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Dreamtime #1
Quicksilver Rising
From the author of the internationally acclaimed Orcs series comes a powerful new epic fantasy filled with spectacular magic, action, adventure and political intrigue. In the land of Bhealfa magic underpins the social order. Different classes enjoy different qualities of magic; from meagre charms for the destitute, to grand conjurations for the rich. But the most skilful and expensive spells of all are those used by the authorities to control the entire population. Reeth Caldason is the last remaining member of a tribe of warriors who were brutally massacred decades ago. Cursed with episodes of blind rage that endanger anyone near him, he is forced to wander the world seeking revenge for his people and a cure for his magical affliction. But the spell that binds Reeth is an esoteric one, and his search has so far been fruitless. Only when a young sorcerer's apprentice named Kutch tells him of the mysterious Covenant does he regain a glimmer of hope. Forming an uneasy alliance the two head for Bhealfa's capital city in search of this secretive magical society, unaware that they are about to be drawn into a dangerous world of conspiracy and sedition.
325 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
24 people are currently reading
618 people want to read
About the author
Stan Nicholls
67 books191 followersStan Nicholls (born 1949) is a British author and journalist, working full-time since 1981. He is the author of many novels and short stories but is best known for the internationally acclaimed Orcs: First Blood series.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
January 5, 2025
How much Netflix do you watch?
I tend to watch quite a bit but I don't know why. The quality of their original programming is typically 6.5ish out of 10 stars, right? Which means I don't necessarily feel as though I've wasted my time, however, I'm sure my time could've been spent better elsewhere--reading, perhaps. There are very few programs on Netflix that make me point to the screen and say 'Yes! That is why I've got an account!' It's usually just good enough to keep me going onto the next.
And that's where I am with reading right now. Was this book good? It had its moments. There was some really good action and some really good world-building, so I don't feel I wasted my time. Am I excited to be a member? Meh. I don't think I will bother with the sequel.
There is one interesting thing that happens sometimes with mediocre books, though. Netflix knows about this. Sometimes, they can take a mediocre book and create a fantastic prestige TV show that makes you say to yourself, 'I'm glad I've still got an account!' So, I think if I want to know what happens next, I will wait for the TV show. Which should be good. At least 6.5 out of ten.
I tend to watch quite a bit but I don't know why. The quality of their original programming is typically 6.5ish out of 10 stars, right? Which means I don't necessarily feel as though I've wasted my time, however, I'm sure my time could've been spent better elsewhere--reading, perhaps. There are very few programs on Netflix that make me point to the screen and say 'Yes! That is why I've got an account!' It's usually just good enough to keep me going onto the next.
And that's where I am with reading right now. Was this book good? It had its moments. There was some really good action and some really good world-building, so I don't feel I wasted my time. Am I excited to be a member? Meh. I don't think I will bother with the sequel.
There is one interesting thing that happens sometimes with mediocre books, though. Netflix knows about this. Sometimes, they can take a mediocre book and create a fantastic prestige TV show that makes you say to yourself, 'I'm glad I've still got an account!' So, I think if I want to know what happens next, I will wait for the TV show. Which should be good. At least 6.5 out of ten.
February 7, 2021
I enjoyed the concept of this book and the story kept me well enough engaged throughout, but I couldn't help but feel that some bits didn't feel right.
My problem lies in the characterisations. Reeth is initially portrayed as the loner type who goes out of his way to avoid relationships due to his past losses. But when he is asked to join the resistance, albeit to further a personal goal, he barely even thinks about it and then he's knee deep in multiple friendships with other characters. I have a similar issue with the portrayal of Serrah, who is initially shown as the strong female character but when faced with having to put a damp cloth on her face is quick to say "ugh"!
These turnarounds in character with little explanation led me to wondering whether there is a whole section which has been cut from the story, between Reeth and Kutch being asked to join the resistance and the activities of 'the band'. Might explain why Kutch only spends any time throughout the book with Reeth but near the end of the book he seems to be close friends with other characters.
Ive been looking forward to reading more from this author, as I thoroughly enjoyed Orcs First Blood, but I was left feeling a lottle underwhelmed by this. I hope the rest of the trilogy is a little more solid.
My problem lies in the characterisations. Reeth is initially portrayed as the loner type who goes out of his way to avoid relationships due to his past losses. But when he is asked to join the resistance, albeit to further a personal goal, he barely even thinks about it and then he's knee deep in multiple friendships with other characters. I have a similar issue with the portrayal of Serrah, who is initially shown as the strong female character but when faced with having to put a damp cloth on her face is quick to say "ugh"!
