Genres
Description
Mercenary soldiers in the service of the Lady, the Black Company stands against the rebels of the White Rose. They are tough men, proud of honoring their contracts. The Lady is evil, but so, too, are those who falsely profess to follow the White Rose, reincarnation of a centuries-dead heroine. Yet now some of the Company have discovered that the mute girl they rescued and sheltered is truly the White Rose reborn. Now there may be a path to the light, even for such as they. If they can survive it.
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1984-10
Physical description
319 p.; 18 cm
Publication
New York : TOR Fantasy, 1984.
Pages
319
ISBN
0812508424 / 9780812508420
UPC
037145006994
Library's review
The second Black Company novel surprised me with a much more traditional structure than the first one had (two converging, focused plotlines), which might perhaps have made the reading experience a tad less idiosyncratic, but in no way weaker. A chilling, magical mystery, some great character arcs
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and a plotline that was usually hard to predict. Two thumbs up. Only minor flaw is that the ending felt less like a proper ending than the first one's did, but I sort of expect that in the middle installment of any trilogy. Show Less
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User reviews
LibraryThing member Lman
Here is another rip-roaring read; the second chapter, Shadows Linger, continues the exploits of The Black Company, but introduces lots of fresh twists to an already charismatic story-line.
Six years, or over ten thousand hands of Tonk – card games being Croaker’s latest means to measure time
About halfway through this book there is a paragraph which, to my mind, clarifies the basis of the whole premise beyond any doubt, parts of which state:
“The lot of the mercenary does not require much moralising….The great issues become how well he does his job, how faithfully he carries out his commission, how well he adheres to a standard demanding unswerving loyalties to his comrades.”
And thus Croaker discerns: We had drifted into a trap where we might have to face the biggest choice in the Company’s history…betray four centuries of Company mythos…” (p.160-161)
This is an artfully-constructed, beguiling adventure, the addition of these principles, as spelled out above, engineering the creation of a most intriguing tale. And the most interesting aspect of it all is, to me, a Black Company connected to a White Rose in a world coloured many shades of grey! There is no black and white, not when attempting to distinguish between good and evil; and this, I believe, is what elevates the writings of Glen Cook to such a high level.
Once more I was enthralled throughout – even when unsure of the extended emphasis within the sections concerning the inhabitants of Juniper; unaware initially how smoothly it would complement the whole. This is a riveting series, with strong engaging characters – in spite of their many flaws, and an ongoing narrative that has me reaching immediately for the third book! And I haven’t wanted to read a series in this manner for a long time!
Six years, or over ten thousand hands of Tonk – card games being Croaker’s latest means to measure time
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– have passed since the Rebel were defeated at the Tower, and the company has become the sharpest tool in the Lady’s service, acknowledged and feared for their continual success in the defeat of dissidents, but slowly being worn down in this unrelenting hunt. Raven and Darling have disappeared beyond the bounds of the empire, to Juniper, an ancient city with ancient ways, and a strange black castle. But as fate so often decrees, the local rulers of Juniper ask aid from the Lady and her Taken to deal with this dark menace. The story thus holds two lines: Raven and the daily lives of the Juniper locals, and Croaker, with the company, and their directed paths; until all converge in the need to fight the growing threat from this castle: the fey minions of the Lady’s husband, the Dominator. Yet while this deadly battle rages, it becomes apparent that the Black Company is also in danger of annihilation by the remaining Taken, even as they fight side by side.About halfway through this book there is a paragraph which, to my mind, clarifies the basis of the whole premise beyond any doubt, parts of which state:
“The lot of the mercenary does not require much moralising….The great issues become how well he does his job, how faithfully he carries out his commission, how well he adheres to a standard demanding unswerving loyalties to his comrades.”
And thus Croaker discerns: We had drifted into a trap where we might have to face the biggest choice in the Company’s history…betray four centuries of Company mythos…” (p.160-161)
This is an artfully-constructed, beguiling adventure, the addition of these principles, as spelled out above, engineering the creation of a most intriguing tale. And the most interesting aspect of it all is, to me, a Black Company connected to a White Rose in a world coloured many shades of grey! There is no black and white, not when attempting to distinguish between good and evil; and this, I believe, is what elevates the writings of Glen Cook to such a high level.
