Rating: 
Summary: Glen needed the break
Review: Apparently it's been five years since the last Black Company novel. I had no idea; time slips away so fast these days. I have to say that I think Mr. Cook needed the break from Croaker and the gang. I was fairly disappointed by the first book of the Glittering Stone. Maybe it would have been acceptable from a novice author, but I didn't feel it contributed a great deal to the Black Company saga. In "She Is the Darkness", though, Glen Cook has picked the pace back up. The book is a good length, the plot and writing are closer to classic Black Company, and the choice of Murgen as Annalist reads a lot better than in the last book. And like any of the good Black Company novels, this one leaves you awestruck, open-mouthed, and crying for the next one.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent adition to the series.
Review: As a long-time Black Company (and Glen Cook in general) fan, I must confess I was a bit disappointed by Bleak Seasons. Which is why "She Is the Darkness" was such a wonderful surprise. If you're a Black Company fan, you'll love this book. If you're not, I envy you -- you get to discover the whole series for the first time. All in all, it's one of the best fantasy series ever written. In a world full of Richard Jordan's sort of under-edited, overwritten pap, it's a very welcome change.
Rating:
Summary: FANTASTIC
Review: As you can tell by my E-mail Address I am a big fan of the Black Company. From The Star Fishers to She Is The Darkness I have read everything Glen Cook has written, and I am never disappointed! I only wish the books would come faster...But not at the expense of their quality. For anyone who has never read Glen Cook I would reccomend starting with The Sword Bearer Then on to The Black Company. You'll be hooked!!
Rating:
Summary: Awesom
Review: As you can tell I am late in reading this book. I have been holding off until the series is complete. I just could not wait any longer. This book is great! Just like all of the other Black Company books, it is a superb read.
Rating:
Summary: Awesom
Review: As you can tell I am late in reading this book. I have been holding off until the series is complete. I just could not wait any longer. This book is great! Just like all of the other Black Company books, it is a superb read.
Rating: 
Summary: Yowzers! What's next?
Review: Cook continues his enjoyable excursions into the minds and secrets of mercenaries (and, especially, Murgens)and wizards with this latest installment in the Black Company series. He continues his masterful use of an "implied description" style of writing, forcing his readers into that enjoyable state of using the imagination to fully grasp what is happening in his world (almost the polar opposite of Tolkien's "ultra-descriptive" style, yet he acheives, through his minimalism, almost the same fullness and richness of place and event, even if, or perhaps, because, we never have a real sense of the history or geography of his "middle eart"). All characters by now quite comfortable by their long familiarity, he catches the reader in a web of paranoia that pulls them through 380+ wonderful pages of conspiracy and counter-conspiracy that would make the esteemed Mr. Carter (nee "X-Files") squirm with delight! The only "downer" here comes from the implied wait for more answers (and,likely, questions) in the next book!
Rating:
Summary: An effort worthy of the "Black Company" stamp
Review: Cook returns to the fold with the latest story of the Black Company. With "Bleak Seasons" It appeared that Cook had lost the taste and feel of the series. This book returns to the tightly woven scripts of the earlier works. The thing I like most about this one is the ongoing transformation of Croaker into Captain. The old Captain must be smiling in his watery grave at how Croaker has been transformed from the sensitive, romantic and thoughtful Annalist to the Hard-boiled, vengeful, scheming and overly secretive Captain of the Last of the Free Companies of Khatovar. The thing I like least is that I don't really care about Murgen. I tend to read around him, always on the lookout for one of the older brothers to appear. Maybe it's me, but I just can't get involved with him. I get the feeling that Cook is straining to bring him into the story but can't find the way. Maybe it is because Murgen only really gets involved by having the out of body travels using the comatose wizard Smoke to eavesdrop on the unfolding events of the story. Whatever the reason, I'm quite satisfied with the tale as a whole and think that Cook is back on the right track with the series. Not a page burner but a good read, nevertheless.
Rating:
Summary: An effort worthy of the "Black Company" stamp
Review: Cook returns to the fold with the latest story of the Black Company. With "Bleak Seasons" It appeared that Cook had lost the taste and feel of the series. This book returns to the tightly woven scripts of the earlier works. The thing I like most about this one is the ongoing transformation of Croaker into Captain. The old Captain must be smiling in his watery grave at how Croaker has been transformed from the sensitive, romantic and thoughtful Annalist to the Hard-boiled, vengeful, scheming and overly secretive Captain of the Last of the Free Companies of Khatovar. The thing I like least is that I don't really care about Murgen. I tend to read around him, always on the lookout for one of the older brothers to appear. Maybe it's me, but I just can't get involved with him. I get the feeling that Cook is straining to bring him into the story but can't find the way. Maybe it is because Murgen only really gets involved by having the out of body travels using the comatose wizard Smoke to eavesdrop on the unfolding events of the story. Whatever the reason, I'm quite satisfied with the tale as a whole and think that Cook is back on the right track with the series. Not a page burner but a good read, nevertheless.
Rating:
Summary: Kirkus Reviews is obviously full of 'stinky stuff'!
Review: First of all, the trilogy is 'Glittering Stone' not 'Bleak Stones'. Did they even read the book?
It hasn't been released yet. So what are they basing their review on?? "All but impenetrable to anyone but the fans"??? Whatever. Like in any series, you have to start from the beginning! If I were to pick up book seven of The Wheel Of Time, would I not be confused?? And the Shadowmaster is NOT Soulcatcher, she's simply one of the periphery enemies...the Shadowmaster in question is Longshadow. It's obvious Kirkus did their review strictly based on the some press release. I personally think Amazon should remove the Kirkus piece from this novels page, since it is so full of falsehoods.
Rating:
Summary: Incredible. The Cook is Back!
Review: For those long time fans like me, it was hard to get use to Croaker not being the annalist, but this installment of the Glittering Stone Series was astounding. I highly recommend the entire Black Company series!
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