Epic fantasy tales always hold a bit of wonder for me. Curiosity about the world, the kingdoms, the magic systems, the scoundrels, the heros, the roiling battles, the quiet fights, and the average people caught in between… what’s not to love?
So when a fantasy tale doesn’t work for me, I get distracted from the story by trying to figure out exactly what isn’t connecting with me; what is it about the story, or the characters or the setting or the world that just doesn’t feel right or fit together quite right.
This book is one of those, and I have to admit that I didn’t figure it out until I was almost finished the book, and the conclusion pretty much summed up exactly what had been bothering me the entire time I was reading it.
I simply didn’t care one whit about any of the main characters.
Their losses were felt, their quest for vengeance was understandable and even admirable, their dark secrets from a previous war added depth to them, but not one single thing they did the entire story connected with me and made me eager to follow them and need to know what happened to them next.
The one interesting thing about Cobalt Zosia (the general seeking revenge against her Queen’s attack) was her devil, and its relationship with her. By the end of the book, I found myself wishing I could read a novella about Zosia’s former “heroes” and their Devils instead.
The story is very well written, the action sequences are well done, and the harsh realities of the new alliances and their effect on the world are painted vividly, but none of that matters if it feels like the characters are just going through the motions and emotions.
I kept hearing that this was a “grimdark” fantasy, but it doesn’t matter how dark a character is or their journey turns out to be… you still have to be interested enough in them to follow that path, and this story just didn’t click.
It might be to some other folks’ tastes, but not with this reader.
Twenty years ago, feared general Cobalt Zosia led her five villainous captains and mercenary army into battle, wrestling monsters and toppling an empire. When there were no more titles to win and no more worlds to conquer, she retired and gave up her legend to history.
Now the peace she carved for herself has been shattered by the unprovoked slaughter of her village. Seeking bloody vengeance, Zosia heads for battle once more, but to find justice she must confront grudge-bearing enemies, once-loyal allies, and an unknown army that marches under a familiar banner.
FIVE VILLAINS. ONE LEGENDARY GENERAL. A FINAL QUEST FOR VENGEANCE.
“A Crown for Cold Silver” by Alex Marshall
Hardcover: 656 pages
Publisher: Orbit (April 14, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0316277983
ISBN-13: 978-0316277983
Author
"A Crown for Cold Silver" by Alex Marshall
Summary
The story is very well written, the action sequences are well done, and the harsh realities of the new alliances and their effect on the world are painted vividly, but none of that matters if it feels like the characters are just going through the motions and emotions.
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