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annarien's review against another edition
4.0
Whooper of an ending. This book meandered a whole lot but not a twist and not a turn were redundant. Murgen is easily my most favorite narrator in the series.
tamarabrouwer's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
morgandhu's review
3.0
Another hard slog. Much like the experiences of the characters in the novel. It's odd, I have grown fond enough 9f the characters that I want to read to the end (or at least, the last of the story so far published, I think I read somewhere that there is to be more) - but pushing through the books is hard.
18thstjoe's review
4.0
Not exactly sure what happened those last three pages, fortunately, I've got the next book!
sarah42783's review
5.0
π Buddy reread with the clueless new mercenary recruits Elena, Mark and Maria over at BB&B. Under the wicked supervision of our Ever-Stalking Black Company Overlord (ESBCOβ’), of course π
Previous rating: 18 stars.
New rating: 20+ million stars. And a half.
β½ And the moral of this reread is: there is a slight chance this might possibly be the best book in this series. And one of the bestest books I have ever read in the entirety of my entire life. And also one of my mostest favoritest books of all time. Maybe. Perhapslooks like I might already have said as much in my original review for the book. Maybe. Perhaps. Oh well .
β½ And the other moral of this reread is: ghostwalking (not to be mistaken for that other glorious pastime commonly known as β«ghostdancingβ«, just so you know) + my boyfriend Murgen (aka He WhoSnores Roars Like A Starving Bear) being his usual, super hot self + severed heads duh + mercenaries mushrooms + treacherously treacherous everyone and everything + my boyfriend Croaker turning into a grumpy, harrumphing grandpa without losing an inch of his utter sexiness + ectoplasmic short hairs + grim brats in dire need of a good paddling + Machiavellian Twists R Us + the hottest couple the world has ever seen + paranoia maxima + the undying charm of my girlfriend Lady nasty old bitches + emergency flying carpets + the best aunt ever this side of the Plain of Fear + the most nerve wracking final chapters in the history of most nerve wracking final chapters =
And also:
P.S. I think I like this book. A little.
[Original review]
β Glen Cook Please Have Mercy on Us Buddy Read (GCPHMoUBRβ’) with my fellow mercenaries Evasive, Slowpoke and Cleaver β
Actual rating: 18 freaking stars. Yes, intergalactic amazement is me again.
β½ A quick recap for theclueless people Little Barnacles who had the terrible misfortune to miss the previous episodes:
β£ Glen Cook is a GENIUS.
β£ Glen Cook is inhumanly TALENTED.
β£ Glen Cook is a GOD.
β£ Glen Cook, I worship thee.
β£ Glen Cook, I am naught but a lowly barnacle in utter awe and complete amazement of your never-before and never-after equaled BRILLIANCE.
β£ This series is the best series EVER.
β£ The books in this series are some of the VERY best I have EVER read in the entirety of my entire life.
β£ Blah blah blah.
β£ Blah blah blah.
β£ Blah blah blah.
β£ And blah.
β£ And stuff.
You're welcome.
You think I have nothing else to say here? Because there is no way anyone can review utter perfection for the seventh time in a row? Hahahahaha. You're so funny, my Little Barnacles. You should know by now that I ALWAYS have something to say. Admittedly, what I have to say is mostly pointless and uninteresting, but has it ever stopped me before, I ask you? No, you don't need to answer that. Because QED and all that crap.
So. She is the Freaking Darkness. I swear, Glen Cook nearly killed my fellow readingbuddies mercenaries and my little self here. Most of our discussions about this book went something like this:
Β» Mercenary #1: "asdfadasfdrtwefjskhfbiyhuiw!!!!"
Β» Mercenaries #2 & 3: "we know!! We know!!"
Β» Evgeny, aka Evasive: this will be explained two books from now.
Β» Mercenaries #1, 2 & 3: "ARRRRGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!"
Yes, there are lots of #BRBdead moments in thisseries book. Because Glen Cook is more devious, more vicious and more ruthless than all the villainous villains in this series put together. I'm telling you, this guy is almost as heartless as I am. And that's saying something. The man is out to get us. But before he does, he will revel in watching us suffer endlessly. It is absolutely glorious.
Yes, Glen Cook is actually a freaky cat in real life. Who would have thought you could write the best series in the history of best series using only freaky kitty cat's paws?
