I'm still reading this book, and it is a mixed bag. Good parts are the imaginative world and a suspenseful plot. Bad parts are that this man needs to learn to write about emotions. There are two pairs of characters that whenever they are near each other you know you are going to get hit over the head with how they hurt so badly, still feel pain, are afraid to look in each others' eyes, blah blah blah. If the plot weren't so interesting I would have put it down. I could forgive it if it was a first novel, but it is likely I won't be picking up his Banned and the Banished series since they were written before this.

The world and characters are interesting, and probably could sustain a deeper treatment than we are getting in these two (so far) books, but they aren't really explored very well or deeply. ( )

8

An OK fantasy novel, and good for light reading. A little bit too long- I though the final chapters would never end. ( )

Tylar is being reinvested as a Shadowknight, however before he can be, the order's headquarters is attacked from within and Tylar and his friends disover that there is a corruption at the heart of the order. A corruption that threatens the order and the future of the world.

It's not a bad read, but somehow it seems to be almost a book written to fill in some of the background, a very long bridging novel. I do want to find out what happens next but not enough that when I get my hands on the next book in the series that I'll be starting it immediately.

It appears that book 3 is either stalled or not in process. I did want to know what happened next. ( )

Hinterland by James Clemens is the second book in the Godslayer Chronicles, the first book being Shadowfall. While the Godslayer Chronicles are not Mr. Clemen's first novels, they are his first fantasy novels and it is a very good debut in the fantasy genre. Fans of the fantasy genre should definitely consider checking out the first book. I would not recommend reading this novel if you have not read the first one, as there are many events that occur in this book that have roots from events in the first book. I think by reading the first the reader will have a much better understanding about this novel.

The plot of this book is actually several plots rolled into one. First and foremost, the main plot arc from the first book is carried over to this one. That being the Cabal and the danger they represent. Secondly, there are several subplots that add depth to not only the story but also the characters. There is the plot of a mysterious skull being found and the journey it takes, as well as where it came from and just what it is. There is the plot of Tylar advancing into knighthood a second time and the political implications of that. As well as political infighting between the knighthood and the Argent and the Fiery Cross. There are several other subplots that are too sensitive to disclose because they would spoil certain aspects of the novel. Rest assured, if you enjoy deep, epic plots, then this is certainly a book and series for you to consider.

The vast majority of the characters in this book are also present in book one. Characters such as Tylar, Dart, Pupp (still my favorite), Rogger, et al, are back again. However, in this book there are also several more characters added that provide more plot points as well as character perspectives. The most promising character seems to be Brant. Brant seems to be a very deep and interesting character and quickly had me interested in his portion of the story. The characters in this novella are not only interesting, but they also have depth. They make mistakes, they have flaws, they act like real people. They are by no means all powerful. It's refreshing to read about characters that face challenges and can't always best those challenges. That, at times, they do suffer, and you are not always sure that they will make it.

The blend of a solid plot with very interesting characters enables this book to flow smoothly and stay interesting when Mr. Clemens focuses on one or the other. This is certainly one of those books that challenges you to stop reading. I said it about the first book, and I will say it about this one as well, the adage of "Just one more page." Is true to this novel as well.

The one criticism I have about this book is the ending. It seems like it goes from the final battle to an abrupt switch that is a huge leap forward. I had to read that section over a couple of times to make sure I was not simply missing something. The abrupt switch jarred me out of the flow of the book and seemed really misplaced. It was almost as though there was a section of text missing.

The things I particularly enjoyed about this novel are the pacing and prose that Mr. Clemens employs. It an easy pace, but also challenges the reader to pay attention. I enjoyed the well thought out plot, as well as the very detailed characters.

As I said in the opening, fans of the fantasy genre should check out this novel and the preceding one. I think there are elements here that most fans will enjoy. I know I will certainly be recommending this series to many people in the future. I am eagerly awaiting the next installment of this series. ( )