Jordan Williams
[b:River of Stars 15808474 River of Stars (Under Heaven #2) Guy Gavriel Kay https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1356089847s/15808474.jpg 21451403] evolves the culture of [b:Under Heaven 7139892 Under Heaven Guy Gavriel Kay https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1327894315s/7139892.jpg 7373286], with a new setting, figures, and themes. [a:Guy Gavriel Kay 60177 Guy Gavriel Kay https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1218804723p2/60177.jpg] uses an even more robust style of writing, reflecting on the past. Although Under Heaven and River of Stars are similar in setting, they are quite different.The setting is fresh in many ways, particularly Kitai's culture. The teachings of the Cho Master and ancestor worship still hold sway, as do the shamans in the steppe, but the court, borders, women's place in society, the military, and even the location of capital have transformed. Four hundred years have passed, so this is as it should be. The court intrigue of the 12th dynasty is completely different than it was for the 9th dynasty. Instead of an empire controlled by a precariously balanced court of powers, the 12th dynasty is more centralized and potent in it's governance. A once mighty Kitai is now diminished with a pathetic yet large military. Woman are blamed for the fall of Kitai and shunned from court and learning, only symbols of beauty. Kanlin warriors have disappeared and exiles of politicians are rampant. These divergences lead to a very interesting exploration the empire's mutation.The figures in this novel are also noteworthy. These characters are as dissimilar as the two dynasties of the books. The Emperor Wenzong, celestial lord, is a stark contrast to his predecessor in Under Heaven. Wenzong is a primary focus here, with way more screen time than emperor Taizu. Wenzong isn't obsessed with his empress and immortality, but instead fascinated by art: calligraphy, poetry, and painting. The differences of the emperors are key factors in their empires. Lu Chen is plays a similar role as Sima Zian, one of the best poets of his time. Zhiji is a loyal side character with a fun introduction to the story and Ren Daiyan exudes purpose. A fox woman is even involved, which was hinted at in Under Heaven but never actualized.Themes are similar to Under Heaven, but have different focuses. For instance, family is a huge theme in both books. Where sibling relationships are a key component in Under Heaven, father relationships are paramount in River of Stars, with Ren Daiyan, Lin Shan, and Hang Hsien each having fathers that positively impact their lives. Another theme centers on Lin Shan's place in society. Though she is a woman, she has been educated and can write both songs and poetry. Her life is difficult because this is not considered correct behavior for a woman. Due to this, she struggles with her identity and acting beyond the limits society forces on her.Kay steadily focuses on history, especially the way that history is shaped by those who record it. Many different sections include statements which claim that histories would incorrectly or misleadingly describe an event. Throughout the tale, character spoilers are given. Kay mentions a characters future, or lack thereof, to prematurely reveal their fate, giving the events a remembered feel, as though they happened in the past. Of course, they are written in present tense much of the time, switching the reader from the moment to reflections in hindsight. Tied closely to history is legacy. What mark will the characters leave on the world? There is variance here, both major and minor characters. What is their legacy and what meaning do they hope to find in it. Lin Kuo serves as an exemplary investigation of this theme.A note here about the history and legacy themes, which is about Kay's style of writing. He writes reflectively about the past and branching paths of fate and chance. Another huge theme, one that shows up in many of his works, but is perhaps best explored here. This makes for some very dense writing, with characters contemplating past dynasties and poems constantly. Be prepared for a slower pace and some redundant bits. That is one of the two problems I had with this book. The other was the number of extremely minor characters that were brought into play for only small sections. There are plenty of characters to keep track of besides several one-time, single-page characters. I like how Kay brings in characters for only a moment, giving backstory on them and the like, but he overdid it to the point it strained me emotionally. Investing in these characters not to see them again is hard. Kay may have done that intentionally, in fact, I'm sure he did, but it made the read bumpier.I've been referring to Under Heaven quite a bit. River of Stars and it take place in the same world four hundred years apart, so there are a lot of references to be found in River of Stars. A particular tree in a General Shen's graveyard makes an appearance and reverberations back from An Li's rebellion are still important. Sima Zian gets plenty of remembrance as a poet, and Xinan is remembered as the old, elegant capital. In other words, I highly recommend reading Under Heaven before this book, because there are so many references, even ones to Shen Tai, Shen Li-Mei, and Wen Jian. And, don't forget the Kanlin warriors, who are sadly absent here.The sum of the parts: well-explored themes, an evolved nation, and a focus on specific characters, generally leads to a good read. Strengthening this story is the fact that Kay does something new: writing two tightly-connected books that take place four hundred years apart, delving into political and cultural developments of a nation over a large span of time. Lastly, seen through the historian's lens, this story becomes particularly unique and interesting. With only a couple of minor irritants, this story shouldn't be missed if one appreciates Kay's style of writing.
