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blackshirt's review
3.0
Really liked the 2 books that focus on Croaker's narration, but I wasn't as interested in the characters that we backtrack to follow in "The Silver Spike."
pjwhyman's review
4.0
The first book in this collection didn't do it for me, but the second snd third made up for it. Four stars overall.
sab754's review
4.0
STARTED 10 AUGUST 2021, FINISHED AUGUST 24 2021.
4.5/5
Really good stuff. Always find it a bit slow, getting into each Black Company book, but then I get suuuper fast and excited towards the end as everything's coming together.
I was quite suspect when the first omnibus (Books #1-3) had non-Croaker POVs, but Cook does a fantastic job of making them interesting and it is SO MUCH FUN seeing everything come together in the end.
I read this all the way through without realising that the last book is actually #3.5 and not #6, BUT, it was a really satisfying conclusion to the first 3 books - and to the collection as a whole.
4.5/5
Really good stuff. Always find it a bit slow, getting into each Black Company book, but then I get suuuper fast and excited towards the end as everything's coming together.
I was quite suspect when the first omnibus (Books #1-3) had non-Croaker POVs, but Cook does a fantastic job of making them interesting and it is SO MUCH FUN seeing everything come together in the end.
I read this all the way through without realising that the last book is actually #3.5 and not #6, BUT, it was a really satisfying conclusion to the first 3 books - and to the collection as a whole.
fraebae66's review
4.0
I enjoyed the fantastical combined with the sensible. 3.5 stars rounding up. I didn't love the new characters and missed the old ones!
wyrmdog's review
4.0
Glen Cook has definitely improved in these volumes, though a few issues persist. Overall though, they are minor quibbles that I can start overlooking.
Shadow Games and Dreams of Steel were both decent but not great until the very end. I both like Lady and abhor her. But I think that's the point. I sometimes think that there's still too much posturing during internal monologues and occasionally decisions I don't understand.
The end of the second book is a great setup. Very excited for the next installments.
Now to the last book, the Silver Spike. This is the real gem of this collection, I have to admit. It's right up there with Shadows Linger as some of Cook's strongest writing. The plot is almost as much heist as it is epic fantasy (and it gets pretty epic, to use an overused phrase), and the twists and turns are incredibly fun and even satisfying until the end when a random no-name manages to outwit and outfight all the remnants of the Black Company left in Oar. It just...seemed overwrought I guess. That said, it is arguably my favorite of the 6 novels I've read by Cook.
The element that really did it for me though, was Case's narrative and the way he broke down Raven's motivations, methods and justification. It was a much needed introspective that most of the other books lack utterly. The Silver Spike is rendered much stronger for its presence.
Shadow Games and Dreams of Steel were both decent but not great until the very end. I both like Lady and abhor her. But I think that's the point. I sometimes think that there's still too much posturing during internal monologues and occasionally decisions I don't understand.
The end of the second book is a great setup. Very excited for the next installments.
Now to the last book, the Silver Spike. This is the real gem of this collection, I have to admit. It's right up there with Shadows Linger as some of Cook's strongest writing. The plot is almost as much heist as it is epic fantasy (and it gets pretty epic, to use an overused phrase), and the twists and turns are incredibly fun and even satisfying until the end when a random no-name manages to outwit and outfight all the remnants of the Black Company left in Oar. It just...seemed overwrought I guess. That said, it is arguably my favorite of the 6 novels I've read by Cook.
The element that really did it for me though, was Case's narrative and the way he broke down Raven's motivations, methods and justification. It was a much needed introspective that most of the other books lack utterly. The Silver Spike is rendered much stronger for its presence.
arbitrary_abode's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
sumeetv's review
4.0
If you're this far into the series, you know what to expect. Dark humor, morally ambiguous characters, the horrors of war, a darkness looming over the world, and bad guys that somehow get you rooting for them. These books differ from the earlier ones in that they dig into the romantic relationships between characters, although I hesitate to use the word "romance" to describe what happens. Without giving anything away, the number of players you pay attention to decreases, which actually makes the story that much more compelling. The Silver Spike (book 3.5) is a nice detour from the main story arc that actually ties together a few loose ends in a fairly satisfying way. The others continue the epic saga that, let's be honest, you really want to watch unfold and didn't realize was still ongoing. If you read the first 3 books and are still interested, grab the next 3. You'll be pleasantly entertained.
johnawickline's review
adventurous
dark
tense
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
4.0
gyttja's review
3.0
Den sista boken i den här samlingen var väldigt bra i början och byggde upp för en riktigt spännande andra halva. Tyvärr känner jag att det blev rätt tråkigt och platt avslut istället. Men The Black Company kommer alltid ha en speciell plats i mitt hjärta. Speciellt den första boken. Det spelar ingen roll om vissa av böckerna har ganska svaga berättelser, för känslan och världen som beskrivs är något alldeles extra. Kommer garanterat att fortsätta läsa vidare i denna serie och kan bara hoppas att nästa bok har mer att erbjuda!
tobermueller's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0