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seejennread's review against another edition
2.0
Honestly, I skimmed thru at least half of this. There was SO much description of things that just didn't seem to matter and it was really hard to get thru. I probably won't read the next ones, even with the promise of Marc Remillard showing up. :(
fblizz's review against another edition
3.0
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.
markhodderauthor's review against another edition
3.0
As with the first book in the Saga of Exiles series, this—the second—is remarkable for its meticulous and absorbing world-building. I did feel, however, that all the detail rather obscured the plot, which was slow to unfold and not sufficiently signposted. Often, I found myself enjoying the scenery without knowing where I was going. There are a lot of characters—a LOT—which made it difficult to remember who was who and tough to feel any sense of engagement. These quibbles aside, THE GOLDEN TORC does come together in the final quarter and the pay off is worth it. Definitely, I enjoyed it more than THE MANY COLOURED LAND (which I also enjoyed) and am sufficiently hooked to continue on to the third book, THE NON BORN KING.
falderol's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
rosienreads's review against another edition
4.0
The Golden Torc continues the journey of Group Green after their arrival in the Pliocene in The Many-Coloured Land. This time, however, the focus is on the second group who were taken to a different city and discovered a different side to the world they found. While this book included more of my favourite characters in the series, I do think it is also the weakest of the four, serving more as a stop-gap between the events of the first book and the events to come, to get characters into their positions. Even so, it was still a thoroughly enjoyable read as we see the characters discover their meta-psychic abilities, scheme and plot, and get used to the new reality they have found themselves in. The world-building in this series continues to astound and I am looking forward to continuing this re-read into the final two books of this series and then into the continuation series.
wyrmbergsabrina's review against another edition
4.0
Well, I finally got there.
Lots of twists and turns, unexpected deaths, many anger inducing moments and characters whom I'm still not sure if I like or not.
Changing the tone slightly from the first book, The Golden Torc brings groups together with politics, nasty manoeuvres and back stabbing. And it all comes to a head with the Great Combat between Tanu and Firvulag. Expect the unexpected, betrayal and lies in order to survive and win the grand schemes of many players.
Read for more of the Saga of the Exiles.
Lots of twists and turns, unexpected deaths, many anger inducing moments and characters whom I'm still not sure if I like or not.
Changing the tone slightly from the first book, The Golden Torc brings groups together with politics, nasty manoeuvres and back stabbing. And it all comes to a head with the Great Combat between Tanu and Firvulag. Expect the unexpected, betrayal and lies in order to survive and win the grand schemes of many players.
Read for more of the Saga of the Exiles.
smcleish's review against another edition
4.0
Originally published on my blog here in August 1998.
The second of May's Pliocene-set Saga of the Exiles series, The Golden Torc continues from where [b:The Many-Coloured Land|378639|The Many-Coloured Land (Saga of Pliocene Exile, #1)|Julian May|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1174314750s/378639.jpg|368245] left off. The humans from the group focused upon in the first novel are continuing to make a large contribution to the alien society they have found themselves in. Aiken Drum is insinuating himself into the highest echelons of society; Elizabeth is trying not to let the Tanu take advantage of her newly recovered mental capacity; Richard is still seeking Mercy (who in fact has married one of the Tanu aristocracy); Claude and Felice are with the rebel "Low-Lifes".
The novel builds to a climax at the annual battle between the Tanu and Firvulag; a variety of schemes involving the different members of the group are set to come to fruition at the tournament. They are all upstaged by the actions of Felice, who causes an earthquake which breaches the straits of Gibraltar and floods the Mediterranean with water from the Atlantic (the Mediterranean being a series of salt water marshes and lagoons at around this period, apparently), sweeping away the city of Muriah where the battle is taking place.
The book is well put together, and the climax is in the best traditions of science fiction.
The second of May's Pliocene-set Saga of the Exiles series, The Golden Torc continues from where [b:The Many-Coloured Land|378639|The Many-Coloured Land (Saga of Pliocene Exile, #1)|Julian May|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1174314750s/378639.jpg|368245] left off. The humans from the group focused upon in the first novel are continuing to make a large contribution to the alien society they have found themselves in. Aiken Drum is insinuating himself into the highest echelons of society; Elizabeth is trying not to let the Tanu take advantage of her newly recovered mental capacity; Richard is still seeking Mercy (who in fact has married one of the Tanu aristocracy); Claude and Felice are with the rebel "Low-Lifes".
The novel builds to a climax at the annual battle between the Tanu and Firvulag; a variety of schemes involving the different members of the group are set to come to fruition at the tournament. They are all upstaged by the actions of Felice, who causes an earthquake which breaches the straits of Gibraltar and floods the Mediterranean with water from the Atlantic (the Mediterranean being a series of salt water marshes and lagoons at around this period, apparently), sweeping away the city of Muriah where the battle is taking place.
The book is well put together, and the climax is in the best traditions of science fiction.
deebr's review against another edition
5.0
The problem with some trilogies is that they tend to get a bit slow in the middle (I'm looking at you, Lord of the Rings). Julian May has avoided this by a) making the Saga of the Exiles a quadrilogy and b) ending the second book with events so huge, you wonder how momentum could possible be kept up. The word "epic" is rather overused, but I can't think of a better one to describe this book.
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