Why so many #BRBdead moments, you ask? Because this book is Backstabbing Paradise. Diabolically Duplicitous Double-Crossing (DDDCβ’) is a Glen Cook trademark, but treachery and betrayal and manipulation reach unprecedented levels in this instalment. Knives in the back are the ultimate fashion accessory here! Backstabbers being backstabbed by the backstabbers they thought they were backstabbing while those were being backstabbed by the backstabbers they thought were backstabbing! From the very first to the very last page! And when I say the very last page, I mean it, Little Barnacles! And what goes hand in hand with Backstabbing Paradise, I ask you? Paranoia Heaven! YESSS!!!!! You can trust no one in She is the Freaking Darkness! NO ONE and NOTHING!
Oh yeah, that's right. Not even rocks can be trusted here.
Things get so heavenly paranoid in Paranoia Heaven you even start having doubts about the Mostest Awesomest Holy Trinity (MAHTβ’), aka MY Murgen, Grumpy Croakie, and Impaling Fangirl Lady! Yep, that is just how heavenly paranoid and deliciously suspicious things get in this book. You can trust NO ONE and NOTHING, I tell you! Not even the love of your life, the ex-love of your life, or your future girlfriend! It's wicked yumminess and yummy wickedness perfection!
Now. I could go on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on about this Glorious Object of Utter Perfection (GOfUPβ’), but today seems to be Lucky Little Barnacle Day (LLBDβ’) so the crap is about to get cut. BUT. But. But. But. I wouldn't dream of letting you resume your desperately boring, Cook-less life without mentioning a few of the Glorious Things that makes this GOfUPβ’ utterly glorious. So here goes:
Bamboo tubes. Freaky kids, aka grim midgets. Problematic in-laws getting drunkenly down and dirty with grumpy-insane wizards on wood pallets (life will never be the same). Reformed-yet-not-so-reformed raving lunatics. Little shits everywhere. Ghostbustingwalking who you gonna call? . Mystic parasites. Mushrooms kept in the dark and fed a diet of horseshit. Ectoplasmic spies. AND WHO THE BLOODY HELL THE FREAKING DARKNESS IS SHE????!!!!!
{please insert sigh of utter, absolute bliss and complete total contentment here. And you might want to throw in a tiny little bit of subdued excitement, too}
Oh please don't act surprised and pretend you didn't know this was coming! Actually, you should feel really lucky I was able to keep my inner fangirl in check up until now. So stop whining, you big babies.
We only have two instalments left to read in this series. We shall return. We shall get revenge on all the devious, treacherous bastards and go all Lady-Kina-Deceivers on them. There will be blood. There will be beheadings. And garrotings. And impalements. Limbs shall get deliciously severed. And our interiors shall be redecorated with our enemies' body parts. Because that's how we roll in Glen Cook Heaven (GCHβ’).
"Even Water sleeps, but Enemy never rests."
Β· Book 1: The Black Company β β β β β
Β·Book 1.5: Port of Shadows β
β I have no idea where this book came from, or what it's about. Pretty sure I never read it.
Β· Book 2: Shadows Linger β β β β β
Β· Book 2.2 (short story): Shaggy Dog Bridge β β β β β
Β· Book 2.3 (short story): Bone Eaters β β β β β
Β· Book 3: The White Rose β β β β β
Β·Book 3.5: The Silver Spike β
β
β pretending this one never happened.
Β· Book 4: Shadow Games β β β β β
Β· Book 5: Dreams of Steel β β β β β
Β· Book 6: Bleak Seasons β β β β β
Β· Book 8: Water Sleeps β β β β β
Β· Book 9: Soldiers Live β β β β β
Previous rating: 18 stars.
New rating: 20+ million stars. And a half.
β½ And the moral of this reread is: there is a slight chance this might possibly be the best book in this series. And one of the bestest books I have ever read in the entirety of my entire life. And also one of my mostest favoritest books of all time. Maybe. Perhaps
β½ And the other moral of this reread is: ghostwalking (not to be mistaken for that other glorious pastime commonly known as β«ghostdancingβ«, just so you know) + my boyfriend Murgen (aka He Who
And also:
P.S. I think I like this book. A little.
[Original review]
β Glen Cook Please Have Mercy on Us Buddy Read (GCPHMoUBRβ’) with my fellow mercenaries Evasive, Slowpoke and Cleaver β
Actual rating: 18 freaking stars. Yes, intergalactic amazement is me again.
β½ A quick recap for the
β£ Glen Cook is a GENIUS.
β£ Glen Cook is inhumanly TALENTED.
β£ Glen Cook is a GOD.
β£ Glen Cook, I worship thee.
