on what did not work for me.
What works well?
1)The setting
The world which Scott Lynch created was spectacular and interesting. A world where thieves rule and are ruled so long as their actions keep to unspoken conventions and laws. A world where the secret of magic is held by one set of mages who kill other magic users. A world where secrets, intrigue and shadowy affairs win out.
2)The plot
The plot follows how Locke Lamora and his gang use disguises* to con and convince nobles into giving them cash. As a result of their skill with disguises however they end up getting forced into the middle of a thief's war between Capa Barsavi** and the Grey King (a villain who's been antagonising the Capa). This naturally leads to complications which were highly entertaining.
3)Locke Lamora and co.
The thieves were a fascinating bunch of characters and as a result very interesting. The way they interacted with one another and the way the book flashed-back to their childhoods when they met was brilliant. In fact this would have been a lesser book had the characters not been so intriguing. I loved the idea of the secret societies with the Spider and the Midnighters and then the unknown Grey King coming into play I also loved how the thieves reacted to such opposition.
What doesn't work as well?
1)The overall moral greyness
While I'm not against a moral ambiguity in books it did lessen my enjoyment in this novel. I found that most of the actions in this book were simply resulting from lust or greed rather than for pure motives. In fact the few times I saw pure motives enter into things it was because of the brotherly bond between Locke and his men. And as discussed in my next point they aren't exactly the best role models. These are not the romantic Robin Hoods who steal from the rich for the poor. They steal from the rich so that the rich have less money and the thieves have more. I also personally am irked by a reliance in the writing to constantly use the f-word as an expletive. I'm not against swearing full stop because it expresses human emotions but I do take the view that Kafka did. That is that swearing is a sort of desecration or murder of language in general. And when one word is constantly overused it always irks me because a)few people I know speak so repetitively and b)it comes across as unimaginative and indicates a lack of proper vocabulary.
2)The gruesome aspects
If you don't want to read about a magician having his tongue cut out and his fingers removed, a drowning in horse urine and several mentions of men being cut in the legs and other awkward places this is not your book. That said while there are times the author seems to want to use shock factor or gleefully revels in introducing more blood and gore he rarely does this and mostly injuries are for the most part not overly described.
1)The chronology at times
The book is broken up every so often by shifting back and forwards in time. It's an effect which works in some ways but in others just creates confusion. It's the sort of effect which works well in a film but not so much in a book (at least not the first few times its used - the first few chapters I was lost trying to work out when everything was happening). The first half of the novel was also a little slow in setting things up for me. So while the second half was excellent the first half was ponderous.
On the whole it was memorable as a novel although I doubt I'll read the sequel anytime soon. I have far too many other books that are of greater interest to read. But it was very entertaining in the last half at least. The first half of the novel took time to get into but the second half was absolute quality. So on the whole this is a recommended novel and one which I doubt I'll ever read again but will remember and I suggest a three and a half stars rating will suffice.
*I loved the way disguises were used in the book. It reminded me of Wax in The Alloy of Law and also The Scarlet Pimpernel. ** He is the head boss of thieves if you're interested in knowing that....more
The Wise Man's Fear was in some aspects better than the first novel and in many ways also worse. I found the first book a far easier read from theThe Wise Man's Fear was in some aspects better than the first novel and in many ways also worse. I found the first book a far easier read from the start. The Wise Man's Fear did not have the same immediate impact from the opening and it took me time to properly get back into Kvothe's world.
The book has its faults with length and pacing when compared to the first. However Patrick Rothfuss still remains as an excellent story teller and writer and his story despite a few stumbling blocks remains quality work. I particularly like the fact that Kvothe is no super hero without flaws. He acts like any stubborn, oppinionated human being and is incredibly proud. That said he is also at heart a boy trying to become a good man and he's likeable for that.
I consider at the present time that the third book may make or break the series overall for me. I love the writing, I love the world that Patrick Rothfuss has created, but there are some ways in which the story is told that I could love far more if the third book is terrific....more
'When the Dark comes rising, six shall turn it back; Three from the circle, three from the track; Wood, bronze, iron; water, fire, stone; Five will 'When the Dark comes rising, six shall turn it back; Three from the circle, three from the track; Wood, bronze, iron; water, fire, stone; Five will return, and one go alone.'
'Iron for the birthday, bronze carried long; Wood from the burning, stone out of song; Fire in the candle-ring, water from the thaw; Six Signs the circle, and the grail gone before.'
'Fire on the mountain shall find the harp of gold Played to wake the Sleepers, oldest of the old; Power from the green witch, lost beneath the sea; All shall find the light at last, silver on the tree.'
