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Orcs: First Blood #2
Legion of Thunder
A blistering sequel to the acclaimed Bodyguard of Lightning takes you into a world full of wonder, magic, and encroaching dark. In the land of Maras Dantias, peace once reigned. Then the humans came, wreaking destruction, killing the enchantment, and bringing war. Even the climate changed, with once-warm summers now autumnal. Of all the races in Maras Dantias, the Orcs, led by Stryke, were the most ferocious. Now, he and his troops have become renegades, chased by his own people as well as the humans. Only a long-lost relic can save them now--and the rest of Maras Dantias, too. But, time is running out and a new foe endangers them all.
"Excellent fantasy with a twist.an all action adventurer."--SFX
"Nicholls tells his tale briskly and entertainingly."--Starburst
".brilliantly re-invents the Orcs, underdogs of fantasy fiction."--Starlog
"Demonstrates a truly coruscating imagination in its outrageous narrative."--Publishing News, Books of the Year
"Excellent fantasy with a twist.an all action adventurer."--SFX
"Nicholls tells his tale briskly and entertainingly."--Starburst
".brilliantly re-invents the Orcs, underdogs of fantasy fiction."--Starlog
"Demonstrates a truly coruscating imagination in its outrageous narrative."--Publishing News, Books of the Year
281 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
9 people are currently reading
306 people want to read
About the author
Stan Nicholls
66 books190 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 - 30 of 39 reviews
August 28, 2017
This book follows Stryke and crew in their search for the second of the instrumentalities, in their bid to return power to the lands and unseat Jennesta, the Sorceress Queen. This book finds the Orcs on the wrong side of crazed human cultists who believe Orc skin and blood are magic. They also entreat with Centaurs and fight pitched battles all through this book. It's a great read and the ending is really unbelievable, so it really got me reacquainted with these books so I can blast into the third. This is a really fn experience and I can't wait to jump into book three, which I shall do so now!
Danny
Danny
November 12, 2019
Più divertente del primo volume ma ci si sta dirigendo verso un omogeneo abbozzamento di qualsiasi cosa. Tutto sta diventando, poco a poco, superficiale. La missione, i personaggi, i misteri.
Mi diverte tantissimo e allo stesso tempo mi esaspera.
Inoltre: era davvero necessario inserire tipo quindici razze diverse? Insommina.
Mi diverte tantissimo e allo stesso tempo mi esaspera.
Inoltre: era davvero necessario inserire tipo quindici razze diverse? Insommina.
December 10, 2022
3.5 stars
Very fast paced. Overall an enjoyable read. I think it's an improvement over the first book and by the end I didn't want the book to end yet. I need to stew but I'll update this review in a day or two.
Very fast paced. Overall an enjoyable read. I think it's an improvement over the first book and by the end I didn't want the book to end yet. I need to stew but I'll update this review in a day or two.
January 12, 2020
Wat een teleurstelling was dit boek!
Het eerste deel in de reeks was een 'ok' boek: het had een veelbelovend uitgangspunt (verhaal vanuit het gezichtspunt van de orcs verteld) maar ik bleef qua uitwerking wat op mijn honger zitten. Wat vooral aandacht trok, waren de vele, vele, vele (zeer goed geschreven) gevecht scenes. Er zijn er gewoon zoveel dat het verhaal zelf erin verdrinkt.
Ik had gehoopt dat dit vervolg een nieuwe wending zou geven aan het verhaal waardoor het wat boeiender zou worden.
Maar helaas: een nog steeds slechts vaag uitgewerkt, onduidelijke plot begeleidt je van gevecht naar gevecht. Een goede motivatie voor de vele gevechten of voor de zoektocht die de orcs ondernemen ontbreekt. Dit lijkt me een reeks voor wie van sappige vechtscenes houdt zonder daarbij veel verhaal te verwachten.
Ik heb me door het boek geworsteld en deel 3 -dat al klaar lag in de kast- gaat ongelezen naar de bibliotheek terug.
