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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
Not as good as Heroes Die, but still pretty awesome. I don't think the plot was as tight as in the first book.
I liked the prequel, [b:Heroes Die|311864|Heroes Die (The Acts of Caine, #1)|Matthew Woodring Stover|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1403193753l/311864._SY75_.jpg|302782], which is a bit of a cult classic. It came out in 1999 and kinda missed the wave for everything it was trying to do. It is a proto-grimdark that came out years before 2007's [b:The Blade Itself|944073|The Blade Itself (The First Law, #1)|Joe Abercrombie|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1284167912l/944073._SX50_SY75_.jpg|929009] kicked off that sub-genre. It was a kind of future dystopian death game but after the 1980s peak of [b:The Running Man|11607|The Running Man|Richard Bachman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1333160557l/11607._SY75_.jpg|3652165] but before the the 2008 reinvigoration of [b:The Hunger Games|2767052|The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1)|Suzanne Collins|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1586722975l/2767052._SY75_.jpg|2792775]. It was a portal fantasy but after the 1980s peak of [b:The Summer Tree|104086|The Summer Tree (The Fionavar Tapestry #1)|Guy Gavriel Kay|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1412531529l/104086._SY75_.jpg|3238632] and before the anime-inspired isekai-version that is now ascendant since [b:ソードアート・オンライン 1: アインクラッド Sōdo āto onrain 1: Ainkuraddo |6528980|ソードアート・オンライン 1 アインクラッド Sōdo āto onrain 1 Ainkuraddo (Sword Art Online Light Novel, #1)|Reki Kawahara|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1493078647l/6528980._SX50_.jpg|6720981].
So...it just kind of fell between the cracks. But it was pretty great!
It also kind of wrapped up everything.
Sure, there were still some lose ends but that's reality.
On top of that...he was left paralyzed from the waist down. Kind of a deal breaker for an testerone-fueled over-the-top action-hero.
Blade of Tyshalle is a very different book from its predecessor. A lot of people aren't going to like that. I wasn't too keen, to be honest. For one thing it is huge. 800 pages. And there's very little "Caine" or "Overworld fantasy" in the first several hundred pages. The first 300 pages is basically setting up the action, having everything go wrong for Hari and hitting rock bottom. That's practically an entire book's worth of stuff just to get started.
It doesn't help that the Bad Guy is almost cartoonishly over-the-top evil. Murder, torture, rape, cannibalism? Okay, we got it. It is more a one-dimensional caricature of evil, which is a disappointment because the Bad Guy in Heroes Die is one of best, most complex bad guys in fantasy.
Finally things get under way. It picks up. Not really enough to make up for several hundred pages of waffling around. There's just a bit too much bloat and a few too many characters that probably didn't need to be there. Entire sections about Caine's adopted-daughter's biological grandmother, for instance.
It doesn't have nearly the frenetic, kinetic, non-stop action of the previous book. There's a lot of philosophical navel-gazing about humanity's apparent bottomless appetite for growth, usually at the expense of ruining, well, everything. It kinda wore thin on me.
There are two more books in the series but, like Heroes Die, this one also ends at a pretty reasonably ending point. Sure, nothing is ever over. But I don't feel a strong need to read more in the adventures of Caine.
So...it just kind of fell between the cracks. But it was pretty great!
It also kind of wrapped up everything.
“I won , goddammit. I beat Kollberg. I beat you . I got everything I goddamn wanted: fame, wealth, power. Shit, I even got the girl.”
Sure, there were still some lose ends but that's reality.
Finally, he mutters, “The problem with happy endings is, nothing’s ever really over.”
On top of that...he was left paralyzed from the waist down. Kind of a deal breaker for an testerone-fueled over-the-top action-hero.
Blade of Tyshalle is a very different book from its predecessor. A lot of people aren't going to like that. I wasn't too keen, to be honest. For one thing it is huge. 800 pages. And there's very little "Caine" or "Overworld fantasy" in the first several hundred pages. The first 300 pages is basically setting up the action, having everything go wrong for Hari and hitting rock bottom. That's practically an entire book's worth of stuff just to get started.
It doesn't help that the Bad Guy is almost cartoonishly over-the-top evil. Murder, torture, rape, cannibalism? Okay, we got it. It is more a one-dimensional caricature of evil, which is a disappointment because the Bad Guy in Heroes Die is one of best, most complex bad guys in fantasy.
“There’s this thing about Caine—you can always sort of tell when he’s mixed up in something, because everything starts to spin out of control.”
Finally things get under way. It picks up. Not really enough to make up for several hundred pages of waffling around. There's just a bit too much bloat and a few too many characters that probably didn't need to be there. Entire sections about Caine's adopted-daughter's biological grandmother, for instance.
