I've read up on quite a few of the criticisms/complaints on #darkage by @Pierce_Brown and here is my two cents on it.
A lot of them rely on these central points: that the plot and events that took place were very frustrating, even downright annoying at some points with the lack of any wins for the 'good guys'. The deaths that transpired were also very numbing and didn't have a big enough impact.
I think these people have a fundamental idea about the new trilogy in the #redrising saga wrong: This whole trilogy is about questioning the central thesis of the first three books, and Dark Age especially is about showing the consequences of striving for the dream of Eo.
This book is SUPPOSED to feel frustrating. It's SUPPOSED to be annoying and unrelenting to the 'good guys'. The whole intent behind the book is to show the readers the true face of War.
War is not a joke. it is horrific. It is agonizing and destroys what makes humanity beautiful. The first three books weren't war, they were an infiltration mission with only the slightest hints of what War truly is. This is War. This is how immoral and frustrating it is.
You SHOULD be frustrated and annoyed, because that is exactly what the characters are feeling. They've gone through all this hell, all this death, and yet they still can't win. They still lose. This was, i believe, specifically designed by @Pierce_Brown.
As to the deaths of so many important and amazing characters, the same point applies. It was intended to not be grandiose, but fast. So many known and fleshed out characters die in this book, yet there is no time at all to mourn. No calm moments to reflect.
Their deaths are brutal, quick, and without hesitation. No time to mourn. If you pause and let your guard down, even more will die, and death will continue to beget death.
I believe the annoying and frustrating feeling left over from reading #darkage and the numb feeling we all have at out favorites dying is intentionally there.
This is what a Dark Age entails.
This is what a Dark Age entails.
I would like to hear #howler1's thoughts on this. @Pierce_Brown
