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Sword of Shadows #4
Watcher of the Dead
In the frigid wasteland of the north, Raif Sevrance, Watcher of the Dead, has endured many trials to lay claim to the renowned sword known as Loss. But the price of wielding the legendary weapon is high, and Raif is unsure if he is willing to pay it. Ash Marsh, Daughter of the Sull, still struggles to come to terms with her heritage, and the knowledge that the Watcher, armed with Loss, could be the one who will save the Sull - or end them.
Raina Blackhail, widow of a murdered ruler and wife of his brutal successor, has seen her clan disgraced and has, herself, taken up the mantle of chief. But there are enemies both beyond her gates and within.
And in the murky swamps of the Stillwater, two children will learn the secrets of the Marsh clan. Secrets so old they threaten everything . . .
Raina Blackhail, widow of a murdered ruler and wife of his brutal successor, has seen her clan disgraced and has, herself, taken up the mantle of chief. But there are enemies both beyond her gates and within.
And in the murky swamps of the Stillwater, two children will learn the secrets of the Marsh clan. Secrets so old they threaten everything . . .
443 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 7, 2010
53 people are currently reading
1767 people want to read
About the author
J.V. Jones
29 books866 followersJulie Victoria Jones was born in Liverpool, England. She has been writing for years, and is currently working The End Lords. She lives in San Diego, California.
All three books in The Book Of Words Trilogy are #1 national bestsellers, and have been bought for publication in England, Poland, Russia, Germany, France and Holland. Her fifth book, A Cavern of Black Ice, is the first in a new series.
J.V. enjoys cooking, gardening, reading, playing RPG's, watching old black-and-white movies, and pottering around the house!
All three books in The Book Of Words Trilogy are #1 national bestsellers, and have been bought for publication in England, Poland, Russia, Germany, France and Holland. Her fifth book, A Cavern of Black Ice, is the first in a new series.
J.V. enjoys cooking, gardening, reading, playing RPG's, watching old black-and-white movies, and pottering around the house!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
January 1, 2024
In Watcher of the Dead, we join clansman Raif Sevrance as he contemplates what to do next now that he possesses the legendary sword Loss. With Raif's talents at being able to heart kill and the weapon's God-influenced nature, he can stand as a challenge against the upper-tier monstrosities of the unmade and the Endlords. Raif has endured brutal hardships, has broken oaths, and has seen many people close to him perish. The fact that he has the destined sword does not mean that he goes without burdens, battles, and torture in Watcher of the Dead. If anything, his luck seems to have gotten worse, and although Raif is my favourite character, it is not an easy read to follow his tortuous journey.
I’ve seen what close combat with live steel can do to an army. It’s seldom pretty. The guts. The shit. The blood. Never seen anything like the Red Ice, though. Thirty thousand bodies reduced to parts. Parts. And maybe, just maybe, this sword and the man who wielded it turned certain annihilation into a draw.”
Watcher of the Dead commences fantastically with every single point of view perspective being impactful from the start, utterly gripping, and adding to this already deep fantasy world. Standout viewpoints, again, include the Blackhail chief's wife Raina as she continues with her dedication to return her clan to its former glory, even if that means taking it over from within. As with A Sword from Red Ice, Bram Cormac's adventures are great to witness following the choice he made at the end of the previous book, which linked him up with the Phage ranger, Hew Mallin. The Reach Ash Marsh's storyline felt as if it was filler in the last book, with her travelling from point A to B, yet I have no such complaints here. It was thoroughly enjoyable to share more page time with Ash concerning her integration with the Sull, especially after feeling like she had been relegated to a side character since A Fortress of Grey Ice.
"In many ways his life had been arranged like the checkerboard pattern of the courtyard: black and white, black and white. Stealth, weapons-training, secrets and surveillance were part of the black, part of the life that he’d once believed was his calling. His missions and travels were all in the black. The white . . . The white was gone. Over. Even a child knew that if you burned something to a cinder the only thing left was black."
There is a new point of view perspective that is one of the main threads in Watcher of the Dead, following a character initially acknowledged as Watcher. It transpires that they are a main character who readers are familiar with, presenting the details as they pursue a task that they believe will damn them. This viewpoint is introduced early, is one of the most intense and shows new angles of this fantasy world, its history and mysteries.
With sublime characters such as those mentioned previously, Watcher of the Dead is an absolute gem of a dark fantasy read. At this stage of the Sword of Shadows series, I am invested in a manner that may even surpass how engaged I was with some of my favourite series such as The Realm of the Elderlings and Malazan. The world is brimming to the edge with intrigue, civil wars, dread regarding the threat of the unmade, and puzzles and possibilities. Throughout, my mind is trying to answer questions that are beyond what is revealed on the page. For example, where is Angus Lok's daughter? What has become of Drey Sevrance who has not been seen for almost two books? It is worth noting too that Watcher of the Dead features a fantasy trope that is brilliantly executed. That of "warging" or bonding with an animal companion. This direction was something I did not envisage yet was expertly handled.
Watcher of the Dead takes all of the great qualities and potential that the Sword of Shadows has showcased thus far and hones it masterfully. The novel is thoroughly fantastic with concluding set-pieces being some of the finest in fantasy that I can remember reading. The only viewpoint that drops the stellar standard slightly is that of Ellie Sevrance however even her perspective offers well-presented information about clans, curses, lore, and what could happen next when the Endlords break through the barrier. This is the last of the released novels that J.V. Jones has penned, yet, looking at her Patreon and other articles, I am hoping the wait is almost over for the next entry in this stunning fantasy series.
I’ve seen what close combat with live steel can do to an army. It’s seldom pretty. The guts. The shit. The blood. Never seen anything like the Red Ice, though. Thirty thousand bodies reduced to parts. Parts. And maybe, just maybe, this sword and the man who wielded it turned certain annihilation into a draw.”
Watcher of the Dead commences fantastically with every single point of view perspective being impactful from the start, utterly gripping, and adding to this already deep fantasy world. Standout viewpoints, again, include the Blackhail chief's wife Raina as she continues with her dedication to return her clan to its former glory, even if that means taking it over from within. As with A Sword from Red Ice, Bram Cormac's adventures are great to witness following the choice he made at the end of the previous book, which linked him up with the Phage ranger, Hew Mallin. The Reach Ash Marsh's storyline felt as if it was filler in the last book, with her travelling from point A to B, yet I have no such complaints here. It was thoroughly enjoyable to share more page time with Ash concerning her integration with the Sull, especially after feeling like she had been relegated to a side character since A Fortress of Grey Ice.
"In many ways his life had been arranged like the checkerboard pattern of the courtyard: black and white, black and white. Stealth, weapons-training, secrets and surveillance were part of the black, part of the life that he’d once believed was his calling. His missions and travels were all in the black. The white . . . The white was gone. Over. Even a child knew that if you burned something to a cinder the only thing left was black."
There is a new point of view perspective that is one of the main threads in Watcher of the Dead, following a character initially acknowledged as Watcher. It transpires that they are a main character who readers are familiar with, presenting the details as they pursue a task that they believe will damn them. This viewpoint is introduced early, is one of the most intense and shows new angles of this fantasy world, its history and mysteries.
With sublime characters such as those mentioned previously, Watcher of the Dead is an absolute gem of a dark fantasy read. At this stage of the Sword of Shadows series, I am invested in a manner that may even surpass how engaged I was with some of my favourite series such as The Realm of the Elderlings and Malazan. The world is brimming to the edge with intrigue, civil wars, dread regarding the threat of the unmade, and puzzles and possibilities. Throughout, my mind is trying to answer questions that are beyond what is revealed on the page. For example, where is Angus Lok's daughter? What has become of Drey Sevrance who has not been seen for almost two books? It is worth noting too that Watcher of the Dead features a fantasy trope that is brilliantly executed. That of "warging" or bonding with an animal companion. This direction was something I did not envisage yet was expertly handled.
