You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
smiorganbaldhead 's review for:
Lord of the Isles
by David Drake
This book has some elements I really enjoyed. The action is well done, and there are some interesting world-building elements such as the Sumerian-inspired mythology. Some of the more interesting parts of the world are found later in the book, namely the Serians and the Floating Folk. They don't get much emphasis, but perhaps they return in later books.
It strikes me that magic in this world is so wild and dangerous as to be not worth using: very often spells seem to go awry and put the spellcaster in extreme danger. Perhaps this is not the normal way of things, but a result of the rising evil forces in the world. It's not very clear though.
Most of the characters were not very interesting to me at first, with the exception of Nonnus. However, Cashel did grow on me toward the end of the book.
Overall, there are things here to like, though the book feels longer than it needs to be. I plan to try some of Drake's shorter works, particularly the military science fiction he's best known for, as writing action seems to be his greatest strength as a writer.
It strikes me that magic in this world is so wild and dangerous as to be not worth using: very often spells seem to go awry and put the spellcaster in extreme danger. Perhaps this is not the normal way of things, but a result of the rising evil forces in the world. It's not very clear though.
Most of the characters were not very interesting to me at first, with the exception of Nonnus. However, Cashel did grow on me toward the end of the book.
Overall, there are things here to like, though the book feels longer than it needs to be. I plan to try some of Drake's shorter works, particularly the military science fiction he's best known for, as writing action seems to be his greatest strength as a writer.