[Abyss]

Werthead's very well written review over at

http://www.malazanempire.com/IPBforum/inde...mp;#entry665338

inspired me to pick this up. Read and totally enjoyed and if you're wondering, go read what Wert' had to say.

SPOILERS below here. No blocks.

SPOILERS SPOILERS BRAIDED PATH
SPOILERS
WILL VIOLATE YOUR THINKYMEATZ SPOILERS AND
GO ALL BLOODY SPOILERS ON YOU SPOILERS
SERIOUSLY UNBLOCKED UNCENSORED
SPOILERS

- Abyss, ...You have been warned.

[Abyss]

So...

I liked this. I totally liked this. Well thought out fantasy in a novel setting.

I get Wert's comment about the bad guys being so thoroughly bad, but the shades of gray came with all the other characters. Yes, the Weavers were totally evil, corrupt, nasty child raping demonic sorceror types, but what was interesting was how the Saramyr culture simply would not get rid of them because they were so essential to the empire.

It reminded me of that sf story where the perfect village exists and everyone is happy and content, but on their 18th birthday they had to go see this child who was locked in a room and treated like shit, and its explained that this is the price of perfection. Saramyr is like that. The nobles are so wound up in keeping their power by using the Weavers communications that they are willing to hand over small children to be brutalized, killed and/or eaten. And that's fairly sick when you think about it and a societal level, where everyone knows it.


Wooding didn't exactly surprise me with the big reveal about the witchstones either - the second 'big green glowing rocks located around the empire' are ref'd, any seasoned fantasy reader is going to fill in the blanks... they're alive, they're trying to rule the world. Even the tie to the god mythology wasn't all that novel. Still fun tho'.


Actually a lot of what Wooding did lacked novelty but compensated with good writing - halfway thru the first book it was blatantly evident Kaiku's mask was going to be a key to beating the evil green rock. But even so, the big finish where she goes Red Sister and Weaver at the same time was great to read.

Luccia practially had a great big RIP on her forehead from halfway thru the 2nd book but even so, they way she went was wrenching.

The big save at the end of the second book was no surprise - of course Tsatsa and kaiku would take out the stone and save the resistance. Wooding put in too much effort to make the battle unwinnable for them NOT to save the day.

That battle was awesome tho'. I put it on close level with MoI's seiges - from the ambush to the fights in the streets against the aberrations, just really well written cast of thousands fantasy action.

Kaiku was a great character. She evolved very naturally thru the story.

Asara was a standout character tho. I really, really liked what Wooding did with her, from her powers to the gender-bending to her ultimate goal of starting her own race of shapeshifting predators, this was one of the best done good/bad protagonists i've seen in a while.


thoughts?


- Abyss, enjoyed.

[Fist Gamet]

SPOILERS...Obviously...


So I am almost finished Book One but I am not very enamoured with this at all. I find it all a little too simply written. Wooding has an annoying habit of spoon-feeding what I have already worked out. It is, imho, the mark of a good writer that they have made it just clear enough for me to do this without the need for little, easy summaries. It's kind of like an idiot guide that he doesn't need to put in. Maybe just a personal preference, I don't know?
Despite being quite tightly written I find that the plot moves forwards too easily and that wider events are commented upon but not experienced by the reader. Now this is almost certainly just his style for the book but I am not so keen on that.
Lastly, I find I cannot empathise with the characters much. Kaiku has been to hell and back but I find I don't like her character much. Asara, for me, is far more interesting, but Tane is just flat and seems to offer little of worth.
I wanted to criticise the portrayal of the Weavers, however, given the effects of wearing a mask and weaving, it made sense and it was at least not just evil, for evil's sake.

I don't believe I will read the next books as there just is not enough going on in book one. I have been plodding on with some reluctance as it just isn't that interesting a story.

[Myshkin]

Finished this last night. I have mixed feelings about this series: on the one hand I enjoyed the story, I enjoyed the characters, I liked the concepts and the oriental setting. On the other hand the writing was long-winded, repetitive, and over descriptive, which often made the books a chore to read.

[cerveza_fiesta]

tugs braided path.