Watcher of the Dead takes all of the great qualities and potential that the Sword of Shadows has showcased thus far and hones it masterfully. The novel is thoroughly fantastic with concluding set-pieces being some of the finest in fantasy that I can remember reading. The only viewpoint that drops the stellar standard slightly is that of Ellie Sevrance however even her perspective offers well-presented information about clans, curses, lore, and what could happen next when the Endlords break through the barrier. This is the last of the released novels that J.V. Jones has penned, yet, looking at her Patreon and other articles, I am hoping the wait is almost over for the next entry in this stunning fantasy series.
January 26, 2021
Volume 4 of the Sword of Shadow series did not disappoint either.
We mainly follow characters who have already been introduced in their travels and daily activities. Since there are numerous narrative threads, there is never a lack of variety.
Volume 4 is also characterized by unusually cruel and violent events which not every reader will be able to stomach.
I was also very impressed by the way the author slowly but relentlessly turns her perspective on certain characters. A friend becomes an enemy and vice versa. And as a reader, I also had to regularly adjust my sympathies.
It can be clearly seen that the various storylines are increasingly tapering towards a central end point or a central end event. It is therefore clear that in the last volume there will be the final encounter with the Endlords (that is also the announced title of volume 5).
As in the previous volumes, this volume also closes on a final note, but not without leaving a lot open. By that I mean that there is no such thing as a tension-charged cliffhanger (according to the motto: he could only hold on with one hand and didn't know how long his strength would last before he tumbled into the abyss ...), but nevertheless, all of the narrative strands are clearly not yet narrated to the end.
The quality of this volume justifies 5 stars for me.
As for the whole series, however, I am extremely dissatisfied. Volume 5 is still not on the market, although Volume 4 was published 11 years ago. The author claims to be working on Volume 5, but I almost expect never to see Volume 5. And I think that's a shame because I wanted so much to hear the end of the story.
-----------------------------------------
Auch Band 4 der Sword of Shadow-Reihe hat nicht enttäuscht.
Wir folgen vorwiegend bereits eingeführten Charakteren bei ihren Reisen und täglichen Verrichtungen . Da es sich um zahlreiche Erzählstränge handelt mangelt es niemals an Abwechslung.
Auch Band 4 zeichnet sich durch ungewöhnlich grausame und gewaltätige Ereignisse aus, für die sicher nicht jeder Leser den Magen hat.
Sehr beeindruckend fand ich auch, wie die Autorin die Perspektive auf bestimmte Charaktere, langsam aber unerbittlich dreht. Aus Freund wird Feind und umgekehrt. Und auch als Leserin musste ich meine Sympathien regelmäßig anpassen.
Es ist deutlich erkennbar, dass die verschiedenen Storylines immer stärker auf einen zentralen Endpunkt oder ein zentrales Endereignis zulaufen. Es ist damit klar, dass es im letzten Band zum finalen Zusammentreffen mit den Endlords kommen wird (Band 5 soll ja auch so heißen).
Wie bei den vorhergehenden Bänden schließt auch dieser Band in einem abschließenden Ton, nicht ohne jedoch sehr viel offen zu lassen. Damit meine ich, dass es keinen mit Spannung aufgeladenen Cliffhanger gibt (so nach dem Motto: er konnte sich nur noch mit einer Hand festhalten und wusste nicht wie lange seine Kräfte reichen würden, bevor er in den Abgrund stürzt....), aber dennoch ganz deutlich alle Ezählstränge noch nicht auserzählt sind.
Die Qualität dieses Bandes rechtfertigt für mich wiederum 5 Sterne.
Was die gesamte Reihe betrifft, bin ich jedoch höchst unzufrieden. Band 5 ist immer noch nicht auf dem Markt, obwohl Band 4 bereits vor 11 Jahren veröffentlicht wurde. Die Autorin gibt zwar an, an Band 5 zu arbeiten, aber ich rechne fast damit, den 5. Band nie zu Gesicht zu bekommen. Und das finde ich wirklich schade, weil ich so gerne das Ende der Geschichte erfahren wollte.
We mainly follow characters who have already been introduced in their travels and daily activities. Since there are numerous narrative threads, there is never a lack of variety.
Volume 4 is also characterized by unusually cruel and violent events which not every reader will be able to stomach.
I was also very impressed by the way the author slowly but relentlessly turns her perspective on certain characters. A friend becomes an enemy and vice versa. And as a reader, I also had to regularly adjust my sympathies.
It can be clearly seen that the various storylines are increasingly tapering towards a central end point or a central end event. It is therefore clear that in the last volume there will be the final encounter with the Endlords (that is also the announced title of volume 5).
As in the previous volumes, this volume also closes on a final note, but not without leaving a lot open. By that I mean that there is no such thing as a tension-charged cliffhanger (according to the motto: he could only hold on with one hand and didn't know how long his strength would last before he tumbled into the abyss ...), but nevertheless, all of the narrative strands are clearly not yet narrated to the end.
The quality of this volume justifies 5 stars for me.
As for the whole series, however, I am extremely dissatisfied. Volume 5 is still not on the market, although Volume 4 was published 11 years ago. The author claims to be working on Volume 5, but I almost expect never to see Volume 5. And I think that's a shame because I wanted so much to hear the end of the story.
-----------------------------------------
Auch Band 4 der Sword of Shadow-Reihe hat nicht enttäuscht.
Wir folgen vorwiegend bereits eingeführten Charakteren bei ihren Reisen und täglichen Verrichtungen . Da es sich um zahlreiche Erzählstränge handelt mangelt es niemals an Abwechslung.
Auch Band 4 zeichnet sich durch ungewöhnlich grausame und gewaltätige Ereignisse aus, für die sicher nicht jeder Leser den Magen hat.
Sehr beeindruckend fand ich auch, wie die Autorin die Perspektive auf bestimmte Charaktere, langsam aber unerbittlich dreht. Aus Freund wird Feind und umgekehrt. Und auch als Leserin musste ich meine Sympathien regelmäßig anpassen.
Es ist deutlich erkennbar, dass die verschiedenen Storylines immer stärker auf einen zentralen Endpunkt oder ein zentrales Endereignis zulaufen. Es ist damit klar, dass es im letzten Band zum finalen Zusammentreffen mit den Endlords kommen wird (Band 5 soll ja auch so heißen).
Wie bei den vorhergehenden Bänden schließt auch dieser Band in einem abschließenden Ton, nicht ohne jedoch sehr viel offen zu lassen. Damit meine ich, dass es keinen mit Spannung aufgeladenen Cliffhanger gibt (so nach dem Motto: er konnte sich nur noch mit einer Hand festhalten und wusste nicht wie lange seine Kräfte reichen würden, bevor er in den Abgrund stürzt....), aber dennoch ganz deutlich alle Ezählstränge noch nicht auserzählt sind.
Die Qualität dieses Bandes rechtfertigt für mich wiederum 5 Sterne.
Was die gesamte Reihe betrifft, bin ich jedoch höchst unzufrieden. Band 5 ist immer noch nicht auf dem Markt, obwohl Band 4 bereits vor 11 Jahren veröffentlicht wurde. Die Autorin gibt zwar an, an Band 5 zu arbeiten, aber ich rechne fast damit, den 5. Band nie zu Gesicht zu bekommen. Und das finde ich wirklich schade, weil ich so gerne das Ende der Geschichte erfahren wollte.
October 14, 2011
Overview
It definitely annoys me that J.V. Jones doesn't have a larger catalogue of books to read. She's superb. I think her writing ability and storytelling style compare to that of George R. R. Martin; she's that good. It's also sad that her output seems to be slowing down with these last few books. I'm always extremely impressed with the amount of research that goes into her books. She doesn't do the obnoxious Crichton breakdown of sources, but I wouldn't be surprised if hers would compare in length and girth. I found myself wondering if she worked with a researcher at all, and what that would be like.
Plot
While not quite as complex as Erikson or Martin, there are still several plot lines going on at once, possibly 6 or 7, and all fairly compelling.
I like Marafice's unlikely rise to power. The simplicity of it almost makes it more believable: marrying into a wealthy family to make a bastard child legitimate, his father-in-law's ambitions, his own clout as the former General.
