One of the best series I've ever had the opportunity to read. I was heartbroken to turn the last page. ( )

This the 4th book in the Chathrand Voyage series. It picks up immediately where the previous book left off. The main cast of heroes is away from the Chathrand, the great ship. While most of the action concerns this group, there is some plot around what is happening on the Chathrand with its motley crew and some of the other minor characters from the previous books.
I enjoyed this series, but I struggled with the melting pot of fantasy standards. Miniature people, end of the world evil magic, evil sorcerers, steampunk type tech, the boy and girl fated to save the world, etc. It is well written and detailed and the characters are interesting, but while the totality feels a bit unique, there are just too many parts borrowed from other fantasy novels. My other problem is that while the heroes face off against multiple evil characters out to get them, those evil characters are for the most part completely faceless. They just do their evil thing because they are evil, apparently. ( )

This review is written with a GPL 3.0 license and the rights contained therein shall supersede all TOS by any and all websites in regards to copying and sharing without proper authorization and permissions. Crossposted at Bookstooge.booklikes.blogspot.wordpress.leafmarks.com & Bookstooge's Reviews on the Road Facebook Group by Bookstooge's Exalted Permission. Title: The Night of the Swarm Series: The Chathrand Voyage Author: Robert Redick Rating: 1 of 5 Stars Genre: SFF Pages: DNF Format: Kindle digital edition My Thoughts:
I have not been a fan of this series but I did want to know how things ended. However, at the 7% mark, Ott [a character who is a spy master and has helped set up the events for the whole series] takes down one of the few non-hateable characters, has his henchmen hold him down with a pillow over his face. Ott proceeds to slice up the other character with non-lethal but very painful cuts AND then proceeds to piss all over the guy, in front of the command structure [and everyone there] on the ship. I don't want that kind of filth in my entertainment. " ( )

This darn computer or this darn site just ate the review I was writing. It was an awesome review. It was without a doubt the best review written by human or divine hand. It would have changed the world for the better, healing the sick, curing the lame and bringing peace in our time. Alas, it is no more and I cannot remember how it went.

I really enjoyed this book, though. Excellent. Almost as good as my review. ( )

A most satisfying conclusion to the best fantasy series I've read in a couple of years.

Reddick manages to bring his huge cast of characters and byzantine plot both to satisfying and just conclusions, that don't elide the complexity or sadness that true endings can bring.

Too many fantasy novels are content with a pat, "apocalypse averted, happily ever after" ending, and I was immeasurably pleased in the ways that Reddick avoided this, whilst still giving something satisfying, mature, human. I can't lie, I had a lump in my throat and was genuinely sad at the thought of leaving these characters and this world behind - there have been so, so few novels/worlds that have left me with this feeling. Maybe four or five others I can think of, that's genuinely the highest praise I can give. ( )