Life Descending (Cry of Havoc Book One)

Title: Life Descending
Author: John Hennessey
Series: Cry of Havoc (Book 1)


Ratings

Score: 4/10
Chart Entry Point: 43
How likely I am to read the next in the Series: Unlikely

Review

    I was looking forwards to reading this book when it was first given to me. The things that the blurb mentioned were all very interesting: the familiar idea of war in a different world, a man reborn into a new one, and a search for the unique sounding artifact known as the "Impermeable Suit". The blend of common and new aspects of the genre looked like the perfect read for a fantasy reader. I did however, have some problems with it. Beginning with the fact that all the interesting things I was looking forwards to finding out about were barely hinted at in the first half of the book...

Nights of Villjamur (Legends of the Red Sun Book One)

Title: Nights of Villjamur
Author: Mark Charan Newton
Series: Legends of the Setting Sun
Succeeded By: City of Ruin

Ratings

Score: 6/10
Chart Entry Point: 8
How likely I am to read the next in the Series: I look forwards to it.

Review

I wasn't sure what I was expecting when I began this book, but it' the first book I've read in a while that's ended in a truly satisfactory way. Considering that it's the first in a series, and plenty of plot-lines are left to explore in the next book, I'd say that's quite impressive. And it's not the only good thing that I can say about this book either. I found it to be a very nice read.

The Shadow Rising (Wheel of Time - Book Four)

Title: The Shadow Rising
Author: Robert Jordan
Series: Wheel of Time

Ratings
Score: 10/10
How long I would stay up reading: All Night
How likely I am to read the next in the Series: Definite

Review

This book is incredible, and that's just the least I can say. Apart from being the longest, largest book so far, it is also the best. Beyond that there are not enough superlatives to do it justice.

The biggest improvement on the previous books is the lack of a prologue. In the first three books I felt that the prologues harmed the story somewhat by being either irrelevant or confusing. The absence here is a huge benefit and means that when you read the opening paragraph you know that you are reading a wheel of time novel.

Most importantly though, is how well the independant storylines are woven around each other. Whenever the narrative moves between them it masterfully generates a sense of longing for the previous scene and excitement for the one that is upcoming. For me, no other book has managed this so acutely, so finely building suspense.

The characters, as always, are well written and developed. I personally grew quite attached to Faile (a character introduced in the last book, but more major in this one). But the three main characters truly come into their own here, especially Perrin. We learn how they see each other, and how they see themselves, which brings their character to a new depth. In particular the way each of the main three characters believe the other two to be better with women helps to tie the three men together in a way that i've never seen before in fiction.

To summarise then, this is the best book in the series so far, and one of the best out there. It does really need to be read as part of the series, but I would read the previous books as many times as i had to in order to read this one once. The Shadow Rising is brilliant, and sets an incredibly high standard for the rest in the series to meet.

More Information
Main Protagonist(s): Several Mixed
Main Antagonist(s): One Entity with Mixed Lieutenants (The Forsaken)
Main Relationships: Heterosexual
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Brief Synopsis: (From Amazon)

The seals of Shayol Ghul are weak now, and the Dark One reaches out. The Shadow is rising to cover humankind.
In Tar Valon, Min sees portents of hideous doom. Will the White Tower itself be broken?
In the Two Rivers, the Whitecloaks ride in pursuit of a man with golden eyes, and in pursuit of the Dragon Reborn.
In Cantorin, among the Sea Folk, High Lady Suroth plans the return of the Seanchan armies to the mainland.
In the Stone of Tear, the Lord Dragon considers his next move. It will be something no one expects, not the Black Ajah, not Tairen nobles, not Aes Sedai, not Egwene or Elayne or Nynaeve.
Against the Shadow rising stands the Dragon Reborn.....


ISBN: 1857230272
Website: US Publisher's Author Page
Amazon Link: UK Site US Site
Pages: 1046
Publisher: Orbit Books
First Published: 1992

The Dragon Reborn (Wheel of Time - Book Three)

Title: The Dragon Reborn
Author: Robert Jordan
Series: Wheel of Time

Ratings


Score: 9/10
How long I would stay up reading: 4:00ish
How likely I am to read the next in the Series: Definite

Review

This has to be the best book in the series so far. Although there is still a prologue, it is much more readable and integral to the plot of the book than in the second in the series (although the prologue of that book is relavant to the plot of this one). Other than that there seems to be a pattern developing here, fulfill a prophecy and defeat the dark one. For that we'll have to wait until book four for more information.

