Dragons, Heroes and Wizards: Fantasy Series Book Reviews

The Dragon Revenant: Deverry Act One: Book 4 (Review)

2010-04-14T20:05:00.000-04:00

By Katharine Kerr

Genre: Sword & Sorcery, 16+
ISBN: 0553289098
Publisher: Spectra (March 1, 1991)
Mass Market Paperback: 432 pages

Publisher's Blurb:

For years the provinces of Deverry have been in turmoil; now the conflict escalates with the kidnapping of Rhodry Maelwaedd, heir to the throne of Aberwyn. Intent on rescuing him, his beloved Jill and the elven wizard Salamander infiltrate the distant land of Bardex, where Rhodry is held captive. Tied to Deverry by obligation and circumstance, the immortal wizard Nevyn begins to see that all the kingdom's problems can be traced to a single source: a master of dark magics, backed by a network of evil that stretches across the sea. Now Nevyn understands that he too is being lured away to Bardek--and into a subtle, deadly trap designed especially for him.

Katharine Kerr's novels of the Kingdom of Deverry unfold in a world of stunning richness and depth. Her vivid portrayal of characters caught in a complex web of fate and magic captures the imagination with a realism that few can match. Now she returns to this enchanted kingdom, where the wheels of destiny are turning anew.

Layer upon layers upon layers of intrigue, mystery, love, and loss, in true Katharine Kerr style; fill the pages of the fourth installment of the Deverry cycle. Jill and Salamander embark on an epic journey in search of Rhodry. Rhodry has plenty of problems of his own while at home Nevyn hopes to prevent a civil war. Oh and did I mention an unknown master of evil who has plots of his own in the works? Can it get any better then this?

Page-turner would be an apt description of this book. With everything that is going on, no sooner is one question answered then another replaces it. Throw in a surprise ending (atleast it was for me) and you have everything you need to be truly entertained long into the night.

I did have one very minor gripe about this book. So minor it is barely worth mentioning but I am going to anyway. Jill and Salamander develop a unique and sometimes touching relationship during their travels. For the most part, it was a joy to read as they balance each other beautifully. However, Salamander has this annoying habit of calling Jill by a huge variety of pet names. Moreover, he never uses the same one twice. At first, it was cute but by the time they parted ways I was hardily sick of it. Yeah, I know, not a big deal and was definitely not a story killer but it did annoy me a bit.

The main storyline reaches a bittersweet conclusion. Several of the subplots are neatly wrapped up while there are enough unresolved subplots to make you look forward to the next 4 book saga. I have to admit that the mix of Sword and Sorcery with a reincarnation twist and Celtic theme has made for an exciting ride and I highly recommend it to all High Fantasy fans!

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Amazon: The Dragon Revenant (Deverry Series, Book Four)
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The Bristling Wood: Dawnspell: Deverry Act One: Book 3 (Review)

2009-06-07T14:30:00.007-04:00

By Katharine Kerr

Genre: Sword & Sorcery, 16+
ISBN: 0553285815
Publisher: Spectra (April 1, 1990)
Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages

The World of Annwn Blurb:

Over a thousand years ago the People of Deverry were driven from their splendid kingdom by their enemy, the Hordes, and forced to find sanctuary in the remote forests in the east of their lands where they eventually settled. Succeeding generations remembered these terrible events as the Burning - and they never forgot the cities, towns and marvels of the far, far west.

Dawnspell, the third compelling volume in Katharine Kerr's epic Deverry series, continues the bold saga of Nevyn, Rhodry and Jill as they battle with the evil forces threatening the world of Deverry in the decades that follow the Burning. Rooted in celtic mythology, this dazzling novel offers a vision of an extraordinary universe of magicians, kings, elves and prophets, of a world where love is triumphant - even over death

It is easy to see why this is such an enduring and much loved series. It just keeps getting better the more you read it. The story tightens up in this third installment of act one. This is due in large part to the reduction in past incarnations of the main characters. This go round only two are covered. There is the present reincarnation featuring Jill and Rhodry and a previous incarnation that takes place when the Kingdom of Deverry - as Jill and Rhodry know it - is being formed. By default, with the focus tightened, the character development is also more focused, making this my favorite book so far.

Of course, it helps that by now I am used to Katharine Kerr's writing style. I have seen it described as Celtic storytelling; meaning the story is told in segments according to importance to the main storyline. This explains the jumps in timeline and the seemingly random bits of back-story. Only they are not random; each jump has some bearing on the present events and is inserted into the book in order of relevance, even though you might not pick up on the exact relevance at the time. Once you get used to this, you learn to file away certain events in the old brain filing cabinet, because trust me, at some point later you will have an "Ah ha!" moment. It is actually alot of fun, kind of like putting a puzzle together without seeing the picture on the box first.

There is another fun component to the whole reincarnation factor. You never know who is going to show up in what role, although you can be sure that at some point in the story they will all cross paths. However, once they do, will they be the best of friends or deadly enemies? It makes the whole saga a joy to experience.

So is there anything I do not like about this book? Well, not really. It has all of the elements I love most about High or Sword and Sorcery Fantasy. It has elves, dwarves, elementals, tons of magic, a kick butt strong female lead, back-stabbing politics, high adventure, true love, more twists then a slinky, interfering gods and forces of evil. In this tale, Jill is truly coming into her own, playing both heroine and victim to perfection. Nevyn remains a fascinating character as he begins to show just how far he will go to save his beloved kingdom and Rhodry, both as himself and as his past incarnation, Maddyn, manages to surprise me with his depth of character. Equally as interesting is Perryn, though we are not sure exactly what he is. He plays a complicated role as both a truly evil individual and a purely innocent one. The balancing act that Katharine Kerr plays with this character is simply amazing. You hate him with a passion only to turn right around and feel sorry for the poor guy. By the time it is all said and done, you are not sure what to think.

Content is not as harsh as in book two. There is rape of a sort, cannot elaborate without giving away an important plot detail. There are love scenes but nothing terribly graphic. There is slavery and torture, which is never pretty but again, most of the details are left to your imagination. And, of course, it is a violent world at times but I do not think I have ever read a fantasy that did not contain violence. As with most good fantasies though, all of the bad elements are balanced by the good. Love, trust, and loyalty in the face of impossible odds, and in this case, lasting 100s of years, more then make up for the harsher elements.

There is one more book in Act 1 and I am off to savor it now. It will be interesting to see how Katharine Kerr wraps things up. (It has been so long since I read these I honestly do not remember.) Once this Act is concluded, the story is continued in two more acts consisting of four books each, followed by an epilogue, which has not been written yet. All of this just insures that those of us who love the world of Deverry will have plenty to enjoy for years to come.

Ratings, Reviews, Similar Reads, Buy Books

Shelfari Rating 4/5

Librarything Rating 3.81/5

Amazon Rating 4+ out of 5 stars
(14 Customer Reviews)

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Kindle: No

Ebook: No

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Darkspell: Deverry Act One: Book 2 (Review)

2009-05-25T23:15:00.000-04:00

By Katharine Kerr

Genre: Sword & Sorcery, 16+
ISBN: 0553568884
Publisher: Spectra Revised edition (November 10, 1994)
Paperback: 432 pages

Publisher's Blurb:

On the long roads of Deverry ride two mercenaries whose fates like hidden deep in that of their own land. But Lord Rhodry, exiled from the dragon court of Aberwyn, has yet to discover his true parentage, and his swordmaster-lover, Jill, has barely glimpsed her awesome powers. Meanwhile, the ancient sorcerer Nevyn, held back by his vows from boldly intervening in their lives, can only watch and wait as Rhodry and Jill move ever closer to danger. For as the two struggle to recover the Great Stone, the mystic jewel that guides the conscience of the kingship of Deverry, malevolent dark masters are weaving terrifying spells against them--and displacing messengers of death.

Katharine Kerr has extensively rewritten Darkspell, incorporating major changes in the text, making this her definitive edition. Here the epic saga that began with the Daggerspell continues--a tale of might and magic, lust and glory, dark danger and poignant desires that echo from Deverry's sapphire waters to its secret mountain caverns. It's a spellbinding story destined to please fantasy lovers everywhere.

The second book of Act 1 is, if possible, even better then the first book. This time around we get to delve deeper into the personalities of the main characters while the back story (previous incarnations) continues to build. We also go much deeper into the "dark" side of dweomer magic.

