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noranne's review
3.0
It's been awhile since I read the previous books, which may have affected my experience with this one. I was a little slow to remember who all the characters were (even after reading a Wiki summary of each of the first four books) and the various ins and outs of the magic. I don't know if I just don't remember or if this book has a different translator or what, but the writing in this really stuck out to me as a bit odd. It took me probably half the book to get used to it. (So many exclamation points, and this from someone who loves them!) There was also a LOT of current culture references that I found to be a bit too much and pulled me from the story.
The story was not the most cohesive, and the urgency levels of the main plotline seemed to fluctuate all over the place. There was also hints of a subplot that did not really make sense to me and did not play out at all--perhaps setting up something for the next book, but it felt really odd and out of place here.
Overall, I still like this series. I'll probably read the next one at some point.
The story was not the most cohesive, and the urgency levels of the main plotline seemed to fluctuate all over the place. There was also hints of a subplot that did not really make sense to me and did not play out at all--perhaps setting up something for the next book, but it felt really odd and out of place here.
Overall, I still like this series. I'll probably read the next one at some point.
failmaven's review against another edition
3.0
English version is not yet listed on GoodReads. I can't actually read Russian.
phlegyas's review against another edition
3.0
[There are no spoilers in the following review. However, there is a long description of the sentiments that the ending left me with that could potentially be regarded as a spoiler.]
I had read quite a few negative comments about this book, this one year since its publication in English and till I finally purchased and read it myself. I was certain that these people with the negative comments were wrong. I was certain that I would hugely enjoy the book, more than these other people who apparently couldn't get into Lukyanenko's mythology progression, or couldn't understand the elegance of the Russian school of writing.
If anyone had said that I would find the book "inadequate", I'd call them crazy.
This book is inadequate.
It is a severe let down from the previous masterpieces.
To be frank... it feels like it's a massively half-arsed job, rushed and potentially tired.
Don't get me wrong. It's not a bad book. And, my 3-star rating is not to be confused with other 3-star ratings I may give. This is entirely measured against Lukyanenko's greatness. I can't possibly rate it any higher, as his other books, the ones that came before this, are nowhere near this mediocrity.
Lukyanenko had created a wonderful mythology, spanning over 4 books that kept pushing its own limits. The new book seems to be a step towards... nothingness. First off, it's the only book out of the series that I did not manage to read in one go. Somewhere past the halfway mark, the story took a dive. I kept on reading and reading and ... I honestly started thinking that the story that I had been reading up to that point, had been exhausted. I got to believe that another chapter -an entirely different and unrelated chapter- had started. It was so bizarre and to be honest, I totally lost interest in whatever irrelevant thoughts and songs Anton had or listened to.
However, the story spiked after that. I got my enthusiasm back and ate up the last that the book had to offer. I honestly started thinking that maybe I had somehow been unfair. It looked as if the story was going to a massive eruption towards the end. To a peak like none other.
My disappointment when I read Lukyanenko's CHEAP trick to avoid the built-up that he had engineered himself was ... honestly, I can't find a non-aggressive word to describe it. It was f*ing disgraceful. I for one had never expected him to chicken out of what would give the story a much desired ending.
If you'd ceremoniously watched House M.D. for all the years it ran, you can potentially understand the level of BS that is the ending of the New Watch.
Anyway.
It's not a bad book.
It's not a good book either.
It's definitely nowhere near most of the previous books in the series.
To me, it was a huge disappointment. I don't even know where he's left to go with the story after this.
In fact, maybe, just maybe, the entire Watch universe has been explored. Maybe there's nothing more to say.
This new element that the last book brought into play, although seemingly acceptable, it does in fact leave the reader with a "WTF" in his mind.
The "Mirror" was a hugely entertaining invention that galloped the story forward.
The new mechanism is something a writer with much less imagination than Lukyanenko would come up with.
I had read quite a few negative comments about this book, this one year since its publication in English and till I finally purchased and read it myself. I was certain that these people with the negative comments were wrong. I was certain that I would hugely enjoy the book, more than these other people who apparently couldn't get into Lukyanenko's mythology progression, or couldn't understand the elegance of the Russian school of writing.
If anyone had said that I would find the book "inadequate", I'd call them crazy.
This book is inadequate.
It is a severe let down from the previous masterpieces.
