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3.64 AVERAGE
3.64 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
reflective
fast-paced
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
And so I finished Elric of Melnibone, supposedly a very popular entry in worldwide fantasy canon. I have to be honest, I haven't heard of Elric before this summer, which is a shame, I know, however I'm glad I'm catching up on classic fantasy series, and, moreover, that I started this process with the Elric saga.
From the very beginning of my adventure with this novel, I had the feeling that I'm reading something iconic. Like it's a classic, a prominent figure in its genre, a timeless book that could've been read in schools. The writing of it is just so magical, fable-like, as if I was reading a collection of some faraway country's mythology. I absolutely loved the language, it really sucked me in and made me stop every few paragraphs to marvel at the plot and the atmosphere. Each location the characters went to was amazing to imagine in my head.
The world-building is also really intriguing. The characters fit well in the aesthetic and the dense convolutions of the demons, gods and politics. They were all archetypal, sort of dramatic and very extreme, and yet likeable and real at certain times. I love the mystery and the fact that we don't always understand what's being cooked up in the higher planes - whether characters are making decisions or merely following the paths chosen for them by the gods, puppets in a grander plan or just pawns in games conjured up by bored demons.
I loved it. I can't wait to read more books in the saga.
From the very beginning of my adventure with this novel, I had the feeling that I'm reading something iconic. Like it's a classic, a prominent figure in its genre, a timeless book that could've been read in schools. The writing of it is just so magical, fable-like, as if I was reading a collection of some faraway country's mythology. I absolutely loved the language, it really sucked me in and made me stop every few paragraphs to marvel at the plot and the atmosphere. Each location the characters went to was amazing to imagine in my head.
The world-building is also really intriguing. The characters fit well in the aesthetic and the dense convolutions of the demons, gods and politics. They were all archetypal, sort of dramatic and very extreme, and yet likeable and real at certain times. I love the mystery and the fact that we don't always understand what's being cooked up in the higher planes - whether characters are making decisions or merely following the paths chosen for them by the gods, puppets in a grander plan or just pawns in games conjured up by bored demons.
I loved it. I can't wait to read more books in the saga.
This is pure fantasy with chaos magic, very Labyrinth feel to me. I'm just tired of magical white guys, and this one's even an albino. Not only that, but the only real female character is fridged by being abducted, then has all agency taken further away.
Don't read this expecting a masterpiece. It is what it is, and it is pretty great. Pulpy 70s fantasy with interesting characters and a super dark world. Elric steals the show though as a character with a sort of dark charisma that would have Conan jealous.
I sorta enjoyed reading it, but I remember the ending made me kinda... angry. The choice that was made didn't make sense, as some other moments in the plot. I didn't read the sequels.
I would love to see this done with the "Heavy Metal" treatment. The world feels gritty, slimy, old, and inherently eeeeevil, all within a velvet glove. Not my favorite, but sword and sorcery novels rarely are. Definitely a standout of the genre, however.
I have whole chunks of this book memorized from repeated teenaged readings. It's still awesome.