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A review by roese
Midnight Tides by Steven Erikson
2.0
I really want to like this book and the series in general but I am really struggling with seeing it in a positive light.
I will start with the things I do like about it. I like that the world feels huge and epic with this novel being set on a completely different continent then the previous books. I do not necessarily mind that this book does not relate much at all to the preceding novels in the series. There is also so amusing dialogue/witty banter between some of the characters.
Now to the bad...Everything I read and hear about this series and how wonderful it is talks about the "challenging read" and "dense plot" etc. I am no stranger to dense and challenging but this book especially seems to be challenging and opaque just because it can. Just because you can use 200 pages to set something up doesn't mean an author should. It reminds me of the people who use big words just so they sound intelligent when something simpler would be more effective. In other words the style gets in the way of the story. Which leads to my second major problem I don't care about the characters at all. With all the going on and on and on with setup and background and how they relate to other characters it turns into a lack of interest. Plus most of the people who have died so far are not really dead. They "ascend" or are saved by a god or are themselves a god or have this super healing power etc. it takes all the suspense and interest out of what is happening to them because as a reader I know they are safe.
Then there is the amusing/witty banter between some characters. While I like the banter itself half the time it does not fit in with the rest of the story. Half the people are being very very serious about BIG issues while the other half's conversation consists of jokes and people being "funny" and sly in every single conversation they have. It is a jarring mix and so unrealistic that it takes the reader right out of the story.
Overall, I will probably finish the series for completeness sake and so I can discuss it with others who have read the series. I will definitely be reading other books in between and each book in the series has been dropping lower and lower in my interest and to be read list.
I will start with the things I do like about it. I like that the world feels huge and epic with this novel being set on a completely different continent then the previous books. I do not necessarily mind that this book does not relate much at all to the preceding novels in the series. There is also so amusing dialogue/witty banter between some of the characters.
Now to the bad...Everything I read and hear about this series and how wonderful it is talks about the "challenging read" and "dense plot" etc. I am no stranger to dense and challenging but this book especially seems to be challenging and opaque just because it can. Just because you can use 200 pages to set something up doesn't mean an author should. It reminds me of the people who use big words just so they sound intelligent when something simpler would be more effective. In other words the style gets in the way of the story. Which leads to my second major problem I don't care about the characters at all. With all the going on and on and on with setup and background and how they relate to other characters it turns into a lack of interest. Plus most of the people who have died so far are not really dead. They "ascend" or are saved by a god or are themselves a god or have this super healing power etc. it takes all the suspense and interest out of what is happening to them because as a reader I know they are safe.
Then there is the amusing/witty banter between some characters. While I like the banter itself half the time it does not fit in with the rest of the story. Half the people are being very very serious about BIG issues while the other half's conversation consists of jokes and people being "funny" and sly in every single conversation they have. It is a jarring mix and so unrealistic that it takes the reader right out of the story.
Overall, I will probably finish the series for completeness sake and so I can discuss it with others who have read the series. I will definitely be reading other books in between and each book in the series has been dropping lower and lower in my interest and to be read list.