Fatal Revenant

Well, Mr. Donaldson, we've had some good times together. Remember when you wrote that scip/fi series that I drove dozens of miles for to find used copies of the final book? How about that romance novel that I sat through just because you wrote it? I've given you some good years of my life. Some very good years, and you used to give me something back in return. I mean aside from the SAT practice. I got some pretty great stories and some pretty badass characters. We were good for each other.

Not anymore, though. Lately I've noticed that you've been eyeing that easy chair. I can tell what you're thinking. "Why explore my nuanced characters when I can make up flashy new stuff that doesn't require much effort. Yeah, so like now there are show more these ghost things that are, like, all powerful and can travel through time. Book done. Off to take a nap."

And I defended you. My friends asked me what I was doing hanging around a guy like you. I told them to go back and read the classics. You were amazing once! I thought of you as one of the best. But I can't defend you anymore. I still have so many good years left! I can't waste it with you napping when we could be together like the old times.

Mr. Donaldson, I owe you the truth. I probably owe you more, but this is all you're going to get. This book is shit. Total shit. I won't be reading anything else that you write ever. I'm sorry that it had to end this way, but it does, and I'm keeping the cat. show less

Almost immediately this is a better book than the first. It picks up exactly where the cliff-hanger left off. Linden is quicker to ask the right questions and working harder at puzzling out what's happening. She's more confident and assertive, despite not having all the answers. There's still a preponderance of asking more questions that makes too many scenes feel like polite interrogations. Rough spots make me wonder whether the author lost some of his grace or his editors can't match Lester Del Rey's standards (probably the latter, given the state of the industry).

The first part ends on an excellent climax, some suspense carrying over to the second, but then ... unfortunately it's the mirror image of the first book. With 'Runes' I'd show more felt the last quarter saved it. In 'Revenant', at the three quarter mark a titanic battle erupts that jumps at least one shark. Afterward I had my guard up, but in spite of that the final hundred pages had me in their grip (and sort of addressed the shark jumping.)

I can give this this four enthusiastic stars on its own merits, no nostalgia required unlike with 'Runes'. There were some good scenes and I definitely care what happens next, with the footnote that these last chronicles still feel a bit wobbly on their feet. show less

As I said in my review of [b:The Runes of the Earth|337100|The Runes of the Earth (The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, #1)|Stephen R. Donaldson|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1327916636s/337100.jpg|3239005], the first book in this Last Chronicles series could have been subtitled Arrogance. This second book in the series could be subtitled Apprehension because there's so much damn waffling. Linden wants to ask Covenant questions, hell she actually forms them in her mind, then asks something completely different. Why?

I will say Donaldson's plotting has become much better with age, however I am not enjoying the pages and pages, chapters and chapters of hand-wringing and silent desperation and wondering without asking.

And, show more of course, this is Stephen R. Donaldson, so we have to address his word choice. When I was a teenager and reading the first chronicles of everyone's favourite leper-hero, Donaldson's word choice enchanted and challenged me. And even today, I understand that the language is being used to suit the majesty of the Land and its various settings, but really...every so often, couldn't SRD toss in a "face" or "look" or "visage" instead of "mein"? Or "power" or "potency" instead of "puissance"? How about"perception" instead of "percipience" every damn time? How about telling us someone's skin crawled instead of tossing out "fomication" every time and making me think I'm reading "fornication"?

Why be clear and reasonably concise when overwrought is so clearly an option? This last series could easily have been three books instead of the four. Ah well, eight books into a ten-book series, I can't stop now.

That being said, I still stand by the series overall. The imagination, the majesty and the characters in these chronicles are still, to my mind, so much better than a lot of the fantasy dreck out there.

If you're reading this review while considering whether or not to dive into the Covenant series (and really, overall, all sarcasm aside, you really should. I don't think there's been a better fantasy series since Lord of the Rings), you really should check out the rather challenging lexicon of SRD. You can do so at the excellent Stephen R. Donaldson Ate My Dictionary site. show less

I love this author and this saga in particular. Fatal Revenant begins with Linden Avery almost under arrest in Revelstone, the seat of power in the Land. Her lover,Thomas Covenant and her adopted son, Jeremiah arrived unexpectedly yet there is something very wrong about them. As Linden strives to get close to them they thwart her every move. She soon discovers that glimmer blocks the truth about Covenant and her son. She travels back through time with the use of Wild Magic from the White Gold Ring to gain aid from long lost hero's of the lands past and to find Loric's krill, a weapon abandoned among the Hills of Andelain millennia ago. An epic saga worthy of the time it takes to read.

Reading a Thomas Covenant book is like rediscovering old friends. After a little uncomfortable small-talk, you remember why they were your friends and rejoice in renewing the friendship. I was not disappointed by my trip to the "Land" in Stephen Donaldson's latest Covenant adventure. I was surprised at various plot shifts. I was incredibly happy that the giants made an appearance towards the end of the book. And the addition of the Insequent helped explain some of the questions I had in earlier books.

Unlike those readers who really like Thomas Covenant, I had grown a wee bit tired of him. I have been much happier to get a break from his perspective and I do really like Linden Avery. Linden's total inability to forgive her son's show more kidnapping rings true for me. I think most moms can appreciate her furor.

I also totally enjoy the language that Donaldson uses in his books. I don't bother looking up the words, but just figure them out with context clues. I think the language flavors the book perfectly.

I only have one small quibble with this particular Thomas Covenant book. I feel like the author was constantly rehashing the plot and reminding me of details that I already knew. I don't know if someone told him that the book was too confusing, or that the readers wouldn't remember details, or what? Maybe this was done because there were so many years between the book series? Honestly, I felt the rehashing was overdone. I've read these books so many times, I remember the story of the merewives and of the giants at Seareach. So, I felt that Fatal Revenant was a bit choppy with its constant reminders of past stories.

And that IS my only quibble. Other than that, I love, love, love these books. Mr. Donaldson, please write more, soon :) show less

Picking up where the cliffhanger ending of The Runes of the Earth left off, Thomas Covenant leads Linden Avery on a quest to use the power of the Blood of the Earth. Linden finds quickly that she doesn't trust her old friend as much as she should, and refuses to surrender the power of Covenant's white gold ring to the rightful wielder.

If this makes no sense, it means you're seven books behind the story. There's no sense in pretending, "What has gone before" prologues aside, that these books are in any way standalone stories. Fatal Revenant in particular is opaque if the reader is not familiar with previous works, but very regarding if one has a good memory (or is quick to peek in the glossary).

Questions about the Ranhyn, the forestals, show more and Linden's son Jeremiah are all answered with more questions. The Land's history is explored like never before, and scenes of Linden healing through Earthpower while Berek Halfhand watches on in awe are among the most powerful that Donaldson has ever written.

Fatal Revenant flags in introspection and self-doubt in the middle of the book, but quickly picks up again. With the new expressions of lore that are turned over, this addition to the Thomas Covenant saga smacks of fan service a little, but I didn't mind. What I do mind is waiting until 2010 for the next volume. show less

Again, great imagination but characters spend pages and pages agonizing over decisions when you want them to just get on with it. Again, Donaldson feels he has to have harder swear-words which does not lend itself to this fantasy series.