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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
The fourth installment of The Belgariad Series By David Eddings. The characters have me totally immersed in this fantasy world, and Eddings writing and story telling has improved with each book.
This book is the set-up for the finale in book 5, so it was not as action-packed as the first three. The series is old school fantasy, good vs. evil and all the elements/people have come together for the final battle. A good fun read
This book is the set-up for the finale in book 5, so it was not as action-packed as the first three. The series is old school fantasy, good vs. evil and all the elements/people have come together for the final battle. A good fun read
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
first half of the book is kinda slow and eh. the whole ‘x plot point works because the prophecy needed it to’ with the voice just changing peoples minds and making them fall in love is ehhhh
there’s a few nice moments i enjoy in this one - meeting adara, garion making the flower, vordai the witch, the speech to the legions
ce’nedra just annoys me as a character and she’s written that way on purpose but she really started girlbossing at the end so maybe she’ll be less annoying soon
there’s a few nice moments i enjoy in this one -
ce’nedra just annoys me as a character and she’s written that way on purpose but she really started girlbossing at the end so maybe she’ll be less annoying soon
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Originally posted on Once Upon a Bookcase.
The fourth and penultimate book in the Belgariad series, and things are starting to come to ahead!
Ctuchik destroyed himself when in an effort to keep possession of the Orb, making certain that Belgarath succeeded in reclaiming it. Now with Errand, the young innocent boy with only purity in his heart Zedar used to steal the Orb, under their protection, Garion and his friends make their way to Riva, picking up Ce'Nedra on the way. The Orb must be returned to it's rightful home in the Hall of the Rivan King, and Ce'Nedra must present herself before the throne on her sixteenth birthday to be the bride of the Rivan King, if he returns, to meet with the agreement set out in the Accords of Vo Mimbre. Garion believes his part in this adventure nearly at the end, but the Prophecy has not yet finished with him.
This is the book where it all comes together! All hints lead to here, and all loose ends are finally brought together. This is the book where we finally discover what Garion's destiny is, right along with him - though so many hints have been dropped throughout the previous three books, if any reader is surprised by what happens in this book, I'd be bowled over. It's where things really start to get interesting, and you can see exactly where this story will lead, and it's so exciting!
In Castle of Wizardry, we once again meet two characters we only see very briefly at the end of Magician's Gambit, Taiba and Errand. Taiba was a slave kept by the Murgos. She was born into slavery, and has known nothing but cruelty her whole life. She has a very unique view of on morality which drives Relg insane; when life is cruel, you take joy whereever you find it. Despite the hardships she's had to suffer, she's a strong woman who has a strong sense of self-worth, and will not be made to feel ashamed for what was done to her. Errand is the young boy of about four who carries the Orb - the only person who can. The Orb will kill anyone who has any ill-intent in his heart. Errand can only say one word - "errand", hence that is what the others call him as he responds to the word. He is always trying to pass the Orb on to someone else, making the others believe he has been told by Zedar he has an errand which is to pass the Orb onto someone else, Zedar meaning Torak. Errand is completely trusting and loving of all, and has no idea what danger or evil is. He is a complete innocent, and the cutest little boy because of it.
Ce'Nedra comes into her own at the end of this book. She realises she has a part to play as well, and isn't just along for the ride. She comes to understand just what the Prophecy requires of her. Ce'Nedra is still very much the same girl, but she puts aside the girlish whims and desires, and becomes a very capable - if nervous of her role - young woman. She does what needs to be done, despite what she believes it will ultimately mean. But in her heart she knows it's necessary, even if ever step she takes breaks her heart. Love is a powerful motivator.
Castle of Wizardry ends with the ball in motion, heading inevitably towards it's conclusion - the meeting between the Child of Light and the Child of Dark. What the outcome of that meeting will be no-one can say - but it's going to be cataclysmic!
The fourth and penultimate book in the Belgariad series, and things are starting to come to ahead!
Ctuchik destroyed himself when in an effort to keep possession of the Orb, making certain that Belgarath succeeded in reclaiming it. Now with Errand, the young innocent boy with only purity in his heart Zedar used to steal the Orb, under their protection, Garion and his friends make their way to Riva, picking up Ce'Nedra on the way. The Orb must be returned to it's rightful home in the Hall of the Rivan King, and Ce'Nedra must present herself before the throne on her sixteenth birthday to be the bride of the Rivan King, if he returns, to meet with the agreement set out in the Accords of Vo Mimbre. Garion believes his part in this adventure nearly at the end, but the Prophecy has not yet finished with him.
This is the book where it all comes together! All hints lead to here, and all loose ends are finally brought together. This is the book where we finally discover what Garion's destiny is, right along with him - though so many hints have been dropped throughout the previous three books, if any reader is surprised by what happens in this book, I'd be bowled over. It's where things really start to get interesting, and you can see exactly where this story will lead, and it's so exciting!
