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The Chronicles of Amber #7
袣褉芯胁 袗屑斜械褉邪
芦袣褉芯胁 袗屑斜械褉邪禄 鈥� 褋褜芯屑邪 泻薪懈卸泻邪 蟹薪邪屑械薪懈褌芯谐芯 褑懈泻谢褍 芦啸褉芯薪褨泻懈 袗屑斜械褉邪禄 邪屑械褉懈泻邪薪褋褜泻芯谐芯 锌懈褋褜屑械薪薪懈泻邪 袪. 袞械谢褟蟹薪懈. 袧邪 袦械褉谢褨薪邪, 褋懈薪邪 袣芯褉胁褨薪邪 袦械褉谢褨薪褋褜泻芯谐芯 褨 袛邪褉懈 褨蟹 袛胁芯褉褨胁 啸邪芯褋褍, 褔械泻邪褞褌褜 薪芯胁褨 锌褉懈谐芯写懈: 褍胁鈥櫻徯沸叫敌叫窖� 褍 袣褉懈褕褌邪谢械胁褨泄 锌械褔械褉褨, 褋褍褌懈褔泻邪 蟹 袛卸邪褋褉芯褞, 蟹褍褋褌褉褨褔 蟹 胁懈褏褨写褑械屑 褨蟹 锌械褉胁褨褋薪芯谐芯 啸邪芯褋褍 小泻褉芯褎芯屑, 锌械褉械褋谢褨写褍胁邪薪薪褟 锌械褉械胁械褉褌薪褟 褨 薪邪锌邪写 薪邪 袙械卸褍 效芯褌懈褉褜芯褏 小胁褨褌褨胁. 袗 薪邪褋邪屑泻褨薪械褑褜 鈥� 蟹褍褋褌褉褨褔 褨蟹 小懈薪褜芯褞 袦邪褋泻芯褞.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1986
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3213 people want to read
About the author
Roger Zelazny
728听books3,802听followersRoger Joseph Zelazny was an American fantasy and science fiction writer known for his short stories and novels, best known for The Chronicles of Amber. He won the Nebula Award three times (out of 14 nominations) and the Hugo Award six times (also out of 14 nominations), including two Hugos for novels: the serialized novel ...And Call Me Conrad (1965), subsequently published under the title This Immortal (1966), and the novel Lord of Light (1967).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 229 reviews
August 7, 2012
Picking up where Trumps of Doom left off, Merle continues trying to figure out who's trying to kill him. Along the way, he discovers more about his friend Luke Raynard, saves the family from being killed at the funeral of one of their own, learns of previously unknown members of the royal family, and discovers he has an ally of sorts that can switch bodies. But can he figure out how these clues fit together before he is killed and Amber is destroyed...
Blood of Amber has more than its share of twists. I had an idea who Luke was but I was a little off. Dalt's identity was much more of a surprise. I'm still not sure who the body-swapper really is or what he/she has in store for Merle. I have a feeling Merle will meet up with Corwin before the series is over.
On to the next volume!
Blood of Amber has more than its share of twists. I had an idea who Luke was but I was a little off. Dalt's identity was much more of a surprise. I'm still not sure who the body-swapper really is or what he/she has in store for Merle. I have a feeling Merle will meet up with Corwin before the series is over.
On to the next volume!
April 17, 2013
Well, that took forever.
Merlin is boring. His life is boring; his problems are boring. And now he's in Wonderland. WTF Zelazny? How's the LSD?
Seriously. I will keep reading the series, because potential. And completion. But I miss Corwin I think more than Merlin does. I like the potential of sorcery, but I really think this thing is being dragged out for no damn reason. Why were the first five books so much more engaging and fantastical? Even the 900th trip through Shadow held my interest better than this.
Well, not everything can be perfect. Carry on.
Merlin is boring. His life is boring; his problems are boring. And now he's in Wonderland. WTF Zelazny? How's the LSD?
Seriously. I will keep reading the series, because potential. And completion. But I miss Corwin I think more than Merlin does. I like the potential of sorcery, but I really think this thing is being dragged out for no damn reason. Why were the first five books so much more engaging and fantastical? Even the 900th trip through Shadow held my interest better than this.
Well, not everything can be perfect. Carry on.
May 2, 2024
This is the second book in the second Amber series, a straight follow-up to Trumps of Doom. Merlin is not as cool nor as smart as his father, Corwin. On the other hand, Zelazny's prose is very finely and lyrically composed in describing the settings and travels, and his depictions of the characters is fascinating, but... All of my reservations come back to the fact that I liked the earlier books better. I compare them favorably to almost any other high fantasy series that comes to mind, though, so I keep trying to treat them fairly. We should all have aunts like Merle does, right?
November 29, 2022
Magic Garden Gone Wrong! Mage Dumps Fertilizer in Final Insult! "Well, I was certain that I had Merlin on the back foot with my magical attacks, but then he trumps out while dumping a truckload of manure on my head! I mean ... who gets to do that in a magical battle?!" - Mask - The Wizards' Weekly
Merlin largely spends this book trying to work out, 'What the Bloody Frack is Going ON!!!' and 'Who the Hell is Trying to Kill Me!!!' Frankly, it's one mysterious villain after another, even the help - here's looking at whoever is possessing Vinta Bayle - is mysterious. That said, he begins to seize the initiative by the end of this volume and assert some authority on events.
Recommended. 5 'Villain du Jour,' stars.
Merlin largely spends this book trying to work out, 'What the Bloody Frack is Going ON!!!' and 'Who the Hell is Trying to Kill Me!!!' Frankly, it's one mysterious villain after another, even the help - here's looking at whoever is possessing Vinta Bayle - is mysterious. That said, he begins to seize the initiative by the end of this volume and assert some authority on events.
