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blairconrad's review against another edition
4.0
Solid stories, I thought, with the first being the winner. I enjoyed the new worlds that Donaldson built for us, and especially the enigmatic Black. I really enjoyed the slow burn of The King's Justice, and while the quick actiony ending didn't entirely sell me, it didn't detract.
The Augur's Gambit was weaker overall, I thought, but finished quite strongly. If only the protagonist hadn't been lusting after a 15-year-old…
The Augur's Gambit was weaker overall, I thought, but finished quite strongly. If only the protagonist hadn't been lusting after a 15-year-old…
mxsallybend's review against another edition
4.0
Stephen R. Donaldson is an author who (for better or worse, depending on how you feel about its deliberately unlikable protagonist) is largely identified by his three Thomas Covenant trilogies. It’s such a massive epic, and such a defining force in the fantasy genre, that it’s easy to forget he’s also written a pair of lighter portal fantasies (Mordant’s Need), an even darker science fiction saga (The Gap Cycle), a contemporary mystery series (The Man Who), and multiple short stories and novellas.
The King’s Justice is his latest collection, pairing two wildly different novellas in a surprisingly slender volume. Together, they make for an interesting read, showcasing two sides of his narrative talent.
First up we have the title story, The King’s Justice, which actually has something of an Old West feel to its flavor of traditional fantasy. Here we encounter a mysterious figure in black, known only as Black, who arrives in the village of Settle’s Crossways on the trail of murder. This was a dark, violent sort of tale, complete with magical compulsions and abhorrent sacrifices, that walks the sword’s edge between justice and vengeance. For such a short novella, there’s actually a lot of history and mythology hinted at in its pages, making it feel bigger than its page count. The narrative here is simple, without unnecessary flairs or flourishes, but it fits the rather sad and angry events that drive it.
The Augur’s Gambit, meanwhile, is an almost gothic fantasy tale of politics and prophecies. Mayhew Gordian is hieronomer to the Queen, reading her fate in the bloody entrails of beasts and (in one dark case) stillborn babes. Queen Inimica, meanwhile, is a woman desperately seeking to preserve her doomed kingdom through a complex (and somewhat comic) plot of marriages. In between them is the Queen’s plain-faced daughter, who serves to breathe some life into the rather dour, sterile narrative of Mayhew. It’s an interesting story, but slowly paced, and held back by the weakness of its narrator. While I wouldn’t mind revisiting the lush world of Indemnie, it would have to be with a more engaging guide, and there would have to be more going on to move the story forward.
While not nearly as bleak as the Thomas Covenant stories, these are still dark tales with a lot of edge. Fortunately, they’re also imaginative and well-crafted, making them solid additions to Donaldson’s shelf.
Originally reviewed at The Speculative Herald
The King’s Justice is his latest collection, pairing two wildly different novellas in a surprisingly slender volume. Together, they make for an interesting read, showcasing two sides of his narrative talent.
First up we have the title story, The King’s Justice, which actually has something of an Old West feel to its flavor of traditional fantasy. Here we encounter a mysterious figure in black, known only as Black, who arrives in the village of Settle’s Crossways on the trail of murder. This was a dark, violent sort of tale, complete with magical compulsions and abhorrent sacrifices, that walks the sword’s edge between justice and vengeance. For such a short novella, there’s actually a lot of history and mythology hinted at in its pages, making it feel bigger than its page count. The narrative here is simple, without unnecessary flairs or flourishes, but it fits the rather sad and angry events that drive it.
The Augur’s Gambit, meanwhile, is an almost gothic fantasy tale of politics and prophecies. Mayhew Gordian is hieronomer to the Queen, reading her fate in the bloody entrails of beasts and (in one dark case) stillborn babes. Queen Inimica, meanwhile, is a woman desperately seeking to preserve her doomed kingdom through a complex (and somewhat comic) plot of marriages. In between them is the Queen’s plain-faced daughter, who serves to breathe some life into the rather dour, sterile narrative of Mayhew. It’s an interesting story, but slowly paced, and held back by the weakness of its narrator. While I wouldn’t mind revisiting the lush world of Indemnie, it would have to be with a more engaging guide, and there would have to be more going on to move the story forward.
While not nearly as bleak as the Thomas Covenant stories, these are still dark tales with a lot of edge. Fortunately, they’re also imaginative and well-crafted, making them solid additions to Donaldson’s shelf.
Originally reviewed at The Speculative Herald
Disclaimer: Thanks to Angry Robot for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
scheu's review against another edition
4.0
Under normal circumstances I prefer Donaldson's longer fiction but these two novellas were pretty enjoyable.
frexam's review against another edition
4.0
Donaldson is great! Of the two novellas I liked The King's Justice best, but the second story was also interesting in a different way than the first.
maryh's review against another edition
3.0
It was an okay read. I kinda like to see more into Black’s past, about the the King, and the magic system.
The story itself was interesting but I dislike how the author tends to over-explain the reason behind the characters’ action.
The story itself was interesting but I dislike how the author tends to over-explain the reason behind the characters’ action.
alusetti's review against another edition
3.0
I keep wanting to like Donaldson's writing style, but I find myself struggling with it. Kings justice was my favorite of these two novellas.
taisie22's review against another edition
4.0
The King's Justice is a dark fantasy about a mysterious man named Black. He must find the person responsible for a grisly child murder. His trail leads him to more murders and a nefarious plot to overcome the balance of magic in the kingdom.
The Augur's Gambit is the second novella in the collection. It is told in the first person by a timid augur who must help his Queen find a way to save her kingdom from internal rebellion and external war.
Both novellas are classic Donaldson, exposing both the protagonist's weaknesses and strengths so that the outcome is always in doubt. They are different in tone, but both very satisfying reading.
The Augur's Gambit is the second novella in the collection. It is told in the first person by a timid augur who must help his Queen find a way to save her kingdom from internal rebellion and external war.
Both novellas are classic Donaldson, exposing both the protagonist's weaknesses and strengths so that the outcome is always in doubt. They are different in tone, but both very satisfying reading.
calypte's review against another edition
3.0
I love the Thomas Covenant books (series 1 and 2, requiring a reread ahead of the finale), and the Gap series (although the first book is dire), and have a huge soft spot for Mordant's Need - although it was a reread of the latter, several years ago, that really made me see how, urm, pretentious?, Donaldson's tone can be.
This short story is no different. And yet, it was kind of good despite of it.
Full review here.
This short story is no different. And yet, it was kind of good despite of it.
Full review here.
eojsmada's review against another edition
3.0
I gave them 3 stars, mostly because they plodded a bit too long for my tastes. Especially since each story was only 130-ish pages each. Had some good moments throughout each story, but there was some parts that dragged and made it more of a grind than I thought it should have been for the length of the story.