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A review by thiefofcamorr
Swords & Dark Magic by Michael Shea, C.J. Cherryh, Garth Nix, K.J. Parker, Michael Moorcock, Jonathan Strahan, Greg Keyes, Bill Willingham, Scott Lynch, Gene Wolfe, Caitlín R. Kiernan, James Enge, Steven Erikson, Robert Silverberg, Tanith Lee, Tim Lebbon, Glen Cook, Joe Abercrombie
5.0
As I read each novella, I'll update this review with my thoughts on each part individually, so I can rate and discuss accordingly.
Goats of Glory - Steven Erikson - Three and a half stars out of five.
Not that I didn't like this... I just didn't love it. Oh, it's well written and entertaining, but there was a lack of description - you couldn't really visualise it happening... and it took a while for the five soldiers's names to sink in - they weren't really introduced well.
It was still good though, I've just lately been spoiled by the book [b:Legends of Australian Fantasy|8417820|Legends of Australian Fantasy|Jack Dann|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1275978824s/8417820.jpg|13280442] so I'm a hard woman to please...
Tides Elba - Glen Cook - Four stars out of five.
I think this is a novella you have to read in one go. I read a bit before work, a bit during lunch break, a bit after a nap after work... and I have no idea what the message they returned to the carpet was.
I liked it though. Some may think the pacing is a little slow to start, but I liked seeing how they all interacted. Hmmm... yes, I'll have to re-read it.
Bloodsport - Gene Wolfe - Three Stars out of five.
Again, I was a little confused about the ending of this one. I'm either just too dumb or my head's too woozy from how ill I've been this last week.
Very well written though, and I loved the language used. Really beautiful imagery - even though the plot was gruesome, he managed to bring it to a delightful feel.
The Singing Spear - James Enge - Five Stars out of Five.
My favourite so far. He really has such a lovely way with words, such flowing language, that I almost wish the story was longer.
A Wizard in Wiscezan - C. J. Cherryh - Five Stars out of Five.
I loved the way he described the magic. The writing, and how Master's writing was so 'twisty'... and how he saw things and said that's what they were, to take their form. It was written in a sturdy, dependable way - you could really believe in it.
A Rich Full Week - K. J. Parker - Five stars out of five.
Oh this was brilliant. WHAT AN ENDING. AAAAAH!!
A Suitable Present for a Sorcerous Puppet - Garth Nix - Four stars of Five.
A cute little tale, though of course the woman are always beautiful and always immediately attracted to the MC - though I guess if they weren't, it wouldn't be a story. :)
Red Pearls - Michael Moorcock - Three stars of five
A little long, but well written and had a constant pace that was easy to read. It seemed to lack something though, and I can't put my finger on what it could be...
The Deification of Dal Bamore - Tim Lebbon - Five stars of five
I really loved the ending. It wasn't expected yet it was realistic, and I liked that the MC wasn't young and likable and pretty - yet you still needed her to survive.
Quite reminds me of Cayal from Jennifer Fallon's Tide Lords...
Dark Times at the Midnight Market - Robert Silverberg - Five stars of five
Fantastically written, good ending, and always a good pace do you were never bored and always wanted to keep reading. Awesomely done.
The Undefiled - Greg Keyes - Five of five stars.
Kinda twisted. I'll never know why there's such an obsession with virgins, but... *shrug*
All in all, I liked this novella.
Hew the Tintmaster - Michael Shea - Zero.
Couldn't even read this novella. It couldn't hold my attention for even a page, no matter how many times I tried.
In the Stacks - Scott Lynch Five billion out of five.
Oh my flippin' goodness. The ending line was perfect. The imagery, the characters - how he shows Yvette isn't just some pretty female, she's as rough as nails with just a hand gesture?
The way he describes magic makes it seem totally different and absolutely wonderful compared to any other magic in any other book - high praise, I know.
Tastriza and Molnar are perfect - commanding, yet a bit humbled by what they do - serious, trustworthy and well rounded.
And that said, I always love the names he chooses to use.
Laz's name! I love it! And that they weren't all humans.
Perfectly titled.
Fantastic little clues that things aren't always what they seem. Chits and grimoire and etc - all hints that help you believe you're somewhere different.
Oh, I'd love to be a librarian there. If only to be part of the world Scott's created. BRILLIANT!
Two Lions, a Witch, and the War-Robe - Tanith Lee - Four of Five stars
Really quite enjoyable, especially after trying so many times to read Shea.
The Sea Troll's Daughter - Caitlin R. Kiernan - Four of Five Stars
Liked it, but it suddenly included a bit of romance with absolutely no grounds for it all? A quick razzle dazzle suddenly changes into having no care for everyone you've grown up with - the man who saved your life by taking you off the streets - only for the hero? In all writing workshops I've been to, they say never to do this...
It kinda worked though, but... idk. It just seemed like there was no internal reason for it, other than having something to write about.
Thieves of Daring - Bill Willingham - Five of Five.
It was hard at first, to stop thinking of him in terms of Fables and instead judge just the story itself... but I managed, after restarting it twice.
It was too short (in a good way). It really left you wanting more. :) He's pretty awesome!
The Fool Jobs - Joe Abercrombie - 10 of five stars. Yes, that's right.
SUCH a delightful read, oh my! I really have to read his series - thankfully I already have [b:The Blade Itself|944073|The Blade Itself (The First Law, #1)|Joe Abercrombie|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1179673778s/944073.jpg|929009] waiting for me on my bookshelf.
