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Title: Very unsatisfying
Review: I have to say that having just finished this novel I am quite stunned at the level of praise this book has received here. It is a fairly standard story at its heart - the inhabitants of the Forest Kingdom battle (and battle and battle) as they and their land are being engulfed by the Darkwood (your typical light against the dark, good versus evil shtick). The "light against the dark" theme is used quite regularly in the fantasy genre and is okay in the hands of a good story-teller who can put a twist of originality on the tale, but I don't think Simon Green achieves that here at all. In fact this story is just overstuffed with an unrelenting and forced melodrama. Also, for all of its gory demon-slaughtering the author chooses an otherwise incongruously light-hearted approach to the story. The dialogue is sappy and syrupy to the point of annoyance. I find it hard to believe that most sci-fantasy veterans would find it very rewarding.
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