jshorton's review against another edition
4.0
Another series from Green- this one tells of a family that keeps the world safe from evil. Very Bond-esque with fantasy elements thrown in.
sgilbert3114's review against another edition
4.0
Loving this series! It’s hilarious and charming and brutal and heartbreaking and everything in between. Molly is still my favorite character, and Green introduces some great new ones. Can’t wait to read what happens next!
rogal's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
knewton7's review
3.0
I'm really starting to believe these books should be subtitled "Mission Improbable"! Yes, yes, I know, they're fantasy. I'm already suspending disbelief that inter-dimensional time travel is possible, that werewolves, vampires, and faeries exist, and that the Druids became a mystical family named Drood. I can go with all that. I don't even mind it; it's fun!
And honestly, the books are just FUN. Quick, enjoyable, bubble gum colored fantasy with humor, sarcasm, interesting characters and side characters. Books where people actually die, even the good guys (but not the REALLY good guys--can't have our hero biting the dust!). It just seems that the further you go into each book the more improbable the solutions for the current disaster of the day become. Eddie always has some toy or gizmo to do just exactly what he needs at exactly the right moment. Though at least this is all weapons or gadgets! No new superpowers for our hero.
That's really my only complaint. I've enjoyed the two books in the series that I've read enough that I've got book 3 on the back burner (just as soon as my best friend finishes it) and book 4 winding its way to me from my library. I've even went so far as grab other books by the author when I've seen them on the shelf at the library. So clearly Green is doing something right!
I just wish I didn't wonder what weapon-of-the-week will turn up in the next installment and how it will magically save the day this time!
And honestly, the books are just FUN. Quick, enjoyable, bubble gum colored fantasy with humor, sarcasm, interesting characters and side characters. Books where people actually die, even the good guys (but not the REALLY good guys--can't have our hero biting the dust!). It just seems that the further you go into each book the more improbable the solutions for the current disaster of the day become. Eddie always has some toy or gizmo to do just exactly what he needs at exactly the right moment. Though at least this is all weapons or gadgets! No new superpowers for our hero.
That's really my only complaint. I've enjoyed the two books in the series that I've read enough that I've got book 3 on the back burner (just as soon as my best friend finishes it) and book 4 winding its way to me from my library. I've even went so far as grab other books by the author when I've seen them on the shelf at the library. So clearly Green is doing something right!
I just wish I didn't wonder what weapon-of-the-week will turn up in the next installment and how it will magically save the day this time!
melbsreads's review against another edition
3.0
Plot summary: Following the events of The Man with the Golden Torc, the Drood family are unprotected and looking to Eddie for advice. It's not long before the various powers find out that the Droods are defenceless and start attacking. But there's a bigger threat looming on the horizon - one that will take Eddie through time and space, and possibly cost him the love of his life.
Thoughts: This incorporated a lot of elements from Green's other work. The Rainbow Run is discussed, as well as the inclusion of a Deathstalker character. And if I remember correctly, there's mention of a character who I remember cropping up in Shadows Fall. So all of those crossovers were fun. I also really liked the idea of the Time Train, and the Merlin Glass.
However, as with all of Green's work, there was a strong element of squicky-feelings-in-my-stomach causing stuff. In this case, there's the typical mayhem and slaughter and what-have-you. But there's also a sexual relationship between half brothers - for me, incest = instant 'I think I might throw up a little' factor.
Look, it's a good enough story. It dragged a little, especially in comparison to The Man with the Golden Torc. But the characters are fun, the gadgets are cool, and I would very much like to work in the Drood family library.
Thoughts: This incorporated a lot of elements from Green's other work. The Rainbow Run is discussed, as well as the inclusion of a Deathstalker character. And if I remember correctly, there's mention of a character who I remember cropping up in Shadows Fall. So all of those crossovers were fun. I also really liked the idea of the Time Train, and the Merlin Glass.
However, as with all of Green's work, there was a strong element of squicky-feelings-in-my-stomach causing stuff. In this case, there's the typical mayhem and slaughter and what-have-you. But there's also a sexual relationship between half brothers - for me, incest = instant 'I think I might throw up a little' factor.
Look, it's a good enough story. It dragged a little, especially in comparison to The Man with the Golden Torc. But the characters are fun, the gadgets are cool, and I would very much like to work in the Drood family library.
natcat's review
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This is much less of a Bond pastiche and much more of a straight up fantasy novel than the first book in the series, but I still enjoyed it! A fast, rollicking, and pretty dark read.
silverdire's review against another edition
2.0
I must admit to getting bored with this book and quitting in the middle. It's not something I normally do but the library wanted it back today and I wasn't fascinated enough for a marathon reading session.
The first book in this series, The Man with the Golden Torc, was very fast-paced and full of suspense--a lot like the James Bond series Green is supposed to be riffing.
Unfortunately Daemons Are Forever doesn't live up to its predecessor. The action (or lack thereof) is extremely plodding and much of the first part is spent bringing the reader up to speed on the events of the last book.
The characters in Daemons seem to be channeling the players from Green's Nightside series--Interesting but not enough without the Nightside background to hold the story up.
The first book in this series, The Man with the Golden Torc, was very fast-paced and full of suspense--a lot like the James Bond series Green is supposed to be riffing.
