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greaydean's review against another edition
4.0
I quote another review. "It is good to be back in the Land!"
A good rich series. I read the first 6 books many years ago.
Great story. Complex characters. Plot twists without the feel of being jerked around.
A good rich series. I read the first 6 books many years ago.
Great story. Complex characters. Plot twists without the feel of being jerked around.
joshhezlop's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
manzabar's review against another edition
3.0
I'd forgotten how annoying & abrupt the ending of this book is. Still overall it was entertaining and I do look forward to the next book in the series.
naidim's review against another edition
5.0
A solid sequel. A great continuation of Thomas Covenant's story without him present. Donaldson's world-building is without equal; he continuously draws you back into his land, so different with each chronicle, yet the same.
scheu's review against another edition
4.0
As always the story suffers pre-Land, and as always the story gains momentum. None of it suffers in Covenant's absence.
Those smug f*cking Haruchai, though
Those smug f*cking Haruchai, though
gtv3rules's review against another edition
4.0
Good book... took a while to get back into it... it was probably 30 years since I read the original 2 series... but by the end of this book, I was back in the Land... and felt caught up... Can't wait to read the rest of the series... Donaldson is an excellent author and his scenes are done with such clarity... My only problem is that his vocabulary far exceeds mine... and it takes some getting used to with quite a few words to look up... but then I'm learning as a result as well...
steven_v's review against another edition
5.0
This novel is the first in a 4-book series that concludes the Thomas Covenant saga. Ten fictional years have passed in "our" world since the events of White Gold Wielder, the last novel before this one, and as usual, more than three thousand have passed in the Land. But also, more than 20 years had passed between the publication of the last book and this one, and more than thirty since the first time I read the original two series. When I saw that Donaldson had returned to the Land once again, I was filled with both excitement and trepidation. He's written numerous other novels since the last Covenant book - the Mordant's Need serries, the Gap series - and to be perfectly blunt, I haven't really liked any of them. His writing style is wildly different in everything else he does, and I worried that he would not be able, after all this time (and after getting out of practice by writing in other styles) to return to his former "Covenant" form.
My worries were groundless. Donaldson's unique and highly enjoyable writing style don't miss a beat. I have no idea how he can turn it on and off like that -- I sure couldn't! -- but this novel reads like he started writing it the day after he finished White Gold Wielder.
The story itself is a page-turner if there ever was one. Assuming one enjoyed the prior novels and liked the earlier characters and races such as Waynhim, stonedownors, and Haruchai, there is much to love in this first installment. Chief among these things to love is the main character, who once again is Linden Avery, the Chosen. She's been in our world for ten years, and the changes wrought into her character by the last series are clearly evident. But she is immediately confronted by a daunting foe -- Covenant's son Roger. Linden begins to suspect that Ravers or Foul are at work in Roger and his mother, Joan, who has been under Linden's care for ten years. And once again events conspire inevitably to call Linden to the Land, that magical place of wonder and Earthpower.
I won't supply any more details of the plot here, as they would simply spoil things. Suffice it to say there are many twists and turns, and many surprises. There are moments of deep grief... and moments when you will want to cheer.
This novel also has the biggest cliffhanger ending of any Covenant book. Originally three years separated the publication of each novel. When I saw this book in stores back on its first publication, although tempted, I decided to wait until the series was finished so I could read them all at once. I'm so glad I did -- because if I'd had to wait 3 years instead of 3 hours to start the next book I might possibly have gnawed off my own arm.
If you enjoy the Covenant books, this first novel of the last series is definitely for you. Once again, it feels like this series should have been called the Chronicles of Linden Avery rather than of Thomas Covenant, but that's just fine with me -- I like Linden better anyway.
My worries were groundless. Donaldson's unique and highly enjoyable writing style don't miss a beat. I have no idea how he can turn it on and off like that -- I sure couldn't! -- but this novel reads like he started writing it the day after he finished White Gold Wielder.
