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barney100's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
vihren's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
raptrbreth's review against another edition
3.0
Predictable. Follows Tolkien a little too closely. A unique twist to make it bearable.
davechua's review against another edition
4.0
Possibly the most disliked protagonist in fantasy, but Donaldson has pulled off a neat trick. It's the land - rich in culture and love for the environment, that the reader roots for. The Land depends on Covenant, a character one absolutely loathes, to save it, and it creates a compelling contrast in the story. Other than that, the Tolkien references are rampant, including villains that remind one of Gollum and Sauron.
geasha1m's review against another edition
2.0
attempt#2 on phone grml...
ok so ive heard about this book now and again on various lists and forums so i was quite hopefull to get smth special. turns out i did, however not the way i wouldve liked. This is an old book and it follows that particular style old fantasy novels do ( WoT, Dragonbone chair etc.) which means the story is most of the time a quest of our main character to get from point a to point b. Also there is a big focus on worldbuilding, in the description of the natural life, buildings and landscapes, on the mythics of swords and magic, on the vast history and the tragic of a forgotton people. And thats fine as long as you get a clear balance. This particular novel however gets the measurements pretty wrong. The story is nothing but a journy and 80% of the book are details on history and soroundings and its way to much. Pagelong descriptions of some cave or some clearing or some tribe we dont care about because there is no connection to them whatsoever. this book could easily cut 200 pages. Dont expect some characters either. The whole weight of the main characters depth comes from 1 single event in the beginning. There's zero progression and maybe 1 other figure that gets a little more complexity.
Its not all bad. Some of the descriptions are very beautifull but they're rare and get drowned in the massive sea of worldbuilding. I got through it but i read it like a wikipediapage, scanning through basicly.
Honestly, unless you're realy into travelguides i dont think this is a recommandable book.
ok so ive heard about this book now and again on various lists and forums so i was quite hopefull to get smth special. turns out i did, however not the way i wouldve liked. This is an old book and it follows that particular style old fantasy novels do ( WoT, Dragonbone chair etc.) which means the story is most of the time a quest of our main character to get from point a to point b. Also there is a big focus on worldbuilding, in the description of the natural life, buildings and landscapes, on the mythics of swords and magic, on the vast history and the tragic of a forgotton people. And thats fine as long as you get a clear balance. This particular novel however gets the measurements pretty wrong. The story is nothing but a journy and 80% of the book are details on history and soroundings and its way to much. Pagelong descriptions of some cave or some clearing or some tribe we dont care about because there is no connection to them whatsoever. this book could easily cut 200 pages. Dont expect some characters either. The whole weight of the main characters depth comes from 1 single event in the beginning. There's zero progression and maybe 1 other figure that gets a little more complexity.
Its not all bad. Some of the descriptions are very beautifull but they're rare and get drowned in the massive sea of worldbuilding. I got through it but i read it like a wikipediapage, scanning through basicly.
Honestly, unless you're realy into travelguides i dont think this is a recommandable book.
kindlereads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Slow story, unlikable main character. The concept that the story might all just be a dream. Not my favorite recommend book.
x0pherl's review against another edition
Had to put this one aside in spite of my general difficulties stopping a book midway through.
Three reasons:
1) The descriptions of leprosy may or may not have been entirely accurate and unexaggerated for 1977 when the book was written. I'm not sure, but I had a super hard time reading through these parts and accepting them as true. Maybe if it was set in 1877?
2) The language could almost be a spoof of swords and sorcery books:
3) The rape scene was what finally made me put the book down. I get that he's an antihero and I'm not supposed to like him. I can even accept that this was told in a different cultural context. If the rest of the book had been good I might have even dealt with it and continued on, but.. nope.
As always, giving it one star rather than having people think I failed to rate it.
Three reasons:
1) The descriptions of leprosy may or may not have been entirely accurate and unexaggerated for 1977 when the book was written. I'm not sure, but I had a super hard time reading through these parts and accepting them as true. Maybe if it was set in 1877?
2) The language could almost be a spoof of swords and sorcery books:
he creature leaped to his feet, capering with mad pride. He strode closer to his victim, and Covenant recoiled with a loathing he could not control.
Holding his staff near the center with both hands, the creature shouted, “Kill you! Take your power! Crush them all! Be Lord Drool!” He raised his staff as if to strike Covenant with it.
Then another voice entered the cavern. It was deep and resonant, powerful enough to fill the air without effort, and somehow deadly, as if an abyss were speaking. “Back, Rockworm!” it commanded. “This prey is too great for you. I claim him.”
The creature jabbed his face toward the ceiling and cried, “Mine! My Staff! You saw. I called him. You saw!”
Covenant followed the red eyes upward, but he could see nothing there except the dizzy chiaroscuro of the clustered stone spikes.
3) The rape scene was what finally made me put the book down. I get that he's an antihero and I'm not supposed to like him. I can even accept that this was told in a different cultural context. If the rest of the book had been good I might have even dealt with it and continued on, but.. nope.
As always, giving it one star rather than having people think I failed to rate it.