Customer Reviews

Chimaera (Well of Echoes 4)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Never I've been so disappointed and appalled by the end of a book (and in this case a tetralogy) as in this case.

The author completely destroys his own story, treats his readers with contempt and deception, and sends them home with a good portion of sadism and atrocity.

Everything the protagonists have fought for in four books is destroyed - apparently by the completely mislead attempt of the author to get the reader to buy his next story. I definitely won't.

Don't read this and if you must, rip out the last chapter and throw it away unread (except if you like reading about people getting tormented and destroyed).

Every time I go to a book store I glance down in the Science Fiction section to see that the store still carries Ian's other series "The View from The Mirror." Ian Irvine is an extraordinary writer; one that deserves more publicity than 2-3 books of a 4 book series sitting on the bottom shelf.

These novels are remarkable and easily warrant reading along side "greats" like Harry Potter and Diane Duane's "Young Wizards," and Lord of the Rings. I feel bad name dropping like this because I know the entire series, and with that said, all of Ian's work can stand by itself.

Chimaera, the last book of Ian's second "Three Worlds" (third if you are looking chronologically with respect to the book's universe) series. It details the demise of many of Ian's main characters throughout this series and in true Irvine style, ends on a spectacular cliff hanger. Followed by Ian's next series the Song of the Tears and the first book "Fate of the Fallen," Chimaera and it's entire series is a wonderful prelude.

This series got me absolutely hooked on Ian Irvine and Chimaera has been his best book thus far. Every book gets more intense to the point where you can't turn the pages fast enough. The plot is excellent with complex characters that mature and evolve throughout the series as they experience different circumstances. You basically end up loving characters that you hated at the beginning of Well of Echoes. The fight scenes are also very realistic with few of those "yea right..." lucky breaks that constantly disappoint me (a well known example of this is Harry Potter, though Rowling's writing is nothing compared to Irvine's). There are unexpected developments, deaths, drama, action, romance, everything a great book should have. Its sad that Ian Irvine isn't more popular, I've never seen his series at bookstores in D.C. but everyone I recommend them to loves him.

I enjoyed all of this series and would recommend it

David Burrows
Author of The Prophecy of the Kings