A review by raechel
Black Wizards by Douglas Niles
3.0
I like this book a little more than the first one in the series ( [b:Darkwalker on Moonshae|291628|Darkwalker on Moonshae (Forgotten Realms The Moonshae Trilogy, #1)|Douglas Niles|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1304761003l/291628._SY75_.jpg|2179199] ), but it still has some glaring problems that you see in a lot of 80s/90s pulpy fantasy. All the women are either beautiful in an x way (in a youthful way, a gaunt way, a matronly way), or they're sadly hideous. There's also a lot more sexual assault hints or attempts than there were in the first book. Gross.
The pacing is better, in the first book it felt like it took the heroes over half the book to realize what the main plot was about. In this one action happens quickly, but it also gets resolved quickly. There's a lot of jumping around to other character perspectives, but it's usually just for a convenient thing that the hero discovers or thwarts.
It ends more cliffhanger-y than the first one, but I have a couple plot holes that really bugged me:
Two... if the king of Alaron has no authority on the other kings, why did Tristan and Pontswain so easily accept a drunkard's suggestion of going across the ocean to get his approval for who should be king? Why would they care?
Three... How were the other two kings killed within the last year but word had never reached Tristan or his dad?
And four... the prophecy that ultimately reveals Tristan will be the next high king talks about the four elements assisting him in the big fight at the end of the book. But Robyn is literally the one responsible for these things happening because she can wield powerful magic. So why isn't she the next high king???
If you're dedicated to pushing through this series, it's a D&D adventure of a read... but man these plotholes and gross misogyny make it a bumpy ride.
The pacing is better, in the first book it felt like it took the heroes over half the book to realize what the main plot was about. In this one action happens quickly, but it also gets resolved quickly. There's a lot of jumping around to other character perspectives, but it's usually just for a convenient thing that the hero discovers or thwarts.
It ends more cliffhanger-y than the first one, but I have a couple plot holes that really bugged me:
Spoiler
One... how was the Moonwell so easily polluted/corrupted in the first book, but it takes a massive army of the undead lead by a priest of Bhaal to barely reach one to corrupt in this book?Two... if the king of Alaron has no authority on the other kings, why did Tristan and Pontswain so easily accept a drunkard's suggestion of going across the ocean to get his approval for who should be king? Why would they care?
Three... How were the other two kings killed within the last year but word had never reached Tristan or his dad?
And four... the prophecy that ultimately reveals Tristan will be the next high king talks about the four elements assisting him in the big fight at the end of the book. But Robyn is literally the one responsible for these things happening because she can wield powerful magic. So why isn't she the next high king???
If you're dedicated to pushing through this series, it's a D&D adventure of a read... but man these plotholes and gross misogyny make it a bumpy ride.