White Gold Wielder

Thus ends the Second Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, and maybe the end of Covenant himself, though there is another set of chronicles, so probably not.

Covenant doesn't himself succeed in doing what is necessary to save the land, but he finally finds a way to let someone share his burden. Honestly, the thing that weighs this narrative down is Donaldson's constant return to Covenant's refrain of self-loathing and hopelessness. Having added Linden to the plucky group of questers, I thought, would give us some relief from that down beat. But Donaldson curses Linden with nearly the same afflictions. There are moments when the two work together, finally, where things pick up. But then the story descends again. The most intriguing portion of show more the story, and this group of questers, was the eldritch Vain. Since he was the only one to touch The One Tree, it seemed he would have a role to play in saving everyone's bacon - and he did. But the way in which it played out was quite unique. So, all in all, another good installment, even if Covenant gets on my nerves sometimes.

4 bones!!!!
Recommended show less

The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant series are the only books that have ever made me sweat. Stephen Donaldson weaves a tale that is excruciating to read if you tend to identify with protagonists in a story, but this is not really a problem if you are interested in character development. Years after I read this book, and the others in this series, I read about Donaldson's early childhood, and finally understood how he caused the protagonist's story to reach out of the book and grab you.

It is not really possible to see the three books in the first or the second chronicles as separate from each other, but if I have to pick a favorite book of the six the choice will be between this one or "The Illearth War". In the end I will probably end up with White Gold Wielder though, as this is the book where the stories that have been started as far back as in Lord Foul's Bane are concluded.

The story starts when Thomas Covenant and his companions leave the isle of the One Tree and travels back to the Land to confront Lord Foul. It ends with the final confrontation between Covenant and the Despiser and with the resolution of the story of Linden Avery.

White Gold Wielder is a book that mostly concerns itself with endings. How they show more are brought about and what comes after. All the victories in the book are dearly bought, but maybe all the more appreciated for that. show less

In the Second Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, ten years have passed for Covenant on our earth. When he is summoned back to The Land thousands of years have passed and his deeds have become the stuff of myth and legend while the land has changed dramatically. This trilogy is even darker than the First Chronicles and both of the primary protagonists, Covenant and Linden Avery, definitely qualify as anti-heroes. The Land itself has been twisted into a malevelant caricature of its former healthy self. It is really interesting to watch the character of Linden and her relationship with Covenant slowly develop as the books move along.

Finally, in White Gold Wielder, the Second Chronicle builds to a close as the quest returns to The Land to show more confront the Clave and Lord Foul. Donaldson has plenty of twists left in him and plenty of dispair in store for Covenant as he reaches his final crisis. All in all the book is a great ending to finish off the Second Chronicles. show less

The second Thomas Covenant Trilogy comes to an end with a more than satisfying conclusion. As is the norm with Thomas Covenant we are treated to a fair number of introspective moments as indeed we are with Linden Avery. But not without good reason. The love between the two lead characters is complicated by their individual inept ability to quickly forgive. This is important as it shapes the closing the moments of the book and leaves us in an interesting predicament for the next book. I’ll spoil nothing here which makes writing this a bit more difficult.

If you are fan of classic fantasy that is beautifully crafted, vibrant and truly alive then you really should give his saga a try. The heartache felt by Covenant at the desecration of show more the Land that he loves fuels his rage at the Despiser, Lord Foul, to such an extent that he risks tearing the world apart with his wild magic.

The Elohim, Findail, and the demondim born, Vain, draw nearer to the revelation of their purpose. Findail constantly trying to kill Vain while Vain himself becomes more determined than ever to fulfil his purpose. The giant Swordmain gets to test her mettle against the cavewights with her loyal husband at her side while Thomas Covenant and Linden Avery go face to face with ravers and Lord Foul.

Covenant fears for those that willingly lay their lives down for him with no regard for their own. Earthfriend, is what the Giants of Dromond name him for truly he loves the land. By this stage in the saga Linden Avery has learned to use her sight to heal all manner of ills and injuries and ultimately she must face the raving of the Sunbane. There is so much that happens in this one book alone that a brief review such as this cannot do justice.

I would so love to give examples from this story and give my deeper thoughts to the reasons for events and how they might play out in the future but I resolutely refuse to spoil the story in way. So to conclude: The White Gold Wielder is a fitting conclusion to the second trilogy more so than The Power That Preserves ended the first. I look forward to reading the next our the last of which may even be out by the time that I get through the rest.

A well earned 8/10 show less

I'm no fan of Thomas Covenant, but in those days there was a good deal less long fantasy to read. So I did read this, but as my only alternatives were "Horseclans" books, I claim lack of good stuff. Dreary Thomas keeps pushing people away, and I can't see why they keep trying to help him.

It is not really possible to see the three books in the first or the second chronicles as separate from each other, but if I have to pick a favorite book of the six the choice will be between this one or "The Illearth War". In the end I will probably end up with White Gold Wielder though, as this is the book where the stories that have been started as far back as in Lord Foul's Bane are concluded.

The story starts when Thomas Covenant and his companions leave the isle of the One Tree and travels back to the Land to confront Lord Foul. It ends with the final confrontation between Covenant and the Despiser and with the resolution of the story of Linden Avery.

White Gold Wielder is a book that mostly concerns itself with endings. How they show more are brought about and what comes after. All the victories in the book are dearly bought, but maybe all the more appreciated for that. show less