Recommended. 5 'Villain du Jour,' stars.
August 7, 2019
My rating 4.5
I could write a lot about this book, but a lot has already been written. Mostly Merlin, as in previous books, discovers new enemies, old enemies come back, former enemies change, and you can expect a lot and be sure it isn't everything it looks like.
I could write a lot about this book, but a lot has already been written. Mostly Merlin, as in previous books, discovers new enemies, old enemies come back, former enemies change, and you can expect a lot and be sure it isn't everything it looks like.
January 20, 2021
Book two of the Second Chronicles of Amber expands the family tree and introduces some new settings. The plot continues to revolve around the various intrigues involving the First Family of Amber as well as the duality between Amber and the Courts of Chaos that plays out across infinite shadow worlds. But there is a strong feeling of "been there done that" which pervades the story, a lack of distinction that makes it all feel like just another episode along the way to the eventual conclusion.
April 25, 2019
Blood of Amber is such a brilliant novel. It is well written, extremely eventful and interesting. In other words, a fine addition to the series. By introducing clever plot twists, this book creates not only fascinating mysteries and questions but it also does a great job of adding depth to the characters. I enjoyed it immensely and read on with great interest. Merlin in the first book wasn't easy to relate (for some reason), but once he find himself neck deep in problems, it's hard not to feel sympathy for him.
As I said, I like how different Merlin is from Corwin. Merlin speaks and even thinks differently, and that's good because it keeps the reader on his/her toes. If I remember well, Blood of Amber opens with Merlin trying to escape his imprisonment. It's quite a ride from there. There are many iconic episodes in this one, and found myself warming up to Merlin more than I did in the first one. The poor guy just can't catch a break.
鈥淟ife is full of doors that don't open when you knock, equally spaced amid those that open when don't want them to.鈥�
As I said, I like how different Merlin is from Corwin. Merlin speaks and even thinks differently, and that's good because it keeps the reader on his/her toes. If I remember well, Blood of Amber opens with Merlin trying to escape his imprisonment. It's quite a ride from there. There are many iconic episodes in this one, and found myself warming up to Merlin more than I did in the first one. The poor guy just can't catch a break.
鈥淟ife is full of doors that don't open when you knock, equally spaced amid those that open when don't want them to.鈥�
December 6, 2020
While still not sure if Merlin's ark was necessary, I liked this one more than number 6 - it was faster paced and generally more fun. I finished it and immediately got to number 8!
January 5, 2024
"Jo拧 jedan ro膽ak dolazi u posetu.", re膷e Random. "Za拧to nisam bio jedinac?"
Eeee tada serijala do deset knjiga ne bi bilo, niti bi me ova knjiga pokolebala u misiji da ga kompletiram. Nova godino, daj mi snage da pre啪ivim ovog dosadnog Merlina koji reciklira svaku svoju sesiju razmi拧ljanja...
Stvari stoje ovako. Merlin je dobio humanije crte - deli sa 膷itaocem svoje de膷ije traume, izra啪ava kajanje zbog gubitka Julije i priznaje svoju nesigurnost u svetu u kom nije odrastao - i to pozdravljam. U pro拧loj knjizi mi je delovao pomalo frigidan. Ali i posle svega 拧to mu se dogodilo, Merlin ne ispravlja svoju po膷etni膷ku naivnost, ve膰 kroz poglavlja iznova racionalizuje svoje lo拧e odluke bazirane na odglumljenim prijateljskim odnosima. Vrlo naporno 膷itati ponovo istu poentu, samo sa novim imputima, koji su sami po sebi dosta haoti膷ni.
Ali idemo dalje, jer smo u ovom konkretnom slu膷aju nekaraktersiti膷no tvrdoglavi...
Eeee tada serijala do deset knjiga ne bi bilo, niti bi me ova knjiga pokolebala u misiji da ga kompletiram. Nova godino, daj mi snage da pre啪ivim ovog dosadnog Merlina koji reciklira svaku svoju sesiju razmi拧ljanja...
Stvari stoje ovako. Merlin je dobio humanije crte - deli sa 膷itaocem svoje de膷ije traume, izra啪ava kajanje zbog gubitka Julije i priznaje svoju nesigurnost u svetu u kom nije odrastao - i to pozdravljam. U pro拧loj knjizi mi je delovao pomalo frigidan. Ali i posle svega 拧to mu se dogodilo, Merlin ne ispravlja svoju po膷etni膷ku naivnost, ve膰 kroz poglavlja iznova racionalizuje svoje lo拧e odluke bazirane na odglumljenim prijateljskim odnosima. Vrlo naporno 膷itati ponovo istu poentu, samo sa novim imputima, koji su sami po sebi dosta haoti膷ni.
Ali idemo dalje, jer smo u ovom konkretnom slu膷aju nekaraktersiti膷no tvrdoglavi...
December 18, 2014
I felt like this book was focusing more on thickening plots rather than action itself, and although it doesn't end with any kind of closure, it is my favorite book in the series so far. Just like the first 5 books, the plot progresses at a fascinating pace, you never really know who's a friend and who's the enemy, except this time there are twice as many characters to suspect, and a few who seem to be just sitting back and waiting to step into the action some time later. What I love most about these books is that there's no ultimate evil entity, in the end pretty much every character has a good and a bad side, everyone has their own vendettas and ambitions, most of them understandable.
I feel that the author hasn't wasted a single line with irrelevant conversation in this book, every chapter in the plot thickens, and every little remark, flashback or picture on a trump is important to the story and will eventually come back. The family also seems to be growing each chapter.
