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Review of 'Twenty Years After' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

Faithful to the first book, Twenty Years After feels like part of it instead of a sequel; only with an interval of twenty years between the two parts. All the good qualities of Dumas' writing are present.

Very light spoilers follow:
I was very much annoyed with the character of Anne of Austria, featured in the first book as the prosecuted queen the 4 protagonists save. In the Three Musqueteers she was a noble but troubled being, now a vicious hysteric woman. It seems Dumas made this narrative choice to accommodate the rest of the plot. The main antagonist was also poorly conceived. Of course one could argue the true antagonist of this book is time, dishonour, disdain for the divine royalty that Dumas admired so much but his heroes always prevail.

E. L. James: Twenty Years After (Hardcover, 2002, Borgo Press) 4 stars

Two decades have passed since the musketeers triumphed over Cardinal Richelieu and Milady. Time has …

Review of 'Twenty Years After' on 'GoodReads'

5 stars

Faithful to the first book, Twenty Years After feels like part of it instead of a sequel; only with an interval of twenty years between the two parts. All the good qualities of Dumas' writing are present.

Very light spoilers follow:
I was very much annoyed with the character of Anne of Austria, featured in the first book as the prosecuted queen the 4 protagonists save. In the Three Musqueteers she was a noble but troubled being, now a vicious hysteric woman. It seems Dumas made this narrative choice to accommodate the rest of the plot. The main antagonist was also poorly conceived. Of course one could argue the true antagonist of this book is time, dishonour, disdain for the divine royalty that Dumas admired so much but his heroes always prevail.

reviewed The Black Company by Glen Cook (Chronicle of the Black Company, #1)

Glen Cook: The Black Company (1984, Tom Doherty Associates Book) 4 stars

Review of 'The Black Company' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

Very good dark fantasy. World building is solid except for the names, which are quite silly. I don't know if characters are not supposed to have proper names or if Croaker (the narrator) is hiding them on purpose.

Glen Cook: Chronicles of the Black Company (2007, Tor Books) 4 stars

Darkness wars with darkness as the hard-bitten men of the Black Company take their pay …

Review of 'Chronicles of the Black Company' on 'GoodReads'

4 stars

Very good dark fantasy. World building is solid except for the names, which are quite silly. I don't know if characters are not supposed to have proper names or if Croaker (the narrator) is hiding them on purpose.