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The Saga of Recluce #7
The Chaos Balance
The saga of Recluce by L.E. Modesitt, Jr., has become one of the standard works of fantasy in the 1990s. VOYA says, "Modesitt's logical structure of the interrelationship of order and chaos, magic and technology, is one of the most through in modern fantasy. The personal growth of his characters and the depiction of their world, it well-written and credible - and involves the reader... The serious fantasy reader will revel in Modesitt's work." Launched with The Magic of Recluce, the novels of Recluce have gone on to sell over a million copies in paperback.
The most recent of the Recluce novels, Fall of Angels, introduced the engineer/smith Nylan, the only man among the leadership of the company of "angels" marooned on a high plateau in the west of Candar, and perhaps the one person most responsible for their survival. But the angels are a matriarchal band, and so Nylan must leave his companions and seek a life elsewhere. He travels down from the plateau into the world of warring kingdoms and strange magics with his companion, Ayrlyn, the healer, and his infant son. They are in search of a place to lead a peaceful life, but they look different from the locals, and their talents are most valued in battle - and so the war between chaos and order begins again.
The Chaos Balance is the seventh book of the saga of Recluce.
The most recent of the Recluce novels, Fall of Angels, introduced the engineer/smith Nylan, the only man among the leadership of the company of "angels" marooned on a high plateau in the west of Candar, and perhaps the one person most responsible for their survival. But the angels are a matriarchal band, and so Nylan must leave his companions and seek a life elsewhere. He travels down from the plateau into the world of warring kingdoms and strange magics with his companion, Ayrlyn, the healer, and his infant son. They are in search of a place to lead a peaceful life, but they look different from the locals, and their talents are most valued in battle - and so the war between chaos and order begins again.
The Chaos Balance is the seventh book of the saga of Recluce.
596 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 31, 1997
154 people are currently reading
1734 people want to read
About the author
L.E. Modesitt Jr.
191 books2,591 followersL. E. (Leland Exton) Modesitt, Jr. is an author of science fiction and fantasy novels. He is best known for the fantasy series The Saga of Recluce. He graduated from Williams College in Massachusetts, lived in Washington, D.C. for 20 years, then moved to New Hampshire in 1989 where he met his wife. They relocated to Cedar City, Utah in 1993.
He has worked as a Navy pilot, lifeguard, delivery boy, unpaid radio disc jockey, real estate agent, market research analyst, director of research for a political campaign, legislative assistant for a Congressman, Director of Legislation and Congressional Relations for the United States Environmental Protection Agency, a consultant on environmental, regulatory, and communications issues, and a college lecturer and writer in residence.
In addition to his novels, Mr. Modesitt has published technical studies and articles, columns, poetry, and a number of science fiction stories. His first short story, "The Great American Economy", was published in 1973 in Analog Science Fiction and Science Fact.
-Wikipedia
He has worked as a Navy pilot, lifeguard, delivery boy, unpaid radio disc jockey, real estate agent, market research analyst, director of research for a political campaign, legislative assistant for a Congressman, Director of Legislation and Congressional Relations for the United States Environmental Protection Agency, a consultant on environmental, regulatory, and communications issues, and a college lecturer and writer in residence.
In addition to his novels, Mr. Modesitt has published technical studies and articles, columns, poetry, and a number of science fiction stories. His first short story, "The Great American Economy", was published in 1973 in Analog Science Fiction and Science Fact.
-Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
March 15, 2021
Following Fall of Angels both chronologically and in publication history, I'm both pleased and relieved to read this book. That's mostly because the publication history and the chronological order of this entire series is a bit all over the place.
Not a bad thing, mind you, but it takes some effort to keep it all aligned in the reader's heads. Fortunately, I broke down and pulled up some online guides to help me out.
Not that it really matters at this point. The story takes place two years after the previous novel and we follow the same main character, but this time he's kicked himself out of the home he had spent so much of his efforts to make.
Major themes so far have been the male/female equation, not showing either in perfect light, but as a constant flux -- almost a mirror to the whole Order/Chaos magic (also high-tech) balance that is described throughout the series. That is NOT to say that men are chaos and women are order or any such nonsense. There are many orders of order and chaos and anything like that would be too painfully obvious to make a good read.
This IS a good read, thankfully, and I really enjoyed how the author skewered Honor-based cultures.
If I am to be slightly annoyed by anything, it would have to be the now pretty-standard reliance on making main male characters who are pretty much universally hard-working, honor-driven, quiet, and internally-driven do-gooders who rarely think twice about sacrificing themselves for a greater good.