As a child I developed my love of fantasy and superheroics. I suppose that what appeals to a child about a fantasy novel is the sense of mystery, adventure and the fact that no one in a fantasy novel need be powerless against the forces of evil let loose in the world. Haven't you ever dreamed about being able to use magic to solve the inconvenience of lacking a parking spot or being late to work? Isn't one of our greatest fears that sense of powerlessness, the frustration that we cannot control everything?
I know that some people do not like this series. I suppose it is better appreciated when read as a child. Reading it again now for the fifth or so time I see the simplicity of the narrative, those few elements that don't quite make sense or seem a little shallow. I must admit that the slight dig at how religion isn't relevant in this magical world also irks me in the book. But that said this is in the end a novel and when you can see those little things you laugh at them and then ignore them to enjoy the overall story. Or at least I do. The one thing I've always appreciated about this series is the story of Dark versus Light, good versus evil, one boy discovering his supernatural powers.
The three verse poem written above represents the entire sequence of this series (which I prefer to read in the order of book 2, 1, 3, 4, 5 as for me the proper story begins here in the story of Will Stanton, last of the Old Ones. On his eleventh birthday, Will discovers that he has a calling to discover six magical signs which will enable the forces of the Light to begin their battle over evil.
Most of the mythology and fairytale elements of this story are taken from Celtic origins which is a fascinating set of mythology to me. But don't ever read this expecting Tolkien or Lewis I still rate them a little higher than this. But this is still a classic children's fantasy series and deserves to be read by audiences. Interestingly reading it today it still reads like the first time I read it. Only I'm an even faster reader now than I was then. Perhaps my powers are awakening like Will's......more
So...imagine you take Roman people, customs and building designs and then insert them in a magical world of strange creatures and savages. Then say So...imagine you take Roman people, customs and building designs and then insert them in a magical world of strange creatures and savages. Then say you give every 'Roman' the ability to summon elemental spirits called Furies to 'craft' fire, water, earth, air, wood and metal. That's more or less what this book is.
I had read Furies of Calderon before and not enjoyed it anywhere near as much as I did now. I think the type of fantasy had to grow on me. It was sort of G.R.R Martin in parts, sort of Wheel of Time in others and all unique. The story follows several parallel plotlines centred around a courier for the King of the land, a boy named Tavi who is furyless and his aunt and uncle. The basic plot involves treachery and invasion threat through savages.
It's a well told story, in fact I would venture to argue that it's better written and told than the initial Dresden Files novel. Which is my only reference point for Jim Butcher's writing. If you're a fan of epic fantasy and liked Storm Front you'll likely enjoy this. All in all, definitely worth a read!...more
One of the joys of being the eldest sibling in my family is now having my twelve year old sister want to read good YA and children's Honorary 4.5 stars
One of the joys of being the eldest sibling in my family is now having my twelve year old sister want to read good YA and children's stories. She's reading those books I used to love (and those which I still do). So when I completed my re-read of the first Percy Jackson novel I gave it to her and since she liked it I borrowed the second for her, and then read it again myself. I was pulled back into the world and saw a greater depth to the novel than my memories so I personally rated it up a star.
Now the one thing you need to understand about my reading habits is this. I don't necessarily like a book because it's popular. I'll read what I think sounds interesting. I'm still avoiding Harry Potter because I don't want to give into the hype surrounding it. I read The Hunger Games before it became unnecessarily hyped up and I also read these before I knew they were meant to be the new popular best-sellers. I try and avoid hyped up books for their own sake because of two main reasons: 1) I don't ever want to read a book simply because of peer pressure and 2) While there is a high degree of emotion in regards to how I view books I never want to like a book solely because it 'was awesome'.
When Twilight was popular I knew it was a book to avoid because I never heard 'it was really well written' from people I know but rather 'oh it's such a beautiful story'. They were hooked into the story not because it was excellently written but because it merely emotionally appealed to them. I'm no book snob to say that it is a terrible thing to like a book because it emotionally speaks to you. There are many different types of readers (as there are writers and people) but I do prefer to read something that is both appealing in terms of writing and the emotional appeal. I found that books like The Road couldn't draw me in because the writing and the emotional element did nothing for me.
This is one reason I'd been hesitant bumping the ratings for this book (and YA series) up to five stars. I rate them among my favourite YA series and are must haves for my bookshelf yet I was not sure whether they had the quality of writing since it had been at least two years since I last read the books. And my views upon writing have changed a lot since then. However I found upon my re-read that there is enough in this novel to satisfy me and for me to give it the five star rating.
