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thomas_hense's review
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This could be among my all time favourite books.
todenmann's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
angemelb's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Faster pace than 1st Chronicles... more depth to characters, Thomas more accessible, understandable. Like the building dynamic with Linden. Plot and world building more diverse, painful at times to read, correlation bw the land, its people and despair/ guilt/ power/ interesting.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Emotional abuse, Blood, and Chronic illness
narzack's review against another edition
3.0
Should be called Thomas Covenant the Insanely Frustrating and Selfish Coward. That might be a little unfair, but,holy cow, sometimes you just want to shake the bastard and scream in his face that OTHER PEOPLE LIVES ARE IMPORTANT, TOO! Constantly moaning and whinging that people died for him, while simultaneously refusing to do anything to prevent it.
Buddy, if you don't kill a couple dickheads in robes who are currently trying to kill you, thousands of innocent people will die.
But, then again, everyone is miserable this time, even the people of the Land itself.
Buddy, if you don't kill a couple dickheads in robes who are currently trying to kill you, thousands of innocent people will die.
But, then again, everyone is miserable this time, even the people of the Land itself.
laurenthelas's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
mikehex's review against another edition
3.0
Re-read. The only parts I remember are the river ride and the different seasons. The next one, I can recall half a dozen scenes. As opposed to the first three, this is the first book that feels not complete. The new character definitely shakes things up but there's no real payoff yet
scheu's review against another edition
4.0
It's good to know Covenant changed over the course of ten years.
Not as thoughtful as what came before, but after the first part of the book (which feels as though it was written at a completely different time) you'll fit right back into the story, or the story fits right back into you.
Not as thoughtful as what came before, but after the first part of the book (which feels as though it was written at a completely different time) you'll fit right back into the story, or the story fits right back into you.
steven_v's review against another edition
5.0
This is the first book of the Second Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, and follows after the events of the original trilogy. Thus in the entire set of 10 books that now comprises the three Chronicles, this is the fourth book. It is also one of my favorites. However, it is nearly impossible to summarize events of this book even vaguely without giving away spoilers. I will do my best.
Ten years have passed in our world since the events of The Power That Preserves. Covenant changed great deal at the end of that book, and in the intervening time those changes have solidified. He's gone back to writing, having published several novels. He is grudgingly accepted by the people of his small town, because he saved the life of a little girl. Things are going well for him. Until his ex-wife Joan becomes psychologically unbalanced, and he has to take her in to try and protect her from herself.
This is the situation when his new co-star for this second series, Dr. Linden Avery, arrives on his doorstep at the request of a mutual friend. She discovers Joan's mental illness and, in an effort to find out more, follows Covenant into the woods. There she witnesses him exchange himself for Joan in a summoning ritual meant to bring him to the other world (the Land). Attempting to interrupt it, Linden gets sucked through along with Covenant. The two end up in the Land together.
But time moves quickly in the Land. It has been around 3,500 years, and much has changed. The Despiser is back. Earthpower has been corrupted into a new brutal force called the Sunbane. The people no longer remember the Lords or the old Lore. There are more dangers in the Land than ever before, and fewer friends to count on. Together, Linden and Covenant must discover what is behind this new evil and learn how to stop it.
That's all I can say without giving away spoilers. I can't really explain why I like this book so much without them, but here are a few tidbits.
First, when I read this second series originally, back in high school, I was unhappy that Linden Avery got so much "screen time." She is the point-of-view character for about 25% of this book, and much more of books 2 and 3. I angrily called it "The Chronicles of Linden Avery the Chosen" instead of its real title back then -- and I meant it as an insult. Because I wanted more Covenant, and Donaldson kept giving me Linden.
I've completely changed my mind in the years since. This is my 4th reading of this novel, and somewhere between the 2nd and 3rd reading, I think (but certainly decades ago), Linden became my favorite character in the entire first two series, and one of my all-time favorite characters in fiction, period. I can't really explain why without giving away spoilers, but suffice it to say that, as with any Donaldson character, she is rich, complex, and interesting.
The second reason I love this book is Covenant. For the first 2.5 novels of the series (i.e., most of the original trilogy), Covenant refused to accept his power or, after accepting it, would not use it. Not so here -- in this novel, he accepts his power, and he even deliberately tries to use it repeatedly. Covenant is also much more of an actor in this story, as compared with say the first two novels, in which he is mostly being acted upon. When he sees what has gone so wrong in the Land, he immediately engages plans to set things aright, even before fully understanding what is so off-kilter and why. When he learns the reasons behind everything, he only becomes more determined.