β£ Glen Cook, I am naught but a lowly barnacle in utter awe and complete amazement of your never-before and never-after equaled BRILLIANCE.
β£ This series is the best series EVER.
β£ The books in this series are some of the VERY best I have EVER read in the entirety of my entire life.
β£ Blah blah blah.
β£ Blah blah blah.
β£ Blah blah blah.
β£ And blah.
β£ And stuff.
You think I have nothing else to say here? Because there is no way anyone can review utter perfection for the seventh time in a row? Hahahahaha. You're so funny, my Little Barnacles. You should know by now that I ALWAYS have something to say. Admittedly, what I have to say is mostly pointless and uninteresting, but has it ever stopped me before, I ask you? No, you don't need to answer that. Because QED and all that crap.
So. She is the Freaking Darkness. I swear, Glen Cook nearly killed my fellow reading
Β» Mercenary #1: "asdfadasfdrtwefjskhfbiyhuiw!!!!"
Β» Mercenaries #2 & 3: "we know!! We know!!"
Β» Evgeny, aka Evasive: this will be explained two books from now.
Β» Mercenaries #1, 2 & 3: "ARRRRGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!"
Yes, there are lots of #BRBdead moments in this
Yes, Glen Cook is actually a freaky cat in real life. Who would have thought you could write the best series in the history of best series using only freaky kitty cat's paws?
Why so many #BRBdead moments, you ask? Because this book is Backstabbing Paradise. Diabolically Duplicitous Double-Crossing (DDDCβ’) is a Glen Cook trademark, but treachery and betrayal and manipulation reach unprecedented levels in this instalment. Knives in the back are the ultimate fashion accessory here! Backstabbers being backstabbed by the backstabbers they thought they were backstabbing while those were being backstabbed by the backstabbers they thought were backstabbing! From the very first to the very last page! And when I say the very last page, I mean it, Little Barnacles! And what goes hand in hand with Backstabbing Paradise, I ask you? Paranoia Heaven! YESSS!!!!! You can trust no one in She is the Freaking Darkness! NO ONE and NOTHING!
Oh yeah, that's right. Not even rocks can be trusted here.
Things get so heavenly paranoid in Paranoia Heaven you even start having doubts about the Mostest Awesomest Holy Trinity (MAHTβ’), aka MY Murgen, Grumpy Croakie, and Impaling Fangirl Lady! Yep, that is just how heavenly paranoid and deliciously suspicious things get in this book. You can trust NO ONE and NOTHING, I tell you! Not even the love of your life, the ex-love of your life, or your future girlfriend! It's wicked yumminess and yummy wickedness perfection!
Now. I could go on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on about this Glorious Object of Utter Perfection (GOfUPβ’), but today seems to be Lucky Little Barnacle Day (LLBDβ’) so the crap is about to get cut. BUT. But. But. But. I wouldn't dream of letting you resume your desperately boring, Cook-less life without mentioning a few of the Glorious Things that makes this GOfUPβ’ utterly glorious. So here goes:
Bamboo tubes. Freaky kids, aka grim midgets. Problematic in-laws getting drunkenly down and dirty with grumpy-insane wizards on wood pallets (life will never be the same). Reformed-yet-not-so-reformed raving lunatics. Little shits everywhere. Ghost
{please insert sigh of utter, absolute bliss and complete total contentment here. And you might want to throw in a tiny little bit of subdued excitement, too}
Oh please don't act surprised and pretend you didn't know this was coming! Actually, you should feel really lucky I was able to keep my inner fangirl in check up until now. So stop whining, you big babies.
We only have two instalments left to read in this series. We shall return. We shall get revenge on all the devious, treacherous bastards and go all Lady-Kina-Deceivers on them. There will be blood. There will be beheadings. And garrotings. And impalements. Limbs shall get deliciously severed. And our interiors shall be redecorated with our enemies' body parts. Because that's how we roll in Glen Cook Heaven (GCHβ’).
"Even Water sleeps, but Enemy never rests."
Β· Book 1: The Black Company β β β β β
Β·
Β· Book 2: Shadows Linger β β β β β
Β· Book 2.2 (short story): Shaggy Dog Bridge β β β β β
Β· Book 2.3 (short story): Bone Eaters β β β β β
Β· Book 3: The White Rose β β β β β
Β·
Β· Book 4: Shadow Games β β β β β
Β· Book 5: Dreams of Steel β β β β β
Β· Book 6: Bleak Seasons β β β β β
Β· Book 8: Water Sleeps β β β β β
Β· Book 9: Soldiers Live β β β β β
More...