(28 ratings) Submit Your Own Review More reviews by author A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z

Submitted by ian h 
(Apr 12, 2005)

This is probably the worst ending in the history of fantasy writing and is nothing less than a cheap trick to shock the reader. It certainly works, but leaves a distinctly unpleasant after-taste; a feeling of being conned or short-changed.
Apparently Ian Irvine found writing the book particularly hard going and was relieved to complete it. Sadly, it was a rush job. Irvine owes it to his readers to pick up his pen and finish it properly.

I have just finished Ian Irvine's Chimaera. I have been reading the Well of Echoes Quad like there was no tomorrow only to receive great disappointment as Chimaera was approaching the grand finale.

As charming and mind boggling the world the author has created is, Chimaera is brought to a rushed and unfair ending. It seems the story was getting out of hand and Irvine decided to pull the trick of surprising the reader - a common feature in the Quad. Only this time it fails utterly. I wish to think that the author had the best intentions, because that's what has happened previously. But I can't help feeling let down, not because of the sad ending, but because of the gaping holes left in the story. It all starts in Chapter 78 and goes downhill til the end (although I sensed something was wrong as I was past the book's 3d quarter and it didn't seem to be getting anywhere).

Perhaps all of the above don't make much sense. However, revealing anything would just spoil the fun the other readers might have. Suffice it to say that the comments come from someone who has thoroughly enjoyed reading the first three and a half parts of the Well of Echoes. Going through the sheer volume of this work is not possible, unless someone likes it too much. It's a shame that it had to end in such a hurried, out-of-the-blue, and unreasonable way.

I emphasise again that the "Well..." is a very good literary creation. I hope that other readers will not be as disappointed by Chimaera as I have been. After all, reading can bring extreme pleasure and can only reward those who decide to embark on a journey made of paper. Enjoy it!