Since I have already mentioned the dark arts, I am going to go ahead and give you a content warning. If you are at all bothered by rape, specifically the repeated rape of a male character, then certain aspects of the aforementioned dark arts will trouble you. It is not terribly graphic but close and you are left with no doubt about what is occurring. This is the type of thing that crosses age barriers. I know folks my age that would shy away from this subject while I know High School kids who know this type of thing goes on and would not be bothered by it in the slightest. Atleast not past feeling a certain amount of sympathy for the victim. It is also an important part of the story so you cannot just skip over it and still understand the result. I do want to note that it does not occur for shock value, it plays a vital role in character development and as a component of the magic system.

OK, now that we have that aspect covered, on with the good stuff!

I am not much of a plot person, being way too much of a character lover but as far as plots go, I prefer one that is complicated and multilayered. Well you do not get any more layered then this story. You have the present storyline that revolves around Jill, Rhodry, and Nevyn fighting against the forces of evil. You have the previous incarnations with their storylines covering the extensive back-story and you have the ever-present question, will Nevyn be able to help Jill fulfill her destiny in this lifetime or will he have to wait, once again, for her to be reborn. Whenever I read a book like this, I think of a tapestry. You start out with a bunch of individual threads of various colors, and then you weave them together, creating an intricate picture. It is really pretty amazing if you think about it, and this story gives me that very same feeling.

There is another aspect of this story that blows me away and that is how well it flows. You would think that a story that jumps timelines as much as this one does would be really confusing. And, ever so often, due to no fault of the author, I will miss a switch in timelines and be caught off guard, but as a rule, I have no problem with the change in focus. When you consider that these are not just simple changes of PoV, these are complete changes in characters, settings, story, and time, with Nevyn as the only common denominator, this is an amazing feat. It is also, as I mentioned in my review of Daggerspell, kind of fun. With each reincarnation, once you (or Nevyn) have figured out who is who this time; you look forward to seeing which traits remain the same and which ones change for better or for worse. The whole concept is very enjoyable.

Well, that is enough about book two. I am off to read book three. Meanwhile I hope you enjoyed the walk down memory lane and if you have not read this series yet, I hope you give it a try. It remains one of my favorites and one I reread atleast once every few years.

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Shelfari Rating 4/5

Librarything Rating 3.76/5

Amazon Rating 4 out of 5 stars
(16 Customer Reviews)

What Should I Read Next?

Kindle: No

Ebook: No

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Daggerspell: Deverry Act One: Book 1 (Review)

2009-05-19T23:45:00.003-04:00

By Katharine Kerr

Genre: Sword & Sorcery, 16+
ISBN: 0553565214
Publisher: Spectra (November 1, 1993)
Mass Market Paperback: 480 pages

Publisher's Blurb:

Even as a young girl, Jill was a favorite of the magical, mysterious Wildfolk, who appeared to her from their invisible realm. Little did she know her extraordinary friends represented but a glimpse of a forgotten past and a fateful future. Four hundred years-and many lifetimes-ago, one selfish young lord caused the death of two innocent lovers. Then and there he vowed never to rest until he'd rightened that wrong-and laid the foundation for the lives of Jill and all those whom she would hold dear: her father, the mercenary soldier Cullyn; the exiled berserker Rhodry Maelwaedd; and the ancient and powerful herbman Nevyn, all bound in a struggle against darkness. . . and a quest to fulfill the destinies determined centuries ago.

This series is not only a beloved classic; it is an example of Sword & Sorcery at its best. The story is so unique that you will remember it years after you have forgotten the name of the series and the characters. I know this to be fact because I have seen many questions like this on forums over the years.

"What is the name of those books about a wizard who can not die until he finds his reincarnated fiancé and makes amends for causing her untimely death?"

Which is an accurate description of this series, though it is a bit more complicated then that.

Inside the covers of this book, you will find plenty of familiar Fantasy tropes. You have the disgraced Prince in exile, outcast mercenaries, the ancient wizard posing as a simple herbman, elusive, misunderstood (and thus feared) elves, evil sorcerers plying the Dark Arts, gnomes and fae type creatures that only magic wielders can see, and the list goes on... However, it is how Katharine Kerr handles these tropes that gives this book, and series, its charm.

The worldbuilding is incredible. The setting is rich in Celtic overtones, as is the language used. The magic system is well thought out, with limitations in place as to its use. (I love magic with rules) The method of story telling itself is different and may take a bit of getting used to but let us see if I can explain further, without making you scratch your head in confusion.

There are four storylines and each is told in small chunks. First, we have poor Nevyn who has lived for 400 years and is in search of the current reincarnation of the five souls whose destiny he must set right. Then we have the original fiasco where a set of unfortunate choices results in the destruction those five lives, interfering in their predestined Wyrds. The story then switches between several other reincarnations that have taken place between the time of original events and Nevyn's current search. Confused yet? Well it does take some quick thinking at times but if you stick with it, it will all begin to make sense. Not only will it make sense but you will find yourself addicted to the story and losing whole chunks of your own life in the process. You will even find yourself trying to guess which person in each reincarnation matches one of the original five, or atleast I did. Trying to figure it out before Nevyn is half the fun!

Once you get used to the storytelling style, you will discover a tale that keeps you fully engaged in the unfolding events. Boring is not a word I could imagine using in conjunction with this book. It twists, it turns, it has action pouring off the pages and there is constant underlying question, will Nevyn ever find a way to make things right? Meanwhile you have plenty of entertaining characters, desperate wars, evil sorcerers, human tragedies and heart wrenching love stories, all designed to keep you glued to the pages until you look up and wonder where the time went.

As far as content goes, this book has definite adult overtones, which should be taken into account. There is incest, moderate profanity, plenty of violence and a few mildly descriptive love scenes but nothing overly graphic. I am comfortable with saying it is readable by 16+ but that will depend on the maturity of the reader. As always, this is only my opinion and should be taken as such.

There is a reason why this series remains in print and I for one am grateful for this fact. Over the years, I have worn out or loaned out, and never gotten back, multiple copies of the books in this wonderful classic. Highly, highly recommended!

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Shelfari Rating 4/5

Librarything Rating 3.78/5

Amazon Rating 4 out of 5 stars
(56 Customer Reviews)

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Kindle: No

Ebook: No

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Worldweavers (Series Summary)

2009-05-16T22:40:00.000-04:00

A Fantasy Series Summary

Author: Alma Alexander
Series: Worldweavers
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy, 12+
Publisher: Harper Teen
Book Reviews of: Gift of the Unmage - Spellspam - Cybermage

The Worldweavers trilogy by Alma Alexander is a unique blend of magic, technology, spirituality, ancient cultures and alien races. I can hear you now going "huh?" How do you mix all that and make it work? Well all I can tell you is that this is why Alma Alexander is an author and I am not. She not only pulls off this feat of creativity, she does so in some interesting and fun ways.

This is the story of Thea, a magicless girl in a magical world. In many ways, Thea is not so different from teenage girls in our reality. She has school, friends, annoying siblings, and parents who do not understand her. She has fears, doubts, and insecurities. She also has aliens who will pay any price to possess her, a world that expects her to be the most powerful mage to ever have been born, and an aunt who can smell emotions.

Intrigued yet? Well, all is not fun, games and magic spells for our poor wannabe mage. You see, she has not shown a glimmer, not even a smidgen of a hint of this awesome magical power she is supposed to possess. As a result she is the butt of her sibling's jokes, a severe disappointment to her parents, considered by her teachers at magic school to be a hopeless case and if that is not bad enough, is facing being sent to the Wandless Academy. Or, as Thea calls it, "The Last Ditch School for the Incurably Incompetent."

The Worldweavers trilogy is a coming of age story filled with difficult choices and emotional turmoil. It is also about love, faith, the loyalty of good friends, conquering your fears and dealing with the consequences of your actions. If it was about just these issues alone, it would be a great story, but set in Alma Alexander's vivid and original world, it entertains as well. The result is a delightful series that will keep you in empathy with the characters and turning pages way past your normal bedtime.

Adults will find this a fun read that will bring back memories of their time as a teenager while wishing that our world was a bit more like the one Thea lives in. Teens will be entertained by the uniqueness of Thea's world while identifying with some, if not all of the issues that Thea and her friends face. It is a delightful read for almost any age.

If you want more information on this series, I suggest reading the individual reviews where I go into a bit more detail. (Though not too much!) Highly recommended for lovers of character driven fantasy, especially those who are looking for something with unique settings and interesting adventures.

