maryh's review against another edition
3.0
It was an okay read. I kinda like to see more into Black’s past, about the the King, and the magic system.
The story itself was interesting but I dislike how the author tends to over-explain the reason behind the characters’ action.
The story itself was interesting but I dislike how the author tends to over-explain the reason behind the characters’ action.
alusetti's review against another edition
3.0
I keep wanting to like Donaldson's writing style, but I find myself struggling with it. Kings justice was my favorite of these two novellas.
taisie22's review against another edition
4.0
The King's Justice is a dark fantasy about a mysterious man named Black. He must find the person responsible for a grisly child murder. His trail leads him to more murders and a nefarious plot to overcome the balance of magic in the kingdom.
The Augur's Gambit is the second novella in the collection. It is told in the first person by a timid augur who must help his Queen find a way to save her kingdom from internal rebellion and external war.
Both novellas are classic Donaldson, exposing both the protagonist's weaknesses and strengths so that the outcome is always in doubt. They are different in tone, but both very satisfying reading.
The Augur's Gambit is the second novella in the collection. It is told in the first person by a timid augur who must help his Queen find a way to save her kingdom from internal rebellion and external war.
Both novellas are classic Donaldson, exposing both the protagonist's weaknesses and strengths so that the outcome is always in doubt. They are different in tone, but both very satisfying reading.
calypte's review against another edition
3.0
I love the Thomas Covenant books (series 1 and 2, requiring a reread ahead of the finale), and the Gap series (although the first book is dire), and have a huge soft spot for Mordant's Need - although it was a reread of the latter, several years ago, that really made me see how, urm, pretentious?, Donaldson's tone can be.
This short story is no different. And yet, it was kind of good despite of it.
Full review here.
This short story is no different. And yet, it was kind of good despite of it.
Full review here.
eojsmada's review against another edition
3.0
I gave them 3 stars, mostly because they plodded a bit too long for my tastes. Especially since each story was only 130-ish pages each. Had some good moments throughout each story, but there was some parts that dragged and made it more of a grind than I thought it should have been for the length of the story.
andydcaf2d's review against another edition
4.0
Liked this book much more than his latest release that I read a couple weeks ago. This was much more reminiscent of "A Man Rides Through". Would like to see something that would amount to a prequel to give some background to the creation of Black. And it seems that there is endless possibilities for His continuing adventures.
karenteacher's review against another edition
4.0
As always, Donaldson delivers intricate stories told by characters full of self-doubt, who find themselves and lose their self-doubt (and even self-loathing) through unexpected actions, either of their own or of others. These are good stories, worth reading, and yet difficult to complete. As his writing has developed, Donaldson has displayed an increasing use of unusual and even archaic vocabulary - some of which serves to enhance his writing, and some of which serves to obfuscate his meaning. In addition, both novellas in this volume are written in the first person, which is suited to the tales, and yet allows, perhaps, too much knowledge of the main character's inner thoughts and motivations. Twists of plot, no doubt intended to surprise, are more evident than they have been in past works. In the first novella, "The King's Justice", the main character's voice and tone are phlegmatic to the point of making it difficult to read - were I not familiar with Donaldson's writing, I don't know that I would have completed reading this tale. The second, "The Augur's Gambit", is written in a somewhat more accessible tone; placing it first, rather than second, might have accustomed new readers to Donaldson's style in a way that made "The King's Justice" more palatable. Despite these issues, I enjoyed both novellas, although I did have to convince myself to complete them based on my knowledge of the author.
lesserjoke's review against another edition
3.0
I wasn't super blown away by either of the two (unrelated) novellas in this book, but even middle-of-the-road Stephen R. Donaldson is still worth the read. And there are echoes of many of the stories I love from his collection Reave the Just and Other Tales, although I wouldn't say the new batch rises quite to that same level.
I'm also choosing to view this project as a necessary palate-cleanser for the author after finally finishing his epic Thomas Covenant series, which ultimately spanned ten hefty novels over a 36-year period. Donaldson is a genius fantasist, and this volume proves he has no intention of packing up his pen just yet. The King's Justice and The Augur's Gambit won't go down as my favorites, but I'm excited to see what he comes up with next.
Find me on Patreon | Goodreads | Blog | Twitter
I'm also choosing to view this project as a necessary palate-cleanser for the author after finally finishing his epic Thomas Covenant series, which ultimately spanned ten hefty novels over a 36-year period. Donaldson is a genius fantasist, and this volume proves he has no intention of packing up his pen just yet. The King's Justice and The Augur's Gambit won't go down as my favorites, but I'm excited to see what he comes up with next.
Find me on Patreon | Goodreads | Blog | Twitter
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