mvatza57's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
thedashdude's review against another edition
5.0
The Judging Eye: 5/5
Brilliant concepts, puts you right at the heart of something that the entire first trilogy built towards. Immediately more fantastical than the Prince of Nothing, and you can feel the weight of the world.
The White-Luck Warrior: 5/5
More cool magic and grand adventures and that just isn't what happens.
The Great Ordeal: 5/5
Spectacle and omen.
The Unholy Consult: ?/5
Oh boy.
I can't seem to get my thoughts on this series pinned down. The good is so easy to express and the bad just eludes me. Unrelentingly engaging, always driving to the only place it can end, every step of the way some new brilliant horror.
Too much left unexplained. Too many events glossed over. Too much by chance. Too much wrapped up too quickly. I can't shake the feeling that it was brilliant. It is it's own answer to every accusation. I understand everyone who thinks it sucked.
something something swirling.
Brilliant concepts, puts you right at the heart of something that the entire first trilogy built towards. Immediately more fantastical than the Prince of Nothing, and you can feel the weight of the world.
The White-Luck Warrior: 5/5
More cool magic and grand adventures and that just isn't what happens.
The Great Ordeal: 5/5
Spectacle and omen.
The Unholy Consult: ?/5
Oh boy.
I can't seem to get my thoughts on this series pinned down. The good is so easy to express and the bad just eludes me. Unrelentingly engaging, always driving to the only place it can end, every step of the way some new brilliant horror.
Too much left unexplained. Too many events glossed over. Too much by chance. Too much wrapped up too quickly. I can't shake the feeling that it was brilliant. It is it's own answer to every accusation. I understand everyone who thinks it sucked.
something something swirling.
janedoelish's review against another edition
2.0
When you end up ripping off the Moria scene from "Lord of the Rings", I suppose that reveals a lot about the quality of the sequel. The "Prince of Nothing"-trilogy was a giant skeptical meta-commentary on religion and faith, yet this new installment basically manages to convey the opposite ideology.
evan98's review against another edition
Like The Darkness That Comes Before, it's just a prologue for the real story but I love it anyway. Bakker love for fantasy let's him pay homage to the genre without feeling derivative or corny. He's one of my favourite authors already.
zaboomafoo's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
apocryphal_goose's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
mistersplog's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
elefelanterosa's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
gianlucafiore's review against another edition
5.0
Before starting this reread I heard somebody saying that Bakker has written the best modern interpretation of the Lord of the Rings. When I first read this I didn't think about it, I thought the series being a lesser Malazan. Now I have reread The Judging Eye in the light of this piece of information and it makes it way more intriguing, and downright genial at times. Less original, perhaps, but not in any way less worth of being read. Awesome.