[b:Skin Deep 20886354 Skin Deep (Legion, #2) Brandon Sanderson https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1404932663s/20886354.jpg 40227944] follows the setup of the first novella, [b:Legion 13452375 Legion (Legion, #1) Brandon Sanderson https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1338512017s/13452375.jpg 18978261]. This amounts to an examination of futuristic technology via an investigation by Steve, who receives help from his unreal aspects who have very specialized knowledge. Cryptography, biology, and some other topics are given brief but accurate tidbits, which add to the realism of the story.There is a biological data virus and a scientist encrypted with spliced data in his body. The problem is his corpse is missing, and Steve is called in to find it. The plot is fast paced, without breathing, just like Legion. This hop from action scene to action scene fits the short installment. There aren't enough pages in the writing for the pace to exhaust the reader.The aspects have fun personalities and banter that add a lot to this thriller. Between J.C.'s constant ministrations of security and Tobias's soothing discourses, a whole slew of aspects bicker like an imaginary family. Or a crew of inner-dimensional time agents, who knows? The vibrant characters, each having their own idiosyncrasies and nuanced relationships with each other and Steve, make reading Skin Deep fun and interesting.Another varied aspect of the characters are their ethnicities. Many of the names indicate specific heritages such as Kalyani, who wears Indian clothing and speaks with a pronounced accent. These influences from different cultures are pervasive in the Legion series, a key component.The specialized knowledge that [a:Brandon Sanderson 38550 Brandon Sanderson https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1394044556p2/38550.jpg] drops in here is surprisingly accurate. I'm a computer science major currently in a cryptography class and Greek, so I know firsthand about these topics. He did an extremely accurate job describing one-time pads, giving textbook information in subtle ways, and his portrayal of a Greek family was very believable, as Greek Orthodoxy is a vital part of most Greek families. There are more bits that I noticed, particularly about coding, such as commenting and the open source movement that were accurate as well, however the other areas I'm no wizard in. The fact that Sanderson pulls from a plethora of specialties and even ways of thinking for Steve's aspects and other characters is awesome. It's a sign of great authorship. His use of true and accurate information and perspectives is what really adds to Legion's believability, which transfers directly to the energy of the story.A mystery thriller packed with intriguing, eccentric characters and accurate technical details make Sanderson's Legion: Skin Deep a captivating read, certainly not lacking excitement.
[b:Soldiers Live 400899 Soldiers Live (The Chronicles of the Black Company, #9) Glen Cook https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1388305400s/400899.jpg 390310] stands on its own, yet also fits as the final piece to the expansive puzzle and journey that has been the Annals of the Black Company. For this review, however, I will focus on the book itself and have a separate review for the series as a whole. In Soldiers Live, [a:Glen Cook 13026 Glen Cook https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1207159752p2/13026.jpg] gives us more characters, more dialogue, and more emotion, in addition to the typical bloody battles and conspiracy that have comprised the series from book one. In the end, there is a satisfying conclusion that stays true to the themes in the series which don't tread lightly on the harsh realities of love and war.There are several new characters in this iteration of the Annals, which makes for some very interesting dynamics and show the promise of change, even when most of the time the changes in this book are bleak. With another time jump, Tobo is much older and a new character in himself, and Croaker is certainly a bit different, too. The Voroshk girls add some welcome, perky aspects to what would otherwise be an extremely grim story. They help counterbalance the bittersweet pendulum, which weighs heavily towards the bitter.The dialogue occurs with greater frequency and is more pronounced. Perhaps it has just been too long since I've read Croaker's annals, but the surplus of dialogue is a relief to some of the drier, introspective scenes that can be focus more on events than character's themselves. In Soldiers Live, the characters are fleshed out exceptionally. In Water Sleeps, I connected with Sleepy and had a pretty good feel for Tobo, Murgen, and Sahra, however in earlier works, particularly Murgen's, scenes would devolve into a recounting of events that left much to be desired when it came to knowing how the rest of the crew were doing. Without heavy dialogue in Murgen's books, I didn't feel like I understood many of the company's members, at least as much as I wanted to. In this book, there are great explorations of the feelings of the characters, which come out through dialogue and Croaker's observations.These connections to the characters, along with other members of the crew from previous books, leads to many emotional ups and downs. Croaker's feelings have a great way of finding themselves as my own, and the death of one particularly proficient annalist still has me in denial.At this point in the series, it is pointless to discuss the typical attributes of a Black Company book. The company is a conniving crew of mercenaries that inevitably end up in battles, machinations, and unwantedly political entanglements. That's pretty standard throughout the series, with the politics growing more as the series moves forward and religious and cultural elements find more importance as well. In Soldiers Live, these defining elements take a back seat to character development, which is a new and healthy change. Also, both Croaker's position as retired captain, and the sheer number of trips between the plain and back again limit the book's ability to describe battles and skirmishes.To adequately examine the conclusion, one needs to know the themes of Soldier's Live. These include dealing with the harsh realities of death, mortality, aging, war, love, and even family. The first three of those are hit over your head again and again Characters die and the survivors must find a way to move on (including me, at the moment). Croaker is old, really old, and he knows he doesn't have much time. He also knows his prime in the company has passed, as the soldiers he knows in the company dwindles. Despite these difficulties, he devotes himself to his annals and the brotherhood of the company. War goes without saying, but I felt I should mention it. Croaker's ill-defined relationship with Lady, both of their relationships with their daughter, and other members of the company family are honed in. Family is unrelentingly beat down and rebuilt, both in terms of the company and Croaker's and Lady's family.Soldiers Live beautifully explores these themes, leading from one to the other and back again. The closing of this chapter of the annals is done on such a perfect note, with enough loose ends to leave you imagining the next developments, but also lingering shadows that will haunt you in spite of the brighter hopes.
