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3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
I started "Blade of Tyshalle" with the knowledge that not everyone likes this book as much as "Heroes Die". I always thought those people must be wrong and Blade would be just as awesome as "Heroes Die". That one had great writing, amazing characters (Caine!!!), a very intruiging world, a good story throwing you from one action sequence into the next, a lot of blood and gore and a great ending on top of all this. It would be difficult for Blade to match all that, but more of the same would still be great. Problem is ... Blade isn't entirely more of the same and I think that's exactly the reason why I didn't like it as much as the first.
I still liked Blade a lot (otherwise I wouldn't have given it four stars). It has many of the strong points from the first book, starting with an interesting world that's even more fleshed out now than it was in the first. The writing is still great and we still have a lot of amazing characters; Caine and Tan'elKoth are great characters returning from the first book, but there are off course some great new characters as well (e.g. Raithe). Also Kosall plays a very important role again in all the events throughout the story. BUT ...
I still feel the first book had more amazing and fleshed out characters than the second one has. Further, it needs to be mentioned that Caine is a different man after the events in the previous book. It takes a long time to get some glimpses of the Caine we know from the first book. With Caine being one of my all time favourite characters this was a bit of a let down; it seems my expectations weren’t really in line with the actual story. But I can admit that Stover did a great job with his writing; his 'broken' Caine was very convincing, as were Caine's motivations throughout the book, even until the very last chapter. Once more it is emphasized that Caine really strives for his goals without any regard to the consequences for anything or anyone else. This makes for a great character!
The story is good as well. In "Heroes Die" the story was clear from the start, but this time Stover really takes his time to built his story and it takes a while before all the pieces fall in place. Stover is very ambitious with Blade and throws in a lot of ideas, some philisophy, multiple plot twists ... and at times it felt to me that he dragged it out a bit too much. After finishing I can say it was maybe necessary to do so, but at the moment itself I didn't especially like it. Also because it didn't always have a good influence on the pacing of the story.
Luckily there are plenty of great action scenes throughout the book that reminded me a lot of the first book. The number of such scenes has however been turned down a bit. The story that's being told is very different, more profound, and needs less of such scenes. Still, the ones we have are very thrilling. What finally pulled me over to REALLY like the book was the ending. This was very nicely planned out by Stover; it's a very long sequence of events that turns out perfectly. Once the roller coaster starts, it's all action-packed mayhem. It's also here that we can see Caine really shine again and recognize the character like we've got to know him from the first book. I thought it was absolutely amazing how everything played out in the end.
I highly recommend this book, but everyone should be aware that it doesn't provide exactly the same as the first book. This irked me a bit at the start, but the more I think about it the more I appreciate "Blade of Tyshalle" for what it is. I'm definitely going to reread it somewhere in the future, and now that I know what to expect, I think I'm going to like it even more on a reread.
Rating: 8/10
I still liked Blade a lot (otherwise I wouldn't have given it four stars). It has many of the strong points from the first book, starting with an interesting world that's even more fleshed out now than it was in the first. The writing is still great and we still have a lot of amazing characters; Caine and Tan'elKoth are great characters returning from the first book, but there are off course some great new characters as well (e.g. Raithe). Also Kosall plays a very important role again in all the events throughout the story. BUT ...
I still feel the first book had more amazing and fleshed out characters than the second one has. Further, it needs to be mentioned that Caine is a different man after the events in the previous book. It takes a long time to get some glimpses of the Caine we know from the first book. With Caine being one of my all time favourite characters this was a bit of a let down; it seems my expectations weren’t really in line with the actual story. But I can admit that Stover did a great job with his writing; his 'broken' Caine was very convincing, as were Caine's motivations throughout the book, even until the very last chapter. Once more it is emphasized that Caine really strives for his goals without any regard to the consequences for anything or anyone else. This makes for a great character!
The story is good as well. In "Heroes Die" the story was clear from the start, but this time Stover really takes his time to built his story and it takes a while before all the pieces fall in place. Stover is very ambitious with Blade and throws in a lot of ideas, some philisophy, multiple plot twists ... and at times it felt to me that he dragged it out a bit too much. After finishing I can say it was maybe necessary to do so, but at the moment itself I didn't especially like it. Also because it didn't always have a good influence on the pacing of the story.