Once more I was enthralled throughout – even when unsure of the extended emphasis within the sections concerning the inhabitants of Juniper; unaware initially how smoothly it would complement the whole. This is a riveting series, with strong engaging characters – in spite of their many flaws, and an ongoing narrative that has me reaching immediately for the third book! And I haven’t wanted to read a series in this manner for a long time!
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LibraryThing member iftyzaidi
I was completely sucked into this second installment of the Black Company series of books. The same features that made the first one so compelling are all there - the military fantasy, the life of the mercenary company, the powerful magic, the grunt's eye view of an existential battle between good
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and evil - from the evil side and the breakneck speed at which the story unfolds. But this book adds to the mix by throwing in an excellent gothic horror plot about a graverobber who sinks deeper and deeper into depravity the harder he tries to get out. Some people found this subplot to be boring and too much of a sidetrack to the overall storyline of the Black Company books, but for me it was truly the icing on the cake. This is a great, gruesome, fantastical thrillride that does not let up. Roll on book 3! Show Less
LibraryThing member Darla
I'd read the first book in this series, The Black Company, several years ago. I wasn't blown away by it, largely due to expectations: it had been recommended as a vampire tale, and I spent much of the book slightly disengaged, trying to figure out where the vampires were. Still, I liked it enough
All of which is to say that I didn't remember a thing about the first book when I read this, except for that vague impression. Even once I'd finished, I still didn't remember the first book. I enjoyed Shadows Linger nonetheless.
The story starts with weak, greedy inkeeper Marron Shed and his mysterious tenant, Raven, who was rather protective over the deaf and dumb barmaid Darling. If I'd remembered the first book, I'd have recognized Raven and Darling immediately, and it would have been a much different beginning to the story. I think I prefer not having known--I enjoyed the mystery and the slow revelation of who and what Raven and Darling were.
Marron is perpetually in debt, and when he asks Raven for help, he gets drawn into a frightening scheme of selling dead bodies to a mysterious black castle that's growing.
The chapters about Raven alternate with first-person chapters from the POV of Croaker, the historian for the Black Company. The Lady's husband, the Dominator, is attempting a return, and the Black Company is tasked with preventing it. However, they're caught between their oaths to the Lady and the Company and the realization that Darling is the White Rose, and working for the Lady puts them on opposite sides with what they feel is right.
Despite the names: Black Company, White Rose, nothing is black and white in this story. Characters do bad things for good reasons, and good things for bad reasons, and all sorts of things in the name of expedience. There's a lot here about finding one's inner strength, and making difficult choices.
I'll be reading the next book in the series--hopefully I'll remember the story once I get to it this time.
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to get the second book, which had been hiding in my TBR pile until now.All of which is to say that I didn't remember a thing about the first book when I read this, except for that vague impression. Even once I'd finished, I still didn't remember the first book. I enjoyed Shadows Linger nonetheless.
The story starts with weak, greedy inkeeper Marron Shed and his mysterious tenant, Raven, who was rather protective over the deaf and dumb barmaid Darling. If I'd remembered the first book, I'd have recognized Raven and Darling immediately, and it would have been a much different beginning to the story. I think I prefer not having known--I enjoyed the mystery and the slow revelation of who and what Raven and Darling were.
Marron is perpetually in debt, and when he asks Raven for help, he gets drawn into a frightening scheme of selling dead bodies to a mysterious black castle that's growing.
The chapters about Raven alternate with first-person chapters from the POV of Croaker, the historian for the Black Company. The Lady's husband, the Dominator, is attempting a return, and the Black Company is tasked with preventing it. However, they're caught between their oaths to the Lady and the Company and the realization that Darling is the White Rose, and working for the Lady puts them on opposite sides with what they feel is right.
Despite the names: Black Company, White Rose, nothing is black and white in this story. Characters do bad things for good reasons, and good things for bad reasons, and all sorts of things in the name of expedience. There's a lot here about finding one's inner strength, and making difficult choices.
I'll be reading the next book in the series--hopefully I'll remember the story once I get to it this time.