I'm not sure how I feel about the fact that Merlin seems MUCH more powerful than Corwin. I mean, he can summon any object he wants out of Shadow, he can create Trumps at any time, he can go invisible, and he can destroy anything he wants with the power of his mind by using the Logrus. I don't think he's as good with a sword as Corwin, but who needs that when you're a sorcerer and got amazing killer spells.
My hopes for the next books are that Corwin will show up soon (and not completely mad), that we'll know a bit more about Dara and Merlin's brothers at the Courts, and that Luke will actually turn out to be a good guy.
I feel that the author hasn't wasted a single line with irrelevant conversation in this book, every chapter in the plot thickens, and every little remark, flashback or picture on a trump is important to the story and will eventually come back. The family also seems to be growing each chapter.
I'm not sure how I feel about the fact that Merlin seems MUCH more powerful than Corwin. I mean, he can summon any object he wants out of Shadow, he can create Trumps at any time, he can go invisible, and he can destroy anything he wants with the power of his mind by using the Logrus. I don't think he's as good with a sword as Corwin, but who needs that when you're a sorcerer and got amazing killer spells.
My hopes for the next books are that Corwin will show up soon (and not completely mad), that we'll know a bit more about Dara and Merlin's brothers at the Courts, and that Luke will actually turn out to be a good guy.
March 31, 2017
One thing I noticed early on in the series that I've failed to mention is that when Zelazny moves his character through shadow it reads almost like poetry, not the forced trying to be like Tolkien poetry that once fantasy writer seemed to have to insert to have a "proper" fantasy. The descriptions aren't formatted like poetry it just sounds like a very poetic movement.
June 15, 2024
袉薪褌褉懈谐邪 褖芯写芯 褌芯谐芯, 褏褌芯 褋褌芯褩褌褜 蟹邪 蟹邪屑邪褏芯屑 薪邪 袦械褉谢褨薪邪, 锌褉芯写芯胁卸褍褦褌褜褋褟. 袗谢械 芯褌 蟹邪泻褨薪褔懈谢邪褋褜 写褉褍谐邪 泻薪懈谐邪 褨蟹 锌'褟褌懈, 褨 卸芯写薪芯谐芯 薪邪褌褟泻褍 薪邪 褌械, 褏褌芯 卸 褑械泄 褌邪褦屑薪懈褔懈泄 胁芯褉芯谐, 薪械屑邪. 袟 褨薪褕芯谐芯 斜芯泻褍, 袞械谢褟蟹薪懈 胁懈褉褨褕懈胁 薪邪褋 褌褉芯褏懈 锌芯斜邪谢褍胁邪褌懈 - 泻褉褨屑 锌械褉械斜褨谐褍 薪械褋泻褨薪褔械薪薪懈褏 褉芯蟹屑芯胁, 锌械褉褨芯写懈褔薪懈褏 锌芯写芯褉芯卸械泄 胁 薪械褋泻褨薪褔械薪薪褨 褉械邪谢褜薪芯褋褌褨 褌邪 锌械褉褨芯写懈褔薪懈褏 斜褨泄芯泻 (褌芯斜褌芯 胁褋械 褌械, 褖芯 泄 斜褍谢芯 胁 锌芯锌械褉械写薪褨泄 泻薪懈蟹褨), 袦械褉谢褨薪 胁褉械褕褌褨-褉械褕褌 蟹褍褋褌褉褨褔邪褦褌褜褋褟 胁褨褔-薪邪-胁褨褔 褨蟹 褋胁芯褩屑 胁芯褉芯谐芯屑, 邪谢械 褌芯泄 斜褍胁 胁 锌芯写芯斜褨 蟹胁褨褉邪 (褌褍褌 袦械褉谢褨薪 褉邪蟹芯屑 褨蟹 薪邪屑懈 蟹邪写褍屑褍褦褌褜褋褟 - 褔懈 褌芯 褋邪屑 褋锌褉邪胁卸薪褨泄 胁芯褉芯谐 胁 褨薪褕褨泄 锌芯写芯斜褨, 褔懈 褌芯 胁褨薪 锌褉懈褋谢邪胁 蟹胁褨褉邪, 薪褍 褌芯 褌邪泻械 - 锌芯锌械褉械写褍 褖械 褌褉懈 泻薪懈谐懈, 锌芯斜邪褔懈屑芯!). 袉 褖械 芯写懈薪 斜芯薪褍褋 - 褌褍褌 胁褨写泻褉懈胁邪褦褌褜褋褟 褟泻邪褋褜 褨褋褌芯褌邪, 褟泻邪 胁褋械谢褟褦褌褜褋褟 胁 谢褞写褋褜泻褨 褌褨谢邪, 褨 褟泻邪 薪邪屑邪谐邪褦褌褜褋褟 斜褍褌懈 锌芯褉褍褔 褨蟹 袦械褉谢褨薪芯屑, 褖芯斜懈 泄芯谐芯 蟹邪褏懈褋褌懈褌懈, 薪械蟹胁邪卸邪褞褔懈 薪邪 褌械, 褏芯褔械 胁褨薪 褑褜芯谐芯 褔懈 薪褨, 邪谢械 泄芯泄, 薪邪泄 斜褍写械)
袣褨薪褑褨胁泻邪 胁蟹邪谐邪谢褨 薪邪褉泻芯屑邪薪褋褜泻芯-锌褋懈褏芯写械谢褨褔薪邪, 写械 锌芯褔懈薪邪褞褌褜 写褨褟褌懈 锌械褉褋芯薪邪卸褨 谐械褌褜 褨蟹 褨薪褕芯谐芯 褌胁芯褉褍 (写褍卸械 胁褨写芯屑芯谐芯!), 芯褑械 褌邪泻 蟹写懈胁褍胁邪胁 袞械谢褟蟹薪懈 胁 锌邪褉褨 芯褋褌邪薪薪褨褏 邪斜蟹邪褑褨胁! 袗 胁褉邪褏芯胁褍褞褔懈 褌械, 褖芯 褌褉械褌褟 泻薪懈谐邪 胁懈泄褕谢邪 褔械褉械蟹 2 褉芯泻懈 锌褨褋谢褟 写褉褍谐芯褩, 褌芯 蟹胁褨褋薪芯 斜邪谐邪褌芯 锌褉懈褏褨谢褜薪懈泻褨胁 褑褨褦褩 褋邪谐懈 谢邪屑邪谢懈 褍胁械褋褜 褑械泄 褔邪褋 褋芯斜褨 谐芯谢芯胁褍, 写芯 褔芯谐芯 卸 褌褍褌 褑械泄 褨薪褕懈泄 褋胁褨褌?!
