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丿禺鬲乇讴 鬲賳賴丕 丕賲賷丿賽 禺賵亘丕賳 丿乇 噩賳诏 亘丕 爻丕丨乇賴鈥屬� 卮乇賵乇 賲卮賴賵乇 亘賴 亘丕賳賵 丕爻鬲. 丕夭 倬丕賷诏丕賴賷 爻賽乇賾賷 丿乇 丿卮鬲 賵丨卮鬲貙 噩丕賷賷 讴賴 丨鬲賷 亘丕賳賵 亘乇丕賷 乇賮鬲賳 亘賴 丌賳噩丕 鬲乇丿賷丿 丿丕乇丿貙 诏乇賵賴丕賳 爻賷丕賴 讴賴 夭賲丕賳賷 亘賴 亘丕賳賵 禺丿賲鬲 賲賷鈥屭┴必� 丕讴賳賵賳 亘乇丕賷 倬賷乇賵夭 爻丕禺鬲賳 乇夭 爻倬賷丿 賲賷鈥屫嗂�.
丕賲丕 丕讴賳賵賳 卮乇丕乇鬲賷 毓馗賷賲鈥屫� 丿賳賷丕 乇丕 鬲賴丿賷丿 賲賷鈥屭┵嗀�.
丌賳 賴賳诏丕賲 讴賴 丨丕讴賲 丕夭 诏賵乇 亘乇禺賷夭丿貙 鬲賲丕賲賷賽 噩賳诏鈥屬囏з� 亘夭乇诏賷 讴賴 倬賷卮 丕夭 丕賷賳 乇禺 丿丕丿賴 亘賵丿賳丿貙 賴賲趩賵賳 夭丿 賵 禺賵乇丿賷 噩夭卅賷 亘賴 趩卮賲 禺賵丕賴賳丿 丌賲丿.
丕賲丕 丕讴賳賵賳 卮乇丕乇鬲賷 毓馗賷賲鈥屫� 丿賳賷丕 乇丕 鬲賴丿賷丿 賲賷鈥屭┵嗀�.
丌賳 賴賳诏丕賲 讴賴 丨丕讴賲 丕夭 诏賵乇 亘乇禺賷夭丿貙 鬲賲丕賲賷賽 噩賳诏鈥屬囏з� 亘夭乇诏賷 讴賴 倬賷卮 丕夭 丕賷賳 乇禺 丿丕丿賴 亘賵丿賳丿貙 賴賲趩賵賳 夭丿 賵 禺賵乇丿賷 噩夭卅賷 亘賴 趩卮賲 禺賵丕賴賳丿 丌賲丿.
487 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 1985
279 people are currently reading
6096 people want to read
About the author
Glen Cook
163听books3,602听followersGlen Cook was born in New York City, lived in southern Indiana as a small child, then grew up in Northern California. After high school he served in the U.S. Navy and attended the University of Missouri. He worked for General Motors for 33 years, retiring some years ago. He started writing short stories in 7th grade, had several published in a high school literary magazine. He began writing with malicious intent to publish in 1968, eventually producing 51 books and a number of short fiction pieces.
He met his wife of 43 years while attending the Clarion Writer's Workshop in 1970. He has three sons (army officer, architect, orchestral musician) and numerous grandchildren, all of whom but one are female. He is best known for his Black Company series, which has appeared in 20+ languages worldwide. His other series include Dread Empire and and the Garrett, P.I. series. His latest work is Working God鈥檚 Mischief, fourth in the Instrumentalities of the Night series.
He met his wife of 43 years while attending the Clarion Writer's Workshop in 1970. He has three sons (army officer, architect, orchestral musician) and numerous grandchildren, all of whom but one are female. He is best known for his Black Company series, which has appeared in 20+ languages worldwide. His other series include Dread Empire and and the Garrett, P.I. series. His latest work is Working God鈥檚 Mischief, fourth in the Instrumentalities of the Night series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 703 reviews
May 19, 2022
A solid ending to an overall enjoyable trilogy of books.
While I did not enjoy this book nearly as much as I did the first one, I thought this book brought things back in a positive direction after a disappointing second book.
I enjoyed that the book was back to the central story of the Black Company instead of shooting off into different storylines, and that the main fight that these characters have been building towards through the first couple books finally came to a conclusion. It was a satisfying ending that left me hungry to pickup the next set of books. The fantastical elements involving magic and huge, mythical beasts brought a more epic scale to this that I appreciated.
The writing was what you would expect from Glen Cook - coming off more as a Vietnam war diary than a traditional novel. It's fun to read this after reading something like Malazan, that so clearly uses The Black Company as inspiration for their military units.
I did think this book lost a little focus at multiple times through the book, where characters go on needless detours that don't bring much to the story. It created some pacing issues that I thought could have been avoided. But with that being said, this was a satisfying book and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend these books to any fan of a more gritty fantasy series.
March 5, 2025
鉃� And the moral of this rerereread is: It is a truth universally acknowledged that grumpy sentient menhirs, windwhales, and attack mantas should be mandatory pets characters in all Fantasy books.
P.S Spoiler Spoiler Spoiler (not the character's real name, in case you were wondering) riding a miniature carpet is the most 馃槀馃槀馃槀馃槀 thing I've read in a long time.
馃憢 To be continued and stuff.
[July 2021]
馃拃 The Black Company is Recruiting Again Buddy Rereread (TBCiRABR鈩�) with the MacHalos and stuff 馃拃
Previous rating: 12 stars.
New rating: 15 stars. And a half.
鉃� And the moral of this rereread is: THAT. ENDING.
P.S. Thou shalt never underestimate Old Trees. No, thou shalt not.
P.P.S. Keeping my pincers crossed that the next time Spoiler Spoiler Spoiler (not the character's real name) spoilers spoilers spoilers it will be for good.
馃憢 To be continued and stuff.
[March 2018]
馃拃 Buddy reread with theclueless new mercenary recruits Elena and Maria over at BB&B. Under the wicked supervision of our Ever-Stalking Black Company Overlord (ESBCO鈩�), of course 馃拃
Previous rating: 5 stars.
New rating: 12 stars. Obviously.
鉃� And the moral of this reread is : I might perhaps have maybe previously mentioned wanting to be the Bloody Shrimping Lady of Scrumpalaciously Delirious Awesomeness (BSLoSDA鈩�) when I grew up. Well either that or her girlfriend. Or both (yes, that could possibly prove a little complicated, but she and I are such cunning geniuses, I'm sure we'd manage to work something out and stuff). Anyway, now I've decided I want her to be my evil mommy, too. Then again, I could live with being her ruthless daughter, as well (I think my most delightful nefariousness would be somewhat pleasing to her). Or her devious granddaughter, come to think of it. But hey, being her homicidal great-great-great granddaughter would work, too. Or maybe her malevolent fourth cousin five times removed. Bloody stinking fish, I'm so desperate I'd even accept to be her feral pet crustacean on a leash or something.
Yes, I am even willing to get my pincers all tied up and stuff. See howkinky desperate I am?
"Anything else," you ask? Why yes, of course, my Little Barnacles. My Grumpy Grumbly Sarcastic Croaky (MGGSC鈩�) is still and forever will be one of my Top Three Mostest Delicioucest Boyfriends Ever (TTMDBE鈩�) and stuff.
Also, I want to have a talking pet menhir when I grow up. The more aggravating, the better.
Also, also, the ending of this book nearly killed me deadly dead. Again. I kinda sorta lurves it and stuff.
[Original review]
This book in a nutshell:
#BRB DEAD is me. Bye now.
馃拃
馃拃
馃拃
馃拃
馃拃
馃拃
HAHAHAHAHA, you are so na茂ve sometimes. Did you honestly think you were going to get out of this one so easily? You don't know me at all, do you? Do you think the fact that I seem to be unable to write non-crappy reviews for this series is going to stop me? HAHAHAHAHA. Time to wake up and smell the bacon, people. I keep reading crappy books lately, so it would only be fair that I put you through crappy reviews of awesome books when I miraculously come across them. What? You don't see the logic behind that? Oh come on, use those two little grey cells for once. No? Still don't get it? Oh well.
鈻� Welcome to The White Rose Crappy Crash Course! 鈼�
鈶� Characterization heaven:
Glen Cook should teach Complex Characters 101 classes. So many authors could benefit from them *waves at [named removed], [named removed], [named removed], [named removed], [named removed], [named removed], [named removed]鈥�[BEEEEEEEEEEEP]* 鈫� I know, not naming these Pathetic Authors is very unlike me and desperately politically correct. The thing is, the List of Shame is frightfully long, and I'm afraid the Pathetic Authors in question will unleash their Evil Army of Wicked Trolls (EAWT鈩�) on me the minute I post this review. So, in a desperate attempt to save mypretty ass, I shall refrain from naming names. Anyway, where were we? Oh yes, characterization heaven. Let's do a crash course within the crash course, shall we?
鉂� The Lady: I want to be you when I grow up. I originally wanted to marry you, but I don't want your wannabe boyfriend (aka Markus) to go all homicidal maniac on me, so I'll settle for being your awesome-amazing-wicked-ass-kicking-awe-inspiring self. Wait. Let me think about this for a minute. Would being you make me Markus' girlfriend? Bloody hell. Hadn't thought about that. I am SO doomed.
鉂� Croaker: no, you're not getting any younger. Yes, you're pretty much at the end of your rope. Yes, you're the resident grumpy cat. Yes, you're desperately slow in the please-romance-the-hell-out-of-my-knickers department. But YES, you rock. YES, you're awesome. And YES, I'M IN LOVE.
馃拃 Corbie: well, I'll be damned. You know what? I no longer want to go all [BEEP] on [BEEP] and [BEEP] you in my [BEEP]. I might be a huge [BEEP] fan, but even I have my limits. Bye bye, you [BEEEEEEEEEEEP].
鉂� One-Eye and Goblin (aka Maggot and Guano): you're the resident freaky clowns. You're pretty awesome when you do your magic thing. You're pretty funny in a delightfully batshit crazy kind of way. And you can be trusted to act like stupid airheads at the most inappropriate times. Can I adopt you?
鉂� Darling: well, well, well. Aren't we full of surprises?
鉂� Silent: well, well, well. Aren't we full of surprises?
鈶� How do I get Plain of Fear citizenship?
What is the Plain of Fear, you ask? It's the too-awesome-for-words place where the Black Company & friends hide from the I-want-to-be-you-when-I-grow-up Lady. Why do I want citizenship? You do ask silly questions sometimes, I hope you're aware of it. But anyway. Here's why:
路 Talking stones. No. Make that aggravating talking stones.
路 Flying windwhales and their manta friends.
路 Walking trees.
路 Change storms that distort reality.
路 Old Father Tree. Wanna know about him? Read the book and learn, young Padawan.
路 Coral that has a life of its own.
路 Wild human tribes.
鈫� If that isn鈥檛 beyond awesome, I don't know what it. So get me a Plain of Fear passport. NOW.
鈶� The greatest battle that ever was:
Team Lady vs. Team Plain of Fear = Tolkien has nothing on Cook. Seriously. Because an army of Flying Carpets 2.0 (new and improved! Now with real seats! And ballistas! And Spears! And Pedals! And lots of other awesome stuff!) + an army of windwhales + the Plain of Fear menagerie + flower pots (yes, you read that right) + things that leap and hop and glide and flop and fly = "So gruesome and wondrous a sight" . Bloody hell yes. This. Is. Perfection.
鈶� Those last few chapters. That. Ending:
Yeah, even Caesar is #BRB dead. That should tell you something right there.
