Reviews

I gave this book two stars for two things. One: the setting and group. It’s rare to read a book that focuses on an elder race. The Melnibonéans remind me of an elvish race, stronger and older than man but dying out in a world transitioning into a new era that no longer suits them. If I could compare them to a similar group then it would be the elves from the Silmarillion. Back when Elves had more presence the in Middle Earth and fought on the behalf of higher powers to defeat evil. Still their era changes and none more so than their emperor. But before I get to the titular character I’ll talk about the other star. If I could describe it then perhaps the theme or vibe I feel. Elric is stuck on a path and whether it is destiny or fate he seeks to make his own path no matter the forces that are out to control him. It’s something that I can respect although the story doesn’t do the idea justice in my opinion.

First off Elric is not fun to follow. He enjoys one of the greatest positions in the mortal world and yet for all his position allows he seems to despise all of it. From his job as emperor to his weak and feeble body. The only thing that doesn’t bore him is his lover and his friends. But even they do not satisfy his conscientious spirit. Somehow being the emperor of the greatest empire in the world simply makes him yawn.

He’s definitely my main problem with the book. I couldn’t help but compare it to Conan another larger than life character who comes from a similar setting and genre. But where Conan has zeal for life and yearning for adventure, Elric has no care for his kingdom or himself. Elric’s lack of charisma and charm makes him more pitiful than admirable.

Definitely my biggest frustration was Elric’s decisions throughout the book. Some human ravager come to kill your people and pillage your land. Let them retreat so that they can live to attack another day. When Yyrkoon almost kills him and then managed to get away I really thought that now Elric would show some backbone and show some righteous fury. But even towards the end after his hated enemy kidnaps his wife and almost gains the power to wipe out half the world he still decided to spare him. AND NOT ONLY THAT he decides to give the empire which they were fighting over to the guy who AGAIN kidnapped his lover and almost killed him. Elric must be insane because none of his decisions make any sense. It’s one thing to have a conscience, it’s a whole nother to be a brian damaged moron. Even his lover questions him about literally trusting a man who almost killed him twice and caused the death of the men who ventured with Elric.

As this is the first book I don’t want to be too judgmental but I can scarcely believe that this is a character on the same level as the legendary Conan.

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