Angus' plot ... I'm not sure what I would do different with that, but I can't say I like it. I don't think she quite nailed it. He was a fascinating character, one who had occupied such an interesting position as our only in-road into the secretive brotherhood of the Phage. But as a broken man, he's on the outskirts of the Phage, and his character is ... simplified. It seems she knew what she was doing, however, as she added the Bram Cormac storyline and his introduction and indoctrination into the Phage. So points for that, Jones.
I love the character of Vaylo Bludd, the Dog Lord. His struggles back to power as the chief and with his family are fascinating, and she pulls those off great. I love the bastard-born, non-bastard-born dynamic that he struggles with. And how he loves his "adopted" half-Sull son more than his own sons.
Raif's storyline ... I don't want to give too much away, but I think I see why she did it the way she did. She was clearly struggling with morality of Raif's future as the Watcher of the Dead and keeping him a likable main character. I think dropping the "outcast" Sull on us suddenly in this book seemed a little ... contrived. But I'm not sure if there'd been a way to get that detail across in the previous book. There must have been, though.
Raina's struggles were fun. I like reading her parts. I like seeing her come into her own as a strong empowered woman. Though—and maybe I'm being biased here—I feel a little bit of a "female empowerment" message shining through in those chapters.
Effie. Poor Effie. She's come a long way as a scared little girl, and she's so chill about it. She's definitely a little bit of a autistic spectrum character. And i love that Jones can convey that. I'm not sure I dig Effie's plot line though. It ended rather abruptly. I think Jones struggled with the capacity of a 9-year-old girl for grief, and trying to convey those emotions.
The Listener dude's plot book-ends the novel, but leaves you wondering ... as he always does.
Bestiary & Races
Not too much to say about the bestiary aspect. I love what she has created with the Sull. She makes them so mysterious and cool. They're an homage to Elves, and I wonder if that's sort of what you have to do in this day of fantasy. The term "Elves" has become too cliche. I think I may have to take that into consideration with my own writing.
Magic
Jones has several flavors of magic, none defined clearly or at all. Effie's "old magic", straight up sorcery (which we didn't see much of in this book). Raif's powers as Watcher becomes more important, as she reveals how unique his gifts truly are. I'm still somewhat confused about Ash's powers as Reach. It's similar to sorcery, almost?
Summary
I devoured this book in about a week. I love Jones. She can do no wrong by me—as long as she keeps pumping out books for me to read.
It definitely annoys me that J.V. Jones doesn't have a larger catalogue of books to read. She's superb. I think her writing ability and storytelling style compare to that of George R. R. Martin; she's that good. It's also sad that her output seems to be slowing down with these last few books. I'm always extremely impressed with the amount of research that goes into her books. She doesn't do the obnoxious Crichton breakdown of sources, but I wouldn't be surprised if hers would compare in length and girth. I found myself wondering if she worked with a researcher at all, and what that would be like.
Plot
While not quite as complex as Erikson or Martin, there are still several plot lines going on at once, possibly 6 or 7, and all fairly compelling.
I like Marafice's unlikely rise to power. The simplicity of it almost makes it more believable: marrying into a wealthy family to make a bastard child legitimate, his father-in-law's ambitions, his own clout as the former General.
Angus' plot ... I'm not sure what I would do different with that, but I can't say I like it. I don't think she quite nailed it. He was a fascinating character, one who had occupied such an interesting position as our only in-road into the secretive brotherhood of the Phage. But as a broken man, he's on the outskirts of the Phage, and his character is ... simplified. It seems she knew what she was doing, however, as she added the Bram Cormac storyline and his introduction and indoctrination into the Phage. So points for that, Jones.
I love the character of Vaylo Bludd, the Dog Lord. His struggles back to power as the chief and with his family are fascinating, and she pulls those off great. I love the bastard-born, non-bastard-born dynamic that he struggles with. And how he loves his "adopted" half-Sull son more than his own sons.
Raif's storyline ... I don't want to give too much away, but I think I see why she did it the way she did. She was clearly struggling with morality of Raif's future as the Watcher of the Dead and keeping him a likable main character. I think dropping the "outcast" Sull on us suddenly in this book seemed a little ... contrived. But I'm not sure if there'd been a way to get that detail across in the previous book. There must have been, though.
Raina's struggles were fun. I like reading her parts. I like seeing her come into her own as a strong empowered woman. Though—and maybe I'm being biased here—I feel a little bit of a "female empowerment" message shining through in those chapters.
Effie. Poor Effie. She's come a long way as a scared little girl, and she's so chill about it. She's definitely a little bit of a autistic spectrum character. And i love that Jones can convey that. I'm not sure I dig Effie's plot line though. It ended rather abruptly. I think Jones struggled with the capacity of a 9-year-old girl for grief, and trying to convey those emotions.
The Listener dude's plot book-ends the novel, but leaves you wondering ... as he always does.
Bestiary & Races
Not too much to say about the bestiary aspect. I love what she has created with the Sull. She makes them so mysterious and cool. They're an homage to Elves, and I wonder if that's sort of what you have to do in this day of fantasy. The term "Elves" has become too cliche. I think I may have to take that into consideration with my own writing.
Magic
Jones has several flavors of magic, none defined clearly or at all. Effie's "old magic", straight up sorcery (which we didn't see much of in this book). Raif's powers as Watcher becomes more important, as she reveals how unique his gifts truly are. I'm still somewhat confused about Ash's powers as Reach. It's similar to sorcery, almost?
Summary
I devoured this book in about a week. I love Jones. She can do no wrong by me—as long as she keeps pumping out books for me to read.
August 29, 2011
JV Jones is one of those writers who gets better with every book. Her earlier series were good but didn’t leave a lasting impression. The Sword of Shadows series is different, and Watcher of the Dead, the fourth book, particularly so. From the moment I picked it up, I struggled to put it down. And it’s all because of the awesome characters. Within the series there is an overarching plot about the Endlords escaping their prison in the Blind and destroying the world. But within this, each of the different characters has their own story. Raif, Ash, Raina, Vaylo, Angus, Bram, Effie – the list goes on. Each character is brilliantly drawn and you laugh, cry, hate with them all. Ash isn’t in this story much but Raif, Vaylo, Raina, Bram and Effie’s stories are moved on a pace, with Effie’s being particularly interesting. Jones manages to create an incredibly intricate world full of colour and detail that brings it alive. You can smell the treachery in Spire Vanis, feel the cold of the Want, see the beauty of the Sull Heartfires. This is a great book. I just hope we don’t have to wait so long for the fifth one.
August 11, 2014
I just love this series. It's one excellent book after another. I love all the characters and all the storylines. Jones has become one of my favourite authors. Her writing is really good and the world is very interesting. Details and events stick to your memory. Although I waited before I read Watcher of the Dead (because the next book isn't published yet), I didn't forget anything and that doesn't happen to me often. The only bad thing is that now I have to wait. I hope the next book comes out soon.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
February 10, 2021
Now I’m all caught up with this series as well and will have to wait like everyone else for the rest! Fortunately, there are four books I can re-read anytime in the meantime, so I’m happy to wait as long as necessary because I love this series so much and I know it’ll be worth it. :)
December 11, 2023
Another great entry in this series. Am so excited for the conclusion. Best sword and sorcery I’ve had the pleasure of reading.
August 20, 2010
The highly anticipated first book in this series in which the title does not contain the word ice, follows the events of Sword from Red Ice in much the same manner.
I love this series but I’m afraid that it has fallen into the trap so many other ‘epic’ fantasy authors have in thinking that introducing us to a myriad of characters, a vast amount of landscape and injecting a heavy dose of politics is the way to go.
Watcher of the Dead is better than Sword from Red Ice, but is still bogged down in trying to advance all the characters enough to justify them being part of the story. Angus Lok and Raif stand out as the most enjoyable storylines, as Angus turns against his former allies in search of his family’s killer and Raif is captured by a renegade Sull.
Valyo, Effie, Marafice, younger-brother Dhoone, seem pointless, as each character undergoes exactly one plot point throughout the novel.
