Scan barcode
tomtrimail's review
challenging
slow-paced
2.75
The writing quality is fine but it's considerably overlong. It peaks early and then becomes a chore.
krep___'s review against another edition
2.75
Unfortunately I read this after its prequel Maia, thinking that reading them in historical sequence would be a good idea. Maia was so much larger in scope and character development and so much more engaging, that Shardik kind of pales in comparison. Shardik's fine, but I should have read it first. It's more of a warm-up for Maia.
its_jess24's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
lakecake's review against another edition
2.0
This book was a slog. I became interested at first after it was mentioned in Stephen King's Dark Tower series. And then I read Watership Down and was even more interested. And then this book sat on my shelf for like...8 years. Because everytime I tried it, something better came up. But this time I was determined. And thank heaven I was because it took every ounce of my willpower to finish it.
This book is too long by about 300 pages. I understand that Adams considers this book his masterpiece, and I can understand why as an author. There are passages in here with descriptions so lush you can literally taste what he's putting on the page. But. Those descriptions are too many and the detail becomes overwhelming and a little bit excruciating.
Shardik is about man's eternal folly: pride. There are many parts of it that resonate, particularly now. The heart of the story is solid, but it could use with some abridgment.
This book is too long by about 300 pages. I understand that Adams considers this book his masterpiece, and I can understand why as an author. There are passages in here with descriptions so lush you can literally taste what he's putting on the page. But. Those descriptions are too many and the detail becomes overwhelming and a little bit excruciating.
Shardik is about man's eternal folly: pride. There are many parts of it that resonate, particularly now. The heart of the story is solid, but it could use with some abridgment.
shieldbearer's review against another edition
5.0
Frankly, a good 15% of the book could be cut without affecting the complexity of the plot or characterization- Adams, as always, is very heavy on description. But this is a wonderful book with very human, very well-layered characters and world building. By far the strongest subplots are those of the Lord Elleroth and Radu and it is a shame that neither get more focus, but Adams does a good job giving complexity to all his side characters- the Tuginda, Methalys and Bel-Ka-Trazet in particular. Definitely worth a read.
heinsohn42's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
lordenglishssbm's review against another edition
3.0
Shardik's philosophical exploration is interesting, but it's too long for what it's trying to achieve, though Adam's considerable prose skills ensure that it never becomes quite too dull to continue. I like the way it explores religion, in particular the complex and shifting relationship the main character has with the bear who may or may not be an actual god, but while its exploration is varied and thoughtful, you'll get the overall point well before the ending, and it's just a lot to get through after that.
I like it, I guess, but I think I could have liked it a lot more.
I like it, I guess, but I think I could have liked it a lot more.
aaairm's review against another edition
2.0
A tough read, but I would say it was worth it. It is interesting how little the book is about the bear, but at the same time, how important the bear is to the book and all its characters.