Unfortunately Daemons Are Forever doesn't live up to its predecessor. The action (or lack thereof) is extremely plodding and much of the first part is spent bringing the reader up to speed on the events of the last book.
The characters in Daemons seem to be channeling the players from Green's Nightside series--Interesting but not enough without the Nightside background to hold the story up.
leons1701's review
4.0
Typical Simon Green, once again redefining the meaning of over the top. Also quite witty, which is probably the best response to the absurd situations which abound. When a Bentley that drives through alternate universes to get past walls is the introductory gadget, you've got to go some to top it, but of course, Green is up to the challenge.
tachyondecay's review
2.0
In one sentence: my review of [[book:The Man With the Golden Torc|155459] stands double. In fact, I'm beginning to feel almost as repetitive as Simon R. Green, just by reiterating this! However, there are things I missed in my previous, somewhat-hastily-written review, so I shall address those now.
Firstly, Green has too many characters and doesn't know what to do with them. I wonder if he just can't control his urge to explore every cool concept that wanders across that fantastic imagination of his. For it's clear that most of his characters are intriguing--if not always original--creations; there's just too many of them. Eventually their personalities begin to clash and Green has trouble incorporating them into the plot. This overabundance of characters leads to the second and third problems: lack of character development and horrible pacing, respectively.
The characters in Daemons are Forever don't lack character development so much as consistent development. Much like their magical abilities, which Green amends and ameliorates to suit whatever situation he's dreamt up now, the characters' personalities seem far too mutable for my liking. As a result, most end up as two-dimensional canvases on which a conflict or witty remark can be painted--or rather, painfully grafted.
Daemons are Forever also lacks anything resembling an interesting story. Halfway through the book, my only thought was, "This is so ... dull." The majority of the book is devoted to exposition, either through dialogue or the internal narration of our protagonist, Eddie Drood. It's mostly, "Hmm, invaders from another dimension want to come over here and gobble us up--ideas, anyone?" Occasionally, the plot seems to sense that something is amiss and makes its own halfhearted attempt to rise up and progress in some way, but Green quickly puts a stop to that. He tosses in token action scenes--with those slippery mutable powers that every character has--to satisfy those readers who are easily bribed by such shiny baubles.
The contradictory nature of the magic underpinning Green's Secret Histories series is what irks me the most. For example, at one point Eddie clearly establishes that Merlin's Glass can't teleport him into the Sanctity (a particular room in his home base) itself. Then, only about twenty pages later, he does just that. Fantasy is supposed to be about "anything is possible," but a fantasy story without any magical ground rules, where any magic goes, eliminates the element of risk and completely destroys the enjoyment found in the element of surprise. The best moments of any book come when a character reaches down inside himself or herself to summon up that last bit of determination and come up with a plan, a smart plan, to save the day. It's not simply a matter of one of the supporting characters saying, "Oh, by the way, I can make this problem go away with a wave of my hand."
Daemons are Forever could have benefited from a better editor, one not afraid to mark up the manuscript with massive red pen marks. There's too much fluff, not enough substance.
Firstly, Green has too many characters and doesn't know what to do with them. I wonder if he just can't control his urge to explore every cool concept that wanders across that fantastic imagination of his. For it's clear that most of his characters are intriguing--if not always original--creations; there's just too many of them. Eventually their personalities begin to clash and Green has trouble incorporating them into the plot. This overabundance of characters leads to the second and third problems: lack of character development and horrible pacing, respectively.
The characters in Daemons are Forever don't lack character development so much as consistent development. Much like their magical abilities, which Green amends and ameliorates to suit whatever situation he's dreamt up now, the characters' personalities seem far too mutable for my liking. As a result, most end up as two-dimensional canvases on which a conflict or witty remark can be painted--or rather, painfully grafted.
Daemons are Forever also lacks anything resembling an interesting story. Halfway through the book, my only thought was, "This is so ... dull." The majority of the book is devoted to exposition, either through dialogue or the internal narration of our protagonist, Eddie Drood. It's mostly, "Hmm, invaders from another dimension want to come over here and gobble us up--ideas, anyone?" Occasionally, the plot seems to sense that something is amiss and makes its own halfhearted attempt to rise up and progress in some way, but Green quickly puts a stop to that. He tosses in token action scenes--with those slippery mutable powers that every character has--to satisfy those readers who are easily bribed by such shiny baubles.
The contradictory nature of the magic underpinning Green's Secret Histories series is what irks me the most. For example, at one point Eddie clearly establishes that Merlin's Glass can't teleport him into the Sanctity (a particular room in his home base) itself. Then, only about twenty pages later, he does just that. Fantasy is supposed to be about "anything is possible," but a fantasy story without any magical ground rules, where any magic goes, eliminates the element of risk and completely destroys the enjoyment found in the element of surprise. The best moments of any book come when a character reaches down inside himself or herself to summon up that last bit of determination and come up with a plan, a smart plan, to save the day. It's not simply a matter of one of the supporting characters saying, "Oh, by the way, I can make this problem go away with a wave of my hand."
Daemons are Forever could have benefited from a better editor, one not afraid to mark up the manuscript with massive red pen marks. There's too much fluff, not enough substance.