In this book, as well written as the others if not better, there is everything that a fantasy of this kind should have; magic, swordery and political strife. Although it doesn't quite get 10/10, since I was able to put it down to do other things, this is amongst the best epic fantasy books i've read. It sets a high standard for future authors to reach for, and which few have reached in the genre. I eagerly look forward to reading the next books.

Apologies for the shorter review here, but it's difficult to describe the thrill of the story in this book. Read it, and you will understand. This is one of the first times I have been unable to say much about a book, and to be frank, I hope to be in this position again in the series...

More Information
Main Protagonist(s): 3 Male, plus mixed sex secondary characters
Main Antagonist(s): Male Entity, plus mixed sex "forsaken"
Main Relationships: Heterosexual
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Preceeded by: The Great Hunt
Succeeded by: The Shadow Rising
Brief Synopsis:

The Dragon Reborn--the leader long prophesied who will save the world, but in the saving destroy it; the savior who will run mad and kill all those dearest to him--is on the run from his destiny.
Able to touch the One Power, but unable to control it, and with no one to teach him how--for no man has done it in three thousand years--Rand al'Thor knows only that he must face the Dark One. But how?
Winter has stopped the war-almost-yet men are dying, calling out for the Dragon. But where is he?
Perrin Aybara is in pursuit with Moiraine Sedai, her Warder Lan, and the Loial the Ogier. Bedeviled by dreams, Perrin is grappling with another deadly problem--how is her to escape the loss of his own humanity.
Egwene, Elayne and Nynaeve are approaching Tar Valon, where Mat will be healed--if he lives until they arrive. But who will tell the Amyrlin their news--that the Black Ajah, long thought only a hideous rumor, is all too real? They cannot know that in Tar Valon far worse awaits...
Ahead, for all of them, in the Heart of the Stone, lies the next great test of the Dragon reborn....
(Taken from Amazon)

ISBN: 1857230655
Website: US Publisher's author page
Amazon Link: UK Site US Site
Pages: 699
Publisher: Orbit
First Published: 1992

The Great Hunt (Wheel of Time - Book Two)

Title: The Great Hunt
Author: Robert Jordan
Series: The Wheel of Time

Ratings

Score: 8/10
How long I would stay up reading: 4:00 am
How likely I am to read the next in the Series: Definite

Review

I was pleasantly surprised to find that in this second book of the series, the maps that seem to adorn most fantasy books were before the prologue. Anyone who has read my review of the first book, "The Eye of the World", will know that I found it being the other way round rather offputting. It feels like a much more natural order here. In fact, the majority of the problems I had with the previous book have simply disappeared.

The transitions between characters are smooth, and there are many more sub-plots than in the original, most of which tie together nicely in the last few chapters. There are less similarities to other famous works here, perhaps as Jordan seems to become more comfortable with his own style. Most importantly though, to me at least, the story starts a lot faster, opening with a sword fighting lesson and moving on to a raid of the town.

The prologue here seems to get in the way, since it is seemingly not very important. It refers to the whitecloak subplot, yet this is a very vague sub-plot, and rather hurridly ended. Despite being minor in compariosn to the rest of the story, it is ended quite badly, and leaves a lot of questions as to what exactly was going on.

However, as previously, it was brilliantly written and I will most definitely be following the series to it's conclusion (The last book has just been published).


More Information

Main Protagonist(s): 5 male and 4 female
Main Antagonist(s): 2 male
Main Relationships: Heterosexual undertones
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Preceeded by: The Eye of the World
Succeeded by: The Dragon Reborn
Brief Synopsis:

Every so often, a Great Hunt begins for the lost Horn of Valere, a legendary horn that when sounded will bring back the ancient heroes to do battle. Rand and his companions don't need to join in however, since the horn is safely in their possession. Or so they think. They are attacked by trollocs and darkfriends, who manage steal the horn, and cause Rand, Mat, Perrin, Hurin and Loial the ogier to travel with a host of warriors on the true great hunt. Meanwhile Egwene and Nynaeve are taken to Tor Valon to begin their training as Aes Sedai. But an Aes Sedai of the red faction betrays them, resulting in Egwene's slavery at Toman Head. With only their new friends Min and Elayne to help, How will Nyneave free Elayne, and why are the darkfriends, led by Padan Fain, taking the horn to Toman Head? Most importantly, will Rand al'Thor take up his destiny as the Dragon Reborn?

