Reviews

Pawn of Prophecy by David Eddings

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sir_scott's review

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slow-paced

Diverse cast of characters? Yes

2.75

capgambit's review against another edition

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3.0

Overall I did like this story but I felt like not a lot happened. There was a fight scene near the end. However, most of it was a story about traveling and a young boy that nobody wants to tell anything, even though everything revolves around him (because that always works out for the best). Perhaps if he knew more of what was going on he might be more careful in what he does. I don't know. I don't want to rant too much because the book really wasn't terrible it just left me wanting a little bit more.

_ottavia_'s review against another edition

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3.0

Mi sono divertita un sacco a leggere questo primo libro di Eddings. Di fatto non è nulla di che, ormai la letteratura fantasy si è evoluta e dei meccanismi usati da Eddings oggigiorno si fa volentieri a meno, eppure mi ci voleva una lettura così, leggera e divertente. (Soprattutto visto che l'altro libro in lettura è Memorie di Ghiaccio). In più c'è da dire che Eddings scriveva davvero benissimo, che fossero dialoghi, azione o personaggi, e quando si ha del divertimento scritto così bene è un piacere tornare tra le pagine.

beluca's review against another edition

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adventurous slow-paced

2.0

So slow. Also a lot happens without anyone really developing. It's unfortunate because the world-buipding is good, but then the world is emotionally empty

midici's review against another edition

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3.0

*3.5 stars

This book is from the 1980s, so what is now considered to be very 'classic' or 'overused' was (probably?) still new(ish?) when this was published. This is a good vs evil epic tale, full of wizards/witches pretending to be normal, nobility pretending to be low class, and a secret protagonist who doesn't know how important he is. The small-town teenager is suddenly swept into an adventure they don't understand with a group of characters who are on a quest that will decide the fate of the whole world.

I would say the most annoying part is how badly everyone is trying to pretend Garion is normal even as the villains are looking for him specifically. At a certain point if everyone but you knows who you are, the ignorance isn't keeping you safe it's just ridiculous. The reader, of course, knows he's the 'lost' Rivan king-to-be, but that doesn't make it less annoying. Pol is so dedicated to this ruse she didn't even teach this kid to READ. He's out here learning "secret" sign languages (that every 3rd character knows, so, not so secret) and sword play and can't spell his own name. Just... why.

There is a lot of travel and not so much action in this first book, which may or may not change as it continues. Just as LOTR characters spend much of their quest getting from point A to point B, I suspect this will be the same. I am trying not to judge this for some things that only seem over-used because this book is 40 yrs old, but it is occasionally a little difficult to remind myself of that.