鈻衡柡 And the moral of this Crappy Crash Course is: I am omniscient, all-knowing and pretty much perfect 鈽� sarcasm alert 鈽� but I have to admit I, for once, was wrong. I realize how disappointed you must be. I mean, you all pretty much worship me, and you must be quite depressed now that you know I'm not as perfect as you thought I was 鈽� sarcasm alert 鈽� I hope you get over it, and I promise it's the very last time I let you down. But I digress. Where was I? Oh yes, I was wrong. In fact, I was very wrong. Because I thought I would never, ever, find a series as bloody awesome/mind-blowing/amazing/fantastic/insert all that apply as Kate Daniels. Please forgive me, IA Gods, for I have sinned. There is indeed a series that I love almost as much as I LOVE KD. Almost. Because The Chronicles of the Bad Company desperately lacks hot tubs. And that's quite a hindrance, if you ask me.
路 Book 1: The Black Company 鈽呪槄鈽呪槄鈽�
路Book 1.5: Port of Shadows 鈽� 鈫� I have no idea where this book came from, or what it's about. Pretty sure I never read it.
路 Book 2: Shadows Linger 鈽呪槄鈽呪槄鈽�
鈥� Book 2.2 (short story): Shaggy Dog Bridge 鈽呪槄鈽呪槄鈽�
鈥� Book 2.3 (short story): Bone Eaters 鈽呪槄鈽呪槄鈽�
路 Book 2.4 (short story): Letha of the Thousand Sorrows 鈽呪槄鈽�
路 Book 3.5: The Silver Spike 鈽呪槄鈽呪槄
路 Book 4: Shadow Games 鈽呪槄鈽呪槄鈽�
路 Book 5: Dreams of Steel 鈽呪槄鈽呪槄鈽�
路 Book 6: Bleak Seasons 鈽呪槄鈽呪槄鈽�
路 Book 7: She Is The Darkness 鈽呪槄鈽呪槄鈽�
路 Book 8: Water Sleeps 鈽呪槄鈽呪槄鈽�
路 Book 9: Soldiers Live 鈽呪槄鈽呪槄鈽�
路 Book 10: Lies Weeping 路 Expected publication Nov. 4, 2025
P.S Spoiler Spoiler Spoiler (not the character's real name, in case you were wondering) riding a miniature carpet is the most 馃槀馃槀馃槀馃槀 thing I've read in a long time.
馃憢 To be continued and stuff.
[July 2021]
馃拃 The Black Company is Recruiting Again Buddy Rereread (TBCiRABR鈩�) with the MacHalos and stuff 馃拃
Previous rating: 12 stars.
New rating: 15 stars. And a half.
鉃� And the moral of this rereread is: THAT. ENDING.
P.S. Thou shalt never underestimate Old Trees. No, thou shalt not.
P.P.S. Keeping my pincers crossed that the next time Spoiler Spoiler Spoiler (not the character's real name) spoilers spoilers spoilers it will be for good.
馃憢 To be continued and stuff.
[March 2018]
馃拃 Buddy reread with the
Previous rating: 5 stars.
New rating: 12 stars. Obviously.
鉃� And the moral of this reread is : I might perhaps have maybe previously mentioned wanting to be the Bloody Shrimping Lady of Scrumpalaciously Delirious Awesomeness (BSLoSDA鈩�) when I grew up. Well either that or her girlfriend. Or both (yes, that could possibly prove a little complicated, but she and I are such cunning geniuses, I'm sure we'd manage to work something out and stuff). Anyway, now I've decided I want her to be my evil mommy, too. Then again, I could live with being her ruthless daughter, as well (I think my most delightful nefariousness would be somewhat pleasing to her). Or her devious granddaughter, come to think of it. But hey, being her homicidal great-great-great granddaughter would work, too. Or maybe her malevolent fourth cousin five times removed. Bloody stinking fish, I'm so desperate I'd even accept to be her feral pet crustacean on a leash or something.
Yes, I am even willing to get my pincers all tied up and stuff. See how
"Anything else," you ask? Why yes, of course, my Little Barnacles. My Grumpy Grumbly Sarcastic Croaky (MGGSC鈩�) is still and forever will be one of my Top Three Mostest Delicioucest Boyfriends Ever (TTMDBE鈩�) and stuff.
Also, I want to have a talking pet menhir when I grow up. The more aggravating, the better.
Also, also, the ending of this book nearly killed me deadly dead. Again. I kinda sorta lurves it and stuff.
[Original review]
This book in a nutshell:
#BRB DEAD is me. Bye now.
馃拃
馃拃
馃拃
馃拃
馃拃
馃拃
HAHAHAHAHA, you are so na茂ve sometimes. Did you honestly think you were going to get out of this one so easily? You don't know me at all, do you? Do you think the fact that I seem to be unable to write non-crappy reviews for this series is going to stop me? HAHAHAHAHA. Time to wake up and smell the bacon, people. I keep reading crappy books lately, so it would only be fair that I put you through crappy reviews of awesome books when I miraculously come across them. What? You don't see the logic behind that? Oh come on, use those two little grey cells for once. No? Still don't get it? Oh well.
鈻� Welcome to The White Rose Crappy Crash Course! 鈼�
鈶� Characterization heaven:
Glen Cook should teach Complex Characters 101 classes. So many authors could benefit from them *waves at [named removed], [named removed], [named removed], [named removed], [named removed], [named removed], [named removed]鈥�[BEEEEEEEEEEEP]* 鈫� I know, not naming these Pathetic Authors is very unlike me and desperately politically correct. The thing is, the List of Shame is frightfully long, and I'm afraid the Pathetic Authors in question will unleash their Evil Army of Wicked Trolls (EAWT鈩�) on me the minute I post this review. So, in a desperate attempt to save my
鉂� The Lady: I want to be you when I grow up. I originally wanted to marry you, but I don't want your wannabe boyfriend (aka Markus) to go all homicidal maniac on me, so I'll settle for being your awesome-amazing-wicked-ass-kicking-awe-inspiring self. Wait. Let me think about this for a minute. Would being you make me Markus' girlfriend? Bloody hell. Hadn't thought about that. I am SO doomed.
鉂� Croaker: no, you're not getting any younger. Yes, you're pretty much at the end of your rope. Yes, you're the resident grumpy cat. Yes, you're desperately slow in the please-romance-the-hell-out-of-my-knickers department. But YES, you rock. YES, you're awesome. And YES, I'M IN LOVE.
馃拃 Corbie: well, I'll be damned. You know what? I no longer want to go all [BEEP] on [BEEP] and [BEEP] you in my [BEEP]. I might be a huge [BEEP] fan, but even I have my limits. Bye bye, you [BEEEEEEEEEEEP].
鉂� One-Eye and Goblin (aka Maggot and Guano): you're the resident freaky clowns. You're pretty awesome when you do your magic thing. You're pretty funny in a delightfully batshit crazy kind of way. And you can be trusted to act like stupid airheads at the most inappropriate times. Can I adopt you?
鉂� Darling: well, well, well. Aren't we full of surprises?
鉂� Silent: well, well, well. Aren't we full of surprises?
鈶� How do I get Plain of Fear citizenship?
What is the Plain of Fear, you ask? It's the too-awesome-for-words place where the Black Company & friends hide from the I-want-to-be-you-when-I-grow-up Lady. Why do I want citizenship? You do ask silly questions sometimes, I hope you're aware of it. But anyway. Here's why:
路 Talking stones. No. Make that aggravating talking stones.
路 Flying windwhales and their manta friends.
路 Walking trees.
路 Change storms that distort reality.
路 Old Father Tree. Wanna know about him? Read the book and learn, young Padawan.
路 Coral that has a life of its own.
路 Wild human tribes.
鈫� If that isn鈥檛 beyond awesome, I don't know what it. So get me a Plain of Fear passport. NOW.
鈶� The greatest battle that ever was:
Team Lady vs. Team Plain of Fear = Tolkien has nothing on Cook. Seriously. Because an army of Flying Carpets 2.0 (new and improved! Now with real seats! And ballistas! And Spears! And Pedals! And lots of other awesome stuff!) + an army of windwhales + the Plain of Fear menagerie + flower pots (yes, you read that right) + things that leap and hop and glide and flop and fly = "So gruesome and wondrous a sight" . Bloody hell yes. This. Is. Perfection.
鈶� Those last few chapters. That. Ending:
Yeah, even Caesar is #BRB dead. That should tell you something right there.
鈻衡柡 And the moral of this Crappy Crash Course is: I am omniscient, all-knowing and pretty much perfect 鈽� sarcasm alert 鈽� but I have to admit I, for once, was wrong. I realize how disappointed you must be. I mean, you all pretty much worship me, and you must be quite depressed now that you know I'm not as perfect as you thought I was 鈽� sarcasm alert 鈽� I hope you get over it, and I promise it's the very last time I let you down. But I digress. Where was I? Oh yes, I was wrong. In fact, I was very wrong. Because I thought I would never, ever, find a series as bloody awesome/mind-blowing/amazing/fantastic/insert all that apply as Kate Daniels. Please forgive me, IA Gods, for I have sinned. There is indeed a series that I love almost as much as I LOVE KD. Almost. Because The Chronicles of the Bad Company desperately lacks hot tubs. And that's quite a hindrance, if you ask me.
路 Book 1: The Black Company 鈽呪槄鈽呪槄鈽�
路
路 Book 2: Shadows Linger 鈽呪槄鈽呪槄鈽�
鈥� Book 2.2 (short story): Shaggy Dog Bridge 鈽呪槄鈽呪槄鈽�
鈥� Book 2.3 (short story): Bone Eaters 鈽呪槄鈽呪槄鈽�
路 Book 2.4 (short story): Letha of the Thousand Sorrows 鈽呪槄鈽�
路 Book 3.5: The Silver Spike 鈽呪槄鈽呪槄
路 Book 4: Shadow Games 鈽呪槄鈽呪槄鈽�
路 Book 5: Dreams of Steel 鈽呪槄鈽呪槄鈽�
路 Book 6: Bleak Seasons 鈽呪槄鈽呪槄鈽�
路 Book 7: She Is The Darkness 鈽呪槄鈽呪槄鈽�
路 Book 8: Water Sleeps 鈽呪槄鈽呪槄鈽�
路 Book 9: Soldiers Live 鈽呪槄鈽呪槄鈽�
路 Book 10: Lies Weeping 路 Expected publication Nov. 4, 2025
August 7, 2022
鈥淚t is only slightly less difficult for us to extinguish the light within us than it is for us to conquer the darkness.鈥�
The black, the white and all shades of grey. The White Rose takes us first of all to the Plain of Fear, where the Black Company is hiding from the Lady鈥檚 minions. We will also learn the tale of Bomanz, the infamous sorcerer who released the Lady. The action buildup takes a long time, but when things get into the flow, so to speak, the current is overwhelming. There is a lot of surprising threads, and twists, and turns. From book to book, the Author retains his ability to surprise me, particularly in the way he manages to tie the events to things you鈥檇 believe mentioned and forgotten. Those themes and motifs emerge and resurface in the least expected way.
鈥淭here were dreams once upon a time, dreams now all but forgotten. On sad days I dust them off and fondle them nostalgically, with a patronizing wonder at the naivete of the youth who dreamed them.鈥�
The plot is divided into three threads that interweave in a very interesting way. The first, of course, is Croaker, writing the Company鈥檚 Annals as if it was his own diary. The second is the 鈥渙mniscient鈥� narrator retelling the story of Bomanz, and the third POV is a mysterious person who sends letters to Croaker. These three separate stories in time begin to overlap (and make sense), and thanks to different narratives, we have the opportunity to look at the main story from a different perspective and see different protagonists in an entirely new light.
