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The Crimson Shield (2013)

by Nathan Hawke(Favorite Author)

3.92 of 5 Votes: 6

ISBN

0575115084 (ISBN13: 9780575115088)

languge

English

genre

Fantasy

publisher

Gollancz

series

Gallow

review 1: Ten out of ten for the cover art, the publishers have boldly gone with just an image, leaving the title for the back page. It certainly is striking and, I am sure will whet the appetite’s of many fans of fantasy fiction.I found the novel went along at a breakneck pace; this is a strong foundation for the rest of the series. There is a lot of action, (and I know this sounds odd)…perhaps a little too much action. I felt that at times that the fighting swamped the story. Yes it’s all thrilling, epic stuff, but I thought the novel really shone when the focus was on the dialogue and interaction between the many interesting characters. Their observations and world-weary humour made this an enjoyable read for me. I would have preferred more development and depth to another ... moredescription of a warrior being hacked to pieces. Gallow is an enigmatic and interesting protagonist, but sadly I never felt that I got to know him beyond the tough warrior exterior. Perhaps this is a deliberate ploy, and the layers will be slowly revealed over the series.Apart from the disconnected feeling I had, this was the literary equivalent of watching something really exciting but without the investment in those involved. I am sure its target audience will really like this, and I look forward to the next in the series, but hope for more characterization and less random violence next time.
review 2: A good, uncomplicated Viking-ish fantasy - A great mix of bloodied axes and brave warriors, an honest hero and the war that gets in his way, so all good stuff! You've got a good hero who's moving on from his violent past, three opposing sides to ensure the mayhem keeps going apace and some engaging side characters inspired by Gemmell or Erikson to add to the fun. It wasn't perfect - Arda, one of the few women, gets relegated to a voice in Gallow's head for most of the book, the world building is perfunctory (but as Abercrombie's shown, limited world building is no obstacle to a good book that sells by the cartload) and magic is almost non-existent but there are a couple of magic weapons to complicate matters, but nothing that stood in the way of me rattling through the book with great enjoyment. At the heart, Gallow's a good hero and not quite the cynical antihero we've had a lot of recently, and that's what carries a book like this. less

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