The series is definitely beginning to drag for me. Plenty happens in this outing, and much of it was engaging, but the story just keeps going and goinThe series is definitely beginning to drag for me. Plenty happens in this outing, and much of it was engaging, but the story just keeps going and going. I no longer feel like I'm being told a STORY, which for me implies a beginning, a middle, an end, and a point. Instead it feels like I'm being led by the nose through an era of this strange world's HISTORY. And for me, that's where things come apart.
With a work like LOTR, I found the world itself deeply fascinating, so being told a long and involved tale about a pivotal time in its history felt worthwhile. I was riveted by the place itself - irrespective of the plot. But Roshar is not Middle Earth. Equally vast in area, perhaps, but to me only micron deep by comparison, with little sparkle or delight of its own. The closer I look at it, the more I see it as a Rube Goldberg contraption, a tinker's scaffold, purpose built to hold the pieces of this particular story aloft. Take away the events of the plot, and that scaffold collapses under the weight of its own absurdity.
Thoroughly enjoyable, and with some very effective character moments, but I found it dragged a bit. Plus, the way the magic unfolded left me with a slThoroughly enjoyable, and with some very effective character moments, but I found it dragged a bit. Plus, the way the magic unfolded left me with a slight taste of: "Didn't we see the same stuff in Mistborn?" Proceeding to Book 3, but there's a caution flag in effect now....more
Disappointing. Did not finish. I got a little over half way and got bored. A bunch of running around that seemed to have no point. Maybe I'm just in tDisappointing. Did not finish. I got a little over half way and got bored. A bunch of running around that seemed to have no point. Maybe I'm just in the wrong mood. There's nothing wrong with the prose, I just didn't find anything in the story to keep me hooked....more
As CEO of the world's most successful energy company, Lowell Bracken is at the top of his game and beginning to plan for his children to succeed him. As CEO of the world's most successful energy company, Lowell Bracken is at the top of his game and beginning to plan for his children to succeed him. But when a small upstart solar power company enters the scene, it triggers a series of political dominoes that will completely destabilize the power structures of the entire planet, and Lowell will be lucky to escape with his children - and his skin - intact.
This one is hard to pigeon hole. Part eco-drama. Part fantasy. Part political thriller. It's set on an alien planet, but with a tech level similar to our own. There is some kind of pseudo-magic, and dragons, but both are kept fairly low key in this first installment.
Despite these promising elements, this one didn't quite grab me. Lowell in particular seemed rather inconsistent. He's touted as a ruthless and ultra-savvy CEO who built his company up from ashes, against heroic obstacles. But when the chips were down, I never saw any of that heroic ferocity and competence in evidence. If anything, he comes across as a has-been who is now easily duped and slightly bewildered. It's one of those cases where the author describes the kind of character we all love to admire, but doesn't actually write him in a way that's consistent with that hype. And while some of the other characters do live up to their billing, they are so uni-dimensional that I wasn't able to bond emotionally with any of them.
Overall, I felt like this book took me to the brink of a really enjoyable ride, but left me standing there. It didn't quite have the horsepower to tip me over the edge and deliver....more
Rather than go on again about the emotional paralysis that governs every single character and causes 90% of the drama in this series, I'd like to mentRather than go on again about the emotional paralysis that governs every single character and causes 90% of the drama in this series, I'd like to mention something more positive. I am truly enjoying the cultures of WoT. While it's true that the Aiel warrior people have the most richly explored culture so far, there is a real sense that every single culture in Jordan's world is just as nuanced, just as riveting, and just as impenetrably odd.
On the surface, each of the peoples seem to have distinctive body types and facial features, not unlike the Arabs, Asians, Indians, Americans, and Europeans of our own world. In fact, some of the races seem to draw their inspiration from these Earth cultures. But Jordan goes much deeper than that, exploring their economies, their music, social graces, class systems, and many other aspects. And each time he touches on one such issue for one race, you realize that the same facets probably exist in all the other races, too.
In my mind, Lords of Chaos marks a turning point for the series. It's a small shift, and subtle, but it's important. In this instalment, we finally see the characters beginning to shift from the defensive to the offensive. Not a lot, and not in any grand, trumpeted way. But it has happened. Will this be the end of the secret-keeping and the inner hand-wringing? Probably not. But at least they aren't acting like punching bags any longer. Or at least, not much. ...more
The story is interesting enough but the character dynamics are pathetic. The gender politics is juvenile, and frankly, there isn't a single member of The story is interesting enough but the character dynamics are pathetic. The gender politics is juvenile, and frankly, there isn't a single member of the scattered alliance of good guys who is open and forthright in his dealings with others. Everyone from Rand himself down to the lowest novice of the Tower is so tightly wrapped, secretive, and mistrustful that they do not deserve to win the fight. I am beginning to loathe each and every one of them. Drama should never come from characters behaving stupidly and withholding information from each other. This is just a camouflaged form of Deus Ex. The only reason I am going to continue with the series is to see how things might change under Sanderson....more
Having recently been accepted into a secret fraternity of thieves, Duchess must now learn the ropes quickly, to fend off several rivals who have alreaHaving recently been accepted into a secret fraternity of thieves, Duchess must now learn the ropes quickly, to fend off several rivals who have already moved against her. But as she sets the wheels of her vengeance in motion, Duchess discovers plots within plots and is forced to confront a disturbing possibility: is she turning those wheels? Or are the wheels turning her?
Every bit as enjoyable as the first one. The authors have found an interesting structure. Rather than lead their protagonist through a series of problems in the usual way - one after the other - they opt instead to give Duchess half a dozen problems all at once. Then they sit back and watch as she tries to untangle them all without hanging herself in the process. The result is surprisingly engaging, but with a different feel from most plot-driven rogue stories. This structure allows for a greater sense of uncertainty and a more palpable conviction that, this time, Duchess might not be able to handle everything that's thrown at her....more
The premise is that Corwin, one of the Lords of Fae, has been trapped in the mortal realm for a few centuries, living in his version of Hell and suffeThe premise is that Corwin, one of the Lords of Fae, has been trapped in the mortal realm for a few centuries, living in his version of Hell and suffering from amnesia. He wakes up and slowly recovers his memories, just in time to learn that his claim to the throne is about to be usurped by his older brother. So he enlists a few of his other brothers and goes to war against the usurper, in an attempt to recover his perceived birthright.
Can you say "entitlement issues?" This entire book reads to me like a painful episode of Silver Spoons, or maybe 90210. One spoiled rich kid isn't getting what he wants, so he throws a tantrum and drags the rest of the family in, forcing them to choose sides, and causing a major rift in the family, all so he can try to take the ball away from his older brother, who picked it up first.
To be honest, I don't see what the fuss is about. The Amber Chronicles have appeared on so many lists of must-read fantasy, for so long, that I just had to check it out. Well, I've done that now, but I'm thinking, "Is that it?" I understand that it's only the first book, and that amazing stuff may be waiting for me in Book 2. Or Book 8. But I would only bother to read those if Book 1 had done its job, dragging me into a story that I feel compelled to see through to the end. Well it didn't, and I don't, so I won't....more
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