鈥淎ppearances deceive, of course. And the Lady鈥檚 essence is illusion.鈥�
The action focuses in two main locations: the Plain of Fear and the Barrowland; both are fascinating. On the Plain, weird is the order of the day with forty intelligent species inhabiting the wilderness, including stones speaking high sarcasm, flying whales and moving trees. The Barrowland is magical ground zero, a lodestone for destinies. But aside the new world building snippets, the most impressive thing about the White Rose is an amazing character development. It鈥檚 as if protagonists you thought you knew and loved (or hated) are created anew with such mastery that you can do nothing but follow shaking your head in amazement. This book, without a doubt, is a study in contrasts.
I was, however, disappointed by a conspicuous absence of Darling. I mean, she does feature in the story, but the title suggests her being central to the tale, this is far from being true. In a sense, she remains just like the comet, visible and symbolic but far removed what is happening on the ground. You could perhaps say that it is difficult to do more with a deaf and mute protagonist, but I don鈥檛 think such constraints pose any hindrance for a writer as fine as Mr Cook. And he shows his mastery in this volume pushing his character through difficult hoops, facing them with impossible choices, and forcing them to consider them issues far more complex than the next prank in the never-ending war between One-Eye and Goblin.
Of course, the Author made sure that the reader, even slightly tired of the plot intricacies, is compelled to find out what is going to happen to the Company next. After such ending, you simply cannot NOT read the next book.
Last but not least: Croaker, you had it coming.
---
The other Chronicles:
1. The Black Company 鈽呪槄鈽呪槄鈽�
2. Shadows Linger 鈽呪槄鈽� (and a half, 欧宝娱乐!)
3.5 Silver Spike 鈽呪槄鈽嗏槅鈽�
4. Shadow Games 鈽呪槄鈽呪槄鈽�
5. Dreams of Steel 鈽呪槄鈽呪槅鈽�
6. Black Seasons 鈽呪槄鈽呪槅鈽�
7. She is the Darkness 鈽呪槄鈽呪槄鈽�
8. Water Sleeps RTC
9. Soldiers Live RTC
10. A Pitiless Rain RTC
The black, the white and all shades of grey. The White Rose takes us first of all to the Plain of Fear, where the Black Company is hiding from the Lady鈥檚 minions. We will also learn the tale of Bomanz, the infamous sorcerer who released the Lady. The action buildup takes a long time, but when things get into the flow, so to speak, the current is overwhelming. There is a lot of surprising threads, and twists, and turns. From book to book, the Author retains his ability to surprise me, particularly in the way he manages to tie the events to things you鈥檇 believe mentioned and forgotten. Those themes and motifs emerge and resurface in the least expected way.
鈥淭here were dreams once upon a time, dreams now all but forgotten. On sad days I dust them off and fondle them nostalgically, with a patronizing wonder at the naivete of the youth who dreamed them.鈥�
The plot is divided into three threads that interweave in a very interesting way. The first, of course, is Croaker, writing the Company鈥檚 Annals as if it was his own diary. The second is the 鈥渙mniscient鈥� narrator retelling the story of Bomanz, and the third POV is a mysterious person who sends letters to Croaker. These three separate stories in time begin to overlap (and make sense), and thanks to different narratives, we have the opportunity to look at the main story from a different perspective and see different protagonists in an entirely new light.
鈥淎ppearances deceive, of course. And the Lady鈥檚 essence is illusion.鈥�
The action focuses in two main locations: the Plain of Fear and the Barrowland; both are fascinating. On the Plain, weird is the order of the day with forty intelligent species inhabiting the wilderness, including stones speaking high sarcasm, flying whales and moving trees. The Barrowland is magical ground zero, a lodestone for destinies. But aside the new world building snippets, the most impressive thing about the White Rose is an amazing character development. It鈥檚 as if protagonists you thought you knew and loved (or hated) are created anew with such mastery that you can do nothing but follow shaking your head in amazement. This book, without a doubt, is a study in contrasts.
I was, however, disappointed by a conspicuous absence of Darling. I mean, she does feature in the story, but the title suggests her being central to the tale, this is far from being true. In a sense, she remains just like the comet, visible and symbolic but far removed what is happening on the ground. You could perhaps say that it is difficult to do more with a deaf and mute protagonist, but I don鈥檛 think such constraints pose any hindrance for a writer as fine as Mr Cook. And he shows his mastery in this volume pushing his character through difficult hoops, facing them with impossible choices, and forcing them to consider them issues far more complex than the next prank in the never-ending war between One-Eye and Goblin.
Of course, the Author made sure that the reader, even slightly tired of the plot intricacies, is compelled to find out what is going to happen to the Company next. After such ending, you simply cannot NOT read the next book.
Last but not least: Croaker, you had it coming.
---
The other Chronicles:
1. The Black Company 鈽呪槄鈽呪槄鈽�
2. Shadows Linger 鈽呪槄鈽� (and a half, 欧宝娱乐!)
3.5 Silver Spike 鈽呪槄鈽嗏槅鈽�
4. Shadow Games 鈽呪槄鈽呪槄鈽�
5. Dreams of Steel 鈽呪槄鈽呪槅鈽�
6. Black Seasons 鈽呪槄鈽呪槅鈽�
7. She is the Darkness 鈽呪槄鈽呪槄鈽�
8. Water Sleeps RTC
9. Soldiers Live RTC
10. A Pitiless Rain RTC
December 7, 2015
4.5 Stars
An excellent ending to this trilogy.
The Lady is finalizing her end game. The Black Company & the White Rose are waiting it out on the Plain of Fear, planning their own strike. Unfortunately, there is that saying about the best laid plans鈥�
The Dominator is stirring.
Where book two was a different type of story, book three returns to familiar grounds and reads much like the first book. As stated The Black Company and the White Rose have made their headquarters in the Plain of Fear and have been hiding out there for some time, occasionally striking at The Lady and her dark forces. They seem to be holding out, but are of course vastly outnumbered. And the timing of prophesied events are still many years away.
But then Croaker starts receiving packages from an unknown sender, containing an incredible story that might just hold the key to turning the tide of the war. That is, until the last message does not arrive.
And so Croaker is sent on a quest to the Barrowlands, to discover what he can about the message and its writer.
In the shadow of the Dominator鈥檚 tomb.
With the Lady always lurking.
Highly recommended.
An excellent ending to this trilogy.
The Lady is finalizing her end game. The Black Company & the White Rose are waiting it out on the Plain of Fear, planning their own strike. Unfortunately, there is that saying about the best laid plans鈥�
The Dominator is stirring.
Where book two was a different type of story, book three returns to familiar grounds and reads much like the first book. As stated The Black Company and the White Rose have made their headquarters in the Plain of Fear and have been hiding out there for some time, occasionally striking at The Lady and her dark forces. They seem to be holding out, but are of course vastly outnumbered. And the timing of prophesied events are still many years away.
But then Croaker starts receiving packages from an unknown sender, containing an incredible story that might just hold the key to turning the tide of the war. That is, until the last message does not arrive.
And so Croaker is sent on a quest to the Barrowlands, to discover what he can about the message and its writer.
In the shadow of the Dominator鈥檚 tomb.
With the Lady always lurking.
Highly recommended.
May 15, 2022
II LECTURA
鈥淓s solo ligeramente menos dif铆cil para nosotros extinguir la luz dentro de nosotros de lo que es conquistar la oscuridad鈥�.
Lo juro. Esta relectura me ha dado la vida, maldita la hora (por no decir algo much铆simo m谩s obsceno) de no haberme le铆do esta novela con calma el noviembre pasado.
鈥淵o nunca he comprendido por qu茅, en un universo tan vasto, un dios deber铆a ocuparse de algo tan trivial como un destino humano鈥�.
Como he dicho en otras rese帽as, este es un libro 鈥渆xtra帽o鈥�. Muchas veces te cuesta seguir la narraci贸n del autor, as铆 como los cap铆tulos no son cronol贸gicamente lineales. Vayanse haci茅ndo a la idea鈥�
La narraci贸n sigue siendo un poco una odisea. Me falta el wordbuilding y un sistema de magia mejor desarrollado. Pero, no puedo pedir m谩s porque todo est谩 escrito en forma de diario del medico de la compa帽铆a, Matasanos. Personaje que amo con todo mi coraz贸n, junto con la Dama.
"Curioso, pens贸. 驴Por qu茅 nos sentimos tan intrigados por el mal?".
Sin embargo, a pesar de todos los problemas que le veo a la novela. Tiene un 鈥渁lgo鈥� que me chifla y me hace seguir las aventuras de estos mercenarios que no tienen nada que perder ya salvo la vida. A por el siguiente.
"-Tu muerte puede ser muy desagradable, m茅dico.
-La muerte es la muerte".
I LECTURA
3.5
鈥淓sos hombres eran mis amigos. Hab铆amos estado juntos durante toda mi vida adulta. No pod铆a decirles que se mataran ellos mismos. Y yo no pod铆a matarles tampoco.
Pero tampoco pod铆a permitir que fueran capturados鈥�.
Me lo he le铆do a contrarreloj. No deber铆a haberlo hecho, pero sab铆a que si lo le铆a mas lento me iba a estancar. La primera parte me pareci贸 muy confusa. Siento que faltaba un libro de por medio. Si hab铆a alg煤n 2.1 o algo y no estaba traducido, entonces no es culpa m铆a. Mi nivel de ingl茅s no llega a estos niveles tan grandes. Bastante hago con leerlo en espa帽ol.
Creo que ha sido el libro que menos me ha gustado. Ha habido escenas que se me han hecho confusas que he necesitado procesar la informaci贸n. Sin embargo, me alegro mucho de haber terminado la primera trilog铆a y de haberla seguido. Adem谩s, tiene citas muy buenas.
鈥淪铆. Argumentaba que todos somos dioses, que creamos nuestro propio destino. Que lo que somos determinar谩 en lo que nos convertiremos. En un lenguaje campesino vern谩cular, todos nos pintamos en rincones de los que no hay escapatoria simplemente siendo nosotros mismos e interactuando con otros egos.
-Interesante.
-Bien. S铆, Pero hay una especie de dios, Matasanos. 驴Lo sab铆as? Sin embargo, no es un motor y un sacudidor. Simplemente es un negador. Un terminador de historias, Tiene un hambre que no puede ser saciada. El propio universo de deslizar谩 hasta el fondo de sus fauces.
-驴La muerte?
-Yo no quiero morir, Matasanos. Todo lo que hay chilla contra la injusticia de la muerte. Todo lo que soy, fui y probablemente ser茅 est谩 modelado por mi pasi贸n de evadir mi final. Constru铆 un mundo en el cual me sent铆a segura. Y la piedra angular de mi ciudadela fue la muerte.
-Comprendo.
-Quiz谩. Todos somos iguales en la puerta oscura, 驴no? La arena se desliza para todos nosotros. La vida no es m谩s que un destello gritando en las fauces de la eternidad 隆Pero parece tan malditamente injusto!鈥�.
Para aquellos que dudan de empezar esta saga, yo les aconsejo que lo hagan. Yo le doy un aprobado general. Los personajes y el mundo tan oscuro que crea se les coge cari帽o y no creo que sea un derroche de tiempo intentar leerla.
鈥淣o creo que seas malvada. Creo que simplemente lo intentas. Creo que, pese a todas las maldades que has cometido, parte de la ni帽a que fuiste permanece sin mancillar. Todav铆a queda un destello, y no puedes extinguirlo鈥�.
鈥淓s solo ligeramente menos dif铆cil para nosotros extinguir la luz dentro de nosotros de lo que es conquistar la oscuridad鈥�.