These turnarounds in character with little explanation led me to wondering whether there is a whole section which has been cut from the story, between Reeth and Kutch being asked to join the resistance and the activities of 'the band'. Might explain why Kutch only spends any time throughout the book with Reeth but near the end of the book he seems to be close friends with other characters.
Ive been looking forward to reading more from this author, as I thoroughly enjoyed Orcs First Blood, but I was left feeling a lottle underwhelmed by this. I hope the rest of the trilogy is a little more solid.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 27, 2015
Back in London in the early 80s, I frequented two great SFF bookstores: Forbidden Planet, and Dark They Were and Golden Eyed. In looking up the source of the latter's name (a Ray Bradbury story) the other day, I was surprised to learn that Stan Nicholls had worked at both. So that's a point in his favor right there.
Covenant Rising (or Quicksilver Rising) is the story of Reeth Caldason, a tormented warrior with a secret; Kutch, a novice magic user; and Serrah, another warrior, from another country. They and a host of others are enmeshed in the machinations of two empires fighting it out through proxies on the island of Bhealfa. One of the things that Nicholls does very well is to not only create interesting, credible characters, but to keep the story moving smoothly across many fronts at once. He does this latter as well as anyone I've ever read - there are a lot of moving pieces, but it's never confusing as the narrative moves around. It would have been nice to have a map, but you can't have everything.
Nicholls does less well with some other aspects of the story. Magic is related both to mysterious, vanished Founders, and to raw magic that flows around the country in underground streams. So far, so interesting. But the application of magic is sadly disappointing. Nicholls uses magic to blatantly copy modern technology, and I sometimes had the feeling what he wanted was to be writing a police procedural. Without much explanation, magic provides a visual APB for the cops, a 3D 'Wanted' poster, timed fuses, and other handy devices. Characters talk about terrorists, setting fires with accelerant, and the cell structure of the resistance movement. A secret agent is for some reason named "Geheim" (German for "secret"). But this is epic fantasy, not urban, and there are simply too many of these ill-fitting terms and tools to swallow.
It's a shame about the terminology and magical technology because the story is otherwise very well done. This is my third time through this book. Once when I bought it, another re-read some years later because it had stuck in my head, and now because I've finally tracked down books two and three. Three readings tells you something right away. Even so, as I re-read it, I kept running across clever bits (e.g., the prince who fears Death so much that he and his whole court are constantly on the run), and thinking "Was that in this story?" There are at least half a dozen such clever ideas, neatly integrated into the story. If Nicholls had taken the time to work out more credible magic, the book would have been a deserved classic. As it is, it's good, but not great.
Overall - well worth reading if you're looking for well-written fantasy and can overlook frequent use of pseudo-technology. For myself, I'm looking forward to reading books 2 and 3, but I'm not yet convinced that I should move on to Nicholls' more famous series, Orcs.
Covenant Rising (or Quicksilver Rising) is the story of Reeth Caldason, a tormented warrior with a secret; Kutch, a novice magic user; and Serrah, another warrior, from another country. They and a host of others are enmeshed in the machinations of two empires fighting it out through proxies on the island of Bhealfa. One of the things that Nicholls does very well is to not only create interesting, credible characters, but to keep the story moving smoothly across many fronts at once. He does this latter as well as anyone I've ever read - there are a lot of moving pieces, but it's never confusing as the narrative moves around. It would have been nice to have a map, but you can't have everything.
Nicholls does less well with some other aspects of the story. Magic is related both to mysterious, vanished Founders, and to raw magic that flows around the country in underground streams. So far, so interesting. But the application of magic is sadly disappointing. Nicholls uses magic to blatantly copy modern technology, and I sometimes had the feeling what he wanted was to be writing a police procedural. Without much explanation, magic provides a visual APB for the cops, a 3D 'Wanted' poster, timed fuses, and other handy devices. Characters talk about terrorists, setting fires with accelerant, and the cell structure of the resistance movement. A secret agent is for some reason named "Geheim" (German for "secret"). But this is epic fantasy, not urban, and there are simply too many of these ill-fitting terms and tools to swallow.
It's a shame about the terminology and magical technology because the story is otherwise very well done. This is my third time through this book. Once when I bought it, another re-read some years later because it had stuck in my head, and now because I've finally tracked down books two and three. Three readings tells you something right away. Even so, as I re-read it, I kept running across clever bits (e.g., the prince who fears Death so much that he and his whole court are constantly on the run), and thinking "Was that in this story?" There are at least half a dozen such clever ideas, neatly integrated into the story. If Nicholls had taken the time to work out more credible magic, the book would have been a deserved classic. As it is, it's good, but not great.
