I first read this book in high school. At the time it was the best book I had ever read. Donaldson's language is lush and complex. Covenant is a great protagonist. He is deeply troubled, capable of atrocities, and is self-loathing. Yet, he finds the courage to struggle against despair.
The Land is a rich and original world full of creatures and magic unlike the standard fantasy fare. The supporting cast of characters are as complex as Covenant himself. The Lords are full of self-doubt, the Giants long for home, the Bloodgaurd have given up their humanity for an absolute Oath they cannot help but break.
The only one dimensional character is Lord Foul. That Foul is one dimensional does not matter because Foul is more of a force than a character. The action of the book evolves from the struggles of the characters against their own weakness.
Even 20 years after first reading it (and an English Lit. degree), this book is still in the top 5 books I've read.
No comments:
Post a Comment