Lo juro. Esta relectura me ha dado la vida, maldita la hora (por no decir algo much铆simo m谩s obsceno) de no haberme le铆do esta novela con calma el noviembre pasado.
鈥淵o nunca he comprendido por qu茅, en un universo tan vasto, un dios deber铆a ocuparse de algo tan trivial como un destino humano鈥�.
Como he dicho en otras rese帽as, este es un libro 鈥渆xtra帽o鈥�. Muchas veces te cuesta seguir la narraci贸n del autor, as铆 como los cap铆tulos no son cronol贸gicamente lineales. Vayanse haci茅ndo a la idea鈥�
La narraci贸n sigue siendo un poco una odisea. Me falta el wordbuilding y un sistema de magia mejor desarrollado. Pero, no puedo pedir m谩s porque todo est谩 escrito en forma de diario del medico de la compa帽铆a, Matasanos. Personaje que amo con todo mi coraz贸n, junto con la Dama.
"Curioso, pens贸. 驴Por qu茅 nos sentimos tan intrigados por el mal?".
Sin embargo, a pesar de todos los problemas que le veo a la novela. Tiene un 鈥渁lgo鈥� que me chifla y me hace seguir las aventuras de estos mercenarios que no tienen nada que perder ya salvo la vida. A por el siguiente.
"-Tu muerte puede ser muy desagradable, m茅dico.
-La muerte es la muerte".
I LECTURA
3.5
鈥淓sos hombres eran mis amigos. Hab铆amos estado juntos durante toda mi vida adulta. No pod铆a decirles que se mataran ellos mismos. Y yo no pod铆a matarles tampoco.
Pero tampoco pod铆a permitir que fueran capturados鈥�.
Me lo he le铆do a contrarreloj. No deber铆a haberlo hecho, pero sab铆a que si lo le铆a mas lento me iba a estancar. La primera parte me pareci贸 muy confusa. Siento que faltaba un libro de por medio. Si hab铆a alg煤n 2.1 o algo y no estaba traducido, entonces no es culpa m铆a. Mi nivel de ingl茅s no llega a estos niveles tan grandes. Bastante hago con leerlo en espa帽ol.
Creo que ha sido el libro que menos me ha gustado. Ha habido escenas que se me han hecho confusas que he necesitado procesar la informaci贸n. Sin embargo, me alegro mucho de haber terminado la primera trilog铆a y de haberla seguido. Adem谩s, tiene citas muy buenas.
鈥淪铆. Argumentaba que todos somos dioses, que creamos nuestro propio destino. Que lo que somos determinar谩 en lo que nos convertiremos. En un lenguaje campesino vern谩cular, todos nos pintamos en rincones de los que no hay escapatoria simplemente siendo nosotros mismos e interactuando con otros egos.
-Interesante.
-Bien. S铆, Pero hay una especie de dios, Matasanos. 驴Lo sab铆as? Sin embargo, no es un motor y un sacudidor. Simplemente es un negador. Un terminador de historias, Tiene un hambre que no puede ser saciada. El propio universo de deslizar谩 hasta el fondo de sus fauces.
-驴La muerte?
-Yo no quiero morir, Matasanos. Todo lo que hay chilla contra la injusticia de la muerte. Todo lo que soy, fui y probablemente ser茅 est谩 modelado por mi pasi贸n de evadir mi final. Constru铆 un mundo en el cual me sent铆a segura. Y la piedra angular de mi ciudadela fue la muerte.
-Comprendo.
-Quiz谩. Todos somos iguales en la puerta oscura, 驴no? La arena se desliza para todos nosotros. La vida no es m谩s que un destello gritando en las fauces de la eternidad 隆Pero parece tan malditamente injusto!鈥�.
Para aquellos que dudan de empezar esta saga, yo les aconsejo que lo hagan. Yo le doy un aprobado general. Los personajes y el mundo tan oscuro que crea se les coge cari帽o y no creo que sea un derroche de tiempo intentar leerla.
鈥淣o creo que seas malvada. Creo que simplemente lo intentas. Creo que, pese a todas las maldades que has cometido, parte de la ni帽a que fuiste permanece sin mancillar. Todav铆a queda un destello, y no puedes extinguirlo鈥�.
February 6, 2022
亘丕賱丕禺乇賴 讴鬲丕亘 卮賲丕賱 丕蹖賳 賲噩賲賵毓賴 賴賲 鬲賲賵賲 卮丿 賵 亘丕蹖丿 亘诏賲 倬丕蹖丕賳 亘賳丿蹖 禺賵亘蹖 亘乇丕蹖 亘禺卮 丕賵賱 賲噩賲賵毓賴 亘賵丿. 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 賴賲 爻賴 鬲丕 禺胤 丿丕爻鬲丕賳蹖 丿丕乇賴貙 丿賵鬲丕 禺胤 丿丕爻鬲丕賳蹖 丨丕賱 賵 蹖讴蹖 賴賲 鬲賵 诏匕卮鬲賴貙 賴賲 丕讴卮賳卮 禺賵亘賴 賴賲 丕賱賲丕賳 賴丕蹖 賮丕賳鬲夭蹖 賴賲 鬲賵蹖蹖爻鬲 賴丕卮 賵 賴賲 丨噩賲 讴鬲丕亘 讴丕賲賱丕 賲賳丕爻亘賴 賵賱蹖 禺亘 亘丕夭賲 丿賱 賲賳 亘乇丕蹖 old Taken 賴丕 鬲賳诏 賲蹖卮賴.
鬲賵囟蹖丨 禺丕氐蹖 賳賲蹖鬲賵賳賲 亘丿賵賳 賱賵 丿丕丿賳 讴賱 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 亘丿賲 噩夭 丕蹖賳讴賴 亘毓丿 鬲賲賵賲 讴乇丿賳 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 賳賲蹖卮賴 亘蹖禺蹖丕賱 丕丿丕賲賴 禺賵賳丿賳 賲噩賲賵毓賴 亘卮賲 賵賱蹖 丕诏賴 讴爻蹖 賴賲 賳禺賵丕丿 丕丿丕賲賴 亘丿賴 倬丕蹖丕賳 讴鬲丕亘 噩賵乇蹖 賳蹖爻鬲 讴賴 禺賵丕賳賳丿賴 乇賵 亘蹖賳 夭賲蹖賳 賵 賴賵丕 賵賱 讴賳賴 噩丕賲毓 賵 乇丕囟蹖 讴賳賳丿爻鈥屸€�.
鬲賵囟蹖丨 禺丕氐蹖 賳賲蹖鬲賵賳賲 亘丿賵賳 賱賵 丿丕丿賳 讴賱 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 亘丿賲 噩夭 丕蹖賳讴賴 亘毓丿 鬲賲賵賲 讴乇丿賳 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 賳賲蹖卮賴 亘蹖禺蹖丕賱 丕丿丕賲賴 禺賵賳丿賳 賲噩賲賵毓賴 亘卮賲 賵賱蹖 丕诏賴 讴爻蹖 賴賲 賳禺賵丕丿 丕丿丕賲賴 亘丿賴 倬丕蹖丕賳 讴鬲丕亘 噩賵乇蹖 賳蹖爻鬲 讴賴 禺賵丕賳賳丿賴 乇賵 亘蹖賳 夭賲蹖賳 賵 賴賵丕 賵賱 讴賳賴 噩丕賲毓 賵 乇丕囟蹖 讴賳賳丿爻鈥屸€�.
December 14, 2015
The ending to this trilogy was AMAZING!!!
I the beginning I really wasn鈥檛 sure what to think of this series. It started being told in a way that was pretty different. However now that I鈥檝e finished the first trilogy in the series I鈥檓 amazed at how much I鈥檝e enjoyed it and how surprised I was at the end of this book specifically.
One of the best things about this series is that it has two very strong and very different heroines competing against each other. The Lady is a completely scary megalomaniac and at the same time I really like her and totally want to hang out with her more and see what makes her tick. Then there is the White Rose who is cruel in her own way even if she is on team good. When you run an army of men there is no room to be soft.
I love how this series progresses. In the first book there was only really one PoV, that of the annalist Croaker. In the second book there were two, Croaker again and then the innkeeper in the town Raven and Darling were in. Now in this third installment there are 3 different storylines going. That of Croaker and the White Rose鈥檚 Army on the plain of fear set in the present. Then there is Corby a soldier in the Barrowlands that is a few months prior and finally Bozman the wizard who accidentally released The Lady so many years ago.
As all the story lines catch up to one another and converged things I thought I knew totally flipped and characters I was sure I loved in the first two books came into a different light while others I was sure I hated became more humanized and I desperately wanted to find a way for everyone to win. But it is a war and we all know in that there really are no winners.
The Plain of Fear was spectacular. The Lady might have carpets and fallen to fight for her. But The White Rose has wind whales, talking rocks, walking trees and some other crazy creatures in her court.
The aerial battles were more intense with wind whales against flying carpets. Croaker as always seems to be caught in the middle. I鈥檓 just going to say that I might have a huge crush on Croaker, even if he doesn鈥檛 know how to capitalize on a romantic moment to save his life. I also now have a huge soft spot for Silent and really hope he gets the girl he pines for in the end. But this is Glen Cook so it is more likely that he will die a horrific death in an attempt to save her.
There were some HUGE surprises in this. A few were about Raven, some about Darling but most were about The Lady herself. Like I said above I didn鈥檛 expect that end battle and all the happened. It does make things so interesting going forward though.
This ends in a great place where you can walk away from the rest of the books in the series, pfft, or continue on and delve into this strange magical world even more. I鈥檓 totally continuing on because every book has been better for me so far how could the end books be anything other than phenomenal?
I the beginning I really wasn鈥檛 sure what to think of this series. It started being told in a way that was pretty different. However now that I鈥檝e finished the first trilogy in the series I鈥檓 amazed at how much I鈥檝e enjoyed it and how surprised I was at the end of this book specifically.
One of the best things about this series is that it has two very strong and very different heroines competing against each other. The Lady is a completely scary megalomaniac and at the same time I really like her and totally want to hang out with her more and see what makes her tick. Then there is the White Rose who is cruel in her own way even if she is on team good. When you run an army of men there is no room to be soft.
I love how this series progresses. In the first book there was only really one PoV, that of the annalist Croaker. In the second book there were two, Croaker again and then the innkeeper in the town Raven and Darling were in. Now in this third installment there are 3 different storylines going. That of Croaker and the White Rose鈥檚 Army on the plain of fear set in the present. Then there is Corby a soldier in the Barrowlands that is a few months prior and finally Bozman the wizard who accidentally released The Lady so many years ago.
As all the story lines catch up to one another and converged things I thought I knew totally flipped and characters I was sure I loved in the first two books came into a different light while others I was sure I hated became more humanized and I desperately wanted to find a way for everyone to win. But it is a war and we all know in that there really are no winners.
The Plain of Fear was spectacular. The Lady might have carpets and fallen to fight for her. But The White Rose has wind whales, talking rocks, walking trees and some other crazy creatures in her court.
The aerial battles were more intense with wind whales against flying carpets. Croaker as always seems to be caught in the middle. I鈥檓 just going to say that I might have a huge crush on Croaker, even if he doesn鈥檛 know how to capitalize on a romantic moment to save his life. I also now have a huge soft spot for Silent and really hope he gets the girl he pines for in the end. But this is Glen Cook so it is more likely that he will die a horrific death in an attempt to save her.
There were some HUGE surprises in this. A few were about Raven, some about Darling but most were about The Lady herself. Like I said above I didn鈥檛 expect that end battle and all the happened. It does make things so interesting going forward though.
This ends in a great place where you can walk away from the rest of the books in the series, pfft, or continue on and delve into this strange magical world even more. I鈥檓 totally continuing on because every book has been better for me so far how could the end books be anything other than phenomenal?
