First in the "Chronicles of Amber" series of fantasy books. The story begins in the hospital when the protagonist wakes up from a coma with amnesia, his true identity unknown to him. He begins his adventure by visiting his sister and we follow him through the story as he slowly regains his lost memory and real purpose as a member of a royal family of Amber.
Although apparently a worn trope the opening - where the protagonist wakes up without memory and we discover what's going on was promising. The rest of the story didn't fulfill that - I had trouble caring about any character and about anything that went on. If the book wouldn't have been so short it would probably have ended on the DNF pile.
Just like in A Rose for Ecclesiastes the protagonist is not a nice guy. One could even argue he's the bad guy in the story. That kind of refreshing perspective is also why I've given the book two stars instead of one.
I don't know how to feel about it. It seems like a competently written engaging fantasy adventure book. A bit shorter than I expected. There's nothing annoying in it. The world seems fine. Since I got the trilogy as a deal on audible, I'll listen to all of it. But it's... I don't know, seems harsh to say generic, but it feels like that.
Le premier volume de la série des Princes d'Ambre. J'en garde un bon souvenir, mais bizarrement pas suffisamment pour avoir réellement envie de le relire après plusieurs années.
I took a risk and started to read the epic ten book "Great Book of Amber" series. This is an older Fantasy story but the reviews were great so I thought it was worth giving it a chance.
Right away you feel there is something different about this book. How it's crafted and executed is very unique. The story opens with a patient waking up from a coma on a hospital bed and you begin to piece together the story as he does. I enjoy these cold openings as it allows the reader to follow along with the clues to figure out what is going on, and most importantly, where this is all happening.
A magical family has the ability to travel through multiple universes that they shape with their thoughts. With power struggles and allegiances changing through the family over the years there is political scheming for the throne, …
I took a risk and started to read the epic ten book "Great Book of Amber" series. This is an older Fantasy story but the reviews were great so I thought it was worth giving it a chance.
Right away you feel there is something different about this book. How it's crafted and executed is very unique. The story opens with a patient waking up from a coma on a hospital bed and you begin to piece together the story as he does. I enjoy these cold openings as it allows the reader to follow along with the clues to figure out what is going on, and most importantly, where this is all happening.
A magical family has the ability to travel through multiple universes that they shape with their thoughts. With power struggles and allegiances changing through the family over the years there is political scheming for the throne, all in a world that is a shadow of the prime instance.
When I understood what was happening with the story I immediately wanted to know more, but information is slowly released to the reader. Time leaps forward at an accelerated pace and this tiny little book covers many years of story in Amber.
I went back and forth between really enjoying the story to wondering what I would read next. I tried to figure out what my problems with the book were, if it was too simple, too little being revealed or if it was the narration of Corwin. Ever since my failed 7 month journey through "Malazan Book of Fallen" I am skeptical to continue reading if a story doesn't grab my attention, but the first few books are short so the least I can do is give this series a week and see if my opinion changes.
This book reminds me of other scifi/fantasy I have read from the late 60s/early 70s in that it seems a mushroom induced trip through the insane imagination of the author, who is trying to outdo his contemporaries and throw off the staid formula of the authors from the 1950s.
I mean, I applaud super creative fiction. I have no problem with that. But trippiness has a limit. I think it might be the first person narrative structure, where the character just happens to reveal more of his knowledge at the right time, ratcheting up the craziness... it makes it hard to connect with the reader.
The book ends at the beginning of a longer journey. Not sure if I will pick up the next one. I kinda want to know more, but...
A very engaging book. I was drawn into the story and was intrigued that the protaganist was going through the same confusions as I was throughout the first few chapeters. The ending was a bit abrupt and seemed to be a "Oh crap I need to save this guy somehow" type of ending, but I figured as such - considering the series continues on for a number of books.