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Gift of the Unmage: Worldweavers: Book 1 (Review)

2009-05-13T23:20:00.000-04:00

By Alma Alexander

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy, 12+
ISBN: 0060839554
Publisher: HarperTeen (March 13, 2007)
Hardcover: 400 pages
Read an Excerpt

Publisher's Blurb: (Highlight to read blurb, personally I think it gives too much of the story away.)

Who knew you'd be a true weaver?

Great things have been expected of Thea, the seventh child of two seventh children. Now, with Cheveyo, a mage, Thea has begun to weave herself a new magical identity, infused with elements of the original worlds. But back home, Thea keeps her abilities hidden and attends the Wandless Academy, the one school on Earth for those who have no apparent magical talent. It is there that Thea realizes that her enemies are hungrier and more dangerous than she knew. What's more, her greatest strength may be the powerlessness she has resisted for so long.

I had some reservations when Alma Alexander asked if I would look at her Worldweavers series. A quick glance told me it contained computers, which gave me pause. I much prefer alternate realities that take place in historical or original settings. THEN, I noticed that it had aliens. I am not fond of reading Science Fiction either. I do not mind watching it on TV but reading about warp drives and space travel makes my eyes go crossed. However, I did not give up, I keep reading and I ran across references to ancestral Indian spirituality and a Federal Bureau of Magic and I realized that this was a completely new situation. I mean how can you resist a book that contains alien races, computers, and ancestral magic. For that matter, almost everybody in this world has magical abilities! Suddenly I could not wait to see where all this was going.

I was not disappointed. The world that Alma Alexander created is uniquely her own. Computers and cars aside, it bears alot and yet very little resemblance to our own. This world literally has everything you could imagine. Time travel, portals, alternate realities, other dimensions, aliens from other worlds, ancestral spiritual beings, and almost everybody has some type of magical ability. Even better then that, all these divergent elements feel natural. If I could open a door and step into this world, I believe I could live happily there without too much of an adjustment and never look back. Does worldbuilding get any better then that?

Oh but it gets better. This book not only fired my imagination, it has great characters too. This is the type of YA fantasy that even an old fart like me can really enjoy. Thea, the main protagonist, is so identifiable. If you were, or knew that teenager who never fit in, you will connect with Thea. Poor girl was supposed to be the next great mage. As the seventh child of two seventh parents, she was expected to possess an amazing magical talent. All of the Double Sevens, as the ones who had been born before her were called, exhibited some type of exceptional magic. That is until Thea came along. Instead of being exceptional, it appears that she has no magical talent at all! This teenager, at an age where just being a teenager is bad enough, has to deal with not only being a disappointment to the world (actually, several worlds) but to her family as well.

Alma Alexander does an excellent job of showing the angst, self-doubt, hurt, and the defiant self defense mechanisms that somebody in Thea's position might struggle with. You understand her anger mixed with sadness, her fear of that look of disappointment in her father's eyes as she fails in magic school, the one he tries to hide. You sympathize with her jealousy of her six older and magically talented brothers (well, there is Frankie but atleast he has some magic, even if he never quite gets things right.) Plus, she is not the only great character in the book, just the main one. (Warning, bad pun incoming...) It was love at first read! (Feel free to groan now, I did....)

It gets even better, no seriously, it does. The pacing was perfect and exactly what I would hope for in a YA book. Information was evenly paced, not coming at you too slow or too fast. And yet, alot happens in just 400 pages. So much that I was frankly amazed at how much activity the story covered and how smoothly it all progressed. Life long friendships are formed, characters develop, the main conflict is resolved, the mystery is solved, or most of it anyway. It had a very satisfying ending but not so much that you do not want to immediately move on to book two and experience more of the adventures of Thea and her friends. If there are any faults in this book, I am unaware of them. Likely, they got lost in my delight in both the story and the characters. YA it might be but I feel like I have made some new friends and now, if you do not mind, I think I will go spend some more time with them. I will be back at the conclusion of book two!

Highly, highly recommended for both YA and adults who love an imaginative world peopled with very real human beings.

Series Summary
Other books in the series
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Shelfari Rating 4+/5

Librarything Rating 3.44/5

Amazon Rating 4 out of 5 stars
(9 Customer Reviews)

What Should I Read Next?

Kindle: Worldweavers: Gift of the Unmage

Ebook: Diesel eBooks

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Spellspam: Worldweavers: Book 2 (Review)

2009-05-08T23:00:00.006-04:00

By Alma Alexander

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy, 12+
ISBN: 0060839600
Publisher: HarperTeen (February 10, 2009)
Paperback: 480 pages
Read an Excerpt

Publisher's Blurb: (Highlight to read blurb, this time I think it gives away too much of the first story.)

What do you get when ordinary e-mail spam becomes infused with magic? Spellspam—and it's not supposed to exist. As far as Thea and her friends know, computers are meant to be inert vehicles for storing magic spells, not magical processors themselves. But all that seems to have changed as students at Wandless Academy find themselves the victim of practical jokes—with magical consequences—simply by opening an e-mail.

Now the spellspams are getting worse, and it's possible there's someone behind them who is not just bent on stirring up trouble but has a much scarier and more wide-reaching agenda. Until now, Thea has been the only person she's ever met who can reach through the computer using magic. But someone else is out there, and even her friends can't help her track down the source of the spellspam before it gets much, much worse.

This series is turning out to be alot of fun. Honestly, I am surprised that it has not gotten more attention. I hope to help to change that in some small way because everybody needs a good, solid fun read ever so often and this series would fit the bill.

If anything, this book is better then the first and that is saying alot. The only reason why I even say it now is because Thea is growing up and it shows. Gone is the insecure girl of book one and instead we get to experience a teenager developing her own sense of self worth. She is also developing definite leadership abilities.

I have to give Alma Alexander some well-deserved credit here. She does a wonderful job with personalities, how they mesh, and how they conflict. I love a book where each person has a well-defined personality with strengths and weaknesses. Take that one-step further and add in group dynamics. Alma Alexander has created a very real heroine in Thea but she does not stop there. Thea's circle of friends range wildly in personality, from the shy but smart kid who questions everything to the impulsive but compassionate roommate. However, as a group they click, each fulfilling a role within the group and lending it strength. As a lover of great characters, I have to admit that I enjoyed every nuance of these relationships.

The different types of relationships do not stop there. Thea is a go to, get it done, type of gal, but she also knows when she needs adult help, and is not afraid to ask for it. Well, atleast not now that she has a better idea of who to trust. Did I mention that Thea makes a great YA heroine? When she can get it done herself, she goes for it. When she needs help from friends, family, or other adults, she knows the difference. And, she is smart too. What a girl!

The story itself is priceless. Email spam that casts a spell on you if you read it. Clever, inventive spells too, like "Do you want Longer, Thicker Hair - Instantly!” Guess what you get from that email. Come on, guess... OK, I will give you a clue, email header reads "From: Harry Ears <>" (giggles). The other great addition to this story is an elemental house. This is the house of my dreams. Are you a slob? Drop your clothes on the floor, come back and they are cleaned, folded and put away. Ready to eat? It feeds you whatever you are in the mood for then clears the table. Oh my goodness, I would think I had died and gone to heaven! Remember how I said in the review of book one that I could step into Alma Alexander's world and feel perfectly at home there? Well now, I am heartbroken that I cannot do just that, even if it means dealing with trade hungry aliens and dangerous (or at least inconvenient) email. I will tell you this much, next time I desperately need to escape from this world, I now know which book I am picking up to reread.

I kind of feel guilty when I gush over a book/series because I know down deep that nothing is perfect. Problem is there is so much that I love about this story that if there are any faults (and I am sure there are) I just do not recognize them. There are some concepts that you need to work to wrap your mind around, but that is not a bad thing. I like stories that make me think outside the box. Only thing I can think of to point out is that while this book, like book one, wraps up conclusively, it does rely heavily on information learned in Gift of the Unmage. Not a big problem for me since I always try to read a series from start to finish but I would not suggest reading this book without reading the first.

Now I am off to see what kind of trouble Thea and her friends get into in book three. In the meantime, I highly suggest you run out and get this series. Awesome books for teens but huge amounts of fun for adults too, especially those of us who are young at heart.

Series Summary
Other books in the series
Ratings, Reviews, Similar Reads, Buy Books

Shelfari Rating 5/5

Librarything Rating 3.5/5

Amazon Rating 4+ out of 5 stars
(5 Customer Reviews)

What Should I Read Next?