October 27, 2019
丕夭 賳馗乇 乇賵賳丿 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 丕夭 噩賱丿 丿賵賲 賯卮賳诏鬲乇 亘賵丿 賵賱蹖 毓賳丕氐乇 賮丕賳鬲夭蹖卮 亘毓囟蹖 噩丕賴丕 丕夭 讴賳鬲乇賱 禺丕乇噩 賲蹖卮丿 賵 丨賯蹖賯鬲丕 讴賴 賯丿乇鬲 鬲氐賵乇 丌丿賲 乇賵 亘賴 趩丕賱卮 賲蹖讴卮蹖丿
趩蹖夭蹖 讴賴 鬲賵蹖 丕蹖賳 爻賴 鬲丕 讴鬲丕亘 賲鬲賵噩賴 卮丿賲 丕蹖賳 賴爻鬲 讴賴 诏賱賳 讴賵讴 禺賵卮卮 賳賲蹖丕丿 亘乇丕蹖 亘毓囟蹖 賯爻賲鬲賴丕 鬲賵囟蹖丨 夭蹖丕丿蹖 亘丿賴. 丿乇 賵丕賯毓 亘賴 禺賵丕賳賳丿賴 賲蹖诏賴 诏賵乇 亘丕亘丕鬲. 禺賵丿鬲 趩賳丿亘丕乇 賵 亘丕 丿賯鬲 亘蹖卮鬲乇 亘禺賵賳 讴賴 亘賮賴賲蹖 趩蹖 亘賴 趩蹖 卮丿
賲孬賱丕 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 乇丿诏蹖乇 賵 丕蹖賳讴賴 趩蹖 亘賵丿賴 賵 丕夭 讴噩丕 丕賵賲丿賴 賵 趩賴 丕鬲賮丕賯賴丕蹖蹖 亘乇丕卮 賲蹖 丕賮鬲賴 禺蹖賱蹖 诏賳诏賴
丿乇 讴賱 賲噩賲賵毓賴 丕蹖 賳蹖爻鬲 讴賴 亘禺賵丕蹖丿 爻乇爻乇蹖 亘禺賵賳蹖丿卮 讴賴 賵賯鬲 亘诏匕乇賵賳蹖賳 賵 亘丕蹖丿 氐亘乇 賵 丨賵氐賱賴 亘賴 禺乇噩 亘丿蹖賳
趩蹖夭蹖 讴賴 鬲賵蹖 丕蹖賳 爻賴 鬲丕 讴鬲丕亘 賲鬲賵噩賴 卮丿賲 丕蹖賳 賴爻鬲 讴賴 诏賱賳 讴賵讴 禺賵卮卮 賳賲蹖丕丿 亘乇丕蹖 亘毓囟蹖 賯爻賲鬲賴丕 鬲賵囟蹖丨 夭蹖丕丿蹖 亘丿賴. 丿乇 賵丕賯毓 亘賴 禺賵丕賳賳丿賴 賲蹖诏賴 诏賵乇 亘丕亘丕鬲. 禺賵丿鬲 趩賳丿亘丕乇 賵 亘丕 丿賯鬲 亘蹖卮鬲乇 亘禺賵賳 讴賴 亘賮賴賲蹖 趩蹖 亘賴 趩蹖 卮丿
賲孬賱丕 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 乇丿诏蹖乇 賵 丕蹖賳讴賴 趩蹖 亘賵丿賴 賵 丕夭 讴噩丕 丕賵賲丿賴 賵 趩賴 丕鬲賮丕賯賴丕蹖蹖 亘乇丕卮 賲蹖 丕賮鬲賴 禺蹖賱蹖 诏賳诏賴
丿乇 讴賱 賲噩賲賵毓賴 丕蹖 賳蹖爻鬲 讴賴 亘禺賵丕蹖丿 爻乇爻乇蹖 亘禺賵賳蹖丿卮 讴賴 賵賯鬲 亘诏匕乇賵賳蹖賳 賵 亘丕蹖丿 氐亘乇 賵 丨賵氐賱賴 亘賴 禺乇噩 亘丿蹖賳
April 20, 2019
丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 賮賵賯丕賱毓丕丿賴 亘賵丿
丿賯蹖賯丕 賴賲賵賳 趩蹖夭蹖 讴賴 賲蹖禺賵丕爻鬲賲
蹖賴 噩丕賴丕蹖蹖 鬲禺蹖賱 诏賱賳 讴賵讴 亘賴 爻蹖賲 丌禺乇 賲蹖夭賳賴 賵 蹖讴賲(賮賯胤 蹖讴賲)夭蹖丕丿 賲蹖卮賴
卮禺氐蹖鬲 倬乇丿丕夭蹖 賴丕 賮賵賯 丕賱毓丕丿賴 爻鬲 賵 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 诏蹖乇丕蹖蹖 丿丕乇賴. 倬乇 丕夭 賱丨馗丕鬲 賴蹖噩丕賳 丕賳诏蹖夭 賵 賳亘乇丿 賴丕蹖 亘賴 蹖丕丿 賲賵賳丿賳蹖
鬲乇噩賲賴 賴丕蹖 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 賴賲 賮賵賯 丕賱毓丕丿賴 爻鬲
蹖讴蹖 丕夭 亘賴鬲乇蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 賴丕蹖 賮丕賳鬲夭蹖賴 讴賴 賴乇讴蹖 賳禺賵賳賴 丕夭 丿爻鬲卮 丿丕丿賴.
丿賯蹖賯丕 賴賲賵賳 趩蹖夭蹖 讴賴 賲蹖禺賵丕爻鬲賲
蹖賴 噩丕賴丕蹖蹖 鬲禺蹖賱 诏賱賳 讴賵讴 亘賴 爻蹖賲 丌禺乇 賲蹖夭賳賴 賵 蹖讴賲(賮賯胤 蹖讴賲)夭蹖丕丿 賲蹖卮賴
卮禺氐蹖鬲 倬乇丿丕夭蹖 賴丕 賮賵賯 丕賱毓丕丿賴 爻鬲 賵 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 诏蹖乇丕蹖蹖 丿丕乇賴. 倬乇 丕夭 賱丨馗丕鬲 賴蹖噩丕賳 丕賳诏蹖夭 賵 賳亘乇丿 賴丕蹖 亘賴 蹖丕丿 賲賵賳丿賳蹖
鬲乇噩賲賴 賴丕蹖 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 賴賲 賮賵賯 丕賱毓丕丿賴 爻鬲
蹖讴蹖 丕夭 亘賴鬲乇蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 賴丕蹖 賮丕賳鬲夭蹖賴 讴賴 賴乇讴蹖 賳禺賵賳賴 丕夭 丿爻鬲卮 丿丕丿賴.
December 10, 2015
*** 4.45 ***
Read with the buddies from BBB and loving every second of it!
This third installment wrapped up the story arc of the North, The Lady and the White Rose. And what a wrap-up it was!!! Loose ends get tided up, 3 timelines converge in a battle for a balance between good and evil, and old friends undergo changes which will determine not only their own, but the lives of most of the creatures in the world...
The book started up a bit slow, but it was good, since it let us soak-up the mood of the company 6 years after the devastating losses which occurred in the previous book. They are a pretty pathetic bunch, but they have taken on the cause of the White Rose and reside in a valley fool of really cool magical talking and walking trees, rocks and flying creatures... Their enemy and target - The Lady and her Taken. Since their main weapon, sorcery, is useless in the vicinity of the Rose, they have been going back and forth, finding themselves in somewhat of a stalemate.
Time is not their friend and when Croacker begins receiving packages from an anonymous sender of a story connected with his search for the true name of the Lady, things get jostled and zoom into fast-foreword... The story messes a bit with the perception of time, but it gets clearer as we go. The Lady gets involved and... yea, you will have to read it to get the rest, but it is so absolutely wort it!!! I personally have a bit of a thing for The Lady, but that is me being insane:):):)
As a whole, this series is addictive and very satisfying and I would recommend it to all who like military and evil sorcery mixed in with their fantasy! Have fun reading!!!
Read with the buddies from BBB and loving every second of it!
This third installment wrapped up the story arc of the North, The Lady and the White Rose. And what a wrap-up it was!!! Loose ends get tided up, 3 timelines converge in a battle for a balance between good and evil, and old friends undergo changes which will determine not only their own, but the lives of most of the creatures in the world...
The book started up a bit slow, but it was good, since it let us soak-up the mood of the company 6 years after the devastating losses which occurred in the previous book. They are a pretty pathetic bunch, but they have taken on the cause of the White Rose and reside in a valley fool of really cool magical talking and walking trees, rocks and flying creatures... Their enemy and target - The Lady and her Taken. Since their main weapon, sorcery, is useless in the vicinity of the Rose, they have been going back and forth, finding themselves in somewhat of a stalemate.
Time is not their friend and when Croacker begins receiving packages from an anonymous sender of a story connected with his search for the true name of the Lady, things get jostled and zoom into fast-foreword... The story messes a bit with the perception of time, but it gets clearer as we go. The Lady gets involved and... yea, you will have to read it to get the rest, but it is so absolutely wort it!!! I personally have a bit of a thing for The Lady, but that is me being insane:):):)
As a whole, this series is addictive and very satisfying and I would recommend it to all who like military and evil sorcery mixed in with their fantasy! Have fun reading!!!
May 21, 2014
This was the conclusion to the first Black Company trilogy and concluded the battle for power between The White Rose, The Lady, and The Dominator. I was very pleased by how it all played out. The story was exciting and packed full of twists and turns. I was surprised but very happy with the ending.
Croaker is as likable a character here as he was in the previous two books. It was great to catch up with the rest of The Black Company guys. They are as morally ambiguous and funny as ever. Boamaz and Corby, the other two new POV characters, were interesting in different ways.
Rating: 4 stars. It would have been 4.5 stars, but for some reason the book had a strangely slow start.
Audio Note: I like Marc Vietor. He seems to understand the tone of the series.
Croaker is as likable a character here as he was in the previous two books. It was great to catch up with the rest of The Black Company guys. They are as morally ambiguous and funny as ever. Boamaz and Corby, the other two new POV characters, were interesting in different ways.
Rating: 4 stars. It would have been 4.5 stars, but for some reason the book had a strangely slow start.
Audio Note: I like Marc Vietor. He seems to understand the tone of the series.
April 5, 2018
Buddy read with the seasoned mercenaries and a few new recruits of BB&B.
If I could rate this higher than 5 stars I would. 5 measly stars just can't do TWR (or the Black Company as a whole) justice. A great many things have been said by people more eloquent than me about this series so I'll just add that every fan of the fantasy genre should read it.
I'll start with my only complaint about The White Rose and it has to do with the audio. The narrator has awful diction with no regard to punctuation which led to some of my confusion in the beginning of the book. I had to switch to the physical book a few times and reread some passages to grasp what's happening.
The White Rose nicely wraps up the overall story arc and opens up the possibilities for exploring the world further. I enjoyed Croaker's storytelling, got torn on whether I want Darling or the Lady to win the struggle and laughed my head off at some of the antics of Goblin and One-Eye. I was also glad that I do not live in their world ;) And now I can't wait to see how the BC will continue on.
If I could rate this higher than 5 stars I would. 5 measly stars just can't do TWR (or the Black Company as a whole) justice. A great many things have been said by people more eloquent than me about this series so I'll just add that every fan of the fantasy genre should read it.
I'll start with my only complaint about The White Rose and it has to do with the audio. The narrator has awful diction with no regard to punctuation which led to some of my confusion in the beginning of the book. I had to switch to the physical book a few times and reread some passages to grasp what's happening.