Overall - well worth reading if you're looking for well-written fantasy and can overlook frequent use of pseudo-technology. For myself, I'm looking forward to reading books 2 and 3, but I'm not yet convinced that I should move on to Nicholls' more famous series, Orcs.
February 24, 2018
I loved Orcs by Stan Nichols, so I thought I'd give this a shot. The same evocative writing was there, as well as the original ideas. I don't think it's quite as good as the Orcs series, but still well worth checking out.
October 6, 2020
Eine sehr gut erzählte Geschichte mit ziemlich verrückten Ideen, was Magie betrifft. Die Grundidee ist nichts Besonderes, aber Stan Nicholls verpackt sie auf eine ganz eigene Weise. Es geht um die Insel Bhealfa, die als Kolonie eines Imperiums Opfer von brutaler Unterdrückung ist. Natürlich gibt es eine Widerstandsbewegung, aber anders, als in anderen Geschichten, wollen die Rebellen nicht das Regime bekämpfen, sondern einfach einen eigenen freien Staat auf einer anderen Insel gründen. Das ist für mich eine schöne und frische Idee, die ich bisher so noch nicht gelesen habe.
Die Charaktere sind schön vielseitig und so unterschiedlich, dass ich mich manchmal Frage, wie sie zusammenarbeiten können. Da arbeiten manchmal Pazifisten neben geborenen Kriegern; aber es funktioniert und das ist gut. Außerdem gibt es noch einen sehr verrückten Prinz und einen Kriegsherrn aus dem Norden, bei denen beiden noch nicht ganz klar ist, welche Rolle sie spielen werden. Ich bin gespannt, wie es weitergeht.
Die Charaktere sind schön vielseitig und so unterschiedlich, dass ich mich manchmal Frage, wie sie zusammenarbeiten können. Da arbeiten manchmal Pazifisten neben geborenen Kriegern; aber es funktioniert und das ist gut. Außerdem gibt es noch einen sehr verrückten Prinz und einen Kriegsherrn aus dem Norden, bei denen beiden noch nicht ganz klar ist, welche Rolle sie spielen werden. Ich bin gespannt, wie es weitergeht.
January 3, 2021
The world and the magic system are definitely interesting and something I would like to read more about. The way of writing felt a bit distance, which made it hard to connect to the characters (and I think it must be possible to connect with Reeth more than I did, because he is a really interesting character). Also too many blow by blow fight descriptions for my taste (I always loose track and because of that interest when that happens too often)
March 7, 2021
A fantasy series that I will not continue to read. Even though it ended on a cliffhanger, there was nothing about the characters that makes me want to continue. The world building was mediocre, sometimes hard to follow and understand the powers of the different characters. Some exciting chase and fight scenes.
September 17, 2014
This review has also been posted on my blog Another World.
After reading a book as good as Quicksilver Rising, one cannot help but wonder why it has failed to garner much in terms of popularity and acclaim over the years. It could be argued that High Fantasy is such a saturated genre that it is difficult for any novel to stand out. A better explanation in this instance, is the fact that the plot of Quicksilver Rising cannot be sufficiently summed up by a brief tag-line or back cover blurb.
So what should prospective readers who take the plunge anticipate from the first book of the Quicksilver Trilogy? Well, readers can expect multiple, interconnected storylines from the viewpoint of multiple characters. In a world in which magic is a taken for granted, everyday reality; where a person's status within society determines the strength of magic they are able to wield; where those skilled in the Craft must be licensed to practice magic or face being hunted down and killed by the authorities; where the island state of Bhealfa remains caught between the two rival empires of Rintarah, to the east, and Gath Tampoor—the current colonial master—to the west.
It's against this backdrop that Stan Nicholls introduces a diverse ensemble of characters; individuals whose journeys are inextricably linked:
Reeth Caldason, a wandering, lone warrior from an oppressed and persecuted ethnic minority, in search of a cure to a personal condition he deems to be a curse. He doesn't age, he seemingly cannot be killed, he is plagued by disturbing visions, and he is prone to lapsing into deadly berserker rages.
Serrah Ardacris, a bereaved mother, soldier, and captain within Gath Tampoor's feared CIS (Council of Internal Security). Her faith in—and loyalty to—the empire is shaken by the betrayal of her superiors who make her the scapegoat after a disobedient officer under her command gets himself killed during a routine operation against drug traffickers.