Kindle: Worldweavers: Spellspam

Ebook: Diesel eBooks

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Cybermage: Worldweavers: Book 3 (Review)

2009-05-02T13:16:00.000-04:00

By Alma Alexander

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy, 12+
ISBN: 0060839619
Publisher: HarperTeen (February 10, 2009)
Hardcover: 432 pages
Read an Excerpt

Publisher's Blurb: (Highlight to read blurb.)

This year at the Wandless Academy feels all wrong to Thea. Her best friend, Magpie, will barely give her the time of day. Ben's been moody and dismissive. Since when did Tess have a boyfriend? And why is Humphrey May, agent for the Federal Bureau of Magic, lurking around the Academy?

Thea is out of sorts—in all ways, magical and otherwise—and that's before she discovers she's an elemental mage, a category of magician so rare that only four others are known to exist.

Now the Federal Bureau of Magic needs Thea's help to unlock the mysterious white cube—the same cube found over the summer in the professor's house, the same cube the dangerous Alphiri are still after. To stay ahead of the Alphiri and the wiles of the FBM, Thea needs her friends—all of them.

Finally! A concluding book in a series that did not let me down. If anything, this book is the strongest of the three. Why you ask? Well I am going to tell you!

Thea has had an interesting life up to this point but while she has had to deal with some serious and life altering issues, she has had the protection of the world at large believing she has no magic. This is about to change in a big way. Once again, Thea is put into a position where she has no idea who to trust. Even her loyal circle of friends appears to have their own agendas, leaving Thea feeling pretty hurt and abandoned. Boy did this strike a cord with me. How well do I remember my friends wandering off as they discovered boys and gravitated to new friends in the process. However, this is just a temporary setback. I only insert it here to show you how real even the minor issues in this story truly are. Before it is all said and done, Thea will be tested in ways that would make even an adult cringe, and does some serious growing up in the process.

To say that I have connected with Thea is an understatement. I may be 49 years old but I still remember what it felt like to be a teenager and I have raised two of my own through that nightmare. Of course in a world where magic trumps technology the issues are different and yet, surprisingly the same. This installment in the series is much more serious then the last. Book 2 still dealt with some serious issues mind you, but the often hilarious spellspam emails lightened the load a bit. Still there is adventure, challenge, and with all three books, a mystery (or three) to solve. More then enough going on to keep you reading (and thinking) until 4am.

A side note: Make sure that if you read this book you check out the author's note at the end. One of the main characters is based on a real person that I personally had never heard of and found to be someone I very much want to learn more about. Added bonus to an already great book!

I am very surprised that this book, and the series, has appeared to pass completely under the internet radar. Not even Amazon has any reviews on Cybermage and very few on the other two. Only thing I can come up with is what Jeff said here: Today in Fantasy: May 10, 2009 about the cover art. My apologies to the cover artist, but I have to agree. I do not care for it either and frankly, if I were book browsing the shelves at my local bookstore, I would pass right by these books. Only other reason I can think of would be the YA designation. Possibly, it is being lost on the YA shelf and not coming to the notice of adults like me (you know, the ones who normally write these reviews.) In either case, it is a shame. This series deserves more attention then it has gotten. Well, in my opinion anyway.

I highly recommend this book (and series) to both YA and adult lovers of Fantasy. The issues are real, often tragic, and always complicated. There are never any easy answers, as is often the case where magic is involved. Thea makes for a great teen heroine, strong yet insecure at times, scared but able to work through her fear, independent yet knows when to ask for help. This story makes you think, makes you feel, and entertains all at the same time. So ignore the cover art (if it bothers you) go browse the YA section of your bookstore and buy this series!

One last observation. The book ends with a satisfactory conclusion to the main storyline while leaving you with the impression that this story is far from over. Does this mean that we will be treated to more adventures with Thea and her friends? All I can say is that I truly hope so!

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Shelfari Rating 0/5

Librarything Rating 2/5

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Kingdoms of Thorn and Bone (Series Summary)

2009-04-30T23:45:00.004-04:00

An Epic Fantasy Series

Author: Greg Keyes
Series: Kingdoms of Thorn and Bone
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Publisher: Del Rey
Book Reviews of: The Briar King - The Charnel Prince - The Blood Knight - The Born Queen

This series has all of the best elements of true Epic Fantasy. Detailed worldbuilding, wide variety of characters, good and bad, rich and poor, plus the classic struggle of good verses evil, only it is hard to guess who is on what side. Sound interesting? Well it gets better. Add in a corrupt church, myth and legend that is coming to life, romance, humor and politics and you have the makings of alot of late night reading.

This has been one of the most difficult series to review that I have run across yet. Normally, I have no problem summing up a series easily while hoping I intrigue you enough to want to explore further and read the individual reviews. This time however I am having a bit of a problem. You see the series changes focus from one book to the other. I have my favorites, which is normal; I have a few I was not so fond of, which is also normal. The problem is that the final book is completely different from the three preceding it, which is making it difficult for me to come up with a well-balanced summary.

To address this issue, I am going to do things a bit differently. Instead of an overall series review, I am going to break it down into books.

Book one, The Briar King. This book is beyond excellent; it sets up the story in a very well balanced way, introducing a host of fascinating characters while building an equally fascinating world. You are sucked into a world that is built on layers upon layers of complexity and yet, you have no problem following what is going on.

Book two, The Charnel Prince. This book continues the story started in book one, adding more layers, characters, and digging deeper into the politics and religions involved in the plot. This book is a fast read, keeping things well balanced and moving smoothly despite of, or maybe because of the frequent PoV changes.

Book Three, The Bloodknight. This book starts to shift focus, abandoning character development for story development. The already complicated plot starts to twist and turn in unexpected ways. This book is darker with less romance and humor and more dark and gritty plot details.

Book four, The Born Queen. This is the final book in the series and wraps up the story in some very unexpected ways. This book has a different feel from the previous three with things rushing towards the conclusion in a way that can be, for some, chaotic. I found it to be confusing at times and overwhelming at others while still other parts I really enjoyed. My mixed reaction can be solved by a reread I believe. There is just so much information coming at you so fast that it is hard to keep track of it all. Definitely not a book you want to read if you have any distractions.

Conclusion. All in all, a fascinating epic fantasy. There are some familiar fantasy tropes but Greg Keyes makes them uniquely his own. Story and plot lovers are going to enjoy this series immensely. Character lovers maybe not so much as this series does rely heavily on plot with characters being more of the type that are fun to watch, not connect with. Mythology lovers are also going to enjoy this story. I always enjoy reading a tale where myth and legend ends up having a basis in fact, and watching the process taken as people slowly come to realize this. Content is violent when the story calls for it, funny at times, especially in the first two books and touchingly romantic, again mainly in books one and two. It will keep you on your toes, up late at night and trust me, you will not be able to predict the majority of the ending.

If any of this piques your interest, I highly suggest reading the individual reviews. I also suggest seeking out other reviews because there are other reviewers who feel strongly that this series is exceptional. Being more of a character driven fantasy lover, it may very well be the case that my issues are simply a matter of taste and not technique. In the end, you will have to be the judge! Ultimately, I would have to compare this series to life, it has its ups and downs but when it is all said and done, I benefited from the experience.

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The Briar King: The Kingdoms of Thorn and Bone: Book 1 (Review)

2009-04-27T01:45:00.002-04:00

By Greg Keyes

Genre: Epic Fantasy, 16+
ISBN: 0345440706
Publisher: Del Rey (March 30, 2004)
Mass Market Paperback: 608 pages
Read an Excerpt

Author's Blurb:

Two thousand years ago, the Born Queen defeated the Skasloi lords, freeing humans from the bitter yoke of slavery. But now monstrous creatures roam the land—and destinies become inextricably entangled in a drama of power and seduction. The king’s woodsman, a rebellious girl, a young priest, a roguish adventurer, and a young man made suddenly into a knight—all face malevolent forces that shake the foundations of the kingdom, even as the Briar King, legendary harbinger of death, awakens from his slumber. At the heart of this many-layered tale is Anne Dare, youngest daughter of the royal family . . . upon whom the fate of her world may depend.

The Briar King is one of those delightful books that slowly grows on you. It starts off a bit slow, gaining in momentum, until you look up and it is 3am, and you kick yourself for all those "just one more chapter..." moments.