[b:Men at Arms 400354 Men at Arms (Discworld, #15; City Watch #2) Terry Pratchett https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1388215150s/400354.jpg 819071] is the literary equivalent of virtual reality. Detailed and immersive, you don't want to stop existing in [a:Terry Pratchett's 1654 Terry Pratchett https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1235562205p2/1654.jpg] world, and the characters don't give you the opportunity to escape even if you'd want to. This Discworld novel fits smugly beside its siblings, albeit it is more on the comedic side – less satirical than [b:Small Gods 34484 Small Gods (Discworld, #13) Terry Pratchett https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1390899426s/34484.jpg 1636629] and less sober than the story-driven [b:Lords and Ladies 34529 Lords and Ladies (Discworld, #14; Witches #4) Terry Pratchett https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1469186110s/34529.jpg 1185086] – with plenty of British humour. Pratchett finds new ways to improve his books when that doesn't seem possible.I said virtual reality because Pratchett uses multiple dimensions in his writing. By painting in small details, providing spot-on descriptions, and extrapolating the consequences of different aspects of his universe, he gives it life. The tiny little details add copious amounts of fun. The chiming of the bell towers was so wonderfully described and such a characterizing detail that the sounds were happening in between my ears. More details include: Carrot's writing, the way he swaps i's and e's, how dwarves find using another's tools unthinkable, and the wizard's organ are all presented as to be real. We see Carrot's actual writing in the book. Descriptions, both plain and metaphorical, give you a clear picture of events. The description of the wizard's organ playing the wedding song formed such a crisp notion of the music that it feels like I could have heard it before, though I surely haven't. And, don't even get me started on his metaphors. I'm not going to talk about those gems, you just have to experience them. I lied: they are as original as chocolate cottage cheese and twice as delicious. My last point on Pratchett's world-builing goes back to details, but is slightly more defined. He tends to place intriguing ideas in his story, then expand them to naturally fit his world. The way unregistered thieves have nothing more to fear than the thieves guild itself, is one example. Local guild jurisdiction, the ragtagnesss of the Night Watch due to guild power, and the speciest vendetta between the dwarves and the trolls are representative of his efficient simulation. Any good world needs these thought out features, although the sheer number that exist in Pratchett's books are overwhelming and only get deeper and deeper with each addition to the Discworld. Pratchett's descriptions and attention to details make his ridiculous works like Carrot, reality fades into the background.Another dimension Pratchett wields to bring Men at Arms to life, character, is two-fold: both personality and development are implemented with stunning alacrity. Pratchett's Discworld novels have, from the onset, included quirky characters that seem like neighbors, coworkers, or that weird guy you see in the gym on Tuesdays. They are real people, but just an irregular sample with all the eccentrics making up the cast. Or, Pratchett is just persistent on bringing out those hidden quirks and thoughts we all have into the open. You know the ones that you learn about your coworkers from working eight hours a day, five days a week with them. From the mostly sober Captain Vimes to the excruciatingly manipulative Vetinari to dirty, dirty Nobby, you see all sorts. Even Gaspode, the sentient dog from Moving Pictures, returns to play a major role.A quick addendum: the more Discworld you read, the more you run into characters you've seen before, which makes the whole thing that more realistic and expansive, but that's about the entire series, not just this book. It's really, really exciting to see the wonder dog again, your favorite member of the Watch (Captain Vimes ;), and the wizard administrators, whose bantering is always a source of mirth.Having interesting characters is only half the battle. The other half is moving them. How are the characters different from the beginning compared to the end? Well, Carrot changes the most, having started out in his normal, honest dwarf fashion, he becomes more “human” or manipulative, you could say. A speciest Dwarf, Cuddy, and Troll, Detritus, learn to put feuds behind them as they walk the beat together, and let us not forget Vimes maturing, in the pattern of a sine wave, as he prepares for a new life after his marriage. And, there are so many characters than those, but development is not overlooked. As I just displayed, it is no problem to track the character's motivations and their personal development or un-development as you read.Closely tied to the character's personalities are their dialogues, which Pratchett has just gone through the roof with. Each character has their own accent and dialect, some more than others. Carrot is precise and direct, Detritus slow and lethargic, Angua snappy, and Nobby's got a recognizable drawl. That's just the accent of the character's talking, not what they talk about. That's when you get into pun-filled, witty banters that manage to transition to revealing character moments where motivations and feelings reveal themselves. With Vimes, dialogue is sparser, but you get a clearer picture of him just from his thoughts and the way he cogitates.The plot, driven by the mysterious Gonne, is a sort of caper-solving layout, as multiple characters try to piece the puzzle together. Right in line with Pratchett's focus on character, it's hard to determine where the character's stop and the plot begins. The characters end up chasing or luckily discovering clues, but always doing what you would, in one way or another, expect that character to be doing. They act according to the motivations Pratchett lays out, and they don't really deviate from these. From their random run-ins and misadventures, one by one, the pieces begin to be found. It all comes together fittingly well at the end.Pratchett certainly delivers in his ending, proffering a satisfying conclusion. He could have ran full-circle with the events, leading to a Watch and characters pretty much the same as we started with. Alas, everything is upended and nothing stays the same i.e real life. We won't have a Men at Arms 2, though I'm sure we'll see the same characters again, they will be slightly different people in marginally changed circumstances. This note of change, as bittersweet as it is, is the perfect touch to close with, leaving you wanting to see what happens next in the next City Watch installment. We're not going to be crossing the same bridge twice and I can't wait.All of these dimensions, precise world-building, eclectic characters, rich development, and clever, personalized dialogue comprise a goofy yet captivating pseudo-world with a fast-paced plot and all wrapped up with a bow at the end. It's a gift you won't regret nor likely ever forget. For the next novel, Pratchett may even continue to refine his formula, adding new characters and aspects on the Disc I've never conceived. In fact, I expect that and can't wait to read more about his wackadoodles and their exploits.
A leap in a different direction from the previous books, [b:The Dark Talent 18714787 The Dark Talent (Alcatraz, #5) Brandon Sanderson https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1443207128s/18714787.jpg 26576862] is chalked full of surprises. Unexpected events and discoveries by no means warrant a good review, but the expert foreshadowing and development of Alcatraz without a doubt make this a fun and satisfying piece of writing.Surprises are fun and exciting. However, in literary works, thrown bare to the reader, they aren't meaningful or admirable. The author can sprinkle them in there, without rhyme or reason, so the only return is shock-value. On the other hand, when the evidence of a twist can stare you down the throat for an entire book and you still don't notice, that is exquisite authorship. In The Dark Talent, [a:Brandon Sanderson 38550 Brandon Sanderson https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1394044556p2/38550.jpg] accomplishes crazy happenings, cluing the reader in, along with Alcatraz, giving us the pieces to solve the puzzle. That makes the surprises interesting and adds another layer to the work. It's similar to watching Fight Club for the first time: you want to go back and re-watch the entire movie to examine all the sneaky giveaways you missed.In book five, Alcatraz finally begins to face his demons, ergo his parents. Hurt as he is because of his father's neglect and his mother's strict temperament, he hasn't properly been able to confront them. Finally, he does, and with the Shaper's Lens. The lens works phenomenally well, providing the true motivations of his father and mother, leading to some enlightening realizations on Alcatraz's part.Similar in flavor to the previous four novels, Alcatraz wittingly narrates the tale, interjecting random monologues at the beginning of chapters. Although, these are shorter and sometimes skipped completely, leaving a streamlined narrative. Sanderson packs these pages with more story this time around.As sarky as Alcatraz and his companions can be in their outrageous endeavors, there has been a good measure of serious undertones that address character flaws and development to keep things balanced. There is a materializing sense of an unforgiving reality that exists despite the fantastical wonders and distractions in Sanderson's world. By the end of this book, the violent and disturbing effects transform the series from light-hearted adventure to something else entirely. It's a page-turner and has one killer of a cliffhanger that will leave you shocked. This is the best Alcatraz book yet!
[b:Dragonsinger 28547 Dragonsinger (Harper Hall, #2) Anne McCaffrey https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1410942014s/28547.jpg 2971170] is a fitting sequel to [b:Dragonsong 28541 Dragonsong (Harper Hall, #1) Anne McCaffrey https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1407659596s/28541.jpg 1171182], developing Menolly's story in the same style and manner. In effect, it is a continuation of the rags-to-riches plot in the previous novel. Teachers and friends are introduced and Menolly learns what it is to be a harper.Menolly is thrust headfirst into an alien life, with new friends and enemies. Conflict comes in the form of the other girls at harper crafthall, the stern masters, and all sorts of small problems throughout. [a:McCaffrey 26 Anne McCaffrey https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1323715139p2/26.jpg] keeps the pages flipping with one conflict after the next as Menolly learns who her friends are and the lifestyle of harper hall.With a simple plot, based on small conflicts, the attention of the novel is focused on character interactions and accounts of the protagonist's training sessions. The dialogue is nuanced and realistic enough to be taken for granted, flowing easily between character and character. McCaffrey adds a hefty amount of dialect, grounding each character's voice and sprinkles in light-hearted bantering. There's also aggressive confrontation and Piemur's clever bartering. The dialogue is excellent, both character-driven and varied.Dragonsinger is simple in both plot and scope. Simplicity can be easily underrated because the simpler a story is, the more attention needs to be paid to the details in order to make it worthwhile. McCaffrey showed her prowess as a writer by fleshing out the details, bringing the tale to life with captivating dialogues, world-building, and conflicts.
