The Swordbearer

Glen Cook

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The Swordbearer by Glen Cook follows the story of Gathrid, a young boy who stumbles upon a magical soul-eating sword and becomes entangled in a complex game between supernatural powers. The plot is fast-moving, with elements of ancient sorcery, manipulative gods, and warring kingdoms spanning centuries. Cook's writing style in this book is described as straightforward, with a mix of cynical world-weary observations and a focus on the protagonist's journey as he navigates his newfound destiny.

Characters:

Characters include Gathrid, an imperfect hero, and supporting figures who lack depth, with the sword being a central character.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is straightforward and cynical, with less character development compared to the author's later works.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot follows Gathrid, a young boy discovering a magical sword amidst an invasion, leading to themes of destiny and the influence of gods.

Setting:

The setting features a minor kingdom facing a decaying Empire, filled with ancient magic and political intrigue.

Pacing:

The pacing is fast, particularly during battles, but suffers from disjointedness and underdeveloped elements.

Hooves thundered across hard earth. A war cry slapped the morning's face. A crack hit the still air as a rider's blade bit an oaken post standing in the center of a field where only the most determine...

Notes:

The Swordbearer is a standalone novel by Glen Cook, different from his series works.

The main character, Gathrid, is a young boy with polio, which prevents him from becoming a knight.

Gathrid finds a magic sword in a cave during an invasion by a neighboring Empire.

The sword has its own will and is influenced by a goddess.

The story features themes of grey morality and complex characters, typical of Cook's later works.

Readers feel the book has a fast pace but lacks character development and depth.

The ending leaves room for sequels but is still satisfying for fans of Cook.

While it contains standard fantasy elements, it also offers fresh ideas.

The book includes battle sequences that are highlighted as its strongest points.

Some reviews express disappointment with underdeveloped supporting characters and plot clichés.

Glen Cook's writing in this book is seen as evolving towards his more popular series like the Black Company.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

The book features medium content warnings due to themes of violence, war, and potentially distressing magical elements.

From The Publisher:

A young boy's dreams of glory and war turn into a bitter nightmare as his father's kingdom is overrun by an invading army. Lost and alone in the woods, he finds an ancient sword that promises him the ability to claim his vengeance.

As he begins to take that vengeance, he comes to realize the price that the sword will demand of him. Enemies soon become allies and strange bedfellows abound as the prophesies of an age swirl into chaos.

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