Not only does the story grow on you, but most of the characters do too. Notice I said most. There were a few characters that I never got in touch with, but overall I was happy with the characterization. Actually, I feel that way about the entire book. The story was great, though in some places I felt a bit lost. The world building was equally good, though again, some parts left me a bit confused. The interesting thing is, it all balanced. I cannot think of a single area, pacing, characterization, world building, or plot that strikes me as being exceptional when compared to other areas. There were plot twists I saw coming, and there were some that left me stunned. There were characters I loved, or hated, and others I wished I knew better. There are questions asked and answered and questions left hanging in the air. All I know is that together, it all worked and was more then enough to make me read that "one more chapter..."

The Briar King is a nicely sized, medium length book that takes you into a world full of superstition and mythology. (Funny how 600 page books are "medium" length now. In my younger days, I would consider this book HUGE.) Anyway, one of the things that I really enjoyed about this story is how mythology, local legend and children's songs are used to lay the foundation of a world in deep trouble but largely unaware of this fact. As you go through the story, you discover (along with the characters) that stories believed to be mere fairytales and nonsense are actually grounded in fact. It is a great device for world building! It is somewhat sneaky too. I have a bad habit of skimming over poems, rhymes, and song lyrics. I cannot carry a tune in a bucket much less compose a poem so music and poetry are normally lost on me. Fortunately, these are kid’s songs so even I can understand them! Sad huh....

Overall, there is alot to love about this story. You have romance, mystery, danger, nasty politics, scary monsters, narrow escapes, and likable characters. Though there are a few fantasy tropes (the naive monk, the stoic woodsman, the devoted knight, and the rebellious princess), there are enough deviations to the norm to make things interesting. You will not find dragons (darn it!) or wizards but you will find plenty of heroes and villains. Content wise, there is adultery, murder, and plenty of violence. Pretty typical fare for epic fantasy and nothing that breaks the X barrier. High School age and up is a safe bet for this one.

I believe that this series is going to end up being one of those "must haves" for any dedicated fantasy fan. Well balanced, fun and scary, tragic and sweet with a dose of humor thrown in for good measure. Great book for weekend reading so you do not end up being all bleary eyed for work the next day! Now I am off to read book two since book one leaves you hanging. Stay tuned for the next review!

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Shelfari Rating 4/5

Librarything Rating 3.92/5

Amazon Rating 4+ out of 5 stars
(107 Customer Reviews)

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The Charnel Prince: The Kingdoms of Thorn and Bone: Book 2 (Review)

2009-04-17T15:15:00.000-04:00

By Greg Keyes

Genre: Epic Fantasy, 16+
ISBN: 0345440714
Publisher: Del Rey (October 25, 2005)
Mass Market Paperback: 512 pages
Read an Excerpt

Publisher's Blurb:

When the legendary Briar King awoke from his slumber, a season of darkness and horror fell upon the Kingdom of Crotheny. Now countless breeds of unspeakable monsters roam the countryside. An epidemic of madness has transformed peaceful villagers from the wildlands into savage, flesh-eating fiends. In Eslen, King William has been murdered, Queen Muriele is stalked by treachery on every side, and their last surviving daughter, Anne, has fled the assassins bent on destroying her family.

Close on the heels of the runaway princess, young knight Neil MeqVren, the queen’s one trusted ally, is sworn to rescue Anne from her murderous pursuers. Anne herself undertakes a perilous journey toward the sanctuary of her distant paramour’s arms, but along the way lie the sinister agents and hidden snares of a sprawling conspiracy that few might hope to evade.

At the same time, spies in the service of Praifec Hespero, the powerful Churchman, embark upon a mission to destroy the Briar King in the heart of his domain. And the power-hungry Church, spurred on by the mystical events, has launched an inquisition whose repercussions threaten even the queen. As the noose of intrigue tightens across the land, personal fates and a kingdom’s destiny alike will be decided in a conflict between virtue and malevolence, might and magic.

The Charnel Prince proved to be another captivating read. The tension remains high, the PoV switches were done smoothly, and the characters all develop in believable ways. One of the reasons, I believe, that this series is so popular, is the balance. There are many components to this story. Mystery, love, politics, humor, interesting world building, loyalty, betrayal, royal characters, and lowborn characters are all present in equal measure. Moreover, those are just examples, there are many themes running through this story, and the best part is, it is all done seamlessly. You would think that it would be complex and confusing but instead it flows well and the only things that keep you confused are the underlying mysteries.

This also makes it really hard for me to review this book. Normally when I do a review some aspect of the book stands out and I focus on that aspect. In some cases, it is the story, in others the magic while in others, it is the characters. This book, and so far this series, mixes everything so well I am having trouble picking an aspect to talk about. On the one hand, this tells you how talented Greg Keyes is, on the other it makes for a pretty boring review.

There is one aspect that tickles me personally. I have always been fascinated by the story of the lost colony of Roanoke Island. One bit of trivia regarding that story is that the first child to be born to English parents on American soil, Virginia Dare was a member of that missing group. Now you might ask, what does any of this have to do with this series. Well, nothing and everything. Greg Keyes hints at a connection. There is an ancestral heroine who was named Virginia Dare from whom the present ruling family descended. And, he leaves it at that, just a hint, just a few names, no history stating that it is the same Virginia Dare or how she ended up in his world. What a tease, it makes me chuckle everytime I think about it.

I am definitely looking forward to the next two books in this series. Not because I am attached to the characters, there are too many for that, nor because I am attached to the story, again there are too many storylines for that either, but because of the mysteries. There are alot of those too. Each storyline has its own mysterious element and there is a grand mystery behind them all. There is a question (or three) about who the real bad guys are, the good guys are clear in some cases (you think) but unclear in others. And of course in true epic fashion, there are hints of a purely evil force behind it all, but as of yet we (the reader) have no idea who or what that may be. I really want to find out and that means moving on to book three and as quickly as possible!

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Shelfari Rating 4/5

Librarything Rating 3.88/5

Amazon Rating 4+ out of 5 stars
(61 Customer Reviews)

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The Blood Knight: The Kingdoms of Thorn and Bone: Book 3 (Review)

2009-04-15T01:15:00.000-04:00

By Greg Keyes

Genre: Epic Fantasy, 16+
ISBN: 0345440722
Publisher: Del Rey (May 1, 2007)
Mass Market Paperback: 576 pages
Read an Excerpt

Publisher's Blurb:

The legendary Briar King has awakened, spreading madness and destruction. Half-remembered, poorly understood prophecies seem to point to the young princess Anne Dare, rightful heir to the throne of Crotheny, as the world’s only hope. Yet Anne is hunted by the minions of the usurper Robert, whose return from the grave has opened a doorway through which sinister sorceries have poured into the world. Though Anne herself is the conduit of fearsome powers beyond her understanding and control, it is time for girl to become woman, princess to become queen. Anne must stop running and instead march at the head of an army to take back her kingdom . . . or die trying.

But a mysterious assassin stalks her, so skilled in the deadly fencing style of dessrata that even Anne’s friend and protector Cazio, a master of the form, cannot stand against him, nor can her sworn defender, the young knight Neil MeqVren.

As for Anne’s other companions–Aspar White, the royal holter who bears an enchanted arrow capable of felling the Briar King; and Stephen Darige, the monk who blew the horn that woke the Briar King from his slumber–they cannot help her, as their separate paths carry them ever deeper into a deadly maze of myth and magic from which return may be impossible.

Meanwhile, Queen Muriele is a prisoner of the false king. With no allies but a crippled musician, who is himself a prisoner, and a servingwoman who is both more and less than she seems, Muriele will find herself a pawn in Robert’s schemes for conquest–and a weapon to be used against her own daughter.

I have some mixed feelings about this installment of the series. Maybe because my gut is telling me that it should all be wrapped up by now, and yet there is another book to go. More then likely it is the lack of character development, which has been replaced by plot development. Well, you people know me by now, I am all about the characters, and this book did not feed my need so to speak. Basically, readers who are more story focused then character focused will find plenty to love here. Character focused readers might be a bit disappointed, but as I said, there is plenty of story to get you through.

Another thing that annoyed me just a little was the constant PoV switching. Now this is something that Greg Keyes has done all along and in books one and two, I thought things flowed along smoothly. For some reason however, in this book, they seemed a bit too frequent and less smooth. There were times when a switch left me completely confused as to what was going on, something that never happened in the previous two books. Again, possibly a flaw on my part. Instead of expecting the characters to be doing something new, I should have been focusing on changes in the plot. Very possibly something that you will or will not even notice at all.