Raina continues her fight against her husband, and Ash learns more about the Sull, both interesting stories that move far too slowly.
There is a major plot landmark at the end of the novel – something fans would have been waiting for since halfway through book 2 – I must warn you it’s a little strange, definitely a bold move from Jones from an writerly perspective and I’m waiting with interest to see what she does with the story next.
Ultimately the plot is moving too sluggishly for me to give rave reviews on each book. I realise that much of this incremental movement is designed to keep us in touch with all the characters and presumably wind up with the most dramatic conclusion imaginable (well here’s hoping) but ultimately it makes reading J.V. Jones’ books an effort, rather than a pleasure.
I love this series but I’m afraid that it has fallen into the trap so many other ‘epic’ fantasy authors have in thinking that introducing us to a myriad of characters, a vast amount of landscape and injecting a heavy dose of politics is the way to go.
Watcher of the Dead is better than Sword from Red Ice, but is still bogged down in trying to advance all the characters enough to justify them being part of the story. Angus Lok and Raif stand out as the most enjoyable storylines, as Angus turns against his former allies in search of his family’s killer and Raif is captured by a renegade Sull.
Valyo, Effie, Marafice, younger-brother Dhoone, seem pointless, as each character undergoes exactly one plot point throughout the novel.
Raina continues her fight against her husband, and Ash learns more about the Sull, both interesting stories that move far too slowly.
There is a major plot landmark at the end of the novel – something fans would have been waiting for since halfway through book 2 – I must warn you it’s a little strange, definitely a bold move from Jones from an writerly perspective and I’m waiting with interest to see what she does with the story next.
Ultimately the plot is moving too sluggishly for me to give rave reviews on each book. I realise that much of this incremental movement is designed to keep us in touch with all the characters and presumably wind up with the most dramatic conclusion imaginable (well here’s hoping) but ultimately it makes reading J.V. Jones’ books an effort, rather than a pleasure.
March 31, 2024
J.V.Jones "Sword of Shadows" Serie ist vielleicht die beste unbekannte Fantasyreihe.
Begonnen Ende der 90er ist die Serie heute leider noch unvollendet.
Wenn man "Sword of Shadows" mit anderen Reihen vergleichen will; dann kommt am ehesten "das Lied von Eis und Feuer" in Frage.
J.V.Jones hat einen ähnlichen Stil. Sie schreibt düster, aber nicht übertrieben; die Charaktere sind realistisch und die Welt ist ähnlich mysteriös. Wer die Kapitel bei George r.r Martin jenseits der Mauer mag, der findet hier Gefallen.
Leider teilt J.V.Jones auch Martins Schreibblockade. Seit 2010 gibt es keinen neuen Band, obwohl die Autorin scheinbar wieder, nach persönlichen Problemen, schreibt.
Ingesamt ist die Reihe auf sechs Bände ausgelegt.
Im Deutschen, wie so oft, ist die Reihe unvollständig. Die beiden ersten Originalbände wurden zweigeteilt. Es gibt also vier deutsche Bücher, welche nur noch gebraucht erhältlich sind. Und danach wurde die Veröffentlichung in Deutschland bedauerlicherweise eingestellt.
Die restlichen Bände sind aber auf Englisch sehr gut lesbar.
Man was denn nun die Reihe aus?
Zum einen das Pacing. Die Handlung schreitet gut voran. Der Leser wird aber auch nicht zu sehr an die Hand genommen. Vieles bleibt noch vage und erschließt sich erst im Verlauf.
Die ganz große Stärke sind die Charaktere. Es gibt hier kein klassisches Gut oder Böse. Alle sind grau gezeichnet und entwickeln sich nachvollziehbar.
Die ganze Reihe hat einen düsteren und mystischen Grundton. Die meiste Handling spielt im Schnee und Eis. Ich habe selten so gute Beschreibungen von Kälte in verschiedenen Variationen in der Fantasy gelesen.
Aus irgendeinem Grund schwimmt J.V.Jones völlig unter dem Radar. Eine so qualitativ hochwertige Fantasy Serie muss sich nicht vor den "Großen" des Genres verstecken.
Ganz klare Empfehlung und ein Geheimtipp.
Begonnen Ende der 90er ist die Serie heute leider noch unvollendet.
Wenn man "Sword of Shadows" mit anderen Reihen vergleichen will; dann kommt am ehesten "das Lied von Eis und Feuer" in Frage.
J.V.Jones hat einen ähnlichen Stil. Sie schreibt düster, aber nicht übertrieben; die Charaktere sind realistisch und die Welt ist ähnlich mysteriös. Wer die Kapitel bei George r.r Martin jenseits der Mauer mag, der findet hier Gefallen.
Leider teilt J.V.Jones auch Martins Schreibblockade. Seit 2010 gibt es keinen neuen Band, obwohl die Autorin scheinbar wieder, nach persönlichen Problemen, schreibt.
Ingesamt ist die Reihe auf sechs Bände ausgelegt.
Im Deutschen, wie so oft, ist die Reihe unvollständig. Die beiden ersten Originalbände wurden zweigeteilt. Es gibt also vier deutsche Bücher, welche nur noch gebraucht erhältlich sind. Und danach wurde die Veröffentlichung in Deutschland bedauerlicherweise eingestellt.
Die restlichen Bände sind aber auf Englisch sehr gut lesbar.
Man was denn nun die Reihe aus?
Zum einen das Pacing. Die Handlung schreitet gut voran. Der Leser wird aber auch nicht zu sehr an die Hand genommen. Vieles bleibt noch vage und erschließt sich erst im Verlauf.
Die ganz große Stärke sind die Charaktere. Es gibt hier kein klassisches Gut oder Böse. Alle sind grau gezeichnet und entwickeln sich nachvollziehbar.
Die ganze Reihe hat einen düsteren und mystischen Grundton. Die meiste Handling spielt im Schnee und Eis. Ich habe selten so gute Beschreibungen von Kälte in verschiedenen Variationen in der Fantasy gelesen.
Aus irgendeinem Grund schwimmt J.V.Jones völlig unter dem Radar. Eine so qualitativ hochwertige Fantasy Serie muss sich nicht vor den "Großen" des Genres verstecken.
Ganz klare Empfehlung und ein Geheimtipp.
May 16, 2013
Reduced length was good, doing something on Raif as a character also (as much as I appreciate whining, there is a limit), some things actually happen, and the new ranger side of things is interesting.
But overall.. Not a satisfying read. It leaves you hungry. Doesn't feed us like it is supposed to. The part with the Ash at the end made me wtf. I dunno. JV Jones definitely has potential and I will probably read whatever she comes up next, but I sincerely hope it wont be such a drag. That it becomes a more compact and satisfying story. The only side of things that thrives in her books is the negative one. Which can be cool, but the problem is that we only see perspectives from goody characters. From the positive side. It's like we have two teams, and only 1 of them is covered, the second one we only see on the field during the match. How can it ever feel satisfying, when first we get to feel for a team, get to know the personally, only to see them lose every single time. That is just a terrible plan.
But overall.. Not a satisfying read. It leaves you hungry. Doesn't feed us like it is supposed to. The part with the Ash at the end made me wtf. I dunno. JV Jones definitely has potential and I will probably read whatever she comes up next, but I sincerely hope it wont be such a drag. That it becomes a more compact and satisfying story. The only side of things that thrives in her books is the negative one. Which can be cool, but the problem is that we only see perspectives from goody characters. From the positive side. It's like we have two teams, and only 1 of them is covered, the second one we only see on the field during the match. How can it ever feel satisfying, when first we get to feel for a team, get to know the personally, only to see them lose every single time. That is just a terrible plan.
September 22, 2017
This fourth book in the Sword of Shadows series continues to advance the dark fantasy story that used to be promoted by TOR Publishing as another Song of Ice and Fire. Like Martin, however, the pace of new releases has become unbearable for fans of Jones (see below for more an update regarding expectations for the release of the next book in the series).
