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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
This is the second book in the A Land Fit For Heroes saga, following the first book, THE STEEL REMAINS, and continues the story of three main characters: Ringil, Egar the Dragonbane, and Archeth.
In short, this second book kept me up at night, and sent me napping on the weekend. There was just enough action to keep my attention piqued, but seemed to drag at places, though I know the information had to be presented. Having jumped into the third book, THE DARK DEFILES, I can say that much of the slow parts are much needed. Morgan does an awesome job bringing together a medieval land, toss in some magical beings, mythological-type gods, and some semi-post-apocalyptic world settings/knowledge, and you have one hell of a put-together tale.
In short, this second book kept me up at night, and sent me napping on the weekend. There was just enough action to keep my attention piqued, but seemed to drag at places, though I know the information had to be presented. Having jumped into the third book, THE DARK DEFILES, I can say that much of the slow parts are much needed. Morgan does an awesome job bringing together a medieval land, toss in some magical beings, mythological-type gods, and some semi-post-apocalyptic world settings/knowledge, and you have one hell of a put-together tale.
Liked the first book better. This has great characters and a cool fantasy world, but alas there aint much of a plot. Hoping the next book picks back up.
Efter mer än ett års kamp med att läsa denna boken ger jag upp. Det blev en DNF.
Jag älskade första boken i serien. Världsbygget, karaktärerna, intrigen med alla mystiska saker som sker. Det var en fantasktisk läsupplevelse. Därför blev jag så förvånad att jag inte alls kom in i uppföljaren.
Världsbygget är fortfarande underbart. Jag älskar den råa, hårda världen. Den känns verklig och levande. En kall och grym värld med komplex historia. Jag vill fortfarande veta vad som är på gång, få svar på alla mina frågor och veta hur det hela slutar.
Men i denna boken bryr jag mig ett ett dugg om karaktärerna. Jag skiter i dem. De engagerar inte alls som i förra boken. Det går framåt för segt, för förvirrat, för planlöst. Jag orkar inte bry mig, tappar intresset. Jag gillar egentligen inveklade intriger, att inte få allt förklarat för mig, det gåtfulla och mörka i böcker, men här blir det för mycket. För ostrukturerat, för mycket av att karaktärerna lallar runt.
Så jag tjuvkikade recensioner om tredje boken i serien för om den är hyllad och ansedd som riktigt bra är det värt att pressa igenom den sega tvåan. Men tyvärr verkar trean vara ännu mer av vad som finns i tvåan och inte heller varkar man få svar på alla frågor. Så då gav jag upp. Vilket gör mig förbannad för jag ville verkligen älska den här boken lika mycket som ettan och sedan rusa vidare till en fenomenal trea. Men tyvärr. Så blev det inte.
Det blir ändå en tvåa i betyg för alla de saker jag faktiskt gillar med den.
Jag älskade första boken i serien. Världsbygget, karaktärerna, intrigen med alla mystiska saker som sker. Det var en fantasktisk läsupplevelse. Därför blev jag så förvånad att jag inte alls kom in i uppföljaren.
Världsbygget är fortfarande underbart. Jag älskar den råa, hårda världen. Den känns verklig och levande. En kall och grym värld med komplex historia. Jag vill fortfarande veta vad som är på gång, få svar på alla mina frågor och veta hur det hela slutar.
Men i denna boken bryr jag mig ett ett dugg om karaktärerna. Jag skiter i dem. De engagerar inte alls som i förra boken. Det går framåt för segt, för förvirrat, för planlöst. Jag orkar inte bry mig, tappar intresset. Jag gillar egentligen inveklade intriger, att inte få allt förklarat för mig, det gåtfulla och mörka i böcker, men här blir det för mycket. För ostrukturerat, för mycket av att karaktärerna lallar runt.
Så jag tjuvkikade recensioner om tredje boken i serien för om den är hyllad och ansedd som riktigt bra är det värt att pressa igenom den sega tvåan. Men tyvärr verkar trean vara ännu mer av vad som finns i tvåan och inte heller varkar man få svar på alla frågor. Så då gav jag upp. Vilket gör mig förbannad för jag ville verkligen älska den här boken lika mycket som ettan och sedan rusa vidare till en fenomenal trea. Men tyvärr. Så blev det inte.
Det blir ändå en tvåa i betyg för alla de saker jag faktiskt gillar med den.
Do not despite the beggar, grizzled and crippled at the corner. For who can tell what households or kingdoms he may once have called his own. Life is a long dream whose end we cannot see and he is perhaps but a premonition, a lucky warning you may yet take.
I can't say that I enjoyed this as much as the first.
Although the first was also slow going at the start, the world building and action quickly pulled me in. That epic opening line helped as well.
Leaving a few months gap between reading these books I think contributed to the dull start in this book as I struggled to remember who the characters were and what they were doing. And while the dark setting and gritty characters are still present and accounted for in this book, some of it seemed over the top.
