I feel like this review is going to be virtually identical to what I’ve already written for the first three volumes in the series. So let’s just break it down to its component parts: 1. Daniel Abraham has done a fantastic job as an adapter of this series. Everything is clear and exciting and he gets all the most important bits in. 2. Tommy Patterson is a competent artist but I absolutely do not like his style. 3. I hate the way all the faces […]
A re-read of Dragons.
On my second time through this book, I have lots and lots of thoughts. Be warned, this is not so much a review as a series of reactions, mostly broken up by character, so spoilers ahoy. Ye’ve been warned, matey. (I have no idea why I’m suddenly a pirate.) Back when I first read this book in 2011, I came to it fresh off my first re-read of the first four books, which I had devoured in the space of about a month. I was also super […]
An epic fantasy anthology, cherry-picked from other sources.
This was a pretty great anthology. I was probably destined to like it because it’s pretty hard for me to dislike most kinds of fantasy. This is also different than some anthologies because the editor didn’t commission pieces for this book, but collected them from other already published sources. I sampled a lot of authors I’ve been meaning to try for some time, although I’m annoyed that some of the stories occur halfway through a series or something like that. If you like Epic fantasy […]
Needs more maps, otherwise YUM.
First of all, I very much regret my decision not to buy a copy of this book. I waited FOREVER on my library’s wait-list for it, and then when I did finally get it and saw all the beautimous illustrations, I spent about thirty minutes just gazing at them all, and then I put the book down and cried piteously for a while. The illustrations are a huge draw, but also, the book is just fun. It is most definitely not for casual fans of […]
A Conversation with the Lannister Children
“Three stars!?!” exclaimed Lord Tyrion. “I thought we had an agreement Maester Adam? Not much I can do for you now my friend.” “Please let me explain my liege.” I stammered, sweat beading on my brow as I notice Sir Illyn enter the corner of the room, red-hot poker in hand. “It’s not that I didn’t like Maester Yandel’s work, I…I…I just thought it was…lacking.” “Lacking? Do tell sir.” proclaimed Regent Cersie, perched high upon that most horrible of thrones. Seated to her right the Kingslayer […]
History is Written By the Literate: The World of Ice & Fire
Like many people today, I’m a big fan of George R.R. Martin’s “A Song of Ice & Fire” series. The books are both a delight and a terror as Martin builds a tremendously brutal, violent and uncaring landscape upon which he populates his characters. Like the best of the fantasy genre, a great deal of the work goes into building that landscape – the cities and nations of Westeros and Essos, the history that colors the various points of views and pressures that each of […]