broutt's review against another edition
4.0
I usually don't know what to expect going into a new series and a new author but this was a great intro book. It's a great idea to have a story told from the perspective of a mercany in a war he didn't pick the side in. I also love the mystery around the magic in the universe so far. Loved the characters and the world building. Very excited to start this series.
charity718's review against another edition
1.0
One of the worst books I've ever read when added to the others in the series. This on its own wasn't bad enough that I quit the series, but they get progressively worse. I heard they were dark and assumed I would like them. No. They're not super dark in the way I would describe dark. I thought it was going to be like Edgar Allan Poe or at least somewhat horrifying or soul shocking. No. In a word - Boring. In a few words - absolutely senseless story.
falmorswifthands's review against another edition
3.0
Had a strange time with this one. Flew through it and enjoyed it. However, when I finished I realised I had no real connections to the characters other than Croaker (this was due to the first person perspective limitations). The plot was decent and the prose at times was excellent especially the dry sense of humour that ran throughout. The ‘reveal’ (was it meant to be a surprise?) was strangely flat but left me intrigued enough to continue with the series.
miles862's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
This book was...fine? I didn't find it particularly memorable or engaging. I struggled with the writing style as well - extremely short sentences with no variation that felt like it was trying to do something specific but failing to do anything really. Not motivated to continue the series.
vixreader's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
2.0
datarez's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
greyforest's review against another edition
5.0
Amazing and unique Grimdark Fantasy book. The writing here is excellent, Croaker is a great main character and the world and it's people and lore will astound you. Admittedly the first chapter is a little rough to get through, but once that is over, the book is a masterpiece.
praetorian333's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
thinde's review against another edition
4.0
Second read, separated by twenty years.
This holds up against more recent titles. The world-building is excellent while hinting at much more beneath the surface. The magic system is pre-Sanderson, which is to say it is fuzzy as heck and unknowable. The mood is grim-dark, almost like Warhammer 40k, in that there are no good guys with very little sunshine and hope.
But the true strength of the book, and presumably the series, is in its characters. I love the mechanism used by the author to allow the reader to take an interest in so many characters. You get the feeling that each has such a rich history and complex motivations that they could easily spin-off their own book. Cook does this via the protagonist, Croaker... a battle surgeon come historian/chronicler. He desperately wants to capture the fleeting lives of his brothers in arms, for the company's history. Thus the reader wants this too.
I also like the way the Black Company never has any ambition to change the world. They simply want to survive and get paid. There is a chosen one, but that's not them. While they do end up impacting major powers, it always feels like the tale of soldiers on the front line... not Frodo on Mount Doom.
I won't be immediately leaping into book two. I suspect a pallet cleanser between books will help this bitter pill of a series go down.
This holds up against more recent titles. The world-building is excellent while hinting at much more beneath the surface. The magic system is pre-Sanderson, which is to say it is fuzzy as heck and unknowable. The mood is grim-dark, almost like Warhammer 40k, in that there are no good guys with very little sunshine and hope.
But the true strength of the book, and presumably the series, is in its characters. I love the mechanism used by the author to allow the reader to take an interest in so many characters. You get the feeling that each has such a rich history and complex motivations that they could easily spin-off their own book. Cook does this via the protagonist, Croaker... a battle surgeon come historian/chronicler. He desperately wants to capture the fleeting lives of his brothers in arms, for the company's history. Thus the reader wants this too.
I also like the way the Black Company never has any ambition to change the world. They simply want to survive and get paid. There is a chosen one, but that's not them. While they do end up impacting major powers, it always feels like the tale of soldiers on the front line... not Frodo on Mount Doom.
I won't be immediately leaping into book two. I suspect a pallet cleanser between books will help this bitter pill of a series go down.