It doesn't have nearly the frenetic, kinetic, non-stop action of the previous book. There's a lot of philosophical navel-gazing about humanity's apparent bottomless appetite for growth, usually at the expense of ruining, well, everything. It kinda wore thin on me.
There are two more books in the series but, like Heroes Die, this one also ends at a pretty reasonably ending point. Sure, nothing is ever over. But I don't feel a strong need to read more in the adventures of Caine.
I got a Kindle last year and guess what was my first purchase? You guessed it, Atlas Shrugged! Okay, no, it was this one, Blade of Tyshalle. I was looking forward to it, but it's all but impossible to get in paper form unless you want to pay out the nose. And 10 months is surprisingly a good time for a book I bought to finally make it to my "currently reading" pile.
Because I had such a long wait time between this book and the first in the Acts of Caine, Heroes Die, I had lots of time to read reviews and such and opinions are actually quite divisive.
On one side, you have those who absolutely adore the book and yet acknowledge how different it is from Heroes Die. These people tend to like Blade more than the Heroes. On the other side, you have those who just hated it, hated that it was a completely different book with a simple premise. I found myself in the former category (hence the 5 stars I guess).
I went into Blade not really knowing what to think, but having this idea that it would be a completely different book than it was. I had this picture that it would be a philosophical treatise almost. I was wrong. Not completely wrong, but very wrong nonetheless.
The thing is, Blade of Tyshalle is everything you would expect in a sequel to Heroes Die. It's easily one of the bloodiest, action-filled, killfests around. This was, for some reason, a big surprise to me. There is constant action.
At the same time, Blade is a very introspective book (this is where the philosophy comes in). There are lots of ideas thrown around about life and about living. I didn't even necessarily agree with all of them, but it got me really thinking.
Stover's "about the author" in some of his books reads something like, "Matthew Stover believes everything you need to know about life can be found in his books." I always thought that was pretty conceited, but now I'm starting to see why he believes this way.
One of the main arguments he puts forth here in Blade of Tyshalle is that you can really do anything you want. If you want it, do it. It's that simple. This kind of thinking really jives with me. I very much believe that life is what you make it, even as cheesy as that sounds. If you want to be rich, you can do it, you just gotta work your butt off to get it. Same goes for fame, for anything.
I think most of us fall in the category of 1) having multiple passions, which means all suffer and/or 2) getting comfortable where you are (or lazy in my case), which is why we're not rich or famous, but probably a lot happier. I'll stop before this takes over...
Anyway, tangent aside, the world that Stover has created is incredible. If the fact that his world contains a futuristic caste-based society that sends "actors" to a medieval fantasy-type world to reek havoc and practice magic purely for entertainment doesn't make you want to read a book, I don't know what would.
Seven years after the ending of Heroes Die, the first in the Acts of Caine, Caine finds himself it a bit un-Caine-like situation. He no longer has the use of his legs, what with that whole magical sword, Kosall, running him through to his spine. In fact, he hates when people remind him he's Caine.
His best "friend" (i.e., not really his friend at all, but worst enemy), Tan'elKoth, formerly known as Ma'elKoth or the bad guy from Heroes Die who found himself "transcended" to Earth, is the only one he can really talk to.
While "Caine" (or Hari now) pines for his old life, he now lives with his wife, Shanna, and daughter, Faith. He was even bumped up a caste to Administrator. So really, he's got it made. Well, not really at all because then we wouldn't have this fun story here.
Being Caine, Hari ticked of his share of people on both Overworld and Earth and that doesn't bode well for a nice, peaceful life of luxury. With a mix of old grudges and dark powers arising, Blade of Tyshalle ups the ante from Heroes Die in so many ways.
Not only does Blade deal with a medieval world that can be accessed from Earth, but the ideas Stover presents are epic themselves. Is it worth saving the world when you can't save a loved one? Is the world even worth saving? Is it worth saving one world while damning another? What if the first world has billions of more people, and especially children? These are just a couple of the questions that really had me thinking.
If there's anything I hate, it's plot-lines where the main protagonist, the hero even, loses his powers. This didn't work for me in Spider-man 2 or in Batman Returns. Although I still enjoyed the latter, I didn't love it because of this aspect. In this book, that seems to be the case, that Caine has lost his Mojo. It could be argued so, and I was definitely of this opinion for most of my read, but it's really not the case. Is it really the physical parts of you that make you you?
While at the limits of my gag reflex, Blade of Tyshalle comes highly recommended. It has EVERYTHING you could ever want from a fantasy and so much more. The pages turn themselves, the writing's spectacular, the world is insane and fully fleshed out (much more here than in Heroes Die too), and the action is the best you'll find. This isn't just puffery, I challenge you to find better action.
As bloody and brilliant as you would expect from the awesomeness that was Heroes Die and yet Blade of Tyshalle takes everything up a notch. Action-packed mayhem and ideas that make you think? Yes, you can have it all. Bloody brilliant.
