Rabbit, Longbow, Redbeard, Sorgan Hookbeak, and Narasan are back for more fine storytelling by David & Leigh Eddings. If you liked the first book, The Elder Gods, this one won't disappoint, although it's visibly slow in pace. I mean, book two of The Dreamers series isn't without some army-clashing action, but some readers might feel it could've been a couple of hundred pages shorter.Actually, consider it a warning: should you not be a die hard fan of the Eddings, you might find this book a little too leaned to the side of boring. I mean, it's a there's a lot of retelling of events, not only from the first book, but also from this book, from different points of view. Oh, the lighthearted way in which our heroes deal with their problems will make you laugh out loud, but «The Treasured One» will seem too long and too slow for many readers.The authors surely take their time. We switch points-of-view quite a lot, and there's a big chunk of the narrative taking place many years before, explaining how Narasan and Padan became friends. Also, the authors don't have their characters glossing over very much when they retell events for other characters, so you might read about the same event three times at different moments in a span of a hundred pages. I particularly liked that verisimilitude, which is definitely an artistic choice, but I'm conscious that I much very well be the exception. If you're patient and understanding of its narrative style, you'll be rewarded with the very clever ways the protagonists come up with to hinder the Vlagh's invasion.All in all, this is another chapter of what's becoming a great story in a style seldom used nowadays. Take your time reading it: kick back, relax, have a big, cold drink at your side (or maybe a sleepy dog) and read it with time to spare. Savor the story, don't rush through it.
I'm enjoying reading these books, but I can't bring myself to give them more than 3 stars because they aren't exactly the best written books. The characters are all the same. They all have that over exaggerated sarcastic/dry sense of humor. The authors repeat themselves over and over, for example everyone says funny things "with no hint of a smile" all the time. Another common conversation goes, "How are you going to do that?" "Do you really want to know?" "Now that you mention it, no, not really". I find myelf doing a lot of skimming in these books. But I do like the overall story, so I'll finish the series.
What do You think about The Treasured One (2004)?
Hohhoh. Jo edellinen (ensimmäinen) osa oli huono, mitä tältä voi odottaa? Kirjan huonouden takia teki mieli jättää kirja kesken jo alussa, mutta sinnittelin loppuun. Heti alussa oli keksitty hätäiset ratkaisut edellisen kirjan jättämiin aukkoihin, eikä niihin myöhemmin juuri palattu. Syytä olisi kyllä ollut... puolet kirjasta on pelkkää toistoa ja kuvausta eri henkilöiden kautta edellisen osan ja kirjan alun tapahtumia, aina kyllästymiseen asti. Suuri osa henkilöistä on kopioita Eddingsien muista kirjoista, tässäkin esiintyy velhotar nimeltä Ara, joka on täysin samanlainen kuin Polgara, nimeä myöten... kirjassa ei edes oikeastaan tapahdu mitään ja juoni on lukijan aliarvioimista. Aukkoja on edelleen ja kirja ei ansaitsisi fantasiakirjan genreen kuulumista. Miksi sitten jatkan Eddingsin lukemista? Eddings on ensimmäinen fantasiakirjailija jota luin ja ihan tottumuksesta tulee luettua. Tämänkin aikana valmistui lähes metri kaulaliinaa, siinä sivussa.
—Noora
Eddings has an amazing talent with how he works fantasy. I think the only problem with these books is the negative energy that surrounds them. It's highly unfair to judge The Dreamers against Eddings other, more popular (let's be serious, this plays a huge role) works. Eddings best aspect is his ability to make you feel, no matter how cliche and predictable you may find the plot - I personally don't agree with this, I mean some things you foresee, but that's the same with any book - his characters are still heart-warming and evocative. You can't help but laugh with them and worry for them. And for me, that's what I look for in a novel. A place to escape to surrounded by company I enjoy.
—Alana
I stopped halfway through cos this is one of the most annoying books of Eddings I've read so far. Belgariad and Mallorean were good cos of the characters although the story was old. Other series were just ok. I took many yrs before starting on this series cos I was afraid he would do the same story or characters again.. which unfortunately is true. The first book was tolerable. This book.. omg I couldnt finish it. Characters same, they all talked 'with no hint of a smile', and I'm at the third t
—Sarah