The three elements that contribute to me liking this book are:
1) It appeals to me emotionally. I do quite like mythology, particularly Greek, Roman, Celtic or Norse mythology so the idea of Greek gods being alive in modern day America is fascinating. However this is a smaller element of why I like the book.
2) The writing has subtle elements of wit and humour. In fact I didn't pick several of the jokes up the first time around because they were actually very clever. I quite like humour in writing and when it's clever humour that suits the style of the writing that means I consider it 'good' writing. The tone of the writing is consistent and gets better book by book and is dumbed down enough for the target audience without being 'stupid'. In other words, the kind of writing that can appeal to adults and children. Which is how YA and children's books should be written.
3) The imagination. All my favourite authors and books are written with imagination fuelling them. Brandon Sanderson writes fantasy books that differ from the normal and full of imagined fantasy systems. J.R.R Tolkien created the imagined Middle Earth. The imaginations of Dickens, Austen, Orwell, Huxley, Bradbury, Wells, Verne and Wharton may not be as apparent as fantasy authors like those two but they are there in the beauty of characterisation and word usage. Rick Riordan also has imagination in everything he writes in this book and the rest of the series. Which is why it appeals to me so much.
In the end what book review would be complete without mentioning that it's a tour-de-force of the YA sub-genre, whatever that means. I definitely recommend the series for around 11 year olds and upwards. I think it would appeal particularly to boys but it would also suit girls who like action types of books. ...more
Okay I've deleted the place-marker review ladies and gentlemen: here for your entertainment is my new and improved review. Now with added humor - well Okay I've deleted the place-marker review ladies and gentlemen: here for your entertainment is my new and improved review. Now with added humor - well I think so anyway.
Many people may look at my rating (before reading my review I presume) and question why I gave this five stars. 'Why would he give Percy Jackson five and deny literary masterpieces five stars. Why give this the same score as Lord of the Rings for instance? Well all I can say is that this is where the deceptive element of differences between books and five star rating systems enters into everything. When you rate anything and the rating system is limited in scope the ability to truly compare books on rating decreases. As I've said before I therefore tend to give stars based on entertainment, technicality and then throw elements of my rating out the window depending on the genre. However that is my 'boring' explanation, please read on for my more interesting explanation of why I like this book so much.
I've heard there's a phrase that's been circulating the written world of late. Something to do with the inner-goddess. You could say my inner-child liked this book so much or even better my inner-demigod. The fun of being eighteen is that you can still choose between the world of adolescence and adults. That way when I want to be flippant, sarcastic and immature in various ways I can consider myself a child and when I want to drive or watch action films I'm definitely an adult. So when I want to read a book like this that's aimed at children it's not too hard to read it from the point of view of a younger child (say a 12 year old).
I do however think that there are elements about this book and the series that adults in general would like. Even if they aren't in touch with that inner-demigod so much. But to take a more serious note I think that anyone would recognise the creativity in these books and find them at least 'alright' even if they don't like them as I do. The story of one boy discovering he has supernatural abilities due to his parentage when broken down may not sound unique and original (I mean Star Wars and many fantasy books have done that story before). However the uniqueness of this book comes from the way it tells the story: the incorporation of myth into a 'real world' style America; the telling of how Percy discovers his parentage; the narration by Percy himself; the new additions to the old myths; and the characters of this story.
I'd recommend anyone who is still young at heart, has children or is still around the YA target age to give this a go. I think that anyone else interested in mythology may find it interesting also (even if there may be a few flaws in the myths - it felt like it at times but I was not sure). The main flaw (and yes there is a flaw as any book written by a human must have) of this book is in the simplicity of the telling, it is not for all intents and purposes a deep, intellectual novel. It is however highly creative, imaginative, inspiring and general wholesome fun. So unless you're beyond any of those positive aspects then at least give the book a chance and read it....more
Let me begin this in an unusual manner by noting how some of my opinions on fantasy books and stories in general have changed as of recent. Or rather Let me begin this in an unusual manner by noting how some of my opinions on fantasy books and stories in general have changed as of recent. Or rather they have not changed but have been defined and realized. You see I used to not be concerned with a book that seemed like a duplicate of Tolkien. If I liked the story and it was well written then I would enjoy it. Then I came to realize that a lot of fantasy was very similar to Tolkien. So I began to say: well maybe it can't be good. It mustn't be good. But I have re-affirmed lately that a story can still roll along similarly to Tolkien and be enjoyable.
