The Redemption Of Althalus

[Saolta Oiche]

I read this book ages ago and wasn't too struck on it.

I found it a bit sketchy about what it was about, seemed to lack some sort of depth and possibly needed to be made easier to understand and Esme really got on my nerves. lol

What did anyone else think?

Feel free to reccommend any other books by em, restore my faith in the author/s, lol.


Ta

 

[Stormpirate]

I think it started out good; I liked the character of Althalus and how he was written.

But about halfway through the book, when everyone devolved into typical Eddings characters, and of course everyone was destined to fall in love and get together, and the convenient plot devices, I lost interest. I finished the book, but I probably won't read it again. I completely agree about the lack of depth in the book.

 

[Saolta Oiche]

Aha so it wasn't just me. lol

 

[HappyHippo]

I was literally *gagging* to read it when it came out, having been an Eddings fan since early teenhood. Had to stop myself pinching it from my uncles at a party a few years back!

Anyway, to cut a long story short, also very disappointed. The whole thing with the doors didn't work practically (but then, neither did freezing time in the Elenium), again, everyone fell in love, and the lead female was superior, all-knowing, and naturally STUNNING. The hero was a bit more intelligent than the usual Eddings type, but still needed leading by his nose.

Makes you wonder what life is like in their house; who wears the trews, David or Leigh?

 

[nixie]

Redemption of Althalus, that was bad, really bad.Also wouldn't recommend starting the Elder God series, recycled garbage its the best I can think to describe it.

 

[Saolta Oiche]

I was literally *gagging* to read it when it came out, having been an Eddings fan since early teenhood. Had to stop myself pinching it from my uncles at a party a few years back!

Anyway, to cut a long story short, also very disappointed. The whole thing with the doors didn't work practically (but then, neither did freezing time in the Elenium), again, everyone fell in love, and the lead female was superior, all-knowing, and naturally STUNNING. The hero was a bit more intelligent than the usual Eddings type, but still needed leading by his nose.

Makes you wonder what life is like in their house; who wears the trews, David or Leigh?

Must say I agree with the 'lead by the nose', it really did feel like that. Felt more like a 'making a point' thing rather than a chracter trait.

Did wind me up, she was so domineering, so bosy in it, I don't like bossy people.

 

[HappyHippo]

but ALL his women are bossy! and manipulative, superior, smug, omnipotent, omnipresent... no, wait, those last two are God, right? *mwahaha*

It's like Eddings is a habit, or a book equivalent of my son's binky; I need it around to make me feel secure!

 

[Saolta Oiche]

Such a statement from one with such a youthful complexion! Very surprised.

 

[Rosemary]

It was a few years ago when I read it, I must admit. I do recall enjoying part of it, then struggling to keep interested.

Yes, some of the characters seemed as if they had arrived from another of his books but I didn't find that a bother. Basically, it felt as if the story-line had dried up.

 

[Stenevor]

I found it awful, amazed I bothered to get to the end. Page after page of inane dialogue with the occasional line of boring, forgettable description inbetween. Ive just picked it up now and read the back where it mentions an evil god unmaking the world, from this you might imagine some threat or danger but there isnt any. If I remember rightly even when someone dies they whisk him off to their magic house and bring him back to life somehow. Avoid at all costs. If you must read some Eddings read the Belgariad, I thought that was OK at the time though I was young when I read it, everything after that seems to be the same story rehashed. I think he does it purely for the money nowadays.

 

[HappyHippo]

It's disappointing when a previously good author does that. He's never been utterly brilliant, but it's all very formulaic now, isn't it?

 

[Saolta Oiche]

Sad when you think about it, someone of so-so talent gets the gig and deprives someone else who really wants it of a go.

Still such is the world. Pity.

Ta Stevenor but I do not think he will be on my list ever to read, this book just put me off to much, and it was a big book aswell, big and full of so-so.

 

[Talysia]

When I first read this, I enjoyed it, but looking back at it now, it seems a lot like his other books.

 

[Eternal Salmissra]

I haven't been reading it for very long and found it very difficult to get into. Mainly, I think, because I'd just finished the seeress of kell (for the 4th time) and I struggled to get used to the newness of it. I kept on expecting all of my fave characters to turn up and was so disappointed when they didn't. I'm starting to get used to it now though and am beginning to enjoy it, sort of. Saying that, Emmy has only just introduced her real self to the group so I still have a way to go.

 

[Eternal Salmissra]

I must admit, everytime somebody's name is mentioned, I have to try and think about which one it is as they seem to be very forgetable. I'm forcing my way through it.

 

[HappyHippo]

it's one of those okay-to-read-while-commuting books (unless you're driving, then don't!), but I can't read it for 'fun' anymore. It's too cardboard for me to sink my teeth into.

 

[tangaloomababe]

I liked the ideas behind this book, I like how the group came together but it all seemed just a little to tidy towards the end, problems were easily solved and it just had a feel good feeling at the end, like everything had to end happily.
Everyone ended up with their chosen partner and evil was overcome.

The beginning though showed a great deal of promise, its just a shame that it fell down at the end.

 

[Harleyquin]

the biggest problem I had was the villan... had a book for much longer than athalus, was supposed to be supreamly powerful knowing his book inside out - yet he was SO easily twarted it was silly by a person who only had a relitively limited knowlede of the book.

I just dont think Eddings can write about time / time travel / timemanipulation without digging very very very big plot holes and leaping through them with abandon.

Good concept - poorley executed.

 

[white_wanderer]

I enjoyed the book. It was a departure from the other ones, and I didn't find that the character duplication detracted from the story. Being brutally honest, the duplication was minor - taking one or two minor traits of previous eddings characters and incorporating them into a new person. As far as I can tell, characters such as Bheid, Eliar, Althalus and Leitha are new characters.
The idea that Althalus can beat Ghend is not as far fetched as it may seem. Althalus and his guys work as a team, supplying ideas and each kepeing to their role. Ghend's allies are back-stabbing, in-fighting individualists who are eyeing his position, so they do what they must. The battle is not Ghend Vs Althalus, but Ghend vs ALthalus and friends.

The message of this book, and others, is that teamwork can overcome all obstacles, and those in the team that go off and do their own thing, contribute to the downfall. It's the old divide and conquer scenario.

My only criticism about this book (and the other eddings books) is that he is a squeamish author who does not want to get his characters killed off. When he does kill someone, it is either as a plot device to focus the hero, or as revenge for something else. There are only 2 on "screen" deaths in this book - Salkan and Yakhag?? - one as a plot device, and one for revenge that also leads to a plot device.

 

[Quokka]

This was when I realised I had read enough of Eddings. I didn't mind the duplication at all during the Belgariad and Ellenium/Tamuli, the two series are a great fit together but when this first came out I was hoping for something new and I didn't get it (imo).

I've enjoyed rereading the Belgarion/ Sparhawk stories since but after finishing Althalus and the first elder gods book I wouldn't read anything new by Eddings without hearing some very good reviews/ word of mouth about it. On the other hand Althalus was the first Eddings book my younger sister read and she loved it, she started the Belgariad (I dont know if she finished it) but this is still her favourite Eddings book.