Het eerste deel in de reeks was een 'ok' boek: het had een veelbelovend uitgangspunt (verhaal vanuit het gezichtspunt van de orcs verteld) maar ik bleef qua uitwerking wat op mijn honger zitten. Wat vooral aandacht trok, waren de vele, vele, vele (zeer goed geschreven) gevecht scenes. Er zijn er gewoon zoveel dat het verhaal zelf erin verdrinkt.
Ik had gehoopt dat dit vervolg een nieuwe wending zou geven aan het verhaal waardoor het wat boeiender zou worden.
Maar helaas: een nog steeds slechts vaag uitgewerkt, onduidelijke plot begeleidt je van gevecht naar gevecht. Een goede motivatie voor de vele gevechten of voor de zoektocht die de orcs ondernemen ontbreekt. Dit lijkt me een reeks voor wie van sappige vechtscenes houdt zonder daarbij veel verhaal te verwachten.
Ik heb me door het boek geworsteld en deel 3 -dat al klaar lag in de kast- gaat ongelezen naar de bibliotheek terug.
August 28, 2012
Prosegue il precedente, senza infamia e senza lode, l'ho trovato forse più scorrevole del precedente.
La trama va avanti, forse mi aspettavo introducesse qualche personaggio nuovo o qualche situazione degna di nota, invece prosegue liscia.
La trama va avanti, forse mi aspettavo introducesse qualche personaggio nuovo o qualche situazione degna di nota, invece prosegue liscia.
February 24, 2019
Avoid. Read almsot anything else. If you want more details, see the First Blood omnibus review.
September 11, 2022
Secondo libro della Trilogia "Orchi" di Stan Nicholls, "Le legioni del tuono" ... ed anche qui, come per i guardiani dei lampi, non sappiamo per che cosa stia il titolo.
La storia prosegue, con l'inserimento di diverse razze, con il prosieguo della storia da dove lo avevamo lasciato. Ma se possibile questo libro riesce ad essere anche peggiore del precedente. Non c'è alcun miglioramento psicologico dei personaggi, tutto sembra scorrere inesorabilmente e senza lasciare una vera traccia di ciò che accade.
I combattimenti sono raffazonati, scritti male e scontati - ci troviamo di fronte ad un gruppo che a quanto pare gode dei poteri dell'immortalità - la storyline sembra andare senza senso troppo velocemente, con cambi di scena repentini e che sembrano soltanto dei filler. Non si ha un contesto di world building, è tutto così mediocre e già letto.
Per non parlare del personaggio rivelazione, ennesima figura bardica dai poteri misteriosi ...
Il libro come il precedente viene letto velocemente e a questo punto ciò non è una nota a favore ... mi sarebbe piaciuto potermi soffermare a ragionare su qualcosa che mi desse da pensare, qualcosa che mi facesse socchiudere il libro e pensare: "wa ... che genialata!" ... purtroppo non è stato così.
Leggerò per completezza anche il terzo perchè son masochista ed odio lasciare le cose in sospeso.
Unica positiva di questo volume è la presenza, ad inizio libro, di un riassunto del capitolo precedente.
La storia prosegue, con l'inserimento di diverse razze, con il prosieguo della storia da dove lo avevamo lasciato. Ma se possibile questo libro riesce ad essere anche peggiore del precedente. Non c'è alcun miglioramento psicologico dei personaggi, tutto sembra scorrere inesorabilmente e senza lasciare una vera traccia di ciò che accade.
I combattimenti sono raffazonati, scritti male e scontati - ci troviamo di fronte ad un gruppo che a quanto pare gode dei poteri dell'immortalità - la storyline sembra andare senza senso troppo velocemente, con cambi di scena repentini e che sembrano soltanto dei filler. Non si ha un contesto di world building, è tutto così mediocre e già letto.
Per non parlare del personaggio rivelazione, ennesima figura bardica dai poteri misteriosi ...
