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weechito's review
4.0
Weis and Hickman have their weaknesses, but they really know how to write the middle part of a trilogy. Like Dragonlance Chronicles and Legends, the middle book of this trilogy is its strongest segment. There is genuine character development here.
It's not as strong as the middle books of their previous two trilogies, but then, the Darksword Trilogy isn't as strong as either of those trilogies either. There are some issues: the middle segment is kind of a slog as Our Heroes spend a lot of time...well...just waiting for things to happen. Joram and Gwen's budding romance feels a little too High School for me. I've always found the Love At First Sight trope to be a really tough sell. Shakespeare can get away with it. I don't know that I've ever seen another artist do it well. Simkin's humor was funny when I read this as a tween. Not so much as a fully fledged adult (though he has his moments). And Mosiah is just kind of...there.
That said, I absolutely love Joram and Saryon's progression and relationship. The first third does a great job of making the world more complicated than it seemed in the first book. The conclusion, without getting into spoilers, is outstanding. And the worldbuilding overall is stellar. Overall, the good outweighs the bad here, and it does so substantially.
Caveat: I do have nostalgia for this series, so take that into account with my review.
It's not as strong as the middle books of their previous two trilogies, but then, the Darksword Trilogy isn't as strong as either of those trilogies either. There are some issues: the middle segment is kind of a slog as Our Heroes spend a lot of time...well...just waiting for things to happen. Joram and Gwen's budding romance feels a little too High School for me. I've always found the Love At First Sight trope to be a really tough sell. Shakespeare can get away with it. I don't know that I've ever seen another artist do it well. Simkin's humor was funny when I read this as a tween. Not so much as a fully fledged adult (though he has his moments). And Mosiah is just kind of...there.
That said, I absolutely love Joram and Saryon's progression and relationship. The first third does a great job of making the world more complicated than it seemed in the first book. The conclusion, without getting into spoilers, is outstanding. And the worldbuilding overall is stellar. Overall, the good outweighs the bad here, and it does so substantially.
Caveat: I do have nostalgia for this series, so take that into account with my review.
hotsake's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
The book was very uneven with the story broken into 3 parts. The first part wrapped up the story from the first book while also including a lengthy retread of the first book. The second part ended up being a coming-of-age love story. The third story finally progressed the story. And of course, the book ended just as things were getting good.
evanbernstein's review
2.0
I rated the first book in the series 3 stars, but this book is a generous 2 stories. The characters no longer make reasonable choices. Nothing quite makes sense. The love story is pat, boring, and unbelievable "love at first site" with absolutely zero depth. The characters are now railroaded by one of the most unbelievable characters which serves as the authors moving pawns around.
No one ever questions Simkin's unlimited magical energy despite never asking a catalyst for Life?! I get that he is a "fool" and no one minds a "fool" but these characters aren't supposed to be that dumb, and yet, they become so.
Spoiler
Joram and his choices make no sense in this book. Nor characters supporting him. How was this plan to go to the capital ever going to work? He has no magic, he cannot fly? This will never wor long term. The darksword is never used for anything. The war between nations does not really make sense. How the hell does Garald have a well made sword and know how to use it when swords have been missing from this world since it was created? Simkin is now the magical plot devise that railroads characters around and never explained and while I thought he was amusing mysteries as a kid, I just felt the authors cheating with him and to an end that isn't actually fun/worth it. The final moments of the turning make no sense. Why wasn't the Darksword used to actually stop the turning in the first place? That scene shouldn't have played out the way it did, except that they needed Joram to leave and for the woman to follow him so the next book could happen the way they want. Eh.No one ever questions Simkin's unlimited magical energy despite never asking a catalyst for Life?! I get that he is a "fool" and no one minds a "fool" but these characters aren't supposed to be that dumb, and yet, they become so.
cronicadelibros's review against another edition
3.0
En esta segunda parte de la Espada de Joram la historia continua allí donde acabó la primera, sin saltos temporales ni de lugar.
Para mi gusto es un libro irregular, donde los tres partes que lo componen son bastantes diferentes. El primero nos envuelve en una historia que recuerda totalmente a la fantasía clásica, un grupo de fugitivos huyendo por el bosque, un mentor que ayudará al protagonista con personajes con personalidades bien marcadas. El segundo de los libros es una anodina y predecible historia romántica y el tercer libro el que tiene más contenido para la historia general de la saga, funciona como desenlace de este volumen, y el que consigue darle algo de ritmo.
En cuanto a un análisis global la historia romántica rompe todo ritmo que podía tener la historia y se encuentra a faltar que se desarrolle el mundo en si, su organización, su magia, su historia. Se da por sentado lo expuesto en el primer volumen. Es un problema que se convirtió en habitual en esa época, que hace poco me encontré en la saga El señor del tiempo de Louise Cooper, donde después de un notable primer volumen, solo se desarrolla la propia historia y el mundo que lo envuelve es desarrollado con cuentagotas.
Es un libro regular, se lee bien (aunque a mi me frenara la historia romántica) pero no llega a ser ni de lejos como primero. Es más que probable que fuera un libro de transición, en una época donde las trilogías era lo que mandaba y no se concebía habitualmente obras con dos libros o incluso historias en un único volumen, aunque tuvieran que ser más extensos.
Para mi gusto es un libro irregular, donde los tres partes que lo componen son bastantes diferentes. El primero nos envuelve en una historia que recuerda totalmente a la fantasía clásica, un grupo de fugitivos huyendo por el bosque, un mentor que ayudará al protagonista con personajes con personalidades bien marcadas. El segundo de los libros es una anodina y predecible historia romántica y el tercer libro el que tiene más contenido para la historia general de la saga, funciona como desenlace de este volumen, y el que consigue darle algo de ritmo.
En cuanto a un análisis global la historia romántica rompe todo ritmo que podía tener la historia y se encuentra a faltar que se desarrolle el mundo en si, su organización, su magia, su historia. Se da por sentado lo expuesto en el primer volumen. Es un problema que se convirtió en habitual en esa época, que hace poco me encontré en la saga El señor del tiempo de Louise Cooper, donde después de un notable primer volumen, solo se desarrolla la propia historia y el mundo que lo envuelve es desarrollado con cuentagotas.
Es un libro regular, se lee bien (aunque a mi me frenara la historia romántica) pero no llega a ser ni de lejos como primero. Es más que probable que fuera un libro de transición, en una época donde las trilogías era lo que mandaba y no se concebía habitualmente obras con dos libros o incluso historias en un único volumen, aunque tuvieran que ser más extensos.
hilla31's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
rainydaydayreams's review
5.0
I keep deleting the lines I've written, thinking whatever I write doesn't accurately represent my feelings for this book. What can I say other than I enjoyed every second of it?
If you love popcorn fantasy, you need to read this series.
If you love popcorn fantasy, you need to read this series.
remocpi's review against another edition
3.0
Segunda parte de la trilogía. Recuerdo que me recomendaron esta trilogía como "de lo mejor que se puede leer en fantasía". Hace tiempo de eso, claro. Por un lado, me leí los tres tomos uno detrás de otro. Por otro, al acabarla me quedé sin ganas de más. No he leído fantasía desde entonces, creo, salvo alguna excepción que ahora no me venga a la memoria.
Los personajes están construidos para que te gusten, sin demasiadas contradicciones interiores, y sí recuerdo cómo había muchos hilos que convergían, de manera bastante hábil. Sin ser algo que marcara mi vida, sí me gustó mucho.
Los personajes están construidos para que te gusten, sin demasiadas contradicciones interiores, y sí recuerdo cómo había muchos hilos que convergían, de manera bastante hábil. Sin ser algo que marcara mi vida, sí me gustó mucho.
sturg30n's review
5.0
Did not expect that ending! This is why they're a couple of my favorite authors.
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