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LibraryThing member SwampIrish
If you liked the first book, this one is better. If you didn't like the first book, this one may change your mind. If you didn't read the first book, go read it.
I will also reiterate that Steven Erikson owes a lot of his style to Glen Cook. I'm sure Erikson would probably acknowledge this.
I will also reiterate that Steven Erikson owes a lot of his style to Glen Cook. I'm sure Erikson would probably acknowledge this.
LibraryThing member Skribe
Another great, gritty book. Glen Cook shakes it up a little by alternating first person narrative with a second plotline, which he later reveals to have been extrapolated by Croaker, so he keeps his journal concept clean. Really enjoyable. He kills characters unexpectedly, as would happen in war,
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one might say. Great! Show Less
LibraryThing member etimme
I enjoyed the first book in Cook's The Black Company series a lot, but did not feel the same about book two. Cook was less than successful, in my opinion, with his first person chapters from Shed's point of view showing his transition from meek innkeeper to grave robbing murderer, and I did not
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enjoy being cooped up in Juniper for an entire book. The idea of a black castle that fed on bodies and souls was cool, and I liked seeing the Lady's struggle with the Dominator brought back to the forefront, but the brothers in the Black Company are the great part of the story and they were barely in it. Show Less
LibraryThing member wagner.sarah35
A continuation of the Black Company series. The mercenary troop of the Black Company continues to fight for the evil Lady in her struggle with the Rebels, who claim to fight for the White Rose. However, a former member of the Black Company actually shelters the true White Rose and works to keep her
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away from both his former comrades and the rebels fighting in her name. In a cold winter town, new threats loom and Raven finds himself in danger from both his old friends and his nefarious activities. A good read, and a good series which I look forward to continuing. Show Less
LibraryThing member JeremyPreacher
More gritty fantasy, this one more along the street-rat-makes-good lines than pure military adventure. Again with the utter lack of a character worth rooting for (although there are a number of sympathetic and even likeable characters, they're not exactly lovable rogues.) Not bad, for that, and it
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sets up one of the more interesting conflicts I've seen - what happens when the evil overlord seized power only to prevent the eviler overlord from rising? Show Less
LibraryThing member krazykiwi
While retaining the first person narrative style when we’re seeing things from Croaker’s point of view, this second installment differs from the first in that it also shifts to a third person perspective to tell of events Croaker is not present for. For many readers, I suspect that is a relief,
As with the first book, there’s little in the way of exposition, and this is no longer a tale of a ragtag mercenary crew on the road and in battle. Instead they are holed up in a godforsaken town on the edge of nowhere for almost the entire book, and 6 years after the first book, they have become the stuff of legend. Or the bogeymen, depending on whose side you’re on.
Once again the moral ambiguity makes it hard to choose a side: The company are our protagonists, but they are hardly heroes:
“We did have cards up our sleeves. We never play fair if we can avoid it. The Company philosophy is to maximize effectiveness while minimizing risk.”
Characters with good aims that we've grown somewhat fond of already, do dastardly deeds and think nothing of it, and characters with much darker end game plans do more or less good things. One character in particular pulls off a spectacular development, going from snivelling failure at life to someone willing to sacrifice himself selflessly for the greater good. It's this grey upon grey upon grey morality that I really enjoy about these books.
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for me I think I enjoyed the first person narrative more than I suspected, although Cook handles the shifts in point of view very well, and I didn’t find the story lacking. As with the first book, there’s little in the way of exposition, and this is no longer a tale of a ragtag mercenary crew on the road and in battle. Instead they are holed up in a godforsaken town on the edge of nowhere for almost the entire book, and 6 years after the first book, they have become the stuff of legend. Or the bogeymen, depending on whose side you’re on.
Once again the moral ambiguity makes it hard to choose a side: The company are our protagonists, but they are hardly heroes:
“We did have cards up our sleeves. We never play fair if we can avoid it. The Company philosophy is to maximize effectiveness while minimizing risk.”
Characters with good aims that we've grown somewhat fond of already, do dastardly deeds and think nothing of it, and characters with much darker end game plans do more or less good things. One character in particular pulls off a spectacular development, going from snivelling failure at life to someone willing to sacrifice himself selflessly for the greater good. It's this grey upon grey upon grey morality that I really enjoy about these books.
