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peterkeep's review against another edition
4.0
Finally finished! This is the longest it's taken me to finish a book in a long time. General life happenings kept getting in the way of my normal reading time, and so this story feels like it's been with me for a LONG time.
The first book of the omnibus was tough. The change in narrator, time jumps, and slow burning setup (combined with my lack to time to read) made it really hard to delve into it. The second book was a bit better, but it really took until the last 150-200 pages for me to really enjoy it again. Lots of questions get answered, there are a lot of interesting twists and turns, and Murgen turns into a really fun narrator - not near as cynical as old Croaker, but he has his own charm. It really feels like it's close to the end, here. The main setup for Croaker's group to finish their quest is all completed, and the sides of the last big fight seem to be setting up pretty well.
I'm looking forward to finishing the series, but hopefully I'll have some more time to read the final book and enjoy it. For now, I'm taking a small break to read something different...I've done that in between each volume, and it's helped keep my attention. After a brief separation, I'll be back to my favorite band of mercenaries.
The first book of the omnibus was tough. The change in narrator, time jumps, and slow burning setup (combined with my lack to time to read) made it really hard to delve into it. The second book was a bit better, but it really took until the last 150-200 pages for me to really enjoy it again. Lots of questions get answered, there are a lot of interesting twists and turns, and Murgen turns into a really fun narrator - not near as cynical as old Croaker, but he has his own charm. It really feels like it's close to the end, here. The main setup for Croaker's group to finish their quest is all completed, and the sides of the last big fight seem to be setting up pretty well.
I'm looking forward to finishing the series, but hopefully I'll have some more time to read the final book and enjoy it. For now, I'm taking a small break to read something different...I've done that in between each volume, and it's helped keep my attention. After a brief separation, I'll be back to my favorite band of mercenaries.
lookingforvheissu's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
kacho's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
everlaerian's review against another edition
4.0
What can I say about my latest read from the chronicles of the Black Company? Bleak Seasons was a bit difficult to read at first, where honestly a second re-read would be beneficial to grasp Murgen's narration. The back and forth between past, present and future was taxing, confusing where I found myself re-reading sentences or going back a few pages searching for sentences and events that collaborated the story told. Murgen's annals felt much more personal that Croaker's as Murgen recorded more of his personal experiences and thoughts and much less of the company's exploits yet. The tone is set more in despair and quite mysterious.
She is the Darkness showed the evolution of Murgen's writing after Bleak Seasons. His writing although still personal and still more centered around him shows a more cynical side (due to Croaker's agenda and secretive tactics throughout the book and of those around him) as well as his emotional heartbreak from Sahra's death in Bleak Seasons. Soulcatcher remains a threat along side the weakened and disillusioned Shadowmaster, the Daughter of Night and the looming betrayal of the Rashida and her brother. This all comes to a well ridden and easily foreseeable conclusion that was left off with a good 'cliffhanger'.
She is the Darkness showed the evolution of Murgen's writing after Bleak Seasons. His writing although still personal and still more centered around him shows a more cynical side (due to Croaker's agenda and secretive tactics throughout the book and of those around him) as well as his emotional heartbreak from Sahra's death in Bleak Seasons. Soulcatcher remains a threat along side the weakened and disillusioned Shadowmaster, the Daughter of Night and the looming betrayal of the Rashida and her brother. This all comes to a well ridden and easily foreseeable conclusion that was left off with a good 'cliffhanger'.
markimus's review against another edition
4.0
Not bad at all again. Cook has a talent for not keeping things too plain. Getting a new perspective on Croaker is definitely different, and Murgen is not bad. Can't wait to finish this series!
sab754's review against another edition
4.0
STARTED SEPTEMBER 7 2021, FINISHED SEPTEMBER 19 2021.
Like every Black Company book I've reviewed, a slow start.
But once you get into it...
I remark at how full the world fills now compared to the first 'trilogy' - those times when the Company was in service to (or fighting against) The Lady.