Il libro come il precedente viene letto velocemente e a questo punto ciò non è una nota a favore ... mi sarebbe piaciuto potermi soffermare a ragionare su qualcosa che mi desse da pensare, qualcosa che mi facesse socchiudere il libro e pensare: "wa ... che genialata!" ... purtroppo non è stato così.
Leggerò per completezza anche il terzo perchè son masochista ed odio lasciare le cose in sospeso.
Unica positiva di questo volume è la presenza, ad inizio libro, di un riassunto del capitolo precedente.
March 9, 2021
This book literally picks up where the previous book left off. Not a problem, except it's been four years since I read book one. Thankfully it does come with a handy summary of what came before.
I really like how these books have taken what is usually a largely underdeveloped minion character whose sole purpose in a story is to be slain by the hero in great numbers and made them into relatable characters who we want to see win.
The only issue I have is with the journeying across the landscape which seems to be a bit woolly in terms of time versus distance, but that's the power of narrativium I suppose.
The action set pieces are well laid out and described though the Orcs do largely appear to have some form of godmode cheat on.
Great fun.
Looking forward to getting answers in book 3...
I really like how these books have taken what is usually a largely underdeveloped minion character whose sole purpose in a story is to be slain by the hero in great numbers and made them into relatable characters who we want to see win.
The only issue I have is with the journeying across the landscape which seems to be a bit woolly in terms of time versus distance, but that's the power of narrativium I suppose.
The action set pieces are well laid out and described though the Orcs do largely appear to have some form of godmode cheat on.
Great fun.
Looking forward to getting answers in book 3...
September 14, 2023
For some reason, I have the first two books in this series but not the last one in the trilogy and the truth is after finishing this second one I don't feel the need to rush out and buy the third one.
I remember when I bought them I was looking forward to a story from the point of view of the orcs and after finishing both books, whilst enjoyable in their own way, I don't think they delivered on that promise. They didn't feel like any orcs I've ever read about. If anything they felt like a band of mercenaries, who occasionally made reference to the fact that they were orcs and some random thing that they ridiculed about the weak humans in the story.
That said it is a good premise, it just isn't what I expected.
I remember when I bought them I was looking forward to a story from the point of view of the orcs and after finishing both books, whilst enjoyable in their own way, I don't think they delivered on that promise. They didn't feel like any orcs I've ever read about. If anything they felt like a band of mercenaries, who occasionally made reference to the fact that they were orcs and some random thing that they ridiculed about the weak humans in the story.
That said it is a good premise, it just isn't what I expected.
October 13, 2017
Like the first book, this one is decently written, but nothing special. The plot was straight-forward and serviceable, Haskeer's stupidity seemed a bit flanderised, and the main character was compelling enough to stop me from giving up, but not enough to ever have me on the edge of my seat.
I think the main problem with these books is that the orc warband is just too elite. They regularly battle groups twice their size to the death without taking any casualties. I get that orcs are meant to be the best fighters, but the way it's described in this, they should have conquered the entire world decades ago.
I think the main problem with these books is that the orc warband is just too elite. They regularly battle groups twice their size to the death without taking any casualties. I get that orcs are meant to be the best fighters, but the way it's described in this, they should have conquered the entire world decades ago.
February 11, 2020
La historia avanza y es pelea ,tras pelea, tras pelea y la gran mayoria son entretenidas , vemos homunculos, seres de agua ( ¿ sirenos?) , magia oscura y mas mala leche y nuestro grupo de orcos se ve en unas muy jodidos pero tu les coges cariños a esta banda de orcos , pero hay un punto en que ves que les salen todas, eplean y pelean y nunca pierden hasta que una pelea se cobra con la vida de uno, pero es que era normal que pasara . El capitulo de Stryke con el efecto de las drogas es muy entretenido ,sangriento y bien escrito. Aguanten los orcos !!!.
August 16, 2023
I honestly could't remember, as I trudged through the second of the Orcs trilogy, if I had enjoyed the first.
Apparently, having checked the review, I had.
Which came as something of a surprise, because book 2 is essentially more of the same, only without the sense of 'romp' and 'fun'.
