A review by blchandler9000
Bloodstone by Karl Edward Wagner
3.0
A relatively epic sword and sorcery novel. Kane, a brooding immortal, uncovers an ancient ring that links him with a powerful cosmic device. There's political intrigue, a dash of romance, lots of frogmen, and bloodshed.
On the whole, the book was enjoyable. The stakes are high, the drama is intense. There's a few nice twists and cool plot points that intrigue and reward the reader. Wagner's prose is rich, bordering on a delicious shade of purple, though the author does rely on certain words heavily. If I had a dollar for every time he used the word "coruscant," I could have bought a half-dozen more copies of the book for a S&S book club.
But the story is pretty bloody and ultimately nihilistic. Even the most hot-blooded moments are wrapped with cynicism. Lives are cheap and the characters are not altogether likable—interesting, yes, but not very likable. I wouldn't want to meet any of them over dinner, which means this will likely be the last Kane book I read.
On the whole, the book was enjoyable. The stakes are high, the drama is intense. There's a few nice twists and cool plot points that intrigue and reward the reader. Wagner's prose is rich, bordering on a delicious shade of purple, though the author does rely on certain words heavily. If I had a dollar for every time he used the word "coruscant," I could have bought a half-dozen more copies of the book for a S&S book club.
But the story is pretty bloody and ultimately nihilistic. Even the most hot-blooded moments are wrapped with cynicism. Lives are cheap and the characters are not altogether likable—interesting, yes, but not very likable. I wouldn't want to meet any of them over dinner, which means this will likely be the last Kane book I read.