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LibraryThing member Inkwind
The second in the Chronicles of the Black Company Trilogy. Not a bad read overall, but I did prefer the first book for a couple of reasons. For one, the narrators alternate and I found myself missing Croaker, who I found to be a lot more interesting than the slowly corrupted everyman Shed. There
Basically, the stuff I was really interested in (Elmo's time in the Black Castle, the Plains of Fear stuff, military badassery, Raven being Raven) went off to the side and instead we got some fairly predictable story about heading to town and ending up stumbling on a weirdly contrived plot by the Dominator to come and mess stuff up.
Now, I'm mostly being harsh because I was disappointed from the first book. Shadows Linger isn't bad--it's a far sight better than a lot of fantasy on the market--but it's not immersive and fascinating like The Black Company was. Read it to continue the story, not because you're probably after a slow-paced story of a lot of people trying to cover up a lot of different things by not doing very much at all.
Plus, SPOILER (do not read ahead if that's not your thing), two of my favorite characters died, and without much fanfare. I am mildly concerned about how the story will continue without them and if it can recover to the heights of The Black Company.
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was a lot less of the subtle introspection on human nature and the horrors of war in this one. A lot less war period. Mostly, it was the story of how the Company ended up cutting ties with the Lady (and even that was a little ambiguous--mostly, they just wanted out). Basically, the stuff I was really interested in (Elmo's time in the Black Castle, the Plains of Fear stuff, military badassery, Raven being Raven) went off to the side and instead we got some fairly predictable story about heading to town and ending up stumbling on a weirdly contrived plot by the Dominator to come and mess stuff up.
Now, I'm mostly being harsh because I was disappointed from the first book. Shadows Linger isn't bad--it's a far sight better than a lot of fantasy on the market--but it's not immersive and fascinating like The Black Company was. Read it to continue the story, not because you're probably after a slow-paced story of a lot of people trying to cover up a lot of different things by not doing very much at all.
Plus, SPOILER (do not read ahead if that's not your thing), two of my favorite characters died, and without much fanfare. I am mildly concerned about how the story will continue without them and if it can recover to the heights of The Black Company.
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LibraryThing member AshleyMiller
Chronicles of the Black Company (1-3) is a very unique, dark, violent, and engaging fantasy book. It follows a group of mercenaries, the Black Company, through an ongoing war with the Lady and the Rebles. Though the beginning of the book is confusing because the Company is really unaware of where
The novels are more character detailed than scenery detailed due to the writing style. As a result, many of the characters (probably about ten) surrounding Croaker are very well developed, and the others are pretty vague. The characters have distinct personalities and are extremely fascinating. A couple of the characters are even hilarious. After the first book there are a few more details about people and places because there are a few extra people telling their stories as well.
The interesting aspect of these novels is that the main characters are bad guys (due to their actions) instead of the good guys that many fantasy novels follow. I think Glen Cook is a talented writer because he makes me fall in love with these characters even though I know how cruel some of them are. I also enjoyed the unpredictability of the novels. I could rarely guess what was going to happen and when I did I usually ended up being wrong. There are many twists throughout each book,which really kept me interested, and the ending of the third book was a huge surprise. I never saw that coming! There is also the non-existence of the typical fantasy stereotypes such as fairies, dragons, swords, or the boy who becomes a wizard, that make this book even more interesting. Instead there are just normal war-going men with a few of them who know how to do a little magic. It brings the story down to a more human level.
Due to the writing style there are some gaps in the knowledge about some of the characters in the story on the other side of the war. Since we only follow the black company, very little is said about the history of Rebles, the White Rose, or the Circle of Eight that are mentioned throughout the books. Another critique I have is that there is no map to follow while reading. There are so many different places that the Company travels it is hard to keep it all straight and I believe that a map would really help in following the story.
Overall, I really enjoyed these novels and I cannot wait to continue the second volume! I would recommend reading the entire volume, and to anyone who loves fantasy, a bit of magic, and is over 18 years old.