Now, what I did like. One of the cool things about reviewing an entire series back to back is that I can, if I want, talk about a different facet of the writing in each review. For this review, I want to note the descriptive scenes. Now alot of authors write powerful visual scenes that transport you into the picture along with the characters. Not many of them though use all of the senses as well as Greg Keyes. He uses not only the usual sights and sounds but he includes touch, taste, smell, and emotions. Not overdone mind you but just enough to make everything that is going on three-dimensional. Even minor scenes, like a character viewing a distant mountain for example. You not only see what he sees but you find out what emotions the sight evokes, the smell of the evergreens that surround him, the chill in the air, the sounds of the wind and how it feels against his skin. On the other hand, if he takes a sip of wine, you get to experience the cool, refreshing feel of it cascading down his parched throat while the taste of apricots and sunshine explode against his tongue, the experience reminding him of the carefree days of his childhood running free through an orchard. (My poor example, not a quote from the book.) It serves to give you an enriched sense of immersion that is hard to match. It is also something that few authors can pull off without making you gag. Greg Keyes does it well.

Overall, minor flaws aside, this is an interesting continuation of the series. Things just get more and more intense and there are definitely some surprises in store. A very old cliché can be used here to accurate effect, "the plot thickens!" At this point in the story, I am dying to know how it will all wrap up and I have a feeling that there are more surprises and plot twists in store. Not a series of standalones to be sure. This series is slowly but surely building to what I hope will be a satisfying ending and I have my copy of The Born Queen staring at me just begging me to read on and find out. If you enjoy a story with a diverse cast of characters, a deep, multilayered political and religious mystery, a sprinkling of dry wit, romance, and unwavering loyalty mixed in with quests, adventure, intrigue, and war, well you are going to love this book and series. I can almost promise you, you will not get bored!

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Shelfari Rating 4/5

Librarything Rating 3.85/5

Amazon Rating 4+ out of 5 stars
(48 Customer Reviews)

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The Born Queen: Kingdoms of Thorn and Bone: Book 4 (Review)

2009-04-01T13:55:00.001-04:00

By Greg Keyes

Genre: Epic Fantasy, 16+
ISBN: 0345440730
Publisher: Del Rey (January 27, 2009)
Mass Market Paperback: 496 pages
Read an Excerpt

Publisher's Blurb:

The Briar King is dead, and the world itself follows him to ruin. Aspar White, wounded and tired, must embark on one last quest to save the forest and the people he loves, but he has little hope of success.

Anne Dare at last sits on the throne of Crotheny, but for how long? The Church, now led by the corrupt and powerful Marché Hespero, has declared a holy war against her, giving the king of Hansa the pretext he needs to unleash his vast might on the young queen and her unready army.

But Hansa is the least of Anne’s worries. The Hellrune, war seer of Hansa, strikes at her through vision and prophecy. The Kept–last of the elder Skasloi lords–weaves his own dark webs. Anne’s teacher and ally in the sedos world might also be her worst enemy, and Anne’s own mounting strength compels her toward madness.

Surviving these dangers and mastering her eldritch abilities are merely prelude to the real struggle. There are many–some with power matching or even exceeding Anne’s own–who are willing to kill in order to seize control. For whoever sits upon the throne will have the ultimate command to bring about the world’s salvation–or its apocalypse.

Sadly, it is my considered opinion that this book should have been split into atleast one, if not two, more volumes. There was potential here, the characters were fun to watch, the underlying subplots hinted at great things to come, and all of that is thrown right out the window as this book rushes to a confusing and hectic conclusion. Yes, I know I said that the last book made me feel like the series was needlessly dragging on, this novel proved me wrong; it needed to be extended instead of trying to cram everything that happens into one book.

The problems I have with this concluding book are many. The characters all go through some serious personality changes. Cannot really say more then that without including spoilers but suffice it to say, it did not feel at all natural. The plot conclusion, which had so much potential, left me confused in extreme. Most of the time I found myself just going "Huh?" To say that the ending felt rushed is an understatement.

However, it was not all bad so let us get to the good stuff. The story itself, the plot and premise are original and in many ways, fascinating. I have a fondness for mythology-based stories and this is definitely one of those. The world Keyes creates is dark and creepy, in a send shivers up your spine sort of way. It is also never boring, ever. If anything, you will want to put it down ever so often just so you can catch a breath. In addition, just so we are clear, not all of the conclusion is chaotic, some of it makes alot of sense and is priceless to boot. Even the bit about a reference to the lost colony gets some coverage, something that I was looking forward to and hoping for. Nope my friends, you are now stuck, you have read the first three so now you must read this one, otherwise you will never know how it all turns out!

This is a very difficult review for me to write. On the one hand, I do not want to give you the impression that it is a bad book, it is not. On the other hand, I do not want you to go into expecting it to be like books 1-3, because it is not. This is where the whole preconception thing comes into play and in this case, preconception will hurt you. You need to go into this book with NO expectations, about anything. You also need to be prepared for an almost overwhelming flow of information, twists, turns, surprises, and rapid about faces. This is a book that could very well benefit from multiple rereads. If I did not have such a large TBR pile right now, I would immediately read it again. I have the distinct feeling that if I did, things might make a bit more sense now that I know what direction the story heads in. Not sure that this is a bad thing. I mean if the book were that bad, I would not want to reread it right.?

Looking at the series as a whole, I must say it is one of the better ones I have ever read. Could have been better had the ending not been so rushed, but still I have to recommend it to epic fantasy readers as one of those essential series that belongs on every fantasy fan's bookshelf.

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Shelfari Rating 4/5

Librarything Rating 3.73/5

Amazon Rating 3+ out of 5 stars
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Path of Fate Trilogy (Series Summary)

2009-03-28T00:01:00.006-04:00

An Epic Fantasy Series Summary

Author: Diana Pharaoh Francis
Series: Path of Fate Series
Genre: Epic Fantasy, 16+
Publisher: Roc
Book Reviews of: Path of Fate - Path of Honor - Path of Blood

This is a story of difficult choices, self-sacrifice, and a reluctant heroine. The main protagonist, Reisel, is an orphan and essentially raised by the entire town. In her society, orphans are passed from one household to another so that no one family is "burdened" with their care. Fortunately, Reisel discovers that she has a talent for healing, a talent that will finally give her a firm place within the town that raised her. This sense of belonging is the one thing she wants most in the world, her heart's desire. But, the Lady has other plans for Reisel and soon she will be forced to make a choice. Can our heroine give up on her heart's desire to become chosen of the gods and save her kingdom from destruction? Not as easy a decision as you might think. Ahalad-kaaslane, the Lady's chosen, are a solitary breed, roaming the world as spies, assassins, peacekeepers and judges, and roaming, much less being solitary, is the last thing Reisel wants to do. There is one benefit however, each ahalad-kaaslane is bonded to an animal blessed by the Lady, a special telepathic bond filled with love and affection, but is the reward worth losing all that Reisel has worked for?

This is a good series, maybe not awesome or even original but it is well worth a read. Especially if you like strong female heroines with bonded animal companions as I do. I also like stories where the author challenges her main protagonist; not physically, not magically but emotionally. I enjoy scenarios that make me question how I would handle the situation. Could I make that decision? Could I handle the consequences of that action? Could I have handled things better considering the circumstances? Give me challenges in my reading and I can ignore minor flaws in other areas.

I generally prefer characterization to be a bit more intense and the writing style varies widely over the three books, which was a bit disconcerting. Book 1 was fairly light, book two was much darker and book three was very uneven in pace, the conclusion seemed rushed and the PoV jumps around alot. However, this was a debut trilogy, and one that shows great promise, I was far from disappointed by it. Reisel makes the whole story worth the read. Diana Francis throws everything but the kitchen sink at this girl, including the allure of unlimited magical power and yet, our heroine never lets this go completely to her head. She agonizes over her decisions, struggles with making the right choices and deals with tragedy, betrayal and her greatest fear, isolation. This series is all about self-sacrifice, conquering your fears and doing your best in the face of terrible odds. There is also a bit of adventure, romance, and mystery to help move the story along.

Content includes depravity, torture, rape, famine, disease, and other uncomfortable scenarios. Definite adult themes but if it was a movie, I would rate it as 'R', meaning that older teens could handle the material just fine. They may even find some hidden truths within the trials and challenges that face Reisel. As always, that is my opinion and as such should be taken with a grain of salt. What I can say with confidence is this is a good series and well worth a read (or two). I have not read her newer books, but I am looking forward to it now that I have read and enjoyed this trilogy. I hope that you will too!

