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4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
Okay - I am done with Gemmell - his heroes are all carbon cut-outs of each other - this is his fourth book that I have read, and I cannot do it anymore - characters that die but do not die - characters that die but kill in their death - women are all w****es (and I mean all) - men are okay with women being w****es - traitors that tell their detailed plans to strangers - people who know that there is a plot, and continue because they think that knowing will save them from death - strangers fall in love, but never say a kind word to one another - and the hero is always, and I mean Always and old out of shape dude that knows he will die ... and he will die, making these very tragic hero stories, which would be okay, if I actually cared about the hero -
I think what kept me going was that the narrative is actually okay to read - but in the end there really is no story and no one wins and you could have lived your entire life without hearing this story and still been okay on your deathbed - the magic (when it exists) has no logic and works when it wants to - and lots and LOTS of war and killing, with thousands dying to no end and to no purpose -
I have officially quit all things David Gemmell and I will not go down this road again - I liked no one in this book - I did not even like the children as they were rude and merely a plot device
I think what kept me going was that the narrative is actually okay to read - but in the end there really is no story and no one wins and you could have lived your entire life without hearing this story and still been okay on your deathbed - the magic (when it exists) has no logic and works when it wants to - and lots and LOTS of war and killing, with thousands dying to no end and to no purpose -
I have officially quit all things David Gemmell and I will not go down this road again - I liked no one in this book - I did not even like the children as they were rude and merely a plot device
adventurous
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
3rd volume of the Drenai cycle by publication date but 1st if you read the cycle in chronological order. I really think it should be read in Gemmell's writing order because there is a lot of nostalgia when you know what will happen in the years to come. The main caracter move is different of the other volumes but once again it is the secondary characters who touch us the most. On the other hand, we still find a bit of the same narrative system with a big battle in a fortress to defend... I hope this dynamic will change in the volumes that follow and thus avoid a certain redundancy .
A great and an enjoyable book, a basic fantasy book from the older style, with unlikely heroes, a quest, war and magic. I think that David Gemmell has his own style of writing and fantasy and while the story in this book isn't unique, it is still different from much that I've read and a book I certainly could read again
"I gave my word." That one sentence sums up Gemmell's Drenai Universe.
Sí, sí, sí... David Gemmell es un clásico, precursor del grimdark que ahora conocemos, premio con su nombre en su honor... muchas cosas, vaya. Pero yo le encuentro una pequeña pega a todo esto... que me lo he leído en 2022 y creo que no ha envejecido bien. Bueno, espera, vamos a ser justos... los que venían por detrás le han pasado y le han despegado las pegatinas, por eso parece más antiguo de lo que es.
En general me ha gustado, pero no como para recomendarlo hoy por hoy. Todos esos grandes que han ganado su premio son mastodontes escribiendo fantasía.
Pero bue, lectura más o menos ligerita con una trama de cuento con detallitos y algún que otro diálogo ingenioso. Un 6 sobre 10 para este libro y a otra cosa.
En general me ha gustado, pero no como para recomendarlo hoy por hoy. Todos esos grandes que han ganado su premio son mastodontes escribiendo fantasía.
Pero bue, lectura más o menos ligerita con una trama de cuento con detallitos y algún que otro diálogo ingenioso. Un 6 sobre 10 para este libro y a otra cosa.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-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