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tavetzuigel's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
tregina's review against another edition
3.0
The end of this one almost pushes it up to a four--and maybe upon further reflection it will--because it is a truly spectacular last forty pages or so, but this is the one book in the series that I always found just a little too disjointed.
rainymountainreads's review against another edition
5.0
Guy Gavriel Kay weaves magic with words… and Simon Vance brings his words to life ☺️ I loved the first two books of the Fionavar Tapestry… on to the last!
laura_corsi's review against another edition
4.0
The five from Earth return to Fionavar and much more is unfolded as to their destiny. It turns out that each one has found a special place in the tapestry. A place where their particular gifts, whether awe inspiring like Paul’s and Kim’s or more humble like mighty Davor’s, can shine forth and aid greatly in the war with the dark. The 5 students from Earth find themselves in the center of the epic battle and depended upon by the great in Fionavar, all save one.
Kevin Laine finds himself largely useless in the war with the Dark. Oh, he is warmly welcomed and made part of the group. He is accepted as one of the Prince’s trusted men. However, he finds himself not to be much of a warrior nor much of a power like his friends. He wonders what he can possibly do in answer to the horrors taking over all the worlds. In the end, it is Kevin Laine’s answer to the dark that sends us forward into the third book of the trilogy.
Kevin Laine finds himself largely useless in the war with the Dark. Oh, he is warmly welcomed and made part of the group. He is accepted as one of the Prince’s trusted men. However, he finds himself not to be much of a warrior nor much of a power like his friends. He wonders what he can possibly do in answer to the horrors taking over all the worlds. In the end, it is Kevin Laine’s answer to the dark that sends us forward into the third book of the trilogy.
winnifred's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Possibly the most beautiful modern retelling of Arthurian legend I have ever read, and that wasn't even the main plot of the book.
frootlupo's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
While certainly containing more of Kay’s illustrious worldbuilding - this one definitely suffered from middle-book syndrome
The stakes never seemed as high, and many threads were either cut very short or purposefully left hanging - which doesn’t leave a very satisfying feeling
Also, while thankfully not graphic, the second half of the book was weirdly and needlessly sexual - it either came out of nowhere, which was jarring, or had it awkwardly built into the worldbuilding which was just super weird
The stakes never seemed as high, and many threads were either cut very short or purposefully left hanging - which doesn’t leave a very satisfying feeling
Also, while thankfully not graphic, the second half of the book was weirdly and needlessly sexual - it either came out of nowhere, which was jarring, or had it awkwardly built into the worldbuilding which was just super weird
subparcupcake's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.
I was frustrated during certain parts of this book. First of all, I didn't realize how much I was missing due to a lack of knowledge of mythology. At one point I went out to look up the book on Wikipedia, to see how much I needed to know about King Arthur to get by, and was blown away by all of the references I hadn't picked up on. Secondly, it was a little slow and almost on the boring side during some parts. I loved [b:The Summer Tree|104086|The Summer Tree (The Fionavar Tapestry, #1)|Guy Gavriel Kay|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171506609s/104086.jpg|3238632], so that was a little disappointing.
But Kay always seems to redeem himself. He's so damn romantic. The relationships and romance in this book had me swooning left and right. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that this is romancey at all... But when he did write some romance in, it was damn good. Just... Beautifully done. If a man ever talked to me romantically like the men in his stories talk to the women in them.. Damn. I'd be a puddle.
And the ending.. Beautiful and emotionally moving.. He definitely redeemed the slower parts with the last third.
All in all, it wasn't quite as good as [b:The Summer Tree|104086|The Summer Tree (The Fionavar Tapestry, #1)|Guy Gavriel Kay|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171506609s/104086.jpg|3238632], but I still really liked it. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens in the last book of the trilogy.
I was frustrated during certain parts of this book. First of all, I didn't realize how much I was missing due to a lack of knowledge of mythology. At one point I went out to look up the book on Wikipedia, to see how much I needed to know about King Arthur to get by, and was blown away by all of the references I hadn't picked up on. Secondly, it was a little slow and almost on the boring side during some parts. I loved [b:The Summer Tree|104086|The Summer Tree (The Fionavar Tapestry, #1)|Guy Gavriel Kay|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171506609s/104086.jpg|3238632], so that was a little disappointing.
But Kay always seems to redeem himself. He's so damn romantic. The relationships and romance in this book had me swooning left and right. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that this is romancey at all... But when he did write some romance in, it was damn good. Just... Beautifully done. If a man ever talked to me romantically like the men in his stories talk to the women in them.. Damn. I'd be a puddle.
And the ending.. Beautiful and emotionally moving.. He definitely redeemed the slower parts with the last third.
All in all, it wasn't quite as good as [b:The Summer Tree|104086|The Summer Tree (The Fionavar Tapestry, #1)|Guy Gavriel Kay|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171506609s/104086.jpg|3238632], but I still really liked it. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens in the last book of the trilogy.
littlelynn's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
itsfreelancer's review against another edition
4.0
Previously on the Fionavar Tapestry:
We have had our five main characters moulded in the world of Fionavar to be heroes, catalysts and guides. For better amd some specially for worse, they have returned home and now the plot thickens anew.
This is that part of the tale where the pleasantries are dispatched off for there lies war ahead. Game faces on, folks. The ride just went up a notch. What we missed in the first book was a direction. There were so many situations occurring at any given time that it was not easy to grasp which ones to focus on. As it should be. Here, in this book, those are dealt with.
There's more action, more wars, more sleeping with goddesses, sacrifices and a love triangle that's longer than Merlin's beard. There's also plots brewing, fires kindling, love blossoming, hopes blooming in the dark and terrible winter.
Book 2 ended on a deeply satisfying note. If not for the deaths, it would have been quite a high. But there's nothing like death to wake you up to reality, is there?
We have had our five main characters moulded in the world of Fionavar to be heroes, catalysts and guides. For better amd some specially for worse, they have returned home and now the plot thickens anew.
This is that part of the tale where the pleasantries are dispatched off for there lies war ahead. Game faces on, folks. The ride just went up a notch. What we missed in the first book was a direction. There were so many situations occurring at any given time that it was not easy to grasp which ones to focus on. As it should be. Here, in this book, those are dealt with.
There's more action, more wars, more sleeping with goddesses, sacrifices and a love triangle that's longer than Merlin's beard. There's also plots brewing, fires kindling, love blossoming, hopes blooming in the dark and terrible winter.
Book 2 ended on a deeply satisfying note. If not for the deaths, it would have been quite a high. But there's nothing like death to wake you up to reality, is there?