I mean, sure, the way I write this, you might assume that MOST heroes, in general, might fit at least parts of this description, but the ones I'm reading about are all pretty much perfectly stoic, closed-lipped, and are always working twice-as-hard as anyone else. Again, nice, and pretty damn admirable, but it's like ALL the VERY BEST Order mages who can accomplish miracles have almost exactly the same personalities. So. It begs the question. Does one have to have this personality type to be the best of the best Order mages?
It's neither here nor there. I'm still enjoying it a great deal and the full history of this place is fascinating as hell. Early history now, whereas one of the previous books happened to cap the end of the whole series. And yet, it's all still delicious.
Not a bad thing, mind you, but it takes some effort to keep it all aligned in the reader's heads. Fortunately, I broke down and pulled up some online guides to help me out.
Not that it really matters at this point. The story takes place two years after the previous novel and we follow the same main character, but this time he's kicked himself out of the home he had spent so much of his efforts to make.
Major themes so far have been the male/female equation, not showing either in perfect light, but as a constant flux -- almost a mirror to the whole Order/Chaos magic (also high-tech) balance that is described throughout the series. That is NOT to say that men are chaos and women are order or any such nonsense. There are many orders of order and chaos and anything like that would be too painfully obvious to make a good read.
This IS a good read, thankfully, and I really enjoyed how the author skewered Honor-based cultures.
If I am to be slightly annoyed by anything, it would have to be the now pretty-standard reliance on making main male characters who are pretty much universally hard-working, honor-driven, quiet, and internally-driven do-gooders who rarely think twice about sacrificing themselves for a greater good.
I mean, sure, the way I write this, you might assume that MOST heroes, in general, might fit at least parts of this description, but the ones I'm reading about are all pretty much perfectly stoic, closed-lipped, and are always working twice-as-hard as anyone else. Again, nice, and pretty damn admirable, but it's like ALL the VERY BEST Order mages who can accomplish miracles have almost exactly the same personalities. So. It begs the question. Does one have to have this personality type to be the best of the best Order mages?
It's neither here nor there. I'm still enjoying it a great deal and the full history of this place is fascinating as hell. Early history now, whereas one of the previous books happened to cap the end of the whole series. And yet, it's all still delicious.
May 13, 2020
The Chaos Balance follows Modesitt's usual story pattern. There are simmering tensions between men and women, with resentments on both sides. They both have reason for their feelings, but it does get repetitive. Here we have the main character, Nylan, who is a reluctant black mage. It seems all the main characters are dissatisfied with the status quo, but unwilling to talk about whatever is eating at them. They are all hyper-responsible, workaholics with persecution complexes. They all end up with vision problems at the least or blindness at the most, for using more of their mage powers than they should or misusing the power in their own opinion.
The author frequently gives us male characters who leave their emotional labour to others. ”Just give me a task to do and then thank me extravagantly when its done,” that seems to be their way of dealing with life. Then they're surprised that the women in their lives get annoyed, being forced to nag, guess what's going on in his head, be the bad guy, or be blamed for the outcome of the decisions that they've been forced to make without his input. Plus, after all this he expects praise for whatever task she has had to plan and request his work on.
What I really did appreciate in this volume is Modesitt's examination of the nature of so-called honour societies. Where it is more honourable to throw away lives in an unwinnable war than it is to mount a guerilla operation. Where it is honourable to treat women and children as chattel. Since there's still quite a bit of this among men in modern society, this book still has relevance. Other very positive aspects are the obvious environmental message in the use of the forest energies and the message about sexism being ridiculous. Thank you, Mr. Modesitt, for featuring these progressive concepts.
Book number 366 of my Science Fiction & Fantasy Reading Project
August 13, 2017
This is 4th in chronologically taking place just 2 years after Fall of Angels in the year 403. Nylan leaves Ryba & Westwind to make his way in Lornth, a country formed by women who have fled Cyador. That says a lot if Magi'i of Cyador (#1 chron, #10 pub, year 1) & Scion of Cyador (#2 chron, #11 pub, year 8) have been read. If nothing else, it tells us that Modesitt has another book or two that he can fit into this 400 year gap, one that I am looking forward to reading.
It was a bit long at times, but Modesitt was making a point. The drudgery of travel & war is well shown, a bit too well. If the characters ate any more cheese & biscuits, my colon would have frozen in place. Thankfully, they finally got a dietary change & he alludes to the problems it causes, although he never addresses this directly. Just as well.
