cereuslyrico's review against another edition
5.0
I really loved this series, though in truth the trilogy is carried by someone other than the main character, it's great. I recommend it to everyone.
abigcoffeedragon's review against another edition
1.0
I did not like this at all - my biggest problem is when the main character meets the opposite sex character, and within one day they will fall in love, sleep together, and commit themselves to do whatever and however even if it leads to their death - I also hate it when a character completely does not trust another, and yet follows him (or her) and allows him (or her) to help, assist, guide, and influence the purpose of the plot, even though they will repeatedly tell the reader how much they do not trust the assistant - it is quite simple, if I do not trust you, I will not listen to you blindly - I will not purposely go out of my way to conflict your statement, but if you say that this is the best captain with the best ship to get where I am going - I will not take it - if you say that the sky is blue, I will roll my eyes, make no comment, and walk away - at best, if you think that this person is a demon, and you are tracking demons, shouldn't you, I don't know, kill or capture the demon and be done with it? - oh, but he helped me in this awkward situation - made awkward because our hero is not very heroic or believable - how in the world is this still a classic - maybe in the 80’s when this was acceptable for fantasy novels and the tropes that they contained, but I think that 30 years later with what we are offered, this should slip into obscurity at this point and we should all be done with it - droll, trivial, and a waste of ink and paper
disastrouspenguin's review
5.0
One of my favorite series, which has the spectacular added benefit of already being completed. You should read it. :)
skylar2's review against another edition
3.0
Good concept in need of an editor
While the premise of the book was good (fantasy world with a hint of sci-fi), the plot was lost in excessive verbosity and flat characters.
While the premise of the book was good (fantasy world with a hint of sci-fi), the plot was lost in excessive verbosity and flat characters.
antonism's review
3.0
[The following is not really a review. Sorry]
I read this about 20 years ago just because the cover looked cool and it was available on the municipal public library at that moment. I distantly and vaguely remember that I didn't understand completely the plot and the pacing and characters didn't excite me either... but there was something that made me keep reading. I think it was the atmosphere and the whole tension between the characters' relationships. Maybe, I' not sure.
Right now I don't remember absolutely anything from this book. If I find a good few-page-long summary somewhere I might continue with the second one some day...
I read this about 20 years ago just because the cover looked cool and it was available on the municipal public library at that moment. I distantly and vaguely remember that I didn't understand completely the plot and the pacing and characters didn't excite me either... but there was something that made me keep reading. I think it was the atmosphere and the whole tension between the characters' relationships. Maybe, I' not sure.
Right now I don't remember absolutely anything from this book. If I find a good few-page-long summary somewhere I might continue with the second one some day...
righteousridel's review
2.0
The Cold Shoulder
In a time before everyone had a pocket-sized computer and access to the internet at all hours, books were for readers with a different mindset. Black Sun Rising hails from that era, full of pages of description and an exploratory plot that could be edited down to half its length. As a defensive mechanism, I skimmed and skipped large swaths of chapters, and that’s a shame because a fantasy setting that’s set in the future of our current society is worth exploring.
The society of Erna is the result of galactic colonization. Technologically-advanced humankind has landed on a world where emotion is made manifest and magic a matter of will. The resulting apocalypse tickles my grimdark sensibilities, and the fantasy setting feels more realistic than a sci-fi one. There’s a unique magic system at work, but the author never directly explores or reveals its secrets. Instead, experts wield powers with consistency that manages to surprise us without feeling like author fiat. The nation-building is excellent, and despite the main character being a Paladin, we got only a teaser of Damien’s religion and I want more.
The trouble is the writing style. It’s slow. Painfully slow. Descriptions are easily the majority of each paragraph. Conversations repeat over and over. The Paladin and Adept have the same argument over a dozen times. In addition, I loathe stories that are just a journey from point A to point B. It often results in a lack of suspense and tension, as every new location has brand-new challenges. Characterization of the small cast isn’t basic, but very nuanced, highly detailed, yet wholly stereotypical. The Paladin is exactly that — a paragon of virtue to his detriment — and there’s a damsel in distress who’s so dedicated to her role I can’t remember her ever exercising agency.
I finish Black Sun Rising with a feeling that I let the book down. I believe it’s quality writing. I intellectually appreciate all the background work that went into it. And yet after five hundred pages, I’m not emotionally attached to any of the characters and couldn’t care less about their lives. Am I the problem? Do I no longer have the patience for a slow burn? I don’t know.
Not Recommended, with Reservations.
In a time before everyone had a pocket-sized computer and access to the internet at all hours, books were for readers with a different mindset. Black Sun Rising hails from that era, full of pages of description and an exploratory plot that could be edited down to half its length. As a defensive mechanism, I skimmed and skipped large swaths of chapters, and that’s a shame because a fantasy setting that’s set in the future of our current society is worth exploring.
The society of Erna is the result of galactic colonization. Technologically-advanced humankind has landed on a world where emotion is made manifest and magic a matter of will. The resulting apocalypse tickles my grimdark sensibilities, and the fantasy setting feels more realistic than a sci-fi one. There’s a unique magic system at work, but the author never directly explores or reveals its secrets. Instead, experts wield powers with consistency that manages to surprise us without feeling like author fiat. The nation-building is excellent, and despite the main character being a Paladin, we got only a teaser of Damien’s religion and I want more.
The trouble is the writing style. It’s slow. Painfully slow. Descriptions are easily the majority of each paragraph. Conversations repeat over and over. The Paladin and Adept have the same argument over a dozen times. In addition, I loathe stories that are just a journey from point A to point B. It often results in a lack of suspense and tension, as every new location has brand-new challenges. Characterization of the small cast isn’t basic, but very nuanced, highly detailed, yet wholly stereotypical. The Paladin is exactly that — a paragon of virtue to his detriment — and there’s a damsel in distress who’s so dedicated to her role I can’t remember her ever exercising agency.
I finish Black Sun Rising with a feeling that I let the book down. I believe it’s quality writing. I intellectually appreciate all the background work that went into it. And yet after five hundred pages, I’m not emotionally attached to any of the characters and couldn’t care less about their lives. Am I the problem? Do I no longer have the patience for a slow burn? I don’t know.
Not Recommended, with Reservations.
lyrrael's review
1.0
This turned into quest fiction after a hundred pages or so, much to my chagrin. I stuck with it for a while longer since the beginning showed such promise, but I have zero tolerance for a book length journey. I really dislike plot for the sake of showing off world-building, and oh man, that was this. Extended triptych, no thanks.
labocat's review
4.0
/Gestures vaguely in the direction of this book: That's how you do an anti-hero.
I'm having a really hard time reviewing this because while I would absolutely read just all the characters traveling around forever, that's apparently a really good thing because the larger plot is quite vague and in the end just revealed as a set-up for the sequels.
But the worldbuilding and the magic system are amazing and I love how everything is built up and explored. I love the potential of raw potential and the way this balances on the knife-edge of sci-fi and fantasy beautifully.
Otherwise it's apparently incredibly easy to get me to love something as long as you include soulbonds and good anti-heroes and lots of bickering. I'm sure I provided quite good entertainment to the people on the train with me while I was reading this.
I'm having a really hard time reviewing this because while I would absolutely read just all the characters traveling around forever, that's apparently a really good thing because the larger plot is quite vague and in the end just revealed as a set-up for the sequels.
But the worldbuilding and the magic system are amazing and I love how everything is built up and explored. I love the potential of raw potential and the way this balances on the knife-edge of sci-fi and fantasy beautifully.
Otherwise it's apparently incredibly easy to get me to love something as long as you include soulbonds and good anti-heroes and lots of bickering. I'm sure I provided quite good entertainment to the people on the train with me while I was reading this.