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grid's review
4.0
This was better than I expected, having read some pretty scathing goodreads reviews before deciding to reserve it from the library. I wouldn’t say it had nearly as many of the unexpected twists and turns that made the earlier books in the original trilogy great, but I wasn’t disappointed either, and it was just as much of a page turner.
charlibirb's review
3.0
This book wasn't as necessary. Story was over. It's not bad, but kind of a weird jump back into the world.
mjfmjfmjf's review against another edition
3.0
The fourth book in a completed trilogy that I read for the Endeavour. I really didn't want to like this book. Prior to this year I had read a few books by Dave Duncan, none of which I liked - but this year I've read three for the Endeavour and they are all good. This one is a world somewhat reminiscent of River World with a character that apparently parachuted in sort of like John Carter with rules of life vaguely like the Rules of Acquisition and a bringing of technology somewhat like a Lest Darkness Fall or perhaps a Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court. With kind of a silly plot with loads of Deus Ex Machina. But it came across as a pretty good story that was just plain fun to read. As a fan of this series, I'd have to think this book is probably a gift-wrapped present. Is this exactly what I like to read? No. But it was certainly good enough. 3.5 of 5.
thinde's review against another edition
4.0
It's been at least ten years since I thought I'd finished this wonderful series. I was pleasantly surprised to learn a fourth book had been appended. The third had seemed to finish the story so convincingly that I was curious as to how things would be extended.
It was a pleasure to revisit the world of the Goddess, along with several old friends. If not quite as good as the first two books in the series, this outing was equal to the third book. My only complaint was with how quickly the broader conflict was resolved. We just have to believe that the Goddess arranged things so.
It was a pleasure to revisit the world of the Goddess, along with several old friends. If not quite as good as the first two books in the series, this outing was equal to the third book. My only complaint was with how quickly the broader conflict was resolved. We just have to believe that the Goddess arranged things so.
metaphorosis's review against another edition
3.0
3 stars - Metaphorosis Reviews
Wallie Smith, reincarnated as Shonsu of the Seventh Sword, is now the deputy head of a widespread Tryst of peace. When his principal Nnanji is attacked and badly injured, the entire Tryst risks coming apart unless Wallie can find a clever solution.
The Seventh Sword was Dave Duncan's first fantasy trilogy, and not a particularly good one. With The Death of Nnanji, he revisits the world with a great deal more authorial experience. Unfortunately, little of it shows.
I'm a fan of Dave Duncan, but the original Seventh Sword trilogy was badly flawed and unsatisfying. I had hopes that this fourth, additional volume would see Duncan bringing his wealth of experience to bear in a way that would resurrect the series. In practice, the book went the other way - drowning Duncan's experience in all the flaws of the original trilogy.
As always, the story is light and quick to read. Wallie/Shonsu tries to bring his engineering experience to bear on World problems, but fails to take the culture fully into account. The result is disappointing and formulaic - setback, solution, setback, solution, with no great effort at credibility. To complicate matters, by this last book I've given up on understanding the geography of the World and its river, never well explained. Though travel is important to the plot, I just ignored the parts where Wallie talks about how you can get from here to there, but not there to here. None of it really made sense.
This was a book that didn't need to be written. Duncan resurrects some backstory, and the plot ties in reasonably well, but there's really not much new presented here. There's some nice wrap-up that the original trilogy was missing, but it wasn't really vital to have.
Substantively, the book is a modest continuation of the story, but it feels a bit tacked on. Duncan appears to lose track of some of his own world's rules (a king ordering a swordsman reeve to do something), and the treatment of women hasn't improved much (though this is a pretty male-focused story).
I had hoped for more - particularly, more evidence of Duncan's skill and maturity as a writer, but it doesn't show up. If you liked the original trilogy, you'll like this. For anyone else, there's no strong reason to buy the book.
_
As so often, this is one of Open Road's apparently un-proofread books - there are frequent typos.
Wallie Smith, reincarnated as Shonsu of the Seventh Sword, is now the deputy head of a widespread Tryst of peace. When his principal Nnanji is attacked and badly injured, the entire Tryst risks coming apart unless Wallie can find a clever solution.
The Seventh Sword was Dave Duncan's first fantasy trilogy, and not a particularly good one. With The Death of Nnanji, he revisits the world with a great deal more authorial experience. Unfortunately, little of it shows.
I'm a fan of Dave Duncan, but the original Seventh Sword trilogy was badly flawed and unsatisfying. I had hopes that this fourth, additional volume would see Duncan bringing his wealth of experience to bear in a way that would resurrect the series. In practice, the book went the other way - drowning Duncan's experience in all the flaws of the original trilogy.
As always, the story is light and quick to read. Wallie/Shonsu tries to bring his engineering experience to bear on World problems, but fails to take the culture fully into account. The result is disappointing and formulaic - setback, solution, setback, solution, with no great effort at credibility. To complicate matters, by this last book I've given up on understanding the geography of the World and its river, never well explained. Though travel is important to the plot, I just ignored the parts where Wallie talks about how you can get from here to there, but not there to here. None of it really made sense.
This was a book that didn't need to be written. Duncan resurrects some backstory, and the plot ties in reasonably well, but there's really not much new presented here. There's some nice wrap-up that the original trilogy was missing, but it wasn't really vital to have.
Substantively, the book is a modest continuation of the story, but it feels a bit tacked on. Duncan appears to lose track of some of his own world's rules (a king ordering a swordsman reeve to do something), and the treatment of women hasn't improved much (though this is a pretty male-focused story).
I had hoped for more - particularly, more evidence of Duncan's skill and maturity as a writer, but it doesn't show up. If you liked the original trilogy, you'll like this. For anyone else, there's no strong reason to buy the book.
_
As so often, this is one of Open Road's apparently un-proofread books - there are frequent typos.
chukg's review
3.0
If you liked the first three, you will probably like this one. It's almost a next generation book but Wallie is still around. And there will probably not be another sequel in another 20 years.
vaderbird's review against another edition
3.0
5 star - Perfect
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
ams316's review
2.0
The only real positive thing I can say about this book is that the sentences are coherent and it is edited well.
First, the title is a cheat. Nnanji doesn’t die until ripe old age in the epilogue.
Second, there is no explanation of why the God of Jewels interfered again. Considering the end of the original series, this is highly suspect.
Third, it’s about Vixi and Addis, who we don’t really get to care about before they stumble into winning a war, mostly by accident.
It felt like a children’s book to give everyone a happy ending without even working for it.
I love Dave Duncan’s work. But this is possibly his worst book.
First, the title is a cheat. Nnanji doesn’t die until ripe old age in the epilogue.
Second, there is no explanation of why the God of Jewels interfered again. Considering the end of the original series, this is highly suspect.
Third, it’s about Vixi and Addis, who we don’t really get to care about before they stumble into winning a war, mostly by accident.
It felt like a children’s book to give everyone a happy ending without even working for it.
I love Dave Duncan’s work. But this is possibly his worst book.
froggye9dcc's review
5.0
Wow, this was great! About halfway through it becomes un-put-downable. Though the title is a cheap trick to get people to buy it. It's a great book nevertheless.
vinayvasan's review
3.0
A worthy addition to what is one of my all time favorite trilogy, even if things fall into place too conveniently towards the end...
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