The first two books of the series wowed me with the intense emotion and absolutely brutal treatment of some of the most sympathetic characters I’ve come across. This pull-no-punches approach in the first two books got me hooked and made of me a life-long fan of Jones. Unfortunately, she disappointed with A SWORD OF RED ICE, where the intensity dropped off and the characters were moved around in a much more predictable manner. That, along with the unexpected demise of the most important antagonist, Penthero Iss, resulted in a book that had a hard time keeping my attention. I had high hopes that Jones would get back on track with WATCHER OF THE DEAD, hopes that were mostly unmet. The intensity and brutality that made books 1 and 2 so powerful was partially restored here, in particularly with the treatment of Raif, but in a repetitive and not-so-shocking way. The progression of the storyline also continued to feel slow and guided by a heavy hand. This one definitely did recreate the thrill I felt while reading the first two entries.
In WATCHER OF THE DEAD, the story is again told from the perspective of an array of familiar POV characters. Raif is again the character on whom the most time is spent. He is treated brutally here, being captured and tortured by a rogue group of Sull, with the purpose of making of him a weapon, assumedly to use against the Endlords. Ash Marsh has also essentially lost her freedom at the hands of the Sull, though with a much gentler group. Her story has gotten downright boring. The rest of the book focuses on Raina Blackhail’s attempts to consolidate power in her clan, the Dog Lord’s fumbling efforts to regain his seat in Bludd, Angus Lok’s mindless focus on revenge for his murdered family, Effie’s confusing imprisonment at the cursed Clan Gray, and Bram Cormac’s education as a new member of the Phage. We also get a humorous look at Marafice Eye’s unpleasant new life as the Surlord of Spire Vanis. Unfortunately, Crope and his master seem to have been forgotten about as we hear nothing of them. WATCHER OF THE DEAD has a very strange and out-of-left-field ending, with Raif appearing to be brought back from the edge of sanity by a love interest that I didn’t even remember meeting before. Based on the way the various storylines are coming together, WATCHER OF THE DEAD should be the penultimate book in the series. ENDLORDS should bring things to a head and hopefully finish the stories of these long-abused characters.
For all those fans wondering where the next book in the series is, Jones had started writing ENDLORDS back in 2010 but then stopped due to “a tumultuous phase” in her life. As of 2017 she has apparently resumed work on the 5th book of the series, but cautions that progress is very slow. She appears uncertain of her capacity to finish the book, writing the “Before I can write ENDLORDS, I need to be sure I can write.” She is concurrently working on a serialized project call SORRY JONES to coax some financing out of her Patreon supporters. No one seems to know what was going on during Jones’ hiatus, but at least it appears she is making some attempt to get back to the grindstone. Her fans will forgive her absence, especially if she can deliver what they expect with ENDLORDS.
The first two books of the series wowed me with the intense emotion and absolutely brutal treatment of some of the most sympathetic characters I’ve come across. This pull-no-punches approach in the first two books got me hooked and made of me a life-long fan of Jones. Unfortunately, she disappointed with A SWORD OF RED ICE, where the intensity dropped off and the characters were moved around in a much more predictable manner. That, along with the unexpected demise of the most important antagonist, Penthero Iss, resulted in a book that had a hard time keeping my attention. I had high hopes that Jones would get back on track with WATCHER OF THE DEAD, hopes that were mostly unmet. The intensity and brutality that made books 1 and 2 so powerful was partially restored here, in particularly with the treatment of Raif, but in a repetitive and not-so-shocking way. The progression of the storyline also continued to feel slow and guided by a heavy hand. This one definitely did recreate the thrill I felt while reading the first two entries.
In WATCHER OF THE DEAD, the story is again told from the perspective of an array of familiar POV characters. Raif is again the character on whom the most time is spent. He is treated brutally here, being captured and tortured by a rogue group of Sull, with the purpose of making of him a weapon, assumedly to use against the Endlords. Ash Marsh has also essentially lost her freedom at the hands of the Sull, though with a much gentler group. Her story has gotten downright boring. The rest of the book focuses on Raina Blackhail’s attempts to consolidate power in her clan, the Dog Lord’s fumbling efforts to regain his seat in Bludd, Angus Lok’s mindless focus on revenge for his murdered family, Effie’s confusing imprisonment at the cursed Clan Gray, and Bram Cormac’s education as a new member of the Phage. We also get a humorous look at Marafice Eye’s unpleasant new life as the Surlord of Spire Vanis. Unfortunately, Crope and his master seem to have been forgotten about as we hear nothing of them. WATCHER OF THE DEAD has a very strange and out-of-left-field ending, with Raif appearing to be brought back from the edge of sanity by a love interest that I didn’t even remember meeting before. Based on the way the various storylines are coming together, WATCHER OF THE DEAD should be the penultimate book in the series. ENDLORDS should bring things to a head and hopefully finish the stories of these long-abused characters.
For all those fans wondering where the next book in the series is, Jones had started writing ENDLORDS back in 2010 but then stopped due to “a tumultuous phase” in her life. As of 2017 she has apparently resumed work on the 5th book of the series, but cautions that progress is very slow. She appears uncertain of her capacity to finish the book, writing the “Before I can write ENDLORDS, I need to be sure I can write.” She is concurrently working on a serialized project call SORRY JONES to coax some financing out of her Patreon supporters. No one seems to know what was going on during Jones’ hiatus, but at least it appears she is making some attempt to get back to the grindstone. Her fans will forgive her absence, especially if she can deliver what they expect with ENDLORDS.
January 12, 2016
A fourth and then a fifth book in what I'd hoped to be a trilogy, but the story telling remains thoroughly enjoyable with little xxx (some but not much) which is not, as far as I can tell, significant. The genuine difficulty I had, and yes I could have chased this one down sooner after publication, was forgetting the detail from previous books, reducing the depth of the characters and making some of the plot intricacies confusing. I continue to be compelled to read these books, although the character thread style can also feel a bit repetitive - setting of a new scene, reminiscence to update on recent or longer term 'local' events, then back to the present event before an imperfect cadence signaling the end of each chapter. Perhaps the final book will see the unification of various plot themes as (I hope) the story reaches its resolution. I enjoy the highland clan centered setting, regardless of how 'authentic' this is (it is fiction after all!), with its portrayal of dour determination to survive against hostile foes and an unforgiving environment, requiring fierce loyalty to kin and clan. Looking forward to the next one!
March 18, 2015
I started this about a year or so after finishing the 3rd part. I really like writing style of JV Jones and it was nice to get a " story so far " synopsis. Instantly got back into the story and the characters. There are some major developments with some the characters.
Raif's storyline takes a new and even more difficult direction.
Vaylo Bludd is at odds with his son and the leadership of his clan.
I also liked getting more details of Angus Loks past and they way his character develops thought this novel kept me wanting more.
Roll on "Endlords" I need more JV Jones.
Raif's storyline takes a new and even more difficult direction.
Vaylo Bludd is at odds with his son and the leadership of his clan.
I also liked getting more details of Angus Loks past and they way his character develops thought this novel kept me wanting more.
Roll on "Endlords" I need more JV Jones.
December 29, 2024
I fell deeply for Jones' writing last year, but delayed to read Watcher in vain hopes that perhaps it would look like the fifth and final book would be nearing completion. A faint laugh that, but strong credit to Jones as she is evidently dedicated and actively writing if all the signs on her Patreon are to be believed.
The good of the book is its dedication to its world, Jones' wonderfully drawn characters, and her evidently epic plotting that - despite the ramshackle centrifuge that threatens to destroy every writing deadline Jones sets herself, having already conquered the valiant efforts of George R.R. Martin - suggests the outlines of a resolution are possible. Like a cold bath, this is a place in which to submerge oneself. Unfortunately, the plotting suggests a kind of retreat into the quotidian for these characters that makes forward development slower and slower. Combined with centrifuge, one fears for the future of the series. But I have hope.
Over and above everything, the old advertising tagline used to be to compare Sword of Shadows with A Song of Ice and Fire. I think that holds. Two great, unfinished masterpieces of contemporary, soon to be classic, fantasy fiction.
