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jonathanpalfrey's review
2.0
Like the preceding volume, this is a straight "OK". It takes us quite pleasantly and competently through the steadily unwinding plot, without providing any scenes that I find compelling. I read it just to find out what happens next.
It's instructive but mystifying to see that an author can write this fluently and competently and yet produce a novel that lacks fizz and doesn't engage my enthusiasm. Some other authors may not seem to write any better, but they succeed in writing scenes that I positively enjoy reading and want to return to again and again.
The plot is well contrived in that it goes along through seven volumes at a fairly brisk pace, always coming up with some new twist and turn; and it all seems to fit together so well that I think the whole series must have been sketched out in advance, before the detailed writing began.
It's instructive but mystifying to see that an author can write this fluently and competently and yet produce a novel that lacks fizz and doesn't engage my enthusiasm. Some other authors may not seem to write any better, but they succeed in writing scenes that I positively enjoy reading and want to return to again and again.
The plot is well contrived in that it goes along through seven volumes at a fairly brisk pace, always coming up with some new twist and turn; and it all seems to fit together so well that I think the whole series must have been sketched out in advance, before the detailed writing began.
manwithanagenda's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Just when I was about to lob this book aside, because reading these last few 'Gandalara' books has been like a slow-building venom, each instance of poor writing (and careless editing), emotional exposition, and unneeded reminders that Rikardon is very special indeed, making me more sick, the books throw in a twist. A twist I had forgotten all about and, better still, was anticipatable. It doesn't reshape the whole series but it makes me feel better about keeping on when I have some hefty classics begging for my attention.
I'll not bother with a full synopsis, but Rikardon and Tarani, the family of sha'um in tow (or doing the towing, however you want to look at it), *gasp* return to Eddarta, to get Tarani acclaimed as High Lord and thus get ahold of the Ra'ira, which is now not only stolen mystical property, but the only thing that can help besieged Raithskar against the marauding horde of the formerly enslaved vineh. (But its ok to side with Raithskar, because the vineh were nasty ape things, only marginally intelligent. Slavery, in fact, was good for them. Uh-huh.)
Still with me? OK. There's another big issue that pops up, but I'll leave that to you intrepid few who make it this far to discover. I was pleasantly surprised. Only one more book left, it's a little fatter then the other individual books, but I can take it. I think.
Gandalara Cycle
Next: 'The River Wall'
Previous 'The Search for Ka'
My Review of Gandalara Omnibus 2
I'll not bother with a full synopsis, but Rikardon and Tarani, the family of sha'um in tow (or doing the towing, however you want to look at it), *gasp* return to Eddarta, to get Tarani acclaimed as High Lord and thus get ahold of the Ra'ira, which is now not only stolen mystical property, but the only thing that can help besieged Raithskar against the marauding horde of the formerly enslaved vineh. (But its ok to side with Raithskar, because the vineh were nasty ape things, only marginally intelligent. Slavery, in fact, was good for them. Uh-huh.)
Still with me? OK. There's another big issue that pops up, but I'll leave that to you intrepid few who make it this far to discover. I was pleasantly surprised. Only one more book left, it's a little fatter then the other individual books, but I can take it. I think.
Gandalara Cycle
Next: 'The River Wall'
Previous 'The Search for Ka'
My Review of Gandalara Omnibus 2
More...