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Rating: Summary: Great story, mediocre writing, unforgivable editing Review: After the first two books I was sure I was reading one of the great fantasy series ever concocted. Storywise I still believe I am. Beyond that, everything's starting to decline. While I have heard many good things about Richard Baker, I don't think I will go out of my way to read anything else of his now that I've seen a sample of his writing. It seemed as though they were trying to include to much in this one book and he subsequently didn't give any of it enough attention. It reads like he was either rushed or too lazy to give it the time and attention a story this great, or any story really, deserves. What ever the reason behind the books lack of content, there is NO excuse for the pathetic editing. For a first edition book, a comma here or a puncuation mark there is forgivable (and there have been a couple I've caught in this series). INCLUDING PARTS OF THE ROUGH DRAFT IN THE FINAL COPY IS INEXCUSABLE! Mistakes like talking to characters who aren't even in the scene, causes the readers attention to be distracted by the writing itself rather than engulfed by what is written. READ THIS BOOK THOUGH, THE STORY'S GREAT and skipping books in in this series will only leave you lost and greatly diminish you're enjoyment of the series as a whole.
Rating: Summary: Could have been better..... Review: I read this book with high hopes. For the first hundred pages it seemed to go pretty well. It was a change to start seeing the story from Hallistra's view rather than Pharun's or Ryald's. Quenthel at the end of the the second book is a good round character that you can see her differet sides. In this book she is one dimensional, and boring. Second hundred pages we see alot more of Valas, who becomes more and more useful to the party. Danfae starts to become more of a character but ends being a distraction, and not really contributing to the party, or the book. Last hundred or so pages seemed rushed. The editing became poor and the story seemed to jump in different directions that made it hard to follow. The main point here is when Jaggred is told to carry Hallistra. When I read this I was taken back, the author not only lost track of his characters he seemed to give up the story. The battles were glazed over compaired to the last book and didnt have any of the depth, nor were there any of the intriguing sub plots that really made the second book shine.
Rating: Summary: An Interesting Read ! Review: The use of 'lads' was unfortunate, I do agree.The book is slow to get going ,but it's worth the effort as the ending picks up the pace quite nicely. This book, while not as witty as the first 2, is GREAT in it's intrigue and the Pillar of Woe's battle was very interesting IMO! The Drow backstabbing just keeps getting more fun! :)The ending did surprise me! It gives us an accurate feeling as to just how desperate Drow can get when Mother Lloth seems to be hard of hearing. Eh sonny...? Speak into the horn.... :)
Rating: Summary: More Drow fun Review: This was very good too, apart from a few minor errors, where Danifae suddenly can levitate, and another where Quenthel orders Jeggred to pick her up and he's not even there. But it's a real page turner too, with a lot of surface adventures and continuing the story of Quenthel, Jeggred, Pharaun, Ryld, Hallistrae, Danifae and Alliszia. Pharaun is less the main character though still has his usual wit, and it takes on Hallistrae's perspective more which works nicely. Danifae's character is also more fleshed out and various blossoming romances (as far as that word can really apply to drow) are begun, as well as an interesting examination on Hallistrae's part of her faith in Lolth. Looking forward to the fourth book. It might have been nice if the series had been written by one author but it's working.
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