From Joanna's nightstand

I finished reading Starman last week! I can’t remember when I started reading it. A bit of background is probably the best place to start. Starman, by Sara Douglass, is the third in the Wayfarer Redemption fantasy series. Depending on where you are in the world, it is two separate trilogies, but for our purposes it is a set of 6 books. Starman is the culmination Prophecy of the Destroyer. The prophecy ominously and vaguely describes events that will either reunite three groups of people into the land of Tencendor or result in destruction for all. Our key prophecy player are Axis, Starman, and the Destroyer, who happen to be half brothers. Like most fantasy, there is a whole host of characters, regions, and people to get the hang of. You can decide if you want to dive into all that. Starman is the culmination of the prophecy. The final showdown.

I enjoy fantasy in pure form or variants. The slow, and hopefully steady, world building is okay with me so long as I know we are going somewhere. Exposition is to be expected along with big ramp ups to epic endings. Starman was chock full of ponderous exposition. We plod along as a variety of characters take their places and prophecy is fulfilled. I’m not sure all the waiting and trudging paid off. The ending was fulfilling, I suppose, just fairly anticlimactic. Instead of a big ramp up to the ending, there are many small builds to small climactic moments. The most thrilling show downs took place in the first two thirds of the book. Scenes that could have been quite exciting were a bit… meh. Overall, the book was pleasant enough, but rather lackluster.
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I enjoyed Starman, but it was not my favorite of the three I’ve read. The first book, The Wayfarer Redemption, was the high point, full of excitement and intrigue. The second help my attention just as well. I would recommend the books to you, or anyone else. I just might not read the other three books in the series.

Now, to pick the next book. I can’t figure out what I’m in the mood for, maybe some non-fiction? I should probably focus on Good Omens.