The Elder Gods
The Treasured One
Crystal Gorge
The first thing you should note is the asterisk next to the authors names. This series is incomplete and therefore, I may be doing it an injustice. But I've read through three novels and at this point, I'm willing to take the chance.
The basic premise of the series is nothing new to the Eddings. There is a group of Gods that interact daily with humanity, and then there are THE Gods, and of course, an adversarial deity. Those of you who have read The Belgarion and The Mallorean or even The Redemption of Altheus will recognize this set up. There, however, any similarities end. While Belgarion and his unique and extended family tugged on the heart-strings ever so lightly but undeniably, and while Altheus was a rogue and a scoundrel, his heart was in the right place and we loved him. There are almost no characters in this series with which one can identify. The most reachable character is Longbow, and he is so remote from the reader as to be unapproachable and un-understandable.
I LOVE the Eddings books, of all of them, the only ones I don't own are The Rivan Codex and Regina's Song. I love them all, that is, except this series. The only source of continuity is the endless repetition of the same plot themes in every single chapter and the inane, but not endearing, banter of the characters. In all of the previous Eddings' books, there has been, at the core, love. Love of spouses, love of friends, love of reachable and understandably motivated deities and demi-gods. These books have no such redeeming qualities.
To be succinct - these books suck. Sorry, but its true.
I am profoundly disturbed that my first truly awful review should go to the Eddings. But, truly, these books should be left in the shelf. The only possible redemption in this VLN is book 4, but I don't see how even an excellently written conclusion can overcome the pure boredom these books leave with the reader. Give 'em a bye....read some Spider-Man comics instead. They're far more entertaining.
Zero Stars