The story itself is a page-turner if there ever was one. Assuming one enjoyed the prior novels and liked the earlier characters and races such as Waynhim, stonedownors, and Haruchai, there is much to love in this first installment. Chief among these things to love is the main character, who once again is Linden Avery, the Chosen. She's been in our world for ten years, and the changes wrought into her character by the last series are clearly evident. But she is immediately confronted by a daunting foe -- Covenant's son Roger. Linden begins to suspect that Ravers or Foul are at work in Roger and his mother, Joan, who has been under Linden's care for ten years. And once again events conspire inevitably to call Linden to the Land, that magical place of wonder and Earthpower.
I won't supply any more details of the plot here, as they would simply spoil things. Suffice it to say there are many twists and turns, and many surprises. There are moments of deep grief... and moments when you will want to cheer.
This novel also has the biggest cliffhanger ending of any Covenant book. Originally three years separated the publication of each novel. When I saw this book in stores back on its first publication, although tempted, I decided to wait until the series was finished so I could read them all at once. I'm so glad I did -- because if I'd had to wait 3 years instead of 3 hours to start the next book I might possibly have gnawed off my own arm.
If you enjoy the Covenant books, this first novel of the last series is definitely for you. Once again, it feels like this series should have been called the Chronicles of Linden Avery rather than of Thomas Covenant, but that's just fine with me -- I like Linden better anyway.
gadgetcoma's review against another edition
4.0
It took a while to get into this book, but it was worth it. I had trouble dealing with Linden's single-minded introspection at first, but as the story unfolded, it fit. This is similar to how I felt about the beginning of the series. I am enjoying how Donaldson is weaving past, present and future stories together. It forces me to think so I can follow all of the threads of the story. He's also filling in some of the history of the Land.
hauteclere's review against another edition
1.0
As many read this out of a sense of wanting to know how it ends and a sense of duty. The end was intriguing and so I guess I will keep going.
sfletcher26's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Damn that was bloody nearly perfect.
I first read the Thomas Covenant books back in high school, some 40 years ago, and they have been a favourite of mine ever since. Admittedly, the first series was better than the second, but the ending was ultimately completely satisfying. It was a surprise then when I heard that Donaldson was writing a third series and one that didn't fill me with a great deal of enthusiasm. As I said the whole series had been wrapped up and it didn't need anything more so I largely ignored it. I had occasionally wondered what it was like but the reviews were luke warm, so I thought, no, I'll not bother.
On holiday recently, however, I saw this in a secondhand bookshop in Durham and thought, for 4 quid why not. And I'm so glad I did. Bloody amazing. Didn't ever want to put it down other than to pick up a dictionary that is. And there in is why this doesn't get 5 stars. I don't ever remember Donaldson's writing ever being that verbose but this was a challenge at times. His word choice didn't make his prose clearer or more concise, it just just made it annoying. Despite that, I am really looking forward to book 2.
So 4 1/2 star, not the full five.
I first read the Thomas Covenant books back in high school, some 40 years ago, and they have been a favourite of mine ever since. Admittedly, the first series was better than the second, but the ending was ultimately completely satisfying. It was a surprise then when I heard that Donaldson was writing a third series and one that didn't fill me with a great deal of enthusiasm. As I said the whole series had been wrapped up and it didn't need anything more so I largely ignored it. I had occasionally wondered what it was like but the reviews were luke warm, so I thought, no, I'll not bother.
On holiday recently, however, I saw this in a secondhand bookshop in Durham and thought, for 4 quid why not. And I'm so glad I did. Bloody amazing. Didn't ever want to put it down other than to pick up a dictionary that is. And there in is why this doesn't get 5 stars. I don't ever remember Donaldson's writing ever being that verbose but this was a challenge at times. His word choice didn't make his prose clearer or more concise, it just just made it annoying. Despite that, I am really looking forward to book 2.
So 4 1/2 star, not the full five.