This was quite a departure from the first book. A young girl is taken from her family and raised to be the high priestess of the dark ones. She lives
This was quite a departure from the first book. A young girl is taken from her family and raised to be the high priestess of the dark ones. She lives an austere life guarding over the tombs of atuan, which must remain in total darkness and navigated by memory. It seemed at first not to be connected to the first book (a wizard of earth sea) at all besides taking place in a different part of the same world.
Somewhere around the halfway point “Ged� the young wizard protagonist of the first book shows up. Ged’s presence isn’t the only other link though, LeGuin has more connective tissue to the first book that answers some questions left hanging at the end. Like most of her books, this seems like psychological metaphor, I’m guessing for depression and/or finding your true self through shadow work. I’m not super familiar with Jung’s writing beyond the personality archetypes but it’s got that feel to it.
Great book in its own right but it doesn’t have the more adventure oriented elements that the first one had....more
This was an interesting one, not what I was expecting, much better actually.
Having read Raven: sword mistress of chaos, which also boasts a cTIT LIT!
This was an interesting one, not what I was expecting, much better actually.
Having read Raven: sword mistress of chaos, which also boasts a comely warrior woman with her lovely décolletage on full display on the cover. Raven was the kind of book aimed at horny 14 year olds, the plot was thin and it featured some explicit sex scenes, pretty much what I expected.
Silverglass takes more time with the story and characters. I haven’t looked it up by I suspect that the author is a woman. There’s lots of action and shopping. The two main characters Carson and Tasia are both sexually charged and have sex with each other as well as other characters but the sex is implied and they are the ones in control of these encounters.
Most of the page count is spent developing the complex relationship between Tasia, a high born woman who is an enigmatic sorceress with a chameleon like ability to be perceived as a noblewoman or poor, travelling scholar, even male or female with the help of costume changes and acting ability. Corson a hot tempered, freewheeling mercenary. She’s a warrior of Amazonian beauty and stature whose sexual lust is only outstripped by her wander lust.
Corson is initially hired to kill Tasia but somehow Tasia’s powers of persuasion convince Corson to strike a deal to be her bodyguard and escort her away from her family to her paramour who waits for her in a far away land. As the unlikely duo make their way by land and sea, saving each others lives in process, their bond deepens.
It really winds up being a female bromance, besties saving each other from themselves in a way.
Pretty decent, I’d read the next one if I found it in the wild....more
This is a pretty grim, but it’s unique among the fantasy novels I’ve read so far.
Taking the form of a war journal told in first person, it has the tra
This is a pretty grim, but it’s unique among the fantasy novels I’ve read so far.
Taking the form of a war journal told in first person, it has the trappings of fantasy but in some ways rings truer than most.
The characters we follow are a mercenary band who will fight for anyone who pays. That doesn’t mean they’re necessarily evil. There are no heroic knights or brooding, emotionally unavailable anti-heroes to be found in these pages, just professional soldiers doing a job. They have their own moral philosophy, that evil doesn’t exist in a pure form, it’s only a matter of perspective. Most of the time they are working for bad people against bad people, but they keep their own code of honour.
They also skip a lot of the major battle scenes, not that there’s a lack of violence, definitely lots of that throughout.
The story has a nice end point but I’m interested in where it goes from there. ...more
This book is technically book 4.5 of the dark tower but was written later. I decided to just read the seven main books and read this after if I still This book is technically book 4.5 of the dark tower but was written later. I decided to just read the seven main books and read this after if I still felt like it.
This was more “story within a story� narrative (which I love) it reminds me of shadow of the torturer even more when he does that. So what you get is another instance of Roland telling a tale of his youth to the ka-tet. Soon after the events he recounts in wizard and glass, he and another young gunslinger, Jamie, go to a remote town to deal with a “skinwalker�. During that adventure he tells a young boy a mid world fable that takes up a good portion of the book.
I really liked this one, I enjoy reading about Roland’s backstory and the history of mid world. I’d recommend reading this after the rest of the series like I did. It has no bearing on the main story but it’s a nice visit with the characters at their high point. ...more
**spoiler alert** Wolves of the calla introduced some elements that had me worried about the direction the overall narrative of the series would take.**spoiler alert** Wolves of the calla introduced some elements that had me worried about the direction the overall narrative of the series would take. It started adding these "meta" elements from other books and movies like Harry Potter, Star Wars etc. the kind of worn out, cross franchise horseshit we're tired of seeing. I had to remind myself that this book was written in the bygone days of 2003 when Ideas of that sort hadn't been completely strip-mined, in fact it probably influenced some of what we're seeing now. my main worry was that he would insert himself into the narrative instead of just characters from his books. King, being a do-bee, dooed it. I guess we'll see how it goes. his books are always enjoyable, the characters always easy to invest in and after reading quite a few with muddled endings, I see them as a journey over destination type thing. I've been stung by long series with lacklustre endings so I'm cautiously optimistic that King will stick the landing on this one. fingers crossed as I start the final volume....more
this book is an intentional homage to the magnificent seven; you can't really go wrong with that plot and Stephen king's writing is always enjoyable bthis book is an intentional homage to the magnificent seven; you can't really go wrong with that plot and Stephen king's writing is always enjoyable but he began to introduce some elements that have me worried about the ultimate direction the story will take....more
This is a strange, atmospheric fantasy, set in an endlessly sprawling castle full of eccentric characters. I somehow kept picturing them all as muppetThis is a strange, atmospheric fantasy, set in an endlessly sprawling castle full of eccentric characters. I somehow kept picturing them all as muppets, this would be a great muppet movie. The story itself is a bit nebulous, it seems to be about a crumbling and ponderous, old aristocracy faced with changes it isn’t prepared to deal with. Considering that this was written in the 1940s, I’m sure the author saw this happen on a global scale early in the century.
It’s interesting how many contemporaries and predecessors of Tolkien were writing great fantasy, but seldom seem to be talked about at all, let alone with the reverence he receives. There’s some gems out there that were not trying to emulate his work....more
John Gwynne does it again! Despite great personal tragedy, John Gwynne delivered an exciting and satisfying conclusion to his bloodsworn trilogy. WhenJohn Gwynne does it again! Despite great personal tragedy, John Gwynne delivered an exciting and satisfying conclusion to his bloodsworn trilogy. When I read the first volume: shadow of the gods, I was just dipping my toes in the water of fantasy, I’d read a few things that mostly used medieval England as a basic setting. The Bloodsworn trilogy uses Viking culture as a jumping off point but builds his own fantasy world from there.
It’s like you’re along for the writing of an epic saga song. Love, loss, betrayal, revenge and an epic battle of the gods themselves. Now that the whole trilogy is out, you will want to marathon read them.
Lots of great characters archetypes complete the feel of a new myth you haven’t heard of until now.
One thing I think he did really well was having many strong female characters without having to diminish the male characters to prove it.
Great job John!
On a personal note: he made some comments about grief in the afterword and during a YouTube interview that really hit home. Grief isn’t something you get through, it’s something you learn to live with. ...more
I haven’t been completely enthused with Anderson’s science fiction, but so far this is 3 for 3 in the fantasy category. The broken sword is an amazingI haven’t been completely enthused with Anderson’s science fiction, but so far this is 3 for 3 in the fantasy category. The broken sword is an amazing piece of work that is criminally under appreciated. The high crusade was a fun mashup of aliens and medieval crusaders. This one is more “pure”fantasy, where a guy fighting in WW2 is transported to a Middle Ages that includes a Fae realm. He finds that he’s known as a knight of some renoun there. He is joined by a dwarf and a babe who can turn into a swan for a series of episodic but fun and funny adventures. Really enjoyable book, I’ve gotta give more of his sci fi a shot. I think he was just so prolific that not everything was going to be great, but when he was firing on all cylinders he was as good as the best of his contemporaries....more
“There came a time when there was great movement upon the Earth and above it, when the destiny of Men and Gods was hammered out upon theStormbringer!
“There came a time when there was great movement upon the Earth and above it, when the destiny of Men and Gods was hammered out upon the forge of Fate, when monstrous wars were brewed and mighty deeds were designed. And there rose up in this time, which was called the Age of the Young Kingdoms, heroes. Greatest of these heroes was a doom-driven adventurer who bore a crooning rune blade that he loathed. His name was Elric of Melniboné, king of ruins, lord of a scattered race that had once ruled the ancient world. Elric, sorcerer and swordsman, slayer of kin, despoiler of his home land, white-faced albino, last of his line.�
This is book six of the original Elric saga and the final book of the series. This one is a full novel instead of a “fix-up� of several short stories. The increased length also ups the stakes for Elric. This time his entire world is poised to be sundered and undone by the shitty, cock blocking forces of chaos, who kidnap his wife (even worse when you ask how many chicks would get it on with a creepy, doom-driven albino.)
This is an all out battle between law and chaos, like rocky four but with dragons in the montage-good stuff. Still got a whiff of the ol� fromage about it but Moorcock’s writing clearly improved between the first book and this, final one.
Elric has to try to band together all the armies of the realm and is cruelly rebuffed by some shit king of someplace dumb. And he eloquently smacks the guy down, thusly:
“Know this: Though you foolishly reject my offer of an alliance, the day will come when you will regret your decision. I have been insulted in my own palace, my friends have been insulted and I curse you for the upstart fools you are. But when the time comes for you to learn the error of this decision I swear that we shall aid you, if it is in our power!�
He also amps up the doominess, Elric has been reading some Schopenhauer, because he does not believe in free will at all inescapable fate-all the time!
“destinies were being shaped, great deeds were being planned and, marvellously, could it just be possible that, in spite of the Lords of the Higher Worlds, in spite of the Cosmic Hand, in spite of the myriad supernatural denizens that swarmed the universe, that Man might decide the issue? Even - one man? One man, one sword, one destiny?
Fuck ya, it is! Go forth, brethren, I beseech thee: readst thou the tales of Elric of Melniboné!...more
This wasn’t what I was expecting, I thought it would be a more straight forward medieval fantasy but it’s got some interesting differences. First off,This wasn’t what I was expecting, I thought it would be a more straight forward medieval fantasy but it’s got some interesting differences. First off, it’s written in contemporary language, the main character starts off in our world. It’s sort of a portal fantasy with a different twist on how getting to the other world works. It’s also got a unique magic system that I haven’t really seen before but I’m not super well read in fantasy. Like a lot of older books it’s short but covers a lot of territory, glazing over big events. Halfway through I was getting a bit “meh� but closer to the end it takes a dark turn that made it much more interesting, might try the next one....more
There are some who would take one look at this book and call it trash�.and they’d be right, it’s hot garbage, depraved, violent filth and I can’t stopThere are some who would take one look at this book and call it trash�.and they’d be right, it’s hot garbage, depraved, violent filth and I can’t stop reading it. I need Jesus. Save me from this dirty vampire smut, lord.
This book is full of melodrama, purple prose, every trope, predictable plot twist, bits lifted from all kinds of books and movies but it just works. It works like a straight to video B movie from the 80s that I somehow love as much as the big budget movie it was based on.
In conclusion: get off your high horse, put on your leather pants and read this vampire porn!...more
It’s decent but I’m a bit disappointed after how much I liked the first one. The story seemed to meander around, trying to fill the book. And I know iIt’s decent but I’m a bit disappointed after how much I liked the first one. The story seemed to meander around, trying to fill the book. And I know it’s probably an unpopular opinion but it seems like the author went out of their way to make the sure the only competent characters are female. Pretty much every dude in the book is either a complete, bungling fool,including Jian the “chosen�, an over confident douche, or they die so the main characters can escape.
I like the leads, especially Tashi the wind whispering master but Jian seems even shittier than in the first book, even though he’s been training with Tashi for years now.
I’m not sure I feel like continuing the story at this point which surprises me after how much I loved the first book but it just felt like a repetitive series of captures and escapes instead of a story arc....more
I was intrigued by the idea of a dark fantasy that included Cthulhu mythos elements. An empire is overthrown using magic, which has been outlawed for I was intrigued by the idea of a dark fantasy that included Cthulhu mythos elements. An empire is overthrown using magic, which has been outlawed for a thousand years. Kagen, the captain of the guard, having failed to protect the empress and her children goes on a hooch fueled, rince and repeat one man attack campaign against troops of enemy soldiers for half the book. Finally he gets some help and starts working on actual revenge against the usurping yellow king. It was decent but other than the Cthulhu stuff it didn’t really distinguish itself....more
This was quite a bit out of my normal reading wheelhouse but I really enjoyed it.
It’s an interesting mix of high fantasy, martial arts action, great cThis was quite a bit out of my normal reading wheelhouse but I really enjoyed it.