I don't think this book fully captured my attention until 40% in and even then while it was good it wasn't great.
It seemed more intent on setting things up for the next book, which I am really looking forward to.
I can't say that I enjoyed this as much as the first.
Although the first was also slow going at the start, the world building and action quickly pulled me in. That epic opening line helped as well.
Leaving a few months gap between reading these books I think contributed to the dull start in this book as I struggled to remember who the characters were and what they were doing. And while the dark setting and gritty characters are still present and accounted for in this book, some of it seemed over the top.
I don't think this book fully captured my attention until 40% in and even then while it was good it wasn't great.
It seemed more intent on setting things up for the next book, which I am really looking forward to.
Continues at the same level. No real change. The three key characters continue on their somewhat misanthropic way, the "elves" try something again, and the Navigators (AI or something magical) remain trivially annoying. No much really happens and I almost dropped this to two stars.
A worthy follow-up to the refreshing "The Steel Remains," this is a fun swords and sorcery romp with a little social consciousness. I liked it a lot and am looking forward to the third book. There is a deep mythology behind the stories which is I can't pretend I fully understood. Magic, maybe-gods, maybe aliens, some confusing different sorts of races. But it's a fun ride nonetheless. And a bit of social consciousness that would have stood out a few years ago and maybe still does. Characters of color and of different sexual preferences mixed in with a lot of fairly familiar fantasy tropes.
Better than [b:The Steel Remains|3314369|The Steel Remains (A Land Fit for Heroes, #1)|Richard K. Morgan|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348251475s/3314369.jpg|3352006] this was let down a little with a rushed ending relying on some awesomeness with Ringil. It also left it unclear whether the story buildup for a possible next book is was a convenient device to pull the three protagonists together, or actually something that will be continued in a third book.
Less so than the first book Morgan still has a deliberate ploy of trying to shock the norms with his sexual orientation of characters. Its more ham-fisted (!) than the rest of the writing and is more distracting than value add to me. But it probably sells.
Definitely will read the next, with more confidence this time (I had Cold Commands on wait for a long time before reading it)
Less so than the first book Morgan still has a deliberate ploy of trying to shock the norms with his sexual orientation of characters. Its more ham-fisted (!) than the rest of the writing and is more distracting than value add to me. But it probably sells.
Definitely will read the next, with more confidence this time (I had Cold Commands on wait for a long time before reading it)
Il Gelo Comanda è il secondo volume della trilogia Cosa Resta degli Eroi, e se siete arrivati fin qui, sconvolti dagli eventi ma non ancora vinti e desiderosi di sapere cos'altro può accadere, sappiate che il peggio deve tuttavia arrivare. O il meglio, a seconda dei punti di vista.
Non potendomi addentrare negli oscuri meandri della storia, approfitterò dello spazio per elogiare la scelta dei titoli per tutti e tre i libri: titoli che definirei parlanti, perché non trasmettono un unico concetto, ma una gamma di sensazioni, fisiche e mentali, provate tanto dai Luoghi trafitti dalla magia quanto dai personaggi che si trovano ad attraversarli.
Vi sono molteplici piani di lettura, e mentre i personaggi proseguono con una coerente quanto dolorosa crescita, gli eventi travolgono ciò che non si credeva possibile.
Il ritmo si mantiene elevato, l'interesse costante, riusciendo per la quasi totalità del volume a non farlo sembrare il classico "libro di mezzo", come sovente capita con le opere di genere.
Ma sarà sul finale, con le ultime cento, incredibili pagine, a lasciarci con il folle desiderio di avviarci, tristemente felici, verso l'ultima imboccatura del sentiero.
Fin dove termina la strada.
Non potendomi addentrare negli oscuri meandri della storia, approfitterò dello spazio per elogiare la scelta dei titoli per tutti e tre i libri: titoli che definirei parlanti, perché non trasmettono un unico concetto, ma una gamma di sensazioni, fisiche e mentali, provate tanto dai Luoghi trafitti dalla magia quanto dai personaggi che si trovano ad attraversarli.
Vi sono molteplici piani di lettura, e mentre i personaggi proseguono con una coerente quanto dolorosa crescita, gli eventi travolgono ciò che non si credeva possibile.
Il ritmo si mantiene elevato, l'interesse costante, riusciendo per la quasi totalità del volume a non farlo sembrare il classico "libro di mezzo", come sovente capita con le opere di genere.
Ma sarà sul finale, con le ultime cento, incredibili pagine, a lasciarci con il folle desiderio di avviarci, tristemente felici, verso l'ultima imboccatura del sentiero.
Fin dove termina la strada.
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A three or a four? I honestly don't know. The writing is a four but the pacing and plotting are the very definition of "mid-trilogy".