[b:Eragon 113436 Eragon (The Inheritance Cycle, #1) Christopher Paolini https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1366212852s/113436.jpg 3178011] is a typical [a:J.R.R. Tolkien 656983 J.R.R. Tolkien https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1434625177p2/656983.jpg]-esque hero's journey. Elves and dwarves, just like their kin in [b:The Lord of the Rings 33 The Lord of the Rings (The Lord of the Rings, #1-3) J.R.R. Tolkien https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1411114164s/33.jpg 3462456], can be found here, with dragons reminiscent of [a:Anne McCaffrey 26 Anne McCaffrey https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1323715139p2/26.jpg]'s beasts, which telepathically link to their riders, and the magic system uses words of power and a “true language” such as that from [b:Tales from Earthsea 13659 Tales from Earthsea (Earthsea Cycle, #5) Ursula K. Le Guin https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1309202073s/13659.jpg 65982], though I haven't read this series, yet, and can't expand on that aspect from my own knowledge. So, what we have is an amalgamation of magic, world, and species that many have seen before, wrapped up in an archetypal storyline.A book can still be great if we've seen the plot before (which is basically always the case), and fantasy can still be awe-inspiring when we've seen elves and dwarves and dragons in a million other places. Under these circumstances, characters and their development can often pick up the slack and make the series hold its own.Sadly, that was not the case in Eragon, where character interactions are mostly world building devices. To give concrete examples, the majority of Brom's discussions with Eragon were about world building, enlightening the reader (and Eragon) about dragons, cities, the riders, magic, and Galbatorix. These dialogues become stale as they occured with frequency. In a positive light, there were some good conversations such as those between Murtagh and Eragon, which have depth, particularly when they argued over the slaughtered slave-trader.Improved character development would have strengthened the story. I lacked an empathetic connection to the characters. Arya, Durza, and Garrow were not delved into due to their lack of screen time, although they were very interesting characters and certainly deserved more. On the other hand, while we see plenty of Eragon and Saphira, I don't know either of them very well. Why does Eragon appear to show more anger when a slavemaster is killed than when anyone important in his life dies? There wasn't enough introspection in Eragon, leaving me eager to know his thoughts, feelings, and motivations. In all Saphira's worrying and admonishing, I missed why she was. What were her motivations She had her sassiness, maternal instinct, and ancient wisdom, but what did she want to accomplish? Did she have her own goals or just follow along with Eragon? There are good characters in this book, I just wish I could have known them better. Murtagh is an exception. He was tangible, complete with defined motivations reinforced by his actions. Yeah, Murtagh was handled really well.So, what is my final verdict on Eragon? I liked it, but found it a typical hero's journey in world comprised of many things I've seen before. Given this was the first book, we only saw a patina of the world, those aspects of elves, dwarves, and dragons that we've seen before. I want to see where the caricatures end and Paolini's world comes into its own, creating a unique mythology. So, I'm optimistic for [b:Eldest 45978 Eldest (The Inheritance Cycle, #2) Christopher Paolini https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1387119654s/45978.jpg 2035753], anticipating a better sequel with improved presentation of the characters. And, I really liked Druza and the whole Shade thing. I want more Shades. Finally, the author wrote this book when he was like 15, I mean really, I wish I could have a written a book like this at that age! Good job Paolini, good job.
Classic Kay. A blend of court politics, poetry, romance, and a dash of fantastical elements usually comprise Kay's works and this is exactly the case here. Kay continues to improve on his tried and true formula with [b:Under Heaven 7139892 Under Heaven Guy Gavriel Kay https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1327894315s/7139892.jpg 7373286].Set during the Tang Dynasty of China, we follow the story of Shen Tai, a character that doesn't understand his journey, but knows it must be undertaken. Unsurprisingly, if you've read Kay, this leads to an entanglement in the court, where everything goes nuts and the protagonist ending up in all sorts of scenarios. The plot is unique compared to the author's previous writings. It should be noted that it is based on actual historical events.Poetry is a large part of the culture of Kitai, China, and pervades the story. Kay covers all different kinds of artistry throughout his previous books, including mosaic, photography, and ballad by troubadours. Kay is in his element here, inserting pieces of poetry throughout that effect not only the characters, but the readers as well. The poetry is beautiful and integral to the whole of the book.The characters are compelling in Under Heaven, each having their own motivations and predispositions. Here, in this story, I think that Kay does some of his best work on fleshing out his characters and making them feel real and vibrant. For example, Shen Tai's perspective is often tainted by anger and Li-Mei's by bitterness but also cold logic. The character traits that come to define them are given a genesis, adding more merit and understanding to their thoughts and actions.The fantasy elements are sparse, which I've come to appreciate in Kay's work, though that always leaves me with a hunger to know more of how they function. However, this open-ended mythology elicits wonder in the world that Kay creates. Crying ghosts, shamans in the north, and fox women are Under Heaven's otherworldly components, and they add to the curiosity and excitement of the story.Wrapping up my review, I must note that Kay has the ability to give some extremely satisfying conclusions, such as in [b:A Song for Arbonne 104085 A Song for Arbonne Guy Gavriel Kay https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1309212350s/104085.jpg 2498881] and [b:The Sarantine Mosaic 19381540 The Sarantine Mosaic (Sailing to Sarantium and Lord of Emperors) Guy Gavriel Kay https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1386796219s/19381540.jpg 27452454]. Not to say that they are happy-go-lucky, but the bitter sweet ending of Under Heaven is executed magnificently, leaving the reader as haunted as the characters by the events of the book and their pasts, but looking forward to new avenues and paths foreshadowed.
Water Sleeps, book #8 of the Black Company, surprised me, giving [b:Shadows Linger 400881 Shadows Linger (The Chronicles of the Black Company, #2) Glen Cook https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1436464351s/400881.jpg 1761500] a run for its money as my favorite in the series. In contrast, to the cut-and-dry, observational annals of Murgen, book #8 hits the ground running. From the beginning, the writing style is changed, more embellished and story driven. This makes the book feel less like a documentary and more like a story, which translates to a better connection with the events of the story. Characters are handled well, and we see and understand them more than in Murgen's books, where the author is the focal point, to the extent that other characters lack development.All of the above is noticeable at the onset of the book, but later in Water Sleeps, Glen Cook unloads some unexpected backstory to the plot, indicating that the chaotic visage of culture, magic, and religion all have a purpose. And, this comes after my long having given up there even being a larger, cohesive whole to the story. Kudos Cook. Kudos.Water Sleeps is an improvement in the Black Company Series. Not only are characters more fleshed out, but the scenes as well. The action is first-hand again, the tension is real, and more than glimpses are discovered of just what it is lurking behind-the-scenes in Cook's imaginative world.
A marked improvement by Pratchett. The jocular execution made me laugh more than in Colour of Magic, and Pratchett's scenes flowed more coherently. Character development was fantastic. Rincewind's change from flight to fight was believable and done subtly throughout the book. The relationship between Rincewind and Twoflower was nurtured to fruition by the end of the book, giving me, as a reader, a relationship that was tangible. The plot was full of crazy twists, turns, and magical creatures, which made for a fun adventure filled with curious happenings. The only problem was so many crazy things happened that I had no idea what was going on at times, particularly Rincewind and Twoflower's venture to Death's estate. If you like satire or Pratchett or Discworld at all, this book is worth your time. You'll laugh and see a lot of precursor's to Pratchett's later work, especially Mort. Just make sure to read The Colour of Magic first as this is a continuation of the plot.
Series Review:The Chronicles of the Black Company is an exposition on the harsh realities of war from the viewpoint of soldiers in the trenches. From this humble origin, it grows and mutates and becomes something else entirely, but this theme never changes, though plots and new themes may take the helm. Written from perspectives of different annalist's and in different worlds, it soon becomes apparent that the focus, writing styles, and world fail to remain consistent. Despite this meandering of the series, the story stays true to it's core.Characters in the Black Company come in all shapes, sizes, skin-colors, sexes, magical affinity, and most recognizably, personality. The characters are unique, often with funny names and completely contrary outlooks on life and what's important, but many are hitched by brotherhood in the company. The interactions, dialogues, and sheer number of tonk games make the journey through the plot fun and realistic.That brings to mind the world of the Black Company. In an effort to avoid major spoilers, I'll say there is plenty more than meets the eye, but you are going to have to make it very deep in the series before things come to light. The Black Company takes place in a medieval world with a soft magic that has both extremely powerful wizards and one's that just aren't as powerful. Most people are ordinary and magic-less. Expect to find many weird, mythological creatures, too. As settings change, a focus on religion and culture becomes predominant, and other races and territories are discovered and explored. This adds a lot of interest to a story of military happenings, that could all to quickly become repetitious.Dialogue is realistic, to the point that it doesn't always accomplish much. Primarily, it is cut and dry and unadorned. This makes sense for the book, but doesn't always bode well for understanding characters outside the annalist. Actions may speak louder than words here. [a:Glen Cook 13026 Glen Cook https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1207159752p2/13026.jpg] makes good use of dialect to make the dialogue more realistic and add character. Goblin and One Eye in particular have great dialect. As more cultures are discovered and inevitably become of the company, the reader can see different aspects of the characters from their conversations, for instance, Sleepy's disinclination to swear because of her Vehdna faith and Uncle Doj's use of mysterious proverbs whenever he opens his mouth.Development of the characters varies dramatically throughout the series. The annalist always receives the bulk of attention in each book, but some side characters are pushed into the background and don't receive as much attention as I would've liked. However, as the books move on, development gets better and better, spreading out to capture different people and spanning multiple books. Croaker's development is by far the most satisfying, because you see his character in his prime and as an aging soldier and everywhere in between. Following Croaker over the years is a major highlight. Several other characters change, but within the limited perspective of the annalist. One character might change quite a lot from the last time we've seen them, where other characters don't appear to ever change, due to the minimal amount of time they spend in scenes, even though they may span several books of the series. That's one of the bigger disappointments, not seeing enough of some interesting, recurring characters, such as the engineers and Otto and Hagop. I can't fault Cook for this because the annalist is believably concerned about saving their hide more than recording thoughts and feelings about each soldier in the company.A critical principle of The Black Company is the unique voice of the narrator, the current annalist. Each annalist has their own writing style, which is even addressed by later annalists in a meta-way. Murgen is cut and dry most of the time, which is mirrored in his short chapters. Sleepy has much longer chapters and writes using bigger words with finesse. These differences mean that the series transitions sharply between different annalists, who have unique priorities, perspectives, and voice. This should be enjoyed and not overlooked as it is quite a fascinating literary device for Cook to play with. A warning, however, is that the Annals are not polished at all, excepting the final two books. In fact, they are often as rough and as gritty as the world they describe. While this is probably the biggest complaint about the series, just understand that it is written like this on purpose. What would it look like if a soldier was chronicling the events of a war from in between battles?Plot is repetitious in the minutiae as each book contains many of the same elements. There's backstabbers, wizards that won't die, giant battles, sieges, and lots of skirmishes as the Company tries to connive itself out of predicaments. Though the details are not dissimilar, the overall picture and plot does change dramatically from book to book. The big goals range from surviving a contract with the tyrannical empire to returning to Khatovar to saving the world from an all powerful sorcerer. This plot is often based on facing each small detail, which leaves the reader in suspense, always asking, “what is the enemy doing?” or “what is the Captain scheming?” How exactly the Company is going to come out on top, or come out at all, keeps the pages turning.There are several themes that find the attention of the series, including: the harsh realities of war, the hardships of a life of soldiering, brotherhood, family, love, and mortality. From book to book, the themes are primarily the same, yet their respective attention varies as events and perspectives mutate. They are all well-investigated in the writing, for instance Croaker's obssession with brotherhood and the writing of the names of fallen brothers in the annals to grant a sort of immortality. New themes do appear, such as focuses on culture and religion, which invade the second half