There's more of a plot, there's more attempt at depth, we have new characters - but what we also have is a sense that there must be more to life than this.
The third one, when the time comes, should be a riot.
Apparently, having checked the review, I had.
Which came as something of a surprise, because book 2 is essentially more of the same, only without the sense of 'romp' and 'fun'.
There's more of a plot, there's more attempt at depth, we have new characters - but what we also have is a sense that there must be more to life than this.
The third one, when the time comes, should be a riot.
April 23, 2019
Addictive, compelling, unpredictable. A refreshing fantasy read set in an interesting world and peopled with engaging characters. 4 / 5
Read the full review, and others, on Sammi Loves Books: https://sammicox.wordpress.com/
Read the full review, and others, on Sammi Loves Books: https://sammicox.wordpress.com/
December 27, 2019
Anche in questo secondo episodio la lettura risulta scorrevole, rapida e divertente. Stesso stile del primo libro. Continuano le avventure e la ricerca iniziate nel primo libro. Anche in questo caso, il libro è molto carino. Non sarà un libro fenomenale, ma di sicuro non è un libro noioso.
July 30, 2025
Non mi piacciono, e mai mi piaceranno, le dimensioni alternative e i multiversi inseriti con la forza. Il romanzo resta godibile e divertente, a tratti anche più del primo, ma ha cominciato a farmi interessare sempre meno.
October 9, 2025
I thought that this was an okay read. Continued the story on from where the first book stopped. Lots more action, and more mysticism, as this quest story continued. Again, stopped at a convenient point in the story rather than reached a conclusion.
September 6, 2018
Love these books.
August 17, 2020
Enjoyable
April 9, 2021
Anche se per ora la saga non mi sembra particolarmente originale nella trama così come nei personaggi, apprezzo molto il ritmo scorrevole della narrazione e l'ambientazione.
January 12, 2023
Better than the last one. Enjoyed the journey in this one. Better story arch than the first.
April 4, 2023
What a ride! I hope the third book in the series is as good as the first two.
Read
May 16, 2023DNF at 50%. Wasn’t not enjoying it, but wasn’t exactly invested either and just kept thinking ‘is there something else I’d rather be reading?’
July 31, 2023
This read a little like a direcr run-on form the previous novel. Not much more character development, and a plot that was rather predictable.
August 11, 2023
Lettura di Leo, il mio compagno.
Non è un capolavoro, ma è una lettura scorrevole ed interessante.
Non è un capolavoro, ma è una lettura scorrevole ed interessante.
October 27, 2024
peggio del primo, l'ho trovato più noioso e stancante.
April 22, 2025
Personalmente sto trovando questa saga molto divertente. In confronto al primo é un po’ più dispersivo ed ha messo molta “carne al fuoco”, speriamo che il seguito dia una quadra al tutto.
May 10, 2025
3.5
this book picks up right where the previous one left off.
this one was a little repetitive but still a very fun read!
this book picks up right where the previous one left off.
this one was a little repetitive but still a very fun read!
September 5, 2025
So gripping! enjoyed this one even more than book 1, knowing the characters, following their story. Very excited for book 3 and the conclusion!
August 4, 2015
La Legión del Trueno, como su antecesora la Banda de Hurones, que en inglés se conoce como los Guardaespaldas del Trueno, fue escrita entre el 1999 y el 2000, continúa las aventuras de la banda guerrera conocida como los Hurones. Allí donde termina el primer libro, sin pensarlo mucho, inicia este. Luego nos decantaremos por varias líneas argumentales que se irán uniendo. Esto hará que en un momento se forme un buen nudo, que luego se desarmará para ofrecernos una línea argumental única y solida.
Este libro es un hermoso ejemplo de una mente postmoderna y deconstructora, ya que nos lleva por el mundo de la mano de una criatura que generalmente es malvada. Aquí los orcos son morales y éticos, se guían por principios y valores y elucubran sobre su destino y lo inconsistente que es su forma de ser.
Esto me recuerda mucho al Doctor Who y otras series británicas que he visto, y comics también, pues porque no solo le dan una vuelta de tuerca a una situación, que en otras plumas serian cliché, y por buscar siempre una solución alternativa. La banda es guerrera, pierde muy pocos compañeros, y peleas, durante la aventura, es más cuando piensas que va a morir uno, no muere nadie; pero cuando estás en tu zona de confort y crees que nada malo lo puede pasar: se muere alguien o pasa algo malo. Debo acotar que por momento los personajes sufren del defecto de ser los consentidos del autor, pero es solo por momento, está muy lejos de verdaderos mimados como Drizzt o Elminster o Raistlin por nombrar algunos; pero en ningún momento la situación se vuelve fastidiosa.
Si hay algo que caracteriza a esta novela es la acción, la agilidad de la obra, un grupo carismático, algunos momentos para hacer la digestión, y unos villanos brutalmente insufribles, pero además un trasfondo que nos van revelando a cuentagotas y que nos dejan con ganas de más.
De nuevo, esta novela termina con un cliffhanger, salvo que en vez de acción nos dejan con muchas preguntas que responder a la vez de que se nota a leguas que viene un choque muy fuerte.
En fin, esta es una obra que no tiene desperdicio. 1000% recomendable para los amantes del género y los recién llegados, no hay desperdicio; tanto que voy a saltarme mi regla de la digestión y me iré a por la tercera de una vez. Espero dentro de poco estar reseñándola.
Este libro es un hermoso ejemplo de una mente postmoderna y deconstructora, ya que nos lleva por el mundo de la mano de una criatura que generalmente es malvada. Aquí los orcos son morales y éticos, se guían por principios y valores y elucubran sobre su destino y lo inconsistente que es su forma de ser.
Esto me recuerda mucho al Doctor Who y otras series británicas que he visto, y comics también, pues porque no solo le dan una vuelta de tuerca a una situación, que en otras plumas serian cliché, y por buscar siempre una solución alternativa. La banda es guerrera, pierde muy pocos compañeros, y peleas, durante la aventura, es más cuando piensas que va a morir uno, no muere nadie; pero cuando estás en tu zona de confort y crees que nada malo lo puede pasar: se muere alguien o pasa algo malo. Debo acotar que por momento los personajes sufren del defecto de ser los consentidos del autor, pero es solo por momento, está muy lejos de verdaderos mimados como Drizzt o Elminster o Raistlin por nombrar algunos; pero en ningún momento la situación se vuelve fastidiosa.
Si hay algo que caracteriza a esta novela es la acción, la agilidad de la obra, un grupo carismático, algunos momentos para hacer la digestión, y unos villanos brutalmente insufribles, pero además un trasfondo que nos van revelando a cuentagotas y que nos dejan con ganas de más.
De nuevo, esta novela termina con un cliffhanger, salvo que en vez de acción nos dejan con muchas preguntas que responder a la vez de que se nota a leguas que viene un choque muy fuerte.
En fin, esta es una obra que no tiene desperdicio. 1000% recomendable para los amantes del género y los recién llegados, no hay desperdicio; tanto que voy a saltarme mi regla de la digestión y me iré a por la tercera de una vez. Espero dentro de poco estar reseñándola.
December 16, 2011
Again, Nicholls's book isn't really about 'Orcs'. Accept having the classical Orcs looks all the world is build around them to be heroes.
And since he created is own world, each times they encounters a new races, he explain the different between his goblin and mainstream goblins
Main characters are invincible again, this band of 20 orcs could conquer the world! And look like they are blessed by gods with a mysterious Serapheim helping them...
The book have some twists but the Orcs just keep punching and everything goes their way. The band is trapped in a room by two magical watchers who supposed to be killing machine. Even if the author told us ten times that the magic is not strong as before, the orcs simply run around the room trying multiple tactic to slow them and flee... so why peoples are affraid of them, you just have to outrun them and the orcs do it easily in a small room.
Will only read the third books because I already buy it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews