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Flush from their narrow victory over the horrific Vlagh, Longbow and his companions are drawn to a pastoral territory in south Dhrall, confident that they will thwart the next assault by their inhuman foe. But on the border of the Wasteland, the Vlagh is breeding a monstrous new army of venomous bat-bugs and armored spiders. These grotesque legions threaten to overwhelm the allies, who are further shocked by a prophecy delivered by the Dreamers: an invasion by a new, second army. A force of show more armed acolytes approaches to plunder this unspoiled land in a global holy war. Now farmers and hunters, soldiers and madmen, mortals and gods-all charge to a battle that will decide the fate of the world. show lessTags
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This review is for the entire series, because all four books suffer from the same flaws.
Ye gods, this was a pile of rubbish. The Eddingses must have been writing on autopilot, because all the elements from previous series were here, but none of the enjoyment. The one-trick "races", the "precocious" child-goddess, the "warfare" between the "races" whose individual representatives all get along famously, the "clever" plans after a "setback" that always work, the "witty" sardonic sense of captain-obvious-humour that everyone defaults to, ... it goes on. The previous series by this duo had all of these -- but in moderation! They worked because there were different characters, plans and plot devices strewn in between the Eddingses' show more favourite tropes. Here, the clichés are all that's left, and the text is just filler, inserted to move the readers soullessly from one eddingsian trope to the next. It's as if no prior thought or planning went into this series, and these books are really a first draft with minimal editing.
The trick of following one (set of) character(s) for a couple of chapters before turning to another set is another reason why these books are so godawfully boring! It could have worked as a way of creating tension (it did for Robert Jordan), but the technique is not put to any use -- say, switching between fast-moving and slow-moving storylines, or heightening the tension by cutting between several climaxes. None of this works because the groups reunite every so often, and then the Eddingses treat us to painful sequences where the characters retell everything that happened to them to the others, and it goes on for a couple of pages. And what's worse, they do so in the most annoying way possible: faux-humble and pretend-cool, with only one sense of humour and one voice to go around a fairly large cast. Entire sequences of these books are dull repetition of events that happened two or three chapters ago, where characters stand around congratulating each other on how clever and brave and witty they are.
At this point most other reviewers here have warned you not to buy these books and to spend your time and money on something else. I can only agree with that sentiment, because I couldn't recommend this lazy excuse for a book to anyone. show less
Ye gods, this was a pile of rubbish. The Eddingses must have been writing on autopilot, because all the elements from previous series were here, but none of the enjoyment. The one-trick "races", the "precocious" child-goddess, the "warfare" between the "races" whose individual representatives all get along famously, the "clever" plans after a "setback" that always work, the "witty" sardonic sense of captain-obvious-humour that everyone defaults to, ... it goes on. The previous series by this duo had all of these -- but in moderation! They worked because there were different characters, plans and plot devices strewn in between the Eddingses' show more favourite tropes. Here, the clichés are all that's left, and the text is just filler, inserted to move the readers soullessly from one eddingsian trope to the next. It's as if no prior thought or planning went into this series, and these books are really a first draft with minimal editing.
The trick of following one (set of) character(s) for a couple of chapters before turning to another set is another reason why these books are so godawfully boring! It could have worked as a way of creating tension (it did for Robert Jordan), but the technique is not put to any use -- say, switching between fast-moving and slow-moving storylines, or heightening the tension by cutting between several climaxes. None of this works because the groups reunite every so often, and then the Eddingses treat us to painful sequences where the characters retell everything that happened to them to the others, and it goes on for a couple of pages. And what's worse, they do so in the most annoying way possible: faux-humble and pretend-cool, with only one sense of humour and one voice to go around a fairly large cast. Entire sequences of these books are dull repetition of events that happened two or three chapters ago, where characters stand around congratulating each other on how clever and brave and witty they are.
At this point most other reviewers here have warned you not to buy these books and to spend your time and money on something else. I can only agree with that sentiment, because I couldn't recommend this lazy excuse for a book to anyone. show less
This review covers all four of the "Dreamers" series. I don't even know where to start. I am a big fan of David Eddings. His Belgariad/Malloreon and Elenium/Tamuli series are just great fun fantasy, and if there are some characters from one world that remind you characters from the other world, that's only natural.
"The Dreamers" series is a completely different matter. Eddings' fans who are yet to get their hands on that series - keep your hands where they are, and avoid touching it. The word "Dissapointment" doesn't get close enough. "Insolence" is closer to the mark, but I'm yet to locate the exact word in the English language to describe these books.
I have some theories that could explain the sudden plummeting of quality. I hope that show more one of them is true, as I'm a big fan of Eddings' earlier work.
