Book Review 243 // Jewels of Gwahlur By Robert E. Howard

I keep discovering more Conan adventures; just when I think I am done, I get pulled back in. This week's short story is The Jewels of Gwahlur, which weirdly didn't have a cover, so I just grabbed one I liked the look of. So with this intro complete, let's dive in.

Title: Jewels of Gwahlur by Robert E. Howard

Author: Robert E. Howard

Blurb: "The Jewels of Gwahlur" is a classic short story by Robert E. Howard, the creator of the iconic Conan the Barbarian character. The story was first published in March 1935, in the magazine Weird Tales, and it features a character named Conan. Conan is a fierce and powerful warrior who travels the world in search of adventure and treasure. In "The Jewels of Gwahlur," he comes across a city of ancient ruins, rumored to contain a treasure beyond the fabled jewels of the goddess Yelaya. Conan joins forces with a woman named Muriela, who claims to know the location of the jewels. Together, they journey deep into the jungle, facing countless dangers and obstacles along the way. They encounter hostile tribes, giant snakes, and even a man-eating plant before finally reaching their destination. But when they arrive, they discover that the jewels are guarded by a fierce creature known as the "Garden of Fear," which kills any who attempt to take the jewels. Conan and Muriela must use all their wits and skill to overcome the Garden of Fear and claim the jewels for themselves. "The Jewels of Gwahlur" is a classic adventure story, full of action, danger, and suspense. Howard's writing is vivid and evocative, transporting the reader to a world of ancient ruins, lost treasures, and deadly creatures. The story has been adapted into various forms, including comics and movies, and it remains a beloved work of fantasy fiction. Some possible themes of "The Jewels of Gwahlur" include the allure of treasure, the dangers of greed, the importance of teamwork, and the triumph of courage and cunning over brute force.

Format: 73 pages, Kindle Edition

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Review

Hmmm. Something is wrong here when the blurb is longer than the review... Maybe because of the way I am reading these stories back to back, I am finding this one very by the numbers. Conan hears of treasure and searches, finds a pretty girl, fights a monster and rides off into the sunset. Rather straightforward, if I'm honest.

At the same time, the setting is great. A classic Hack and Slash adventure. Conan seeks jewels and his greed is riding high, only to be left empty-handed. Like many of these short stories, it feels like it would be the beginning of a grander adventure rather than the end of the story. We got great action and fighting, and Conan even escaped with a girl who may be a goddess? One of the saddest parts of these shorts is the feeling of not being fully finished. It is a shame we never got a true full-length adventure from Howard.

So how, to sum up. It was okay. It was definitely a weaker tale in the set, with it all feeling a bit oh, he's done this before. But that is always bound to happen with characters written again and again. I hope you will join me again next week for more Conan, as we near the end with only four more titles to go!