It's really interesting the way he weaves in the SF themes of hardwired systems used to control spaceships, the feel of the nets, & the way these relate to the order-chaos fluxes in this magical universe. Nice blend of genres, although this definitely reads like a fantasy.
If you haven't read the series before, read them in published order first. This one is far along in his themes of the 'good' & 'evil' of chaos & order. It also alludes well to the final books chronologically, among the first published. The next book chronologically is the 16th published, Arms-Commander, which goes back to Westwind in the year 415.
It was a bit long at times, but Modesitt was making a point. The drudgery of travel & war is well shown, a bit too well. If the characters ate any more cheese & biscuits, my colon would have frozen in place. Thankfully, they finally got a dietary change & he alludes to the problems it causes, although he never addresses this directly. Just as well.
It's really interesting the way he weaves in the SF themes of hardwired systems used to control spaceships, the feel of the nets, & the way these relate to the order-chaos fluxes in this magical universe. Nice blend of genres, although this definitely reads like a fantasy.
If you haven't read the series before, read them in published order first. This one is far along in his themes of the 'good' & 'evil' of chaos & order. It also alludes well to the final books chronologically, among the first published. The next book chronologically is the 16th published, Arms-Commander, which goes back to Westwind in the year 415.
March 18, 2015
The continuation of the historical record of Candar carries on as the first recorded Black Mage descends from the compound at the roof of the world to assist the locals in their conflict against the lingering remnants of the, now degenerate, White Mage civilization.
The moral conflict in this book is primarily about restoring balance to the white and dark forces in the world. Nylan the smith struggles with reconciling his need to continually use more and more black "order" against the white "chaos" in both his personal life and in the greater world around him.
Nylan is a likeable enough character and the relationship with Arylyn is interesting. My largest complaint is how the land of Cyador has fallen in the way it is portrayed. When we last left the white mage civilization it was advanced and prosperous including in it's treatment of women. Now they seem to have forgotten all but their former power and treat women as chattel. I don't see how that happened, although granted it is a 700 year period.
Overall the book is fun to read especially to see how it fits into the historical record, but the character development is slow. The battles seem to make up for this but please plan on repeated Modesitt-isms like the sweat on the brow, flashing lights behind the eyes, and of course the ever present descriptions of food.
The moral conflict in this book is primarily about restoring balance to the white and dark forces in the world. Nylan the smith struggles with reconciling his need to continually use more and more black "order" against the white "chaos" in both his personal life and in the greater world around him.
Nylan is a likeable enough character and the relationship with Arylyn is interesting. My largest complaint is how the land of Cyador has fallen in the way it is portrayed. When we last left the white mage civilization it was advanced and prosperous including in it's treatment of women. Now they seem to have forgotten all but their former power and treat women as chattel. I don't see how that happened, although granted it is a 700 year period.
Overall the book is fun to read especially to see how it fits into the historical record, but the character development is slow. The battles seem to make up for this but please plan on repeated Modesitt-isms like the sweat on the brow, flashing lights behind the eyes, and of course the ever present descriptions of food.
November 24, 2009
I think I've figured out how Modesitt writes so many of these damned Recluce books. I feel bad giving away the secret in detail, so I'll summarize: find and replace. Saying that these books are formulaic is like saying that Piers Anthony has a mild fondness for shitty puns. I've read seven Recluce books (more than half of the series- I'm a glutton for punishment), and I now know that if I read an eighth it will contain: someone learning that order needs to balance with chaos; someone using heretofore unknown powers to destroy an enemy army that otherwise would have been unstoppable; someone going blind, maybe permanently, because they used too much power, but, really, did he/she have any choice?; and finally, God help me, someone playing a musical instrument called a "lutar".
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 1, 2024
3.5 stars. Most of the story is better than this but it gets drug down by a very slow section in the middle.
It takes place 2 years after Fall of Angels and involves the same characters to start with. The leader there has become more militant and despising all men, including the one who still lives in the Black Tower.
Nylan, the engineer, and Arylin the healer leave the community before he is killed.
Cyador, the home of the White mages is flexing and about to make it bad for the other lands. This leads to a face off with Nylan, as he serves Order.
It takes place 2 years after Fall of Angels and involves the same characters to start with. The leader there has become more militant and despising all men, including the one who still lives in the Black Tower.
Nylan, the engineer, and Arylin the healer leave the community before he is killed.
Cyador, the home of the White mages is flexing and about to make it bad for the other lands. This leads to a face off with Nylan, as he serves Order.