You see the truth, I think, is that there is no such thing as an original story. Well perhaps there is one but it's been lost in the mists of time for us and it's left for a few historians alone to know which story is the first. If there is an original story it's probably the story of humanity and its entire existence. Basically if you break every story down you can find a similar character to another story. I'm sure that if I broke stories down enough I could work out a basic character the same in every story. Although that may be too difficult and may require some loose interpretation. Harry Potter has the character of Dumbledore who's not dissimilar from Gandalf. Gandalf in turn is not dissimilar from the legendary Merlin. Kvothe in this novel is a younger version again of that Merlin character with a few alterations.
So then what makes any story worth reading or watching then? I believe that stories must contain a unique or at least a different mix of the common elements. It must breathe on its own without feeling like 2/3rds Lord of the Rings and one third Narnia. It must stand on its own legs. Perhaps it may stand as 1/4 Lord of the Rings, 1/4 Narnia, 1/4 Harry Potter and 1/4 Arthurian legend, as other people have said of this book, but it must not be dominated by any one story. And it must be well written. If it entertains enough then all the similarities in the world mean nothing. After all you should not forget that Lord of the Rings is in itself drawn from the Norse mythology. Myth and legends and history all intertwined around the story...
So why do I mention this? Simply because as I have suggested The Name of the Wind is again one of those tales which one could say reads like a mixture of older tales. I very much sensed a hint of Tolkien and Arthurian legend personally out of all the novels people have linked this to. However unlike other fantasy novels which 'rip-off' Tolkien this novel was very well-written. I would go so far as to say intelligently written on the same level as Mistborn: The Final Empire and Spellwright.
I had already briefly read this novel and dismissed it as another cobbled together story, rushing it when exams were foremost on my mind. However after delving more deeply into this tale I see the value of it as entertainment. It also has deeper qualities beyond entertainment with some metafictional characteristics that are normally avoided in common pulp fantasy.
There are the usual fantasy tropes and archetypes plotted around two different stories in this novel. One of which is the older Kvothe living under the assumed name of Kote as an innkeeper. The other is the tale of the young Kvothe, told to the reader by Kote. In many ways this is similar to what T.H. White does in The Once and Future King with Patrick Rothfuss revealing how the childhood of a legendary character transforms him gradually into a legend. However Rothfuss writes with more passion than the aforementioned White, spinning his tale in a more lush and vibrant way.
There were plenty of suspenseful elements, a touch of adventure, a reasonable amount of loss and a nice spoonful of wit. The verbal jousting of the younger Kvothe was very entertaining again written better than many other writers in this genre or any other genre. There was also throughout the retelling multiple legends and myths from within Rothfuss's imagined world which reminded me of the style of Tolkien. However this is no Tolkien clone but rather a story that stands on its own legs. This world bears its own mythology and many of those revealed touched on the past and on the religion of this world and were very entertaining.
However this book had some weak points such as finishing weakly and dragging slightly about two thirds into the book. Despite this it was on the whole for me a very good debut yet not as interesting to me as say Brandon Sanderson's Elantris.
A good story will sell itself without the salesmanship or hype of the crowd. This is one of those stories that did not become a success through a sudden rush of hype as say The Hunger Games. Rather gradual word of mouth and the power of this book led to its popularity increasing. Many incredibly popular books have been revealed as trash, however I believe this is not one of them. I will recommend you read this and make your own decision about whether it is simply too derivative and nothing new, however. Or whether it is a well-written story worth enjoying.
I personally have decided it is very much worth enjoying and will the sequel. There are few higher honours for a series than that it makes a reader want to keep reading.
Postscript:
The sequel was not quite so good, if the third book is decent it will make everything more complete for me. Then of course no doubt there is going to be another sequel trilogy tying into this. I will have to add this to my collection one day......more
I read this while on the cruise and I expected it to be in a similar vein to Brisingr. I expected a stronger novel than either Eragon or Eldest. AI read this while on the cruise and I expected it to be in a similar vein to Brisingr. I expected a stronger novel than either Eragon or Eldest. A novel that was well written and entertaining for its entirety but maybe closed off everything weakly or proved that Paolini was simply a writer who copies his ideas from other sources. I was pleasantly surprised to find the contrary.
Inheritance was an excellent conclusion to Paolini's series. And where Eragon and Eldest were weak Inheritance was certainly much stronger and well devised. I became unsure at the start when Paolini introduced what appeared to be an element of deus ex machina never mentioned in the other books how the book would continue but from that point on I was in for an astounding journey.
