Charlemagne's Champion
Roland, an outcast warrior terrified of his supernatural heritage, seeks redemption through service to Charlemagne. A deeply unlikable protagonist and sloppy prose nearly drove me away, but intriguing magical mysteries and a promising friendship kept me reading—until a disappointing conclusion vindicated my initial doubts.
Contrarywise
An eccentric trickster god, an expansive magical world, and a wonderfully engaging ensemble make for a promising beginning. Then an increasingly incoherent, world-ending plot introduces divine meddling, rape, and a supposedly heartwarming romance between biological twins. I loved the first third. The rest? What the fuck.
The Adversary
The final volume of The Saga of Pliocene Exile delivers an overstuffed conclusion in which murderous abusers edge toward redemption, ever-expanding psychic powers dissolve the stakes, and crucial information is withheld simply to keep the reader turning pages. Includes a complete spoiler-filled recap for anyone who'd rather skip the 470-page ordeal.