This is my all time favorite book thing. It's one of the most complex and provoking experiences I've ever had. It's also the only series in the genre I know which actually goes so deep it becomes ridiculously insane. I'm still trying my best to grasp what the fuck is going on in Caine's Law in a reread. Stover, Parker, Mieville and Bakker are the absolute peak of fantasy, but Stover manages to scratch a certain itch that works perfectly for me. Ma'elKoth is the greatest fucking character ever written. CAINE IS THE MOTHERFUCKING MAN, tho, definitely. Also I fucking love the cover, unironically.
Glad you liked it. Acts of Caine has been on my radar for quite a while as well. The premise by itself is so dope sounding, but I'm glad to hear it's more than just a cool premise. Sounds like a well-constructed piece of fiction too.
I have the four Acts of Caine books waiting in my shelf with the gap cycle. Once i finish the Fecking Broken Empire for 1st time i will devour them asap. Ive read somewhere that every one of the 4 books are different in style and tone, where heroes die is more action and blade of tyshalle is the grimmest of all
Everyone has told me I would love this book. I need to read this. I really do. The switch from 1st to 3rd person reminds me of blood song 🩸. 3rd person was used for phenomenal character development and 1st person was used to develop the world and plot. 2 different POVs. Best of both worlds. Great one.
thanks for the review dude. Would strongly recommend finishing the series - the other books really flesh out Hari... and man - it gets so heavy . messed up - but in a good way. One of my favourite series for sure. Defo its own thing.
So glad you finally read it, Mark :) T he series only gets more ambitious. He does something different with every book, but it fits perfectly together as a whole series. The sequels are very polarizing, not because of the quality imo, but because of his ambition. He really makes you work and the payoff huge. Kinda reminds me of Aspect Emperor in that regard. I agree that Heroes Die is Dark Fantasy, but I think you'll have no difficulty at all labeling Blade of Tyshalle Grimdark. So interested hearing your thoughts going forward. The series gets more philosophical and Hari definitely gets put in front of the mirror. He's the overly manly man, especially in the beginning, I agree, but I grew to love that and it's intersting how Stover deals with that over time. Concerning his badassery, it reminds me of Jorg's shenanigans in Broken Empire, where the only question was HOW does he pull his victory off and what will the price be? That also was a turnoff for me initially, but I actually loved it when I finally accepted it. I could go on, but enough for now 😁
I've passed by that book at the store so many times because of that cover. I just don't even give it a 2nd look thinking it's a 1980's cheesey fantasy. I might give it a go but it feels exhausting and not because there are a lot of moving parts...it's just that I'm really thick in the head and need stuff simple jack sometimes. Great review thanks for the suggestion!
Read that book when it first came out. Read all in the series, but none reached the greatness of 1st. Too bad he doesn't write anymore. Also wrote best Star Wars book.
Glad you loved it, this one's been a favorite for a long time. I liken it to a fantasy Die Hard - it's that older macho 90's action movie yeah, but it's got the perfect script and plot to back it up. And oh man the twist at the end? The sequels aren't quite as good, and take a hard turn away from action into philosophy - BUT - the first half of book 2 has *the* singlemost inventive consequence of a sequel I can think of. I dunno if I can recommend 3 or 4, but definitely at least give 2 a shot, I'd *love* to hear your thoughts on it.
4 is fucking great, it just requires some piecing together - kinda similar to why so many people like Wolfe (although for me he is infinitely more meaningless and redundant in his approach). it's arguably the best written metaphysical speculation in a fiction book I've ever seen, toppling even Bakker's attempt. 3 is foundational context for understanding said speculation, and is the most enjoyable of the bunch, so it's also pretty neat. 2 is a perfect book tho, lol, we're gonna fight over this.
@@shulgi582 I'm not gonna lie, you're probably the expert here, most of what Stover was trying to do *definitely* went over my head XD. Someday I'll be there.
‘This cover is not bringing the boys to the yard’ 😂😂😂 I’m going to try and pick this up this year. I’m glad you’re back, Mark! You’ve been missed!
I definitely think it deserves more praise. Would love to hear your thoughts on it.
You're alive! And yayyyy he's back BABBBYYY
This is my all time favorite book thing. It's one of the most complex and provoking experiences I've ever had. It's also the only series in the genre I know which actually goes so deep it becomes ridiculously insane. I'm still trying my best to grasp what the fuck is going on in Caine's Law in a reread. Stover, Parker, Mieville and Bakker are the absolute peak of fantasy, but Stover manages to scratch a certain itch that works perfectly for me.
Ma'elKoth is the greatest fucking character ever written. CAINE IS THE MOTHERFUCKING MAN, tho, definitely.
Also I fucking love the cover, unironically.
This is probably my favorite book of all time.
Stover has a martial arts background, so that explains your observations about how he writes his fight scenes.
