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brerfrog's review against another edition
4.0
Despite being a series about awful people being awful to each other, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Looking forward to the next one.
vickerstaylor's review
5.0
This entry in the Gap Cycle definitely was a step up in every single way. Cranked the politics up to 11 and gave our characters some much needed growth, while providing some great action set pieces during the climax. Excited to see where it goes in book 4.
thedashdude's review against another edition
5.0
The Real Story: 3/5
Very short. A fun concept, telling the same story from several different directions to lead to different conclusions. Pretty dark. Nothing about it was really exceptional, but it was enjoyable.
Forbidden Knowledge: 2/5
A long book about being trapped in a spaceship with the same people for several months. Tedious, nothing happens but shuffling people around a bit. Characters are well done but the book just doesn't justify itself. Just drawn out connective tissue. The ending sets up the next book really well so I kept going.
A Dark and Hungry God Arises: 5/5
A whole new author I swear. Continuous high-stakes thrilling space action. Betrayals and twists and insane character developments. So good. Takes place over the course of like three days and more happens than in the last two books put together.
Chaos and Order: 5/5
Another banger. The scope is bigger, but he's still managing to pull twists and character choices that are just gripping.
This Day All Gods Die: 4/5
A good ending. Felt a little less tightly woven than the last two, but I was satisfied.
Hard series to recommend. Starts with two weak books in a row. I only kept going because book 3 has a raw title. Worth it? Maybe. I wish you could skip book 1 & 2 but I don't think it works great.
Impressed Donaldson managed to go five books without ever telling me what anything looked like.
Very short. A fun concept, telling the same story from several different directions to lead to different conclusions. Pretty dark. Nothing about it was really exceptional, but it was enjoyable.
Forbidden Knowledge: 2/5
A long book about being trapped in a spaceship with the same people for several months. Tedious, nothing happens but shuffling people around a bit. Characters are well done but the book just doesn't justify itself. Just drawn out connective tissue. The ending sets up the next book really well so I kept going.
A Dark and Hungry God Arises: 5/5
A whole new author I swear. Continuous high-stakes thrilling space action. Betrayals and twists and insane character developments. So good. Takes place over the course of like three days and more happens than in the last two books put together.
Chaos and Order: 5/5
Another banger. The scope is bigger, but he's still managing to pull twists and character choices that are just gripping.
This Day All Gods Die: 4/5
A good ending. Felt a little less tightly woven than the last two, but I was satisfied.
Hard series to recommend. Starts with two weak books in a row. I only kept going because book 3 has a raw title. Worth it? Maybe. I wish you could skip book 1 & 2 but I don't think it works great.
Impressed Donaldson managed to go five books without ever telling me what anything looked like.
good_quiet_kitty's review against another edition
3.0
Definitely liked this one better than the last, but all the plotting and counter-plotting gets a bit frustrating. I'm still not sure I understand what some of the characters are really trying to accomplish.
brents's review against another edition
5.0
Series Hits Its Stride
This is easily my favorite book so far in Donaldson's Gap Cycle series. This book finally gets out of the mode of repeating some of my least favorite aspects of the first two books and brings in something I really like, scheming and betrayal. All the characters including the new povs that are introduced have schemes within schemes and plots within plots. It can at times get a little confusing as characters mislead and lie to one another as it can be hard to remember what their actual agendas are. But also it's really freakin fun to read. Also, Donaldson writes the povs in such a way that the scheming is made more interesting by the internal character motivations. Add to that a climax and conclusion that are just non-stop page turners for the last 100 pages and you get one hell of a book.
This is easily my favorite book so far in Donaldson's Gap Cycle series. This book finally gets out of the mode of repeating some of my least favorite aspects of the first two books and brings in something I really like, scheming and betrayal. All the characters including the new povs that are introduced have schemes within schemes and plots within plots. It can at times get a little confusing as characters mislead and lie to one another as it can be hard to remember what their actual agendas are. But also it's really freakin fun to read. Also, Donaldson writes the povs in such a way that the scheming is made more interesting by the internal character motivations. Add to that a climax and conclusion that are just non-stop page turners for the last 100 pages and you get one hell of a book.
angrywombat's review against another edition
4.0
The Plot thickens!
Now the politics that have been manipulating our characters starts to come into the forefront, and all these contradictory desires come into conflict in the pirate haven of Billingate - a true cesspit of humanity which is just inside Amnion space.
And still - we dont know exactly what the "real story" is! There are still hidden agendas, and the various characters are trying to give explanations of what is going on, and acting on those theories which just adds more problems for everyone involved :)
Now the politics that have been manipulating our characters starts to come into the forefront, and all these contradictory desires come into conflict in the pirate haven of Billingate - a true cesspit of humanity which is just inside Amnion space.
And still - we dont know exactly what the "real story" is! There are still hidden agendas, and the various characters are trying to give explanations of what is going on, and acting on those theories which just adds more problems for everyone involved :)
angelahayes's review against another edition
4.0
The Gap Into Power: A Dark and Hungry God Arises (The Gap Cycle Book #3)
by Stephen R. Donaldson
Buddy Read. Review to come.
by Stephen R. Donaldson
Buddy Read. Review to come.
ineffablebob's review
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Much like the first two books, the plot and scope of world-building is very impressive, while the characters are generally completely awful. Unlike the prior books, a few decent people do finally show up, and some of the prior minor characters even redeem themselves a bit. Not Angus or Nick, of course. The intrigue and depth of plotting in this series is great, and keeps me reading even knowing that I'll have to wade through the sewer of terrible humans that is the cast of characters.