Legends II

Realm of the Elderlings: Homecoming / Robin Hobb - 2/5. I find Robb an Ok writer (rather lame, but not really bad).
A Song of Ice and Fire: The Sworn Sword / George R.R. Martin 5+/5. Amazing. I read Martin in my language and thought he cannot be surpassed, but I was wrong: he can, by himself - he is much better in English. And this is a great story.
The Tales of Alvin Maker: The Yazoo Queen / Orson Scott Card. 3/5. I love the Alvin universe and its humour, but this story was much weaker (and shorter) then the one in Legends 1.
Outlander: Lord John and the Succubus / Diana Gabaldon. 5/5. I expected to give this 1/5, because Gabaldon is famous for her time-travel threesome and I have a very strong opinion about romantic fantasy, but I was amazed: it was a great story, a paranormal whodunnit with only a hint of (gay) romance, and the main character is a British (male) officer.
Majipoor: The Book of Changes / Robert Silverberg. 2/5. The Majipoor universe seems a captivating one, but if the story in legends 1 was rather weak, this is even worse - just an endless text about a poet in search of his inspiration.
Otherland: The Happiest Dead Boy in the World / Tad Williams. 2/5. I find Tad Williams an Ok writer (not good, not bad), but this was just too YA and too unoriginal.
Pern: Beyond Between / Anne McCaffrey. 0/5. No, no, no.
The Riftwar: The Messenger / Raymond E. Feist. 5/5. I love the Riftwar universe and the way mr. Feist understands correctly both the military psychology and the grim of war (also tactics and strategy). Also, I love the antagonists (the Tsurani).
The Symphony of Ages: Threshold / Elizabeth Haydon. 1/5. Overburden with everything. Definitely not to my taste.
American gods: The Monarch of the Glen / Neil Gaiman. 3/5. I still think that the novel (American Gods) is one the best books I have ever read (and I used it to convert mainstreamers to fantasy), but, just like ”Anansi Boys”, this story was a disappointment. I did love the end, but the path to that was way too long, slow and boring. If I did not know it was Gaiman, I would have given it up several times.
Shannara: Indomitable / Terry Brooks. 3/5. Seems well-written, but it obviously expects the reader to be familiar with the previous works (the trilogy). I was not and gave it up after a while - I felt lost in (too) unknown territory.
Overall, a weaker book than the first Legends.

June 9, 2018Report this review