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timinbc's review against another edition
4.0
Many other reviews here are accurate.
I haven't read his Monster Hunters series. Sounds as if that was a distraction for many readers (or listeners).
I'll just add that as I got into the powers I soon thought that the author would paint himself into a corner, and we'd all realize that anyone with power X can take out anyone with power Y at any time by simply taking action Z. Didn't happen. Well done, Larry.
Good step of powers and characters. Almost too many characters, but in the end they were all needed.
Ridiculous amount of action, in well-written and reasonably plausible (given the implausible powers) scenes. I was concerned that the Healers make everything non-final. but Correia cleverly made them somewhat rare and not implausibly powerful.
I'd be interested to know whether he dashed off a quick adventure then went back and rebalanced all the Powers to make it all mesh smoothly.
Warning: there's quite a lot of gore and hacking. As long as you know. If you read any action or zombie stuff at all you'll understand.
+1 for the non-essential tribute at the end where he
I haven't read his Monster Hunters series. Sounds as if that was a distraction for many readers (or listeners).
I'll just add that as I got into the powers I soon thought that the author would paint himself into a corner, and we'd all realize that anyone with power X can take out anyone with power Y at any time by simply taking action Z. Didn't happen. Well done, Larry.
Good step of powers and characters. Almost too many characters, but in the end they were all needed.
Ridiculous amount of action, in well-written and reasonably plausible (given the implausible powers) scenes. I was concerned that the Healers make everything non-final. but Correia cleverly made them somewhat rare and not implausibly powerful.
I'd be interested to know whether he dashed off a quick adventure then went back and rebalanced all the Powers to make it all mesh smoothly.
Warning: there's quite a lot of gore and hacking. As long as you know. If you read any action or zombie stuff at all you'll understand.
+1 for the non-essential tribute at the end where he
Spoiler
introduces an accountant, then reveals that his name is Chandler, then has him say he wants to try writing, and finally casually says, "'Bye, Ray" as the guy leaves.testaroscia's review against another edition
3.0
Entertaining easy fantasy, with interesting twist on history, some good characters and fast moving plot.
princ_a_listicka's review against another edition
5.0
Amerika, 30. léta 20. století… tedy alternativní. Ve světě Drsné magie je všechno úplně jinak než jsme se učili ve školách. Během 19. století se na Zemi objevila Moc, síla pramenící z neznáma. Moc propůjčuje některým lidem zvláštní schopnosti, které jsou závislé na tom jak silně a na jaký okruh moci je člověk napojen. Lidé, mágové, ovládající moc jsou označování jako Aktivní či Pasivní. Pasivní ovšem narozdíl od aktivního není schopen využít Moc dle vlastního uvážení. Lidé mají z mágů obavy, i když to byly právě mágové, kteří vyhráli velkou válku. Tedy k jejímu ukončení pomohl Nikola Tesla, který vynalezl super zbraň označenou jako Mírový paprsek. Nebyla to ovšem nejničivější zbraň, kterou vytvořil.
Hlavní hrdina, Jake Sullivan je vlastenec, bývalý voják a trestanec. Z vězení jej dostane jen dohoda s J. Edgarem Hoover, jejímž předmětem je lovení Aktivních, tedy těch na špatné straně zákona. Když se na seznamu objeví jméno Delilah Jonesová, Jake netuší jaké problémy na něj čekají.
Nebudu lhát, urban fatasy mám velice rád, protože je zasazena do našeho světa, tedy aspoň částečně. Larry Correia ovládá žánr naprosto bravurně, neb jeho tvorbě nechybí humor, akce, ano i romantická linka a brutalita. Přestože je úvod poněkud nejasný a můžete mít dojem, že se lehce ztrácíte, nemusíte se ničeho bát, vše bude postupem času vysvětleno. Alternativní realita je představována s naprostou přirození, místy máte pocit jako by se jednalo o skutečnost. Charakterům je věnován dostatek péče a prostoru, díky tomu nepůsobí nikterak ploše či prvoplánově. Drsná magie není výplň mezi dalším dílem Lovců monster, ale z každé stránky čiší „Jsem Grimnoirská kronika, pamatuj si to a nezapomeň“. Larry je milovníkem akce, proto ani tady nechybí, ale jako vždy nemá negativní vliv na zápletku.
