lordenglishssbm's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
feastofblaze's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
ostrava's review against another edition
1.0
There was some interesting set up prepared from the last books that got resolved in... one short story, the first one at that, talk about pacing. And it doesn't even make sense. I'm under the impression that Moorcock wrote this before any of the other books in the series, which shows. Elric loses his mind and decides to tear down his homeland, unleashing disproportionate levels of destruction and horror...Why?
He doesn't feel like himself. I wish people had warned me about the disappointing "story", otherwise I would have just focused all of my attention on the "Sword and Sorcery" elements. Or not, because that's not the reason I wanted to read the books. I wanted conflict and heroic fantasy mixed with a background of philosophy and theory, which supposedly distinguished Moorcock to some degree. I wanted Elric to acknowledge the immorality of his people, of himself, and of the rest of the world. But Moorcock didn't have his mind there when writting these stories. Too bad the book couldn't even be entertaining enough to make up for it.
He doesn't feel like himself. I wish people had warned me about the disappointing "story", otherwise I would have just focused all of my attention on the "Sword and Sorcery" elements. Or not, because that's not the reason I wanted to read the books. I wanted conflict and heroic fantasy mixed with a background of philosophy and theory, which supposedly distinguished Moorcock to some degree. I wanted Elric to acknowledge the immorality of his people, of himself, and of the rest of the world. But Moorcock didn't have his mind there when writting these stories. Too bad the book couldn't even be entertaining enough to make up for it.
ostrava's review against another edition
2.0
Worse than the first three installments, the second part in Elric's saga is disappointing. The ending doesn't deliver, the tales can be bloody awful at times and its most appealing characteristic is that it's short and carries enough energy to force you to read to its end. But it never utilizes that energy. It never lives up to the first volume, which is where the series peaked and where I would recommend any reader to stop before they're disappointed as well.
slouchingtowards's review
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
funfamilyvideos's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
parenthesis_enjoyer's review against another edition
got a newer collection to read from
daijoboy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
wdomingue's review against another edition
4.0
Very enjoyable read. Sad about how the confrontation with Imrryr (Dragon Isles/Elric's home) went and how dirty Count S was done. Thus the nature of asking the aid of Elric, as you will get the outcome you desire at great loss to yourself as well.
Felt the final showdown with Yyrkoon was bit anti-climatic so it keeps from the top-tier.
Felt the final showdown with Yyrkoon was bit anti-climatic so it keeps from the top-tier.
sisteray's review against another edition
4.0
Further acid drenched adventures from Moorcock’s sad-sack version of Conan, Elric. Moorcock doesn’t mess around with his Elric stuff. That’s not to say that he doesn’t take some time to describe things (which he paints well), it’s that he’s a no-nonsense writer who won’t waste pages exploring plot through dialogue.
Were it not for the florid touches to give you a sense of place, these books would be entirely utilitarian, and I am here for that. He just gets straight to the meat.
This is something of a collection of shorts that link together. Maybe the first, that doesn’t even have Elric stands out farther from the pack.
Ultimately this book ties up the loose ends of the first two books and sets up a new status quo for Elric.
Were it not for the florid touches to give you a sense of place, these books would be entirely utilitarian, and I am here for that. He just gets straight to the meat.
This is something of a collection of shorts that link together. Maybe the first, that doesn’t even have Elric stands out farther from the pack.
Ultimately this book ties up the loose ends of the first two books and sets up a new status quo for Elric.