Now, the Lady's married to Croaker (aka The Old Man aka the Captain), only Goblin and One-Eye are around (if at all present), we've got a new Annalist in the form of Murgen who, as it turns out, can ghostwalk and leave his body to do some scouting.
When you present those elements on paper it sounds almost ridiculous...using an old wizard to scout around and stay updated on everything that's happening, all the flashbacks & time skips that poor Murgen has to go through...
But, I think it really works. Very keen - and also sad - about getting up to the final omnibus (I'm aware there's meant to be another book coming out, but, it probably won't be arriving for a while.)
Like every Black Company book I've reviewed, a slow start.
But once you get into it...
I remark at how full the world fills now compared to the first 'trilogy' - those times when the Company was in service to (or fighting against) The Lady.
Now, the Lady's married to Croaker (aka The Old Man aka the Captain), only Goblin and One-Eye are around (if at all present), we've got a new Annalist in the form of Murgen who, as it turns out, can ghostwalk and leave his body to do some scouting.
When you present those elements on paper it sounds almost ridiculous...using an old wizard to scout around and stay updated on everything that's happening, all the flashbacks & time skips that poor Murgen has to go through...
But, I think it really works. Very keen - and also sad - about getting up to the final omnibus (I'm aware there's meant to be another book coming out, but, it probably won't be arriving for a while.)
wyrmdog's review against another edition
3.0
Quite possibly the most disappointing of the series so far. It isn't that they're bad, just that they're not nearly as compelling as the previous outings have been.
That said, we do get a peek into the background of what happened at the siege of Dejagore and the Nyeung Bao are an interesting mismash of a couple recognizable cultures and are fleshed out some here. Plots come to a head and the end comes again, not quite where it would be in most stories.
There are generally two types of Black Company novels. They aren't clear-cut divisions, but they are how I view the installments. First are the epic-in-scope war stories. Sure they are often fitted with a grounding in characters with myopically personal drives and views but they go batshit crazy, bringing in the fantasy equivalents of gunships and aircraft carriers, missile batteries and double-agents. The second are those that focus on the small people in small ways, and how they and their stories fit into the larger, more epic narrative.
By-and-large, that second sort are the better novels. I love the titanic battles at the climaxes, the way he makes them both personally compelling for those involved as well as expansive and epic in the way they resolve things. But the truth is that the characters and situations are more immediately engaging in the second sort.
That's what really makes this volume so disappointing. Bleak Seasons falls into that second category and by rights should have been the more compelling volume, but the oddity of the time travel and ghost-walking and what it did to both the pacing and accessibility of the narrative. I understand why it was done and it makes sense, but it didn't work for me.
Both included books, though, have moments of almost casually impressive insight, things that take other authors pages to set up and still come off manufactured. Cook also manages to pull off some really entertaining and at times surprising plot twists.
This collection ends on a big cliff-hanger, even if it's one that you may see coming. So yeah, even though this was the most disappointing run of the bunch, I'll be back.
That said, we do get a peek into the background of what happened at the siege of Dejagore and the Nyeung Bao are an interesting mismash of a couple recognizable cultures and are fleshed out some here. Plots come to a head and the end comes again, not quite where it would be in most stories.
There are generally two types of Black Company novels. They aren't clear-cut divisions, but they are how I view the installments. First are the epic-in-scope war stories. Sure they are often fitted with a grounding in characters with myopically personal drives and views but they go batshit crazy, bringing in the fantasy equivalents of gunships and aircraft carriers, missile batteries and double-agents. The second are those that focus on the small people in small ways, and how they and their stories fit into the larger, more epic narrative.
By-and-large, that second sort are the better novels. I love the titanic battles at the climaxes, the way he makes them both personally compelling for those involved as well as expansive and epic in the way they resolve things. But the truth is that the characters and situations are more immediately engaging in the second sort.
That's what really makes this volume so disappointing. Bleak Seasons falls into that second category and by rights should have been the more compelling volume, but the oddity of the time travel and ghost-walking and what it did to both the pacing and accessibility of the narrative. I understand why it was done and it makes sense, but it didn't work for me.