This was one of the most enjoyable books I've read all year. Perhaps not the best written novel but one of the most entertaining. I was enthralled and raced through the 800 pages in under two and a half days despite being aboard a cruise ship loaded with things to do. The island of Vroengard was fascinating, the new spells, the defeat of Galbatorix, the Vault of Souls and all the other plot elements easily made this the best in the series.
I hope Paolini continues to develop as a writer and creates more worlds in the future. This novel showed me that he does have the potential to step outside other writer's works and create his own story. I hope he does that. Still the world of Alagaesia was fascinating to me and this wrapped many things up nicely. Yet there are still many loose ends that I hope to see addressed in a future novel. For instance: (view spoiler)[ what happens to Arya and Eragon? What happens to the dragon riders? Who were the girl and woman Angela told a fortune for? What was with the seven words Brom told Eragon when he died? Who are the werecats really? What was with the god in Brisingr? And what did the Menoa tree take from Eragon? (hide spoiler)]...more
I really liked this book but for several reasons I couldn't like it enough to 'go the whole hog' and empower it with divinity. By which I mean toI really liked this book but for several reasons I couldn't like it enough to 'go the whole hog' and empower it with divinity. By which I mean to tattoo a five star rating onto this review and ward off all book demons.
I loved the pacing of this book. I loved the very idea of this book. I loved the tone of this book. I loved the shape of this book. I really appreciated the way Peter V. Brett was able to take ideas used before and turn them into something new somehow.
However I had a personal problem with the character of Leesha in the book. (view spoiler)[ The problem lies in her sexuality. First she vows to marry as a virgin and like her teacher Bruna she despises oathbreakers. Years pass and she hasn't slept with anyone. Then she needs to get somewhere and she almost gives herself to a greedy messenger as an act of semi-prostitution. Then it's implied she was raped on the road to another town, which is tragic. I have no problem with her up to this point mostly. She's a victim of everything. However then after being rescued by The Painted Man she sleeps with him. This is of course all completely out of character and seems to serve the whole 'author fantasy' aspect of fantasy. 'I want to get these two characters together so I will.' Of course I can't really criticise since the rest of the book is so good but it was a lowlight and coming at the end it damaged my memory of the book.
My other problem is that she seemed really shallow in her actions. She hated her licentious mother but in the end did she become like her in a way? My main problem was her sleeping with the Painted Man because it seemed so against all she claimed to stand for. She became an oathbreaker then and only then. Beforehand others around her had been the oathbreakers. It was as if she had sold her virtue and morals and I don't like it when anyone does that. And before that moment I had even thought her admiral for surviving all her ordeals and helping others. (hide spoiler)]
I also had a slight problem with the way the author cut in and out of different times. One instant I was reading Arlen leave a town the next it was three years later and he was in the dessert. Which proved slightly distracting in the overall frame of grasping what was going on.
But apart from personally being annoyed and perturbed by such actions I really enjoyed this book. It was fast it was fun and it was on the whole well written. It was nothing at the level of some authors but well above the level of others. And I am very glad that Peter V. Brett wrote this book because it made my birthday that much greater finally finishing this work. I look forward anxiously to the sequel....more
Three or so years ago I moved churches in the wake of a crisis at my previous church. One of the very first people I met A Memory of The Wheel of Time
Three or so years ago I moved churches in the wake of a crisis at my previous church. One of the very first people I met at this new church was the associate pastor and that day before I left he came up to me and said, 'so I hear you're into fantasy books.' At least he said something along those lines. I of course indicated that yeah I was into fantasy books. His final parting comment was 'Get on the Wheel of Time, it's a must read fantasy series. The guy who wrote it died sadly before finishing it but some other guy is finishing it instead.'
Well I went away and decided to look into this Wheel of Time stuff, in fact I decided to look it up online. What I read about the magic and the creatures and the characters interested me. It sounded like a cliché fantasy novel without the overwrought cliché, rather a novel that used an archetypical fantasy setting to tell its own story. It turned out that I couldn't get the first novel, so I picked up the second and read part of the way through it before deciding that it wasn't working and I'd pick it up later. The next thing I knew the third book was at the library and then suddenly it was on top of another stack of borrowed books at home. Starting the third book was what really drew me into this story, I saw the amazing ideas and world-building spread out before me as the author told a fascinating story. Sure, there were bits of information I missed (which I caught up on through Wikipedia and going back to read the first few books) but the book was remarkable in how different it was to anything I'd read written after Tolkien. Sure, Eragon had been fun but it lacked intellectual depth and was a mixture of different stories which where in themselves archetypical. The Sword of Shannara was fun but incredibly unoriginal with its sequels being better yet still remarkably derivative. The myths, legends and fairytales I grew up with were good but overly familiar, they were not fresh or fascinating in the way that reading a new fantasy story could be. The Wheel of Time as a series was compelling and fascinating, and to this day more intriguing to me as a fantasy epic than other novels I have read. The only books to compare with it in epic fantasy are Gardens of the Moon, A Game of Thrones, The Name of the Wind and anything by Brandon Sanderson.
