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chrisnin64's review
3.0
This was such a weird book. There was no conflict. At all. Piper Hect's journey in this book was like watching a Civilization match with godmode enabled. Literally. He was unchallenged constantly. All of the 'good guys' had everything they needed in order to accomplish their goals. It was tremendously boring. Piper himself became incredibly unlikable, and while I think that was the point (he lost his shadow, etc), it grew irritating because his POV was, as usual, the only good one.
The ending was great, but knowing that the series will likely never be finished due to these books not selling well is tough. Hopefully the next Black Company books come soon!
The ending was great, but knowing that the series will likely never be finished due to these books not selling well is tough. Hopefully the next Black Company books come soon!
xbreakerx's review
4.0
I started expecting another book in the series with about 100 pages to go. Quite a few loose ends tied up here.
Next title choices:
A Journey Into Twilight
Darkness Always Comes
I'm voting for the second one.
Good read.
What happens when you mix multiple mythologies with the Crusades while adding magic, intrigue, military warfare, etc.
Next title choices:
A Journey Into Twilight
Darkness Always Comes
I'm voting for the second one.
Good read.
What happens when you mix multiple mythologies with the Crusades while adding magic, intrigue, military warfare, etc.
peapod_boston's review
4.0
Unfortunately, I can no longer give an unbiased review of Glen Cook's work. Quite simply put, there is nothing out there that scratches this itch. I've heard people recommend Steven Erikson or Joe Abercrombie (both excellent writers whose work I enjoy), but there are fundamental stylistic differences that make Cook stand out alone.
"Working God's Mischief" fits right in with the rest of the "Instrumentalities of Night" books. All the usual players are there. It moves fast. Empires rise and fall. Gods and monsters do battle. Sometimes magnificent, sometimes a bit uneven. Cook turns his characters' lives inside out, turns them into forces of nature, and turns them into corpses. This he shares with Erikson. But he moves faster, treads lighter (none of Erikson's long philosophical musings). He shows us the toughest, grittiest, greediest, and most down to earth characters. This he shares with Abercrombie. But, again, Cook moves faster. spans wider, and actually gives us a few decent sorts and redemptive moments (unlike Abercrombie who is unforgiving to all but a few characters).
Even Cook's minor characters get moments of self awareness (even as they backslide) and the level of realism is unparalleled. Some may argue that last point, but one of the things I enjoy about Cook is how his books feel like life. Characters make plans, execute, and then, instead of being foiled, the situation changes. Their plans become irrelevant, foolish, contribute to other things but on longer achieve their goals. Even major characters and major powers have this problem. And it feels like life, not narrative. Like the Rebels stealing the Death Star plans only to find out the Emperor ran out of funding and the Death Star is an abandoned, half-built hulk and the Emperor is busy fighting a rearguard action against an invading species of aliens from beyond the rim of the galaxy. What do the Rebels do now? The direction they (and the narrative had) is no longer valid.
No one else does this (except perhaps M. John Harrison, but that's an entirely different milieu). Its why, despite the odd uneven passage and the sometimes abrupt pacing, I keep coming back to this well. And will until the terrible day that it runs dry.
"Working God's Mischief" fits right in with the rest of the "Instrumentalities of Night" books. All the usual players are there. It moves fast. Empires rise and fall. Gods and monsters do battle. Sometimes magnificent, sometimes a bit uneven. Cook turns his characters' lives inside out, turns them into forces of nature, and turns them into corpses. This he shares with Erikson. But he moves faster, treads lighter (none of Erikson's long philosophical musings). He shows us the toughest, grittiest, greediest, and most down to earth characters. This he shares with Abercrombie. But, again, Cook moves faster. spans wider, and actually gives us a few decent sorts and redemptive moments (unlike Abercrombie who is unforgiving to all but a few characters).
Even Cook's minor characters get moments of self awareness (even as they backslide) and the level of realism is unparalleled. Some may argue that last point, but one of the things I enjoy about Cook is how his books feel like life. Characters make plans, execute, and then, instead of being foiled, the situation changes. Their plans become irrelevant, foolish, contribute to other things but on longer achieve their goals. Even major characters and major powers have this problem. And it feels like life, not narrative. Like the Rebels stealing the Death Star plans only to find out the Emperor ran out of funding and the Death Star is an abandoned, half-built hulk and the Emperor is busy fighting a rearguard action against an invading species of aliens from beyond the rim of the galaxy. What do the Rebels do now? The direction they (and the narrative had) is no longer valid.
No one else does this (except perhaps M. John Harrison, but that's an entirely different milieu). Its why, despite the odd uneven passage and the sometimes abrupt pacing, I keep coming back to this well. And will until the terrible day that it runs dry.
wmhenrymorris's review
Something interesting (as much in terms of character as plot) is playing out here and even if I'm not sure what, I'm enjoying the journey. I can't, however, recommend this series to anyone unless they've read the first book and dig the style and pace a lot. Because it only gets more dense and glacial as the series progresses.