I Guess It Was a Bit Bland, TBH

Seventh Decimate by Stephen R. Donaldson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

It's alright.

Many years ago, I loved Stephen R. Donaldson and his first Chronicles or Lord Covenant. The series was incredibly creative and full of color, though never a quick read. Dense, maybe.

This novel is the opposite.

It's still creative, with an interesting world, but the story told here is very thin. It's like an extended prologue, or an expanded short story, as if the author is setting up the pieces to do something in the next book. I didn't hate it; it was actually very readable. One of the things I liked is how it didn't follow the usual rhythm of fantasy novels. Still, it's not terribly entertaining.

Some have complained that the MC is too much in his own head. I get that, and agree to an extent, though it didn't bother me. I just wanted to see him take independent action and achieve something. I don't much approve of novels where the main character is simply pushed one way or another, like a package under someone's arm, and that's what happens here. He tries to take action, but he really is powerless, so his efforts don't add up to anything.

To sum up: the novel is pretty readable but not super fun. It looks like the sequel will be more entertaining and have more consequential action, but unlike his earlier fantasy novels, this one doesn't have a lot to offer.

IMO

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