The reason I write this reflection is to serve as an indication of the investment I made in this series. It may be a small one compared to those who have followed this series for the decades in which it stretched yet it is an investment nonetheless and when one makes an investment in regards to any novel there is always the expectation of an emotional reward at the end. Series in particular demand a reward for your diligence in putting you as a reader through so many trials and tribulations. There are those series which end anticlimactically, for instance as a teen I found The Singing a very anticlimactic ending to an interesting series. There are those series which end with a shock twist as in The Hero of Ages. And there are those series that end as The Wheel of Time does. Gracefully, with honour and majesty, and in the way they deserve to.
A Memory of Light
As a novel A Memory of Light does have its flaws. For instance some characters are more or less ignored until close to the end then casually and easily disposed of while not given the truly climactic death I as a reader was hoping for. However I find such a thing fascinating in that it creates a realistic edge to this novel. As this is a fantasy novel one could be forgiven for arguing that 'realism' is something that can be done without. To an extent this is true, no one wants realism to be pursued to the extent where the reader is told everything about the exact weather patterns for the different environments alongside how Aes Sedai have their tea and what the mating rituals of Trollocs are. Yet one does expect that a fantasy novel does have a sense of the real to the point where it reflects on reality and the fact that there are unsatisfactory conclusions to some characters does create that sense. After all, reality is no neatly packaged fairytale.
Question: So what is in this novel? Answer: A stunning conclusion, in fact a breathtaking conclusion. There is a high death toll, plenty of conclusions to character threads, tons of action and a gripping story that is the summation of thousands of pages. Everything in the series has been leading to this book and it delivers. Perhaps some others will find themselves jaded by the length it has taken to get to this book yet I found this an emotionally charged final chapter. I find that I know when I great conclusion has been written in that it leaves me feeling both emotionally satisfied and wanting a little more. This is what this conclusion successfully achieved for me. (view spoiler)[I personally appreciated the ending with Rand, the tragic hero of our fantasy epic, being reduced to the new role of an unknown man, a role he has always wanted. Such is the role of heroes in the pattern of the Wheel of Time, where men constantly change. (hide spoiler)]
Ultimately I'm sad to see the end of this book series. Yet all readers of this series know that there is no true ending to The Wheel of Time and the characters within the pattern. And that is why this book succeeds. It leaves the reader understanding that though this part of the fantasy tale is over the deeper ideas and the true hidden beauty of the story remains. As history is bound to repeat itself so too may The Wheel of Time repeat itself again and again with its heroes arising again to face new conflicts. (view spoiler)[What will happen to Mat in the end? What will happen to Perrin and Faile? What will happen to Nynaeve and Lan? And most importantly what will become of Rand al'Thor without the One or True Power and perhaps, the power of his will? (hide spoiler)]
The Wheel of Time turns...
The Wheel of Time, as can be told by the title, has many references to other religious and spiritual movements along with mythologies, legends and fantasy works. It is the particular 'weave' of ideas and references which work to make it a unique series. Yet at the same time this particular tendency to refer to other ideas is a double edged sword, like Callandor in this novel. In fact much of Robert Jordan's work in The Wheel of Time series is a double edged sword. His writing style is at once verbose and charming with the occasional clumsy phrase and expression. His world-building while impressive is often too overdrawn, leading to the great length of the series. Indeed these various elements are both a great power in the novels and a curse, leading to the polarising nature of the series. For while they have great strengths they also have great weaknesses. One thing I haven't properly done in my reviews of the various books in the series is discuss the aspects which I find of particular depth in the series. I perhaps have done this in part, but not in full.
Male/female relationships
The male/female relationships and dynamics in the entire series are some of the most criticised elements. Yet, they are criticised for good reason. Try as he does, Robert Jordan lacks a true understanding of women when compared to other greater male writers. Perhaps there are elements which are true about his female characters at times yet they are for the most part, often highly stereotypical depictions. The braid tugging and tendency to bully male characters is a fine indication of this. It appears to me that Jordan holds a juvenile perspective of women, and as such writes female characters which are more often girls than true women. Speaking from a little experience I know very few women who would constantly tell a man how everything he does is inferior, yet I know several girls who would more readily state this, along with the statement that 'girl's rule and boy's suck'. In connection he perpetuates the myth that many women are closet lesbians until they 'grow up' with his ridiculous idea of Aes Sedai pillow friends. Something that is slightly balanced in this novel with the hints that gay male characters actually exist.