1.The meddling wife: While his earlier work is signed by David Eddings alone, although he kept thanking his wife, Leigh, for her help, that series is signed by both of them. The first time they had both names on a book was at "Polgara the Sorceress". That book, while it is moderately fun to read for the freaks of the Belgariad/Malloreon, is quite repetitive, if not redundant, after you'd read "Belgarath the Sorcerer". However, it seems that it kept a decent level of humor and witticism, David Eddings' trademark. "The Redemption of Althalus", again signed by both David & Leigh, has started down the slippery slope of repetition. It seemed rather forced at times (I never felt anything forced at the Belgariad/Malloreon or the Elenium/Tamuli), but it was a single book and was quite fun for the most part. The Dreamers series is at the bottom of that above-mentioned slippery slope. Not only it is repetitive, it seems that whole parts of it are just copy/paste from the previous chapter. If the blame lies with the "meddling wife", I'll say that Leigh wrote the whole series and just added David's name on the cover in order to boost revenue.
2."Getting even with the bastard publisher": Well, first of all, it is clear that the publisher shares the responsibility of ever publishing the "Dreamers" abomination. My theory here is double pronged: Either the publisher forced an extremely tight schedule, and the Eddings couple thought "You know what, you bastard? We told you there's no way we'll get past the initial draft in such a short time, so that's exactly what you'll get!" and handed over their initial draft. They probably thought there's no way the publisher will even consider publishing such a pile of goat droppings. Well, I guess that the publisher gave them quite the nasty surprise... The other alternative is that they some financial disagreement, so David and Leigh threw their hands in the air and announced "That's what you paid us for, so that's what you gonna get!" This "Bastard publisher" theory has some merit, but it does not explain the "Redemption of Althalus".
3. The "writing Class" theory: Maybe the "Dreamers" series was meant only for wannabe fantasy writers in order to: a) show them how an initial draft might look like; b)provide an exemplary badly written fantasy.
4. The medical condition theory: I truly hope that both David and Leigh are in perfect condition, but it is possible that whoever wrote that document, known as the "dreamers", had gone through some brain damaging condition. I hope not.
All in all, unless you're a wannabe fantasy writer, keep away from that toxic dump site of the "Dreamers". It tarnishes Eddings' reputation no end, and it is just a horrible series of books that make even "Trash novels" look good. show less
"The Dreamers" series is a completely different matter. Eddings' fans who are yet to get their hands on that series - keep your hands where they are, and avoid touching it. The word "Dissapointment" doesn't get close enough. "Insolence" is closer to the mark, but I'm yet to locate the exact word in the English language to describe these books.
I have some theories that could explain the sudden plummeting of quality. I hope that show more one of them is true, as I'm a big fan of Eddings' earlier work.
1.The meddling wife: While his earlier work is signed by David Eddings alone, although he kept thanking his wife, Leigh, for her help, that series is signed by both of them. The first time they had both names on a book was at "Polgara the Sorceress". That book, while it is moderately fun to read for the freaks of the Belgariad/Malloreon, is quite repetitive, if not redundant, after you'd read "Belgarath the Sorcerer". However, it seems that it kept a decent level of humor and witticism, David Eddings' trademark. "The Redemption of Althalus", again signed by both David & Leigh, has started down the slippery slope of repetition. It seemed rather forced at times (I never felt anything forced at the Belgariad/Malloreon or the Elenium/Tamuli), but it was a single book and was quite fun for the most part. The Dreamers series is at the bottom of that above-mentioned slippery slope. Not only it is repetitive, it seems that whole parts of it are just copy/paste from the previous chapter. If the blame lies with the "meddling wife", I'll say that Leigh wrote the whole series and just added David's name on the cover in order to boost revenue.
2."Getting even with the bastard publisher": Well, first of all, it is clear that the publisher shares the responsibility of ever publishing the "Dreamers" abomination. My theory here is double pronged: Either the publisher forced an extremely tight schedule, and the Eddings couple thought "You know what, you bastard? We told you there's no way we'll get past the initial draft in such a short time, so that's exactly what you'll get!" and handed over their initial draft. They probably thought there's no way the publisher will even consider publishing such a pile of goat droppings. Well, I guess that the publisher gave them quite the nasty surprise... The other alternative is that they some financial disagreement, so David and Leigh threw their hands in the air and announced "That's what you paid us for, so that's what you gonna get!" This "Bastard publisher" theory has some merit, but it does not explain the "Redemption of Althalus".
3. The "writing Class" theory: Maybe the "Dreamers" series was meant only for wannabe fantasy writers in order to: a) show them how an initial draft might look like; b)provide an exemplary badly written fantasy.
