Various Thoughts

The first book in the follow-up trilogy to R. Scott Bakker’s Prince of Nothing series is cut from much of the same cloth. It too follows a march across the world while focusing on particular characters whom toil in parallel story arcs that will more likely than not all converge at series’ end. Esmenet and Achamian return as first-person characters and are joined by some new faces; Sorwheel (Prince-cum-King of the final city Kellhus conquerors on the way to Golgotterath), Kelmomas (Esmenet and Kellhus’ youngest son), Nannaferi (the head of a fertility cult bent on Kellhus’ destruction), and Mimara (Esmenet’s long-lost daughter with the titular ‘Judging Eye’).

There are four currently competing plotlines. The main one has Kellhus leading a crusade deep into the Northern Reaches to wipe out the Consult, Sorwheel serving as the reader’s eyes. Secondary is Achamian’s quest through Sranc-infested lands to reach Ishuäl and discover what the Dûnyain truly are. It is told though both Achamian and Mimara’s eyes. Next is Esmenet trying to hold Kellhus’ empire together in his absence against the aggression of the Cult of Yatwer, seen though both Esmenet’s eyes and peripherally through Kelmomas’. Finally is the attention on Kelmomas’ murderous proclivities and to a lesser extent the various complications each of Kellhus’ children have.

To Hell and BackThe final book in Lilith Saintcrow‘s Dante Valentine series, and it’s decent. This is basically my second-favorite series in this genre, after Kim Harrison‘s. Like Harrison, Saintcrow doesn’t rely on graphic sex to keep her readers interested. Unlike Harrison though, Saintcrow had a few missteps, such as The Devil’s Right...

The Outlaw Demon WailsThis is the sixth book in Kim Harrison’s fantastic Hollows series, and her first hardcover. Unlike many similar series, such as Laurell K. Hamilton‘s, Harrison’s stories don’t revolve around sex or romance, and she even skips over the act the few times (one time?) it makes an appearance. Without those...

The Eye of the World, The Great Hunt, & EldestI received these as gifts quite some time ago, and due to my general disinterest in old-style high fantasy I was in no rush to read them. The problem I have with this style of story is that, while I know it was new at the time, reading it now tends...

Unclean & UndeadThese books are the first two parts of Richard Lee Byers’ Haunted Lands trilogy. I had ordered both at once, which was apparently a good idea, as after having read Unclean I almost certainly wouldn’t have continued reading the series. Unclean is… not very good. I’m not sure what exactly...

Blood Angel & Lord of BonesNow these…. These are some very good books. Blood Angel and Lord of Bones, both by Justine Musk, tell the story of an impending demonic invasion from the point of view of several key characters; a washed up rock-star (Lucas Maddox), a mysterious hitch-hiker (Asha), a young painter (Jessamy Shepard),...

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