袣褨薪褑褨胁泻邪 胁蟹邪谐邪谢褨 薪邪褉泻芯屑邪薪褋褜泻芯-锌褋懈褏芯写械谢褨褔薪邪, 写械 锌芯褔懈薪邪褞褌褜 写褨褟褌懈 锌械褉褋芯薪邪卸褨 谐械褌褜 褨蟹 褨薪褕芯谐芯 褌胁芯褉褍 (写褍卸械 胁褨写芯屑芯谐芯!), 芯褑械 褌邪泻 蟹写懈胁褍胁邪胁 袞械谢褟蟹薪懈 胁 锌邪褉褨 芯褋褌邪薪薪褨褏 邪斜蟹邪褑褨胁! 袗 胁褉邪褏芯胁褍褞褔懈 褌械, 褖芯 褌褉械褌褟 泻薪懈谐邪 胁懈泄褕谢邪 褔械褉械蟹 2 褉芯泻懈 锌褨褋谢褟 写褉褍谐芯褩, 褌芯 蟹胁褨褋薪芯 斜邪谐邪褌芯 锌褉懈褏褨谢褜薪懈泻褨胁 褑褨褦褩 褋邪谐懈 谢邪屑邪谢懈 褍胁械褋褜 褑械泄 褔邪褋 褋芯斜褨 谐芯谢芯胁褍, 写芯 褔芯谐芯 卸 褌褍褌 褑械泄 褨薪褕懈泄 褋胁褨褌?!
August 19, 2021
This is the seventh Amber novel by Zelazny, and the second in the follow-up five-book sequence about Corwin's son Merlin. In this book, Merlin, also called Merle, escapes the prison where his 'friend' Luke stowed him - at the end of previous book, Luke was revealed to be the son of Brand, the psychotic Amberite who tried to destroy the others in the original series. He is seeking revenge for his father, who the others had no choice but to kill, but it seems he's mixed-up because although he was responsible for the first few assassination attempts against Merle, committed every 30th April over about 8 years, he apparently stopped and someone else, possibly his mother, took over later. Merle discovers in this volume that various odd characters who approached him in book 1 are actually people who have been possessed by an entity who claims to want to protect him. That entity finally breaks cover and agrees to an exchange of information, but as Merlin insists on a quid pro quo, the sequence where they laboriously trade snippets is very tedious.
The plot of the present volume is rambling in the extreme. Zelazny could obviously write - I loved a section of description where Merlin walks down by the docks en route to a restaurant - but seemed here to be going through the motions plot-wise. A lot happens including blow-by-blow fight sequences which I found confusing and also unconvincingly detailed for someone caught up in the adrenaline of a fight, various people try to kill Merle and he spends a lot of time discussing who this could be and also refusing to confide in people, including his uncle Random, now King of Amber, who might be able to help him. Yet he naively trusts Luke who has admitted to making attempts on his life and appears to continue to have his own agenda. A lot of characters arrive and depart, almost on a revolving door basis, and don't add much to the story, and more are introduced in passing - e.g. two more siblings of his fathers turn up in the form of Trumps (the cards the royal family use to contact each other) whom I believe were mentioned in the first series as being thought dead long before Corwin was born - and I would guess these characters probably feature in later volumes. There are sudden rather jarring flashbacks to Merlin's upbringing at the Courts of Chaos where he had terrible fights with a person who hated him for no apparent reason and it seems pretty obvious that the shape-shifting sorcerer who trails him in this volume and eventually attacks him must be that person, yet he doesn't draw the obvious inference even when he thinks back to how this person behaved. Instead he is unable to work out who might be trying to kill him, despite the fact that this person tried at least twice when they were growing up, once by trying to shoot him in the back.
It is also far too 'easy' for Merle compared to his father - in the earlier story, Corwin was enough of a superhero: he had the ability to travel through Shadow, that is, from world to world, was a master swordsman, had above human healing powers, an extended lifespan (when banished to our Earth, he lived there for hundreds of our years), and could use the Trumps - special cards developed by his grandfather - some of these abilities developed through walking the Pattern, an energy grid used to bring the worlds into being originally. All these powers were shared with his siblings and made his family powerful enough, in my opinion. But Merlin also inherits powers from his mother Dara who is one of the Chaos party, so he can use something called the Logrus to create spells including an invisibility one, and he can shape-shift into other forms including that of an apparently fearsome beast (he uses this ability to best a demon at one point though it isn't shown as the chapter ends and the next one switches to after he has done so). He can also reach into Shadow and pull out new clothes whenever he needs them or a sword or just about anything else he needs. Frankly, this makes him far too boring a character and his general naive stupidity doesn't endear him to the reader either.
The book ends as its predecessor did - Merlin is now a prisoner somewhere, this time in a very surreal place. With the lack of real character development or a half-decent plot, I can't believe it would be worth the bother of tracking down the final three volumes of this (I have only the first two) as there is no real incentive to read on.
The plot of the present volume is rambling in the extreme. Zelazny could obviously write - I loved a section of description where Merlin walks down by the docks en route to a restaurant - but seemed here to be going through the motions plot-wise. A lot happens including blow-by-blow fight sequences which I found confusing and also unconvincingly detailed for someone caught up in the adrenaline of a fight, various people try to kill Merle and he spends a lot of time discussing who this could be and also refusing to confide in people, including his uncle Random, now King of Amber, who might be able to help him. Yet he naively trusts Luke who has admitted to making attempts on his life and appears to continue to have his own agenda. A lot of characters arrive and depart, almost on a revolving door basis, and don't add much to the story, and more are introduced in passing - e.g. two more siblings of his fathers turn up in the form of Trumps (the cards the royal family use to contact each other) whom I believe were mentioned in the first series as being thought dead long before Corwin was born - and I would guess these characters probably feature in later volumes. There are sudden rather jarring flashbacks to Merlin's upbringing at the Courts of Chaos where he had terrible fights with a person who hated him for no apparent reason and it seems pretty obvious that the shape-shifting sorcerer who trails him in this volume and eventually attacks him must be that person, yet he doesn't draw the obvious inference even when he thinks back to how this person behaved. Instead he is unable to work out who might be trying to kill him, despite the fact that this person tried at least twice when they were growing up, once by trying to shoot him in the back.
It is also far too 'easy' for Merle compared to his father - in the earlier story, Corwin was enough of a superhero: he had the ability to travel through Shadow, that is, from world to world, was a master swordsman, had above human healing powers, an extended lifespan (when banished to our Earth, he lived there for hundreds of our years), and could use the Trumps - special cards developed by his grandfather - some of these abilities developed through walking the Pattern, an energy grid used to bring the worlds into being originally. All these powers were shared with his siblings and made his family powerful enough, in my opinion. But Merlin also inherits powers from his mother Dara who is one of the Chaos party, so he can use something called the Logrus to create spells including an invisibility one, and he can shape-shift into other forms including that of an apparently fearsome beast (he uses this ability to best a demon at one point though it isn't shown as the chapter ends and the next one switches to after he has done so). He can also reach into Shadow and pull out new clothes whenever he needs them or a sword or just about anything else he needs. Frankly, this makes him far too boring a character and his general naive stupidity doesn't endear him to the reader either.
The book ends as its predecessor did - Merlin is now a prisoner somewhere, this time in a very surreal place. With the lack of real character development or a half-decent plot, I can't believe it would be worth the bother of tracking down the final three volumes of this (I have only the first two) as there is no real incentive to read on.
January 15, 2016
醿♂儛醿樶儨醿⑨償醿犪償醿♂儩 醿犪儛醿︶儛醿償醿斸儜醿� 醿儞醿斸儜醿� :3 醿樶儭醿� 醿涐儛醿犪儣醿氠儛, 醿儩醿⑨儛 醿ａ儰醿犪儩 醿炨儛醿⑨儛醿犪儛 醿♂儛醿溼儛醿椺償醿♂儛醿� 醿犪儩醿� 醿搬儱醿濁儨醿濁儞醿愥儣 醿愥儧醿戓償醿犪儤醿� 醿炨儬醿樶儨醿償醿戓儭, 醿掅儛醿儤醿氠償醿戓儤醿� 醿ａ儰醿犪儩 醿涐儴醿曖儤醿撫儛醿� 醿樶儶醿儩醿曖儬醿斸儜醿撫儨醿斸儨 :))
P.S.
P.S.
January 30, 2019
笑褨泻邪胁械 蟹邪泻褨薪褔械薪薪褟 泻芯屑锌械薪褋褍褦 褌褉芯褏懈 褉芯蟹褌褟谐薪褍褌懈泄 褋褞卸械褌. 袘邪谐邪褌芯 褋褞卸械褌薪懈褏 谢褨薪褨泄 褌邪泻 褨 薪械 褋锌谢械谢懈褋褜 - 薪邪锌械胁薪芯 胁 薪邪褋褌褍锌薪褨泄 泻薪懈蟹褨 褋械褉褨褩 ...
February 15, 2013
I thought Zelazny really stepped it up on this one.
The previous book in the series, Trumps Of Doom, featured a new character as the protagonist/narrator; Merlin, the son of Corwin of Amber, who narrated the first five books. In Trumps, Merlin failed to live up to his father's sheer coolness, and thus that book excited me less than the first five. In fact, the Merlin we meet in Trumps came across as a bit of a chump, and we still see some of that in Blood Of Amber as well(seriously, he can't figure out that the one-eyed, one-eared wolf that hates him and wants to kill him is actually his one-eyed, one-eared shapeshifter brother who hates him and wants to kill him?). However, Merlin decides to try to take control of his own destiny in this book, and in my mind this makes his flaws much easier to deal with, and also helps move the action along at quite a good clip. By the end of the book, it seemed that Zelazny had really hit his stride, and things were happening so quickly and furiously that I could barely put the book down.
I can't wait to read the next one and figure out what the hell happened with the completely bizzare Alice In Wonderland ending.
The previous book in the series, Trumps Of Doom, featured a new character as the protagonist/narrator; Merlin, the son of Corwin of Amber, who narrated the first five books. In Trumps, Merlin failed to live up to his father's sheer coolness, and thus that book excited me less than the first five. In fact, the Merlin we meet in Trumps came across as a bit of a chump, and we still see some of that in Blood Of Amber as well(seriously, he can't figure out that the one-eyed, one-eared wolf that hates him and wants to kill him is actually his one-eyed, one-eared shapeshifter brother who hates him and wants to kill him?). However, Merlin decides to try to take control of his own destiny in this book, and in my mind this makes his flaws much easier to deal with, and also helps move the action along at quite a good clip. By the end of the book, it seemed that Zelazny had really hit his stride, and things were happening so quickly and furiously that I could barely put the book down.
