Nine Princes of Amber (Roger Zelazny) - Interesting to a Point

Rating: ⭐(out of 5)

Nine Princes in Amber starts with the protagonist, Corwin waking up in a Nursing Home, with no memory of who he is and what got him here. By the sheer dint of intuition, he makes his way out and sets about rebuilding his memory of the past. It is very likely that Robert Ludlum got the beginning of  Bourne Identity from here. It is interesting, entertaining and keeps you turning pages, though you know the hero will overcome the obstacles and emerge in style.

A little further is where it starts to become tedious and belaboured. Amber is the one true world and the other worlds are but shadows. You reach Amber only by passing through the Shadows and if you are a Prince of Amber, you will know how to make it. It gets tedious to know about the Nine Princes with their elaborate costumes. Also Amber does not seem to follow the rules of Physics or Chemistry or Biology, as people can breathe under water and move between spaces. That by itself would be fine in a fantasy land, but the car still needs fuel to run even in Amber! Pick a lane, you know.

The focus on the one true blood line, heir to the throne of Amber through hundreds of years, the magical qualities bestowed on them due to their lineage....got a bit much for me to enjoy. If you are looking for a quick, easy read, pick it up. If things falling into place, consistency, logic and a desire for a world where the accident of birth alone does not determine your fate and greatness, then this is not for you.