To be frank... it feels like it's a massively half-arsed job, rushed and potentially tired.
Don't get me wrong. It's not a bad book. And, my 3-star rating is not to be confused with other 3-star ratings I may give. This is entirely measured against Lukyanenko's greatness. I can't possibly rate it any higher, as his other books, the ones that came before this, are nowhere near this mediocrity.
Lukyanenko had created a wonderful mythology, spanning over 4 books that kept pushing its own limits. The new book seems to be a step towards... nothingness. First off, it's the only book out of the series that I did not manage to read in one go. Somewhere past the halfway mark, the story took a dive. I kept on reading and reading and ... I honestly started thinking that the story that I had been reading up to that point, had been exhausted. I got to believe that another chapter -an entirely different and unrelated chapter- had started. It was so bizarre and to be honest, I totally lost interest in whatever irrelevant thoughts and songs Anton had or listened to.
However, the story spiked after that. I got my enthusiasm back and ate up the last that the book had to offer. I honestly started thinking that maybe I had somehow been unfair. It looked as if the story was going to a massive eruption towards the end. To a peak like none other.
My disappointment when I read Lukyanenko's CHEAP trick to avoid the built-up that he had engineered himself was ... honestly, I can't find a non-aggressive word to describe it. It was f*ing disgraceful. I for one had never expected him to chicken out of what would give the story a much desired ending.
If you'd ceremoniously watched House M.D. for all the years it ran, you can potentially understand the level of BS that is the ending of the New Watch.
Anyway.
It's not a bad book.
It's not a good book either.
It's definitely nowhere near most of the previous books in the series.
To me, it was a huge disappointment. I don't even know where he's left to go with the story after this.
In fact, maybe, just maybe, the entire Watch universe has been explored. Maybe there's nothing more to say.
This new element that the last book brought into play, although seemingly acceptable, it does in fact leave the reader with a "WTF" in his mind.
The "Mirror" was a hugely entertaining invention that galloped the story forward.
The new mechanism is something a writer with much less imagination than Lukyanenko would come up with.
rocketiza's review
3.0
This series is really good about finding ways to remain interesting and having large stakes without breaking the world.
dave_white's review against another edition
4.0
Those who read the previous 4 books will not be disappointed, although the ending is a bit predictably evasive and indecisive.
The translation from Russian to English was a bit strange at some places, but overall I was pleasantly surprised how well it worked.
The translation from Russian to English was a bit strange at some places, but overall I was pleasantly surprised how well it worked.
_viscosity_'s review
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
grid's review against another edition
4.0
First off, I read the English edition of this novel, titled "The New Watch". I had to order it from amazon.co.uk, because there is no US release date announced.
I liked this well enough, but I think the line-graph of new ideas in this universe is flattening out. We know what magic is, we know what is at all levels of the twilight... It's as if Lukyanenko is struggling to find more "big" mysteries, and then tie them in to little bits of the previous novels to make it feel like they were foreshadowed all along. Don't get me wrong, it's definitely fun, and I really enjoyed being along for the ride, but maybe just because I have all this nostalgia for reading the others in the series and finding out more and more about the rules of magic in this universe.
I liked this well enough, but I think the line-graph of new ideas in this universe is flattening out. We know what magic is, we know what is at all levels of the twilight... It's as if Lukyanenko is struggling to find more "big" mysteries, and then tie them in to little bits of the previous novels to make it feel like they were foreshadowed all along. Don't get me wrong, it's definitely fun, and I really enjoyed being along for the ride, but maybe just because I have all this nostalgia for reading the others in the series and finding out more and more about the rules of magic in this universe.
charlibirb's review
4.0
Loved this book! A teeny bit of a deus-ex-macina at the end, but I was ok with that. I'm going to miss Anton. Going to research now whether there are more books coming out eventually!
Also, love the guy reading the audio books!
Also, love the guy reading the audio books!
vitsa's review against another edition
2.0
Should have stopped with the Last Watch. This seemed like a rehashing of a lot of the concepts already discussed in the previous books.
It was my love of Lukeanenko in general and of the Night Watch series in particular which kept me reading, and it was a somewhat entertaining read. Still I think the series as a whole would be better without this particular installment.
It was my love of Lukeanenko in general and of the Night Watch series in particular which kept me reading, and it was a somewhat entertaining read. Still I think the series as a whole would be better without this particular installment.