This book started out a very, very slow read..."ennui" as my high school English teacher would say.  I often found myself reading the same passages twice to understand the plot. I almost gave up to reread a David Gemmell novel.  I stuck with Donaldson; and the book does gather steam about half way through.  Donaldson's writing kept improving with each turned page.  Whether or not this was intentional, I do not know. Plus, after reading and seeing the Lord Of The Rings, you can't help but see how many ideas from Tolkien's work are lifted for this story.  The main problem with this book is there is really no character to "root" & "cheer" for.  The "anti-hero", Thomas Covenant is portrayed as a whiney, uncompassionate @ss who actually rapes a girl in the first 100 pages...some "hero".  There were times during this book I wished Covenant would just jump off the cliff or just get blown  away. Anyway, I just finished the second book of the chronicle and it is much better than this one.  I am starting the third and so far it is even better!  Unfortunately you need to plow through this one to  appreciate the follow-up book, "The Illearth War".  Haven't reviewed it yet, but it's worthy of at least  four stars.

Too bad there's no "Cliff Notes" for this one.
This book started out a very, very slow read... "ennui" as my high school English teacher would say. I often found myself reading the same passages twice to understand the plot. I almost gave up to reread a David Gemmell novel. I stuck with Donaldson; and the book does gather steam about half way through. Donaldson's writing kept improving with each turned page. Whether or not this was intentional, I do not know. Plus, after reading and seeing the Lord Of The Rings, you can't help but see how many ideas from Tolkien's work are lifted for this story. The main problem with this book is there is really no character to "root" & "cheer" for. The "anti-hero", Thomas Covenant is portrayed as a whiney, uncompassionate @ss who actually rapes a girl in the first 100 pages... some "hero". There were times during this book I wished Covenant would just jump off the cliff or just get blown  away. Anyway, I just finished the second book of the chronicle and it is much better than this one. I am starting the third and so far it is even better! Unfortunately you need to plow through this one to  appreciate the follow-up book, "The Illearth War". Haven't reviewed it yet, but it's worthy of at least  four stars. Too bad there's no "Cliff Notes" for this one.