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blacksentai's review against another edition
3.0
There's a lot of problems with this book. Some racism some sexism a lot of attempts at liberalism. it'd be cool if Romani weren't treated the way they are. Every moment with dread is awful. I get it tad, you can write scary rapist brown dudes. its actually unreadable.
edit: that actually hasn't changed at all. I forgot I even wrote this review. all I'll add is that until the end of the 4th book dread is totally unimportant to the plot so you can skip all of his scenes.
edit: that actually hasn't changed at all. I forgot I even wrote this review. all I'll add is that until the end of the 4th book dread is totally unimportant to the plot so you can skip all of his scenes.
binky75's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
branwynnemay's review against another edition
4.0
I have never had such a hard time reading a book I found worth reading... extremely compelling, yet extremely tedious.
vitskapsdama's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
tth's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
brenna_law's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
theatlantean's review against another edition
2.0
Yes, well.... I mean, I enjoyed the writing, and some of the journey.
However most of this book is unnecessary; just a succession of separated characters having mini-adventures that don't actually advance the plot at all.
It seems the events of the first half of the book could have been written in a couple of chapters, and the second half in not many more. The story, character development and events of an almost-700 page book could have been conveyed in a hundred or so pages.
Okay it's book two of a series, but there is little character development from most of the protagonists, and little story that really only starts to move in the last few chapters. I'm going to look at reviews for the 3rd instalment before i invest more time into this series. If the next one is much of the same, i don't know if i can do it, which is a shame, as the actual story and characters are interesting, and I am enjoying Williams' 90s take on the cyber age.
However most of this book is unnecessary; just a succession of separated characters having mini-adventures that don't actually advance the plot at all.
It seems the events of the first half of the book could have been written in a couple of chapters, and the second half in not many more. The story, character development and events of an almost-700 page book could have been conveyed in a hundred or so pages.
Okay it's book two of a series, but there is little character development from most of the protagonists, and little story that really only starts to move in the last few chapters. I'm going to look at reviews for the 3rd instalment before i invest more time into this series. If the next one is much of the same, i don't know if i can do it, which is a shame, as the actual story and characters are interesting, and I am enjoying Williams' 90s take on the cyber age.
angrywombat's review against another edition
4.0
Can't write a good review, already on the next books!
Must read!
Must read!
seak's review against another edition
2.0
This is now my second book, not counting novellas, by Tad Williams and while I finished it, I will in fact not be continuing on with the series.
Book 1 in the Otherland series was just interesting enough to continue and finally the ending ramps things up and I was actually entertained. I get that this series is one long book to the author, but it's so absolutely boring I need something to happen and I start to expect it to at least be at the end of the book. Spoiler alert:. Again, just about nothing happens. Yes we had some big-ish revelations but it was so not worth the tedium.
Because, yet again, we have a hugely long book where absolutely nothing happens, or I should say, things happen, but they take so long to happen it's like nothing happens. Listening to A Game of Thrones right now really emphasizes this. Things are constantly happening in that book.
To add to the tedium, the characters are suddenly going from one "land" within this computer system called "Otherland" to another with no end in sight. I just can't possibly see a reason for all this nothing.
And if I haven't already warned enough about spoiling the ending, here's another warning, but the last book at least got my expectations up to believe I might get another solid, entertaining ending. And yet no.
I have the entire series of Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn and this book really does not recommend it right now. And I do feel bad. I know there are lots of fans, Williams has had a huge impact on the fantasy genre and I definitely have seen glimmers of greatness, but by and large, there's just not enough going on to keep my interest anymore.
2 out of 5 Stars (I finished it so that means something right?)
Book 1 in the Otherland series was just interesting enough to continue and finally the ending ramps things up and I was actually entertained. I get that this series is one long book to the author, but it's so absolutely boring I need something to happen and I start to expect it to at least be at the end of the book. Spoiler alert:
Spoiler
the ending was barely less boringBecause, yet again, we have a hugely long book where absolutely nothing happens, or I should say, things happen, but they take so long to happen it's like nothing happens. Listening to A Game of Thrones right now really emphasizes this. Things are constantly happening in that book.
To add to the tedium, the characters are suddenly going from one "land" within this computer system called "Otherland" to another with no end in sight. I just can't possibly see a reason for all this nothing.
And if I haven't already warned enough about spoiling the ending, here's another warning, but the last book at least got my expectations up to believe I might get another solid, entertaining ending. And yet no.
I have the entire series of Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn and this book really does not recommend it right now. And I do feel bad. I know there are lots of fans, Williams has had a huge impact on the fantasy genre and I definitely have seen glimmers of greatness, but by and large, there's just not enough going on to keep my interest anymore.
2 out of 5 Stars (I finished it so that means something right?)
benjaminbaron99's review against another edition
3.0
While interesting, this volume wasn't as compelling as the first book of the series. Threads of the plot are revealed, but any reader paying attention will see the twists in the distance.