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they are fighting or who they are fighting for, they eventually follow the Lady and the book becomes easier to read (after a few chapters). The book is written in first-person in the form of annals by Croaker, the Company’s physician and annalist. After the first book you get to read from Croaker’s point of view, as well as a few others.The novels are more character detailed than scenery detailed due to the writing style. As a result, many of the characters (probably about ten) surrounding Croaker are very well developed, and the others are pretty vague. The characters have distinct personalities and are extremely fascinating. A couple of the characters are even hilarious. After the first book there are a few more details about people and places because there are a few extra people telling their stories as well.
The interesting aspect of these novels is that the main characters are bad guys (due to their actions) instead of the good guys that many fantasy novels follow. I think Glen Cook is a talented writer because he makes me fall in love with these characters even though I know how cruel some of them are. I also enjoyed the unpredictability of the novels. I could rarely guess what was going to happen and when I did I usually ended up being wrong. There are many twists throughout each book,which really kept me interested, and the ending of the third book was a huge surprise. I never saw that coming! There is also the non-existence of the typical fantasy stereotypes such as fairies, dragons, swords, or the boy who becomes a wizard, that make this book even more interesting. Instead there are just normal war-going men with a few of them who know how to do a little magic. It brings the story down to a more human level.
Due to the writing style there are some gaps in the knowledge about some of the characters in the story on the other side of the war. Since we only follow the black company, very little is said about the history of Rebles, the White Rose, or the Circle of Eight that are mentioned throughout the books. Another critique I have is that there is no map to follow while reading. There are so many different places that the Company travels it is hard to keep it all straight and I believe that a map would really help in following the story.
Overall, I really enjoyed these novels and I cannot wait to continue the second volume! I would recommend reading the entire volume, and to anyone who loves fantasy, a bit of magic, and is over 18 years old.
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LibraryThing member sinceyouasked
There's an appealing goofiness to this and The Black Company that helps keep it a little lighter than some other similar works. It shows up mostly in the sorcery stuff, but the characters display some as well. I'll keep reading, probably.
LibraryThing member Tikimoof
Despite forgetting all but the most major plot points from the Black Company (I read a lot of books in 2016, it's not Glen Cook's fault), I do remember that being a hard read. I don't know if it's because I read it in print, or just that Cook's economy of word choice means that you can't skim and
The scope of the book is also a lot more narrow. Enough of the old plot points were revisited for me to have an idea of old stakes, and I think the new stakes were much better communicated. Some of this is probably a symptom of sequelitis. If the third book resolves the White Rose plot, it'll be fine. But since I've heard this series is legendarily long, I'm wary.
I didn't like all of the additions - I didn't think Shed or Asa had much to redeem themselves, though that's probably most of the point of the setting. But unrelenting cowardice just gets really tedious. It was way better back in Croaker's point of view. The Black Company is a way more compelling set of characters, too. But that's only about half of the book.
I think I would have liked a few more battles, too. It's pretty obviously meant to be some kind of military fantasy, and Shed's POV got in the way of a lot of that too.
I'll finish off the Books of the North sometime in the next few years. This stuff is dark fantasy but way more accessible than Malazan.
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know what's going on. But I got a omnibus ebook of the Books of the North, so I mostly read Shadows Linger on my phone. It went a lot quicker than the first book! One reason is definitely chapter length - there are 7 chapters in the first, and 49 in the second - with probably 50 pages of difference in length. Ironically, breaking it up made it much quicker for me.The scope of the book is also a lot more narrow. Enough of the old plot points were revisited for me to have an idea of old stakes, and I think the new stakes were much better communicated. Some of this is probably a symptom of sequelitis. If the third book resolves the White Rose plot, it'll be fine. But since I've heard this series is legendarily long, I'm wary.
I didn't like all of the additions - I didn't think Shed or Asa had much to redeem themselves, though that's probably most of the point of the setting. But unrelenting cowardice just gets really tedious. It was way better back in Croaker's point of view. The Black Company is a way more compelling set of characters, too. But that's only about half of the book.
I think I would have liked a few more battles, too. It's pretty obviously meant to be some kind of military fantasy, and Shed's POV got in the way of a lot of that too.
I'll finish off the Books of the North sometime in the next few years. This stuff is dark fantasy but way more accessible than Malazan.
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