the series, as do court politics. If you keep the primary themes in mind while reading the series, you will likely find that it is much more than just a military history.Considering these themes, the series concludes strongly. In the final book, [b:Soldiers Live 400899 Soldiers Live (The Chronicles of the Black Company, #9) Glen Cook https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1388305400s/400899.jpg 390310], it addresses all of the major themes directly. By wrapping up loose ends and facing long term conflicts and questions, it is still not exactly a happy ending, yet it is a satisfying one that stays true to the harsh realities of the Company's line of work, which are inescapable, just as the harsh realities of life. To this degree, Cook makes a compelling connection to the bittersweetness of living.Cook's creation is an evolving substance. From one end of the series to the other, many, many things change, which can shake and alienate the reader. While the military-esque style is uniform and so are the majority of the themes like brotherhood and the harsh side of war, which give consistency through the plethora of landscapes, there are so many changes that the series can pass through stages that readers may find unenjoyable when they want the idyllic classics back. This is how I felt through most of the middle portion of the series, wanting to revisit the original three books. Not until Water Sleeps and Soldiers Live did I feel as invested in the story.What I realized after completing all the novels and while writing this review is Cook's intentionality in writing with variety. Book one is way different than book two and so on for the entirety of the series. [b:Bleak Seasons 400911 Bleak Seasons (The Chronicles of the Black Company, #6) Glen Cook https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1389586789s/400911.jpg 390322] and [b:She is the Darkness 400897 She is the Darkness (The Chronicles of the Black Company, #7) Glen Cook https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1390686957s/400897.jpg 390308] are probably the most similar among their peers, but that doesn't change the fact that the series evolves in both writing style and world-building continually. As the narrator changes, the writing style will alter dramatically. Even the same narrator can change drastically, so that their viewpoint is much different than it was in another book. The world expands to include defined religion, culture, and race, which become important themes as well. The world flourishes in a multitude of other ways: strange creatures, different terrain, new characters, a creepy cult, and so on. Both these changes in world and perspective lead to jarring shifts, ergo the reader can easily become lost and confused.As difficult as these shifts may be to understand and tolerate, in hindsight, I understand that Cook wanted to create new and unique works, not just copy his formula from book one or books one, two, and three. He experiments with his formula, keeping the base ingredients, the main concepts, included, but altering dosages and adding new components to the mix. That experimentation is admirable, if hard to digest at times. A reread will be necessary to enjoy the series to its full extent, primarily books 4 through 8, because of how they overwhelmed me. However difficult these updates are to handle and process, they are justified by the spirit of the Annals of the Black Company. The annals are a window into the past, of different times that are somehow similar. Keeping the story unfragmented by different viewpoints and focuses, would belittle it's true intent of giving a particular soldier's viewpoint in this fantasy realm. To address the dizzying evolution of the Black Company, the reader can leave off at book three and call things finished, or decide to see things through. I'm personally glad that I finished the entire series. Just as the history of the Black Company is different from its current circumstances, yet familiar, so is each glimpse into the annals that comprise the series. Each new book brings the reader to a new point in time where people, places, and things have changed, keeping the reader on their toes and the experience fresh.What is the verdict on the the Black Company? With how confounding the shifts are between books and narrators, it's actually hard to recommend the series because its world expands so substantially and it is inconsistent in writing style owing to multiple annalists. Patience may be required, but now that I've finished the series, I have a deeper realization and appreciation of the heart of the Black Company. So, the series is an epic with a focus on military elements from the perspective of various soldiers on the battlefield trapped in a game played by wizards. It's more than just a story, though, it's a picture of the annals, written by different authors through the course of varying battles and trials, exploring the lives of these mercenaries known as the Black Company. While this traversal of the annals does not lend well to easy reading, it's exactly what it declares itself to be, a nitty, gritty, and down-to-earth point-of-view without pomp.
<— LOTS OF SPOILERS —>
Wow! Deathly Hallows was a great wrap up to the Harry Potter Series, and, now, my favorite book out of all seven, closely followed by The Order of the Pheonix. The first half was rather slow after the flight from the Dark Lord, with Harry, Ron, and Hermione wandering in search of any leads. While it wasn't action packed, I loved the wandering part and the character interactions and developments before the return to Hogwarts. I am a sucker for a good “adventure-feeling” which I got during the different camping and happenings of the trio.
The most endearing part, probably my favorite scene of the entire book, was Harry and Hermione's visit to Godric Hallows on Christmas Eve. Visiting Harry's past in that place was so well orchestrated that it came alive and really hit me in the feels with the tenderness Rowling captured the actions and emotions of Harry and Hermione.
My other favorite section was Snape's story. I actually liked Snape, in a way, before Half-Blood Prince and figured he had been in love with Lily, Harry's mom, and that is why he had despised him, although this presumption wasn't spot on, I was happy with myself for guessing one piece of the many puzzles that make up Harry Potter. Snape's loyal, yet lost, love story is sincerely touching, and I empathize, as well as, identify with him. Snape is now my favorite character in the series.
I found the many escapes of Harry Potter quite believable and surprising, however, there were a lot of escapes and some may have weaknesses here and there. But this book and series pulled me in enough that I really can't complain. Being kind of numb from all the other deaths in the series, quite akin to Harry, Dobby's death didn't impact me as much as it probably should have. Though, the funeral was a special moment, among many special moments, in the book.
