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A review by shookone
Shadows Linger by Glen Cook
4.0
This was a big improvement over the first book in the series. Cook adds an additional protagonist, and then does away with the previous book’s more episodic approach in favor of using chapters. The changes in structure really improve the storytelling.
There’s definitely things you can criticize here: The setting is pretty bleak, the constant cynicism and tough guy talk can get a little silly in places, it’s often hard to remember which member of the Company is which because they all basically boil down to “tough guy with a sword” or “tough guy with a magic spell” Like these are all valid criticisms.
But I dunno, I still had a good time with it regardless. The book takes place in a weird, scary world. Magic is creepy and otherworldly and only sometimes makes sense. And ultimately this is a book about a bunch of guys who are pretty good at their jobs but have also made a ton of compromises with their consciences over the years and find themselves with their backs against the wall because of it. For me that adds up to a fun book, and I’m looking forward to reading the next entry in the series, but your mileage may vary.
There’s definitely things you can criticize here: The setting is pretty bleak, the constant cynicism and tough guy talk can get a little silly in places, it’s often hard to remember which member of the Company is which because they all basically boil down to “tough guy with a sword” or “tough guy with a magic spell” Like these are all valid criticisms.
But I dunno, I still had a good time with it regardless. The book takes place in a weird, scary world. Magic is creepy and otherworldly and only sometimes makes sense. And ultimately this is a book about a bunch of guys who are pretty good at their jobs but have also made a ton of compromises with their consciences over the years and find themselves with their backs against the wall because of it. For me that adds up to a fun book, and I’m looking forward to reading the next entry in the series, but your mileage may vary.