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elusivity's review against another edition
1.0
Direct continuation of the first novel. More basically serviceable plot with basically serviceable characters, with copious use of a small set of literal tropes to stir up maximum feelings.
At this point, so many characters are so often set up with moments of noble purpose and resolve, as though they might now have a chance to change their fate, only to be instantly destroyed in the most pointless and useless way, it is almost like reading a literal tic. Very annoying. Characters die, but then comes back to life. Characters seem to be important by their set up, but get killed after pages and pages of them doing this or that, without ultimately contributing anything to the plot. Then there is the way the author ends every chapter with a clumsy cliff hanger -- is this book written and sold on a chapter-to-chapter basis?! Then there is the way the plot twists and turns with very little logic and clarity, with betrayals coming out of the left field, having no prior set up. Finally, how often do we need descriptions of heads flying off, spine crushed, and entire bodies cleaved perfectly in half from "head to groin/quim"?! Last time I checked, muscles are nature's way of making such instant slicing and dicing impossible, at least not without the weapon-wielder having to constantly re-sharpen their dulled blades...
Horrible stuff. Bad junk food for the brain. Not recommended.
At this point, so many characters are so often set up with moments of noble purpose and resolve, as though they might now have a chance to change their fate, only to be instantly destroyed in the most pointless and useless way, it is almost like reading a literal tic. Very annoying. Characters die, but then comes back to life. Characters seem to be important by their set up, but get killed after pages and pages of them doing this or that, without ultimately contributing anything to the plot. Then there is the way the author ends every chapter with a clumsy cliff hanger -- is this book written and sold on a chapter-to-chapter basis?! Then there is the way the plot twists and turns with very little logic and clarity, with betrayals coming out of the left field, having no prior set up.
Spoiler
If throughout an entire two novels a character is described from her perspective as being raped and tortured by the villain, then suddenly turns out to be an accomplice ALL ALONG in the last 5 pages of the book, without any reason given for WHY she turned traitorous... this is truly lazy writing.Horrible stuff. Bad junk food for the brain. Not recommended.
gnostalgia's review against another edition
4.0
"I am Kell. And I am mightily pissed off."
Reading Remic's "Soul Stealers", I can't help but think of my teenage years. I would hide away from the world in my reading nook and devour Howard, De Camp, and later Gemmell. A sword slash, an axe chop, or a strong headbutt was all that was needed to save the day.
"Soul Stealers" picks up where "Kell's Legend" left off and sets up the last book of the Clockwork Vampire Trilogy quite well. The final book "Vampire Warlords" will be out sometime this summer.
"Soul Stealers" is a fun fast-paced story filled with gory hack and slash battle scenes. Say what you will about Andy Remic, but he seems to have a good grasp of medieval weapons.
I thought that it was excellent. Come on people! It has clockwork vampires --- how cool is that!
Reading Remic's "Soul Stealers", I can't help but think of my teenage years. I would hide away from the world in my reading nook and devour Howard, De Camp, and later Gemmell. A sword slash, an axe chop, or a strong headbutt was all that was needed to save the day.
"Soul Stealers" picks up where "Kell's Legend" left off and sets up the last book of the Clockwork Vampire Trilogy quite well. The final book "Vampire Warlords" will be out sometime this summer.
"Soul Stealers" is a fun fast-paced story filled with gory hack and slash battle scenes. Say what you will about Andy Remic, but he seems to have a good grasp of medieval weapons.
I thought that it was excellent. Come on people! It has clockwork vampires --- how cool is that!
elusivity's review
1.0
Direct continuation of the first novel. More basically serviceable plot with basically serviceable characters, with copious use of a small set of literal tropes to stir up maximum feelings.
At this point, so many characters are so often set up with moments of noble purpose and resolve, as though they might now have a chance to change their fate, only to be instantly destroyed in the most pointless and useless way, it is almost like reading a literal tic. Very annoying. Characters die, but then comes back to life. Characters seem to be important by their set up, but get killed after pages and pages of them doing this or that, without ultimately contributing anything to the plot. Then there is the way the author ends every chapter with a clumsy cliff hanger -- is this book written and sold on a chapter-to-chapter basis?! Then there is the way the plot twists and turns with very little logic and clarity, with betrayals coming out of the left field, having no prior set up.If throughout an entire two novels a character is described from her perspective as being raped and tortured by the villain, then suddenly turns out to be an accomplice ALL ALONG in the last 5 pages of the book, without any reason given for WHY she turned traitorous... this is truly lazy writing. Finally, how often do we need descriptions of heads flying off, spine crushed, and entire bodies cleaved perfectly in half from "head to groin/quim"?! Last time I checked, muscles are nature's way of making such instant slicing and dicing impossible, at least not without the weapon-wielder having to constantly re-sharpen their dulled blades...
Horrible stuff. Bad junk food for the brain. Not recommended.
At this point, so many characters are so often set up with moments of noble purpose and resolve, as though they might now have a chance to change their fate, only to be instantly destroyed in the most pointless and useless way, it is almost like reading a literal tic. Very annoying. Characters die, but then comes back to life. Characters seem to be important by their set up, but get killed after pages and pages of them doing this or that, without ultimately contributing anything to the plot. Then there is the way the author ends every chapter with a clumsy cliff hanger -- is this book written and sold on a chapter-to-chapter basis?! Then there is the way the plot twists and turns with very little logic and clarity, with betrayals coming out of the left field, having no prior set up.
Horrible stuff. Bad junk food for the brain. Not recommended.
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