In addition, there is Kutch Pirathon, the young apprentice of a murdered sorcerer, and possessor of a very rare magical skill that very few practitioners of the Craft ever develop; Dulian Karr, a dissident politician within Bhealfa's puppet administration; Tanalvah Lahn, a prostitute from Rintarah, forced to go on the run with the two young children of her murdered best friend; and Kinsel Rukanis the renowned operatic singer with pacifist sympathies.
Due to varying circumstances, and with various motivations, this disparate group with little to nothing in common, are brought together by fate and become involved with the transnational resistance movement that operates across both empires. The goal of the resistance is to locate an uninhabited territory in which to establish a new and independent state, free from both Gath Tampoor and Rintarah.
From start to finish Quicksilver Rising is a fast moving fantasy tale of political machinations, and personal quests for a better life, vengeance, or simply something to live for. The narrative always remains coherent throughout the novel in spite of the potential pitfalls inherent in having several storylines running. While some plots and characters are given more prominence than others, each character with their respective storylines are intriguing enough in their own right to eliminate the temptation to skip past certain scenes, just to get to others as quickly as possible.
As the first instalment of a trilogy, Quicksilver Rising predictably does not resolve any of its main storylines; and due to the fast pace of the narrative some plot elements are not dealt with in depth and certain non-essential background details—which would have been nice to know nonetheless—are not revealed. For instance, the source of the prejudice faced by the Qalochian ethnic group that both Reeth and Tanalvah belong to, is never really explained.
There is one other potentially vital plot element that is only briefly touched upon, that presumably will be elaborated on in subsequent books. This plot element revolves around the barbarian lands to the north of the empires, where mysterious warlord, Zerreiss—known to his people as The Man Who Fell From The Sun—is enjoying unprecedented success in conquering the northern wastelands.
These issues don't detract from the book however, as Quicksilver Rising's many mysteries act as an incentive to read the rest of the trilogy, to discover what really lies behind those things that have not been fully revealed.
Quicksilver Rising has all the ingredients necessary for a must read high fantasy yarn: tortured, complex protagonists; ruthless villains; high-stake political intrigues; clandestine activities; heroic endeavours; and copious amounts of magic and mystery. If these are constituents that you enjoy in a novel, add Quicksilver Rising to your to read list today; you won't regret it.
After reading a book as good as Quicksilver Rising, one cannot help but wonder why it has failed to garner much in terms of popularity and acclaim over the years. It could be argued that High Fantasy is such a saturated genre that it is difficult for any novel to stand out. A better explanation in this instance, is the fact that the plot of Quicksilver Rising cannot be sufficiently summed up by a brief tag-line or back cover blurb.
So what should prospective readers who take the plunge anticipate from the first book of the Quicksilver Trilogy? Well, readers can expect multiple, interconnected storylines from the viewpoint of multiple characters. In a world in which magic is a taken for granted, everyday reality; where a person's status within society determines the strength of magic they are able to wield; where those skilled in the Craft must be licensed to practice magic or face being hunted down and killed by the authorities; where the island state of Bhealfa remains caught between the two rival empires of Rintarah, to the east, and Gath Tampoor—the current colonial master—to the west.
It's against this backdrop that Stan Nicholls introduces a diverse ensemble of characters; individuals whose journeys are inextricably linked:
Reeth Caldason, a wandering, lone warrior from an oppressed and persecuted ethnic minority, in search of a cure to a personal condition he deems to be a curse. He doesn't age, he seemingly cannot be killed, he is plagued by disturbing visions, and he is prone to lapsing into deadly berserker rages.
Serrah Ardacris, a bereaved mother, soldier, and captain within Gath Tampoor's feared CIS (Council of Internal Security). Her faith in—and loyalty to—the empire is shaken by the betrayal of her superiors who make her the scapegoat after a disobedient officer under her command gets himself killed during a routine operation against drug traffickers.
In addition, there is Kutch Pirathon, the young apprentice of a murdered sorcerer, and possessor of a very rare magical skill that very few practitioners of the Craft ever develop; Dulian Karr, a dissident politician within Bhealfa's puppet administration; Tanalvah Lahn, a prostitute from Rintarah, forced to go on the run with the two young children of her murdered best friend; and Kinsel Rukanis the renowned operatic singer with pacifist sympathies.