5 out of 5 Stars
Because I had such a long wait time between this book and the first in the Acts of Caine, Heroes Die, I had lots of time to read reviews and such and opinions are actually quite divisive.
On one side, you have those who absolutely adore the book and yet acknowledge how different it is from Heroes Die. These people tend to like Blade more than the Heroes. On the other side, you have those who just hated it, hated that it was a completely different book with a simple premise. I found myself in the former category (hence the 5 stars I guess).
I went into Blade not really knowing what to think, but having this idea that it would be a completely different book than it was. I had this picture that it would be a philosophical treatise almost. I was wrong. Not completely wrong, but very wrong nonetheless.
The thing is, Blade of Tyshalle is everything you would expect in a sequel to Heroes Die. It's easily one of the bloodiest, action-filled, killfests around. This was, for some reason, a big surprise to me. There is constant action.
At the same time, Blade is a very introspective book (this is where the philosophy comes in). There are lots of ideas thrown around about life and about living. I didn't even necessarily agree with all of them, but it got me really thinking.
Stover's "about the author" in some of his books reads something like, "Matthew Stover believes everything you need to know about life can be found in his books." I always thought that was pretty conceited, but now I'm starting to see why he believes this way.
One of the main arguments he puts forth here in Blade of Tyshalle is that you can really do anything you want. If you want it, do it. It's that simple. This kind of thinking really jives with me. I very much believe that life is what you make it, even as cheesy as that sounds. If you want to be rich, you can do it, you just gotta work your butt off to get it. Same goes for fame, for anything.
I think most of us fall in the category of 1) having multiple passions, which means all suffer and/or 2) getting comfortable where you are (or lazy in my case), which is why we're not rich or famous, but probably a lot happier. I'll stop before this takes over...
Anyway, tangent aside, the world that Stover has created is incredible. If the fact that his world contains a futuristic caste-based society that sends "actors" to a medieval fantasy-type world to reek havoc and practice magic purely for entertainment doesn't make you want to read a book, I don't know what would.
Seven years after the ending of Heroes Die, the first in the Acts of Caine, Caine finds himself it a bit un-Caine-like situation. He no longer has the use of his legs, what with that whole magical sword, Kosall, running him through to his spine. In fact, he hates when people remind him he's Caine.
His best "friend" (i.e., not really his friend at all, but worst enemy), Tan'elKoth, formerly known as Ma'elKoth or the bad guy from Heroes Die who found himself "transcended" to Earth, is the only one he can really talk to.
While "Caine" (or Hari now) pines for his old life, he now lives with his wife, Shanna, and daughter, Faith. He was even bumped up a caste to Administrator. So really, he's got it made. Well, not really at all because then we wouldn't have this fun story here.
Being Caine, Hari ticked of his share of people on both Overworld and Earth and that doesn't bode well for a nice, peaceful life of luxury. With a mix of old grudges and dark powers arising, Blade of Tyshalle ups the ante from Heroes Die in so many ways.
Not only does Blade deal with a medieval world that can be accessed from Earth, but the ideas Stover presents are epic themselves. Is it worth saving the world when you can't save a loved one? Is the world even worth saving? Is it worth saving one world while damning another? What if the first world has billions of more people, and especially children? These are just a couple of the questions that really had me thinking.
If there's anything I hate, it's plot-lines where the main protagonist, the hero even, loses his powers. This didn't work for me in Spider-man 2 or in Batman Returns. Although I still enjoyed the latter, I didn't love it because of this aspect. In this book, that seems to be the case, that Caine has lost his Mojo. It could be argued so, and I was definitely of this opinion for most of my read, but it's really not the case. Is it really the physical parts of you that make you you?
While at the limits of my gag reflex, Blade of Tyshalle comes highly recommended. It has EVERYTHING you could ever want from a fantasy and so much more. The pages turn themselves, the writing's spectacular, the world is insane and fully fleshed out (much more here than in Heroes Die too), and the action is the best you'll find. This isn't just puffery, I challenge you to find better action.
As bloody and brilliant as you would expect from the awesomeness that was Heroes Die and yet Blade of Tyshalle takes everything up a notch. Action-packed mayhem and ideas that make you think? Yes, you can have it all. Bloody brilliant.
5 out of 5 Stars
adventurous
challenging
dark
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Confinement, Cursing, Violence, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Excrement, Medical trauma
Minor: Homophobia
Plot hinges around internalized ableism and Caine/Hari learning to use magic to reverse his paraplegia so long as he's in the Overworld .
