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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
Just a quick note to say a couple of things...
1. This series has a slow start, but please stick with it till you hit the pliocene.
2. Julian May started me on a path of reading that has become almost a lifetime's obsession. My thanks.
1. This series has a slow start, but please stick with it till you hit the pliocene.
2. Julian May started me on a path of reading that has become almost a lifetime's obsession. My thanks.
Na maanden toch beslist om deze niet uit te lezen. Het is eerder een kwelling om hier in verder te gaan voor mij.
A lot happens to more characters than I could keep track of. I would have given it a 3.5 if half stars were allowed. I am going to miss certain characters when I read the next book in the series.
re-reading for about the tenth time. Follows Elizabeth and Aiken, and you learn more of Marc
It’s a little tricky to keep track of all the various plots and plotters, but overall, this is quite the adventure. The blend of meta-psychic abilities (which certainly seem like various forms of magic) and the science fiction aspects of time travel and star-faring aliens makes for a story that is hard to classify but easy to enjoy.
A list of characters with their titles would have helped me a lot as I had trouble keeping them straight, especially the Tanu. My favorite aspect is the overlay of ancient Celtic mythology—the races (Tanu/Tuatha de Danaan and Firvulag/Fir Bolg), the characters (Brede/Brigid, Pallol/Balor, Lugonn/Lugh, etc.), and the symbols (cauldron, spear, sword).
A list of characters with their titles would have helped me a lot as I had trouble keeping them straight, especially the Tanu. My favorite aspect is the overlay of ancient Celtic mythology—the races (Tanu/Tuatha de Danaan and Firvulag/Fir Bolg), the characters (Brede/Brigid, Pallol/Balor, Lugonn/Lugh, etc.), and the symbols (cauldron, spear, sword).
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really thought that the end events of this book would be the end events of the whole book. The fact that it wasn't makes me very excited to finish this series and see where this could possibly go next. It was also nice to catch up with some characters and get to know them a little bit more.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
If you liked The Many-Coloured Land, then chances are you'll like this too. Following on directly from where the first book leaves off, The Golden Torc takes us south and into the intrigue-ridden court of Muriah. Allegiances and factions of all shapes and sizes vie for supremacy and, ultimately, glory as The Grand Combat sacred to the Tanu and Firvulag battle-religion fast approaches.
I adore the premise of this series and I love the direction that is taken in this instalment. The politics of the world are expanded upon with a huge cast of characters plotting and scheming amid a rapidly evolving backdrop. This is where this book really shines and excels compared to the first book. The world-building continues to be excellent and we get a much deeper look at Tanu history and culture. The interaction between all the races in this book is fascinating and despite the varied motivations and stances of different characters and factions influenced by differences in culture, history, both collective and personal, it is surprisingly easy to follow where everyone stands and how their positions evolve.
Much like the first book, however, I found that the characters are one-dimensional and generally speaking lack depth and room for growth. There are exceptions, however these characters seemed to get less time than I think they deserved. I also found that most pivotal and climactic moments felt hollow and failed to live up to the build-up to them, so while I enjoy the overall story beats, the execution of them leaves you feeling a little short-changed. Further to that, most action scenes are a slog to read and there are plenty of examples of needlessly obtuse passages describing metafunctions and the like which just seem to bog the story down and kill any momentum that had been generated by political intrigue.
Despite my criticisms though, I find a lot to like about this series so far. It's fun and pulpy, at times absurd and eye-raising, and it never feels too heavy despite some grim scenes. The overall story is intriguing, the world-building intricate and the end of this novel leaves me excited for more.
I adore the premise of this series and I love the direction that is taken in this instalment. The politics of the world are expanded upon with a huge cast of characters plotting and scheming amid a rapidly evolving backdrop. This is where this book really shines and excels compared to the first book. The world-building continues to be excellent and we get a much deeper look at Tanu history and culture. The interaction between all the races in this book is fascinating and despite the varied motivations and stances of different characters and factions influenced by differences in culture, history, both collective and personal, it is surprisingly easy to follow where everyone stands and how their positions evolve.
Much like the first book, however, I found that the characters are one-dimensional and generally speaking lack depth and room for growth. There are exceptions, however these characters seemed to get less time than I think they deserved. I also found that most pivotal and climactic moments felt hollow and failed to live up to the build-up to them, so while I enjoy the overall story beats, the execution of them leaves you feeling a little short-changed. Further to that, most action scenes are a slog to read and there are plenty of examples of needlessly obtuse passages describing metafunctions and the like which just seem to bog the story down and kill any momentum that had been generated by political intrigue.
Despite my criticisms though, I find a lot to like about this series so far. It's fun and pulpy, at times absurd and eye-raising, and it never feels too heavy despite some grim scenes. The overall story is intriguing, the world-building intricate and the end of this novel leaves me excited for more.
I first heard the plot of this book described during lunch in the cafeteria of my high school. I'm very happy to finally have read it for myself. It does not disappoint, although knowing what was going to happen probably dulled the shock of the ending a bit. In any case, really like how the author wove the fantastical elements of the story together with scientific speculation on possibly actual geologic events. I'm looking forward to the next two books in the series to see how this saga plays out.
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No