The good of the book is its dedication to its world, Jones' wonderfully drawn characters, and her evidently epic plotting that - despite the ramshackle centrifuge that threatens to destroy every writing deadline Jones sets herself, having already conquered the valiant efforts of George R.R. Martin - suggests the outlines of a resolution are possible. Like a cold bath, this is a place in which to submerge oneself. Unfortunately, the plotting suggests a kind of retreat into the quotidian for these characters that makes forward development slower and slower. Combined with centrifuge, one fears for the future of the series. But I have hope.
Over and above everything, the old advertising tagline used to be to compare Sword of Shadows with A Song of Ice and Fire. I think that holds. Two great, unfinished masterpieces of contemporary, soon to be classic, fantasy fiction.
April 29, 2025
probably my least favorite of the series so far, but still great. who would have guessed that the dog lord would be my favorite character? not me
July 27, 2015
This series is complex, with lots of moving parts. Normally I re-read early books before reading the latest in a series, and I strongly recommend doing that here. I wasn't able to, and the provided "What has gone before" summary was limited (and seemed to lose steam half-way through its few pages). You can jump straight in, but it takes a while to remember and re-orient.
Watcher of the Dead is a straightforward continuation of the series. We learn more about our hero Raif, and, separately, his engaging sister Effie. The plot moves forward in fun if not terribly surprising ways. One of the things I enjoy about Jones is her willingness to defy happy-ending expectations and maim or kill key characters, and some of that goes on here.
A few mysteries are revealed, but not very many. This book is primarily about moving the story along. I was disappointed to finally reach the Heart of the Sull, and find it not very different from anywhere else. This was surprising from an author who normally does well in creating murky mystery and revealing excitement. The same is somewhat true for some of Raif's travails. While interesting, it didn't feel like a top rung effort, and there's an element at the end that seemed to come almost out of nowhere.
Nonetheless, this is a very enjoyable sequel, and the overall story is still exciting and fairly fresh. All in all, well worth picking up for readers of the series. Definitely not the place to start if you've not read the prior books. (Though if you haven't, I recommend you do). I haven't seen anything about Ms. Jones' plans, but I anticipate that the next book (or at most the one after) will be the end of the series. Much more than that (without a fresh infusion of energy), and I think the story will have stretched too far.
Watcher of the Dead is a straightforward continuation of the series. We learn more about our hero Raif, and, separately, his engaging sister Effie. The plot moves forward in fun if not terribly surprising ways. One of the things I enjoy about Jones is her willingness to defy happy-ending expectations and maim or kill key characters, and some of that goes on here.
A few mysteries are revealed, but not very many. This book is primarily about moving the story along. I was disappointed to finally reach the Heart of the Sull, and find it not very different from anywhere else. This was surprising from an author who normally does well in creating murky mystery and revealing excitement. The same is somewhat true for some of Raif's travails. While interesting, it didn't feel like a top rung effort, and there's an element at the end that seemed to come almost out of nowhere.
Nonetheless, this is a very enjoyable sequel, and the overall story is still exciting and fairly fresh. All in all, well worth picking up for readers of the series. Definitely not the place to start if you've not read the prior books. (Though if you haven't, I recommend you do). I haven't seen anything about Ms. Jones' plans, but I anticipate that the next book (or at most the one after) will be the end of the series. Much more than that (without a fresh infusion of energy), and I think the story will have stretched too far.
August 4, 2012
Summary: The continuing story of the rise of the 'dark/end lords' and the preparations being made for the 'final battle'. The story continues not much has substantially changed by the end of the book. It's starting to get a bit boring.
Things I liked:
Some of the characters are still pretty interesting e.g. Riana, Vallo (dog lord).
The author seems remembers to add details about hunting and survival that I think adds to the atmosphere of the setting.
Kid characters have a distinct voice.
Things I thought could be improved:
The author could use less modern metaphors e.g. 'the seeds exploded like shots' (shots of what a modern firearm I guess). It also seemed to me that the battle strategies of the 'clan chiefs' seemed to resemble modern warfare in both language and style. I think it should be the job of a good editor to spot these gaffs and suggest fixing them. They totally break the 'suspension of disbelief' that allows me to enjoy the fantasy setting.
Some of the scenes felt a bit like a script for a movie. I'd suggest less focus on schlick, movie stunt scenes and more work on believable, fail-able characters which is what gets me reading these books in the first place.
Highlight: Probably the bit with
Things I liked:
Some of the characters are still pretty interesting e.g. Riana, Vallo (dog lord).
The author seems remembers to add details about hunting and survival that I think adds to the atmosphere of the setting.
Kid characters have a distinct voice.
Things I thought could be improved:
The author could use less modern metaphors e.g. 'the seeds exploded like shots' (shots of what a modern firearm I guess). It also seemed to me that the battle strategies of the 'clan chiefs' seemed to resemble modern warfare in both language and style. I think it should be the job of a good editor to spot these gaffs and suggest fixing them. They totally break the 'suspension of disbelief' that allows me to enjoy the fantasy setting.
Some of the scenes felt a bit like a script for a movie. I'd suggest less focus on schlick, movie stunt scenes and more work on believable, fail-able characters which is what gets me reading these books in the first place.
Highlight: Probably the bit with
May 16, 2014
Another enjoyable book in a captivating series. I really like the characters. The story seems to have lost a little cohesion in this book in terms of tying in the strife in the clan-holds and the widening in the rift back to the change in Surlords at Spire Vanis. Also, what is going to happen to Angus Lok to bring him back into the main thread of the story?
I guess these questions will be answered in the next book which I assume will tie off the series. Interesting to see that this book was published in 2010 and JV hasn't published a book since. The 5th book is due out in 2015. Hopefully the author has been enjoying the fruits of her labour from her other successful books. I saw on her bio she likes playing RPG's so she might have got stuck on Skyrim - I know I did.
On that tangent, I wonder how much pressure gets put on authors to 'produce' once they become popular. How hard is it to maintain a balanced lifestyle? I know as a reader I am impatient to get more books from my favourite authors.
Back on track - the book. Great book, great series and I am really looking forward to the 5th book.
I guess these questions will be answered in the next book which I assume will tie off the series. Interesting to see that this book was published in 2010 and JV hasn't published a book since. The 5th book is due out in 2015. Hopefully the author has been enjoying the fruits of her labour from her other successful books. I saw on her bio she likes playing RPG's so she might have got stuck on Skyrim - I know I did.
On that tangent, I wonder how much pressure gets put on authors to 'produce' once they become popular. How hard is it to maintain a balanced lifestyle? I know as a reader I am impatient to get more books from my favourite authors.
Back on track - the book. Great book, great series and I am really looking forward to the 5th book.
September 15, 2013
I waited with bated breathe for this book as I was less than satisfied with A Sword From Red Ice. On the whole I was happier with the plot movement; my favourites were the POV of Raif and Effie. A bit of resoultion and change occurred.
The reader can sense the hand of the Phage aligning the clans in the North. The multiple POV's make this all clear if they serve no other purpose.
I hope the next book sees a fitting culmination of the series; the author became somewhat bogged down given the scale she has captured. It is hard to look forward and see any good ending for Raif, he seems to be a victim of circumstance. Hopefully he can cast off the bonds on him. A fortuitous meeting with his siblings could be the catalyst for this or, on the other hand, could be the impetus for him sacrificing himself. It will be interesting seeing which end the author chooses.
This book was published in 2010. Now, with 2013 almost over, the author has not updated her homepage in some time. The last I heard the working title is Endlords. Thankfully, I am patient.
The reader can sense the hand of the Phage aligning the clans in the North. The multiple POV's make this all clear if they serve no other purpose.
I hope the next book sees a fitting culmination of the series; the author became somewhat bogged down given the scale she has captured. It is hard to look forward and see any good ending for Raif, he seems to be a victim of circumstance. Hopefully he can cast off the bonds on him. A fortuitous meeting with his siblings could be the catalyst for this or, on the other hand, could be the impetus for him sacrificing himself. It will be interesting seeing which end the author chooses.