It’s an interesting mix of high fantasy, martial arts action, great characters and world building. I was just struggling to explain it to my stepson because it’s so different from what I’m used to but I’m already looking forward to the sequel....more
Freed from the bonds of slavery by her own hand this buxom, amorous warrior woman embarks on a revenge quest in a world of swords, sorcerers and awesoFreed from the bonds of slavery by her own hand this buxom, amorous warrior woman embarks on a revenge quest in a world of swords, sorcerers and awesome, rockin� tits!
I know what you’re thinking, do they describe her breasts- yes they do! Not only do they describe them as jouncy on page one they describe how they move around, how they react to the goings on in the world and how they respond to muscular, oiled up swordsmen! Other than that it’s a by the numbers fantasy quest that was pretty entertaining. But there’s quite a bit of graphic sex for a time before deodorant and toothbrushes were invented....more
Doomed warriors,Cursed blade,Forbidden lovers, Characters that spontaneously recite poems they created on the sThe broken sword(original text version)
Doomed warriors,Cursed blade,Forbidden lovers, Characters that spontaneously recite poems they created on the spot,This book has it all! it’s a dark fantasy classic that deserves to be rediscovered by fans of the genre.
This book came out the same year as the fellowship of the ring (1954) and has some similarities like drawing from European folklore but IT IS dark. There are no heroes in this book, everyone is out for themselves and they all thirst for bloody vengeance!
“I will put my cold hands about the pillars of the gods' halls and pull them down. I will tread the world beneath my feet. I will raise storm and darkness and glaciers grinding out of the north, and ashes shall whirl in my tracks. I am Death!� -Valgar
I was chuckling reading this because its influence on dark fantasy is undeniable, especially Michael moorcock’s Elric. This is how the cursed demon blade is described: “There is naught on which it does not bite, nor does it ever grow dull of edge. Venom is in the steel, and the wounds it gives cannot be healed by leechcraft or magic or prayer. Yet this is the curse on it: that every time it is drawn it must drink blood, and that in the end, somehow, it brings the bane of him who uses it�.
Awesome! There’s a lot about revenge and inescapable fate in this one and it’s so short. There’s enough ground and time covered to do a ten book series if it was written today but it crams it all into a thin paperback! If you like fantasy do yourself a favour and read this....more
If you’ve read the other books in the series this is more of the same. four stories featuring Elric oozing existential dread and a guilt complex. in tIf you’ve read the other books in the series this is more of the same. four stories featuring Elric oozing existential dread and a guilt complex. in this volume Elric falls in love and tries to kick his addiction to the soul drinking hell sword and source of his strength: STORMBRINGER!!! It’s all good, cheesy fun with evil jerks, gods of chaos and other gods of other stuff, dragons, battles, buxom wenches and albino sexy time. The fourth story is about tanilorn and some characters I think were in earlier Elric tales but no Elric at all. Now, I summon thee: Stormbringer!...more
I’ve been trying to read more fantasy and I heard this was a very influential, foundational series. It was not at all what I was expecting. I thought I’ve been trying to read more fantasy and I heard this was a very influential, foundational series. It was not at all what I was expecting. I thought because of the age of this it might be a bit childish but it has some real depth and darkness. He also uses a lot of obscure words from old English and Latin that reminded me of shadow of the torturer, I was reaching for the dictionary much more than usual.
The characters in this aren’t the usual good vs bad but morally ambiguous yet likeable rogues. There’s an interesting mix of comedy and gritty, dark moments. More surprising is that the female characters aren’t just there to be rescued or had sex with by the male characters but are strong and have depth in their own right, in some cases even quite dangerous to the men in the story.
Pretty good stuff and much better and way darker than I expected. I’ll probably continue with the series at some point....more
This was fun but not at all what I was expecting. I was expecting an ancient Egyptian setting and instead got 19th century London. It was a fun book, This was fun but not at all what I was expecting. I was expecting an ancient Egyptian setting and instead got 19th century London. It was a fun book, mostly centred around a time travelling poetry professor from the 1980s getting stuck in 1810 England. From there it gets pretty whacky and includes gypsy wizards, a stilt clown with an army of beggars and even a body swapping werewolf. It was all interesting and fun but after awhile it seemed like the author was a juggler with too many balls in the air and there were some moments where I found myself confused about what was happening. Maybe I was distracted while reading it but it detracted from my enjoyment of the book....more
Loading...
