Hmm...

[koboldninja_5]

As trying as this semester has been at times (many, many times), I don't really want it to be done. As tough as it has been to live where I am, in a pig sty, with a number of people who drive me crazy, even if not all of them technically live there, it wasn't long enough. I feel there is more I want to do, I want a re-do on a number of things from

Comments

[forever_meg]

On that last note, cover artists very rarely read the book in question and the author is almost never consulted, so that's probably not Iggulden's fault but one of the annoying habits of the publishing industry instead. (I have learned a lot from talking with authors on LibraryThing)

I don't mind ruthlessness in killing off characters. I was surprised when Martin did it for the first time, but I think it adds a dimension of reality to the work, rather than the typical every beloved character survives and only the evil ones can die.

I'm interested anyway, I will have to read this book now ...

[koboldninja_5]

I don't think it is wrong for some beloved characters to die, it is when it happens too often that it can take away from the flow of the story. Instead of using the same characters to advance the story, it is an entirely new cast by the end. I don't think Iggulden will go that far, but I have a suspicion that pretty much everyone but Temujin and Borte are capable of dying in this series--Jelme shouldn't either, but in this sort of work, history can change. It was just a side-note anyway.

[forever_meg]

That's a good point - the transition has to be even if the author is switching characters in such a way.

I also particularly enjoy historical notes, it allows me to be more lenient with the author and enjoy the book more in the end.