What do you think?
Rate this book
444 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 12, 1984
1.5 stars
I honestly believe that if I had read this book when i was way younger, I would have absolutely loved it.
Now though, PHEW!!!! It's kinda hard to overlook the toxic fragile masculinity, the idiocy, pointless pride and female idiot quota that makes up the companions who are to save the world. Quite frankly the only person who had a lick of sense in this book was Raistlin.
Riverwind aka Masculinity so fragile: How on earth did such a toxic character get written? This guy was supposed to be Goldmoon's le boo but apparently he couldn't handle her being his leader. How the heck do you fall in love with someone you clearly know will lead your people, essentially be your boss and start forming omg i fell in love with Goldmoon and not the chieftain's daughter? is this not madness??? ...still you are now their ruler- bitterness had crept into his voice - and I will be husband of Chieftain
Goldmoon does the classic spineless female (I feel like this is something authors in this genre loved to do) and tries to comfort him dude goes"I was thinking about it last night. I've been gone so many years. My thoughts were of you as a woman. I did not realize- he swallowed and then drew a deep breath. I left Goldmoon. I returned to find Chieftain's Daughter"
Goldmoon tries to reason with him, telling him she had no choice as her father had fallen ill and couldn't lead and if she hadn't stepped up to the plate so to speak someone else would have taken over.
Know what masculinity so fragile did after this impassioned plea?"Riverwind listened his face stern and unmoving. He stared at a point above her head. We should get started he said coldly. It's nearly dawn".
Dude kept disrespecting her at every turn until she finally asks for forgiveness for being Chieftain's daughter."Oh my beloved. I am sorrier than i can say that you came home to chieftain's daughter and not Goldmoon"
TF?????!!!!!!!
He also apologises but excuses his behaviour on the fact that she didn't tell him all that she had been through.. I'm just here like TF??
At which point she agrees to rescind her title as Chieftain's daughter when their journey comes to an end. Of course he doesn't argue.
At every point when Goldmoon had an opinion that didn't go with his, this.. this... little turd would shoot her down in the rudest way. like WTF???!!!
I really do not understand how this utterly, despicable chauvinist got hailed as one of the heroes.
Tanis: This was supposedly the leader of the group. I guess they chose him because he was a sturdy fellow but hot damn if there ever was a bland character this would be it. He was just bleh. Take a fucking decision be bloody decisive for crying out loud but nope. Dude couldn't even make up his mind about his love life Ugh!!! I don't know about you guys but when shit happens and the author keeps telling you, your heroes is scared and hands are shaking and they're ready to piss their pants (okay probably overboard there) but yeah, you start looking at them like okayyyyyyyyyyyyyy, can i get another hero please?
Sturm: Another despicable human being who couldn't think for himself. Absolutely did not like this character simply because he was close minded little shit!! I absolutely could not understand why he hated Raistlin (maybe there's history there) and why at every turn he kept shouting that Raistlin had betrayed them.. Dude was dim honestly. Let's not forget the other times he would have gladly put the others in death's way just because his bloody knight oath or some shit like that said don't retreat.. Dude if you want to commit suicide, please go ahead, but don't drag the others into it.
Tasslehoff Burrfoot: Fucking idiot character.
Flint: Now that i think about it. Flint was just there can't say his character got fleshed out so much. Reminded me of the dwarf character in Lord of the Rings though. So maybe you can substitute the two. Apparently dwarves have the same personality across books.
Goldmoon, Laurana and Tika: These were basically the 3 main female characters in the novel, with Laurana and Tika joining the group much later in the adventure. Goldmoon we already know, Tika is presented as a strong opinionated female character so i guess there's hope for her. Laurana is presented as the female who wants to prove to the guy she loves that she's all grown up and can fight. Miss me with that bull shit. but there you have it, the glorious female characters of Dragons of Autumn twilight.
All in all it wasn't a very enjoyable book. I did not like the female characters were presented and there were instances were the continuation of scenes were off. That aside if you can stand the narration coming off like you're watching a kid's program, chauvinistic characters, dim witted knights, bleh leaders, you may enjoy the book.