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Path of Fate (Path Series: Book 1)

2009-03-23T13:00:00.001-04:00

A Fantasy Series Book Review

By Diana Pharaoh Francis

Genre: Epic Fantasy, 16+
ISBN: 0451459504
Publisher: Roc (November 4, 2003)
Paperback: 384 pages
Read an Excerpt

Author's Blurb:

A truce has halted the fighting between Reisil's native land and its neighbor. But traitors on both sides plot to shatter the fragile peace. Kidnappers steal the daughter of the foreign ambassador from her bedchamber, leaving behind a trail of blood. To free her friend before she can be used to reignite the war, Reisil must join a band of rescuers she fears to trust. As Reisil journeys into enemy lands, she will be betrayed...

I have several soft spots when it comes to fantasy. One of course, is dragons. Another is animal companions. Likely, this stems from my love of animals and I would love nothing better then to truly bond with one. This series feeds that love. It also contains another of my favorite themes, a reluctant heroine.

What I did not like. The characterization could have been a bit better. It was not bad really, just could have been a bit deeper. Seeing as how this is Diana Pharaoh Francis' debut novel though, I am not too worried. I have no doubt that her writing, including character portrayals, will tighten up. The bonded animals could also have benefited from a little more personality. Again, they were not bad; I just would have liked to see them developed more. I also felt that the main character, Reisil, has way too much unlimited power, fortunately, she has no idea what to do with it most of the time. This seems to be her only real constraint, that and her reluctance to have any power at all. My final nitpick is the deities, again I would have liked to see a more personal look at those. They do make appearances, something I love in a fantasy god, but I found myself left wishing for more.

What I really liked. Overall, I enjoyed the portrayal of Reisil as the reluctant heroine. Her motivation for denying the power offered her was real and even touching. She makes mistakes, sometimes really big ones and she is hardheaded to say the least. A character does not need to be fully developed if I can identify with them, and I definitely identified with Reisil. The world itself was easy to envision, large without being overly so. The magic system was interesting and entering a story at the point where people are trying to stop a war, instead of starting one, was refreshing.

This story is not terribly original, something that matters very little to me personally. I do not believe that any gifted storyteller tells the same tale the same way as any other. Each brings their own unique take, voice, and personality into the story. The story itself is very enjoyable. There is adventure, romance, friendship, and betrayal. Some parts are touching while others are tragic. The pacing is even for the most part. This novel does suffer alittle from first book in a trilogy syndrome, there is alot of setup and back-story to cover, but I did not feel that it bogged the story down very much. Overall, a nicely paced light read with well-balanced elements of tragedy and triumph.

The content has adult themes. There is rape, murder, torture, and betrayal. There is justice in the form of harsh retribution, and people who do horrible things to accomplish their goals. There are also stellar examples of self-sacrifice and perseverance against impossible odds. In fact, I would say that the main theme of this series centers on both sacrifice and the lengths that people will go to obtain what they want, regardless of the cost in either case. The book ties up neatly, no serious cliffhanger here! But there are still plenty of questions left to be addressed in the next book. Well worth a read!

Series Summary
Other books in the series
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Shelfari Rating 4/5

Librarything Rating 3.78/5

Amazon Rating 4+ out of 5 stars
(34 Customer Reviews)

What Should I Read Next?

Kindle: No

Ebook: No

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Path of Honor (Path Series: Book 2)

2009-03-21T13:00:00.003-04:00

A Fantasy Series Book Review

By Diana Pharaoh Francis

Genre: Epic Fantasy, 16+
ISBN: 0451459911
Publisher: Roc (December 7, 2004)
Paperback: 400 pages
Read an Excerpt

Author's Blurb:

Reisil arrives in Koduteel, only to be met with chill suspicion. Even her fellow ahalad-kaaslane doubt her loyalty. When her healing magic fails to stop a deadly plague, Reisil finds herself ostracized and powerless. She is forced to turn for help to the wizards who want her destroyed. And she is alone—she cannot even trust her best friends...

Publisher's Blurb:

Two years after Reisil's arrival, Kodu Riik is decimated by plague and famine. And now a race of sorcerers is trying to take over. Reisil's power is feared by the nobility, others wish to exploit her, and her fellow ahalad-kaaslane begin to doubt her loyalty, as her healing magic fails to stem the rising plague. But Reisil will discover that although she has lost her power to heal, she now possesses a surging new ability-to destroy.

The story resumes 2 years after the events in Path of Fate. Life for Reisel is not as rosy as she had envisioned and soon she will be faced with some tough choices. If she chooses the wrong path, two worlds will be destroyed. All in a day's work for our heroine right?

Many new characters, another whole world, and The Lady has withdrawn, leaving the ahalad-kaaslane powerless and confused. There is a plague and droughts ravaging the land, strange and deadly monsters are appearing and as if this all is not enough, the Iisand (think king) has gone into seclusion. The stage is set for a world torn apart by famine, disease, civil war, and nasty politics. Lots of action, intrigue, and mystery fill these pages making this book a bit darker then the previous and a whole lot busier.

What I did not like. The beginning was a bit confusing; surprising considering that I put down book one and immediately picked up book two. Events are discussed, making me believe that maybe I missed something in book one, only to be explained later. The story here is much darker, which was disconcerting after the relatively light style of the first. Not that I have any problem with dark, was just a surprise. As complicated as those book is, there were also some important questions that I felt were left unaddressed. Big unanswered questions always distract me, almost like that feeling you get when you know you have forgotten something, but for the life of you, you cannot remember what. No, I am not going to tell you what questions! That would be a spoiler...

What I liked. Reisil and her goshawk companion are intriguing characters. The problems I had with Reisil's unlimited power in book one are solved in book two as it appears that she has lost all of her powers. Whereas the main theme in book one was sacrifice, book two concentrates more on finding answers. There are mysteries popping up on almost every page (maybe too many actually) and Reisel has to struggle constantly to find her path. There are no easy answers; no unlimited power to use to "fix" things, no goddess to conveniently bail her out, and no friends in her corner, Reisil is truly on her own. Well she has her wonderful bond with Saljane, her goshawk, but even the bird is extremely cryptic with her answers. If anything, I liked this book better because there are no easy outs. There is also the addition of a love interest who has a coal drake as a companion. Hey! If I cannot have dragons, I will gladly take drakes instead!

Content is dark, tragic and grisly at times. There are some disturbing torture scenes, plague and famine are never pretty, and some of the "bad" guys in this tale are truly evil and depraved. The pace is fast though, alot happens and the story clips right along. There is also a cliffhanger ending, unlike book one, so it is a good thing that you can go straight on to book three! This book is not the type that will "wow" you but it is a good read and a great adventure. If you enjoy reluctant heroines, animal companions, do not object to dark content and want a story where there are more questions then there are answers, this is well worth a read. Now on to book three to see if some of those questions get answered!

Series Summary
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Shelfari Rating 4/5

Librarything Rating 3.5/5

Amazon Rating 4+ out of 5 stars
(9 customer reviews)

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Kindle: No

Ebook: No

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Path of Blood (Path Series: Book 3)

2009-03-19T12:45:00.001-04:00

A Fantasy Series Book Review

By Diana Pharaoh Francis

Genre: Epic Fantasy, 16+
ISBN: 0451459911
Publisher: Roc (May 2, 2006)
Paperback: 464 pages
Read an Excerpt

Author's Blurb:

If Reisil cannot solve the riddle of the spell cast at Mysane Kosk, then Kodu Riik will be destroyed. Hunted by creatures and wizards, she travels to a strange land to learn the truth of her heritage and what she must do to save Mysane Kosk. But before it's all over, friends will die, and she will lose those who mean the most to her...

Publisher's Blurb:

Chaos reigns in the realm of Kodu Riik. Plague continues to ravage its populace. Armies of the power-hungry Aare are on the march, slaughtering everything in their path to place a madman on the throne. And the rift between the kingdom and the land of Cemanahuatl yawns ever wider, threatening to consume both beneath waves of uncontrollable magic and destroy every living soul within them.

Only Reisil possesses enough power to breach the spellbound city of Mysane Kosk and seal the fracture. Accompanied by her goshawk, Saljane, and her lover, Yohuac, Reisil must journey across a land besieged by war and fight for a domain torn asunder by sorceries beyond imagining....

