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truthlessofcanada's review against another edition
4.0
This is technically not a novel of The Black Company, but it is kinda dumb that this is book 3.5. It is just as long as the 3 books before it, and takes place pretty close after, and follows a bunch of the same characters, and directly continues some storylines.
Basically it is book 4, but doesn't have the protagonist, so is called book 3.5.
Once again I enjoyed it quite a lot, although my enjoyment was less even.
I really liked the start right of the bat, but then there was a pretty decent section of the middle that is my least favorite section of Black Company so far. One bit that felt totally unnecessary , and an antagonist who I am just over. Please stay dead, you stopped being initiating 3 books ago.
But then this book has a convergence, and it is glorious, and some really fantastic stuff is in there.
Also in the bind up this is after books 4 and 5, and I am glad I listened to people and read it before, because there is some stuff that happened in here that I feel like has to be important, and has to be spoiled by books 4 and 5. My biggest worry was that because this was book 3.5 it would be a book were the status quo in the main characters lives doesn't change, and that is very much not the case.
8.1/10
Basically it is book 4, but doesn't have the protagonist, so is called book 3.5.
Once again I enjoyed it quite a lot, although my enjoyment was less even.
I really liked the start right of the bat, but then there was a pretty decent section of the middle that is my least favorite section of Black Company so far. One bit that felt totally unnecessary , and an antagonist who I am just over. Please stay dead, you stopped being initiating 3 books ago.
But then this book has a convergence, and it is glorious, and some really fantastic stuff is in there.
Also in the bind up this is after books 4 and 5, and I am glad I listened to people and read it before, because there is some stuff that happened in here that I feel like has to be important, and has to be spoiled by books 4 and 5. My biggest worry was that because this was book 3.5 it would be a book were the status quo in the main characters lives doesn't change, and that is very much not the case.
8.1/10
lanko's review against another edition
3.0
I guess a few characters needed closure when people went different paths in the last book, but bizarrely, it was the arc of the new characters that carried the book.
Let's talk about the good things first. Smeds Stahl and his gang initially didn't look like much, but they became more awesome and awesome as the story kept going. These were normal people, villagers, going bonkers on the freaking imperial army and on the Lady's wizards.
Some cunningly amazing thinking and improvisation.
On the other hand, our old timers didn't have the same level of quality to them.
Darling, Raven, Silent and Bomanz go north while the Company goes south, joined by Case.
Then a freaking love triangle happens between Darling, Raven and Silent. Silent doesn't speak. Raven is now a drunken and depressive moron. So they can't even really argue or fight. They were so ridiculous and the situation almost unbelievable that I wouldn't doubt one bit this was inspired by a real case. Not that it would make it more fun to read if it was.
Darling had some Mary Sue tendencies in the last book, like being a military genius at the age of twenty-something impressing even the most veteran members of the Company. Now here she understands politics without ever any mention of her studying, reading or being mentored in anything like that. She just picks it up in the air and suddenly has all the answers.
She never held a sword before and neither is she a strong girl, now she even swings around massive two handed swords.
Bomanz didn't appear much and Case was the only interesting guy.
What a disappointment for our old timers we spent so much time with in the previous books.
The Limper is back again, but he got defeated so easily and so many times before that it was kinda of hard to take anything he did seriously. And this time even common guys wrecked the floor with him. Though he head some brilliant moments of insanity and rage. And his fate was pretty gruesome.
Smeds and gang still managed to make the story interesting enough, but the ending was very unsatisfactory, as it really seemed to come out of nowhere.
Silent pretty much suicides in a ridiculous manner.
After this Darling and Case decide to bang and go plant potatoes for the rest of their lives.
The end.
What the actual hell?
Maybe 3* was generous, but better not to think too much of it...
Let's talk about the good things first. Smeds Stahl and his gang initially didn't look like much, but they became more awesome and awesome as the story kept going. These were normal people, villagers, going bonkers on the freaking imperial army and on the Lady's wizards.
Some cunningly amazing thinking and improvisation.
On the other hand, our old timers didn't have the same level of quality to them.
Darling, Raven, Silent and Bomanz go north while the Company goes south, joined by Case.
Then a freaking love triangle happens between Darling, Raven and Silent. Silent doesn't speak. Raven is now a drunken and depressive moron. So they can't even really argue or fight. They were so ridiculous and the situation almost unbelievable that I wouldn't doubt one bit this was inspired by a real case. Not that it would make it more fun to read if it was.
Darling had some Mary Sue tendencies in the last book, like being a military genius at the age of twenty-something impressing even the most veteran members of the Company. Now here she understands politics without ever any mention of her studying, reading or being mentored in anything like that. She just picks it up in the air and suddenly has all the answers.
She never held a sword before and neither is she a strong girl, now she even swings around massive two handed swords.
Bomanz didn't appear much and Case was the only interesting guy.
What a disappointment for our old timers we spent so much time with in the previous books.
The Limper is back again, but he got defeated so easily and so many times before that it was kinda of hard to take anything he did seriously. And this time even common guys wrecked the floor with him. Though he head some brilliant moments of insanity and rage. And his fate was pretty gruesome.
Smeds and gang still managed to make the story interesting enough, but the ending was very unsatisfactory, as it really seemed to come out of nowhere.
Spoiler
The spike contains the spirit of the Dominator. You can't touch it with your bare hands. Everybody knows this. Then Raven goes grab it. The Limper was already dealt with and no threat was nearby. He goes and grabs it with his bare hands for God knows why. Then he laughs maniacally. Then he gets a javelin in the face and dies.Silent pretty much suicides in a ridiculous manner.
After this Darling and Case decide to bang and go plant potatoes for the rest of their lives.
The end.
What the actual hell?
Maybe 3* was generous, but better not to think too much of it...
jharkey4's review against another edition
3.0
I'm torn on this one. In some ways it was the best Black Company book I've read so far. Definitely some of my favorite characters. And the story was good. For some reason that I can't put a finger on I just had a hard time getting into it. Had a hard time getting invested in it.
I'd definitely strongly recommend reading this one after The White Rose.
I'd definitely strongly recommend reading this one after The White Rose.
bookaneer's review against another edition
3.0
Whoa, this book is even brutal than the first trilogy. The book started slow, just like the Black Company (first novel) but it picked up the pace for me after halfway.
I might not like one POV (the thieves) but the rest were enjoyable. Indeed at first, the absence of Croaker was really palpable and I really missed him, but Case (the main POV) was not that bad (there were some minor character development at least) and Toadkiller Dog, oh I just loooove his POV.
Another I liked is that the book discussed interesting points such as what happened after a victory over a dictator/evil lord or whatnots. It does not mean the work is done. Especially when the machines are still functioning, the regime was still standing, and that evil is never really gone and is always lurking in the shadows, working its way back.
The ending was bloody, with a bit too many casualties for my preference but overall I think the whole book is not as weak as I thought at first. Onward to The Shadow Games!
I might not like one POV (the thieves) but the rest were enjoyable. Indeed at first, the absence of Croaker was really palpable and I really missed him, but Case (the main POV) was not that bad (there were some minor character development at least) and Toadkiller Dog, oh I just loooove his POV.
Another I liked is that the book discussed interesting points such as what happened after a victory over a dictator/evil lord or whatnots. It does not mean the work is done. Especially when the machines are still functioning, the regime was still standing, and that evil is never really gone and is always lurking in the shadows, working its way back.
The ending was bloody, with a bit too many casualties for my preference but overall I think the whole book is not as weak as I thought at first. Onward to The Shadow Games!
ellimister's review against another edition
3.0
I should have read more of this over my vacation but it skipped my mind and I left the last half hour until today.
brakian's review against another edition
3.0
The first half is 2-3 stars at best, but the second more than makes up for it - the pace picks up, the plot starts making sense, threads start to connect => 3.5 stars in total, rounded upwards for the soap opera bits among old acquaintances.
kylelorey's review
3.75
nice little spin-off! answered the questions of a few different plot threads from the main series.
zent26's review against another edition
4.0
Possibly the best of the series, which is weird for a one-off side story. Ending is a bit too quick and pat