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4.15 AVERAGE
4.15 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I still enjoyed the writing style, but felt it dragged a bit in the middle - in particular, there seemed pages and pages of party planning. Maybe I shouldn't have read it straight after the first one, as I much preferred that. Still good though
dark
slow-paced
Mervyn Peake is one of the finest crafters of mood and atmosphere I have ever had the pleasure of reading. His prose works like bath of words that surround you so completely that you can't even be certain if you are reading a story or if you are in fact wandering the dark stuffy halls of Gormenghast castle. Is this just a book you picked up, or have you always been a half-lit wanderer in these shadowy corridors?
I find myself with less to say about this book than it's predecessor, "Titus Groan". That it not to say that this book is any less remarkable than that one; it simply means that a lot of the things I love about "Gormenghast" also hold true for "Titus Groan" and were thus already discussed in that review. The prose, the atmosphere, the characterization, and the unique oddness are all carried over from the first book. The themes of change and rebellion against stifling ritual are also present again, but in stronger force now that Titus has grown.
The main plot of this installment revolves around Titus, as he grows and resents the world he lives in, and Steerpike, as he continues his sociopathic climb to the top rungs of castle society. Along the way there is murder, insanity, revulsion, and plenty of darkness. Like the first book, there is also another smaller subplot, dealing with Doctor Prunesquallor's wife and her search for love amongst the professorial staff of the castle. Like the first book, it starts off slow but picks up speed as more and more grim happenings occur.
Overall, "Gormenghast" feels as natural a continuation as any sequel I've ever read, and does more than adequate a job of living up to its predecessor. If you liked "Titus Groan", you'll like this one. It's among the finest gothic fantasy you'll ever read.
I find myself with less to say about this book than it's predecessor, "Titus Groan". That it not to say that this book is any less remarkable than that one; it simply means that a lot of the things I love about "Gormenghast" also hold true for "Titus Groan" and were thus already discussed in that review. The prose, the atmosphere, the characterization, and the unique oddness are all carried over from the first book. The themes of change and rebellion against stifling ritual are also present again, but in stronger force now that Titus has grown.
The main plot of this installment revolves around Titus, as he grows and resents the world he lives in, and Steerpike, as he continues his sociopathic climb to the top rungs of castle society. Along the way there is murder, insanity, revulsion, and plenty of darkness. Like the first book, there is also another smaller subplot, dealing with Doctor Prunesquallor's wife and her search for love amongst the professorial staff of the castle. Like the first book, it starts off slow but picks up speed as more and more grim happenings occur.
Overall, "Gormenghast" feels as natural a continuation as any sequel I've ever read, and does more than adequate a job of living up to its predecessor. If you liked "Titus Groan", you'll like this one. It's among the finest gothic fantasy you'll ever read.
