Book Review: The Courts of Chaos by Roger Zelazny

 The Courts of Chaos 

( The Chronicles of Amber #5)

By Roger Zelazny 

Published Year: 1978

Page Count: 150 pages 

Medium Used: Paperback 

Genre : Multiverse, Fantasy, Magic, Sorcery, Shadows, Action, Adventure, 2025-read. 

Rating : 4/5 

This book continues from where the book 4 left off. The veil of shape-shifting is removed from Corwin's father and it is revealed that Oberon has been journeying and guiding his hand for a while. In the begin of this book, he sends a message through Dara to the family that they launch a distraction to the Court of Chaos so that it will help in his war against them. Amber and Court of Chaos are at war to establish their rule over the shadows/multiverse. Corwin and his siblings don't trust Dara immediately - given that she is a child from the Court of Chaos and her son (with Corwin) is also settled in the land of Chaos. As the story progresses, Corwin is informed that his father lost the war and is dead. A bird mystically lands from the heavens above and hands him the jewel of judgement. Corwin does the only thing he thinks is apt - with immense concentration and grit, ignoring the storms and lightning flashes coming from the spreading of Chaos, he draws a new pattern. Brand, his brother, who isn't dead, comes after him and the jewel. What ensues is a fight for the dominance of old Amber, new Amber which Brand wants to draw in his own evil image. Eventually, the good siblings win and one of them becomes king with the aide of their family mascot, Unicorn. 

I liked the development of the series but this is not as mind blowing to me as the 4th in the series. That continues to remain my current favorite until I read something in the series thats better ! Cheers!