This book was published in 2010. Now, with 2013 almost over, the author has not updated her homepage in some time. The last I heard the working title is Endlords. Thankfully, I am patient.
June 5, 2011
A big improvement over "A Sword from Red Ice". Jones is finally moving things into place to finish out this excellent series. Unfortunately, she's fallen into the traditional trap of the epic fantasy author: there are simply too many characters, too many storylines, and far too much meandering to keep the series as engaging as it was back in Books 1 and (especially) 2.
I'd almost recommend reading just those chapters pertaining to the once main character, Raif Severance, as his storyline is excellent, well written, and entirely gripping. Ash's story is also very engaging (though it is a bit disappointing that she's been delegated to a lowly supporting character in the series).
If this book had been just about Raif and Ash, I'd have given it 5 stars. I still think it merits a 4 star rating based on the strength of Jones' prose and a continually fascinating world setting.
I'd almost recommend reading just those chapters pertaining to the once main character, Raif Severance, as his storyline is excellent, well written, and entirely gripping. Ash's story is also very engaging (though it is a bit disappointing that she's been delegated to a lowly supporting character in the series).
If this book had been just about Raif and Ash, I'd have given it 5 stars. I still think it merits a 4 star rating based on the strength of Jones' prose and a continually fascinating world setting.
October 15, 2013
First I felt she dragged out Raifs personal developmento too much. I dont mind dark and sad plots. But I enjoyed identity struggling whiny Raif rather than the tortured soul she seems to be directed him towards. I really dislike Ash as a character and her plot is bland. But I enjoy the phage introduction and the clan politics. Angus Lok has a.unclear plot development. But I must say.something happens. It.is either better written or better edited and it is shorter. Almost too short. There just isnt a clear conflict and the clear conflicts are rarely resolved.... except if you are a giant searching for your master.....She writes each book as if they are all a long story rising to a final.climax. which is similar to george rr martin. overall this is better than the first when you imahine where the plot will bring the story in the next book....
April 28, 2010
J.V. is getting better and better with every book. Her command of the written word is still evolving: she has clearly progressed beyond the mainstream fantasy crowd, however one can feel her over-reaching in a couple of instances. This volume had a simpler, cleaner storyline than the previous installments. A bit on the short side, given the 2,5 year wait and the current standards of epic fantasy book lengths. Still, it is a masterful piece of storytelling. The now familiar characters remain compelling, evolving in new and interesting ways. All-in-all, "watcher of the dead" justifies the place the "sword of shadows" series has gained (at least in my mind)among the three top epic fantasy series of the last 2 decades, along with Jordan's "wheel of time" and Martin's "song of ice and fire".
June 30, 2010
Could have been a great book... If anything happened in it. Let's see... Raif gets tortured some more, continuing his general slide into a depressingly black state, Ash gets mentioned twice in the whole book... Annnnnd a whole lot of nothing happens.
This series is starting to drag.
This series is starting to drag.
February 5, 2014
The author's writing is absolutely beautiful, and really brings the reader into the story. Unfortunately Jones does have a tendency to move the plot along very slowly, so fans of the series will most likely enjoy this book but may, like me, be ready for the plot to move a bit faster.
May 4, 2013
Zapravo 3,5 zvezdica.
March 12, 2014
Shortest Book. Better than Book 3. Was more to the point. bits that have been dropped in previous book were caught up. Was a Breeze. Expect More. Hope Book 5 is direct as this but longer.
October 21, 2021
This fourth volume of J V Jones' Sword of Shadows series is likely the last we will see. I liked this series very much and I lament the lack of a satisfying conclusion. Some reviewers blame the author. I am more inclined to point to the state of contemporary publishing, at least as far as the USA is concerned. When established fantasy and SF authors of the caliber of C H Cherryh and Michelle West can't get publishers to agree to support series for which a fan base already exists, something ain't right. Oh, but it's a business decision some will virtuously exclaim. I guess you can believe that if you want to. No doubt a mega audience exists for every bit of urban vampire soft core porn trash that infests the shelves of the fantasy section at Barnes & Noble. Me, I think a clique of impudent degenerates are trying to impose their own tastes, you should excuse the expression, on the book reading public. From what I could gather from Jones' patreon page, she doesn't presently have a publisher and I don't have the means to support her. Would that I did.
However, while we readers are so far denied an end to the saga, the story arc of several of the POV characters does reach a satisfying turning point, if not quite conclusion. Raina Blackhail does take responsibility for her clan. Effie does manage to escape imprisonment and get her lore back; I hope she will find her brother Drey and not allow herself to be captured again. Angus Lok has his vengeance, and even the insipid Ash finds a backbone and takes charge of her life.
As for The Watcher of the Dead, Raif, I never did think he was whiny, only a bit bewildered at having his life overturned through no fault of his own. He has seen and experienced horrors and won't ever speak of them. A couple of points--spoilers ahead, I quite like the character Mallia, a woman of heart and courage who understands the healing power of her own beauty. I also liked the moonsnake episode in which it was shown that Raif is far more grounded in the natural world than the remote Sull, for all their high technology.
I gave this 4 stars instead of 5 for two reasons, both having to do with the plot. First, the enemy, creatures from the depths, doesn't really work for me. Second, I do not believe that anyone can find gold and keep the discovery secret. I kept waiting for someone to point out the obvious, that what the Scarpe chief is after is that goldmine.
However, while we readers are so far denied an end to the saga, the story arc of several of the POV characters does reach a satisfying turning point, if not quite conclusion. Raina Blackhail does take responsibility for her clan. Effie does manage to escape imprisonment and get her lore back; I hope she will find her brother Drey and not allow herself to be captured again. Angus Lok has his vengeance, and even the insipid Ash finds a backbone and takes charge of her life.
As for The Watcher of the Dead, Raif, I never did think he was whiny, only a bit bewildered at having his life overturned through no fault of his own. He has seen and experienced horrors and won't ever speak of them. A couple of points--spoilers ahead, I quite like the character Mallia, a woman of heart and courage who understands the healing power of her own beauty. I also liked the moonsnake episode in which it was shown that Raif is far more grounded in the natural world than the remote Sull, for all their high technology.
I gave this 4 stars instead of 5 for two reasons, both having to do with the plot. First, the enemy, creatures from the depths, doesn't really work for me. Second, I do not believe that anyone can find gold and keep the discovery secret. I kept waiting for someone to point out the obvious, that what the Scarpe chief is after is that goldmine.
September 12, 2021
A clear step up.
The most significant feature of "Watcher of the Dead" is its shortened length. Considering that the third book was a meandering mess, where almost every chapter took forever to get going, this is definitely an improvement. Each chapter here is better paced and packaged, without sacrificing neither worldbuilding nor atmosphere. I feel like the writing style is finally at the point where it's supposed to be.
When it comes to the story, some of the plots are pretty brutal. Especially what happens to Raif this time around is one of the most cruel things I ever read in a book. It strikes me as almost sadistic and mean spirited what the hero in this series has to go through. I get that a good character has to suffer and struggle, but I never read about one person going through so many different ways of misery in each and every book.
The journeys of the other characters are all continued, though to varying degrees of success. Once more, Ash falls short of having any interesting things happening to her. It just seems like Jones has already told most of her story and the rest is just spent waiting for the finale. It's not much better with Vaylo and Effie, though they are charming characters and I enjoyed their chapters quite a bit. Raif, Raina and Angus are riveting to read. Sadly, Bram, one of my favorite characters, turned out to be rather boring this time around.
Overall, I hope that Jones isn't planning to stretch out the series much longer. There are barely any new elements here and the multitude of descriptions of the clanholds, politics, attacks by the Unmade and visitations to round- and guidehouses are starting to wear pretty thin. I hope she finishes the series in one or two books, or manages to come up with something really interesting. Or both.
Still, for what it's worth, this is a mostly gripping and enjoyable continuation of the tale, with great and detailed writing and a deft hand for character voice. Just don't expect much in terms of big finales or great twists. Like it's predecessors, "Watcher of the Dead" mostly ends with small, final gestures by their characters.