It is this facet of Jordan's world which creates the idea that fantasy is a 'boy-zone' when connected to the fantasy of Tolkien (The Hobbit is remarkably woman free) or G.R.R Martin (his depiction of female sexuality being very centred around a male perspective). Yet, as mentioned Jordan does try to write strong women and a world in which women are treated fairly. The countries of his world are often matriarchal or evenly balanced in leadership, it is men who lack the powers of magic until later on and there do exist several female characters who break from the normal stereotyping of this world. For instance Tuon, Faile and Egwene (Egwene particularly more so in the last three books than the first).
Politics
There is nothing especially extraordinary about the political systems of Robert Jordan's world. However it is worth noting that politics plays a large role in the entire story particularly when it comes to aspects like The Game of Houses and getting countries to agree to different proposals and alliances.
History
The idea of history repeating itself is one that is fully present in this series as I've mentioned before. The reincarnation element whereby heroes are reborn into the Wheel when they are needed again is a great symbolic indicator of this. Then again, the fact that the series centres around prophecies and villains rising up from centuries earlier is another. Later on in the series the various characters reveal further aspects of how history repeats itself with the discovery of new abilities from the past. (view spoiler)[Mat has his old lives awoken again in his memory, Rand becomes one with Lews Therin, Egwene discovers travelling and dreaming and Perrin discovers the wolf abilities. At the same time the Seanchan invasion is a further sign of history repeating itself, as they are descended from the past Artur Hawkwing's armies. (hide spoiler)]
Transformation and heroism
Though The Wheel of Time series has become the whipping boy example of the 'farmboy becomes a hero' fantasy cliché I believe the story goes far beyond this cliché idea. Though our main ta'veren characters do all come from villages, their pathways towards hero status are unique and fraught with many tragic and glorious twists and turns. Admittedly the first novel, in seeking to establish itself in the epic tradition, relies upon this village dweller to hero idea almost too strongly. Yet the later novels move away from this and towards a sense of originality whereby characters such as Rand, Mat and Perrin become heroes. It is this sense that anyone can become a hero in the Wheel of Time that is appealing, as is the idea that any hero can fall or be turned to the Shadow.
Rand is a fascinating character as a hero prophesied to die and restricted by a fate woven out for him in advance through prophecy. It is intriguing how Jordan deals with the dilemma of an all powerful 'messiah' figure in Rand, making him suffer many losses and emotional struggles before reaching the Last Battle at the end. Mat again is another intriguing character and one must suspect that Robert Jordan divulged a lot of his own personality into Mat while avoiding transforming him into an object of wish fulfilment. Mat is the heroic figure who refuses to be captured by plans and regulations and who sees himself as no hero or lord. He is chaotically good and though he never seems to be in the right place when needed he eventually makes his way to where he should be. Perrin again is a different type of hero. He is the hero who struggles with the 'primitive' wolf side of his personality. A man, like Mat, not trying to be a leader, yet he does it out of a sense of personal duty rather than because he avoids commitment.
Morality
Though much fantasy is often considerably cardboard in its morality I do not see this as a problem in The Wheel of Time series. Though we have an ultimate battle between good and evil this does not necessarily mean that the morality is black and white. There are many Dark friends who perform good deeds and there are many heroes who turn toward darkness. In a time where many fantasy writers attempt to create moral ambiguity (often forming a complete lack of moral guidance for their characters) through forced writing I see Robert Jordan's world as naturally exploring good, evil and the in-between areas. (view spoiler)[Rand's use of balefire to destroy Graendal's palace is a fine example of this moral ambiguity. (hide spoiler)] This final chapter particularly emphasises the fine line between good and evil in how the Whitecloaks and Seanchan are required to work with those who consider them as an evil second only to Shadowspawn. (view spoiler)[The climactic scenes where Rand confronts the Dark One are also fascinating from this perspective as they consider whether he is truly evil or simply acting out of his nature. Rand's conclusion is that it is men and not the Dark One which are the greatest source of evil, an idea which is confronting and powerful. I particularly liked that this series had a true confrontation with The Dark One as rarely do fantasy novels truly confront the evil threat in their pages. (hide spoiler)]
Magic
The magic system of Robert Jordan's world is one that has been used before. The idea of five elements of water, earth, air, fire and spirit is one that has existed for centuries. Yet the way in which Jordan uses this concept is unique. Creating a magical system called the One Power and then dividing it into female and male halves is a fascinating way of approaching magic. Added to this is the idea that the combinations of these 'elements' of the One Power create different weaves which produce different magical effects.