Due to varying circumstances, and with various motivations, this disparate group with little to nothing in common, are brought together by fate and become involved with the transnational resistance movement that operates across both empires. The goal of the resistance is to locate an uninhabited territory in which to establish a new and independent state, free from both Gath Tampoor and Rintarah.
From start to finish Quicksilver Rising is a fast moving fantasy tale of political machinations, and personal quests for a better life, vengeance, or simply something to live for. The narrative always remains coherent throughout the novel in spite of the potential pitfalls inherent in having several storylines running. While some plots and characters are given more prominence than others, each character with their respective storylines are intriguing enough in their own right to eliminate the temptation to skip past certain scenes, just to get to others as quickly as possible.
As the first instalment of a trilogy, Quicksilver Rising predictably does not resolve any of its main storylines; and due to the fast pace of the narrative some plot elements are not dealt with in depth and certain non-essential background details—which would have been nice to know nonetheless—are not revealed. For instance, the source of the prejudice faced by the Qalochian ethnic group that both Reeth and Tanalvah belong to, is never really explained.
There is one other potentially vital plot element that is only briefly touched upon, that presumably will be elaborated on in subsequent books. This plot element revolves around the barbarian lands to the north of the empires, where mysterious warlord, Zerreiss—known to his people as The Man Who Fell From The Sun—is enjoying unprecedented success in conquering the northern wastelands.
These issues don't detract from the book however, as Quicksilver Rising's many mysteries act as an incentive to read the rest of the trilogy, to discover what really lies behind those things that have not been fully revealed.
Quicksilver Rising has all the ingredients necessary for a must read high fantasy yarn: tortured, complex protagonists; ruthless villains; high-stake political intrigues; clandestine activities; heroic endeavours; and copious amounts of magic and mystery. If these are constituents that you enjoy in a novel, add Quicksilver Rising to your to read list today; you won't regret it.
July 3, 2017
A nice read, and very engaging plot for the first 1/3 of the book, but it lost it's keen edge after that. I found myself skimming portions I knew didn't matter, just to get to the parts I thought would.
June 21, 2023
Bon le seul reproche c'est des que l'histoire s essouffle un peu, il y a un nouveau perso qui arrive et ils mettent les 3/4 de l'histoire avant de se rencontrer. L'histoire est classique mais bien sympa. J'attaque le tome 2 qui a l'air vraiment mieux que le t1 !
May 13, 2018
Promising start, but the lack of a map or glossary/index and the confusing magic system kind of detracted from it for me.
But I'm still going to finish the trilogy.
But I'm still going to finish the trilogy.
April 3, 2019
Entertaining to a degree, but not my taste of narration.
The experience is not entirely unlike watching a Hollywood blockbuster, at least in regard to the fighting.
I stopped at page 117.
The experience is not entirely unlike watching a Hollywood blockbuster, at least in regard to the fighting.
I stopped at page 117.
November 6, 2020
Very different tone to the Orcs series of books. More traditional fantasy with all the aspects that make the genre so enjoyable to read.
January 17, 2017
Fantasy novel, part of a trilogy, quite good stuff
The first part of a fantasy trilogy, this novel deals with Reeth Caldason, a seemingly immortal warrior trying to rid himself of a curse and the various characters that he encounters along the way. It takes place in a world of magic where two rival empires are constantly vying for control.
The book is well-written and engaging enough and there's plenty of action, particularly in the second half. I'm not sure that I'm enthralled enough to continue with the series. Fantasy fans should still enjoy it and they may feel more motivated to see it through.
The first part of a fantasy trilogy, this novel deals with Reeth Caldason, a seemingly immortal warrior trying to rid himself of a curse and the various characters that he encounters along the way. It takes place in a world of magic where two rival empires are constantly vying for control.
The book is well-written and engaging enough and there's plenty of action, particularly in the second half. I'm not sure that I'm enthralled enough to continue with the series. Fantasy fans should still enjoy it and they may feel more motivated to see it through.
July 22, 2012
This book has an interesting premise, loosely based on the archetype of the tormented and immortal Cain. However, its clumsy writing and too-frequent, long fight scenes detract from the book. Mr. Nicholls' time would have been better spent with fewer fight scenes and more character development. It's not a terribly memorable book. (I skipped most of the fight scenes. Some sword and sorcery fans may enjoy them, but I find them dull.)