As for the rest of the book, the defense of Hogwarts, Harry's death, and the final battle, well, it was nothing short of epic. Seeing Dumbledore's army fighting alongside the teachers, statues, and order was fantastic and the battle was very, very well done and action packed. Harry's walk to death, so to speak, re-conceived the feelings of loneliness and loss felt in the Order of the Phoenix and Half-Blood Prince. The final showdown, while simple, was enjoyable. The cheesy prologue seemed the perfect way to wrap things up after such a long journey with some very cherished characters. I wasn't expecting such a happy ending, but I find myself very, very happy with the book, with the entire series, and with the ending.
[book:White Sand Volume 1 28862254] is a good graphic novel, which seems to struggle with bits and pieces of its presentation, but has a great story and characters so far. If you're a big fan of [author:Brandon Sanderson 38550]'s works, you'll be right at home with his fast-paced, complex plot, and bantering characters.The character designs are difficult to get accustomed to because the extreme facial detail can be revolting and felt too up close to the characters. There's definitely a reason for this detail, which is to highlight the effects of overmastering. Also, a lot of the bald sand masters were difficult to distinguish. The first chapter is dry in color, since it takes place in the desert, but the visuals become meatier as color comes into play and the character designs become more palatable. The backgrounds, including the desert, town, and diem, look really good and accomplish capturing Sanderson's unique world.The presentation, in terms of flow, is another can of worms. Some panels had arrows to point the correct order to follow, and some of those that didn't felt like they needed them. Now, I don't read graphic novels regularly and may be totally ignorant in this regard, but the arrows were annoying and better panel design should have accomplished understandable flow and not required the use of those irritating arrows. Again, take that with a grain of salt as I'm not the most familiar with the standards for panels and following them in general. The flow lurched during some action scenes, too, which is a complaint I end up having with graphic novels. Of course, it's hard to fault the artist for this since it is a difficulty for the entire medium and some of that error could easily be my own from speeding through the piece.What there is to say about the story, well, it is definitely Sanderson, and as an avid fan I expect great things from the next two volumes. That being stated, this is the first third of the book, so be prepared for world-building, character introductions, a good chunk of initial plot, and a lack of development of any of these things.As the first graphic novel for White Sands, I'm very happy with the storytelling, and the visual style grew on me, though the paneling needs some work. I'm sure most Sanderson fans will enjoy this work like I did, but without the next two volumes, it's hard to say how well the trilogy will evolve.
Continuity. That's the bottom line when it comes to [book:Secret History 28698036]. Actually, that's not true, because the ending of Secret History serves up epic character moments. All of those confusing things that didn't make much sense in the first trilogy get context. This novella is ripe with convoluted Cosmere intersections and fuzzy, otherworldly rambling, and it's perfect. Be warned of spoilers in this review, and take my word for it as an avid [author:Sanderson 38550] fan, that you should read this asap if you've read the Mistborn books, that is, the first three. I recommend reading up to [book:The Bands of Mourning 18739426] if possible before cracking this one open.The story follows Kelsier, everyone's favorite fantastical, mistborn con artist. All those parts with him popping up and references to him in [book:The Hero of Ages 2767793] actually have a well-formed, Sanderson back story that does not disappoint. This book is a gem, providing us a story of Kelsier's long journey in the mental dimension. A lot of stuff is vague and fuzzy. Even Kelsier doesn't understand the realm in which he is trapped, and it is only fair that we don't either. It gets pretty confusing with the inverted bodies of water and when he can interact with physical entities versus the times he can't. He can hear the Ire clearly, yet he can't hear the Scadrial natives. Knowing Sanderson's love for logic, there is probably an explanation, but there wasn't one present in the story. Due to it's lack of definition, finding inconsistencies was not easy, and that is the only one I noticed.This novella serves as an exciting summary of the second two Mistborn books, as well, which makes for a fantastic read that really clears up quite a few loose ends. Honestly, there were a plethora of weird happenings in The Hero of Ages and here are clarified a few of those relating to Kelsier's role, while raising even more unanswered questions.Preservation and Kelsier shine as the primary characters here. Preservation is given more personality, and Kelsier continues to develop as he fights for the future over everything else. The title of Survivor becomes ever more apt. Kelsier is humbled, yet never loses his stubborn fighting spirit. This would have been fine enough, although when he finally meets Vin, “SMACK!” It's the equivalent of Kelsier getting Bright slapped by his former pupil and being told he's the one that needs to learn some things. That part of the story solidifies it as its own with that heartfelt character interaction between Vin and Kelsier. I wasn't expecting that level of emotion and Sanderson took me there to that bittersweet embrace. Up until that point, it was an excellent recap and hole-filling story, however that moment connects so well between reader and characters, and that is art.The presentation is fast-paced, not lingering too long on the more monotonous parts of Kelsier's travels. Still, there's over two books worth of time crammed into 150 pages, so large periods of time flash by. Sanderson doesn't let up the pace by cleverly revealing markers occasionally which hook the reader with nostalgia and recollections of the original trilogy. The first portion of the book is the only place with any good breaking points, for your info. Mistborn: Secret History is an astounding treat for Mistborn fans. It chronicles a cohesive, not quite stand-alone story that will leave the reader with very dry eyes - from reading too, much, that is - as they follow Kelsier's interventions in the second two books. Not only that, but recurring characters compelling interactions, for their brief parts, breath life into this side story, making it so much more than just a side dish. If you have read the original three Mistborn books, you should not hesitate to read this novella.