barney100's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
3lsa02's review
5.0
"I've looked at the world for quite a few years now and I've found that if I don't laugh, I'll probably end up crying." p.178
agw622's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
This is more of a traveling book. There are events here and there, but it's more of them moving places for the main series plot.
marimoose's review against another edition
3.0
It's clear that The Mallorean takes a more serious tone when it comes to the subject of religion, but Eddings also seems to drench much of it within philosophy. His characters, at least, represent at least one different set of philosophical ideals (though I have now decided that Silk is largely a quaintly sarcastic misanthrope).
Philosophy and religion take too much out of Demon Lord of Karanda, I think, since most of the time the novel was filled with the characters just sitting there discussing what's being done and what's to be done, rather than actually acting upon them. When the action did happen, however, things quickly pick up and become even more interesting.
Some new discoveries in this book, and I do make note that Eddings does attempt at romance! This time it's much better than the slight hogwash or semblance of one in The Belgariad. So kudos there!
Philosophy and religion take too much out of Demon Lord of Karanda, I think, since most of the time the novel was filled with the characters just sitting there discussing what's being done and what's to be done, rather than actually acting upon them. When the action did happen, however, things quickly pick up and become even more interesting.
Some new discoveries in this book, and I do make note that Eddings does attempt at romance! This time it's much better than the slight hogwash or semblance of one in The Belgariad. So kudos there!
riko88's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
joosty's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Another tepid installment in the series. Zakath is a fun addition to the group, but I really feel that half the party should have been cut from the story. Velvet, Toth, Ce'Nedra, Erriond (I'm not even sure that's his name), and even Polgara most of the time have so little to do and say that you tend to forget they are there. When they do enter the prose, it's almost always to the detriment of the pace of the story, or the tone.
The whole part in Mal Zeth is a utter waste of time. The main antagonist of the story does get an actual appearance, but it turns out to be another distraction. We are left with another Grolim (or Chandim) chum as the direct obstacle of the story and to be honest, we've been through this red herring a couple of times already. It wasn't a great reveal in the first book. Nothing's changed.
I complained in previous reviews that the plot is so poorly done in this series, as nothing seems to happen without the prompting of a prophecy, a direct divine intervention, the universal purpose taking over a character, and now the seers getting called in to make something happen, or stop it from happening.
The last chapter in that sense is a good example, where the threat arises that Zandramas will disrupt the prophecies and irreversibly derail them, and not only that, but to do so by killing one of Garion's companions. This is too much character initiative for David Eddings to cope with, so don't expect this to go anywhere.
I do not recommend this book, or this series.
The whole part in Mal Zeth is a utter waste of time. The main antagonist of the story does get an actual appearance, but it turns out to be another distraction. We are left with another Grolim (or Chandim) chum as the direct obstacle of the story and to be honest, we've been through this red herring a couple of times already. It wasn't a great reveal in the first book. Nothing's changed.
I complained in previous reviews that the plot is so poorly done in this series, as nothing seems to happen without the prompting of a prophecy, a direct divine intervention, the universal purpose taking over a character, and now the seers getting called in to make something happen, or stop it from happening.
The last chapter in that sense is a good example, where the threat arises that Zandramas will disrupt the prophecies and irreversibly derail them, and not only that, but to do so by killing one of Garion's companions. This is too much character initiative for David Eddings to cope with, so don't expect this to go anywhere.
I do not recommend this book, or this series.
khardan's review
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
_aphrael_'s review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5