Both included books, though, have moments of almost casually impressive insight, things that take other authors pages to set up and still come off manufactured. Cook also manages to pull off some really entertaining and at times surprising plot twists.
This collection ends on a big cliff-hanger, even if it's one that you may see coming. So yeah, even though this was the most disappointing run of the bunch, I'll be back.
samphope's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
warragh's review against another edition
5.0
The third Black Company omnibus collecting Bleak Seasons and She is the Darkness
Bleak Seasons
The book is told from Murgen's perspective and recounts the events which occurred inside the city during the Siege of Dejagore but it also acts as a sequel to Dreams of Steel and pushes the narrative of the series forward.
As the title suggests, it's a very bleak book. A siege is never a fun place to find yourself, much less so on the side of the defenders. And Murgen's experiences change him drastically so that even long after he is still haunted by them which is reflected in the writing and tone of the book.
Also worth noting that the narrative shifts between past and present several times, very often without warning or indication which can be very confusing at times. The fact that Murgen recalls both the distant and the recent past alongside present events doesn't help. The narrative is compelling though and these timeline jumps are explained and a key part of the story. And in my honest opinion the confusion is intended considering what Murgen is going through in the book.
I do have one gripe but it is story related and almost impossible to explain without spoilers. In short, this book changes the way the Company operates and personally I never quite fully liked this new direction.
She is the Darkness
This directly continues the narrative from where Bleak Seasons left it and recounts the Shadowmaster wars to their end. This is a much more typical novel, the story is linearly told (although it does have some hints towards future events) by Murgen as the Company nears its goal of reaching Khatovar.
This is the Black Company at its best, firing quality grimdark fantasy with all cannons. It goes from battle to battle and intrigue to intrigue never ceasing to throw curve balls towards the reader. It also represents the first book which starts to reveal a bit more regarding the origin of the Black Company.
Overall the novels are quite different in terms of tone, structure, pacing and quite simply in the way in which they tell their stories. But they are both excellent reads and worthy additions to the series.
Bleak Seasons
The book is told from Murgen's perspective and recounts the events which occurred inside the city during the Siege of Dejagore but it also acts as a sequel to Dreams of Steel and pushes the narrative of the series forward.
As the title suggests, it's a very bleak book. A siege is never a fun place to find yourself, much less so on the side of the defenders. And Murgen's experiences change him drastically so that even long after he is still haunted by them which is reflected in the writing and tone of the book.
Also worth noting that the narrative shifts between past and present several times, very often without warning or indication which can be very confusing at times. The fact that Murgen recalls both the distant and the recent past alongside present events doesn't help. The narrative is compelling though and these timeline jumps are explained and a key part of the story. And in my honest opinion the confusion is intended considering what Murgen is going through in the book.
I do have one gripe but it is story related and almost impossible to explain without spoilers. In short, this book changes the way the Company operates and personally I never quite fully liked this new direction.
Spoiler
This book marks the start of Smoke's ghost traveling arc which later on morphs into ghost Murgen and finally into Tobo's shadows. It is a big difference to how the Company used to operate, based on intrigue and deception and outsmarting their opponents instead of relying heavily on magic. Personally I never really enjoyed this change but considering how the final books really raise the stakes I guess it kinda evens out.She is the Darkness
This directly continues the narrative from where Bleak Seasons left it and recounts the Shadowmaster wars to their end. This is a much more typical novel, the story is linearly told (although it does have some hints towards future events) by Murgen as the Company nears its goal of reaching Khatovar.
This is the Black Company at its best, firing quality grimdark fantasy with all cannons. It goes from battle to battle and intrigue to intrigue never ceasing to throw curve balls towards the reader. It also represents the first book which starts to reveal a bit more regarding the origin of the Black Company.
Overall the novels are quite different in terms of tone, structure, pacing and quite simply in the way in which they tell their stories. But they are both excellent reads and worthy additions to the series.