acardattack's review against another edition
slow-paced
1.0
Way too long for what this presents. There is very little plot, it's slow, confusing at times, the titular characters apparently don't show up until the last page
I DNFed 1/3 in. I just couldnt anymore. I wanted to. There is some slight humor, and as always some great names, but this could have been 50 page interesting novella
I DNFed 1/3 in. I just couldnt anymore. I wanted to. There is some slight humor, and as always some great names, but this could have been 50 page interesting novella
mhedgescsus's review against another edition
1.0
Check out my YouTube channel where I show my instant reactions upon finishing fantasy books.
A disappointingly disjointed story that didn't strike any positive chords for me.
After a disappointing first book in this series, I have found books 2-4 (this is the 5th chronologically) to be absolutely wonderful and some of the funniest, and best short stories I have ever read. The escapades of Bauchelain, Korbal Broach, and their manservant Emancipor Reese are horror comedy books with wonderful Erikson philosophy in heavy doses - and I was hungry for more of that.
Unfortunately, this book had virtually none of the main characters, and instead followed a group of people that the main characters have wronged in the previous books who are hunting them on the "Crack'd Pot Trail". But the hunters run out of food and start to eat the group of travelling poets who are with them, but force them to spin their tales to impress them each night to earn another day of living. The theme of this plot is right in line with the rest of the books, but unfortunately the way it was presented was awful to me.
I've never been a big fan of "stories within stories" - and that's pretty much all this is. It's not funny like the previous books, it's too disjointed, and none of the characters I found to be interesting enough to hold up a story on their own.
If you are reading this series, I suggest you skip this book.
A disappointingly disjointed story that didn't strike any positive chords for me.
After a disappointing first book in this series, I have found books 2-4 (this is the 5th chronologically) to be absolutely wonderful and some of the funniest, and best short stories I have ever read. The escapades of Bauchelain, Korbal Broach, and their manservant Emancipor Reese are horror comedy books with wonderful Erikson philosophy in heavy doses - and I was hungry for more of that.
Unfortunately, this book had virtually none of the main characters, and instead followed a group of people that the main characters have wronged in the previous books who are hunting them on the "Crack'd Pot Trail". But the hunters run out of food and start to eat the group of travelling poets who are with them, but force them to spin their tales to impress them each night to earn another day of living. The theme of this plot is right in line with the rest of the books, but unfortunately the way it was presented was awful to me.
I've never been a big fan of "stories within stories" - and that's pretty much all this is. It's not funny like the previous books, it's too disjointed, and none of the characters I found to be interesting enough to hold up a story on their own.
If you are reading this series, I suggest you skip this book.
jester99's review against another edition
2.0
2,5 - too indulgent, too long, even though it has its moments.
matosapa's review against another edition
4.0
Be warned that this does not focus on B&K but rather a set of characters related to B&K. Notwithstanding, this is a fascinating story due to the meta-subject (writers vs. fans/critics) and the delivery (narrated by a member of the story's party, at a later date.)
The beginning reads like a different writer (dense, "long-winded") but once the story starts, the style matches the Erikson I am familiar with. I think it is an awesome addition to the series but I ma biased by the fact that I agree with nearly everything discussed in the novella (e.g. societal commentary, relationships, etc.).
The beginning reads like a different writer (dense, "long-winded") but once the story starts, the style matches the Erikson I am familiar with. I think it is an awesome addition to the series but I ma biased by the fact that I agree with nearly everything discussed in the novella (e.g. societal commentary, relationships, etc.).
bdesmond's review against another edition
3.0
It's funny. I was very much looking forward to resuming the dark, outrageous adventures of Bauchelain and Korbal Broach, only to find that they weren't in the story until the last two pages. Be that as it may this was a fun story, and dark and outrageous enough to fit the bill regardless.
Crack'd Pot Trail follows a group of pilgrims, artists, and hunters of the necromancers Bauchelain and Korbal Broach as they all attempt to cross the Great Dry. It is narrated by a poet named Avas Didion Flicker, and if it wasn't clear before just how much fun Erikson is having with these novellas, his indulgent narration style in this installment would clear things up right away. This is Erikson giving no fucks, playing with poetic prose and offering deep-cut commentary on the relationship between art, its creator, and its audience.
It's hard to even describe this one from a plot-centric view, but if you're up for something different you should give it a shot. Plus, if you're a fan of the gallows humor that often permeates Erikson's work, you'll find it here in spades.
Crack'd Pot Trail follows a group of pilgrims, artists, and hunters of the necromancers Bauchelain and Korbal Broach as they all attempt to cross the Great Dry. It is narrated by a poet named Avas Didion Flicker, and if it wasn't clear before just how much fun Erikson is having with these novellas, his indulgent narration style in this installment would clear things up right away. This is Erikson giving no fucks, playing with poetic prose and offering deep-cut commentary on the relationship between art, its creator, and its audience.
It's hard to even describe this one from a plot-centric view, but if you're up for something different you should give it a shot. Plus, if you're a fan of the gallows humor that often permeates Erikson's work, you'll find it here in spades.
styxwastaken's review against another edition
5.0
reading the recounting of the whole trail night by night was just too fire erikson really the greatest
andysmith's review against another edition
2.0
The concept it interesting, but I found the allegory a bit too thick to be anything but bland.
jokoloyo's review
1.0
I don't understand this novella. Bauchelain and Korbal Broach (and Reese, their servant) as characters are only McGuffins in the story. If someone could explain the role of series' characters, please do. You could comment, or send private message.
=edited, from 2 star rating into 1 star=
I gave 2 star because although when I was reading the novella, because I got surprised a few times and I could enjoy some dark humor. But there is no satisfying climax.
On my original review, I gave 2 star rating. But this morning I woke from my sleep and remembered this review, and I feel it is "unfair" for my other 2-star-rating-books.
=edited, from 2 star rating into 1 star=
I gave 2 star because although when I was reading the novella, because I got surprised a few times and I could enjoy some dark humor. But there is no satisfying climax.
On my original review, I gave 2 star rating. But this morning I woke from my sleep and remembered this review, and I feel it is "unfair" for my other 2-star-rating-books.
crono101's review against another edition
4.0
This book was quite different from what I thought it would be, but overall, I was impressed. The layers to this short book were very interesting, and the use of language was really cool. Overall, a nice little piece, if not quite on par with his epics.