Eight skilled gentlemen

This was another good book in the series. It has many similarities in style to the prior books in the series, though the Chinese myths it touches on are different. According to the author, one of the reasons why this is the final book in the series (besides some publication problems) is that it started to get repetitive and I can agree with that. Yes, the characters are good and the plot engaging, but the overarching framework is the same as the prior two novels and the pattern is set in stone now. As such, this novel does not feel as unique or fun as the prior two.

For a full review, see my blog: strakul.blogspot.cl/2015/08/book-review-eight-skilled-gentlemen-by.html

While still a pleasure to read, Eight Skilled Gentlemen hews disappointingly close to The Story of the Stone's formula. As with the last book, there's a barrage of digressions, false starts, betrayals, and red herrings. While individual scenes are invariably entertaining--one where Number Ten Ox and Master Li have to dispose of a corpse was stomach-churningly hilarious--I felt they didn't quite come together to form a single cohesive book.

That being said, Master Li and Number Ten Ox have earned a place in my heart as two of my favorite characters, and it seems a great loss that there won't be any more adventures starring them.