In addition to Linden and Covenant, there are also many wonderful characters to love in this novel. These include a two Stonedownors who help him (I won't give their names to avoid spoilers), some Haruchai, and a few others I won't name or describe -- again, to avoid spoilers. Among this latter group are two of my other all-time favorite characters in this series.
I regret being so circumspect but if you have not read this second series, you will want to enjoy coming upon these characters and events and explanations for yourself. Suffice it to say that if you liked the first trilogy, you will greatly enjoy this book. And if you felt the original was so-so -- especially because Covenant was so hard to like -- you might want to give this book a try anyway, since he is much more likable here than in the original series. I love all these books but the Wounded Land stands among them as one of the best.
Ten years have passed in our world since the events of The Power That Preserves. Covenant changed great deal at the end of that book, and in the intervening time those changes have solidified. He's gone back to writing, having published several novels. He is grudgingly accepted by the people of his small town, because he saved the life of a little girl. Things are going well for him. Until his ex-wife Joan becomes psychologically unbalanced, and he has to take her in to try and protect her from herself.
This is the situation when his new co-star for this second series, Dr. Linden Avery, arrives on his doorstep at the request of a mutual friend. She discovers Joan's mental illness and, in an effort to find out more, follows Covenant into the woods. There she witnesses him exchange himself for Joan in a summoning ritual meant to bring him to the other world (the Land). Attempting to interrupt it, Linden gets sucked through along with Covenant. The two end up in the Land together.
But time moves quickly in the Land. It has been around 3,500 years, and much has changed. The Despiser is back. Earthpower has been corrupted into a new brutal force called the Sunbane. The people no longer remember the Lords or the old Lore. There are more dangers in the Land than ever before, and fewer friends to count on. Together, Linden and Covenant must discover what is behind this new evil and learn how to stop it.
That's all I can say without giving away spoilers. I can't really explain why I like this book so much without them, but here are a few tidbits.
First, when I read this second series originally, back in high school, I was unhappy that Linden Avery got so much "screen time." She is the point-of-view character for about 25% of this book, and much more of books 2 and 3. I angrily called it "The Chronicles of Linden Avery the Chosen" instead of its real title back then -- and I meant it as an insult. Because I wanted more Covenant, and Donaldson kept giving me Linden.
I've completely changed my mind in the years since. This is my 4th reading of this novel, and somewhere between the 2nd and 3rd reading, I think (but certainly decades ago), Linden became my favorite character in the entire first two series, and one of my all-time favorite characters in fiction, period. I can't really explain why without giving away spoilers, but suffice it to say that, as with any Donaldson character, she is rich, complex, and interesting.
The second reason I love this book is Covenant. For the first 2.5 novels of the series (i.e., most of the original trilogy), Covenant refused to accept his power or, after accepting it, would not use it. Not so here -- in this novel, he accepts his power, and he even deliberately tries to use it repeatedly. Covenant is also much more of an actor in this story, as compared with say the first two novels, in which he is mostly being acted upon. When he sees what has gone so wrong in the Land, he immediately engages plans to set things aright, even before fully understanding what is so off-kilter and why. When he learns the reasons behind everything, he only becomes more determined.
In addition to Linden and Covenant, there are also many wonderful characters to love in this novel. These include a two Stonedownors who help him (I won't give their names to avoid spoilers), some Haruchai, and a few others I won't name or describe -- again, to avoid spoilers. Among this latter group are two of my other all-time favorite characters in this series.
I regret being so circumspect but if you have not read this second series, you will want to enjoy coming upon these characters and events and explanations for yourself. Suffice it to say that if you liked the first trilogy, you will greatly enjoy this book. And if you felt the original was so-so -- especially because Covenant was so hard to like -- you might want to give this book a try anyway, since he is much more likable here than in the original series. I love all these books but the Wounded Land stands among them as one of the best.
mikehex's review against another edition
3.0
Re-read. The only parts I remember are the river ride and the different seasons. The next one, I can recall half a dozen scenes. As opposed to the first three, this is the first book that feels not complete. The new character definitely shakes things up but there's no real payoff yet
mbs1236's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
For fans of the 1st trilogy, this is truly a sad and great tale as the Chronicles of Thomas Covenant continue on.