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Title: The Gates of Dawn by Simon Jones, Robert Newcomb ISBN: 0-7393-0459-3 Publisher: Random House Audio Pub. Date: 15 July, 2003 Format: Audio Cassette Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $25.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.24 (21 reviews)
Rating: 2
Summary: clunky and frustrating
Comment: His nation virtually destroyed, Prince Tristan wishes only to rebuild. But his own son has gained impossible power and now drains the very magic that supports the world's sorceries. Aided only by two wizzards and his sister, Tristran is virtually helpless against the powerful magic that the once-dead and now alive Nicholas can bring to bear. Nicholas has subverted the league of wizards that are supposed to help the people and Tristran, posted a huge reward for Tristan's capture, and is ahead of Tristran and his wizards at every step. It doesn't help that Tristran can't trust even the two wizards who support him. They think nothing of keeping secrets from him--mostly for no apparent reason.
Author Robert Newcomb delivers an intriguing magic system based on the mystically imbued blood that certain people have. The concept of blood magic is well developed and interesting. Nicholas and his assistants, poisoned Ragnar and assassin Scrounge are strong and sympathetic. Each has suffered at the hands of Tristran and the system that has brought him to power.
THE GATES OF DAWN suffers from three problems: First, Newcomb's writing is ponderous. Characters spend too much time thinking, remembering, discussing ad nauseum, and not enough time actually doing things. This is expecially true in the first half the book but continues to the end. Second, Tristran's wizards keep too much secret from Tristran. This feels like an artifice--constructed to keep the reader in doubt rather than something that flows naturally from the story. As a result, Tristran seems like a manipulated child rather than a heroic character. Third, the resolution is terrible. Essentially, if Tristran and friends had headed to Las Vegas and gambled, the end wouldn't have been changed. All of the plotting, near-death experiences, and acts of bravery are so much wasted time. Reading nearly five hundred pages only to find out that it didn't matter is a frustrating experience.
Rating: 4
Summary: Not As Great As First, But Still Good
Comment: No, This one isn't as well done as the first book in the series, The Fifth Sorceress. BUT, even with all the good wizards annoying repetition of explanations, it's still a very good read. The action almost makes up for all the slow parts of the book. And I find the other reviewers remarks about the women being passive a little puzzling. Prince Tristans twin sister is very stubborn and speaks her mind regularly. You can see the setup coming for the females to study magic. Hopefully in the next book(s), the good female characters will steal a little more of the focus, but they are hardly subservient. Overall, I did find myself wanting to finish rather quickly instead of savoring this book as I did with the first. Try this book and lets all hope that the third one will be the best yet.
Rating: 4
Summary: You Either Love His Stuff Or You Don't...
Comment: and I happen to love it. Yes this novel, like the first, is graphically bloody, contains sexually explicit scenes, a lack of prominent female characters, but it is original, fun to read and I can't wait for the next book. Newcomb and Del Rey don't pay any attention to the crappy reviews posted all around this review. This is good fun stuff. If you like swords, magic, and action this is the series for you. Reminds me a lot of the Salvatore and Forgotten Realm books.
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Title: Naked Empire (Sword of Truth, Book 8) by Terry Goodkind ISBN: 0765305224 Publisher: Tor Books Pub. Date: 21 July, 2003 List Price(USD): $29.95 |
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Title: Talon of the Silver Hawk (Conclave of Shadows, Book 1) by Raymond E. Feist ISBN: 0380977087 Publisher: Eos Pub. Date: 15 April, 2003 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
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Title: The Fifth Sorceress (The Chronicles of Blood and Stone, Book 1) by Robert Newcomb ISBN: 0345448936 Publisher: Del Rey Pub. Date: 10 June, 2003 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
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Title: The Lair of Bones (Runelords, Book 4) by David Farland ISBN: 0765301768 Publisher: Tor Books Pub. Date: November, 2003 List Price(USD): $27.95 |
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Title: Jarka Ruus (High Druid of Shannara, Book 1) by Terry Brooks ISBN: 0345435737 Publisher: Del Rey Pub. Date: 26 August, 2003 List Price(USD): $27.95 |
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