Yeah, he clearly knows what he's talking about 👊
Super awesome book! The sequel is a completely different type of book compared to it, though. I still have to get back to it.
Definitely going to continue. I have heard he switches it up
Glad you liked it. Acts of Caine has been on my radar for quite a while as well.
The premise by itself is so dope sounding, but I'm glad to hear it's more than just a cool premise. Sounds like a well-constructed piece of fiction too.
Funnily I picked this book up because Stover's novellisation of Revenge of the Sith is fire. Wasn't disapointed.
I loved his New Jedi Order book, Traitor
@@slowlyred2082 haha I forgot he did a New Jedi Order book too! Good call
I have the four Acts of Caine books waiting in my shelf with the gap cycle. Once i finish the Fecking Broken Empire for 1st time i will devour them asap.
Ive read somewhere that every one of the 4 books are different in style and tone, where heroes die is more action and blade of tyshalle is the grimmest of all
Everyone has told me I would love this book. I need to read this. I really do.
The switch from 1st to 3rd person reminds me of blood song 🩸. 3rd person was used for phenomenal character development and 1st person was used to develop the world and plot. 2 different POVs. Best of both worlds.
Great one.
It's definitely worth checking out. I'm gonna have to pick up book 2 now
thanks for the review dude. Would strongly recommend finishing the series - the other books really flesh out Hari... and man - it gets so heavy . messed up - but in a good way. One of my favourite series for sure. Defo its own thing.
Now that I'm done Malazan Book of The Fallen and close to catching up on Dresden Files I can get some more Grimdark back into my veins.
I LOVED this review, you nailed it man. One of my favorites. Well played!
Hey!!!! I still haven't gotten to this.... someday, someday
One of the best books nobody's reading!
It is crazy, how many people pass this one by. I was guilty myself. Glad I got into it.
So glad you finally read it, Mark :) T
he series only gets more ambitious. He does something different with every book, but it fits perfectly together as a whole series. The sequels are very polarizing, not because of the quality imo, but because of his ambition. He really makes you work and the payoff huge. Kinda reminds me of Aspect Emperor in that regard.
I agree that Heroes Die is Dark Fantasy, but I think you'll have no difficulty at all labeling Blade of Tyshalle Grimdark. So interested hearing your thoughts going forward.
The series gets more philosophical and Hari definitely gets put in front of the mirror. He's the overly manly man, especially in the beginning, I agree, but I grew to love that and it's intersting how Stover deals with that over time. Concerning his badassery, it reminds me of Jorg's shenanigans in Broken Empire, where the only question was HOW does he pull his victory off and what will the price be? That also was a turnoff for me initially, but I actually loved it when I finally accepted it. I could go on, but enough for now 😁
I'm definitely pushing forward with the series. Interested in seeing how he changes stuff up. Very impressive writing ✍ 👏 👌
Such a great book really need to finish series
I've passed by that book at the store so many times because of that cover. I just don't even give it a 2nd look thinking it's a 1980's cheesey fantasy. I might give it a go but it feels exhausting and not because there are a lot of moving parts...it's just that I'm really thick in the head and need stuff simple jack sometimes. Great review thanks for the suggestion!
I also enjoyed book 2, Blade of Tyshalle. I couldn't get into book 3 and book 4 though.
Massive Turn on - Heroes Die
Massive Turn off - Blade of Tyshalle
Read that book when it first came out. Read all in the series, but none reached the greatness of 1st.
Too bad he doesn't write anymore. Also wrote best Star Wars book.
Glad you loved it, this one's been a favorite for a long time. I liken it to a fantasy Die Hard - it's that older macho 90's action movie yeah, but it's got the perfect script and plot to back it up. And oh man the twist at the end?
The sequels aren't quite as good, and take a hard turn away from action into philosophy - BUT - the first half of book 2 has *the* singlemost inventive consequence of a sequel I can think of. I dunno if I can recommend 3 or 4, but definitely at least give 2 a shot, I'd *love* to hear your thoughts on it.
4 is fucking great, it just requires some piecing together - kinda similar to why so many people like Wolfe (although for me he is infinitely more meaningless and redundant in his approach). it's arguably the best written metaphysical speculation in a fiction book I've ever seen, toppling even Bakker's attempt. 3 is foundational context for understanding said speculation, and is the most enjoyable of the bunch, so it's also pretty neat.
2 is a perfect book tho, lol, we're gonna fight over this.
@@shulgi582 I'm not gonna lie, you're probably the expert here, most of what Stover was trying to do *definitely* went over my head XD. Someday I'll be there.
Point being SR really needs to read it XD
@@zan8152 Hell yeah, books deserve some love. And I'm not an expert, barely evern understand half of it, but it's truly fun trying to figure it out.
Loved this book but the sequel is terrible and nothing like the first unfortunately