Luckily there are plenty of great action scenes throughout the book that reminded me a lot of the first book. The number of such scenes has however been turned down a bit. The story that's being told is very different, more profound, and needs less of such scenes. Still, the ones we have are very thrilling. What finally pulled me over to REALLY like the book was the ending. This was very nicely planned out by Stover; it's a very long sequence of events that turns out perfectly. Once the roller coaster starts, it's all action-packed mayhem. It's also here that we can see Caine really shine again and recognize the character like we've got to know him from the first book. I thought it was absolutely amazing how everything played out in the end.
I highly recommend this book, but everyone should be aware that it doesn't provide exactly the same as the first book. This irked me a bit at the start, but the more I think about it the more I appreciate "Blade of Tyshalle" for what it is. I'm definitely going to reread it somewhere in the future, and now that I know what to expect, I think I'm going to like it even more on a reread.
Rating: 8/10
3.5
In this volume Stover tries both to expand the world building and to show more depth to his heroes. I’m afraid both do not really reach the desired level. The world building is now much more detailed, but also complicated and full of mostly irrelevant details on one side and has no sufficient explanations for some technical solutions on the other.
Harry’s character development is reasonable enough, but all the others feel strained and often illogical. Female characters are flat.
The plot as such is very good and is a good continuation of both stories, the Earth and the Overworld. At the end all the loose story bits are are picked and tied together, each significant hero has a logical ending.
In this volume Stover tries both to expand the world building and to show more depth to his heroes. I’m afraid both do not really reach the desired level. The world building is now much more detailed, but also complicated and full of mostly irrelevant details on one side and has no sufficient explanations for some technical solutions on the other.
Harry’s character development is reasonable enough, but all the others feel strained and often illogical. Female characters are flat.
The plot as such is very good and is a good continuation of both stories, the Earth and the Overworld. At the end all the loose story bits are are picked and tied together, each significant hero has a logical ending.
Matthew Woodring Stover is a virtuoso musician who has chosen Technical Brutal Death Metal for his chosen method of expression. This was absolutely pummeling.
I'm confused why this series doesn't have a larger cult following, impact, or influence on the genre. Where is the praise/derision that this series should have left in it's wake?
I'm confused why this series doesn't have a larger cult following, impact, or influence on the genre. Where is the praise/derision that this series should have left in it's wake?
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This is a read. I don't know how to describe it. Much more philosophical than the first book. There is still some action, but not as much. There are some weird and disturbing moments. I enjoyed this book, but not as much as the first.
I did enjoy the philosophical nature of this book, Stover brings up some good points about people
I did enjoy the philosophical nature of this book, Stover brings up some good points about people
I didn't think it could get crazier than book 1, but lo and behold!
Another great book, which also concludes pretty well without feeling like you need to move onto the 3rd book. But I will!
Another great book, which also concludes pretty well without feeling like you need to move onto the 3rd book. But I will!
Like the first book so much more. I think I only finished this one because I still cared about the characters from the first book.
I love Caine. I'm not sure about Hari Michaelson.
This book is pretty long. The Caine scenes are, of course, fantastic, and I really love the way scifi and fantasy are intertwined it this book.
That said, some of the scenes on earth are just long, and a tad annoying, but that's probably because I tend to feel too much for/with the characters. Still, definitely recommend it.
This book is pretty long. The Caine scenes are, of course, fantastic, and I really love the way scifi and fantasy are intertwined it this book.
That said, some of the scenes on earth are just long, and a tad annoying, but that's probably because I tend to feel too much for/with the characters. Still, definitely recommend it.
This starts of with Harry's youth, so if you're waiting for the sequel to start off where Acts of Caine stopped, you'll be in for a surprise. It does continue the story later, so fine be afraid to be kept hanging.
It was even grimmer than the last, and some scenes really had me flinch. There's a scene for example where a woman is raped and her breast eaten at the same time for scale of how bloody this can get. So it's really another step up, and if you want to avoid such violence, this might not be the right book.
Otherwise I really enjoyed it - we get a deeper inside into the characters. Caine has to grow as he is crippled after the events in book one, and has to somehow learn to live with that. This story also won't be a nice cup of tea for him, and things only get worse. Lots of action, lots of betrayal, old friends resurfacing, new allies found, and quite some twists kept me well entertained and interested all the way through.
Also I really liked the end - though I obviously won't spoil it. ;)
It was even grimmer than the last, and some scenes really had me flinch. There's a scene for example where a woman is raped and her breast eaten at the same time for scale of how bloody this can get. So it's really another step up, and if you want to avoid such violence, this might not be the right book.
Otherwise I really enjoyed it - we get a deeper inside into the characters. Caine has to grow as he is crippled after the events in book one, and has to somehow learn to live with that. This story also won't be a nice cup of tea for him, and things only get worse. Lots of action, lots of betrayal, old friends resurfacing, new allies found, and quite some twists kept me well entertained and interested all the way through.
Also I really liked the end - though I obviously won't spoil it. ;)
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Huge disappointment. Caine has an extremely short screen-time, roughly 30% of the 800+ pages are actual "acts of Caine", the rest - I'm sorry to report - is over-bloated rambling. Also, Berne is sadly missing hence "Blade of Tyshalle" lacks a real sumbitch.
Damn shame, considering [b:Heroes Die|311864|Heroes Die (The Acts of Caine, #1)|Matthew Woodring Stover|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1403193753s/311864.jpg|302782] is 24 carat badassery, and the concept of "Overworld" is amazing.
So, at the end of the day, "Chapter 0" was really promising, it's an account of how Caine came to be, and probably the best part of the book. The following pages are, ah... frustrating. Here and there, you get glimpses of the badassery that made "Heroes Die" a testosterone classic, but unfortunately it's only a few bits, such as...
"I fold down all but my first finger. “Rule One: Fuck with me, you die. No warnings. No second chances.”
This causes an astonished rumble to boil up from the mass of prisoners. Adder can only stare at me like I’ve gone bugnuts.
I pop the next finger. “Rule Two: What I say, goes. It comes out of my mouth, it’s law. Break a law, you get hurt. Break it again, you die.”
Adder snorts contemptuously. “Done yet? Anything else?”
“One more,” I tell him with a shrug. “Rule Three: Fuck with my friends, it’s the same as fucking with me. When in doubt, see Rule One. So—” I lift one hand up above my head and waggle it. “How many of you want to be my friends?”
Adder gives another one of those snorts. Sounds like he’s got a turd up his nose.
“C’mon, don’t be shy,” I call. “Let’s see some hands.”
And...
Now, the catechism.
“All right, Adder,” I say. “Who’s in charge here?”
“Motherfuck—” he starts, but a twitch of my arms cuts him off.
“Let’s try that again, huh? Who’s in charge here?”
“You are,” he growls.
“Very good. Who makes the rules in the Pit?”
“You do.”
Damn, 2.5 disappointed stars.
Damn shame, considering [b:Heroes Die|311864|Heroes Die (The Acts of Caine, #1)|Matthew Woodring Stover|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1403193753s/311864.jpg|302782] is 24 carat badassery, and the concept of "Overworld" is amazing.
So, at the end of the day, "Chapter 0" was really promising, it's an account of how Caine came to be, and probably the best part of the book. The following pages are, ah... frustrating. Here and there, you get glimpses of the badassery that made "Heroes Die" a testosterone classic, but unfortunately it's only a few bits, such as...
"I fold down all but my first finger. “Rule One: Fuck with me, you die. No warnings. No second chances.”
This causes an astonished rumble to boil up from the mass of prisoners. Adder can only stare at me like I’ve gone bugnuts.
I pop the next finger. “Rule Two: What I say, goes. It comes out of my mouth, it’s law. Break a law, you get hurt. Break it again, you die.”
Adder snorts contemptuously. “Done yet? Anything else?”
“One more,” I tell him with a shrug. “Rule Three: Fuck with my friends, it’s the same as fucking with me. When in doubt, see Rule One. So—” I lift one hand up above my head and waggle it. “How many of you want to be my friends?”
Adder gives another one of those snorts. Sounds like he’s got a turd up his nose.
“C’mon, don’t be shy,” I call. “Let’s see some hands.”
And...
Now, the catechism.
“All right, Adder,” I say. “Who’s in charge here?”
“Motherfuck—” he starts, but a twitch of my arms cuts him off.
“Let’s try that again, huh? Who’s in charge here?”
“You are,” he growls.
“Very good. Who makes the rules in the Pit?”
“You do.”
Damn, 2.5 disappointed stars.