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screamweaver's review against another edition
The main character is so miserable I just couldn't get hooked.
bootlegdarklord's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
bioniclib's review against another edition
3.0
The hero of this story is a leper who is transported to a magical world, or at least thinks he is.
The nagging dilemma Thomas Covenant faces is weather he's in a dream or not. Since leprosy deadens nerves, it's impossible for them to grow back, but they do just that. What follows is a grand sweeping epic to recapture the Staff of Law from the vile Lord Drool. As with all epics, there's a lot of traveling. I mean a lot. There really isn't any fighting until 2/3rds of the way through the book. Instead there's a lot of moaning and bitching by Covenant.
I didn't find Covenant to be very sympathetic. He lashes out and only occasionally helps his fellow questers. I get that the tortured confusing he's going through need to be repeatedly brought up, but for me it crosses the line into annoying.
All that said, this books' leisurely pace, its Giants that remind me of Ents, its stress on magic words are all a great change of pace from today's blitzkrieg stories. The story reminds me of Lord of the Rings or the Original Shannara Trilogy, albeit not as good. But I've only read the first book. Mr. Donaldson's skill is apparent enough and I'm thinking book 2 will be better.
The nagging dilemma Thomas Covenant faces is weather he's in a dream or not. Since leprosy deadens nerves, it's impossible for them to grow back, but they do just that. What follows is a grand sweeping epic to recapture the Staff of Law from the vile Lord Drool. As with all epics, there's a lot of traveling. I mean a lot. There really isn't any fighting until 2/3rds of the way through the book. Instead there's a lot of moaning and bitching by Covenant.
I didn't find Covenant to be very sympathetic. He lashes out and only occasionally helps his fellow questers. I get that the tortured confusing he's going through need to be repeatedly brought up, but for me it crosses the line into annoying.
All that said, this books' leisurely pace, its Giants that remind me of Ents, its stress on magic words are all a great change of pace from today's blitzkrieg stories. The story reminds me of Lord of the Rings or the Original Shannara Trilogy, albeit not as good. But I've only read the first book. Mr. Donaldson's skill is apparent enough and I'm thinking book 2 will be better.
picketfences's review against another edition
ick. he forces himself onto a presumably teenage girl (she is “too young to woo”) and “takes something” as well as “hurts her”, plus “blood on her loins”. not into this glossed over rape scene, doesn’t set the protagonist up for future good decisions. after all that he gets to work questing with the girl’s mother like nothing happened. i am sure there is a character arc point being made but i lost interest in his story after that.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse and Rape
spanos426's review against another edition
I wasn’t really into it to begin with and then the rape scene is what did it for me.
hirvimaki's review against another edition
1.0
This has been an almost lifelong DNF for me. I first attempted to read this as a teenager and could not get past Thomas' heinous act of violence. Yes, I get that he is supposed to be an unlikable character, but he is just too unlikeable for me. I have tried several times in the 30 or so years since to pick it back up and read it but have never succeeded. It shall forever be DNF...
chazzychax's review against another edition
Horribly overwritten and overwrought. Cartoon villain.
jacobferrell's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed his prose and the inner conflict of Thomas Covenant. His struggle with himself, his purpose, and reality was all very intriguing.
The drop from 4 to 3 stars was the central immoral event that Thomas commits. It stayed with me throughout the rest of the book, sickening me of his character.
The drop from 4 to 3 stars was the central immoral event that Thomas commits. It stayed with me throughout the rest of the book, sickening me of his character.