December 18, 2011
The main character goes through events that are just the same as people have gone through in earlier books. Yeah, this book is farther in the past so Nylan did them first, but that doesn't change the fact that this book is just a rehash of previous material. Not worth reading.
May 30, 2021
I was really into these two books at the time I read them, then became ambivalent in the throes of some better books, but on thinking up exactly the plotlines I realize that I enjoyed The White Order quite a bit and sort of dutifully plowed through The Chaos Balance.
I'm all about those "Young poor apprentice boy gains power to "magic" things and saves the world - you would think I were a Christian or something.
I'm all about those "Young poor apprentice boy gains power to "magic" things and saves the world - you would think I were a Christian or something.
April 8, 2020
The battle between Chaos and Balance continue as Nylan leaves the Top of the World with his son and the healer Ayrlyn to avoid conformation with the Marshall in a country increasing becoming intolerant of men. Traveling to Lornth which becomes embattled in a war to survive. While of the Recluse series the story centers on other societies.
December 3, 2009
Final book of the second Recluce duology as chronology goes - Nylan becomes the first Black Wizard and has to face the might of Cyador and its white wizards; superb conclusion to the story staretd in Fall of Angels
July 7, 2016
9/10
While the self-doubt and whining of Nylan is tiresome, this is a solid installment in the Recluce series. We learn more of the early history of Westwind and the Black and White Orders. And we learn, as do the characters, there is a price to power and cost to change.
While the self-doubt and whining of Nylan is tiresome, this is a solid installment in the Recluce series. We learn more of the early history of Westwind and the Black and White Orders. And we learn, as do the characters, there is a price to power and cost to change.
January 2, 2009
Really liked this one!
October 31, 2023
Major plotlines:
- MC's role in matriarchal society which is actively hostile towards men and subsequent decision to leave.
- Travel to neighboring nation, which had previously warred with prior society. Next society accepts them in but has major reservations about them. But cannot refuse them due to need for help against neighboring warlike state.
- MC & Partner teach modern warfare to idiots who would be willing to die facing superior numbers face to face than do anything dishonorable and are resented for it.
There are a lot of discussions. Usually there is a reference the MC & Partner having had sex the night prior. A lot of the baby his pooped his diaper and is asking for water. To be honest, it kind of wore on me. There got to a point where I was ready for it to end, I was bored.
As I have continued to work through this series my biggest complaint tends to be around the relationships. In past books there has been an annoying disconnect between male and female characters which seemed to manufacture drama. It is obvious that these relationships are central to the author, in addition to the central plot. This book does the same, though the relationship isn't as annoying as it was in prior books where it didn't make sense a lot of the time.
The final resolution of against the neighboring nation is a bit abrupt. It is set up, but there really isn't much.
This is not as strong an offering in this series as the first couple.
- MC's role in matriarchal society which is actively hostile towards men and subsequent decision to leave.
- Travel to neighboring nation, which had previously warred with prior society. Next society accepts them in but has major reservations about them. But cannot refuse them due to need for help against neighboring warlike state.
- MC & Partner teach modern warfare to idiots who would be willing to die facing superior numbers face to face than do anything dishonorable and are resented for it.
There are a lot of discussions. Usually there is a reference the MC & Partner having had sex the night prior. A lot of the baby his pooped his diaper and is asking for water. To be honest, it kind of wore on me. There got to a point where I was ready for it to end, I was bored.
As I have continued to work through this series my biggest complaint tends to be around the relationships. In past books there has been an annoying disconnect between male and female characters which seemed to manufacture drama. It is obvious that these relationships are central to the author, in addition to the central plot. This book does the same, though the relationship isn't as annoying as it was in prior books where it didn't make sense a lot of the time.
The final resolution of against the neighboring nation is a bit abrupt. It is set up, but there really isn't much.
This is not as strong an offering in this series as the first couple.
December 22, 2023
I almost dropped this book down to a 2, but the book is surely better than most books I give that rating, so I will keep it a 3.
This book is #4 chronologically and #7 by publishing order and here Modesett does the rare thing of picking up the story exactly where he left it in his previous book. If one is reading in publishing order, they will know by now that the author jumps forward and backward in time. For example, book 1 has the MC leaving a well-established Recluse to journey through Candor. Book 2 shows the founding of Recluse and the collapse of Westwind. This past book (6) dealt with the foundation of Westwind. And now book 7 has Nylan leaving Westwind and causing the collapse of the kingdom of Cyador, a kingdom which will be the setting of books 16 and 17.