This book probably had more surprises then the other two put together. There were things that I never saw coming and I liked the book better for them. Reisel continues to be a good anti-hero, growing and coming to terms with her status as a pawn of the gods. She does what she has too, but questions her actions afterwards. This for me is one of her more endearing qualities, just because she has unlimited powers to destroy, she never enjoys it. She might enjoy the rush of power but never the act itself. She also learns that destruction is not the ultimate answer. There is a reason why the Goddess chose a tark (healer) as her Chosen and that reason becomes more apparent as the story concludes.

What I did not like. The pacing was a bit uneven, rushing here, slowing down there. The PoV, by necessity, jumps around alot more, but is a bit disconcerting after reading the first two books that focus mainly on Reisel. The conclusion also did not seem to match the build up. While the conclusion was satisfying in that it ties everything up neatly, it felt rushed to me.

What I liked. As usual, I liked Reisel and to a lesser degree her goshawk, Saljane. I enjoyed the foray into an Aztec type world where Reisel has to learn the final form of magic that she will need to correct the problems that threaten both worlds. I do want to note that while I enjoyed the inclusion of this new world, I also felt that this was one of the book's major slow down points. It was also where some of those "surprises" I enjoyed so much took place. There were some instances of "poetic" justice that I thoroughly enjoyed, in a bloodthirsty sort of way. I cannot help it, I think that anybody who rapes, tortures and kills children deserves a grisly death.

Content wise, see the above reference. There is depravity, torture, murder, and betrayal. Uncomfortable at times but I still think it was not so overdone that an older teen cannot read it. There are also some romances, friendships, loyalty, and bravery to balance things out. The overall tone is dark and tragic but that just showcases the good parts where people struggle to do what they know is right against impossible odds and severe self-doubt. While not a great book, it is still a good read and a good first effort from Diana Francis. If you have a soft spot for animal companions, reluctant heroines, bad folks who get what they deserve and powerful magic you will likely enjoy this series. I see great potential here and I think that Diana Francis will only improve and grow, just as Reisel did in this series.

Series Summary
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Shelfari Rating 4/5

Librarything Rating 3.41/5

Amazon Rating 3+ out of 5 stars
(10 Customer Reviews)

What Should I Read Next?

Kindle: No

Ebook: No

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Hythrun Chronicles: Wolfblade Trilogy (Series Summary)

2009-03-12T16:10:00.012-04:00

An Epic Fantasy Series Review

Author: Jennifer Fallon
Series: Wolfblade Trilogy: Hythrun Chronicles Books 4-6
Genre: Epic Fantasy, 16+
Publisher: Tor Fantasy
Book Reviews of: Wolfblade - Warrior - Warlord

If you have read the Demon Child Trilogy then you met both Damin and his mother Marla Wolfblade. (If you have not read it yet, what are you waiting for?) This series covers the life of these two characters and takes place roughly 30 years before the events that take place in the Demon Child Trilogy.

Now you might think that you should read this trilogy first, seeing as how it is a prequel. Of course, that is your choice but I think they should be read in a circle. There are certain events in the Wolfblade Trilogy which I believe will make no sense unless you read Demon Child first. In my opinion, you should read them as they were published, Demon Child, then Wolfblade, then, for the fun of it, read Demon Child again! That way you will truly get the whole picture and see what a wonderful job Jennifer Fallon did in lining everything up. (Something she admits was far from easy!)

This is a coming of age story, first for Marla, then for Damin. It is also a story of love, loyalty, and brutal politics. Jennifer Fallon has a wickedly clever mind and it comes shining through in her writing. The politics are intricate and ruthless. The characters are equally complex, hard, even cruel at times and yet capable of boundless compassion and love. There are heavy doses of insanity, depravity, betrayal, murder, and slavery but all of the adult themes are handled tactfully without too much detail. I feel comfortable saying this is a great read for older teens and of course fantasy loving adults!

There are multiple reasons as to why I love all of the Hythrun Chronicles. There are three fantasy elements that I have a soft spot for, dragons, animal companions, and gods who interact with their followers (and non-believers.) The latter stems from my love at a young age for all types of mythology. This series not only caters to my love of interactive gods but it goes one-step further, it portrays the gods as both humorous and somewhat less then all-powerful. As a result, the gods end up being some of my favorite characters!

Another of my favorite things is character driven stories. There are few authors, in my opinion, that do characters as well as Jennifer Fallon. She makes them feel both real and natural. Each has their own voice, distinct personality and a combination of strengths and flaws. Furthermore, the "bad" characters still have good qualities while the "good" characters are capable of doing very bad things. The best part? They all believe that what they are doing is right! Or atleast they are able to convince themselves of that fact. (Something I think we are all occasionally guilty of.)

The last of my absolute favorite story telling elements has to be that of surprise. I love the unexpected twist, the surprising "revelation,” the "oh Wow!" moments that you have no way to see coming, and yet, once revealed, everything that has gone before just clicks into place. Now this series did not really have any of those "oh wow!" moments but it still had enough twists and turns to make me more then happy and keep me glued to the pages to see what happened next!

Without a doubt one of my favorite series by one of my favorite authors. If you want a story you can truly get lost in, with humor, complicated politics, amazing characters who you actually care about and powerful magic, I highly recommend the entire Hythrun Chronicles series. If you want more details, I suggest checking out the individual book reviews.

Read an Interview with Jennifer Fallon
In Their Own Words: Jennifer Fallon on the WOLFBLADE TRILOGY
Similar Reads from LibraryThing
Only Warrior is available in Kindle: Warrior
Jennifer Fallon's Sony ebooks
Author's Web Presence
Website - Blog - Twitter
See the individual reviews for more purchasing options

Wolfblade (Hythrun Chronicles: Wolfblade Trilogy: Book 1)

2009-03-11T00:30:00.005-04:00

A Fantasy Series Book Review

By Jennifer Fallon

Genre: Epic Fantasy, 16+
ISBN: 0765348691
Publisher: Tor Fantasy (August 29, 2006)
Mass Market Paperback: 640 pages
Read an Excerpt

Publisher's Blurb:

Marla Wolfblade of Hythria is determined to restore her family's great name, but conspirators surround her: the Sorcerers' Collective, the Patriots -- even members of her own family. She must make sure her son Damin lives to be old enough to restore the Wolfblade name to its former glory.

Elezaar the Dwarf is a small man with big secrets -- but that doesn't matter to Marla Wolfblade. Her brother is the High Prince of Hythria, and, in this fiercely patriarchal society, her fate will be decided on his whim. She needs someone politically astute to guide her through the maze of court politics -- and Elezaar the Dwarf knows more than he lets on.

As Elezaar teaches Marla the Rules of Gaining and Wielding Power, Marla starts on the road to becoming a tactician and a wily diplomat -- but will that be enough to keep her son alive?

Jennifer Fallon returns to the world she created in the Demon Child Trilogy, only around 20 years in the past. This time she explores the life of Marla Wolfblade, mother of the famed warlord Damin Wolfblade. It was a marvelous choice. Even though the glimpses of Marla in the Demon Trilogy were few, they were enough to intrigue me. I was delighted to be given the opportunity to learn more about Hythria, Marla and her son.

Now in case you have not gathered it already, there is an order in which this series as a whole needs to be read. This series was marketed in two different ways. In the US, it was published as two different trilogies. First was the Demon Child Trilogy then the Wolfblade Trilogy. In other places, it was one 6-book series, this technically being book 4. It is my considered opinion that they need to be read in that order, otherwise I am afraid that there are certain nuances in the Wolfblade Trilogy that will leave you confused.

Now on to the review. I generally like to start with what I did not like. When it comes to any story written by Jennifer Fallon however, I find that to be a difficult thing to do. If I had to pin down a complaint about Wolfblade it would be that, it seems a bit rushed at times. Not a huge deal, it is back-story so it skips from major event to major event a little too quickly at times in order to accomplish what it sets out to do, cover the life of Marla Wolfblade from marriageable age to just a few years after the birth of Damin.

Now the good stuff. Oh my where do I start! Jennifer Fallon excels in just about every area, great dialogue, tricky politics, awesome characterization, and intricate world building. I have to admit though; my favorite characters are the gods and the Harshini demons. I love the whole system actually. Dace, the God of Thieves is just hilarious and the young demons crack me up. Even better then interactive gods though is a god dependent magic system that just plain makes sense. Brak is another of my favorites and I was happy to see him make an appearance here. