The plot is fine: evil god-man killed my family for singing songs. That's a little strange, but okay.
The world is neat: medieval England again, but with an interesting system of magic.
It's the main character I have trouble with. Does he ever do anything wrong? Do his actions ever have any serious consequences he doesn't get rid of in the next chapter?
"Oh, some kid bullied me. Now I'll set him on fire.
"I want into the University! It's fine for me, because I know all the answers.
"My teacher is trying to embarrass me? We'll see about that! I'll use magic to burn him and get elevated to the highest position in the University on the second day of attendance because I'm so fucking good at all this shit you fuckers don't even know."
It reminds me a bit of Robin Hobb's Assassin trilogy, except her character was frequently beaten down and his mistakes and rectifications changed him as a character and the story. This guy...what's happening here?
Robin Hobb's "The Liveship Traders" trilogy is good though. Still all the beat-downs but with a (sort of) happier ending.
"Yo, Prince Regal is shitting on us again, should we do something?"
"NO! WE ARE SWORN TO UPHOLD THE LAW!"
"Listen, it's pretty clear that Regal is taking advantage of our niceties. He's assassinated, like, everyone so far. We should probably do something, even if we don't kill him."
"Well...let's see what he's planning."
"Okay, now Regal has killed me...he has killed me totally. My girlfriend is pregnant and in hiding, my best friends hate me, my mentor loathes me and I am a zoophile, also I am dead. We should do something now."
"...eh."
He does a column in my school's newspaper and often shows up at local conventions for autograph sessions and such.
I should check out his books sometime.
Made the mistake of loaning it to a friend first, but as soon as I get it back I'm going to work on The Templars, by Barbara Frale.
Much more entertaining than I expected it to be.
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Captain Tarquinn put down Tada! magazine long enough to type:
Just finished Word War Z.Much more entertaining than I expected it to be.
Oh, you'll love my book collection, then. When you're sober enough to read (between the time you wake up and 2 hours after the time you wake up), you'll have your pick of all sorts of interesting sci-fi and classic post-apocalyptic fiction.
Under capitalism, man exploits man. Under communism, it's just the opposite. - John Kenneth Galbraith
I agree that his ability to retain knowledge seems rather over the top, but I enjoyed the book anyway. And its not like he is a totally perfect character; he has a tendancy for doing childish, stupid things because of his somewhat hot headed nature, if I remember right. (I read this book a few days after if came out, so its been about two years).
I was able to lose myself completely in the book and the style that the story was told. Not many books have me curious from the first chapter, but this one did.
In case you missed the abruptly terminated sci-fi series (which wasn't really true to the books anyway), imagine hard-boiled, "Big Sleep" style detective stories.
Except the detective is a wizard.
I absolutely adored the first two books, and I am solidly enjoying the third. I've already bought the rest of the series, that is how serious I am.
The stories are dark enough to be compelling; it keeps you turning the pages. They're also funny enough to be endearing.
"Don't want to sound like a fanboy, but I am with you. I'll buy it for sure, it's just a matter of for how long I will be playing it..."
- Silvast, Battle.net forums
quote:
Maradon! had this to say about Reading Rainbow:
I have been reading Jim Butcher's Dresden Files series.In case you missed the abruptly terminated sci-fi series (which wasn't really true to the books anyway), imagine hard-boiled, "Big Sleep" style detective stories.
Except the detective is a wizard.
I absolutely adored the first two books, and I am solidly enjoying the third. I've already bought the rest of the series, that is how serious I am.
The stories are dark enough to be compelling; it keeps you turning the pages. They're also funny enough to be endearing.
Those books are awesome. I'm currently on Summer Knight. I didn't really like the one with the werewolves though. It wasn't bad per se, but it didn't hold a candle to the other one (it's book 2 so I had only read the first one at the time).
I also really enjoy Terry Pratchett's Discworld stuff.
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Azakias had this to say about Duck Tales:
I agree that his ability to retain knowledge seems rather over the top, but I enjoyed the book anyway. And its not like he is a totally perfect character; he has a tendancy for doing childish, stupid things because of his somewhat hot headed nature, if I remember right. (I read this book a few days after if came out, so its been about two years)
He doesn't really have any flaws, though. He is, basically, perfect.
His "hotheadedness" is really just his inability to not speak his mind and call out his latest villain for doing something silly. It's not a flaw if everyone loves him for it. Beyond that, he succeeds instantly at everything he attempts, is well-loved by everyone except the people who are almost exaggeratedly cartoonish villains that try to impede him by lying and cheating.
He's not a character. He's a still life.
quote:
Maradon! spewed forth this undeniable truth:
I have been reading Jim Butcher's Dresden Files series.In case you missed the abruptly terminated sci-fi series (which wasn't really true to the books anyway), imagine hard-boiled, "Big Sleep" style detective stories.
Except the detective is a wizard.
I absolutely adored the first two books, and I am solidly enjoying the third. I've already bought the rest of the series, that is how serious I am.
The stories are dark enough to be compelling; it keeps you turning the pages. They're also funny enough to be endearing.
They actually get moderately darker as the series progresses, and he starts to rely less on favors and "one time" events and more on his growing prowess as both a detective and a wizard.
Also he takes in a hot, young female wizard as a ward. Delphi Aegis fucked around with this message on 05-20-2009 at 04:13 PM.
I dont do that often.
What's next? King Kingly the King?
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Blindy. said:
Any book in which a character's name is Prince Regal is a book that I do not want to read.What's next? King Kingly the King?
He's actually a well-written character.
Robin Hobb is a very good writer. Just not to good on conclusions and tends to ramble on a bit, which is expected since she's female.
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Mortious had this to say about (_|_):
He's actually a well-written character.Robin Hobb is a very good writer. Just not to good on conclusions and tends to ramble on a bit, which is expected since she's female.
Eh. He had a pretty good motive, then she just decided to eff it all and have him be made fanatically loyal. It makes sense in the narrative, but it just doesn't strike me as a good way to end.
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Karnaj had this to say about Duck Tales:
Oh, you'll love my book collection, then. When you're sober enough to read (between the time you wake up and 2 hours after the time you wake up), you'll have your pick of all sorts of interesting sci-fi and classic post-apocalyptic fiction.
No doubt of that. Our taste in books seems to be rather similiar. 
Also the Song of Fire and Ice books are calling to me again. I have been wanting to get these books for my fiance as she would love the story but she is kinda caught up right now in Linda Hamilton and junk.
If you like that kinda supernatural booty call then check out the Nightwalkers series is actually pretty good. Each story has a lot of fun things and some overly sensual emotional sex stuff but the stories are very engrossing (for brain candy of course). Very easy read but the series ties together very well.
