Lords of the Shadows

Raven #4

by Richard Kirk (Pseudonym), Robert Holdstock

Genres: Fantasy, Sword and Sorcery

204 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1979

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Pseudonym of Robert Holdstock and Angus Wells

Reviews

[Charles · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it pretty well, although portions of it dragged a bit for me. That might be because I just wasn't in the mood for it or something. The writing was good.

[Crimson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm four books deep into a five book series, but I still do not understand what makes Raven so awesome. I hope by the end of the series I might find out. Everyone loves Raven. Why is this? She's hot, sure, I get it. But, man, I think holding a conversation with her would be more arduous than trying to fight her with a sword.

Speaking of which, I'm still waiting for some swordmistress-ing of chaos to happen. Instead, we get pages of filler stuff, like forging the mabion blade. Naturally, she wins any fight she's in, because plot armor. She is going to change the world as THE CHOSEN ONE. So, no dying allowed for now. But I'd like some chaos, please. It's in the book title.

So, this might sound like I dislike the series. If I hadn't paid handsomely for used copies I might have abandoned it by now. It's a fine story overall. Not worth what I paid for the books, but maybe you got yours cheaper than I did mine. If you did, and you've come this far, don't let me ruin it for you. There are worse stories to spend your time on. This particular book didn't move the overall "story" much, if at all. At least we got new bad guys for this one. So, there's encouragement to keep going!

[Richard · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wanted to like this. I wanted to like them all, but sadly I'm beginning to understand why these books were never reprinted. Everything about the story should be right up my alley but sadly all I do is fall asleep while reading it. The villains are some sort of lizard-men from beyond the edge of the world. They have returned for lands they were forced to leave millennia ago. Sounds good to me, but...Everyone wants/lusts for Raven. I GET IT she's 'hot'. She has sex with almost anyone. Spellbinder is a wizard/mage but all he does is mumble cryptically about misusing his powers and swings his sword every so often. I could go on and on; it's just terrible. The only redeeming thing to me was the large black tower they find and enter and the way they communicate with it. My standards aren't high when it comes to a book like this but it was more punishment than pleasure. Let it gather dust and be forgotten.

[Little Timmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice fantasy series. Quick easy reads. Recommended