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Title: Goddess of the Ice Realm by David Drake, Paul Michael ISBN: 1-55927-950-8 Publisher: Audio Renaissance Pub. Date: 10 September, 2003 Format: Audio Cassette Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $29.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4 (5 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: Entertaining...but lacking in plot development
Comment: This fifth installment in the series is much like the rest of them:the main characters go their separate ways for the bulk of the novel and reunite for the subplot. The plot, in fact, is becoming rather predictable, with only details changing from book to book. There is very little of the "epic" in this fantasy series, as the plots of the now five books just don't seem to be driving at anything.
That being said, the book IS entertaining, and I even found myself laughing at points. That's more than can be said for some of the other big names in fantasy at this time. While not intellectually stimulating, "Goddess of the Ice Realm" will provide a number of hours of good reading, and is certainly worth purchasing for readers of the series.
Rating: 4
Summary: Pretty good--especially the talking axe
Comment: Prince Garrick and his in-head partner Carus head for Carcosa for Garrick's coronation, but an evil force threatens Garrick and his entire world. Working through magic, and through the local priests, something threatens Garrick's life directly, and then separates him from his trusted friends. Cashel, with his quarterstaff is teleported to a world where a strange entity threatens everything. Sharina is pulled into a fairy-tale world where a talking axe warns evil trolls of her presence, but then welcomes her as a killing partner. Ilna and the ex-pirate Chalcus are sent to deal with a problem merchants have been having, only to find the same evil magic is working its way in Garrick's kingdom.
Each of the three major sub-plots works. Although Cashel is pretty one-dimensional as a character (he hits bad things with his quarterstaff and if that doesn't work, he hits them harder), he's pretty likable as a heroic type and his strategy works. Ilna is more complex, and shows important character development. Sharina's quest with her friend the axe is probably the most interesting of the three with the axe, Beard, being the most likable and memorable character in the story. In contrast, Garrick's own adventures serve mainly as a resting point. I certainly found myself wanting to get back to where the real action was.
Author David Drake is best known for his military SF, but he does a better than average job in epic fantasy. Once we get away from Garrick and into the three subplots, GODDESS OF THE ICE REALM really picks up its pace and delivers a diet of action, mayhem, and old-fashioned magic.
Rating: 3
Summary: Good mindless fun
Comment: It's no masterpiece, but it was entertaining, if mindless, reading. If you're interested is some good swashbuckling action without too much concern for deeper thoughts, it's a worthwhile read.
The character development of the previous books in the series seems to have ended, with each of the major character becoming fairly static and predictable. And the plot seems to have taken second chair to the fight scenes, with protaganists being whisked about the cosmos for no apparent reason other than to fight whatever big scary monsters they can find before conveniently returning together for the climax of, you guessed it, more monster slaying. It's been a few years, but I'm fairly certain that was the exact plot of the last novel in this series. If he continues this epic, I hope he pulls it back a bit and grounds it in the world of the isles he constructed in the first novels. It's hard to get too involved or care too much about the heros' adventures in the 7th dimension because none of it quite seems real, and the reader never doubts that at the end it'll all wrap up in a nice, tidy package with everyone safe at home.
But all that being said, it's still an enjoyable read for a few hours of good, predictable adventure.
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Title: The Lair of Bones (Runelords, Book 4) by David Farland ISBN: 0765301768 Publisher: Tor Books Pub. Date: 08 November, 2003 List Price(USD): $27.95 |
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Title: The Far Side of the Stars by David Drake ISBN: 074347158X Publisher: Baen Books Pub. Date: 01 October, 2003 List Price(USD): $25.00 |
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Title: Jarka Ruus (High Druid of Shannara, Book 1) by TERRY BROOKS ISBN: 0345435737 Publisher: Del Rey Pub. Date: 26 August, 2003 List Price(USD): $27.95 |
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Title: Naked Empire (Sword of Truth, Book 8) by Terry Goodkind ISBN: 0765305224 Publisher: Tor Books Pub. Date: 21 July, 2003 List Price(USD): $29.95 |
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Title: Fool's Fate (The Tawny Man, Book 3) by ROBIN HOBB ISBN: 0553801546 Publisher: Bantam Pub. Date: 03 February, 2004 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
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