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A review by ravenousbibliophile
Rhyming Rings by David Gemmell
4.0
Blurb: From beyond the grave, Gemmell entertains.
In the spirit of full disclosure, I must say that my rating and review are heavily biased. David Gemmell and his characters are what cemented my imagination in the Fantasy-Fiction genre. The Drenai series single-handedly gifted me with some of the greatest moments and avenues of escape from reality, so suffice it to say that reading a new Gemmell novel after almost 5-6yrs was a big deal for me. Therefore, my review will be heavy on praise and light on criticism.
Rhyming Rings rings true in several ways. Written in Gemmell's unmistakable style which blends descriptions and emotions beautifully. A novelty was the use of both First person and Third person narrative, and while I didn't think that anyone but Rothfuss could pull off the seamless transition, I must echo the words of his friend Stan Nicholls who wrote in the afterword, "It works."
In terms of the story Gemmell does an excellent job of painting an accurate image of the late 80's. The police-procedures, the fashion trends, the racial/communal tensions, everything serves to mold the characters and their perceptions of what happens in the story. The best thing by far is that Gemmell did not sacrifice his penchant for the fantastical in favor of an all-out Murder/Mystery story. There are elements of fantasy and nods to more than a few of his own characters (like Druss) and that makes this book an all the more engrossing experience for a David Gemmell fan.
One could criticize the fact that the final revelation isn't a very complex one. Many might crack the plot in less than half the book, but in my opinion those who appreciate a good story and excellent story-telling will be far to pre-occupied with the characters to actually care about figuring out the whodunit element of the book.
Is it an eloquent book? No. Is it a deep book? No. Is it a book that could win a Dagger from the CWA or perhaps the Agatha Christie award? No. It's simply a book that focuses on the most basic (and in my opinion the most overlooked) aspect of what makes reading worthwhile for any bibliophile, and that is a sense of enjoyment, and as he has done with Druss' axe, Waylander's crossbow and Skillgannon's swords, Gemmell provides an entertaining experience through the cynical mind and sharp nib of Jeremy Miller.
In the spirit of full disclosure, I must say that my rating and review are heavily biased. David Gemmell and his characters are what cemented my imagination in the Fantasy-Fiction genre. The Drenai series single-handedly gifted me with some of the greatest moments and avenues of escape from reality, so suffice it to say that reading a new Gemmell novel after almost 5-6yrs was a big deal for me. Therefore, my review will be heavy on praise and light on criticism.
Rhyming Rings rings true in several ways. Written in Gemmell's unmistakable style which blends descriptions and emotions beautifully. A novelty was the use of both First person and Third person narrative, and while I didn't think that anyone but Rothfuss could pull off the seamless transition, I must echo the words of his friend Stan Nicholls who wrote in the afterword, "It works."
In terms of the story Gemmell does an excellent job of painting an accurate image of the late 80's. The police-procedures, the fashion trends, the racial/communal tensions, everything serves to mold the characters and their perceptions of what happens in the story. The best thing by far is that Gemmell did not sacrifice his penchant for the fantastical in favor of an all-out Murder/Mystery story. There are elements of fantasy and nods to more than a few of his own characters (like Druss) and that makes this book an all the more engrossing experience for a David Gemmell fan.
One could criticize the fact that the final revelation isn't a very complex one. Many might crack the plot in less than half the book, but in my opinion those who appreciate a good story and excellent story-telling will be far to pre-occupied with the characters to actually care about figuring out the whodunit element of the book.
Is it an eloquent book? No. Is it a deep book? No. Is it a book that could win a Dagger from the CWA or perhaps the Agatha Christie award? No. It's simply a book that focuses on the most basic (and in my opinion the most overlooked) aspect of what makes reading worthwhile for any bibliophile, and that is a sense of enjoyment, and as he has done with Druss' axe, Waylander's crossbow and Skillgannon's swords, Gemmell provides an entertaining experience through the cynical mind and sharp nib of Jeremy Miller.