This series is the fantasy I recommend for people who don't like fantasy. I particularly like that the characters change over time, something which happens too rarely in most high fantasy. ( )

That I made it through this mess is a testament to my OCD. I thought about writing a "Ten Things I Hate About You" list to this book, but that would take more effort than I care to give. So, I'll keep it short and simple:

1. Eddings seems to have ended his chapters on word count, rather than plot. I mean, this is almost Rocky Flintstone territory. Garion Blinked. End of chapter.
2. This orb our fearless heroes are chasing through two books now might as well be a cat toy for all I know or care about it.
3. I really have no idea what's at stake here at any given moment.
4. And then, MUD MEN! And then, EVIL MURGOS! And then, NAKED DRYADS! And then, MISERABLE SLAVES! Seriously though, I have never in my life had to suspend my believability for no reason other than the characters traveled further than a few paragraphs and something had to pop up to entertain my feeble mind.

If you're reading this. You've probably already read this as a ten year old boy and are now ashamed that I've stripped it down to sticks and stones. And if you haven't read it? For the sake of your sanity, skip this trash. ( )

Dit boek heb ik gelezen met een constante glimlach op mijn gezicht. Het blijft leuk, pretentieloos leesvoer en de humor is voorspelbaar, maar dat maakt niks uit. Eddings is een meester in het meeslepen in een verhaal. Het is echt uit voor je het weet. ( )

This will be the same review for all the books in ‘The Belgariad’ and ‘The Mallorean’.

These books changed me.
I started reading them as an 11 year old who was kind of floating around in this thing called life. I had friends at school, but no meaningful connections. This I didn’t understand until I was older. By reading these books I was drawn into an incredible world filled with characters that I knew and loved, and in some cases wanted to be (come on people, I can’t be the only kid that put a streak of white paint in their hair). The story is Garion’s ‘hero’s journey’ but I felt that the adventure belonged to me too. It was my ‘Neverending story’ if you will and it gave me the confidence to be more present in my own life. I own all the copies of both series set in this marvellous world and most of the extras too. They are a pretty tired looking collection of books because I bought them as a university student from second book shops all over Christchurch and Auckland. I love that they have been released again relatively recently with a fresh new look so that they can appeal to the younger generation. I thoroughly recommend these books for lovers of high fantasy, action, and relatable characters. It is the quintessential hero’s journey.
( )

{Second of 5 in the Belgariad; fantasy, quest, adventure, epic fantasy, high fantasy}(1984)

I'm really enjoying this re-read. This was one of the first fantasy series I read and I'm having a lot of fun revisiting it. Fair warning, this is the second book of an ongoing quest and there may be spoilers for the first book ahead (although I'll try and avoid them).

Garion, an ordinary farm boy from Sendaria, is travelling on a quest with his aunt Pol, Mister Wolf, an old disreputable-looking peddler (also known as the sorcerer Belgarath), and their friends Durnik, a smith from the same farm, Silk, a Drasnian merchant, and Barak, a huge Cherek warrior. They are tracking an object that has been stolen by a disciple of Torak, the maimed god of the Murgos; an object which has until now assured the safety of the countries of the west and discouraged invasion by Torak's hordes. Belgarath can sense where the object has passed and they have to try to prevent it being taken across the border between west and east. However their journey is hampered by Murgos, Grolims and Nadraks who oppose their goals and along the way they also have to stop to visit the rulers of the countries that they travel through to warn them of impending war with the east. And, as they travel, they pick up companions from different countries so that Belgarath can feel that he's covered the eventualities mentioned in an obscure version of the Prophecy which they happen to be fulfilling. However, their foes are following an opposing Prophecy which they are equally determined to fulfil.

There is a lot that Eddings tells us in the prologues to each book, narrated as legends and tales of this world, that Garion doesn't pick up on; well, would you suspect that the aunt who raised you from a baby was also a famous sorceress who is thousands of years old? But I do know how the story goes and I can't remember if some of the details I caught the first time or if I'm retro-fitting. Though I wonder about some of the things that the characters are trying to hide in plain sight; aunt Pol with her single white lock in her dark tresses isn't a long way from Polgara the sorceress, for example.

This series is fun. It's serious enough but it's not deep and dark and intensive. The interaction between the characters, especially the core characters, is a joy and I'm really enjoying this re-read.

'... I'll wear my blue gown, and you'll wear the white robe. I insist, father.
'You what? Now listen here, Polgara-'
'Be still, father,' she said absently, examining Garion's blue doublet.
Wolf's face darkened, and his eyes bulged dangerously.
'Was there something else?' she asked with a level gaze.
Mister Wolf let it drop.
'He's as wise as they say he is,' Silk observed.

(Belgarath, remember, has been revered in legend for thousands of years.) I love the banter (however 'cheesy' as another review notes). Silk is sardonic without being mean, Barak and even Hettar get in the occasional dig and aunt Polgara is always there to support Garion when he needs it. And now he's really turning into a teenager, with all the unreasonable behaviour even when he knows better (reminds me of certain aspects of my teenage boys’ behaviour).

Garion finds it difficult to come to terms with the idea that his aunt Pol is a powerful sorceress - and then discovers he has powers, however unwelcome. I think that's fair; if you've grown up believing that all magic is confined to stories and legends and then discover that your relatives are two of the most powerful of those legends, that would throw anyone. I still think Eddings has got the balance of sulky teenager without being bratty right; Garion is believable and I can still empathise with him even if I do roll my eyes a bit.

The style of writing can come across as a bit simplistic at times but it's like comfort food; it tells the story and it's very readable. There's quite a bit of violence and blood splashed around, which I'd forgotten, but somehow it's not off-putting, even though we do witness a few deaths - maybe because it's dealt with matter-of-factly. The strength of the narrative is in the seemingly irrelevant background details and little throw away incidents that create the ambiance without detracting from the narrative.

The lawn in the garden was neatly manicured. There were softly splashing fountains, and the rosebushes were all well-pruned. Fruit trees that seemed to be very old were budding, almost ready to burst into bloom in the warm sun. Sparrows bickered over nesting sites on the twisted limbs. Grinneg and the others followed Morin along a curving marble walk toward the centre of the garden.

I've always enjoyed the multinational cast of characters, especially the core group. I do remember noticing, when I read it the first time at height of the Cold War, that the countries in the west represented the 'good guys' while easterners were the 'bad guys' - but I suppose someone has to be. I've always recognised that the characters are stereotyped by country in this world but that's actually one of the things I enjoy about it; the way Sendars are considered staid and full of good sense, Chrereks are large, loud and boisterous, and Arends are the epitome of honour and chivalry - to a fault, unfortunately.

On two opposing hills parties of armored knights with bright-colored pennons on their lances watched the battle. Great siege engines lofted boulders into the air to crash down on the struggling men, killing, so far as Garion could tell, friend and foe indiscriminately. The valley was littered with the dead and the dying.
'Stupid, ' Wolf muttered darkly.
'No one I know of has ever accused Arends of brilliance,' Silk observed.

In this book, we first meet the ‘monsters’ i.e. non-humans of this universe, who also have an important role in the Prophecies. The world of this series continues to expand as we journey through its countries and meet its peoples/ creatures.

And, I have to add, I've always found the Drasnian spy language, using flickers of fingers, a fascinating concept.

I really enjoyed re-reading this; it's so much fun.

(March 2022)
4.5-5 stars ( )