In Castle of Wizardry, we once again meet two characters we only see very briefly at the end of Magician's Gambit, Taiba and Errand. Taiba was a slave kept by the Murgos. She was born into slavery, and has known nothing but cruelty her whole life. She has a very unique view of on morality which drives Relg insane; when life is cruel, you take joy whereever you find it. Despite the hardships she's had to suffer, she's a strong woman who has a strong sense of self-worth, and will not be made to feel ashamed for what was done to her. Errand is the young boy of about four who carries the Orb - the only person who can. The Orb will kill anyone who has any ill-intent in his heart. Errand can only say one word - "errand", hence that is what the others call him as he responds to the word. He is always trying to pass the Orb on to someone else, making the others believe he has been told by Zedar he has an errand which is to pass the Orb onto someone else, Zedar meaning Torak. Errand is completely trusting and loving of all, and has no idea what danger or evil is. He is a complete innocent, and the cutest little boy because of it.
Ce'Nedra comes into her own at the end of this book. She realises she has a part to play as well, and isn't just along for the ride. She comes to understand just what the Prophecy requires of her. Ce'Nedra is still very much the same girl, but she puts aside the girlish whims and desires, and becomes a very capable - if nervous of her role - young woman. She does what needs to be done, despite what she believes it will ultimately mean. But in her heart she knows it's necessary, even if ever step she takes breaks her heart. Love is a powerful motivator.
Castle of Wizardry ends with the ball in motion, heading inevitably towards it's conclusion - the meeting between the Child of Light and the Child of Dark. What the outcome of that meeting will be no-one can say - but it's going to be cataclysmic!
currently adding all my family favourites to my GR, a well loved series in my house hold ✨
This book is a mass of contradictions, characters development wise.
On one hand we have Garion's reaction at the big revelation, which is really disappointing. He literally says nothing! The author doesn't show us in the least how he feels, aside from a general discomfort at his new position. And a month passes before he finally asks Belgarath and Polgara "You knew this all along". Well duh.
So, this is the author not really wanting to deal with the ramification of what he created. Garion goes from being a farmer boy, to being a sorcerer to being a King without an inner monologue, without any reaction whatsoever.
And then we have Silk, his meeting with his mother, that shows us, in about half a paragraph, what Garion didn't show us in half a book. That scene is beautiful and heartbreaking, and it shows that Eddings knows how to write emotional. So, why does he insist on not doing the same for his main character?
And the same applies to Vordai and Belgarath performing the miracle she requested. Another beautiful scene.
I also really enjoyed Ce'Nedra's PoV. That's another part well done, showing us how she feels, how she thinks. Again, it's frustrating to see that and not see the same applied to Garion. Sigh.
On one hand we have Garion's reaction at the big revelation, which is really disappointing. He literally says nothing! The author doesn't show us in the least how he feels, aside from a general discomfort at his new position. And a month passes before he finally asks Belgarath and Polgara "You knew this all along". Well duh.
So, this is the author not really wanting to deal with the ramification of what he created. Garion goes from being a farmer boy, to being a sorcerer to being a King without an inner monologue, without any reaction whatsoever.
And then we have Silk, his meeting with his mother, that shows us, in about half a paragraph, what Garion didn't show us in half a book. That scene is beautiful and heartbreaking, and it shows that Eddings knows how to write emotional. So, why does he insist on not doing the same for his main character?
And the same applies to Vordai and Belgarath performing the miracle she requested. Another beautiful scene.
I also really enjoyed Ce'Nedra's PoV. That's another part well done, showing us how she feels, how she thinks. Again, it's frustrating to see that and not see the same applied to Garion. Sigh.
I really enjoyed this book! It was really fun, and I immensely enjoyed seeing Ce’Nedra’s character grow. Overall, there was a lot of places where it felt like the author just needed to get from point A to B, but everything was just fun to read!
A few of my comments though.
I didn’t like in book 3 how Garion and Ce’Nedra antagonizing each other is just seen as them expressing affection..... But I enjoyed how their relationship progressed in this book!
I think Barak and Merel’s sudden reconciliation was really odd. In book 1 there were genuine problems with their relationship, particularly since they both were manipulative towards each other. Their marriage somehow becomes rainbows and butterflies now that there is a male heir in the equation???? That’s like King Henry VIII sort of messed up. To be fair, I don’t think that’s what the author is saying, and it’s a fairly minor side plot, but their relationship in book one was like bullying on Merel’s end and borderline rape on Barak’s end, and that kinda stuff doesn’t magically go away once you have your third child.
A few of my comments though.
I didn’t like in book 3 how Garion and Ce’Nedra antagonizing each other is just seen as them expressing affection..... But I enjoyed how their relationship progressed in this book!
I think Barak and Merel’s sudden reconciliation was really odd. In book 1 there were genuine problems with their relationship, particularly since they both were manipulative towards each other. Their marriage somehow becomes rainbows and butterflies now that there is a male heir in the equation???? That’s like King Henry VIII sort of messed up. To be fair, I don’t think that’s what the author is saying, and it’s a fairly minor side plot, but their relationship in book one was like bullying on Merel’s end and borderline rape on Barak’s end, and that kinda stuff doesn’t magically go away once you have your third child.
I love it that there is no break between these books, they pick up right where the others left off. The first part of the book is a little predictable, but it never goes exactly as one thinks, and what happened in throughout was just tremendous and very well-done. The second half was really good and for once things didn't go exactly as planned (for Aunt Pol). It was also great to see Ce'Nedra's point of view in this whole affair and to see how she grows into her destined role.
I only have the barest of recollections of this books. I'd like to reread before giving it a rating or proper review.