Oh the fighting scene! He writes it so well. And the characters, and the wit, and the wording. He's really almost close to Scott Lynch in his writing (or did he come first and Scott's close to him?) Either way, I enjoyed it a lot.
Goats of Glory - Steven Erikson - Three and a half stars out of five.
Not that I didn't like this... I just didn't love it. Oh, it's well written and entertaining, but there was a lack of description - you couldn't really visualise it happening... and it took a while for the five soldiers's names to sink in - they weren't really introduced well.
It was still good though, I've just lately been spoiled by the book [b:Legends of Australian Fantasy|8417820|Legends of Australian Fantasy|Jack Dann|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1275978824s/8417820.jpg|13280442] so I'm a hard woman to please...
Tides Elba - Glen Cook - Four stars out of five.
I think this is a novella you have to read in one go. I read a bit before work, a bit during lunch break, a bit after a nap after work... and I have no idea what the message they returned to the carpet was.
I liked it though. Some may think the pacing is a little slow to start, but I liked seeing how they all interacted. Hmmm... yes, I'll have to re-read it.
Bloodsport - Gene Wolfe - Three Stars out of five.
Again, I was a little confused about the ending of this one. I'm either just too dumb or my head's too woozy from how ill I've been this last week.
Very well written though, and I loved the language used. Really beautiful imagery - even though the plot was gruesome, he managed to bring it to a delightful feel.
The Singing Spear - James Enge - Five Stars out of Five.
My favourite so far. He really has such a lovely way with words, such flowing language, that I almost wish the story was longer.
A Wizard in Wiscezan - C. J. Cherryh - Five Stars out of Five.
I loved the way he described the magic. The writing, and how Master's writing was so 'twisty'... and how he saw things and said that's what they were, to take their form. It was written in a sturdy, dependable way - you could really believe in it.
A Rich Full Week - K. J. Parker - Five stars out of five.
Oh this was brilliant. WHAT AN ENDING. AAAAAH!!
A Suitable Present for a Sorcerous Puppet - Garth Nix - Four stars of Five.
A cute little tale, though of course the woman are always beautiful and always immediately attracted to the MC - though I guess if they weren't, it wouldn't be a story. :)
Red Pearls - Michael Moorcock - Three stars of five
A little long, but well written and had a constant pace that was easy to read. It seemed to lack something though, and I can't put my finger on what it could be...
The Deification of Dal Bamore - Tim Lebbon - Five stars of five
I really loved the ending. It wasn't expected yet it was realistic, and I liked that the MC wasn't young and likable and pretty - yet you still needed her to survive.
Quite reminds me of Cayal from Jennifer Fallon's Tide Lords...
Dark Times at the Midnight Market - Robert Silverberg - Five stars of five
Fantastically written, good ending, and always a good pace do you were never bored and always wanted to keep reading. Awesomely done.
The Undefiled - Greg Keyes - Five of five stars.
Kinda twisted. I'll never know why there's such an obsession with virgins, but... *shrug*
All in all, I liked this novella.
Hew the Tintmaster - Michael Shea - Zero.
Couldn't even read this novella. It couldn't hold my attention for even a page, no matter how many times I tried.
In the Stacks - Scott Lynch Five billion out of five.
Oh my flippin' goodness. The ending line was perfect. The imagery, the characters - how he shows Yvette isn't just some pretty female, she's as rough as nails with just a hand gesture?
The way he describes magic makes it seem totally different and absolutely wonderful compared to any other magic in any other book - high praise, I know.
Tastriza and Molnar are perfect - commanding, yet a bit humbled by what they do - serious, trustworthy and well rounded.
And that said, I always love the names he chooses to use.
Laz's name! I love it! And that they weren't all humans.
Perfectly titled.
Fantastic little clues that things aren't always what they seem. Chits and grimoire and etc - all hints that help you believe you're somewhere different.
Oh, I'd love to be a librarian there. If only to be part of the world Scott's created. BRILLIANT!
Two Lions, a Witch, and the War-Robe - Tanith Lee - Four of Five stars
Really quite enjoyable, especially after trying so many times to read Shea.
The Sea Troll's Daughter - Caitlin R. Kiernan - Four of Five Stars
Liked it, but it suddenly included a bit of romance with absolutely no grounds for it all? A quick razzle dazzle suddenly changes into having no care for everyone you've grown up with - the man who saved your life by taking you off the streets - only for the hero? In all writing workshops I've been to, they say never to do this...
It kinda worked though, but... idk. It just seemed like there was no internal reason for it, other than having something to write about.
Thieves of Daring - Bill Willingham - Five of Five.
It was hard at first, to stop thinking of him in terms of Fables and instead judge just the story itself... but I managed, after restarting it twice.
It was too short (in a good way). It really left you wanting more. :) He's pretty awesome!
The Fool Jobs - Joe Abercrombie - 10 of five stars. Yes, that's right.
SUCH a delightful read, oh my! I really have to read his series - thankfully I already have [b:The Blade Itself|944073|The Blade Itself (The First Law, #1)|Joe Abercrombie|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1179673778s/944073.jpg|929009] waiting for me on my bookshelf.
Oh the fighting scene! He writes it so well. And the characters, and the wit, and the wording. He's really almost close to Scott Lynch in his writing (or did he come first and Scott's close to him?) Either way, I enjoyed it a lot.