Customer Reviews

Sorceress of Darshiva

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Book 4 of the Mallorean

Have you heard the expression "The more things change, the more they stay the same"? That expression is perhaps a good analogy for Eddings' Mallorean. Belgarion, Polgara, Belgarath and company are hot on the heels of Zandramas, the sorceress who kidnapped Belgarion's infant son way back in Book 1 "Guardians of the West". Now the group is only a couple of days behind, but more than just finding Zandramas they have to follow the prophecy which is gearing up between a final (truly final) meeting between the Child of Light and the Child of Dark. This story takes place on the continent of Mallorea, and another character is added to Belgarion's group as they follow the clues laid out by prophecy. While it may feel at times that the story will never end and that Belgarion is not truly getting closer to finding his son, this novel does give the sense that there is a true resolution that is going to happen if we just wait for it.

Neither this review nor this book is capable of changing your mind about whether or not you like David Eddings or his work. If you like Eddings, the "Belgariad" or the first three books in this series, then you will certainly like this one. It is more of the same. If you don't like Eddings...you won't like this one because it is still more of the same. Every character is witty and makes jokes at the others expense, but in a good natured way because they all like each other. They are the same jokes and side comments that have run through 8 previous novels set in this world. On one hand the jokes are amusing, but on the other hand, we've been reading the same jokes and comments for eight novels. This series (along with "The Belgariad") is one which hooked me on the fantasy genre when I was a young teenager, so I will always have a certain fondness for the series. In terms of overall quality, it is not one of the best you will read but it has always been enjoyable to read.

[wry smile] By this point you are either an Eddings fan or you aren't. I like him because of the things that often irritate other readers. He doesn't create continuous flows of action, but uses a picaresque style that leads the reader back and forth across a continent on a quest that is going to take exactly as long as it is supposed to, no matter how you feel about it. Edding's solution to writing a series that covers a nine month effort is to make it feel like it has been nine months. If you don't like a perpetual stream of distractions you aren't going to like this book.

This time the questers are following Zandramas through Melcena. With and without Zakath, harried by demons and grolim, and generally perplexed by the mystery of finding a place that 'is no more.' This book rises and falls on the banter between the characters as they alternatively criticize themselves and the people around them. There are plenty of moments of humor and a few plot twists, but, like the third volume of the Belgariad, this is where the story bogs down.

My theory is that Eddings always overwrites by one full volume. He loves quests and he wrings every detail out of them. It is only when he realizes that his characters have begun to parody themselves that he changes pace and finally heads for a conclusion. This is an admitted flaw in a writer whose imagination I generally appreciate. Parts of what he has done have extended the epic genre, and his decision to use approachable and even weak characters has made fantasy more appealing to those of use who are put off by flowery language.

If you've gotten here, you have read eight full volumes of the author's work. You are considering to reading the ninth, and I promise you that nothing much is going to change. If you like Eddings you will have fun reading that, if not, you won't. But if you don't read it, you will miss Ziss's pregnancy and Vella's teasing.

David Eddings is the master of fantasy. I have read the Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. I have read so many fiction books that sometimes i confuse fantasy and reality but I know a great book when i read it and David Eddings books are just that. They have all the elements of fiction Magic, Sorcery, Intiuge, Creatures that exist nowhere else, and a world with a past and present so finely detailed that you swear its almost real... if you could only find the door. Some claim his books are predictable that good always wins but if some thing wasnt just a little bit predictable we would all probly take to our beds to frightened to go on.

We all belive Belgarion and the Orb will win and good will once again prevail but again and agian our minds fill with doubt as Eddings tests that belief. If we all wernt so fascinated with the series and the doubts it gives us we would have stopped reading long ago.

But we havent stopped .That alone speaks for it self.

I am surprised that there are still so many complaints about repetition and and slow plot by the fourth book, if you dislike this kind of writing you might have stopped at the second or third.

Eddings makes it very clear in the beginning exactly how long the quest is going to be, how many characters will die, and even whether or not the heroes will succeed (at least in reaching their destination). I've never seen another author manage to do that and still keep a grip on his readers.

There is definitely a sense of humour in how he lets things happen over and over again in opportune moments. Even those who complain about the repetition probably haven't noticed half the things in the book that ties back and forth and even across to other series. Noting some of these is really quite fun.

Thirdly, this is obviously not a book about gory battles of demons and clashing armies. All of us enjoy those books at times, but we also need something to read under lamplight just before sleep. Eddings usually keeps me awake for hours.

If there is one complaint I have to make, it is that Eddings needs to work on his olde English, it's not very convincing.

I love all of David Eddings's books. This was a really good series. The only thing was that I got a little tired of Ce'Nedra's hysterics, and I would have liked to know more about what happened with Silk and Velvet. But otherwise it was a wonderful book(and series)

Who is Zandramas? Well this book is a lot about her and where she comes from. Garion must hurry to meet her at the correct time and place to stop her from becoming a new Torak. Can he do it. This book only took me two days to read it which says a lot because I am a very busy person. I think you will finish it just as fast.

David Eddings makes me wanna puke, i can't think of a higher compliment. But i must say one thing about the people who think they are fantasy experts and that eddings sucks, may be the problem all you people who give eddings' books one star, maybe the problem is YOU suck, ever think of that? i have never read books as intriguing as eddings', they are simply wonderful.

i've been reading paperbacks (adventures, sci-fi, police stories, etc) for years now. but when i came across david edding's book 3 of the tamuli (the hidden city), i can hardly wait to locate our local bookstores for tamuli's book 1 and 2. when at long last i had them and read them, i hungered for more of david eddings. so i made sure i have the complete books of the elenium (diamond throne, ruby knight, sapphire rose). as i encountered the reader's comments on the belgariad and the malloreon, i think i still have so much to get from eddings (therefore saving a lot of money to buy the 10 sets! uggh). anyway, where else can you find the most wondrous of stories, the whims, the humors, written in the most easily understood words? I am so engrossed and influenced by the books that i borrowed the name of one of his characters in the elenium and tamuli--the mightiest name and the god of all gods--bhelliom. thank you mr. eddings, for giving us stories like those of yours, which we could pass onto our future children and grandchildren. Congratulations!!! Your works are more than a five-sta

For people who enjoy reading for the purpose of getting into the story. The books written by David Eddings' are for people who get attached to characters and love to immerse themselves in reading.

If you want to read simply to get to the finish line---Eddings is not for you.

I love all of David Eddings books. And I have read them all. Even the Elenium which I will admit is not his best work. The Mallorean and the Belgariad are some of the best books I have ever read. They turrned me on to the fantasy genre. If you read any of his books I will asure that you are not dissipionted. "If your not 100% satisfied we'll give you double your money back"