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blairconrad's review
5.0
Really enjoyable. An improvement over [b:The Black Company|140671|The Black Company|Glen Cook|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1317066907s/140671.jpg|390334] in almost every way. Since we're now the second book in the series, there was less need for introductions and explanations, (not that The Black Company was profligate with those), and that made for a less jarring introduction. I thought the mystery around Juniper was very interesting, and I was sucked right in from the beginning. The best part, though, was the alternating viewpoints - seeing events from Croaker's and Shed's eyes was a lot of fun.
zechs's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Easily my favourite part of this series so far, and the narration really adds to it. Moody, atmospheric, almost horror-like at times.
clarks_dad's review
4.0
Definitely an improvement over the first volume. Cook builds much better characters and a lot of my complaints about lazy or paradoxical characterization are resolved in the second installment with some introspective narration from Croaker in his Annals. The pacing is as tight as the first book, but the struggle feels much more intimate than the sweeping Lord of the Rings-esque epic between the forces of dark and dark(ish) that tended to impersonally dominate the narrative of The Black Company. At its heart, there's still a lot of mystery in Shadows Linger of the sort that I'm a sucker for. Unexplained lore and mythology are my weak spot in storytelling and there's still plenty of that mystery left in the world of the second book. Characters like Marron Shed add a humanistic element that make the characters easier to identify with and for the reader to establish a more prominent foothold in Cook's world.
A minor pet peeve: the split narration. Multiple first-person perspectives are fine and make a lot of sense to me, but mixes of first-person limited and third-person omniscient are jarring to me and always will be. In spite of this complaint, the third-person narrative gave us Shed and I think that third person just feels better for Cook than his Croaker narration does. Other than that, this is a super solid weekend read. If you're on the fence about the series after the hit-and-miss first book, your patience will be rewarded with this read. It's satisfying on both the personal and plot level.
A minor pet peeve: the split narration. Multiple first-person perspectives are fine and make a lot of sense to me, but mixes of first-person limited and third-person omniscient are jarring to me and always will be. In spite of this complaint, the third-person narrative gave us Shed and I think that third person just feels better for Cook than his Croaker narration does. Other than that, this is a super solid weekend read. If you're on the fence about the series after the hit-and-miss first book, your patience will be rewarded with this read. It's satisfying on both the personal and plot level.
apthayer's review
5.0
Another strong performance by Glen Cook. I experienced this one through audiobook, rather than reading it, and Cook's prose lent itself well to it. I think of him as the Hemmingway of fantasy. Readable, direct, fast paced, without losing a grip on the important details. Can't wait to start the third.
rynkndllbrns's review
5.0
I’m assuming it’s a fake out of some sort, but Raven slipping and splitting his skull in the bath is the funniest tossed off death possible for a major character. Close second being The Captain eating it on a flying carpet.
Really love that Cook takes absolutely unrepentant scum and finds their humanity and moral center. By the time he died, I was rooting for Shed. ACABullock too.
Really love that Cook takes absolutely unrepentant scum and finds their humanity and moral center. By the time he died, I was rooting for Shed. ACABullock too.
lundos's review
4.0
"I guess we were a rough-looking lot. Those who did not show tough looked nasty."
Oh yes, they are a bad bunch, but underneath al that manly roughness are the skill and willpower to do whatever they have to do to survive. And in this one the Black Company are really up against it.
The book is split between following Croaker and the Company and a new person, Shed, where we can see quiet a lot of development. It's very well done, and while I don't fell it's necesaary for other than a few chapters (as in chapters in this one and not The Black Company) with other perspectives as I rather like the Black ones, we get the bigger picture before the Company and towards the end it sort of makes sense.
Lots happen so if you like the first one, there is absolutely no reason not to continue. Though, you might see some of your favorite characters die.
"All men are born condemned, so the wise say. All suckle the breast of Death."
dbrad24's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-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
jaredwsaltz's review
4.0
Glenn Cook tells the story of a mercenary company who realizes they are working for the bad guy. Once again, the story follows the point of view of the physician and historian as he begins to think their current employer just might have it out for them… and what people with their backs against the wall will do when pushed.
kvltprincess's review
4.0
I freaking love these books.
At first I was just super annoyed at Shed. Like, I don't care about you, Mr. Shed, and I think you're sort of an asshat. Where is Croaker? Where is One-Eye and Goblin?
But then it all came around in a way that made me not resentful of the first half and even made me smile some. Not sad I bought the whole series on ebook at all at this point, and very excited to see what is next for our boys.
At first I was just super annoyed at Shed. Like, I don't care about you, Mr. Shed, and I think you're sort of an asshat. Where is Croaker? Where is One-Eye and Goblin?
But then it all came around in a way that made me not resentful of the first half and even made me smile some. Not sad I bought the whole series on ebook at all at this point, and very excited to see what is next for our boys.