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evaserrate's review against another edition
3.0
I should just reread all of these, but a good filler, at least.
mysteriousnorse's review against another edition
2.0
Okay, done with Darkover for awhile. This is probably a 2.5 star, but everything here has been done better in other books. Jeff is a bland protagonist, his struggle was done better in [b:Star of Danger|463090|Star of Danger (Darkover, #15)|Marion Zimmer Bradley|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1412382157l/463090._SY75_.jpg|1073275]. Darkover mystery was done better in the first book of this trilogy: [b:The Spell Sword|1106633|The Spell Sword (Darkover, #11)|Marion Zimmer Bradley|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1226463075l/1106633._SY75_.jpg|1650605]. It has shitty romance and crap space politics like its predessesor: [b:The Forbidden Tower|61894|The Forbidden Tower (Darkover, #12)|Marion Zimmer Bradley|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1228626257l/61894._SY75_.jpg|2741917]. Honestly, it's not bad, but it wears out its welcome way too quickly.
I've now read most of Bradley's Darkover output from the 1960s and 1970s, and I think it's fine. My favorite is still the first one I read: [b:The Planet Savers|472219|The Planet Savers|Marion Zimmer Bradley|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1545476492l/472219._SY75_.jpg|1073262].
I've now read most of Bradley's Darkover output from the 1960s and 1970s, and I think it's fine. My favorite is still the first one I read: [b:The Planet Savers|472219|The Planet Savers|Marion Zimmer Bradley|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1545476492l/472219._SY75_.jpg|1073262].
cellardoor10's review against another edition
4.0
I'm not sure I can truly explain how much of an absolute asshole the protagonist is. Possessive, jealous, bizarrely quick to anger (seriously, it's like in an instant, out of nowhere, he's yelling at rando desk worker #2), and really enthusiastic about some seriously misogynist insults. It was, on occasion, difficult to care what happened to him because he had to spend an entire night getting over how a woman might not be in love with him (seriously, fuck that noise). His complete rejection of actually learning the culture around him and proclaiming "Well I don't know why" reeeeeally gets grating. Buddy, do some research, ask people specific questions, and stop depending on that as a constant crutch.
All that being said, I found this book waaaaay more interesting than the previous two. Driving plot, interesting premise (person who doesn't remember, driven to find out). The characters were interesting overall. And I'm not totally opposed to an unsympathetic or rude or cruel protagonist, but I get frustrated when that protagonist is presented as being correct, being the hero, being totally reasonable. I get the feeling that Bradley assumed that readers would be like, yes, you do get to yell at randos and call your love interest cruel insults when she isn't exactly who you thought, but instead operates in a system you haven't bothered to learn about before stomping all over. That's the thing that bothers me. No. No you don't get to be a possessive, aggressive asshat and still have me rooting for you.
Additionally, the audiobook reader clearly wanted to be performing a play, and while his accent and voices are very good, his volume is *extremely* variable, such that finding a comfortable and consistent volume was pretty difficult.
One major issue I had, and this is going to reference some ugly, triggering stuff from Bradley's personal life, is that at least a couple times, a female love interest is described as childlike, or having a feature like a baby, etc. That would be off-putting on its own, but knowing about the allegations against Bradley and the convictions against her husband related to child sexual abuse, it's a little stomach-turning. It really pulled me out of those scenes in disgust.
All that being said, I found this book waaaaay more interesting than the previous two. Driving plot, interesting premise (person who doesn't remember, driven to find out). The characters were interesting overall. And I'm not totally opposed to an unsympathetic or rude or cruel protagonist, but I get frustrated when that protagonist is presented as being correct, being the hero, being totally reasonable. I get the feeling that Bradley assumed that readers would be like, yes, you do get to yell at randos and call your love interest cruel insults when she isn't exactly who you thought, but instead operates in a system you haven't bothered to learn about before stomping all over. That's the thing that bothers me. No. No you don't get to be a possessive, aggressive asshat and still have me rooting for you.
Additionally, the audiobook reader clearly wanted to be performing a play, and while his accent and voices are very good, his volume is *extremely* variable, such that finding a comfortable and consistent volume was pretty difficult.
One major issue I had, and this is going to reference some ugly, triggering stuff from Bradley's personal life, is that at least a couple times, a female love interest is described as childlike, or having a feature like a baby, etc. That would be off-putting on its own, but knowing about the allegations against Bradley and the convictions against her husband related to child sexual abuse, it's a little stomach-turning. It really pulled me out of those scenes in disgust.
oworthyfool's review against another edition
5.0
THe journey of self-discovery is an oft-travelled road, but Marion Zimmer Bradley takes us down it in a refreshing and characteristically engaging style through the eyes of Jeff Kerwin. Learning more of the aftershocks of the Forbidden Tower and seeing into the inner workings of Arilinn, the changes overtaking Darkover are fascinating to watch.
As always, the world building and character development are lovely, and the reveals throughout the book pile up to a startling climax.
As always, the world building and character development are lovely, and the reveals throughout the book pile up to a startling climax.
vaderbird's review against another edition
3.0
5 star - Perfect
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
bookcrazylady45's review against another edition
3.0
Always like stories with Kennard. Wish there were more stories that fill out his life. Wish to know Jeff Kerwin Jr. real name. Wish I knew what happened to Domenic Ridenow and Hilary who was Cassilda's sister. This is how one gets wrapped up in a series and want all the details.
todomomo's review
3.0
it was a cool book but a bit confusing at the beginning, although as it went by, reading became easier and interesting, the finale was very interesting though.