In The Covenant Rising and the following book, The Righteous Blade, there are some odd anachronisms in language and terminology used. For example, in the second book in the trilogy when some of the characters are discussing eavesdropping on others via a ley line, one of the characters calls it "hacking." These anachronisms feel quite odd and interrupt the flow of the book (at least for me) as they don't fit with the medieval fantasy setting. I'm probably nitpicking, but for me, it interrupts the suspension of disbelief. I'd imagine similar anachronisms in language and turns of phrase appear in the third book, but I haven't read it as of the writing of this review.
In The Covenant Rising and the following book, The Righteous Blade, there are some odd anachronisms in language and terminology used. For example, in the second book in the trilogy when some of the characters are discussing eavesdropping on others via a ley line, one of the characters calls it "hacking." These anachronisms feel quite odd and interrupt the flow of the book (at least for me) as they don't fit with the medieval fantasy setting. I'm probably nitpicking, but for me, it interrupts the suspension of disbelief. I'd imagine similar anachronisms in language and turns of phrase appear in the third book, but I haven't read it as of the writing of this review.
November 4, 2008
while the plot was interesting, it never actually got around to DOING anything with it! the world set up (and the main character) were fascinating, but it had waaaaaaaay too many fight scenes in super detail, and not enough moving the hell along with the plot! i mean, come on here... i know only 1 thing more about the resolution of the plot than i did when i started the book. and that thing that i know isn't even in this book (go to this place and find this item... but not in this book!). it's a little ridiculous. and don't get me wrong, i love a good action scene, but this would have been a pretty movie (lots of fight scenes). if they finished the plot in the next book, that is. however, i was so irritated with this one that i'll give number 2 a pass and just wait for the movie (there's bound to be one eventually).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 31, 2016
I quite liked it! The premise did not seem interesting at first, but the storytelling dragged me in anyway. The concept of magic being a commodity for the rich was somehow wedged into every scene, which was interesting at first, but got to seem a little forced after a while. Still, I guess the fact that it was *magic* and made noises and did weird things made it somewhat more interesting than the alternative — which would be a constant discussion on the distribution of wealth. Given the number of lengthy fight scenes and the political focus of the plot (mostly centered on a bunch of revolutionaries trying to overthrow a corrupt and constantly warring government), I'm surprised I wasn't put off, but the descriptive writing kept me interested. I would definitely go ahead with the sequels.
April 16, 2010
The only reason I gave this book a star was because I can't give it no stars.
The characters were monochrome and the story just wasn't gripping. I got halfway through and I just gave up when the author threw away the one plot device he had going for him. He was telling multiple storylines and I expected him to carefully and subtly weave them together. Instead he grabbed all the subplots and ham-fistedly mashed them all together. What a let down!
I couldn't finish this book. It was incredibly dull.
The characters were monochrome and the story just wasn't gripping. I got halfway through and I just gave up when the author threw away the one plot device he had going for him. He was telling multiple storylines and I expected him to carefully and subtly weave them together. Instead he grabbed all the subplots and ham-fistedly mashed them all together. What a let down!
I couldn't finish this book. It was incredibly dull.
May 17, 2013
Not perfect but nicely written. I don't know if this work well as a stand alone novel because it is just an introduction to a story. Yet this is not true epic fantasy. I think that the story was grey and the characters are weather beaten. The magic is strangely second mature to the residents but I found it to be a glamour.
If you're looking for a solid first book this may be a read worth investing in.
If you're looking for a solid first book this may be a read worth investing in.
July 20, 2007
this book was absolutely amazing!!! i wasn't too sure whether i would like it or not when i first started it, but after the first chapter or so i was hooked!! it does take a while for it to explain everything but i liked the way that you just had to hold for those explanations.
February 20, 2014
I thought Stan Nicholls could have done more with the characters. The individuality was there, but they still had a tendency to blend into one. They could have been less cliche too. Some interesting ideas, though.
April 19, 2014
Lots of fun and I'm eager to start the next book in the series. Political and magical intrigue. A immortal warrior subject to fits of uncontrolled rage is drawn into a brewing rebellion as he seeks to break his curse.
November 16, 2007
this is an interesting book that actully reminds me of many movies i have seen.
October 13, 2008
it is a decent fantasy novel, but he does go a bit into the Robert Jordan mode and describes things or people that have absolutely nothing to do with the story line.
September 27, 2014
I can't say much about this book. I mean by this that it's so complex you really need to read it yourself to understand me.
July 28, 2013
Expected more. Didn't fully engage with the characters.
July 14, 2014
This book ended so abruptly that I had to double check that my copy hadn't lost some pages.
July 27, 2014
felt like the Riddick character from movies put into a fantasy setting... not a bad combination...
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