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cindy10's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
happyocelot's review
3.0
I think it is great how David Eddings disregards ages when it comes to love interests. His characters in his novels know no boundaries of age when it comes to true love. It's very romantic, I think.
vaderbird's review
3.0
5 star - Perfect
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
staceylynn42's review
4.0
Sparhawk and friends set out to defeat Azash, not long after Ehlana stampedes the Hierarchy into choosing Dolmant as Archprelate.
I like the story & the world & the humor and that as usual overcomes my general dislike of certain characters - like Ehlana and Flute. I find them both needlessly bossy and irritating.
I like the story & the world & the humor and that as usual overcomes my general dislike of certain characters - like Ehlana and Flute. I find them both needlessly bossy and irritating.
seeinghowitgoes's review
4.0
One of the classics from my high school days. Rereading it now I see its flaws a little more clearly now, but the plot at the time seemed so amazing and these characters so vivid I couldn't help but fall in love with the fantasy genre.
Kurik still breaks my heart every time.
Kurik still breaks my heart every time.
count_zero's review
4.0
The book definitely brings the series to a satisfying conclusion, but the denouement runs a little long (though, to be fair, getting the denouement the right length is something that lots of writers have problems with). Probably the bigger problem with the book's end is that, approaching the conclusion, it screams, "The writer got the publisher to agree to another trilogy, so he's going to lay some plot hooks for the next one!"
This is aggravated by the fact that I'm reading the book's first printing, and right after th end of the story we get this little bombshell.
Far be it from me to deny an author the right to make all the sequels he wants to his book series, but once it's done, presently surprise me with the next series with these characters, instead of dropping a "Tune In Next Time" on me. It actually ends up lessening the tone of the conclusion, changing things from a satisfying, hard earned conclusion, to a short breather before the next storm comes in. It's clear from the writing that Eddings is aiming for the former, but because of that little pre-advertising blurb at the back, it becomes the latter.
This is aggravated by the fact that I'm reading the book's first printing, and right after th end of the story we get this little bombshell.
Here ends The Sapphire Rose, thus concluding the tale of The Elenium -- but not the adventures of Sparhawk and his companions. Watch for further danger and magic in The Tamuli, a new series from David Eddings, forthcoming from Del Rey Books.
Far be it from me to deny an author the right to make all the sequels he wants to his book series, but once it's done, presently surprise me with the next series with these characters, instead of dropping a "Tune In Next Time" on me. It actually ends up lessening the tone of the conclusion, changing things from a satisfying, hard earned conclusion, to a short breather before the next storm comes in. It's clear from the writing that Eddings is aiming for the former, but because of that little pre-advertising blurb at the back, it becomes the latter.
sammystarbuck's review against another edition
4.0
Another good story, and a satisfying end to the trilogy.
The narration of the audio book on the other hand, was once again terrible. At least he tried to keep it interesting by coming up with new and different ways to mess up the narration with each book. The odd pauses and inflections in inappropriate places made his sound like a discount William Shatner, and his continuous mispronunciation of even common every day words was grating to say the least. His insistence on pronouncing worship as warship had me picturing churches full of frigates and destroyers every time the story mentioned religious practices. which was on average once every page or two...
New for this particular volume was using the wrong voice for characters (men became women from time to time, and small children started speaking like gruff old knights).
I'm glad I got to finish the story, but seriously, do yourselves a favour and read this one in print. Seriously.
The narration of the audio book on the other hand, was once again terrible. At least he tried to keep it interesting by coming up with new and different ways to mess up the narration with each book. The odd pauses and inflections in inappropriate places made his sound like a discount William Shatner, and his continuous mispronunciation of even common every day words was grating to say the least. His insistence on pronouncing worship as warship had me picturing churches full of frigates and destroyers every time the story mentioned religious practices. which was on average once every page or two...
New for this particular volume was using the wrong voice for characters (men became women from time to time, and small children started speaking like gruff old knights).
I'm glad I got to finish the story, but seriously, do yourselves a favour and read this one in print. Seriously.
mithren's review against another edition
eecee's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Review below is for the whole series. Pretty sure none of the below is really a spoiler, but skip it if you want to make sure to avoid them!
These books are a fun romp. But, I will caveat that with saying that you have to turn off most of your brain to enjoy it. And if you're a woman, a person with disability, someone not tall and strong, or someone who isn't white, you'll have to turn off even more of your brain to get through it.
Enjoyed
These books are a fun romp. But, I will caveat that with saying that you have to turn off most of your brain to enjoy it. And if you're a woman, a person with disability, someone not tall and strong, or someone who isn't white, you'll have to turn off even more of your brain to get through it.
Enjoyed
- If you can ignore the glaring flaws, the book feels like a fast paced D&D or computer game style adventure - lots of side quests, a party with different skills (debatably), witty comments interspersed with plenty of action, and a clear end goal that the characters are unquestionably going to attain.
Didn't like
I'll try to confine myself to the essentials...
- It's so racist. The main characters are almost all clearly written as a stand in for western Europeans, are almost all white, and are constantly fighting people of other races and cultures - mostly for just existing. Anyone who isn't one of the main characters is described as stupid - including all their adversaries from their own country, but also entire nations of other people. Absolutely jarring and weird - were the 80s really this bad?! But this also brings us to...
- The main characters are not smart! I wondered a few times if this whole series was a satire on fantasy tropes, except I think this IS the trope that is now mocked. They run around talking about how all their enemies are stupid, while constantly messing up themselves, never facing any real setbacks, and solving all their problems with violence. Which brings me to...
- Are we meant to hate the main characters for being bullies?! They are constantly hitting, maiming and murdering people, some of whom did nothing to them and many of whom were ordinary people following orders (the artisan Sparhawk pushes off a wall?! All the church soldiers?)
- And do not get me started on Ehlana. WTAF is with the whole 'the main character raised his wife from being a small child then married her once she turned 18' thing? Ick ick ick. Super gross to read the way Eddings writes young girls and women as all being out to 'trap' men into marriage, and saying that this literal child wanted to marry this older man so got what she wanted.
vera_ann's review
5.0
This was my favorite book of the Elenium trilogy. It was full of action and brought everything together and to a close. Though it did not leave things open ended it did open up to leave a want to read the Tamuli. The book made me laugh and cry. It had action, adventure, politics, and religion.
I love the Queen Ehlana and Faran. They are awesome. I adore Talen and Flute in the series they are fun. There are many others in this cast of characters in this series that would appeal to a many number of people. The dialogue between the characters makes this in interesting, fast-paced read.
I love the Queen Ehlana and Faran. They are awesome. I adore Talen and Flute in the series they are fun. There are many others in this cast of characters in this series that would appeal to a many number of people. The dialogue between the characters makes this in interesting, fast-paced read.