cavalary's reviews
269 reviews

The timespan isn't longer than in Shanji, but the changes to the characters are much more severe. Sometimes it can get confusing to go through such a long time in a single book, closely following a few characters...
Otherwise, just like Shanji, great world, great idea, well written, healthy dose of the paranormal/supernatural (both terms equally wrong, but that's how we know those things), and same (few, but nagging) differences of opinions between me and the writer, judging by some recurring ideas and choices that the main characters have and make.

Nicely written, good atmosphere, but not my kind of fantasy. Way too small of an area covered, way too few characters taking part in the action, little magic in spite of what it promises at the beginning, way too few fantastic creatures...
All in all, a well written book that aims to be fantasy but doesn't really "smell" like true fantasy to me. Then again, it's the first of a trilogy; the next ones may offer more of everything and the series as a whole may actually be good, not just well written.

Eww... I think that expresses it best.
I've seen way worse, but this doesn't make it good.
Very few characters, very small "world", very confined plot... Also, completely predictable.

Spoiler

Who didn't realize Alissa was a Master the first time she heard him... thinking harshly to himself? And who didn't realize the lock of her hair from that charm Strell made will make her able to shift back to human form the moment shifting back was mentioned?

As for the characters... Alissa is just a stuck-up idiot, nothing else. And Useless is your typical maddeningly annoying, full of himself and... mostly useless teacher.

[Another case of wondering why did I give it six out of ten originally, on BookCrossing, with a review like this. Revising to two out of five here.]

Before the last chapter, I was inclined to say the second half of this book was actually good... Then that came and ruined everything. That ending left such a bitter taste I won't even say anything about the rest of the book... And why do I keep bumping into things that remind me of why my life is not worth living anymore?

Grabbed it, and the next two in the series after it, in a rush, thinking they were from another series. Realized they're not when I started reading this one, but I finished them anyway since I got them.
Obviously written after a pen and paper D&D game that the authors very likely played, you can't say it has much literary value, but it's an easy read as it uses familiar creatures and places and, being written after a game, it's very easy to turn what you read into images and statistics, assuming you're familiar with the topic.

What can I say about it? Though how come that wizard got so many spells to cast without resting is beyond me, this is a part of a D&D game in book form, just like most in "Forgotten Realms". Not a lot of literary value, but an easy read if you know what it's all about. Also, I guess it does help when all characters are supposed to be evil; none of their action can disappoint you.
The events are on a greater scale than in the first of this series, at least.

As far as D&D-based books go, I'd say this is a masterpiece! Didn't read many, but it seems to stretch the genre to its limits. Of course, those limits are still in plain sight and pretty much prevent it from being a "real" book, but still... The scale of the events is staggering, there are plenty of characters and locations and, while obviously fights still make up most of the book, there is quite frankly more non-combat action here than I could have expected.

Spoiler

One slip though; Quenthel commanded Jaggred to carry Valas when they had to levitate in the Abyss when Jaggred was actually left back on the physical plane. No editors to notice that?

Uh well... Don't have the next three in the series and don't really want them; quite unlikely to have two good ones in any one such series. I'll write it down on my list of book series that I should continue if I find the rest at some point, but with low priority.

Most of the book is one character quoting himself telling another about his life; a rather odd form of expression. And the problem is that most of it is not about vampires... But there are plenty of other supernaturals, so it works out.

This has to be the worst book by Anne Rice, except of course the "Sleeping Beauty" series, which don't count as books. I can't even believe she wrote it!
Had to struggle to get through every page and I don't think I ever considered stopping reading a book after I started as seriously as I did for this one.
For the entire first part, I was just repeating in my mind that miss Rice can kindly go on an extended vacation to Hell for writing this, which also works now, since I heard she decided she believes in such things again.
The second part might have had its interesting moments and the style in which it's written is good enough, though still pretty bad compared to most of her other books, but overall this book simply sucks!

As for the characters, I'd have really liked everyone except Alex and Samir to die, or whatever else is suitable, in case of the immortals, in the worst way possible.

Spoiler

Cleopatra would have joined the list, as I can't blame her for her actions while she had a half-rotted brain, if not for the very end of the book. Keeping that ending in mind, my list stays at two, though I have to wonder why would Alex want to live.

Oh, and there are so many discrepancies it's not even funny. Her vampires and witches make sense; this does not, if you look at it carefully.

[With a review like this, I do wonder why did I give it six out of ten originally, on BookCrossing. Revising to two out of five here.]

Anne Rice is, as almost always, the "Beauty" series being the exception, fascinating. No vampires, spirits or witches in this one, but still bewitching.
Took longer to read than I expected, but it's not the book's fault...