The White Rose nicely wraps up the overall story arc and opens up the possibilities for exploring the world further. I enjoyed Croaker's storytelling, got torn on whether I want Darling or the Lady to win the struggle and laughed my head off at some of the antics of Goblin and One-Eye. I was also glad that I do not live in their world ;) And now I can't wait to see how the BC will continue on.
May 19, 2024
Sono sicuro che questo terzo romanzo tra qualche giorno lo avr貌 gi脿 dimenticato.
Troppo Cerusico e poco spazio per gli altri personaggi in una storia conclusiva con poco mordente che devia dal tono crudo dei primi due romanzi e si abbandona al suo lato pi霉 comico.
Il romanzo rimane in bilico tra l'aspettativa del temibile evento catastrofico in arrivo e la inconsistente bizzarria della Piana della Paura che finisce per ridicolizzare tutto con pietre parlanti, balene volanti, alberi che camminano e uomini cammello al contrario...
Anche se l'idea che sta alla base della Piana della Paura 猫 strepitosa e anche drammatica (idea ripresa poi da Erikson...) viene resa in modo comico e demenziale. Completamente distante dai precedenti romanzi.
La trama 猫 molto semplice, tuttavia arranca e gira su se stessa per arrivare al finale scontato.
Il personaggio della Dama perde completamente il fascino che la circondava nei romanzi precedenti finendo a fare picnic nel deserto...
Mi aspettavo molto di pi霉.
Troppo Cerusico e poco spazio per gli altri personaggi in una storia conclusiva con poco mordente che devia dal tono crudo dei primi due romanzi e si abbandona al suo lato pi霉 comico.
Il romanzo rimane in bilico tra l'aspettativa del temibile evento catastrofico in arrivo e la inconsistente bizzarria della Piana della Paura che finisce per ridicolizzare tutto con pietre parlanti, balene volanti, alberi che camminano e uomini cammello al contrario...
Anche se l'idea che sta alla base della Piana della Paura 猫 strepitosa e anche drammatica (idea ripresa poi da Erikson...) viene resa in modo comico e demenziale. Completamente distante dai precedenti romanzi.
La trama 猫 molto semplice, tuttavia arranca e gira su se stessa per arrivare al finale scontato.
Il personaggio della Dama perde completamente il fascino che la circondava nei romanzi precedenti finendo a fare picnic nel deserto...
Mi aspettavo molto di pi霉.
November 21, 2015
The best book in the series. A fine tale of the Black Company reduced to guerilla warfare in desolate places. Also, the narrative of this book, with three stories from three different periods of time, was amazingly well done. It did not end as I had hoped, or even as I had expected, but it still was a satisfying conclusion to a great fantasy trilogy.
Series review from the beginning
Series review from the ending
Series review from the beginning
Series review from the ending
September 15, 2017
4.5
蹖賴 賲賯丿丕乇 丕蹖賳 噩賱丿 讴卮 丿丕乇 卮丿. 鬲丕 賳氐賮賴 賴丕蹖 讴鬲丕亘 賮賯胤 賳丕賲賴 亘賴 丿爻鬲 胤亘蹖亘 賲蹖 乇爻蹖丿 讴賴 賴賳賵夭 賲卮禺氐 賳亘賵丿 趩蹖 亘賴 趩蹖賴. 賵賱蹖 蹖讴蹖 丿賵爻鬲丕 卮讴 賵 爻賵倬乇丕蹖夭 禺賵亘 丿丕卮鬲. 倬丕蹖丕賳卮 倬丕蹖蹖賳 鬲乇 丕夭 鬲賵賯毓 賲賳 亘賵丿. 賵賱蹖 賲丕爻鬲 賲丕賱蹖 賴賲 賳讴乇丿. 賲賳胤賯蹖 賵 丿乇爻鬲 亘賵丿.
賵 丕賲丕 卮禺氐蹖鬲 賲賵乇丿 毓賱丕賯賴 蹖 丕蹖賳 噩賱丿賲 爻丕蹖賱賳鬲. 亘丕 鬲賲丕賲 亘蹖 丨乇賮蹖 賴丕 賵 丨囟賵乇 讴賲卮. 讴賱丕 卮禺氐蹖鬲 丿賱賳卮蹖賳蹖 亘賵丿
蹖賴 賲賯丿丕乇 丕蹖賳 噩賱丿 讴卮 丿丕乇 卮丿. 鬲丕 賳氐賮賴 賴丕蹖 讴鬲丕亘 賮賯胤 賳丕賲賴 亘賴 丿爻鬲 胤亘蹖亘 賲蹖 乇爻蹖丿 讴賴 賴賳賵夭 賲卮禺氐 賳亘賵丿 趩蹖 亘賴 趩蹖賴. 賵賱蹖 蹖讴蹖 丿賵爻鬲丕 卮讴 賵 爻賵倬乇丕蹖夭 禺賵亘 丿丕卮鬲. 倬丕蹖丕賳卮 倬丕蹖蹖賳 鬲乇 丕夭 鬲賵賯毓 賲賳 亘賵丿. 賵賱蹖 賲丕爻鬲 賲丕賱蹖 賴賲 賳讴乇丿. 賲賳胤賯蹖 賵 丿乇爻鬲 亘賵丿.
賵 丕賲丕 卮禺氐蹖鬲 賲賵乇丿 毓賱丕賯賴 蹖 丕蹖賳 噩賱丿賲 爻丕蹖賱賳鬲. 亘丕 鬲賲丕賲 亘蹖 丨乇賮蹖 賴丕 賵 丨囟賵乇 讴賲卮. 讴賱丕 卮禺氐蹖鬲 丿賱賳卮蹖賳蹖 亘賵丿
November 28, 2024
賲賳 趩賴丕乇卮賳亘賴鈥屰� 賴賮鬲賴鈥屰� 倬蹖卮 鬲氐賲蹖賲 诏乇賮鬲賲 噩賱丿 丿賵賲 賵 爻賵賲 诏乇賵賴丕賳 爻蹖丕賴 乇賵 亘禺賵賳賲 讴賴 丨丿賵丿丕 賴夭丕乇 氐賮丨賴 賲蹖鈥屫促嗀� 倬乇蹖卮亘 鬲賲賵賲卮賵賳 讴乇丿賲. 亘毓丿 丕夭 趩賳丿蹖賳 賲丕賴 讴賳丿 卮丿賳 鬲賵蹖 讴鬲丕亘 禺賵賳丿賳 禺蹖賱蹖 丨爻 禺賵亘蹖 亘賴賲 丿丕丿 讴賴 賴賳賵夭 賲孬賱 賯亘賱 賲蹖鈥屫堎嗁� 賴賮鬲賴鈥屫й� 賴夭丕乇 氐賮丨賴 亘禺賵賳賲.
賵賱蹖 趩蹖夭蹖 讴賴 賴爻鬲 丕蹖賳賴 讴賴 賲賳 讴丕乇 禺丕氐蹖 賳讴乇丿賲貙 賴賲蹖卮賴鈥屰� 讴乇丿蹖鬲鈥屬囏� 亘乇丕蹖 诏賱賳 讴賵讴 賵 乇賵丕蹖鬲鈥屬囏й� 亘蹖鈥屬嗀港屫必促�. 賲賳 賳賲蹖鈥屫堎嗀池� 賳诏丕賴賲賵 丕夭 乇賵蹖 氐賮丨賴 亘乇丿丕乇賲 賵 鬲賳賴丕 趩蹖夭蹖 讴賴 噩賱賵賲賵 賲蹖鈥屭辟佖� 禺爻鬲诏蹖 賵 鬲丕乇 丿蹖丿賳 趩卮賲賲 亘賵丿. 賲賳 賵丕賯毓丕 賳賲蹖鈥屫堎嗁� 亘賴 爻賴鈥屭з嗁団€屰� 讴鬲丕亘 卮賲丕賱 (丕賵賱蹖賳 爻賴鈥屭з嗁団€屰� 爻乇诏匕卮鬲 诏乇賵賴丕賳 爻蹖丕賴)鈥� 丕蹖乇丕丿蹖 亘诏蹖乇賲. 鬲賵蹖 丕蹖賳 噩賱丿 賲賳 禺蹖賱蹖 賮毓丕賱丕賳賴 丿賳亘丕賱 丕卮鬲亘丕賴 诏卮鬲賲貙 丨鬲蹖 趩賳丿亘丕乇 亘賴 禺賵丿賲 诏賮鬲賲 丕蹖賳 亘禺卮 賲蹖鈥屫堎嗀池� 亘賴鬲乇 亘丕卮賴. 賵賱蹖 賴賲蹖卮賴 賲賳 丕卮鬲亘丕賴 賲蹖鈥屭┴必呚� 鬲賲丕賲 亘禺卮鈥屬囏ж� 丿蹖丕賱賵诏鈥屬囏ж� 丕鬲賮丕賯丕鬲 賵.. 賴賲賴 丿丕乇賳 賲丕 乇賵 亘賴 爻賲鬲蹖 賲蹖鈥屫ㄘ辟� 讴賴 賲賳胤賯蹖賴貙 丕鬲賮丕賯蹖賴 讴賴 亘丕蹖丿 亘蹖賵賮鬲賴 賵 丕鬲賮丕賯丕 賲蹖賵賮鬲賴. 蹖毓賳蹖 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴 賲蹖丕丿 賯賵丕賳蹖賳 乇賵 賲蹖鈥屭囏� 趩賳丿鬲丕 倬蹖卮诏賵蹖蹖 賴賲 賲蹖鈥屫柏ж辟� 讴賴 賳鬲丕蹖噩 賴賲賴 蹖讴蹖賴 鬲賯乇蹖亘丕 賵賱蹖 亘丕夭賲 讴丕乇蹖 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗁� 讴賴 鬲賵蹖 氐丿 氐賮丨賴鈥屰� 丌禺乇 賴蹖趩 讴丿賵賲 賲賳卮賳 賳卮賳貙 賲賳 亘賴 毓賳賵丕賳 禺賵丕賳賳丿賴 丨爻 賲蹖鈥屭┴必� 蹖丕丿賲 乇賮鬲賴 鬲丕 丿賯蹖賯丕 丕賵賳 賱丨馗賴鈥屫й� 讴賴 丕鬲賮丕賯 丕賮鬲丕丿.
賵 毓噩亘 噩夭卅蹖丕鬲蹖貙 賴賲賴 趩蹖夭 丿賯蹖賯丕 丕賵賳 賲賯丿丕乇蹖賴 讴賴 亘丕蹖丿 亘丕卮賴. 丌禺乇 噩賱丿 爻賵賲 賲丕 丿丕乇蹖賲 蹖讴爻乇蹖 丕夭 诏乇賴鈥屬囏й� 噩賱丿 丕賵賱 乇賵 鬲丕夭賴 亘丕夭 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗃屬�. 賲孬賱丕 爻乇诏匕卮鬲 卮禺氐蹖鬲蹖 亘賴 丕爻賲 亘丕賳賵 鬲賵蹖 賮氐賱鈥屬囏й� 丌禺乇 賲蹖丕丿貙 丕賵賳 賴賲 丿乇 丨丿 蹖讴爻乇蹖 丕卮丕乇賴 趩賵賳 賵丕賯毓丕 鬲賵蹖 丕賵賳 丿賳蹖丕 丕胤賱丕毓丕鬲 夭蹖丕丿蹖 丿乇 賲賵乇丿卮 賳蹖爻鬲. 亘蹖卮鬲乇 乇賲丕賳鈥屬囏й� 賮丕賳鬲夭蹖 賲丿乇賳 丕蹖賳 丕胤賱丕毓丕鬲 乇賵 鬲賵蹖 賮氐賱鈥� 丕賵賱 噩賱丿 丕賵賱 賲蹖丕乇賳貙 亘乇丕蹖 賴賲蹖賳 鬲賯乇蹖亘丕 丕賴賲蹖鬲蹖 亘乇丕蹖 賲禺丕胤亘 賳丿丕乇賳. 丕蹖賳噩丕 賲賳 亘丕亘鬲 賴乇 賯胤乇賴鈥屫й� 讴賴 丕夭 賲禺夭賳 丕胤賱丕毓丕鬲賽 丿賳蹖丕 賵 卮禺氐蹖鬲鈥屬囏� 賲蹖鈥屫臂屫� 倬丕蹖蹖賳 匕賵賯 賲蹖鈥屭┴必�. 丕蹖賳 讴賲讴 賲蹖鈥屭┴必� 亘丕 賴蹖噩丕賳 亘蹖卮鬲乇蹖 亘禺賵賳賲貙 賲卮讴賱蹖 賳丿丕卮鬲賴 亘丕卮賲 讴賴 丨噩賲卮賵賳 夭蹖丕丿賴.
