PRINCE OF CHAOS (The Chronicles of Amber #10) by Roger Zelazney ⭐⭐⭐⭐

(Original review written February 3, 2019)

Soo happy to have completed this series. I was a little disappointed with the finish. It felt like it was building to something much larger, and was wrapped up in a flash. Just another example of how the Merlin Cycle comes up short compared to the first cycle.

Thoughts on Merlin Cycle: it had a lot of potential and some great moments, but lacked the magic of Corwin’s. Too much explaining what was happening rather than letting the story happen made it a less rewarding journey. The best parts were exploring the side of Chaos and the first book’s murder mystery/thriller vibe.

Amber as a whole: well worth the read. The first Cycle is a must for the genre, and the entire series is a great journey that keeps pulling you forward. The Corwin Cycle felt more like an epic, with big events and big consequences (and an entire battle to finish it off). Merlin’s started strong with a more personal/small-scale feel, and kind of coasted to the end. Probably not in my top 5 series, but it was fun nonetheless.

Rating:

Corwin Cycle - 5

Merlin Cycle - 4

P.S. would not recommend the book with all ten inside if you commute for work. Woof.