John Franey

Banal, dark, masterful, an abyss of evil just out of eyesight.

This book is not perfect. It is difficult, somewhat overwritten, and presents an incredibly unlikeable protagonist who does altogether too much navel-gazing.

Lord Foul's Bane attempts to distance itself from LotR while simultaneously drawing heavily from it (shepherds of the forests, a magic ring, a mighty stone fortress, Ravers who serve Lord Foul, and the ineluctable march toward ruin).

However, it and the rest of the books in the Chronicles of Thomas Covenant are rewarding, rich, and compelling, and I find myself drawn to them. What is belief? “Any belief that puts itself beyond doubt nurtures its own collapse.” What does disease do to the soul? Where do we put our faith? Without beauty, how do we combat despair? This is a morally complex book that is more than its superficial genre earmarks. For that I come back to it over the years.

I'm between 3 and 4 stars. Impressive on many levels, but ultimately not my cup of tea. I'm glad to have read it! The characterizations are such that I probably ought to give it a reread someday.

Excellent for what it is - namely, a super nerdy overview of the Second Age of Middle Earth

Cynical beyond belief. Like actually incredible and not in a fun way. On a sentence level the guy can write but he's far too full of himself for me to enjoy the “narrative”.

I love me a good labyrinth. Reminiscent of Gene Wolfe and Shutter Island, where things are not as they seem, but much more accessible.

I might be coming around to it. Narratively it's all over and it can't be bothered to explain much, but it's somehow still compelling.

Fun!

Credible sci-fi that keeps a human story at its heart. Miller's tale makes this a gritty noir which I loved.

Hilarious, clever, the perfect Pratchett book

Wonderful

This is star wars as it has always been - daring fights, mysterious aliens, calculating villains. This is star wars as it should remain, not recycling old villains and old death star proxies, but new stories with real heroes who struggpe, fight, and win.

Good

Nice back story to the show. Although the real deal is much better overall I really do think because real people

Definitely a little wooden at the start. Heavy on the narration rather than the showing. But these characters are really well done, and it was a treat to be a part of their relationships

Gaimen's best in my opinion. Wild, archetypal, compelling, nightmarish with his trademark fairytale feel.

A gripping, disturbing, and cynical view of the power of community, lawlessness, and the post-post-postmodern youth.

My first McCarthy, and it was wonderful. Brutal and wonderful.

Complex, evocative, subversive, intelligent, playful, dark, allusive, imaginative, redemptive. This series is my desert island pick.

She certainly had some things to get off her chest.

Timshel

I read this in 4th grade. I probably should do a reread.

Next to the Dark Tower, probably the best King book. Epic, apocalyptic, supernatural, human.

One of the best trilogies of all time. Rich, deep, heroic, and timeless.

A classic for a reason! Everybody needs a taste of this dystopia

Gregor starved to death. No one dies of loneliness.

I don't know what exactly what about this book moves me so deeply, but I love it. Classic fantasy grounded in historical analogue and colored in with deep, rich emotions of loss and love and revenge and redemption.