Review: "Eagle-Sage" by David B. Coe

[jpskewedthrone]

In case you guys missed the last post (made late last night), there's a new, longer video of me and my six fellow authors getting up to some shenannigans at the last signing over at YouTube! Go check it out for a laugh. And leave a comment!

And now, the review (copied from GoodReads):

I just finished this book last night and after reading the entire series I'm wondering why it took me so long to pick up these books and try them. I know I saw them on the shelf numerous times and almost bought them. But now that I've read them, I'm kicking myself. I should have started reading David B. Coe earlier. But at least he's got a bunch of books out now, so I have something to read next (rather than waiting impatiently for the next book to come out). *grin*

This is a good series and the third volume definitely wraps everything up in a nice way. We get to see where everyone we like ends up, and the resolution to the overall arc is satisfying. I had a few minor quibbles with the third book and the series as a whole overall, but none of those quibbles kept me from enjoying the books in any way.

For Eagle-Sage, it took a good half of the book before the real plot got moving. The first half was set-up, but I couldn't help thinking that it could have been shortened or gone faster. (I didn't spend much time trying to figure out how though.) At the end, I wasn't satisfied with how the Keepers were integrated into the final resolution. I thought they'd play a much more important role somehow, and since one of the themes of the book is that everyone needed to work together to defeat the enemy, their involvement ended up being too minimal, especially with how that ended for them.

For the series overall, my main complaint is that the familiars--the hawks and owls and eagles--were mainly just used as props. I kept wanting to see more interaction between the mages and their familiars. I wanted the familiars to come across as characters in their own right, and I wanted to see a deeper, more emotional relationship between them and thie chosen human counterparts.

But again, there is anough good stuff going on overall, especially in the writing department as well as the unique ideas of the world and how it works, that those quibbles did NOT keep me from enjoying the books. They are solid fantasies that I'd recommend to everyone. As I said, I'll definitely be reading more David B. Coe in the future.

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Comments

[blood-of-winter.livejournal.com]

I hadnt been too impressed with his first series. His 2 newer series I feel are far superior. Have you visited his Magical Words blog/site that he maintains with a few other writers? I always find their posts informative.

[jpsorrow.livejournal.com]

Well, if his other series are superior then I should be incredibly happy!

I've actually been a guest over at Magical Words. A while ago though.

[estellye.livejournal.com]

I asked David at a con which book he recommended I start with and he chose the first book of his "Winds of the Forelands" series. I really can't recommend them highly enough. The work is original, well crafted, and the pacing is such that I was riveted. I devoured the whole series in under two weeks, which is saying something since I work 13 hours a day.

David has said that he feels his writing has improved since his first published efforts, but I have confidence I'll very much enjoy the books you are reviewing here. His craftsmanship may have improved, but it's all coming from the same brain, which has doubtless been working just fine from the beginning. ;)

I have the first of that series in my "next to be read" pile and I should get to it by the end of the month. Your review has me looking forward to it even more!

[jpsorrow.livejournal.com]

I'm looking forward to his other series. Got a few other things I need to read first though. And then there's those revisions I need to finish. *looks innocent*

[vespican.livejournal.com]

Sorry to say I've not yet had a chance to read anything by David B. Coe. Hopefully I will one of these days. (Currently I'm reading MOBY DICK, and as I read a half hour at a time, it's taking me forever. But I am reading it.)

On a completely unrelated subject, I'm wondering if you've noticed that the name plate on a certain Toyota vehicle has a very short stem on the "Y" that it begins with? Everytime I see one, I think they have come out with a new model...the VARIS!! It's YARIS, but the "Y" looks like a "V" at first glance, but maybe that's because I've read the "THRONE" books over the past few months.
Dave

[vespican.livejournal.com]

Forgot to add that I enjoyed the video, and that I've read and enjoyed books by at least some of the authors present!
Dave

[jpsorrow.livejournal.com]

Yes, there've been many "Varis/Yaris" jokes flown around. *grin*

[vespican.livejournal.com]

In a similar vein, I've casually been looking for a "JIMMY" name plate from the GMC version of the Blazer. I want to find a way to change it to "TIMMY" or "TIM" and install on my '62 Corvair Rampside pick-up...which is known as "TIM" around the household. (It's named after Tim Allen/Tim Taylor, because when originally bought I felt it needed...."MORE POWER!!!"
Dave