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4.11 AVERAGE
4.11 AVERAGE
Glen Cook has delivered a wonderful piece of fantasy yet again, but I found myself wanting just a bit more out of my favorite characters.
The new characters did not grow on me as much as the existing ones. I found the overall introduction of Smeds and his crew to be lacking. Perhaps it was because the progression was almost like a roller coaster. Initially they come off as wimps trying to get rich, but then all of a sudden they are deadly. That had me a little bit confused.
Overall, this book is worth the read if you plan on progressing in the series and want to find out the answers to some questions the first 3 books posed.
Spoiler
For instance, Croaker is referenced in the second book, and of course the ladies sister, but after that brief glimpse they are treated like ghosts. Never to be referenced again. I'm not quite sure where the author is going with this series, but I would give the next few books a shot so I can see if we find out about some unanswered questions.The new characters did not grow on me as much as the existing ones. I found the overall introduction of Smeds and his crew to be lacking. Perhaps it was because the progression was almost like a roller coaster. Initially they come off as wimps trying to get rich, but then all of a sudden they are deadly. That had me a little bit confused.
Overall, this book is worth the read if you plan on progressing in the series and want to find out the answers to some questions the first 3 books posed.
Really liked the 2 books that focus on Croaker's narration, but I wasn't as interested in the characters that we backtrack to follow in "The Silver Spike."
The first book in this collection didn't do it for me, but the second snd third made up for it. Four stars overall.
I enjoyed the fantastical combined with the sensible. 3.5 stars rounding up. I didn't love the new characters and missed the old ones!
Glen Cook has definitely improved in these volumes, though a few issues persist. Overall though, they are minor quibbles that I can start overlooking.
Shadow Games and Dreams of Steel were both decent but not great until the very end. I both like Lady and abhor her. But I think that's the point. I sometimes think that there's still too much posturing during internal monologues and occasionally decisions I don't understand.
The end of the second book is a great setup. Very excited for the next installments.
Now to the last book, the Silver Spike. This is the real gem of this collection, I have to admit. It's right up there with Shadows Linger as some of Cook's strongest writing. The plot is almost as much heist as it is epic fantasy (and it gets pretty epic, to use an overused phrase), and the twists and turns are incredibly fun and even satisfying until the end when a random no-name manages to outwit and outfight all the remnants of the Black Company left in Oar. It just...seemed overwrought I guess. That said, it is arguably my favorite of the 6 novels I've read by Cook.
The element that really did it for me though, was Case's narrative and the way he broke down Raven's motivations, methods and justification. It was a much needed introspective that most of the other books lack utterly. The Silver Spike is rendered much stronger for its presence.
Shadow Games and Dreams of Steel were both decent but not great until the very end. I both like Lady and abhor her. But I think that's the point. I sometimes think that there's still too much posturing during internal monologues and occasionally decisions I don't understand.
The end of the second book is a great setup. Very excited for the next installments.
Now to the last book, the Silver Spike. This is the real gem of this collection, I have to admit. It's right up there with Shadows Linger as some of Cook's strongest writing. The plot is almost as much heist as it is epic fantasy (and it gets pretty epic, to use an overused phrase), and the twists and turns are incredibly fun and even satisfying until the end when a random no-name manages to outwit and outfight all the remnants of the Black Company left in Oar. It just...seemed overwrought I guess. That said, it is arguably my favorite of the 6 novels I've read by Cook.
The element that really did it for me though, was Case's narrative and the way he broke down Raven's motivations, methods and justification. It was a much needed introspective that most of the other books lack utterly. The Silver Spike is rendered much stronger for its presence.
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
If you're this far into the series, you know what to expect. Dark humor, morally ambiguous characters, the horrors of war, a darkness looming over the world, and bad guys that somehow get you rooting for them. These books differ from the earlier ones in that they dig into the romantic relationships between characters, although I hesitate to use the word "romance" to describe what happens. Without giving anything away, the number of players you pay attention to decreases, which actually makes the story that much more compelling. The Silver Spike (book 3.5) is a nice detour from the main story arc that actually ties together a few loose ends in a fairly satisfying way. The others continue the epic saga that, let's be honest, you really want to watch unfold and didn't realize was still ongoing. If you read the first 3 books and are still interested, grab the next 3. You'll be pleasantly entertained.
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Den sista boken i den här samlingen var väldigt bra i början och byggde upp för en riktigt spännande andra halva. Tyvärr känner jag att det blev rätt tråkigt och platt avslut istället. Men The Black Company kommer alltid ha en speciell plats i mitt hjärta. Speciellt den första boken. Det spelar ingen roll om vissa av böckerna har ganska svaga berättelser, för känslan och världen som beskrivs är något alldeles extra. Kommer garanterat att fortsätta läsa vidare i denna serie och kan bara hoppas att nästa bok har mer att erbjuda!
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated