The Sword of the South
(Sword of the South #1)
by David Weber
fantasy
copyright 2015
read in September 2020
rated 6/10: read to pass the time
Yes, it's book one of a series. It is also a follow-on to the four War God books. There are carry-over characters and many references to past adventures. Doesn't matter, this book stands alone: characters are well introduced and past history is irrelevant... As far as I can tell, anyway, having not read the previous books.
The book can be read alone. And it does make me want to read more. Not for the plot... but for the fun.
The book is a lot of fun. Over-drawn characters, heroes with heart, occasional extreme violence. There are a lot of tough guy insults. You know, the things that tough guys say to hide the fact that they really like each other.
There is true love, true friendship. Amazingly able heroes and heroines -- and villains. There is a lot of discussion, with occasional bursts of violence. Some of the pitched battles support the plot. Others are just thrown in to fill a dull patch.
Finally a major villain is dealt with, to provide a satisfying ending. And an even more major villain cackles evilly off stage, to be dealt with in subsequent books.
If I were that villain I would stop cackling and start packing. The good guys are all over him. The only questions are, how many books will it take to wipe him out? And is there an even bigger villain, waiting for his own follow-on series.
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13dec23:
There's also a lot of magic where the only explanation is, Golly, that's really amazing!
The book is still a lot of good tough guy and gal violent unsubtle... fun.
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18aug24:
"over-drawn characters? So over-drawn that I can barely stand it.
There's been a lot of plot and character development between Oath of Swords and this book (are there several books?). By now the characters have developed into... caricatures.
One new character is being introduced, probably as a link to a series of pre-fall books. Is there anyone else who will turn out to be an ancient hero brought back to life? I hope not, I hope the author has the ability to invent new characters.
And... re-reading both Oath and South: I have just re-rated South (7 to 6/10) -- it really suffers by comparison. I'm really struggling to read South, the characters are too ridiculously heroic. In Oath they are still developing and much more acceptable.
Perhaps if I reach the end (of this re-reading of South) I may enjoy it a bit more.
Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper
Agamedes Consulting / Problems? Solved.
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When all else fails, have someone else read the instructions" … per Ginger Meggs
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