Scan barcode
A review by lauraspages
Plague by Michael Grant
5.0
I bought this book in 2015 because it was highly recommended by several people who love fantasy. I took one look at the prologue, decided I wanted an easier read and put it on my ‘TBR... At Some Point’ shelf, where it sat gathering dust until my husband picked it up three years later.
He loved it. After finishing every chapter, he’d say, ‘You really should read this - it’s like a copy and paste of LOTR so far, and who wouldn’t like that?’ And he’d outline the many similarities between the two, sometimes rolling his eyes at it (oh ok, so this guy is Aragorn, then). Then about halfway through he started mentioning characters who can communicate with wolves, and I decided I must read it... at some point.
Flash forward to Dec, 2020: I look at the 800 pages of The Eye of the World and wonder if I can squeeze it in before the new year. Not a chance. At first I found it delightful; the depiction of life in Emmond’s Field (this book’s The Shire) and the inciting incidents were all enough to keep me reading. I started to find it a chore after the fifth or sixth time the characters stopped in a town, found trouble and narrowly escaped, often with a five day ride ahead of them and not a moment to spare because Moraine believes ‘time is short’. If it wasn’t for my husband egging me on, I’d have quit because it was all extremely repetitive and plodding.
Once the characters split up, however, it was far more enjoyable. Perrin’s chapters were always my favourite because his story seemed to be heading in an intriguing direction. In Rhand’s chapters, Mat’s sullen behaviour was getting on my nerves. CLEARLY the dagger was cursed or tainted, you buffoons! Most of the time I wanted to reach into the book and slap him. Likewise for Nynaeve (in my head I call her Nin because fuck that name). Her attitude toward Moraine and Aes Sedai in general was irritating as hell.
Once Perrin is captured and Rhand reaches Caemlyn, I loved everything from that point. Interestingly, I think that’s where Robert Jordan abandoned his Tolkien plot-by-numbers and the book stands on its own feet. It ended in a bit of a rush, which is a strange complaint from one who hated the glacial pacing of the first half of the book, but the final pages did leave me wanting more.
... at some point.
Will I rush straight in to book 2? No. I need a break from this world and I had so many books for Christmas I don’t know where to start!
Will I complete the series? Yes - we own all 14 books and I am keen to see where it’s all going.
He loved it. After finishing every chapter, he’d say, ‘You really should read this - it’s like a copy and paste of LOTR so far, and who wouldn’t like that?’ And he’d outline the many similarities between the two, sometimes rolling his eyes at it (oh ok, so this guy is Aragorn, then). Then about halfway through he started mentioning characters who can communicate with wolves, and I decided I must read it... at some point.
Flash forward to Dec, 2020: I look at the 800 pages of The Eye of the World and wonder if I can squeeze it in before the new year. Not a chance. At first I found it delightful; the depiction of life in Emmond’s Field (this book’s The Shire) and the inciting incidents were all enough to keep me reading. I started to find it a chore after the fifth or sixth time the characters stopped in a town, found trouble and narrowly escaped, often with a five day ride ahead of them and not a moment to spare because Moraine believes ‘time is short’. If it wasn’t for my husband egging me on, I’d have quit because it was all extremely repetitive and plodding.
Once the characters split up, however, it was far more enjoyable. Perrin’s chapters were always my favourite because his story seemed to be heading in an intriguing direction. In Rhand’s chapters, Mat’s sullen behaviour was getting on my nerves. CLEARLY the dagger was cursed or tainted, you buffoons! Most of the time I wanted to reach into the book and slap him. Likewise for Nynaeve (in my head I call her Nin because fuck that name). Her attitude toward Moraine and Aes Sedai in general was irritating as hell.
Once Perrin is captured and Rhand reaches Caemlyn, I loved everything from that point. Interestingly, I think that’s where Robert Jordan abandoned his Tolkien plot-by-numbers and the book stands on its own feet. It ended in a bit of a rush, which is a strange complaint from one who hated the glacial pacing of the first half of the book, but the final pages did leave me wanting more.
... at some point.
Will I rush straight in to book 2? No. I need a break from this world and I had so many books for Christmas I don’t know where to start!
Will I complete the series? Yes - we own all 14 books and I am keen to see where it’s all going.