A review by peapod_boston
Canticle by Ken Scholes
3.0
Scholes second outing builds on the powerful groundwork laid in "Lamentation." While this work appears to suffer on the surface from a bit of "destiny-itis", Scholes seems to be laying the groundwork for his characters to free themselves from the metaphysical chains that bind them.
Be warned, this book features the most horrible thing I have ever seen done to a character and what was, to me, one of the most gut-wrenching scenes I have ever read in a book. It's not gore or violence that does it (although blood is spilled), but the emotional weight of the moment.
Throughout, Scholes takes those characters I came to know in "Lamentation" and forces them to make hard choices between loves, desires, and duties--choices that they do not always find the correct responses to. I especially enjoy the way he grows the character of Winters.
Sorrow, anger, joy, madness, violence, wonder, loyalty, and mystery all combine to prove that "Lamentation" was not a fluke--this man can teach all the modern fantasists a thing or two about telling a story.
Be warned, this book features the most horrible thing I have ever seen done to a character and what was, to me, one of the most gut-wrenching scenes I have ever read in a book. It's not gore or violence that does it (although blood is spilled), but the emotional weight of the moment.
Throughout, Scholes takes those characters I came to know in "Lamentation" and forces them to make hard choices between loves, desires, and duties--choices that they do not always find the correct responses to. I especially enjoy the way he grows the character of Winters.
Sorrow, anger, joy, madness, violence, wonder, loyalty, and mystery all combine to prove that "Lamentation" was not a fluke--this man can teach all the modern fantasists a thing or two about telling a story.