I was eager to read the second volume of The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant. Though a vast introduction,
The Runes of the Earth, with its cliffhanger ending, left fans begging for more. Hence, I couldn't wait to return to the Land once more, and see where
Fatal Revenant would take this tale.
The sequel begins right where
The Runes of the Earth ended. But if you are hoping for a happy reunion between Linden and Thomas Covenant and her son Jeremiah, you are obviously not familiar with Stephen R. Donaldson's work. Revelations are made that will break Linden's heart, and she must find the strength within herself to persevere.
As was the case with the previous trilogies in the Covenant saga, Donaldson's narrative conjures up vivid and magical images. Vast in scope and vision,
Fatal Revenant answers many questions that were raised by its predecessor.
I truly enjoyed the manner with which the author brought
Fatal Revenant to a close, even though it is more or less anti-climatic and yet another cliffhanger. I expect some readers to find this off-putting, but I thought it was apropos to end it in such a fashion.
Given the author's career, I was expecting a bit more character growth in this second volume. And yet, other than where Stave is concerned, there is not much growth to speak of. Still, since Linden and her companions find themselves into dire straits at every turn, this might explain why. . .
One facet of this novel which could have been better is the pace. Donaldson's Covenant books have never been known for their fast-paced narrative, but various portions of
Fatal Revenant are sluggish and break the overall rhythm of the story.
Nevertheless, fans of the Thomas Covenant saga should love this new installment.
Fatal Revenant is for aficionados who crave high fantasy tales with depth and substance.
Check out the
blog for the full review!
Patrick
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