4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Better...but no William King, Jan 2 2008
By Armaghetto "Millennius" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Manslayer (Mass Market Paperback)
This book was better than the incredibly dry Orcslayer, but still left much to be desired.
Gotrek and Felix were in better form, but still seemed way off from the heights they achieved in Daemonslayer and Giantslayer. Some problems I had with this installment was Felix's emotional roller coaster. At this point in time, I would think he would have put the whole Ulrika romance behind him as even he admitted it was played out as far back as dragonslayer, and then take into account the 20 years that passed, so why still carry a flame for a vampiress that seemed ready to turn on him at any moment? What, Felix hasn't been with any other lasses over the past twenty years?
Maybe that accounts for his jumpiness. But c'mon, the guy has faced down Daemons and Dragons(with gotrek leading point, of course) so maybe he shouldn't be so jumpy at some vampires.
Which begs the question, why was Felix willing to allow a vampiric conspiracy to continue in the first place? He and Gotrek should slayered every bloodsucker in their path
The fact that they had to turn tail and run from three of them shows Long's poor grasph on the dynamic strength to these characters. Maybe Long needs to read the closing chapters of daemonslayer and see why Gotrek shouldn't run from 3 female vampires.
And why wasn't his axe blazing bright in the presence of dark magic? Like it has in all the other books written by King?
Just one of my many questions and disappointment in Long's books. Elfslayer better be a better showing by Gotrek AND Felix.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
You Haven't Aged A Day!, Nov 14 2007
By M. Varden - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Manslayer (Mass Market Paperback)
Regardless of why Bill King is no longer writing the adventures of Gotrek & Felix, I am now completely convinced that the characters are in good hands. In `Manslayer', the duo return to the lands of the Empire after their 20 year sojourn, and are immediately plunged into another dark conspiracy in the city of Nuln. The story is slower to get started than their previous outing, but once it gets going it keeps up a breakneck pace that only increases as the story nears its climax.
I enjoyed seeing the duo interacting with human beings again, since it has been two books and several years since they spent any time among Felix's people. There's a running joke involving Felix's appearance that I think hints at an important revelation to come, and we get to see several familiar faces (some friendly, some not). We also get some information regarding the fates of two former companions, Max Schreiber and Snorri Nosebiter (which I was very grateful for). There is action, intrigue, horror, heartbreak, suspense, a tragic loss, and an epilogue that had me grinning from ear to ear in anticipation of the next book.
There were only a couple of things about the book I didn't enjoy: the first is a speculative oversight on Felix's part near the end regarding the identity of a still-unknown threat that had me shaking my head at his cluelessness (you'd think he'd know better by now). The second is the nearly sadistic level of punishment inflicted on the two heroes. I felt bad for both of them by the end of the story. They take a worse pounding in `Manslayer' than anything previously written, almost to the point of absurdity.
To sum up, I highly recommend `Manslayer' for fans of the series. Nathan Long does not disappoint in his second outing, and I eagerly look forward to the next.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Long does the series justice and then some, Dec 15 2009
By N. Smith - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Manslayer (Mass Market Paperback)
I really enjoyed Manslayer. In fact, it has renewed my interest in a series which I thought I was about through with.
The thing I like about Nathan Long, and which separates him from King, is the clear thought and planning that goes into constructing his stories.
Gotrek and Felix novels have often struck me as very linear "start at point A, go to point B, kill monster".
Long is able to weave a plot with more depth. It's also great to get more insight into the characters, their thoughts, and their relationship. Something we didn't get a lot of in King's books. The writing is fun and colorful.