4. The medical condition theory: I truly hope that both David and Leigh are in perfect condition, but it is possible that whoever wrote that document, known as the "dreamers", had gone through some brain damaging condition. I hope not.
All in all, unless you're a wannabe fantasy writer, keep away from that toxic dump site of the "Dreamers". It tarnishes Eddings' reputation no end, and it is just a horrible series of books that make even "Trash novels" look good. show less
I'm remembering why I didn't finish this series years ago. The character types are recycled from his other work. The plot is repetitive and simplistic, additionally its rehashed by multiple characters from their POV.
There is still something that makes me want to finish the series this time around.
There is still something that makes me want to finish the series this time around.
This book picks up right where the first book left off. After thwarting the first attack of the hive-like Vlagh, the action shifts to a different continent. The somewhat Rome-like Empire will supply troops to both sides in the conflict to come, pitting religion against legions. There are still some interesting characters in this book, but the repeated plot of an invasion of bug like monsters is getting a bit old. The resolution of the invasion is very convenient, and very disappointing.
(Alistair) More pure brain candy for the worst-fatigued bits of the busy period, about which I recall very little.
This gets two stars on Amazon. And in general, I agree with the tone of the reviews there. I didn't think it was possible for the writing team of Eddings and Eddings to fall below the range of standards we call "Extruded Fantasy Product", but from what I do recall of this, the more cynical Amazon reviewers are right down to the last drop.
Pure formulaic flat-charactered crap whose only virtue is that it requires no effort to read even for someone running at very high levels of cumulative sleep-debt. Not recommended - positively anti-recommended - for anyone outside this very special category.
( show more target="_top">http://weblog.siliconcerebrate.com/cerebrate/2009/03/the_treasured_one_david_lei... ) show less
This gets two stars on Amazon. And in general, I agree with the tone of the reviews there. I didn't think it was possible for the writing team of Eddings and Eddings to fall below the range of standards we call "Extruded Fantasy Product", but from what I do recall of this, the more cynical Amazon reviewers are right down to the last drop.
Pure formulaic flat-charactered crap whose only virtue is that it requires no effort to read even for someone running at very high levels of cumulative sleep-debt. Not recommended - positively anti-recommended - for anyone outside this very special category.
( show more target="_top">http://weblog.siliconcerebrate.com/cerebrate/2009/03/the_treasured_one_david_lei... ) show less
The introduction to more characters and an additional set of bad guys keeps the conflict from getting stale. A different area to guard also adds more variety to the battles, especially the end one. Not quite as good as the first, but that is more my personal taste in characters than anything lacking in the book itself.
This review is for the whole dreamers series. I can't say this is Edding's best work. it's a good story; there's and evil creature that wants to take over the world with its minions and a group of gods, goddesses, children and other various characters who fight it off in a series of wars. But the reader quickly gets annoyed by the sardonic sense of humor that EVERYONE in the books seems to have. in his earlier books there was one or two characters that could make funny jokes by pointing out the obvious and making cryptic little remarks but in this series it seems everyone is that character and it gets a little tiring. and confusing there are so many characters in this series and they are all so much alike one loses track because it show more doesn't really matter who is talking as they all talk alike show less
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David Eddings was born on July 7, 1931 in Spokane, Washington. He received a B.A. in English from Reed College in Portland in 1954 and a M.A. in Middle English from the University of Washington in 1961. After serving in the U.S. Army for two years, he worked as a grocery clerk, as a sales clerk for the Boeing Company, and as an English teacher in show more a business college and a teachers' college. During his lifetime, he wrote more than 25 books, many of them with his wife Leigh Eddings. His first novel, High Hunt, was published in 1973. His other works include the Belgariad series, the Mallorean series, the Elenium series, and the Dreamers series. He died on June 2, 2009 at the age of 77. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
19+ Works 37,558 Members
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- The Treasured One
- Original title
- The Treasured One
- Original publication date
- 2004-10 (First Edition) (First Edition); 2005-03 (First International Paperback) (First International Paperback); 2005-07 (First Domestic Paperback) (First Domestic Paperback)
- People/Characters*
- Dahlaine; Veltan; Zelana; Aracia; Vlagh; Omago
- Important places*
- Dhrall
- First words
- It was a time of uncertainty in the nest of the Vlagh, for no word of success had yet reached the nest from the warrior-servants which had followed the burrows below the face of the ground toward the broad water which lies be... (show all)neath the sunset. -Preface
During the course of my many cycles I've grown very fond of the mountains of my Domain. - Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)Then her voice spoke to me in the silence of my mind. "Not now, child," she said. "We can talk about this some other time."
- Original language
- English
*Some information comes from Common Knowledge in other languages. Click "Edit" for more information.
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