Maybe I should have taken a break between the Elenium and starting the Tamuli.

I was happy that this book started quickly enough - characters already established from the previous trilogy. But, perhaps there was a quota of pages to fill, because the middle part of the book just dragged on and on and on and.....
The witty banter between the beloved characters has become overdone and I'm not finding too many of the characters that likable anymore.
Happy enough with the final scene and conclusion. Typical first book of a trilogy that's purpose is basically to clarify the enemy and the purpose for the next two books.
( )

Ik heb dit boek uit (en het volgende deel) en ik vind het weer heerlijk lezen. In de categorie gezellige boeken krijgt dit vijf sterren. In de categorie fijne karakters krijgt dit boek 4 sterren. Helaas is het wel weer veel van hetzelfde qua plot, vandaar dat ik toch steeds uitkom op 3 sterren. Maar wel een dikke 3 sterren. Want dit soort boeken zijn vrienden en die moet je niet te hard vallen, maar koesteren.

Wat ik trouwens wel erg leuk en ook wel enigszins origineel vind, zijn de stukjes waarmee ieder boek begint. Die vertellen het verhaal zoals het tot op dat moment geweest is, maar altijd net wat anders dan hoe wij het gelezen hebben. Een samenvatting is het ook weer niet echt, want het wordt toch wat uit een andere invalshoek beschreven. En dat is meteen een van de weinige dingen waarin Eddings naar mijn idee toch wel wat originaliteit laat zien.

Overigens, hoewel ik de boeken consequent 3 sterren geef en vertel dat ik ze niet origineel vind (op voorgaand onderdeel na), geniet ik wel enorm van wat Eddings schrijft. En dat is natuurlijk een kwaliteit op zich. ( )

Han pasado seis años desde que el caballero Sparhawk venciera al dios Azash. Seis años de paz para el caballero, junto a su esposa Ehlana, reina de Elenia. Pero están apareciendo inquietantes signos de inestabilidad. Signos que, además, llevan la marca de lo sobrenatural, como si del pasado regresaran terrores que parecían aniquilados. El emperador del lejano imperio tamul, que a pesar de su decadencia benévola mantiene la hegemonía en el continente daresiano, reclama ante dichos signos la presencia del aFamado Sparhawk. Éste, acompañado de Ehlana y de sus fieles caballeros pandiones, al servicio de la iglesia de Elenia, parte hacia la capital del imperio, atravesando tierras antaño pacíficas, pero en las que las sombras del pasado son cada vez más corpóreas, más agresivas, más temibles...

The Tamuli is probably David Eddings best fantasy series. I found myself with an insane urge to re-read it recently and having just finished Domes of Fire, I am inspired to race through the next two books as quickly as possible. While Eddings' fantasy is decidedly a one trick pony of royal heroes, gods, and elementals, I have always viewed this series as the ultimate ending of the story began in The Belgariad and The Malloarean. While most of the characters in this series can be identified as Eddings stereotypes (including the raven-haired sorceress and a titled thief/spy), the characters in The Tamuli are some of the best in his career. Of particular charm are Emperor Sarabian and his diplomatic corps.

This series is more about political machinations than its prequel, but there is still enough action to keep the story moving. Sparhawk and his band of heroes have been invited to the Tamul Empire to investigate a series of paranormal incidents that seem to have spread to Elenia as well. They decide on 'grand tour' approach that will allow them to gather as much information as possible all the while filling the ranks with both new characters and encouraging the return of loved characters from The Elenium. While it has more of feel of exposition than storytelling, this is a great way to introduce the reader to the Daresian continent and the new peoples and cultures that will be important to know in the rest of the series, as well as catch the reader up on what is new in the lives of returning characters from the previous series.

This can be read as a stand-alone as the backstory is provided as needed along the way. However, it is a sequel and having read The Elenium first, will definitely add to the enjoyment of the story. ( )

I know that David Eddings books are very much a repeated formula from series to series but that does not take away from my enjoyment of them. I first read his books many years ago when I chose them because they were the longest books I could find. I enjoy his characters and the plot and I find that in general they stand up to the test of time as long as you can enjoy the raging sexism. ( )