As I mentioned in my previous reviews, I love Elric and have read many of the stories set in his universe over the years. I have no idea who the hell this is supposed to be because this main character ain’t Elric.
Sure, he is supposed to be Elric, looks like him, even talks like him on occasion, but this is not The Albino Ruler of Mlenibone. Elric is many things but dumb is not a description that would generally be applied to him (Self centered, naive, paralyzed by self doubt, sure, but dumb? Nah). And how Elric handles his encounter with Saxif D’An, a classic story from the original tales, is unquestionably stupid.
The only reason I did not give the last volume one star was because the artwork was exceptional. Even that has taken a noticeable downturn in this volume. It isn’t bad, just mediocre.
And the ending, my god was that infuriating. To have Cymoril become the leader of Melnibone takes away so much of the pathos embedded within Elric. When he eventually kills her (although maybe he won’t , perhaps she will become the new consort of Arioch as they combine to bring about Hell on earth, with these authors one never knows), the guilt he should feel for slaying an innocent creature that loved him nearly drives him to madness. To have her become such a figure of evil (& with her outfit that looks like much of what Cersei would wear, minus a shirt, she is definitely evil) changes the entire narrative so that the reader wants Elric to kill her. These authors have no idea how to tell an Elric story and seem to be wanting to add elements merely for shock value.
These books from Titan, which started out so promising, are not worth your time.