shane's review
4.0
Another very good novel. I love the whole Amber setup with it's idea of changing the world around you and living in shadow worlds and so forth. All the talk of family politics and infighting over who is going to get the throne is all a little much for me. To be quite honest I'm one of those people who couldn't give a monkey's who attains the throne. I'm far more interested in shadow and chaos and so forth than pretty infighting amongst the family. I was also expecting a little more in the way of direct confrontation with the darker, more chaotic forces than I actually got though, so a little disappointed there.
Very good.
Very good.
haljonesy's review
4.0
Zelazny has a wonderful way of describing scenes. Rather than try and conjure up one or two sentences to depict something, he will use a handful of phrases or words that really capture what he's trying to show. I really like the way he uses imagery, and almost wish more authors would follow his style instead of trying to come up with a fabulous unique way of describing something.
olivera420's review
2.0
2.5 stars
I still love the world but this book was a complete 180 from the previous two books. Nine Princes in Amber and The Guns of Avalon set up an interesting looming threat of the black road as a result of Corwin's curse and the mysterious girl that says she's Benedict's granddaughter and then this book barely mentions either of those things and turns into a standard whodunit that I've seen a million times already. And that basic whodunit setup is just an excuse to have a 190 page long recounting of events the previous two books covered from the perspectives of Corwin's brothers. The ending was the only intriguing part where something new happens and was a major cliffhanger and the only reason I'm continuing the series at all.
I still love the world but this book was a complete 180 from the previous two books. Nine Princes in Amber and The Guns of Avalon set up an interesting looming threat of the black road as a result of Corwin's curse and the mysterious girl that says she's Benedict's granddaughter and then this book barely mentions either of those things and turns into a standard whodunit that I've seen a million times already. And that basic whodunit setup is just an excuse to have a 190 page long recounting of events the previous two books covered from the perspectives of Corwin's brothers. The ending was the only intriguing part where something new happens and was a major cliffhanger and the only reason I'm continuing the series at all.
planetarypan's review
4.0
Hard to follow all the politics in this family... especially when paragraphs are over a page at times. Still, the plot twists are interesting and unexpected. On to book four!
personman2's review
Even an action-packed fantasy series like The Chronicles of Amber has to take the occasional breather for exposition. This novel has plenty of that. It answers questions from the first two novels and fills in a lot of background about the family.
dukegiesbrecht's review
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
odinblindeye's review
4.0
Zelany has begun to nail down his characters and the settings he has been writing about. Until now, he's had trouble defining the aspects of the story, staying dreamy and vauge. Now we're seeing a much better defined cast, and I can't wait to read the next installment.
nithou's review
5.0
Très chouette volume, une belle montée en puissance de l'histoire générale, beaucoup plus intéressant point de vue intrigues et compréhension du monde et des Ombres, globalement la saga devient de plus en plus intéressante à chaque tome, c'est assez rare.
yesterdayshero's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.25