As shown above, the saga of Recluse is more about the world and its magic system than about the people within that world. This is a good thing since Modesett seems to have only one type of MC. They are the strong, silent hard-working type who, as the novel progresses grows more and more OP. In this novel, we pick up the story of Nylan who was already pretty OP after the last now and now, it has grown to just ridiculous proportions. While the book is good for a better understanding of the world and the magic system LEM uses, if you are looking for good, relatable, fully fleshed out characters, this one is a pass.
This book is #4 chronologically and #7 by publishing order and here Modesett does the rare thing of picking up the story exactly where he left it in his previous book. If one is reading in publishing order, they will know by now that the author jumps forward and backward in time. For example, book 1 has the MC leaving a well-established Recluse to journey through Candor. Book 2 shows the founding of Recluse and the collapse of Westwind. This past book (6) dealt with the foundation of Westwind. And now book 7 has Nylan leaving Westwind and causing the collapse of the kingdom of Cyador, a kingdom which will be the setting of books 16 and 17.
As shown above, the saga of Recluse is more about the world and its magic system than about the people within that world. This is a good thing since Modesett seems to have only one type of MC. They are the strong, silent hard-working type who, as the novel progresses grows more and more OP. In this novel, we pick up the story of Nylan who was already pretty OP after the last now and now, it has grown to just ridiculous proportions. While the book is good for a better understanding of the world and the magic system LEM uses, if you are looking for good, relatable, fully fleshed out characters, this one is a pass.
December 31, 2016
This books chronicles the fall of Cyador and the rise of Naclos. Even though the history and information about chaos/order relationships contained in this one are important for a reader wanting to understand the world of Recluce, I was somewhat disapointed by the fact that this book reads almost exactly like the others in the series. Basically, Nylan, your typical smith/order-mage, spends most of the book struggling to understand and master his powers. The book ends in the same way most of the others have- Nylan destroying a huge White army at the last possible second and being punished for it just like all the other heroes have been, by going blind and aging. I did like the characters in this one, good and bad, but I felt like I knew what was going to happen the entire time (which it turns out I did) so I didn't really get caught up in the suspense very much, just tried to get through it in a hurry to more on to the next one, which doesn't make for enjoyable reading. Hopefully in future books, Modesitt will change up the general story outline, maybe detailing the colonization of the planet by the Rats.
June 27, 2020
Modesitt once again creates a vivid chapter in his ongoing saga of Recluce, the land where Order and Chaos continually struggle for dominance. As the story opens, the reader discovers that the forces of Order, stranded on this world centuries ago after a starship crash, use ordered energies to terraform the world by force, so as to provide a power source from the resulting imbalance for the use of their children's children. Nylan the Smith, protagonist of "Fall of Angels", who has left the Black Tower's warrior matriarchy to find a life of peace for his family, must channel the forces of Chaos and return the world to balance so that he and the others resisting Order's power--and in the long run, the world itself--can survive. As he does in all of his work, Modesitt skillfully interweaves with the nonstop action and the fast-moving plot, well-rounded characters, a compelling and believable alien world, and above all, philosophical discussions of power and the consequences of its misuse. Another fascinating example of world building, which adds to our understanding of Recluce, and a worthwhile addition to any YA collection.
March 9, 2024
L. E. Modesitt, Jr., continues filling in the back story of his excellent fantasy series, but also continues using an engineer and blacksmith as his lead character. This time it's Nylan, who was the protagonist in the last book, and Nylan is constantly frustrated by the necessity of having to use force and violence to survive.
Nylan and his "consort," to use Modesitt's term, also must battle the serious sexism that mars this pre-industrial world, as well as the inherent conservatism of a low-tech culture. But Nylan does have paranormal powers, though they take a toll when used, and he is unconstrained by the old-fashioned notions of honor that limit the tactics available to the traditional warriors.
"The Chaos Balance," though still a solid work, could have benefitted from some trimming. Fifty fewer pages would have made this a better book.
Nylan and his "consort," to use Modesitt's term, also must battle the serious sexism that mars this pre-industrial world, as well as the inherent conservatism of a low-tech culture. But Nylan does have paranormal powers, though they take a toll when used, and he is unconstrained by the old-fashioned notions of honor that limit the tactics available to the traditional warriors.
"The Chaos Balance," though still a solid work, could have benefitted from some trimming. Fifty fewer pages would have made this a better book.
September 8, 2020
One of the recluse books I've never read!