I can't wait to read the next one and figure out what the hell happened with the completely bizzare Alice In Wonderland ending.
May 7, 2021
Book seven in the Chronicles of Amber, and book two in the Merle Corey
ARE YOU DUCKING KIDDING ME GOODREADS? YOU DELETED MY WHOLE REVIEW!!!! ALL OF IT????
Since I can't seem to recover the actual review;
- I did not love this book as much as previous Amber books.
-I still loved this book more than many others.
-Merlin is modelled on Corwin but not as good a character.
-Zelazny uses too many themes from Corwin's cycle and does not seem as invested in this book.
-We get to see more of Amber.
-We get to see more of Flora (whose real name is never used any more)and Fiona.
-It is beyond belief that Merlin trusts Luke as much, as often as he does.
-It is beyond idiotic that you would be that chummy with someone who has done you NOTHING but bad turns, including murder and imprisonment.
- Merlin tells everyone everything he knows without getting any real information back.
-Did I mention that Zelazny is using the Corwin themes, but not putting enough effort into them?
-Rescuing homicidal Luke's mother made no sense.
-Acting as a solitary individual made no sense (it did for Corwin, but not Merlin).
- Still loved it, will still go on to the next one.
ARE YOU DUCKING KIDDING ME GOODREADS? YOU DELETED MY WHOLE REVIEW!!!! ALL OF IT????
Since I can't seem to recover the actual review;
- I did not love this book as much as previous Amber books.
-I still loved this book more than many others.
-Merlin is modelled on Corwin but not as good a character.
-Zelazny uses too many themes from Corwin's cycle and does not seem as invested in this book.
-We get to see more of Amber.
-We get to see more of Flora (whose real name is never used any more)and Fiona.
-It is beyond belief that Merlin trusts Luke as much, as often as he does.
-It is beyond idiotic that you would be that chummy with someone who has done you NOTHING but bad turns, including murder and imprisonment.
- Merlin tells everyone everything he knows without getting any real information back.
-Did I mention that Zelazny is using the Corwin themes, but not putting enough effort into them?
-Rescuing homicidal Luke's mother made no sense.
-Acting as a solitary individual made no sense (it did for Corwin, but not Merlin).
- Still loved it, will still go on to the next one.
February 9, 2011
To be quite honest, I didn't find this installment to be interesting at all. It seemed to drag on forever and, like all the Amber books, has chapters that are far too long for their own good. The book just couldn't hold my attention or interest and is probably the weakest installment for Amber to date, in my personal opinion.
January 22, 2025
Alright, I still like Merlin more than Corwin, but to be honest, I had no idea what was happening in this book 80% of the time.
Read
September 11, 2023The voice reminds me a lot of Steven Brust, whose work I have a good time with.
January 25, 2018
Turning the last page in the Blood of Amber, the 7th of 10 books in the Chronicles of Amber, I find myself asking the same question that has dogged me throughout the series so far: Did Zelazny have an editor?
While the obvious answer lay somewhere in the "It was early fantasy, give the guy a break" realm, it still boggles my mind that these books are considered some of the best written in the genre. Sadly, for me, this doesn't stand up to many of it's contemporaries, and certainly fades when viewed in comparison with the more modern classics of it's ilk.
Characters continue to shuffle like cards in a deck, but many times the card is face down when a chapter begins and your frame of reference is little more than guesswork.
Zelazny continues to flush pages of prose full of redundancy, using the same word many times across short spans, and explaining the same ideas, thoughts, and imagery far too frequently for comfort.
For all his literary shortcomings (and as nothing more than a hobbyist in the genre I have no hat to hang my opinion on) Zelazny still manages to sprinkle the wasteland of pointless prose with scenes of brilliant beauty. Through the overall vision his creativity is clear; he supplies you with enough wonder that you're forced to continue on.
While my interest in the series has waned, my promise to complete the series remains in tact, and I will begin shortly book 8 of the Chronicles of Amber.
While the obvious answer lay somewhere in the "It was early fantasy, give the guy a break" realm, it still boggles my mind that these books are considered some of the best written in the genre. Sadly, for me, this doesn't stand up to many of it's contemporaries, and certainly fades when viewed in comparison with the more modern classics of it's ilk.
Characters continue to shuffle like cards in a deck, but many times the card is face down when a chapter begins and your frame of reference is little more than guesswork.
Zelazny continues to flush pages of prose full of redundancy, using the same word many times across short spans, and explaining the same ideas, thoughts, and imagery far too frequently for comfort.
For all his literary shortcomings (and as nothing more than a hobbyist in the genre I have no hat to hang my opinion on) Zelazny still manages to sprinkle the wasteland of pointless prose with scenes of brilliant beauty. Through the overall vision his creativity is clear; he supplies you with enough wonder that you're forced to continue on.
While my interest in the series has waned, my promise to complete the series remains in tact, and I will begin shortly book 8 of the Chronicles of Amber.
August 1, 2012
Going into Blood of Amber and tens of pages into it, it felt like this was going to bring the second five book set back on track and move towards answering the various questions the series was bringing up. For a quite a while the story was really good, with less of the 'filler pages' that plague some of the books in the series and more interesting ideas. It carried itself well, resolving one of the big mystery characters in a good solid reveal.
And then ... I don't know. Somewhere in this book it became aggressively difficult to keep reading, as each turned page never went anywhere. I put it down for a while, came back, struggled with it and then a month later finally finished the last third in two sittings just to get it done. The end result is the last quarter of the book is flat out terrible, unenjoyable and not at all what I was hoping for.
I'd rate it lower but it is unfair to evaluate the totality of a novel against the terrible last pages, but in terms of an average, they sure do drag the whole of it down.
And then ... I don't know. Somewhere in this book it became aggressively difficult to keep reading, as each turned page never went anywhere. I put it down for a while, came back, struggled with it and then a month later finally finished the last third in two sittings just to get it done. The end result is the last quarter of the book is flat out terrible, unenjoyable and not at all what I was hoping for.
I'd rate it lower but it is unfair to evaluate the totality of a novel against the terrible last pages, but in terms of an average, they sure do drag the whole of it down.
March 7, 2022
Okay, Merlin has completely won me over. I'm not saying I like him better than Corwin--I could never--but I love him equally. Except I refuse to call him Merle, even in my mind. Merlin is a much better name (no offense to anyone who goes by Merle).
I'm not sure what happened at the end of this book. It's so strange and bizarre, and it literally involves the Mad Hatter, but it somehow makes sense for this narrator who is a child of Amber and a prince of Chaos at the same time. I am still wondering who Mask is, and I'm really, really hoping that it's not Corwin. The only thing that could be strong enough to completely justify all the suspense and the only thing that would make me want to throw The Great Book of Amber at Zelazny's head is if Corwin is Merlin's antagonist.
But we shall see. Onto Book 8.
I'm not sure what happened at the end of this book. It's so strange and bizarre, and it literally involves the Mad Hatter, but it somehow makes sense for this narrator who is a child of Amber and a prince of Chaos at the same time. I am still wondering who Mask is, and I'm really, really hoping that it's not Corwin. The only thing that could be strong enough to completely justify all the suspense and the only thing that would make me want to throw The Great Book of Amber at Zelazny's head is if Corwin is Merlin's antagonist.
But we shall see. Onto Book 8.
May 30, 2015
This part of the series is picking up again - now that I've adjusted to Merlin as a main character (even though he's oddly similar to Corwin), as well as the seemingly new rules surrounding magic (Marlin is just a spellslinger now?).
I still am not enjoying this arc as much as the initial 5, but they move fast and are still very entertaining. I look forward to finishing out the entire arc.
I still am not enjoying this arc as much as the initial 5, but they move fast and are still very entertaining. I look forward to finishing out the entire arc.
December 20, 2019
the violence keeps getting too graphic and a little too gratuitous here for my liking. Plus the saga seems to be spinning out of control for no particular reason. Sadly, this seems more like HP Lovecraft than what has gone before. One thing that is tiring in Zelazny is his elaborate descriptions of duels with fantastic weapons, and this one has one too many of these
March 7, 2021
Questo volume come il precedente, fa parte di un frammento delle cronache di ambra di passaggio, c'猫 molta carne al fuoco e spesso genera confusione... ma piccolo spoiler tranquilli con il volume 8 che sto leggendo in questo istante tutto ritorna al posto giusto.... mi manca Corwin e il suo "Sta bene!!!"
December 14, 2009
I like these books even better than the original Amber series. Not quite the same magic of originality, but a much tighter and more suspenseful story. With nice touches of humor.
May 29, 2016
Yazar谋n b眉y眉n眉n yap谋l谋艧谋n谋 de臒il de, bu yetene臒in ard谋ndaki g眉c眉 ve felsefesini betimleme 艧ekli beni mest ediyor.
October 28, 2020
Quite good, but it reads less like a novel and more like a section from a larger novel.
January 12, 2021
袟邪懈褋褌邪 褬械 袦械褉谢懈薪芯胁 褑懈泻谢褍褋 写芯褋褌邪 褋谢邪斜懈褬懈 褍 芯写薪芯褋褍 薪邪 袣芯褉胁懈薪芯胁 懈 胁械褉芯胁邪褌薪芯 斜懈褏 芯写褍褋褌邪芯 写邪 薪懈褋邪屑 写芯褕邪芯 写芯 锌芯褋谢械写褮械 泻褮懈谐械 褍 褋械褉懈褬邪谢褍. 袧邪褉泻芯褌懈褔泻邪, 写懈胁褭邪 懈 锌褋懈褏芯写械谢懈褔薪邪 邪褌屑芯褋褎械褉邪 70-懈褏 薪邪锌褍褕褌械薪邪 褬械 蟹邪褉邪写 褕褌褍褉芯谐 懈 薪械褍胁械褉褭懈胁芯谐 芯锌懈褋邪 屑邪谐懈褬褋泻懈褏 褋懈褋褌械屑邪 褍蟹 锌芯 泻芯褬褍 褉械褎械褉械薪褑褍 薪邪 薪邪褍褔薪械 锌褉懈薪褑懈锌械 薪邪褕械谐 褋胁械褌邪.
