Tom Lloyd's "The Grave Thief", #38
Apr. 21st, 2010 04:21 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
katikatScree has been wiped from the face of the Land in a brutal demonstration of intent. While those responsible scatter to work on the next step in their plan, the stakes are raised - all the way to the heavens - as the Gods themselves enter the fray. Returning home to a nation divided by fanaticism, Lord Isak is haunted both by the consequences of his actions in Scree and by visions of his own impending death. As the full extent of Azaer's schemes become clearer, he realises prophecy and zealotry must play their part in his battle-plans if there is to be any chance of surviving the coming years. As a white-eye, Isak has had to embrace the darker parts of his own soul, but now the savage religious fervour sweeping his nation must also be accepted and turned to purpose, in the name of survival. With the battle lines vague and allegiances uncertain, the time for heartless decisions and ruthless action has come. Two figures oppose Isak and his allies: the greatest warrior in history, who dreams of empire and Godhood, and a newborn baby whose dreams have no limit.
Review: This book has been the bane of my existence for the last month. Great idea, poor execution. There are many characters that really shine in this book, in this whole series: Isak Stormcaller, Kastan Styrax, Mihn ab Netren ab Felith, Zhia Vukotic, Doranei... Unfortunately, instead of focusing on them, Lloyd floods the book with scores of characters that are completely unimportant to the overall story. I want the main characters to witness important events, not some merchant's wife or a major that we never hear of again! Every other chapter introduces yet more characters that are used for one event only, but Lloyd still feels the need to give them rich background which leads to a deluge of information that's just not important! I want to know more about Isak or Legana, I want them to be out there, doing stuff.
And then there are the Gods... I'm not a religious or spiritual person, so I don't care about some false Prophet preaching to the Harlequins about some kid they should follow. I get it, tell me once, dear author, do not drag this plot out infinitely! I don't need to see the Prophet convince every one of them. I don't need to see the shadow aka Azaer aka Ruhen and his disciples do stuff in detail. Fine, they're bad. They have a plan. But they are simply boring, sorry to say! And giving them cruel stuff to do doesn't make up for how boring they are. Kastan Styrax? That one is great. Azaer? Not so much.
The most exciting parts? Isak doing his thing, fighting with daemons, using his power! That's awesome. I want to read more about that! Why do I have to trudge through heaps and oceans of unimportant, slow stuff to get to it?
Review: This book has been the bane of my existence for the last month. Great idea, poor execution. There are many characters that really shine in this book, in this whole series: Isak Stormcaller, Kastan Styrax, Mihn ab Netren ab Felith, Zhia Vukotic, Doranei... Unfortunately, instead of focusing on them, Lloyd floods the book with scores of characters that are completely unimportant to the overall story. I want the main characters to witness important events, not some merchant's wife or a major that we never hear of again! Every other chapter introduces yet more characters that are used for one event only, but Lloyd still feels the need to give them rich background which leads to a deluge of information that's just not important! I want to know more about Isak or Legana, I want them to be out there, doing stuff.
And then there are the Gods... I'm not a religious or spiritual person, so I don't care about some false Prophet preaching to the Harlequins about some kid they should follow. I get it, tell me once, dear author, do not drag this plot out infinitely! I don't need to see the Prophet convince every one of them. I don't need to see the shadow aka Azaer aka Ruhen and his disciples do stuff in detail. Fine, they're bad. They have a plan. But they are simply boring, sorry to say! And giving them cruel stuff to do doesn't make up for how boring they are. Kastan Styrax? That one is great. Azaer? Not so much.
The most exciting parts? Isak doing his thing, fighting with daemons, using his power! That's awesome. I want to read more about that! Why do I have to trudge through heaps and oceans of unimportant, slow stuff to get to it?