Unlike other fantasy novels, Robert Jordan's magic is also, as Brandon Sanderson explains it, both a hard and a soft magic system. Hard magic systems are strongly defined with laws and regulations built in, much like how the One Power works with channelling. However there are also soft magic system elements, the sense that magic in this world is a free agent and capable of doing extraordinary things that cannot be logically explained.
A Tolkien clone?
One could be forgiven for labelling this series as a Tolkien clone. Yet I do not believe it is so simple as that. Though there are similarities to Tolkien's work it bears more similarity in my mind to a combination of the legends of King Arthur, religious influences and the Greek/Roman/Celtic mythologies. It reminds me in places of The Once and Future King (one of the greatest fantasy works) and yet it stands alone. I challenge you to not read this as simply another Tolkienesque series but as a series that stands on its own.
There are no endings to the Wheel of Time
I have thoroughly enjoyed reading these novels. And at the end of the day if there is one thing that any novel should be able to do it is to create joy. I do not refer to mere escapism for escapism's sake, however. I refer to the way in which a novel can touch and individual, shape them and allow them to find pleasure in their reality. The way in which a novel. Often as a readers I can get caught up in trying to read 'highbrow literature' because I simply understand that I should. And as such I take the pleasure out of reading. Yet reading should exist to remind us that there are joys in life and that there is great beauty, for what is more beautiful than language and being able to communicate with other individuals? I certainly have found moments of beauty in this series and hopefully will into the future....more
I completed my first re-read of Mistborn today and I must say that it becomes a lot slower to read the second time when youAdd-on December 7 2014:
I completed my first re-read of Mistborn today and I must say that it becomes a lot slower to read the second time when you know where everything is headed. You notice the wordiness of the prose, the clunky dialogue and the fact that there are quite a few spots where it feels overly dramatised rather than necessarily natural. Yet for all of that Brandon Sanderson is a fine storyteller - not necessarily as great a writer at first but he gets a lot better in his later books and isn't the worst I've ever seen.
I want to apologise for being rather absent on here to anyone who is bothering to read this review again or for the first time. I love books, but I love people more and there are some particular people I'm choosing to spend my time with and love. This means I don't have quite the same time for my online presence as before - but it does mean I'm balancing my life and making everything more grounded. I promise I'm still continuing to read. I'm just maturing myself even further and allowing myself to see things in another new perspective. If there's something I can fully recommend about Brandon Sanderson's books it is the challenge in them to think from a new perspective with the religious ideas and magic systems.
Add-on June 15th 2012:
After a little more thought I decided that I'd post a little additional information. Some people argue that Sanderson's work is cliché and long-winded. I can see the long-winded nature of his work in places but if we are talking cliché he uses far less clichés than other works of fiction.
My argument will remain (until someone convinces me otherwise) that the use of cliché is not necessarily bad writing. It is in fact a persuasive technique used to familiarise the audience with what you are writing. Yes an overworking of cliché may be bad but to use cliché here and there I do not agree is poor writing. My argument I back up with the fact that there are no truly original works of fiction anymore.
I think most of the original plots were used up by the time Shakespeare came along. I mean I'm certain I could find a way in which any contemporary work of fiction imitates Shakespeare - who in turn imitated the stories of the Greek and Roman bards. This is of course a subjective argument and will remain so.
What an astounding sequel to a brilliant original book. Probably one of the stronger sequels I've ever read. And in many ways I enjoyed this almostWhat an astounding sequel to a brilliant original book. Probably one of the stronger sequels I've ever read. And in many ways I enjoyed this almost more than the original.
It focused more on the character of Eland Venture, opened up on more of the insecurities of Vin, introduced the new character of Zane and also provided insight into creatures such as the kandra and koloss.
I loved how Sanderson not only addresses such fascinating world-building ideas but cobbled them together with the political and religious elements of the first book. He really properly handled the idea of what happens after a revolution when the despot is removed. Basically he opened up the whole of the first book and turned a few things around.
I really loved how he turned the whole idea of the prophecy around. These lines say it all: "Something has taken control of our religion, something nefarious, something that cannot be trusted. It misleads, and it shadows."
I will now await a time I can lay hold of the next book and then I will devour it. Literally! Or maybe not...
Also as a side-note this book also has a very strong eunuch character. And they're always under-represented in fantasy......more
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