袩褉懈锌芯胁械写邪褮械 褬械 褬邪褋薪懈褬械 褋褌褉褍泻褌褍褉懈褋邪薪芯 懈 胁懈褕械 薪械 谢懈褔懈 薪邪 锌褉械锌褉懈褔邪胁邪褮械 卸懈胁芯锌懈褋薪芯谐 褋薪邪; 懈褉芯薪懈褔薪芯, 谢懈泻芯胁懈 褋褍 屑邪褮械 褉邪蟹胁懈褬械薪懈 懈 褋胁械褋薪芯 褍写邪褭械薪懈 芯写 谐谢邪胁薪芯谐 褌芯谐邪 锌褉懈褔械. 袟械谢邪蟹薪懈 褋械 褌邪泻芯 芯写褉懈褔械 芯褉懈谐懈薪邪谢薪懈褏 蟹邪屑懈褋谢懈 褔胁褉褋褌芯 懈蟹谐褉邪褣械薪懈褏 褍 锌褉胁懈褏 锌械褌 泻褮懈谐邪, 写邪 斜懈 懈褋锌褉懈褔邪芯 褬械写薪褍 谐械薪械褉懈褔泻褍 褎邪薪褌邪蟹懈褬褋泻褍 锌褉懈锌芯胁械褋褌 芯 褍芯斜褉邪卸械薪芯屑 "懈蟹邪斜褉邪薪芯屑" 褬褍薪邪泻褍. 袦械褉谢懈薪 褬械 褋胁褍 褋胁芯褬褍 锌芯褋械斜薪芯褋褌 - 褕褌芯 泻邪褉邪泻褌械褉薪褍, 褕褌芯 屑邪谐懈褬褋泻褍 - 薪邪褋谢械写懈芯 褉芯褣械褮械屑; 芯薪 褬械 褋锌芯褬 薪邪褬屑芯褯薪懈褬懈褏 褋懈谢邪 褍薪懈胁械褉蟹褍屑邪 懈 褌芯泻芯屑 芯斜褍泻械 薪懈褬械 懈屑邪芯 锌芯褌械褕泻芯褯邪 写邪 芯胁谢邪写邪 褋邪 芯斜邪 锌芯谢邪 屑邪谐懈褬褋泻懈褏 屑芯褯懈. 袩芯褋械写褍褬械 懈 褋褌胁邪褉邪 薪邪褬斜芯褭械 屑邪谐懈褬褋泻械 褔邪褉芯谢懈褬械 懈 邪褉褌械褎邪泻褌械 懈 褌邪泻芯 写邪褭械, 泻谢懈褕械 蟹邪 泻谢懈褕械芯屑.
袗泻芯 褋械 褋械褌懈屑芯 写邪 褬械 袣芯褉胁懈薪 褔械褌懈褉懈 谐芯写懈薪械 锌褉芯胁械芯 褍 褋邪屑懈褑懈 写芯泻 褋褍 屑褍 锌芯薪芯胁芯 懈蟹褉邪褋褌邪谢械 懈褋泻芯锌邪薪械 芯褔懈, 褬邪褋薪芯 褬械 泻芯谢懈泻芯 褑懈泻谢褍褋 芯 袦械褉谢懈薪褍 褉邪蟹芯褔邪褉邪胁邪.
袩褉懈锌芯胁械写邪褮械 褬械 褬邪褋薪懈褬械 褋褌褉褍泻褌褍褉懈褋邪薪芯 懈 胁懈褕械 薪械 谢懈褔懈 薪邪 锌褉械锌褉懈褔邪胁邪褮械 卸懈胁芯锌懈褋薪芯谐 褋薪邪; 懈褉芯薪懈褔薪芯, 谢懈泻芯胁懈 褋褍 屑邪褮械 褉邪蟹胁懈褬械薪懈 懈 褋胁械褋薪芯 褍写邪褭械薪懈 芯写 谐谢邪胁薪芯谐 褌芯谐邪 锌褉懈褔械. 袟械谢邪蟹薪懈 褋械 褌邪泻芯 芯写褉懈褔械 芯褉懈谐懈薪邪谢薪懈褏 蟹邪屑懈褋谢懈 褔胁褉褋褌芯 懈蟹谐褉邪褣械薪懈褏 褍 锌褉胁懈褏 锌械褌 泻褮懈谐邪, 写邪 斜懈 懈褋锌褉懈褔邪芯 褬械写薪褍 谐械薪械褉懈褔泻褍 褎邪薪褌邪蟹懈褬褋泻褍 锌褉懈锌芯胁械褋褌 芯 褍芯斜褉邪卸械薪芯屑 "懈蟹邪斜褉邪薪芯屑" 褬褍薪邪泻褍. 袦械褉谢懈薪 褬械 褋胁褍 褋胁芯褬褍 锌芯褋械斜薪芯褋褌 - 褕褌芯 泻邪褉邪泻褌械褉薪褍, 褕褌芯 屑邪谐懈褬褋泻褍 - 薪邪褋谢械写懈芯 褉芯褣械褮械屑; 芯薪 褬械 褋锌芯褬 薪邪褬屑芯褯薪懈褬懈褏 褋懈谢邪 褍薪懈胁械褉蟹褍屑邪 懈 褌芯泻芯屑 芯斜褍泻械 薪懈褬械 懈屑邪芯 锌芯褌械褕泻芯褯邪 写邪 芯胁谢邪写邪 褋邪 芯斜邪 锌芯谢邪 屑邪谐懈褬褋泻懈褏 屑芯褯懈. 袩芯褋械写褍褬械 懈 褋褌胁邪褉邪 薪邪褬斜芯褭械 屑邪谐懈褬褋泻械 褔邪褉芯谢懈褬械 懈 邪褉褌械褎邪泻褌械 懈 褌邪泻芯 写邪褭械, 泻谢懈褕械 蟹邪 泻谢懈褕械芯屑.
袗泻芯 褋械 褋械褌懈屑芯 写邪 褬械 袣芯褉胁懈薪 褔械褌懈褉懈 谐芯写懈薪械 锌褉芯胁械芯 褍 褋邪屑懈褑懈 写芯泻 褋褍 屑褍 锌芯薪芯胁芯 懈蟹褉邪褋褌邪谢械 懈褋泻芯锌邪薪械 芯褔懈, 褬邪褋薪芯 褬械 泻芯谢懈泻芯 褑懈泻谢褍褋 芯 袦械褉谢懈薪褍 褉邪蟹芯褔邪褉邪胁邪.
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