Just started. I'd intended to blast through these last four books, but the third one completely kicked my ass with its mind numbing horribleness (yes, I know that's not a word, no, I won't apologize for using it). But, I've gone through two other non-SRD books, and now, just like swallowing bad medicine, I'll squint up my eyes, clench my butthole, and try and take it like a man...

And now I'm done.

So finally, after all is said and done, what did I think? Well, I think this book was a hell of a lot better than the three that preceded it. So that's a plus. I think that Donaldson was able to bring it to a satisfying and worthy conclusion, which is good, because, quite frankly, after having to slog through those three books that led up to this completely killed me from ever reading anything else that Donaldson will ever write. If he said tomorrow that he was just kidding and still had a single Thomas Covenant book in him, and even if that book was only a hundred pages, I would not read it.

Why? Because, as okay as this book was, there was no need for all the crap Donaldson dragged us through to get us here. So, no, the means did not justify the end.

In this final book, which could have been subtitled Ascension, we finally got to see each of the lead characters finally come into their own (even if it was mostly in the last few pages of the book before the long, drawn out epilogue).

There's a lot that pissed me off with these last four books, but likely not much more than Donaldson continuously writing characters that wanted to say one thing, or needed to say one thing, or desperately had to say one thing, but instead said something else that was totally lame.

Seriously, if I read something like, "Thomas said, 'Linden, sweetie-pie, I really need some more aliantha berries and, oh yeah, those pots ain't gonna clean themselves.' He meant to say, 'Holy shit, look out! Giant Raver's gonna eat your head!'" Okay, yes, I'm exaggerating, but it's pretty damn close.

And, if you haven't read this book yet, and feel like playing a drinking game, do this: Every time Jeremiah says, "Mom!" or "Mom?" or "Mom." Just that. Just that one word sentence. Each time he says that, take a drink.

Better still, each time you read " are " take a drink. For example, "Linden Avery, you are the Chosen," or "We are Giants," or "They were Haruchai." Seriously, you'll be so hammered, you won't worry about the story anymore.

Kinda like Steig Larrsen's fascination with coffee in the Dragon Tattoo books.

Anyway, though I bitched and complained my way through this (thankfully) final series of novels, I truly didn't mind this last book. It wasn't earthshaking, and I sure as hell never got the same thrill as I did as a teenager reading the first trilogy, I did enjoy this last book. Hell, I'd even gone back and re-read the first and second trilogy before starting these ones and enjoyed them almost as much as I did on the first read. Maybe that's what made most of these last books so disappointing. But yes, this one was worth the price of admission.

But I am honestly, seriously, truly and absolutely glad I'm done reading them. ( )

Where do I go with this? I started the first Chronicles of Thomas Convenant probably over 20 years ago, and fell in love. I read through the three books, anxiously picking up the three of the second chronicles. What seemed many years later, Donaldson released the start of the third and final chronicles, and each time I have waited anxiously for the next book. That all ends with the release of this one. A great series has come to a close.

This is book four of the Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant. It starts off right where book three had ended, though it has been quite some time since I read it, I thought I would be able to just pick up right where book four starts, but easily within the first few chapters, I realized I was having issues. I didn't remember characters doing/being certain things/places, and felt lost for quite a bit of the beginning here. Probably would have been good to go back and re-read the first three books, so everything would be clearer for me.

Either way, once I got started, and knew what was going on with whom, it became a bit easier. It seemed so much of this book dealt with internal personal issues for the main characters. I found myself getting a bit bored with what felt like lengthy descriptions of inner turmoils, that, quite frankly, made me skip/skim pages at a time. I understand that much of this inner turmoil is necessary to the story, but just seemed repetitive throughout the book. The ending I felt was a bit of a let-down, but honestly couldn't see a clearer way to end such a life-long series. Overall, even with some boring passages, it was a finish to some great characters. ( )

I stalled out a bit reading this, but mostly due to other concerns and demands. This is a lengthy book that builds upon the lore that was created in the previous books and develops and expands upon it. Donaldson continues to use obscure vocabulary and archaic meaning - for me, this is how the Land is defined, and is appropriate, but mileage will vary for each reader. Also, if you have gotten this far, you have come to some term with it.

This book primarily focuses son the viewpoints of Thomas Covenant, Linden Avery, and Jeremiah, her adopted son. Each of these characters is further developed, and grows through their conflicts, both internal and external.

The last few chapters were wonderful to read and think about. I found the conclusion to be highly satisfying. ( )

Plus another half star. Not a bad conclusion to such a mammoth undertaking, although I think the author tried to pack in far too much action. There were too many attacks from too many enemies so at times it read a bit like the kind of video game my children used to play where you have to find and kill all sorts of monsters before reaching and overcoming the top 'boss'. I think a lot of that could have been stripped out (did I really need to know in which order the stone monster eyes were put out?) to leave the internal journeys of the characters which are so rich and satisfying. ( )

Last book of the Last Chronicles. Sad day as always for me when an old friend leaves forever. Read the first book of the series back in 1977 and my initial thoughts were he was a Tolkien copycat. And it may have started out that way but Thomas Covenant The Unbeliever evolved into something more than a copy of something and became a great work in and of itself. Ten volumes over 47 years has earned Stephen R. Donaldson a place with the masters who have crafted a world that can stand on it's own. ( )