ISBN(-10): 1-85723-027-2
Website: Publisher's Author Page
Amazon Link: UK Site US Site
Pages: ~ 680
First Published: 1991
Publisher: Orbit Books

The Eye of The World (Wheel of Time - Book One )

Title: The Eye of the World
Author: Robert Jordan
Series: The Wheel of Time

Ratings

Score: 7/10
How long I would stay up reading: ~ 3 am
How likely I am to read the next in the Series: Definite

Review

The best place to start with reviews is normally the beginning. In this case however, that might not be true. The book is slow to pick up, and a couple of times I found myself drifting off in the initial chapter, or more accurately, the prologue. Then I was confused by the fact that the maps came after the prologue. Of course, I have a version that is now 14 years old, so these might have been re-arranged in the latest editions. If not, you are now prepared to deal with this potential break-down inducing irregularity.

After this we move to the main character's perspective, the first chapters of which involve him walking from farm to village and back again, introducing the other main characters quite well, if mundanely. After this it picks up, and there is never a dull moment. The main characters transition smoothly from children and guides to more equal companions (although not quite) in an almost traditional rite-of-passage style, the plot of which is highly original. The characters are exceedingly well written and developed, even when leaving an air of mystery around Lan and Moraine, the guides of the group. The descriptions of settings and lore of the world is not quite to the same standard of the characters, but is orated beautifully, and surpasses many other fantasy authors in simple quality.

There a few sub-plots in this first book, and fewer loose ends. This at first seems desireable, but not having read the second book yet it seems unlikely that the series will be initially as closely linked as it could be. However, I could be wrong, as there could be sub-plots that I failed to pick up on, that wil ldevelop later on, or perhaps the sheer style quality of the writing will thread through the series to connect them.

To critique the author, who unfortunately lost his life to cancer in 2007, he often uses similar phrases or decriptions regularly, particularly in the thoughts of the main character. This could be seen as life-like, but it can be irksome at times. In addition there are a few elements that seemed to coincide very closely to other epic fantasies such as The Lord of the Rings (in particular) and The Belgariad. These are not often though, and become less frequent as the story unfolds. The only other criticism I can make is the names used in the book. Names such as Artur Paendrag are quite clearly taken from legend (King Arthur Pendragon in this particular case), but awkwardly corrupted, while many others are not memorable. Moraine, for example, I had to look up to write this review, despite having read the whole thing in the last 48 hours.

So yes, there are some flaws in this, the first book of the series, but they are far overshadowed by the flowing narrative, the rich detail and characters that almost become friends. The biggest fault is the slow beginning, but bearing in mind that the slow moving chapters take up sixty pages out of eight hundred (out of a 12 book series), this is a rather quick start to the overall story. I loved this book, and although I would dearly love to ignore the book I'd promised to review and move straight on to the second, I am a man of honour, and book 2 (The Great Hunt) will have to wait.


More Information

Main Protagonist(s): Group of 5 males and 3 females
Main Antagonist(s): Male entity
Main Relationships: Heterosexual Undertones
Genre: Fantasy
Succeeded by: The Great Hunt
Brief Synopsis:

When Rand's Village is attacked by trollocs, supposedly after him and two other boys (Mat and Perrin) he is forced to leave alongside Moraine, the Aes Sedai who told him this, and her Warder Lan. They are joined by a Gleeman, Thom, who wants to get away from the village, and a village girl, Egwene, who wants to see the world. Later the village's Wisdom, Nynaeve, catches up to them as they enter their first city. As Moraine tries to take them to the city of the Aes Sedai, Tar Valon, they are seperated, each discovering information that, when reunited, makes them realise that the whole world is in great danger. In their effort to save it they must endure The Ways of the Ogier, The perilous Bleak, and eventually the mystical Eye of the World.

ISBN: 1-85723-076-0
Website: Publisher's Author Page
Amazon Link: UK Site, US Site
Pages: ~ 800
First Published: 1990
Publisher: Orbit Books

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So, there it. The first review. Hope it was helpful, and hope you come back to see more reviews soon. Keep Reading.

Adam Bourke