Podtrženo sečteno… Drsná magie je skvělý příběh odehrávající se v alternativní realitě. Některé postavy budete milovat, jiné nenávidět. Jisté je však to, že od první stránky vás bude bavit! A je to tu zase, netrpělivě očekávám pokračování, které je již na cestě.
Hlavní hrdina, Jake Sullivan je vlastenec, bývalý voják a trestanec. Z vězení jej dostane jen dohoda s J. Edgarem Hoover, jejímž předmětem je lovení Aktivních, tedy těch na špatné straně zákona. Když se na seznamu objeví jméno Delilah Jonesová, Jake netuší jaké problémy na něj čekají.
Nebudu lhát, urban fatasy mám velice rád, protože je zasazena do našeho světa, tedy aspoň částečně. Larry Correia ovládá žánr naprosto bravurně, neb jeho tvorbě nechybí humor, akce, ano i romantická linka a brutalita. Přestože je úvod poněkud nejasný a můžete mít dojem, že se lehce ztrácíte, nemusíte se ničeho bát, vše bude postupem času vysvětleno. Alternativní realita je představována s naprostou přirození, místy máte pocit jako by se jednalo o skutečnost. Charakterům je věnován dostatek péče a prostoru, díky tomu nepůsobí nikterak ploše či prvoplánově. Drsná magie není výplň mezi dalším dílem Lovců monster, ale z každé stránky čiší „Jsem Grimnoirská kronika, pamatuj si to a nezapomeň“. Larry je milovníkem akce, proto ani tady nechybí, ale jako vždy nemá negativní vliv na zápletku.
Podtrženo sečteno… Drsná magie je skvělý příběh odehrávající se v alternativní realitě. Některé postavy budete milovat, jiné nenávidět. Jisté je však to, že od první stránky vás bude bavit! A je to tu zase, netrpělivě očekávám pokračování, které je již na cestě.
joshhall13's review against another edition
3.0
The writing: Good. Just good. No subversive text or any deeper meaning here.
The characters are written excellently. Faye and Sullivan are the best. I rooted for them from the moment they were introduced.
The audiobook: Bronson Pinchot is REALLY good when he's good. However, when he's bad, he's cringe worthy bad.
The magic system is alright.
The characters are written excellently. Faye and Sullivan are the best. I rooted for them from the moment they were introduced.
The audiobook: Bronson Pinchot is REALLY good when he's good. However, when he's bad, he's cringe worthy bad.
The magic system is alright.
orsuros's review against another edition
4.0
The book had fun characters, nice action, and a lot of fun magic and lore. It felt like the gritty, gangster-era action plot it was supposed to be in all the best ways. There were some good character moments, but having more of them and a little more depth to them wouldn't have been bad, either.
lord_petros's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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? Yes
4.0
chaospyromancy's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
krestomanci's review against another edition
3.0
A decent noir read with great pacing and a unique take on magic. The one thing that really needled me is the alternate history bits that really pushed the Japanese as the big bad guys and the blatant racism on the part of the narrative and many of the POV characters as a result. Makes for a good, exciting read if you can tolerate that.
jon_a's review against another edition
5.0
Hard Magic is a pulp/science-fiction/adventure novel, involving wizards, super-strong samurai, teleporting ninjas and Nicola Tesla.
But it doesn't just rely on gimmicky setting to make an interesting story. The characters are more than shallow stereotypes. Each one has their own idiosyncrasies and characteristics that draws the reader to them. Some parts of novel came off a bit cliche, but even these small bits have an original slant that brings a little something new to the table.
I guess my only complaint is that Hard Magic is missing a key element of the genre. But it's hard to include Nazis when most of Germany was turned into zombies during WWI.
But it doesn't just rely on gimmicky setting to make an interesting story. The characters are more than shallow stereotypes. Each one has their own idiosyncrasies and characteristics that draws the reader to them. Some parts of novel came off a bit cliche, but even these small bits have an original slant that brings a little something new to the table.
I guess my only complaint is that Hard Magic is missing a key element of the genre. But it's hard to include Nazis when most of Germany was turned into zombies during WWI.
papidoc's review against another edition
3.0
Light fiction, urban fantasy crossed with noir...not too bad for mindless entertainment. And Correia knows his firearms, unlike many other writers. You've gotta love a fantastical detective story where a Solothurn makes an appearance. And John Moses Browning for goodness sake! It was some fun, the characters and artifacts and magical abilities that populate Correia's imagination.