Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
Tor Books (2005), Edition: Reissue, 352 pages
Description
Dreams of Steel is Book 5 in Glen Cook's fantasy masterpiece, The Chronicles of the Black Company. Croaker has fallen and, following the Company's disastrous defeat at Dejagore, Lady is one of the few survivors--determined to avenge the Company and herself against the Shadowmasters, no matter what the cost. But in assembling a new fighting force from the dregs and rabble of Taglios, she finds herself offered help by a mysterious, ancient cult of murder--competent, reliable, and apparently committed to her goals. Meanwhile, far away, Shadowmasters conspire against one another and the world, weaving dark spells that reach into the heart of Taglios. And in a hidden grove, a familiar figure slowly awakens to find himself the captive of an animated, headless corpse. Mercilessly cutting through Taglian intrigues, Lady appears to be growing stronger every day. All that disturbs her are the dreams which afflict her by night--dreams of carnage, of destruction, of universal death, unceasing...… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member TadAD
The narration switches to a new character as our old narrator is temporary indisposed. I don't enjoy Lady's perspective quite as well as Croaker's, but I don't object enough to fault the book. The ending, however, is a fault...abrupt and uneven.
LibraryThing member iayork
Mama Don't Allow No Foot Stomping Here.: After four volumes in which she has played a major, is somewhat silent, part the inevitable has occurred. With Croaker missing in action after the disastrous battle for Degajore and presumed dead, Lady has taken over. Welcome to Dreams of Steel -- Lady's own
Just as important as the struggle for Degajore is the introduction of several new characters. In fact, a whole sect of new characters -- the Stranglers, who are more than a little reminiscent of the thuggee. Instead of Kali their goddess is called Kina, but she is just as many-armed and malevolent as her equivalent in this world. Somewhere she sleeps while her followers dedicate their kills to her and work to bring about the Year of Skulls. Now one of the leaders of this sect, Narayan Singh, has attached himself to Lady. She sees an opportunity to use Kina's followers to further the goals of the Black Company regardless of whether the Stranglers might have an agenda of their own.
Nothing in this volume is as it seems. The story picks up some twists that are unusual, even for a Cook novel. Enough to keep the story interesting and convolute. Followers of the series will actually find little difference between Lady as narrator and Croaker. Her established character isn't one that would come naturally to being an annalist, so Cook defaults to his regular style. The result is that this volume works as well as its predecessors and has none of the weaknesses of the next few narrators. I found the book enjoyable, although the end is a little chaotic and sudden.
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book. Once a cruel empress and once of the most powerful wizards of the north she is the now leader of that part of the Black Company that did not get trapped in the city. It is up to her to rally and bring the battle back to the shadowmasters. Just as important as the struggle for Degajore is the introduction of several new characters. In fact, a whole sect of new characters -- the Stranglers, who are more than a little reminiscent of the thuggee. Instead of Kali their goddess is called Kina, but she is just as many-armed and malevolent as her equivalent in this world. Somewhere she sleeps while her followers dedicate their kills to her and work to bring about the Year of Skulls. Now one of the leaders of this sect, Narayan Singh, has attached himself to Lady. She sees an opportunity to use Kina's followers to further the goals of the Black Company regardless of whether the Stranglers might have an agenda of their own.
Nothing in this volume is as it seems. The story picks up some twists that are unusual, even for a Cook novel. Enough to keep the story interesting and convolute. Followers of the series will actually find little difference between Lady as narrator and Croaker. Her established character isn't one that would come naturally to being an annalist, so Cook defaults to his regular style. The result is that this volume works as well as its predecessors and has none of the weaknesses of the next few narrators. I found the book enjoyable, although the end is a little chaotic and sudden.
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LibraryThing member saltmanz
Lady just doesn't make an exciting narrator. The book starts fairly slow, and the Company itself doesn't ever feature much. The parts I looked forward to the most were those featuring Croaker, now relegated to third-person narrative for the first time in the series, which felt a little odd at
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first. Nevertheless, a decent entry in the series. The ending is incredibly abrupt, but taken with the time-hopping of the next book, it doesn't seem that out of place. Show Less
LibraryThing member sdobie
Croaker is missing, so Lady takes over control of the Black Company and the narration of this book of the series. In order to rebuild the Company and the armed forces of Taglios, Lady poses as an avatar of the goddess Kina, who seems basically equivalent to the Indian Kali, who is dedicated to
The book feels like it has more of an independent plot than the previous one, but it still leaves a lot unresolved for future books. The character of Lady is not that well developed. Having her narrate the story is not much different from having Croaker do it, and you don't get much sense of her as a very powerful, very old being. This is still a good read, but doesn't live up to the earlier parts of the series, or other similar fantasies that are out there.
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bringing about the Year of Skulls, which entails a lot of death and destruction. The book feels like it has more of an independent plot than the previous one, but it still leaves a lot unresolved for future books. The character of Lady is not that well developed. Having her narrate the story is not much different from having Croaker do it, and you don't get much sense of her as a very powerful, very old being. This is still a good read, but doesn't live up to the earlier parts of the series, or other similar fantasies that are out there.
