The Age Of Misrule: World's End, Darkest Hour, Always Forever: "World's End", "Darkest Hour", "Always Forever" (Gollancz S.F.) - Mark Chadbourn

A bit of a slog....

I am currently about half way through the first book of this trilogy so perhaps it's a little premature to post a review but I came on to Amazon to see if others were struggling with this book in the same way I am.
I am finding it such a slog to read this book, all the characters seem to speak the same way and constant explanation is given to their feelings, there is virtually no conflict between the characters, what conflict there is feels forced and under-developed. As the characters move through the story they encounter other minor characters that divulge information so easily it's almost like a video game where you're given blatant clues along the way. People seem to keen to spill information in this book. The plot, so far, is repetitive...running, hiding...getting soaked in the rain...more running...more hiding...more oh they've found us again...more running...more getting soaked in the rain. I keep waiting for something to happen and it just doesn't. Hopefully, it will get better...the ideas in it are interesting it's just not very well executed so far.

something different

Well' here's smething different,mythology,fantasy and the modern world all come together in a richly tangled web, but not too tangled to be spoiled.
Destiny,with the help of some iterfering gods, throws together some very different characters to fight for their lives and stop the total destruction of humanity.No americans to save the day though.
Arturian legend and english mythology come together to make england as fantastical as any imaginary fantasy world i have read about. I found the frailty of main chracters as their personalities clashed both frustrating and an added dimention to the story.
All added together, very refreshing angle on fantasy. I enjoyed it very much and anyone who enjoys fantasy should do too.

A Disappointing Drag

I really wanted to like the Age of Misrule. The concept sounded great on paper. Its therefore an even greater pity that the implementation of that concept was so poor.

The problems are innumerable. A cast of lead characters and supposed 'heroes' in the making who are by turns naive, irritating and/or mind numblingly stupid (how they don't all end up dead in the first hundred pages I have no idea). A flat prose style that repeatedy uses the same imagery again & again. A repetitive plot and a narrative pace that drags horribly badly. A mythology that is confusing to the point of incoherence at times, self-indulgently trying to mix in too many ideas without giving readers a clear set of rules to follow for the new world the author creates.

Put simply Age of Misrule is a mess, and a lengthy one at that. Chabourn obviously knows his old English mythology and has a mind brimming full of ideas. What he and his novels lack however, is an understanding of what makes for an exciting and entertaining story. If you're going to create a fantasy trilogy of over 1300 pages you have to keep hold of reader's attention. That means offering them heroes (and anti-heroes) they can sympathise with, empathise with and root for and a dynamic plot that holds the attention and truly excites. Age of Misrule offers none of these things. I even tried taking a break between each 'book' in the trilogy to make it more appealing, but by the end of book 2 I had to literally force myself to go back and read the final volume. That by itself says a great deal.

As I say, its a real shame to have to award Age of Misrule only two stars (one for the concept and one for not being totally without merit). I had hoped it would be the beginning of a long author/reader relationship. Now however, having struggled to the end of the first set of adventures of the Brothers of Dragons I will not be coming back for those that follow.

Brilliant dark fantasy

In this gripping series, Chadbourn turns the world of fantasy on its head. He explores what would really happen if the Celtic gods returned, and, unlike other fantasy writers, indicates that neither the Golden Ones "the good guys" nor the Fomorii are particularly interested in helping mankind. Mankind must help itself.

His five main characters are each fully explored, and their flaws are exposed to the reader. They fight with each other, betray each other and all try to do their own thing.

This is essential fantasy reading for everyone sick and tired of 'noble' heroes saving the world.

Good plot, writing sometimes flawed

The storyline in this book is dark and highly entertaining. Five "flawed humans" must save the Earth from spirits straight out of Celtic mythology.
However, I found the author did not develop the characters particularly well and had to provide too much exposition on why they were reacting to various situations as a result.
Overall, I enjoyed the book, but thought that if the narrator described once more how the characters were "surpised at the deep bonds that they had developed with each other so quickly", I was going to toss it out the window.