This one is early in the overall timeline, hinting at events beyond the main world and filling in the backstories of characters references elsewhere.
In many ways this is a classic of Modsitt Jr's, slow building empowerment / conflict style. In a way the slow build isn't quite as interesting as it could be, and perhaps the payoff isn't that interesting either. I still like this, perhaps I've read too many of these as well! But I'm sure I'll still pick up more of them!
Not glowing I know, but I suspect if this were earlier in my Recluse journey perhaps I'd rate it higher. It's been a long while since I read one, but I don't feel this one is quite as good as some of the others. However I don't regret my time with it.
This one is early in the overall timeline, hinting at events beyond the main world and filling in the backstories of characters references elsewhere.
In many ways this is a classic of Modsitt Jr's, slow building empowerment / conflict style. In a way the slow build isn't quite as interesting as it could be, and perhaps the payoff isn't that interesting either. I still like this, perhaps I've read too many of these as well! But I'm sure I'll still pick up more of them!
Not glowing I know, but I suspect if this were earlier in my Recluse journey perhaps I'd rate it higher. It's been a long while since I read one, but I don't feel this one is quite as good as some of the others. However I don't regret my time with it.
December 29, 2020
This story probably deserves another half star but I liked it a little less than the four stars given to other books.
Mondesitt has created a really interesting world, but his stories all seem to follow a very familiar path. His main characters always seem to whine a lot (maybe it's all the headaches), but they are likeable for the most part.
This story fills in some of the holes if you are reading them in published order. I now understand the world of Recluse a little better.
The politics of this series certainly feel familiar in this strange world of 2020!
Mondesitt has created a really interesting world, but his stories all seem to follow a very familiar path. His main characters always seem to whine a lot (maybe it's all the headaches), but they are likeable for the most part.
This story fills in some of the holes if you are reading them in published order. I now understand the world of Recluse a little better.
The politics of this series certainly feel familiar in this strange world of 2020!
May 16, 2017
The seventh book in the Saga of Recluce gives us more information about chaos and order and had me question what it would take to actually live in a balanced society. The hero's realistic struggles with the use of force made me ponder. Our polarized society looks a lot like the two opposing factions in this dramatic read.
September 23, 2020
This book veered into more familiar Recluce territory. I enjoyed the portrayals of Nylan and Ayrlyn, but overall this feel into Modesitt's usual pacing and plotting and felt more predictable than the last book. Also, I feel the final conflict was wrapped up just a bit too swiftly and the ending was rather abrupt.
May 15, 2021
Refining the definitions of Good and Evil
The author uses traditional concepts of good and bad, rich and
Poor, strong and weak, to show the complex interaction found in
The land where the struggle between Chaos and Order create basic patterns in human Life and behavior. The survivors will always face the struggle for Balance.
The author uses traditional concepts of good and bad, rich and
Poor, strong and weak, to show the complex interaction found in
The land where the struggle between Chaos and Order create basic patterns in human Life and behavior. The survivors will always face the struggle for Balance.
July 30, 2024
Modesitt beautifully expands on showing different side of previous enemies and their perspective, and I can finally see beginning of that great writing I encountered in his later books in this series. Obviously with good comes bad, so there’s also that main character omnipotence that plagued those same novels, however, like in that case, good outweighs the bad. But just barely.
October 2, 2017
My go to series right now.
It's no name of the wind, but the next book is available now.
It's nice not having to wonder what good book can I find to
listen next. And get the occassional snooze. This series
has been just right for commuting.
It's no name of the wind, but the next book is available now.
It's nice not having to wonder what good book can I find to
listen next. And get the occassional snooze. This series
has been just right for commuting.
August 24, 2018
By 1997 the author's writing was getting much better, the characters were a bit more interesting. Though this book was pretty much the same formula as the others. Still I enjoyed it. In truth 3.5 stars but I'm rounding up.
January 17, 2020
This one barely made it to three stars. This bit of blinding headaches has really boxed the author into a bad corner. It's also just stupid. There are several more books in this series. I hope they get better before I have to give up on them.
February 25, 2021
An excellent follow up to The Fall of Angels, this book delves deeper into the balance of Chaos and Order. The series seems to be pushing further in this direction now, after initially focusing on one side, or the other.
July 31, 2017
More depth on the nature of magic in this world, it leaves me curious about the next stage of the story.
October 24, 2017
$1 book. Love it.
November 22, 2017
its a good series and improving with each book but the narrator still drives me nuts with his verbal sound effects but I'm getting used to it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews