Dying of the Light by George R. R. Martin Book Review

 Dying of the Light 

By George R. R. Martin 

Published Year: 1977

Page Count: 300 pages 

Medium Used : Kindle Scribe

Genre : High Fantasy, Space Opera, Romance, Betrayal, 2025-read. 

Rating :5/5 😀😀😀😀😀

This book is so so good. I have become a fan of Martin's writing with the Game of Thrones series and wanted to check out some of his previous works. This was written and published in 1977, way before he became famous. The number of ratings on goodreads (which i use as a benchmark to note a book's success/popularity) showed that it is not that well known/read. Alas,but this one is a true gem!! Character development is superb. The prose is gorgeous. There is love, betrayal, sorcery, dirges that drive their listeners mad, suicidal and wickedness, brutality in right dosage to keep me immersed, glued throughout. There are scenes where I could feel my breath's sharp intake and my heart skip a few beats. At the end, my feeling is that some of the characters got what is coming to them, some are unpityably sacrificed for the narrative to take on a more sinister outlook. I admire the writing and the tense atmosphere created. Do check it out, all Fantasy and Martin readers!! 

Dirk and Jenny made promises to each other over a whisperjewel that they would each respond and come to the other when they are summoned through it. Dirk hears a call and enters the world of Worlorn to help her. He enters into her life created after she had left him on Avalon. She has two husbands.. Jaan and Garse. They are teyn and teyn to each other and she is their cro-betheyn. I think Martin wrote a wonderful story with these new terms and relationships between people of High Kaavalan. Jaan, Garse and Gwen(Dirk's Jenny) are on dying planet Worlorn and they are accompanied by other culture people, Braiths, from High Kaavalan. Gwen and Arkin Rourke (a Kimdissi) are there to conduct some ecology experiments and Jaan, Garse are there to protect Gwen. Dirk is later taken for a mock man (a human who is no different from an animal) and hunted by the Braiths. Jaan and Garse team up with Dirk and eventually an inexplicable killing spree takes over the hunters and the hunted. They forgo rules and their High Kaavalan codes of conduct. Its an unputdownable book. There are all aspects to make this a wonderful book but I feel it is so underrated. :(  More people should pick this one and enjoy the ride. Just like me.