The most significant feature of "Watcher of the Dead" is its shortened length. Considering that the third book was a meandering mess, where almost every chapter took forever to get going, this is definitely an improvement. Each chapter here is better paced and packaged, without sacrificing neither worldbuilding nor atmosphere. I feel like the writing style is finally at the point where it's supposed to be.
When it comes to the story, some of the plots are pretty brutal. Especially what happens to Raif this time around is one of the most cruel things I ever read in a book. It strikes me as almost sadistic and mean spirited what the hero in this series has to go through. I get that a good character has to suffer and struggle, but I never read about one person going through so many different ways of misery in each and every book.
The journeys of the other characters are all continued, though to varying degrees of success. Once more, Ash falls short of having any interesting things happening to her. It just seems like Jones has already told most of her story and the rest is just spent waiting for the finale. It's not much better with Vaylo and Effie, though they are charming characters and I enjoyed their chapters quite a bit. Raif, Raina and Angus are riveting to read. Sadly, Bram, one of my favorite characters, turned out to be rather boring this time around.
Overall, I hope that Jones isn't planning to stretch out the series much longer. There are barely any new elements here and the multitude of descriptions of the clanholds, politics, attacks by the Unmade and visitations to round- and guidehouses are starting to wear pretty thin. I hope she finishes the series in one or two books, or manages to come up with something really interesting. Or both.
Still, for what it's worth, this is a mostly gripping and enjoyable continuation of the tale, with great and detailed writing and a deft hand for character voice. Just don't expect much in terms of big finales or great twists. Like it's predecessors, "Watcher of the Dead" mostly ends with small, final gestures by their characters.
March 11, 2017
Raif Sevrance is in possession of the sword known as Loss. Unfortunately, he is also the 'guest' of a renegade group of Sull, who are determined to use him and his abilities for their own ends. Elsewhere, Ash March finds herself in the heart of Sull territory, knowing she will find in them her greatest allies...or her greatest danger. War continues to rage in the clanholds, with the armies of Blackhail, Bludd and Dhoone converging as Gandmiddich for a climactic showdown. In Spire Vanis the new surlord struggles to hold onto power, and in the wilds the ranger Angus Lok relentless hunts down a wily enemy.
Watcher of the Dead brings the Sword of Shadows series to its fourth - and hopefully penultimate (though Jones has hinted that the series may expand to six volumes) - instalment. It's a slightly slimmer novel than its forebears, being a clear 100 pages shorter than the third volume, and benefits from a tighter focus on the core storylines. Raif and Ash get a fair bit of attention, whilst Angus Lok returns to the fore after spending most of the third book missing. Effie's storyline also moves forward more satisfyingly, with her relevance to the main storyline becoming clearer. The Dog Lord and Raina Blackhail also benefit from contrasting storylines in which both seek to consolidate (or re-consolidate, in Vaylo Bludd's case) their authority in the face of opposition.
There are some drawbacks to this. The tightened focus mean there's no time or room for Crope and Baralis, who simply fail to appear. Also, a tight focus on a large cast in a more constrained page count means a relative lack of major progression in any one arc. So Effie spends most of the book in a roundhouse in a swamp and then takes a short trip in a boat (although a hugely important one). Raif spends almost the entire book as a prisoner of the Sull. Ash, having set out to reach the Sull Heart Fires at the start of Book 2, finally gets there halfway through Book 4 and has a couple of conversations (and the revelation of a 'major' plot twist which is tiresomely predictable, the first disappointing plot turn in the series to date). Important things happen in these chapters, but there is definitely a contrast to the very busy and forwards-moving first volume in the series.
Still, the series has never been action-packed and fast-moving, and Jones does give us some good battles. Raina Blackhail's storyline in fact is particularly strong, aided by the arrival of an intriguing new character, and Angus Lok's revenge storyline is extremely tense. Best of all is Raif's character arc. Back in Book 1 he was the very embodiment of the 'callow youth saves the world' trope, but by the end of this volume he is a severely traumatised, battle-hardened warrior desperately searching for himself. The subversion of the traditional fantasy hero's journey is very well-done.
Watcher of the Dead (****) benefits in some ways from a (slightly) shorter page count and tightened focus, but it also suffers from it, with a lack of plot progression in some storylines and some characters simply not showing up. The benefits to characterisation are clear and there are clear signs of the scattered characters starting to come together, but we're not on the home straight yet. The novel is available now in the UK and USA. The fifth volume, Endlords, is still forthcoming, with the author recently (February 2017) joining Patreon and confirming that finishing the novel is now a top priority.
Watcher of the Dead brings the Sword of Shadows series to its fourth - and hopefully penultimate (though Jones has hinted that the series may expand to six volumes) - instalment. It's a slightly slimmer novel than its forebears, being a clear 100 pages shorter than the third volume, and benefits from a tighter focus on the core storylines. Raif and Ash get a fair bit of attention, whilst Angus Lok returns to the fore after spending most of the third book missing. Effie's storyline also moves forward more satisfyingly, with her relevance to the main storyline becoming clearer. The Dog Lord and Raina Blackhail also benefit from contrasting storylines in which both seek to consolidate (or re-consolidate, in Vaylo Bludd's case) their authority in the face of opposition.
There are some drawbacks to this. The tightened focus mean there's no time or room for Crope and Baralis, who simply fail to appear. Also, a tight focus on a large cast in a more constrained page count means a relative lack of major progression in any one arc. So Effie spends most of the book in a roundhouse in a swamp and then takes a short trip in a boat (although a hugely important one). Raif spends almost the entire book as a prisoner of the Sull. Ash, having set out to reach the Sull Heart Fires at the start of Book 2, finally gets there halfway through Book 4 and has a couple of conversations (and the revelation of a 'major' plot twist which is tiresomely predictable, the first disappointing plot turn in the series to date). Important things happen in these chapters, but there is definitely a contrast to the very busy and forwards-moving first volume in the series.
Still, the series has never been action-packed and fast-moving, and Jones does give us some good battles. Raina Blackhail's storyline in fact is particularly strong, aided by the arrival of an intriguing new character, and Angus Lok's revenge storyline is extremely tense. Best of all is Raif's character arc. Back in Book 1 he was the very embodiment of the 'callow youth saves the world' trope, but by the end of this volume he is a severely traumatised, battle-hardened warrior desperately searching for himself. The subversion of the traditional fantasy hero's journey is very well-done.
Watcher of the Dead (****) benefits in some ways from a (slightly) shorter page count and tightened focus, but it also suffers from it, with a lack of plot progression in some storylines and some characters simply not showing up. The benefits to characterisation are clear and there are clear signs of the scattered characters starting to come together, but we're not on the home straight yet. The novel is available now in the UK and USA. The fifth volume, Endlords, is still forthcoming, with the author recently (February 2017) joining Patreon and confirming that finishing the novel is now a top priority.
February 2, 2024
I really can't be bothered to write a long and profound review of all the positive and negative aspects of this book, or the whole series. But what I can say about every book, up to #4 is that it spends too much time with useless imagery. "Her panties were pink like a skinned deer". That's not in the books, but it's not hard for me to imagine it happening. Large part of every book is spent on over the top description and mundane things. A large part of every book is just traveling. And during all that meaningless one foot in front of another action you are hit with some unnecessary lines in the vein of: "She had to pee. The golden drops of her piss were like a morning dew, caught on the tree leaves.". It's clear she took a lot of inspiration from G.R.R. Martin, and I mean A LOT. Won't go through the similarities, but it's down to details. Like not ever finishing a book series. There is also a stark contrast in realism of hunting to survive and eating fresh liver out of a killed deer then randomly pulling out some french speciality. Like roasted pork covered with honey and almonds. Uncalled for. But the author probably likes to cook, I can respect that. The only positive is that except for the few main characters, there is no plot armour. Bad things happen to all characters equally. Not the worst epic fantasy series, but it definitely has a lot of flaws. I reread it mostly because of my fond memories of reading it as a youngster, some 15 years ago. Back when this series had about the same number of books as today!
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