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-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
I really loved the first book, but this one is much weaker - it gets a 3 star rating instead of 2 star, just because I liked Caine and Kris Hanson. It starts out well, but then it just spirals down into the ridiculous and unbelievable. The last 40% of the book is especially bad. It's mostly filled with metaphysical and philosophical nonsense, and you will have no idea what is going on half the time. Everyone is living inside someone else's body. Everyone is literally crawling around in shit and their legs are rotting off - the gruesome details get to be really tedious. Suddenly everyone has godlike powers, people that are dead come back to life, plus . This one is so different from the first book, you won't even recognize it. I'm going to read the next book, just because I already bought it, and hope that it returns to the form of the first book instead of the deus ex machina word vomit of this book.
Spoiler
Caine, can suddenly not only walk, but run and fight
warning: Spoilers ahead.
As I read the book, I was struck by how many recent SciFi movies have dealt with similar themes.
Like the Matrix: we are introduced to a sentient entity which controls humanity. The difference here is that instead of an alien, the entity is just a manifestation of our greed and the damage we are doing to the planet.
Like Avatar, here too, Earth has run out of resources and enterprising corporations decide to start mining other planets: displacing its current inhabitants for profit. In this case, they first cause a plague which they then use as an excuse to send in 'aid'.
The book begins 7 years after the events of the first. Hari is no longer the assassin Caine. He has been tamed by the Studio with a job and promises of safety from persecution for his father and a future for his child.
On discovering a plot to infect a plague on Overworld, he acts quickly: publicizing the event without overtly mentioning the Studio as its cause and dispatching his wife (who can commune with a river God) to fashion a cure.
His enemies decide to use the opportunity to break him and in a quick succession of events: take away everything: his job, father & child. He finds himself on Overworld- a cripple- being used as bait to kill his wife before she can cure the plague.
The good:
A 'larger' plot than the first - Caine is no longer fighting for his own future but that of an entire planet.
Imaginative writing: you are given several glimpses of Caine's progression: from a troubled teen to the man, from Caine to dejected and resentful Hari and his evolution thereafter.
The author delves deeper into philosophy and religion than you would expect in such a book. Caine often finds himself arguing against 'Cainists': followers of what they believe is his philosophy.
The Bad:
As in the last book, the violence is too gruesome in places. The pace at times seemed too slow. Even though reading SciFi involves suspending disbelief, some parts still seemed too improbable. When reading a book which relies on suspense, I would rather read one which gives me all the clues and puts them together cleverly at the end than one which introduces clues after the climax.
Recommended for SciFi and action fans who don't mind heavy dozes of gore and philosophy.
As I read the book, I was struck by how many recent SciFi movies have dealt with similar themes.
Like the Matrix: we are introduced to a sentient entity which controls humanity. The difference here is that instead of an alien, the entity is just a manifestation of our greed and the damage we are doing to the planet.
Like Avatar, here too, Earth has run out of resources and enterprising corporations decide to start mining other planets: displacing its current inhabitants for profit. In this case, they first cause a plague which they then use as an excuse to send in 'aid'.
The book begins 7 years after the events of the first. Hari is no longer the assassin Caine. He has been tamed by the Studio with a job and promises of safety from persecution for his father and a future for his child.
On discovering a plot to infect a plague on Overworld, he acts quickly: publicizing the event without overtly mentioning the Studio as its cause and dispatching his wife (who can commune with a river God) to fashion a cure.
His enemies decide to use the opportunity to break him and in a quick succession of events: take away everything: his job, father & child. He finds himself on Overworld- a cripple- being used as bait to kill his wife before she can cure the plague.
The good:
A 'larger' plot than the first - Caine is no longer fighting for his own future but that of an entire planet.
Imaginative writing: you are given several glimpses of Caine's progression: from a troubled teen to the man, from Caine to dejected and resentful Hari and his evolution thereafter.
The author delves deeper into philosophy and religion than you would expect in such a book. Caine often finds himself arguing against 'Cainists': followers of what they believe is his philosophy.
The Bad:
As in the last book, the violence is too gruesome in places. The pace at times seemed too slow. Even though reading SciFi involves suspending disbelief, some parts still seemed too improbable. When reading a book which relies on suspense, I would rather read one which gives me all the clues and puts them together cleverly at the end than one which introduces clues after the climax.
Recommended for SciFi and action fans who don't mind heavy dozes of gore and philosophy.
SUPER GRAPHIC. Don't read this if you have a squeamish stomach! It's really gross at times. But it is a good story. Great to continue to follow Caine. Some parts are really messed up though...
A proper review to arrive soon...
This is easily my book of the year so far.
Acts of Caine became even more than what already was - the series is unbelievably underrated. Stover went above and beyond om themes and even philosophy here. The tone also feels different, but better.
Loved seeing the change of direction.
Onto the next one.
This is easily my book of the year so far.
Acts of Caine became even more than what already was - the series is unbelievably underrated. Stover went above and beyond om themes and even philosophy here. The tone also feels different, but better.
Loved seeing the change of direction.
Onto the next one.
adventurous
dark
slow-paced