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Phil Leader (619 KP) rated Iron Angel (Deepgate Codex #2) in Books

Nov 15, 2019

Iron Angel (Deepgate Codex #2)

Alan Campbell | 2009 | Horror, Science Fiction/Fantasy

6.0

(2 Ratings)

Book Rating

The first novel in the Deepgate Codex trilogy, Scar Night, explored the immediate surroundings of the suspended city of Deepgate. This second entry follows the fallout from the battle of Deepgate as the balance between the powers of the world realign themselves.

As with Scar Night, Campbell's imagination creates some stunning characters and imagery; the Soft Men, John Anchor, a nightmarish journey through hell. The descriptions are extremely evocative, the whole having a sort of Gothic Steampunk feel to it.

This is, however, weaker than Scar Night, partly because there is just so much Campbell is keen to show us that the detail gets lost, and at times the story grinds to a halt for some lingering descriptions of something that although interesting has no real bearing on the story and just means momentum is lost. The result is unfortunately a bit of a mess.

Not a bad book by any means, but a case of an author's enthusiasm for their own creations reducing the focus on developing an interesting and coherent story

Kudos

Phil Leader (619 KP) rated The Return of the King (The Lord of the Rings, #3) in Books

Nov 25, 2019

The Return of the King (The Lord of the Rings, #3)

J.R.R. Tolkien | 1955 | Fiction & Poetry, Science Fiction/Fantasy

8.9

(34 Ratings)

Book Rating

Completing Tolkien's genre-defining (and dominating) epic fantasy, the Return of the King follows the Lord of the Rings trilogy to it's conclusion. With the company sundered and The Ring being carried by a reluctant Samwise against the might of Mordor it seems that all may indeed be lost.

The Lord of the Rings is certainly a long read in its entirety, but this is where everything that has been building comes together. Cleverly switching between the plot strands, from the faded grandeur of Gondor to the desperate crossing of Mordor to huge battles this has everything. And the returning hobbits find both them and the Shire have been changed, possibly forever.

The final ending of the book (even though Tolkien originally wrote another chapter) is a superb piece of understated melancholy with the ending of the Third Age and the clear message that all things change, even good things don't last forever. The bittersweet ending is one of the things that makes this one of the greatest works of fiction ever written, in any genre.

Kudos

Ross (3284 KP) rated The Land You Never Leave in Books

Feb 7, 2020

The Land You Never Leave

Angus Watson | 2018 | Science Fiction/Fantasy

10.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

Fantastic

The second book in Watson's West of West trilogy continues following the Hardworkers (a small tribe of Nordic descendants) and the former Calnian Owsla (a Native American warrior team), who have now joined forces. Their aim is to simply head West to try and save the world, as told by a dream. The book sees them approaching Badland country and expecting trouble. The Calnian army are gathered to track them down and attack them, the empress being controlled by her mysterious new healer, and following her own dream which told her the Hardworkers would destroy the world.
As in the first book, the humorous dialogue keeps this book rolling along really well. The interactions and relations between characters is superb and believable. The world is familiar enough to us, but with some unusual creatures and customs thrown in. The Badlanders are a truly psychotic tribe.
The pacing of the book is top notch with plenty of action and excitement spread throughout, and told from numerous different points of view.
A wonderful read with excellent characters.