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4.12 AVERAGE
4.12 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
MAGNIFICENT. Where the first two books were good, this one was excellent. A very satisfying conclusion to a rich tale. This third book made me decide that the Fionavar Tapestry is one of my favorite fantasy series of all time.
The final book in the trilogy brings the story to a satisfying conclusion. Comparisons with The Lord of the Rings are inevitable, there are many similarities. The modern and real world element of The Fionavar Tapestry makes it significantly less appealing, and moving, than LOTR. for me, but I still enjoyed the journey. This final book is entirely set in Fionavar, and brings each character to their final battle, or doom.
What can I say? The author GGK is my favorite. This has not changed for decades. The way he uses words to create tapestries of love and tragedy is unparalleled in my eyes.
However, it is important to note that of all of my book recommendations he is the LEAST liked. My friends find him too wordy and atmospheric.
With this series he tackles Arthur, Guinevere, Camelot, and Celtic mythology. It is a seamless weaving. He does excellent research. GGK helped the Tolkien estate to compile and publish the Silmarillion. This is quite evident in this trilogy which is heavily laden with historical facts, characters, and myths. Like the Silmarillion, it wasn't always an easy read. But every now and then shards of beauty peaked through and made my heart ache.
The Fionavar Tapestry was excellent of course, but my least favorite GGK. Recommended for people who genuinely love Arthurian legends and/or GGK.
However, it is important to note that of all of my book recommendations he is the LEAST liked. My friends find him too wordy and atmospheric.
With this series he tackles Arthur, Guinevere, Camelot, and Celtic mythology. It is a seamless weaving. He does excellent research. GGK helped the Tolkien estate to compile and publish the Silmarillion. This is quite evident in this trilogy which is heavily laden with historical facts, characters, and myths. Like the Silmarillion, it wasn't always an easy read. But every now and then shards of beauty peaked through and made my heart ache.
The Fionavar Tapestry was excellent of course, but my least favorite GGK. Recommended for people who genuinely love Arthurian legends and/or GGK.
This made the previous two books worth reading. It's the most similar in tone and scope to other Guy Gavriel Kay books I've read.
It's not dark fantasy, but every 'good' character isn't safe either. There are an excellent themes around fighting fate, independence, love, loss, and friendship.
It's fairly standard high fantasy, but with a few twists to keep things interesting.
It's not dark fantasy, but every 'good' character isn't safe either. There are an excellent themes around fighting fate, independence, love, loss, and friendship.
It's fairly standard high fantasy, but with a few twists to keep things interesting.
Much stronger finish, I was worried after the second book. This trilogy gets a lot of comparison to LotR, obviously. It is not in the same class, but it is in the same vein. If you want a LotR fix, almost like "LotR-Lite", this is probably a good pickup.
Definitely introduced characters again, and even whole subplots, that didnt need to be there. At one point, rearward movement of rear-echelon troops was described...never to come up again.
There's not a ton of trimming, but there is some. And there are a couple deux ex machina moments in there where I said "really? That's how you're going to resolve this?"
Definitely introduced characters again, and even whole subplots, that didnt need to be there. At one point, rearward movement of rear-echelon troops was described...never to come up again.
There's not a ton of trimming, but there is some. And there are a couple deux ex machina moments in there where I said "really? That's how you're going to resolve this?"
One of my favorite fantasy series by one of my favorite fantasy authors.