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lookingforvheissu's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
cunrrrrr's review against another edition
5.0
interesting characters and plot
This is a very action packed book with great character development. I enjoyed it so much that I read it pretty quickly.
This is a very action packed book with great character development. I enjoyed it so much that I read it pretty quickly.
collinmcclutchy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mgoldstein322's review against another edition
4.0
The first book almost completely turned me away because it was quite difficult to follow. It has tons of characters whose names are dropped once in a few sections, then again 100 pages later without much to remind you who they were. The flow of time is pretty nonsensical, and the way events lead from one to the next doesn't really build a narrative. It's more of an account of events as they happen, which is very likely the intent, but I think it makes it just a bit too difficult. The book also comprises only 7 chapters in its roughly 300 pages. But afterwards? The second and third books are phenomenal, and I'd rate each 5 stars on their own, especially with how much they retroactively improve the first.
Absolutely worth reading.
Absolutely worth reading.
darthon's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
zare_i's review against another edition
5.0
First Black Company collection ("The Black Company", "Shadow Lingers", "The White Rose") follows the adventures of the last mercenary company from Khatovar - from defending the city of Beryl, serving the unspeakable terror and evil force in form of the Lady to the final stand against that same evil and beginning of the journey back home to Khatovar, place unknown to almost entire company [since there are but few original members left alive].
Black Company is not something I expected to exist [at all] in fantasy genre [but then again I guess I have not read that much fantasy novels :))] - closest thing to this outfit [for me at least] are Hammers Slammers or (to some extent) Black Regiment - both set in SF environment not fantasy. Organization reflects modern (and SF) infantry outfits - one can just substitute wizards with machine-gunners or mortar sections and you end up with a contemporary military outfit fighting small wars for their employers. Entire book feels like a memoir of an infantry troop fighting in foreign lands, with all the fears and craziness of war described in detail.
Black Company exceeds in fighting rebels and are considered finest soldiers-for-hire. This brings them to attention of merciless ruler of the Northern states - Lady.
They know their employers are not good people (in fact, they know that their employers aren’t human at all) but they do their job, because Company's honor is paramount to them and contract must be fullfilled no matter what (well.... lets say that survival of the Company has precedence over anything). Despite all this they know when they are doing wrong things and they do their best to choose the lesser between two evils. Finally they will side with the good and fight the very evil force they served (and more) and prevail but at the great cost - almost entire company will be obliterated and few survivors will start their voyage back south to their point of origin - Khatovar.
Story and characters are great, can't wait for the next adventure of Croaker and company :).
I can only say one thing - highly, highly recommended :)
Black Company is not something I expected to exist [at all] in fantasy genre [but then again I guess I have not read that much fantasy novels :))] - closest thing to this outfit [for me at least] are Hammers Slammers or (to some extent) Black Regiment - both set in SF environment not fantasy. Organization reflects modern (and SF) infantry outfits - one can just substitute wizards with machine-gunners or mortar sections and you end up with a contemporary military outfit fighting small wars for their employers. Entire book feels like a memoir of an infantry troop fighting in foreign lands, with all the fears and craziness of war described in detail.
Black Company exceeds in fighting rebels and are considered finest soldiers-for-hire. This brings them to attention of merciless ruler of the Northern states - Lady.
They know their employers are not good people (in fact, they know that their employers aren’t human at all) but they do their job, because Company's honor is paramount to them and contract must be fullfilled no matter what (well.... lets say that survival of the Company has precedence over anything). Despite all this they know when they are doing wrong things and they do their best to choose the lesser between two evils. Finally they will side with the good and fight the very evil force they served (and more) and prevail but at the great cost - almost entire company will be obliterated and few survivors will start their voyage back south to their point of origin - Khatovar.
Story and characters are great, can't wait for the next adventure of Croaker and company :).
I can only say one thing - highly, highly recommended :)
tdodds's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
wolfwaltz's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
Moderate: Rape
stephenmeansme's review against another edition
4.0
Book #1 is solid military fantasy. Book #2 is a slower pace, with an interesting twist. Book #3 goes full-tilt weird and unleashes some incredible fireworks before a fantastic conclusion. And, just as I remembered, Cook's writing gets better with each book. He doesn't have the flare for character catch-phrases like Joe Ambercrombie does, but the main boys of the Black Company are all well-defined by their actions.
4 stars and recommended! (Now to pick up a copy of THE BOOKS OF THE SOUTH...!)
4 stars and recommended! (Now to pick up a copy of THE BOOKS OF THE SOUTH...!)
toast4267's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Child death, and War
Moderate: Rape and Pedophilia