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LibraryThing member JeremyPreacher
I am happy that the Lady proved at least somewhat more interesting as the narrator than she did as the love interest in the previous book. That gave at least some real drama to one of the villains, the cult plot was pretty solid, and while I rolled my eyes really hard at the ongoing "why am I
I would love to find out what happened next, but it appears the next book may be a rewrite of this time period from a different angle, and I am much less excited about that. So far I'm pretty underwhelmed by the Black Company as a whole - they may not stay in my library.
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puking every morning? This is so weird" thing, it at least hints at interesting story to come.I would love to find out what happened next, but it appears the next book may be a rewrite of this time period from a different angle, and I am much less excited about that. So far I'm pretty underwhelmed by the Black Company as a whole - they may not stay in my library.
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LibraryThing member AshleyMiller
Due to the dramatic ending of the previous book, I had to start Dreams of Steel right away! Although not the best in the series, it is still good and gives us a new perspective into the Black Company.
Unlike all the other books, this book is narrated by Lady, which provides a different perspective
I found that I am starting to get to know more about the other characters that were introduced in the last book, and I really like Ram because he reminds me of Raven.
Dreams of Steel is a lot slower than all the other ones. I found myself not needing to get through it as quickly as the others. Usually during slower parts there would be One-Eye and Goblin to keep me entertained, but they are not in this novel. However, it is still an intriguing and surprising story so I had to keep going. I’m glad I did because I really liked the ending and after reading that I can’t wait to find out what happens!
Throughout the book you find out more about the new characters who are working with Lady. I don’t want to give anything away, so I will just say they are some scary and dark characters!
Definitely read this book if you read the others, but just be aware its just a little bit harder to get through.
Unlike all the other books, this book is narrated by Lady, which provides a different perspective
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for the story. It is interesting to get to know Lady better and learn more about her history and feelings towards Croaker. I am really starting to like her! I enjoy seeing her as a more human character, though she is starting to get her powers back. What I can’t wait to find out is if she reverts back to her old self or if Croaker has been a good enough influence on her. I also like her battle strategies and how she solved the problem of the priests in this book. That was dark!I found that I am starting to get to know more about the other characters that were introduced in the last book, and I really like Ram because he reminds me of Raven.
Dreams of Steel is a lot slower than all the other ones. I found myself not needing to get through it as quickly as the others. Usually during slower parts there would be One-Eye and Goblin to keep me entertained, but they are not in this novel. However, it is still an intriguing and surprising story so I had to keep going. I’m glad I did because I really liked the ending and after reading that I can’t wait to find out what happens!
Throughout the book you find out more about the new characters who are working with Lady. I don’t want to give anything away, so I will just say they are some scary and dark characters!
Definitely read this book if you read the others, but just be aware its just a little bit harder to get through.
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LibraryThing member NineLarks
Not really a review, just a note to self.
I dropped the series somewhere along this book. It's not that I didn't like it. I loved the writing since book one all the way up till now. However, things have slowly become less interesting as I keep reading - and maybe it's just that I lost the initial
I dropped the series somewhere along this book. It's not that I didn't like it. I loved the writing since book one all the way up till now. However, things have slowly become less interesting as I keep reading - and maybe it's just that I lost the initial
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interest, but I can't be bothered to pick this series up again right now. I am left with the annoying mystery of the true history of the Black Company, but the trouble of reading through pages on characters I'm not entirely devoted to (i.e. not Croaker or Lady) gives me great pause. Maybe I'll pick it up again because it is a series worth reading. But just not right now. Show Less
LibraryThing member NineLarks
Not really a review, just a note to self.
I dropped the series somewhere along this book. It's not that I didn't like it. I loved the writing since book one all the way up till now. However, things have slowly become less interesting as I keep reading - and maybe it's just that I lost the initial
I dropped the series somewhere along this book. It's not that I didn't like it. I loved the writing since book one all the way up till now. However, things have slowly become less interesting as I keep reading - and maybe it's just that I lost the initial
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interest, but I can't be bothered to pick this series up again right now. I am left with the annoying mystery of the true history of the Black Company, but the trouble of reading through pages on characters I'm not entirely devoted to (i.e. not Croaker or Lady) gives me great pause. Maybe I'll pick it up again because it is a series worth reading. But just not right now. Show Less
LibraryThing member Lucky-Loki
I continue to very much enjoy this series! The shift in narrator gave this book a different feel, even though the plot is a direct continuation of the previous volume. Surprisingly, though this ends the two-volume series, it ends without any plotlines properly resolved, setting up the final four
If you like efficient plotting, memorable (if heightened) characters and some sordid realpolitik in a sword and sorcery setting, I'd be hard pressed to think of anything that meets the bill better than "The Black Company". Here's hoping the remaining volumes continue to deliver like the first six have.
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book series. I don't mind this at all, but it's a bit unexpected after the original trilogy wrapped itself up so much more tidily. If you like efficient plotting, memorable (if heightened) characters and some sordid realpolitik in a sword and sorcery setting, I'd be hard pressed to think of anything that meets the bill better than "The Black Company". Here's hoping the remaining volumes continue to deliver like the first six have.
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Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1990-04
Physical description
352 p.; 7 inches
ISBN
0812502108 / 9780812502107