丨蹖賮 賵丕賯毓丕 讴賴 丿蹖诏賴 讴鬲丕亘鈥屬囏й屰� 卮亘蹖賴 亘賴 诏乇賵賴丕賳 爻蹖丕賴 鬲賵蹖 賮丕賳鬲夭蹖 賳賵卮鬲賴 賳賲蹖鈥屫促囏� 丨鬲蹖 丕賵賳丕蹖蹖 讴賴 亘丕賴丕卮 賲賯丕蹖爻賴 賲蹖鈥屫促� (賲孬賱丕 賲丕賱丕夭丕賳) 丕氐賱丕 亘賴 禺賵亘蹖 丕蹖賳 賲噩賲賵毓賴 賳蹖爻鬲賳.
賵賱蹖 趩蹖夭蹖 讴賴 賴爻鬲 丕蹖賳賴 讴賴 賲賳 讴丕乇 禺丕氐蹖 賳讴乇丿賲貙 賴賲蹖卮賴鈥屰� 讴乇丿蹖鬲鈥屬囏� 亘乇丕蹖 诏賱賳 讴賵讴 賵 乇賵丕蹖鬲鈥屬囏й� 亘蹖鈥屬嗀港屫必促�. 賲賳 賳賲蹖鈥屫堎嗀池� 賳诏丕賴賲賵 丕夭 乇賵蹖 氐賮丨賴 亘乇丿丕乇賲 賵 鬲賳賴丕 趩蹖夭蹖 讴賴 噩賱賵賲賵 賲蹖鈥屭辟佖� 禺爻鬲诏蹖 賵 鬲丕乇 丿蹖丿賳 趩卮賲賲 亘賵丿. 賲賳 賵丕賯毓丕 賳賲蹖鈥屫堎嗁� 亘賴 爻賴鈥屭з嗁団€屰� 讴鬲丕亘 卮賲丕賱 (丕賵賱蹖賳 爻賴鈥屭з嗁団€屰� 爻乇诏匕卮鬲 诏乇賵賴丕賳 爻蹖丕賴)鈥� 丕蹖乇丕丿蹖 亘诏蹖乇賲. 鬲賵蹖 丕蹖賳 噩賱丿 賲賳 禺蹖賱蹖 賮毓丕賱丕賳賴 丿賳亘丕賱 丕卮鬲亘丕賴 诏卮鬲賲貙 丨鬲蹖 趩賳丿亘丕乇 亘賴 禺賵丿賲 诏賮鬲賲 丕蹖賳 亘禺卮 賲蹖鈥屫堎嗀池� 亘賴鬲乇 亘丕卮賴. 賵賱蹖 賴賲蹖卮賴 賲賳 丕卮鬲亘丕賴 賲蹖鈥屭┴必呚� 鬲賲丕賲 亘禺卮鈥屬囏ж� 丿蹖丕賱賵诏鈥屬囏ж� 丕鬲賮丕賯丕鬲 賵.. 賴賲賴 丿丕乇賳 賲丕 乇賵 亘賴 爻賲鬲蹖 賲蹖鈥屫ㄘ辟� 讴賴 賲賳胤賯蹖賴貙 丕鬲賮丕賯蹖賴 讴賴 亘丕蹖丿 亘蹖賵賮鬲賴 賵 丕鬲賮丕賯丕 賲蹖賵賮鬲賴. 蹖毓賳蹖 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴 賲蹖丕丿 賯賵丕賳蹖賳 乇賵 賲蹖鈥屭囏� 趩賳丿鬲丕 倬蹖卮诏賵蹖蹖 賴賲 賲蹖鈥屫柏ж辟� 讴賴 賳鬲丕蹖噩 賴賲賴 蹖讴蹖賴 鬲賯乇蹖亘丕 賵賱蹖 亘丕夭賲 讴丕乇蹖 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗁� 讴賴 鬲賵蹖 氐丿 氐賮丨賴鈥屰� 丌禺乇 賴蹖趩 讴丿賵賲 賲賳卮賳 賳卮賳貙 賲賳 亘賴 毓賳賵丕賳 禺賵丕賳賳丿賴 丨爻 賲蹖鈥屭┴必� 蹖丕丿賲 乇賮鬲賴 鬲丕 丿賯蹖賯丕 丕賵賳 賱丨馗賴鈥屫й� 讴賴 丕鬲賮丕賯 丕賮鬲丕丿.
賵 毓噩亘 噩夭卅蹖丕鬲蹖貙 賴賲賴 趩蹖夭 丿賯蹖賯丕 丕賵賳 賲賯丿丕乇蹖賴 讴賴 亘丕蹖丿 亘丕卮賴. 丌禺乇 噩賱丿 爻賵賲 賲丕 丿丕乇蹖賲 蹖讴爻乇蹖 丕夭 诏乇賴鈥屬囏й� 噩賱丿 丕賵賱 乇賵 鬲丕夭賴 亘丕夭 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗃屬�. 賲孬賱丕 爻乇诏匕卮鬲 卮禺氐蹖鬲蹖 亘賴 丕爻賲 亘丕賳賵 鬲賵蹖 賮氐賱鈥屬囏й� 丌禺乇 賲蹖丕丿貙 丕賵賳 賴賲 丿乇 丨丿 蹖讴爻乇蹖 丕卮丕乇賴 趩賵賳 賵丕賯毓丕 鬲賵蹖 丕賵賳 丿賳蹖丕 丕胤賱丕毓丕鬲 夭蹖丕丿蹖 丿乇 賲賵乇丿卮 賳蹖爻鬲. 亘蹖卮鬲乇 乇賲丕賳鈥屬囏й� 賮丕賳鬲夭蹖 賲丿乇賳 丕蹖賳 丕胤賱丕毓丕鬲 乇賵 鬲賵蹖 賮氐賱鈥� 丕賵賱 噩賱丿 丕賵賱 賲蹖丕乇賳貙 亘乇丕蹖 賴賲蹖賳 鬲賯乇蹖亘丕 丕賴賲蹖鬲蹖 亘乇丕蹖 賲禺丕胤亘 賳丿丕乇賳. 丕蹖賳噩丕 賲賳 亘丕亘鬲 賴乇 賯胤乇賴鈥屫й� 讴賴 丕夭 賲禺夭賳 丕胤賱丕毓丕鬲賽 丿賳蹖丕 賵 卮禺氐蹖鬲鈥屬囏� 賲蹖鈥屫臂屫� 倬丕蹖蹖賳 匕賵賯 賲蹖鈥屭┴必�. 丕蹖賳 讴賲讴 賲蹖鈥屭┴必� 亘丕 賴蹖噩丕賳 亘蹖卮鬲乇蹖 亘禺賵賳賲貙 賲卮讴賱蹖 賳丿丕卮鬲賴 亘丕卮賲 讴賴 丨噩賲卮賵賳 夭蹖丕丿賴.
丨蹖賮 賵丕賯毓丕 讴賴 丿蹖诏賴 讴鬲丕亘鈥屬囏й屰� 卮亘蹖賴 亘賴 诏乇賵賴丕賳 爻蹖丕賴 鬲賵蹖 賮丕賳鬲夭蹖 賳賵卮鬲賴 賳賲蹖鈥屫促囏� 丨鬲蹖 丕賵賳丕蹖蹖 讴賴 亘丕賴丕卮 賲賯丕蹖爻賴 賲蹖鈥屫促� (賲孬賱丕 賲丕賱丕夭丕賳) 丕氐賱丕 亘賴 禺賵亘蹖 丕蹖賳 賲噩賲賵毓賴 賳蹖爻鬲賳.
January 24, 2025
Reread: You know, I actually enjoyed this book the most I've ever enjoyed it. I think I'm riding a Black Company high right now and it's just hitting in all the right ways.
My full review:
My full review:
July 22, 2022
The White Rose is the final Book of the North, providing a very satisfactory conclusion to this first arc of the series. I liked this about as much as Shadows Linger, though for slightly different reasons.
The banter between the Black Company members and Croaker鈥檚 wry, cynical, and terse narration remains a highlight, and so does the military action and strategy. These aspects have become staples and the main strength of the series after the first book. The plot involves the Black Company鈥檚 role in the conflict between the Lady鈥檚 Empire and the White Rose rebellion, while the Dominator seeks to rise from the Barrowlands once more. While I prefer the more cohesively compelling plot of Shadows Linger, this is still an excellent and engaging story.
What I loved about this book, however, was the setting. Cook really seems to have gone all out with his imagination crafting the Plain of Fear. A desolate landscape populated with all sorts of weird and crazy entities, flora, and fauna: sentient animals with their own councils, walking trees, menhirs and boulders that spew cryptic phrases, massive flying whales, and in the centre of the Plain the ancient, grumpy Old Father Tree. This setting was taken advantage of to the fullest, and I really enjoyed how the Black Company made use of the flying whales in their battles.
Bomanz the Wizard鈥檚 story is the secondary plotline, just like Marron Shed in Shadows Linger, though I prefer Shed鈥檚 arc of cowardly courage a tad more. The tale of his illicit research into artefacts of the Dominator and Lady鈥檚 previous Empire and the following family drama leading to the realisation of what he has wrought was great to read, and I liked the way it all tied into the central thread of the Black Company鈥檚 investigations. There was another side story, that of Philodendron Case and his friendship with the secretive Corbie, which was also pretty cool. All three converged near the end and revealed various pieces of information necessary for everyone involved to deal with and wrap up the overall story.
The Lady continues to be a fascinating character. Her insistence on recording the truth of the matter and her nuances besides just being an evil ruler are very intriguing, hinting at unknown depth the more is revealed about her. Her complicated and tumultuous relationship with the Black Company, and Croaker especially, are explored more. It comes to a head at the climactic battle, which was very satisfying in how it paid off many small things that had been built up over the three books. I do wish it had been longer or lingered more on the weight of everything that was going on, but what we got was great nonetheless. Overall, an excellent book that continues the surprisingly compelling story of the Black Company, concluding the first arc of the series that leaves a lot of interesting directions for the story to go in.
The banter between the Black Company members and Croaker鈥檚 wry, cynical, and terse narration remains a highlight, and so does the military action and strategy. These aspects have become staples and the main strength of the series after the first book. The plot involves the Black Company鈥檚 role in the conflict between the Lady鈥檚 Empire and the White Rose rebellion, while the Dominator seeks to rise from the Barrowlands once more. While I prefer the more cohesively compelling plot of Shadows Linger, this is still an excellent and engaging story.
