Reviews

2024 re read: Boy, this series pays dividends with a re read. So much of what I was unsure about I already know for certain, so it breeds anticipation, rather than unsurety. For instance, the more tedious sections with the child, I recall really not being into. The strength of the prose and how short they are, and the fact that I know they culminate into some really interesting developments, transform the sections into enjoyable diversions.

Afterall, the other side of what’s happening is so dang cool. The slog of slog, with Aka coming out of exile to find the Dunyain via a Mines of Moria type situation. I really enjoy which tropes Bakker hits and which he subverts or subtly alters. The trip is far more interesting than I remember. With the non man captain, the reveal of what they actually are, at least, kind of. The tear of god. The haunting, more sorcery, and the revelation of Aka’s altered dreaming playing into what we learned previously, as well as the path forward. The introduction of the white-luck warrior too. So many cool things happening.

There is just so much more lore and action packed things happening. It’s really no wonder that the Esme ruling along with her children being only in part Kels. I’m not wild about the idea of like genetics birthing people with abstracted “gifts” from the Dunyain breeding, mostly because it’s baseless than just saying they learned such things from their conditioning. Sure, it makes sense they would need to be smart, but the idea of their genetic inheritance being an impairment is abstract and tropey, let alone begs the scientific to be a conceit, rather than handwaved, which feels like a mistake in a fantasy novel with magic. I don’t really believe children, without proper study, could discern complex micro expressions, let alone formulate strategies to execute that knowledge such as Kelhus does. The ability to do so downplays the sections on how Kel was conditioned imo. But, really that’s the only nitpick I have, and it is, as I say, fantasy, so whatever, really.

Original review:
While the sections with Esme dragged a bit because her young child is boring, the Great Ordeal marching was much more interesting. The trek under the mountain and the reveal of the judging eye would have been enough to give this 5 stars. So much happened and so much was revealed. Riveting stuff.

If you’re listening on audible you’ll find the change in narration jarring. The guy who narrated The Prince of Nothing trilogy was amazing, where this new fellow is like James T Kirk and Vincent Price overdramatizing everything. The good news is that if you can bear it, the narrator improves tremendous amount. Just passed the halfway mark, if I remember correctly, that all stops and he reads it without that weird cadence and is much more enjoyable.

thebanhammer's review against another edition

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3.0

Compared to the original trilogy, this book was a bit of a flop. I still enjoyed it, and will read the White Luck Warrior, but was disappointing.

brian9teen's review against another edition

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dark emotional tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes

4.75

rylanvisser's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

4.25

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