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ngreads's review
5.0
First off, Gerald. I feel like that is enough reason to love this book. Terrible person, wonderful character. Loved him.
On a more in-depth note...
So glad I found this gem at a used bookstore. This book was different from anything I’ve read before. The world building was detailed and unique, the characters compelling and complex, and the writing absolutely fantastic. The way that the book’s structure itself is used for pacing and the way that the writing itself feels is just an experience in and of itself.
Absolutely wonderful. What else can I say?
(As an aside, that cover. Michael Whelan does it again. Period.)
On a more in-depth note...
So glad I found this gem at a used bookstore. This book was different from anything I’ve read before. The world building was detailed and unique, the characters compelling and complex, and the writing absolutely fantastic. The way that the book’s structure itself is used for pacing and the way that the writing itself feels is just an experience in and of itself.
Absolutely wonderful. What else can I say?
(As an aside, that cover. Michael Whelan does it again. Period.)
elllljayyyy's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
mary_soon_lee's review against another edition
3.0
First published in 1991, this chunky volume is the opening book in the Coldfire Trilogy. It largely reads like fantasy, complete with sorcerors and demons, but has some science-fiction trappings. In the years that it waited neglected on my shelves, I read the prologue a couple of times and set it aside without being hoooked. This time, knowing that people I respect had loved the book, I persisted.
Spoilers ahead.
In this case, I didn't initially like the characters. All told, there are approximately a dozen point-of-view characters, but one of them, Damien, receives considerably the largest page count. And I didn't find Damien an immersive, fully convincing character. He is a man of a faith, a priest whose religion guides his life, yet that aspect of his character didn't communicate itself at all well to me. [The "to me" is important -- every reader comes to a book with a different background and so reacts differently.] Likewise, fairly early in the story, Damien falls in love, but this, too, didn't feel convincing to me. And the book lacked touches that would have made me warm to him quickly: acts of kindness, moments of diffidence, certain types of humor and fallibility. I only gradually and incompletely came to sympathize with him.
Another of the major characters has aspects that incline me to sympathize with him: his isolation, his commitment, his rather snarky attitude, yet I found it difficult-to-impossible to get past certain extravagantly repellent acts of his.
Overall, I enjoyed this moderately rather than extravagantly, and am in no immediate hurry to progress to book two. Three out of five middling stars.
About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved).
Spoilers ahead.
Spoiler
I can see why they enjoyed "Black Sun Rising." The worldbuilding is improbable if viewed as science fiction, but allows for a detailed and unusual mix of an alien planet and sorcerous powers. The plot is dramatic and energetic, the main characters frequently in a crisis. The use of magical healing means that they can sustain what would otherwise be lethal injuries yet continue their adventures the next day. This last point is one I usually consider a weakness rather than a strength, but can make for a page-turner provided I like the characters.In this case, I didn't initially like the characters. All told, there are approximately a dozen point-of-view characters, but one of them, Damien, receives considerably the largest page count. And I didn't find Damien an immersive, fully convincing character. He is a man of a faith, a priest whose religion guides his life, yet that aspect of his character didn't communicate itself at all well to me. [The "to me" is important -- every reader comes to a book with a different background and so reacts differently.] Likewise, fairly early in the story, Damien falls in love, but this, too, didn't feel convincing to me. And the book lacked touches that would have made me warm to him quickly: acts of kindness, moments of diffidence, certain types of humor and fallibility. I only gradually and incompletely came to sympathize with him.
Another of the major characters has aspects that incline me to sympathize with him: his isolation, his commitment, his rather snarky attitude, yet I found it difficult-to-impossible to get past certain extravagantly repellent acts of his.
Overall, I enjoyed this moderately rather than extravagantly, and am in no immediate hurry to progress to book two. Three out of five middling stars.
About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved).
spitzig's review
3.0
I liked the moral ambiguity. I liked her idea of a fantasy world created by belief. The characters were pretty good. Well, the priest and the evil protagonist were the only real characters.
sonice's review
4.0
3.5 stars. One the one hand, the world this is set in is fascinating. I love how the whole planet is just one evolutionary butterfly effect. It's much more science fiction than fantasy, which made it easier for me to roll with the fairly soft magic system; it comes across as a natural phenomenon that's just not completely understood yet, and I expect moving into books 2 and 3 that we'll get some more answers as to what makes it all tick.
On the other hand, the plot wasn't the greatest and most of the characters weren't all that great either (with one major exception). If you lifted these aspects out and imposed them onto a typical medieval-fantasy world, I don't think this would have been nearly so much fun. Not bad, but not all that good either.
I do have to acknowledge that, despite having some undeniable problems, this book kept me interested right up to the very end. I will be moving in to "When True Night Falls" shortly.
On the other hand, the plot wasn't the greatest and most of the characters weren't all that great either (with one major exception). If you lifted these aspects out and imposed them onto a typical medieval-fantasy world, I don't think this would have been nearly so much fun. Not bad, but not all that good either.
I do have to acknowledge that, despite having some undeniable problems, this book kept me interested right up to the very end. I will be moving in to "When True Night Falls" shortly.
tasteepig's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I'll not add a review for each of the trilogy but, the story is an effective blend of fantasy and science fiction. The main protagonist has major character flaws that both repulse and draw you in.
behnaz's review
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
michaelkerzman's review
The world and the prose are decent enough but the characters and the actual story are so bland and uninteresting that reading this just feels like a slog. So much redundant and unnecessary filler as well, feels like this book should have been cut in half.
mandolin_dreams's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25