Reviews

Elric: The Fortress of the Pearl by Michael Moorcock

will_cherico's review

adventurous dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

While I preferred the plot of the first book, Moorcock's writing style clearly improved in between these two stories. He works in ideas about willful ignorance driving a political system and expands on the ideas of addiction that Stormbringer represents in a way that feel more fleshed out than book 1, and his descriptions of the locations Elric and Oone pass by on their way to the pearl are beautiful. Knowing it was published after the rest of these stories, I'm curious to see how the writing style "regresses" with The Sailor on the Seas of Fate.

hidesawell23's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

hanseah's review against another edition

5.0

True Epic Fantasy at its Best! Elric sets out to find his love and save her from his cousin. What lies ahead for him is bargaining with dark forces and elemental forces alike. I must keep reading to learn what lies ahead for this albino emperor.

kerush's review against another edition

adventurous

3.5

ajsteele1699's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious 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

4.75

fastasashark's review against another edition

adventurous reflective 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

4.25

gmancam's review

2.0

Some cool action moments and interesting scenery sprinkled in a middle section that drags on for too long. I mostly enjoyed the early and ending chapters.

saraubs's review against another edition

3.0

3.5 stars

I think I enjoyed this one a little more than the first. There was some interesting discussion about dreams and reality and the spectre of Elric's sword grows ever darker. Not a favourite, but I enjoyed it enough to continue with the series.

isauldur's review

3.0

NOTE: By "predecessor," I mean chronological predecessor. See: [b:Elric of Melniboné|30036|Elric of Melniboné (Elric, #1)|Michael Moorcock|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1388345555s/30036.jpg|388812]

I'm not making this a big review, so I won't use my format.

This book was published over ten years after its predecessor, and it shows. The writing is much better, the syntax more eloquent and the descriptions more vivid. But the pacing suffers for it. The Fortress of the Pearl is much slower and takes a lot longer to get the plot moving. There are also many more philosophical debates/monologues that, while interesting, only hinder the story. This book is much closer to a conventional fantasy novel both in pacing and length.

Not a bad book by far, but slower than I'd expected. It made it hard for me to continue.

abitofmoxie's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0