What I loved about this book, however, was the setting. Cook really seems to have gone all out with his imagination crafting the Plain of Fear. A desolate landscape populated with all sorts of weird and crazy entities, flora, and fauna: sentient animals with their own councils, walking trees, menhirs and boulders that spew cryptic phrases, massive flying whales, and in the centre of the Plain the ancient, grumpy Old Father Tree. This setting was taken advantage of to the fullest, and I really enjoyed how the Black Company made use of the flying whales in their battles.
Bomanz the Wizard鈥檚 story is the secondary plotline, just like Marron Shed in Shadows Linger, though I prefer Shed鈥檚 arc of cowardly courage a tad more. The tale of his illicit research into artefacts of the Dominator and Lady鈥檚 previous Empire and the following family drama leading to the realisation of what he has wrought was great to read, and I liked the way it all tied into the central thread of the Black Company鈥檚 investigations. There was another side story, that of Philodendron Case and his friendship with the secretive Corbie, which was also pretty cool. All three converged near the end and revealed various pieces of information necessary for everyone involved to deal with and wrap up the overall story.
The Lady continues to be a fascinating character. Her insistence on recording the truth of the matter and her nuances besides just being an evil ruler are very intriguing, hinting at unknown depth the more is revealed about her. Her complicated and tumultuous relationship with the Black Company, and Croaker especially, are explored more. It comes to a head at the climactic battle, which was very satisfying in how it paid off many small things that had been built up over the three books. I do wish it had been longer or lingered more on the weight of everything that was going on, but what we got was great nonetheless. Overall, an excellent book that continues the surprisingly compelling story of the Black Company, concluding the first arc of the series that leaves a lot of interesting directions for the story to go in.
March 18, 2025
Don't like the ending. The novel became boring around the 2/3 mark.
I still like the narrative style. I still like the feelings of despair, loneliness, desperation, and especially exhaustion experienced by the Company. It just so realistic. I still like how Goblin and One-Eye kept harassing each other (they're like BFFs in denial). Most of all, I still like the way things are described to be neither good or bad, all have their own shades of grey, except maybe the Dominator but he was just inconsequential to me. You just don't get to choose side. Even Croaker is not an automatic choice.
The ending felt a bit rushed. And easy. I think the battles in the first book or even the beginning of the second book are most exhilarating than the final showdown.
Nah, I won't continue to the next ones in the series. Now, moving on to The First Law.
PS: Apparently I did decide to continue for another three books in the Chronicle before stopping.
I still like the narrative style. I still like the feelings of despair, loneliness, desperation, and especially exhaustion experienced by the Company. It just so realistic. I still like how Goblin and One-Eye kept harassing each other (they're like BFFs in denial). Most of all, I still like the way things are described to be neither good or bad, all have their own shades of grey, except maybe the Dominator but he was just inconsequential to me. You just don't get to choose side. Even Croaker is not an automatic choice.
The ending felt a bit rushed. And easy. I think the battles in the first book or even the beginning of the second book are most exhilarating than the final showdown.
Nah, I won't continue to the next ones in the series. Now, moving on to The First Law.
PS: Apparently I did decide to continue for another three books in the Chronicle before stopping.
April 26, 2015
What can I say? This was surprisingly fast and enjoyable read! Third book in series, The White Rose was a culmination for all the secrets and mysteries, as well as for the paths chosen by our protagonists in earlier books. Cook also surprised me with some fresh ideas in this one, although I was always ready to admit his capability to create fantastic scenery and characters with magic powers. I don't want to spoil, so I'll just say it was great. 5 stars!
August 30, 2018
趩賴丕乇 賳蹖賲 丿乇賵丕賯毓.
丕賵賳 賳蹖賲蹖 賴賲 讴賴 丕夭卮 讴賲 讴乇丿賲 亘乇丕蹖 丕蹖賳 亘賵丿 讴賴 蹖噩丕賴丕蹖蹖 丿蹖诏賴 賵丕賯毓丕 賲乇夭 鬲禺蹖賱 乇賵 賲蹖卮讴爻鬲.
賵丕賮毓丕 丕賱丕賳 讴賴 鬲賲賵賲卮 讴乇丿賲 禺蹖賱蹖 趩蹖夭蹖 賳丿丕乇賲 亘诏賲.賮賯胤 賲蹖鬲賵賳賲 亘诏賲 丨蹖乇蹖鬲 丕賳诏蹖夭賴.
賵 丕蹖賳 讴賴 诏賱賳 讴賵讴 賵丕賯毓丕 噩爻丕乇鬲 亘蹖卮 丕夭 丨丿蹖 丿丕乇賴.蹖噩賵乇丕蹖蹖 賲賳 乇賵 蹖丕丿 胤亘蹖亘 賲蹖賳丿丕夭賴.鬲丕 蹖讴賲 鬲丨賵蹖賱卮 賲蹖诏蹖乇蹖 卮乇賵毓 賲蹖讴賳賴 亘賴 亘賴賲 乇蹖禺鬲賳 賴賲賴 趩蹖夭.
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|:賲孬賱丕 禺蹖賱蹖 趩蹖夭蹖 賳丿丕卮鬲賲 讴賴 亘诏賲
丕賵賳 賳蹖賲蹖 賴賲 讴賴 丕夭卮 讴賲 讴乇丿賲 亘乇丕蹖 丕蹖賳 亘賵丿 讴賴 蹖噩丕賴丕蹖蹖 丿蹖诏賴 賵丕賯毓丕 賲乇夭 鬲禺蹖賱 乇賵 賲蹖卮讴爻鬲.
賵丕賮毓丕 丕賱丕賳 讴賴 鬲賲賵賲卮 讴乇丿賲 禺蹖賱蹖 趩蹖夭蹖 賳丿丕乇賲 亘诏賲.賮賯胤 賲蹖鬲賵賳賲 亘诏賲 丨蹖乇蹖鬲 丕賳诏蹖夭賴.
賵 丕蹖賳 讴賴 诏賱賳 讴賵讴 賵丕賯毓丕 噩爻丕乇鬲 亘蹖卮 丕夭 丨丿蹖 丿丕乇賴.蹖噩賵乇丕蹖蹖 賲賳 乇賵 蹖丕丿 胤亘蹖亘 賲蹖賳丿丕夭賴.鬲丕 蹖讴賲 鬲丨賵蹖賱卮 賲蹖诏蹖乇蹖 卮乇賵毓 賲蹖讴賳賴 亘賴 亘賴賲 乇蹖禺鬲賳 賴賲賴 趩蹖夭.
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|:賲孬賱丕 禺蹖賱蹖 趩蹖夭蹖 賳丿丕卮鬲賲 讴賴 亘诏賲
December 14, 2015
The first half was quite slow, but after the three separate storylines converged, the twists just kept coming and coming. The lesser evil triumphs, but there is no HEA anywhere in sight.
Most amazing place: the Plain of Fear
Biggest surprise(s): the alliance. And the end of it...
Favourite character: I cannot pick just one, as all of them were memorable! In no particular order:
- Tracker and Toadkiller Dog: although I figured out what was going on a few chapters before the official reveal, I was still amazed.
- Bomanz: hats off to him, all said and done. And I just have to mention Besand, even if he had a minor role.
- Raven: surprising what lurked beneath the surface. And Case, poor guy, just taken advantage of.
- The Lady: hard as I tried, I could not see her as evil. Or, to put it another way, she was no better or worse than Darling. Both of them vulnerable, too.
- Croaker: as much as I liked him, he would have deserved a smacking for being so clueless!
- Goblin and One-Eye: they took a break in , but they went back to their antics here
- Silent: so sad for him
- Elmo: oh no...
Most amazing place: the Plain of Fear
Biggest surprise(s): the alliance. And the end of it...
Favourite character: I cannot pick just one, as all of them were memorable! In no particular order:
- Tracker and Toadkiller Dog: although I figured out what was going on a few chapters before the official reveal, I was still amazed.
- Bomanz: hats off to him, all said and done. And I just have to mention Besand, even if he had a minor role.
- Raven: surprising what lurked beneath the surface. And Case, poor guy, just taken advantage of.
- The Lady: hard as I tried, I could not see her as evil. Or, to put it another way, she was no better or worse than Darling. Both of them vulnerable, too.
- Croaker: as much as I liked him, he would have deserved a smacking for being so clueless!
- Goblin and One-Eye: they took a break in , but they went back to their antics here
- Silent: so sad for him
- Elmo: oh no...
December 26, 2015
I loved this third installment in the Black Company series. It's ironic how I often find myself speechless when trying to write glowing reviews! But here go a few thoughts:
This book brings together a few threads from both previous stories, and makes sparks when it smashes them together. I loved learning more about the sorceror Bomanz and his part in returning the Lady to power. And speaking of the Lady, I especially enjoyed learning more about her. I also really appreciated getting to see Darling as an adult woman, strong and serious.
The setting was the best yet. The Plain of Fear was truly fantastic, with its dry-land under-water ecology. And Old Father Tree ... wow, that story is going to stick with me.
And the ending of this ... was perfect, but brrrr, also deeply disturbing and creepy.
I highly recommend this series for any fantasy lovers who have not yet gotten to it. Yes, it's grim and dark, but in the best way possible.
An expanded review may follow. But for the moment, this is all my stunned and admiring brain can manage, even after giving myself a day to digest everything.
May 29, 2018
A brilliant finale for the first part of the Black Company story known as the The Books of the North.
The first half of the book was more about the things that happened in the past and the writer tried to give more background information about the story and the characters but the 2nd half was without a doubt: breathtaking.
it was simply the best book of the series so far and a prize for anyone who was a follower of the story and tolerated the difficulties in the past books that made so many reader withdraw from finishing the books.
The first half of the book was more about the things that happened in the past and the writer tried to give more background information about the story and the characters but the 2nd half was without a doubt: breathtaking.
it was simply the best book of the series so far and a prize for anyone who was a follower of the story and tolerated the difficulties in the past books that made so many reader withdraw from finishing the books.
September 23, 2015
the heart wants what the heart wants
even if what it wants is a mass murderous bitch
even if what it wants is a mass murderous bitch
March 22, 2017
RTC once I'm back home.
January 16, 2017
Best so far.
June 30, 2010
4.0 stars. Good ending to a superb fantasy trilogy. The Black Company series is one of the most entertaining fantasy series out there. I loved the first two installments, and and thought they set the bar very high for this third installment. Given the expectations, I was a little disappointed (though only a little) with this finale and thought this book was the weakest of the three. That said, it is still an excellent book and well worth the read.
November 24, 2015
I will give five stars if for nothing then for maturity in its writing. Everything finally settled with the last book.
Personally I found it the best in the trilogy and very satisfying read. The story lead us to final battle between the Lady, White Rose and Dominator and also was written from three points of view or to be exact, three stories entangled in one. We followed Bomanz from the past and his liberation of the Lady, stories by Corbie who followed Bomanz's steps and of course from Croaker and actual timeline.
There was lot of twits and unexpected turns as well as guerrilla warfare, magic from its roots with Gods well forgotten but still there (Malazan style), fantastic! I loved the end and hoped for something like that and it left me dreaming of what would come next. Excellent trilogy, most recommended.
Personally I found it the best in the trilogy and very satisfying read. The story lead us to final battle between the Lady, White Rose and Dominator and also was written from three points of view or to be exact, three stories entangled in one. We followed Bomanz from the past and his liberation of the Lady, stories by Corbie who followed Bomanz's steps and of course from Croaker and actual timeline.
There was lot of twits and unexpected turns as well as guerrilla warfare, magic from its roots with Gods well forgotten but still there (Malazan style), fantastic! I loved the end and hoped for something like that and it left me dreaming of what would come next. Excellent trilogy, most recommended.
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