[Holbrook]

Now I have been reading this lady's work for a number of years. BUT her latest offering in the Light and Shadows series, which I have just finished has had me screaming.

It seemed over indulgent, wordy and repetitive. Her characters seem to have become parodies of themselves and are basically chasing thier own tails. I had a large feeling of "where have I felt like this before" then it hit me! It was when I hit book four of "the sword of truth" *sigh*

I feel sad, for the first time I don't think I can reccomend a book by Janny Wurts to folks...

[Eventine]

*Not really any spoilers but read on at your own peril *
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I also though it was Janny's weakest offering yet.
The ending just seemed to tie up so much stuff with so little imagination.
But it does give me hope for the next book, mainly because I think she can now get over a few of the sticking points that have slowed the series down and stopped it from developing. Here's hoping stormed fortress delivers...

[Shanoncia]

I'll be sure to stay away. :(

[Nimea]

:( I feared something like that . . . didn't she state something about five or six volumes - and no more? :rolleyes:
I even bought the last three volumes in hardcover - now at least I know that I can save my money.

But do you Holbrook or Eventine think that I must read 'Peril's Gate' if I want to go on with the series anyway? I mean I do want to know the end. Or can I skip 'Peril's Gate'?

[Holbrook]

spoiler........................
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I think you most likely will have to read it. It does clear up things and explains a few things about Arithon's childhood and there is much about Davien the Betrayer. Also the fate of Lysaer's son, Kevor and the fate of Earl Jieret.

But really a lot of the book is rehashing what has gone before and I noticed a few mistakes, the horses with Arithon are called geldings, then one seems to change to a mare!

[Nimea]

Thanks Holbrook! :)

Then, I will buy the paperback edition - sometime in the future.

[Cygnus]

I really wanted to like this series, and I really tried to! But, it just seems to go on forever. She could have made those books about 500 pages shorter and I don't think a thing would be missed! I got about 100 pages into the second book of the Peril's Gate series before I gave it up completely. I like a long story, but it was just getting ridiculous!

[Eventine]

And there doesn't seem to be an end in sight....

Don't get me wrong though - I will continue to purchase and read all of this series. Janny is a talented writer, and I have the patience to sit through the fat bits. Plus I think we are coming up to a pretty exciting section of the story arc.

On the subject of the number of books, she didn't pick an exact number but instead describd "story arcs".
As it turns out though, each story arc seems to have trouble fitting into a single book - apparently some of the end of Grand Conspiracy had to get cut off and added tot he star tof Peril's Gate because the publisher thought the book was too long. So if it was up to Janny the series probably would be about 5 or 6 books, they'd just be behemoths.
t least that's my take. She has a web site over at www.paravia.com and she atually posts a fair bit on the chat boards.