The Belgariad, Vol. 1 (Books 1-3): Pawn of Prophecy, Queen of Sorcery, Magician's Gambit

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It's a hit!

This book has a lame storyline. Really, no joke. It could be the plot for a whole badly done B mini series that only plays late at night on the Sci... (show more)

This book has a lame storyline. Really, no joke. It could be the plot for a whole badly done B mini series that only plays late at night on the Sci-Fi channel.

What makes this book a masterpiece is the characters. I have never read a book with more lovable characters then Edding's Belgariad. He creates many cliches and then twists them around in unexpected ways, leaving you laughing with them or crying with them. I recommend this book to anyone, but most especially people who wish to write themselves. You could stand to learn a lot from a master creator like Eddings (show less)

 

 

by Bob Gabel

No, it's a flop!

It's a good thing these books were compiled into one volume. Why anyone would willingly pay money for the second after NOTHING HAPPENS by the conc... (show more)

It's a good thing these books were compiled into one volume. Why anyone would willingly pay money for the second after NOTHING HAPPENS by the conclusion of the first is beyond my comprehension.

The first three books in this series follow a painfully slow-paced and repetitive arc. The cast of characters is interesting, though shallow, and by the conclusion of the third book, next to no progression or development has occurred for any of them. They finish Book 3 exactly the people they were when introduced.

Further, the story that is told here is alarmingly simple, shallow, unoriginal, and takes far too long to be told for how little "meat" is to be found.

I'll withhold more specific criticisms for the story as a whole, across all 5 books, for reviewing the second volume, but that leaves this review without a lot of content. Thus, I will state the point and move on to Volume 2.

The characters are inoffensive and charming enough to warrant a read-through, though I would not advise anyone to prioritize this book over any others. However, if you've otherwise exhausted your reading list and would like to kill some hours waiting for the next big release on the horizon, by all means, check out this book. It may not grip or amaze you, but it'll keep you placated and occupied, at the very least.

There are some genuinely charming moments in the story, but they prove to be the deviation and are quite rare. For more of my thoughts, please seek out my review on Volume 2. (show less)

 

 

by Matthew Douglas Thompson

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  I really enjoyed reading all of the Belgariad and the Mallorean which is the following series. It was enjoyable escapism for a while. I found that the further I got through the series the more I wanted to read on as I wanted to find out what happened next.

  Belgarath the Sorcerer and Polgara the Sorceress really fleshed out the story and I would strongly recommend these books to anyone who enjoys fantasy novels. Felt a bit sorry that there was nothing really following on to the Mallorean... (show more)

  I really enjoyed reading all of the Belgariad and the Mallorean which is the following series. It was enjoyable escapism for a while. I found that the further I got through the series the more I wanted to read on as I wanted to find out what happened next.

  Belgarath the Sorcerer and Polgara the Sorceress really fleshed out the story and I would strongly recommend these books to anyone who enjoys fantasy novels. Felt a bit sorry that there was nothing really following on to the Mallorean, as the ending left an opening for a new series of books with new characters which appeared in the Mallorean. Come on David Eddings don't leave the story as it is lets see how the characters in the Mallorean develop.

  There were some parallels with another series that David Eddings wrote - the Ellarian novels - the blue glowing gem, etc. but on the whole I found them both different and enjoyable. (show less)

   

   

  by Anonymous User on Jul 09, 2009 at 10:17PM

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  I enjoyed The Belgariad, but have to admit that, in my opinion, it paled in comparison to LOTR and the Harry Potter series. The characters were very well-crafted and I really liked how the different civilizations in the book reflect a lot of the civilizations and cultures in our own world. The witty banter between characters was entertaining at first, but became very repetitive and predictable.

  One has to assume that JK Rowling has read the series. There are SO many parallels...orphaned boy... (show more)

  I enjoyed The Belgariad, but have to admit that, in my opinion, it paled in comparison to LOTR and the Harry Potter series. The characters were very well-crafted and I really liked how the different civilizations in the book reflect a lot of the civilizations and cultures in our own world. The witty banter between characters was entertaining at first, but became very repetitive and predictable.

  One has to assume that JK Rowling has read the series. There are SO many parallels...orphaned boy is raised by his aunt, parents were murdered by an evil god in a fire, boy was saved from the fire and left with a strange marking on his hand, slowly the boy pieces together the story of his past and plans to avenge his parents, sorcery, serpent imagery...the list goes on.

  I guess I found the world that JK Rowling created to be more interesting. And JRR Tolkien is simply the master. Overall, the books were definitely worth a read if you're into this genre and I look forward to reading volume 2. (show less)

   

   

  by Facebook User on May 16, 2009 at 01:43PM

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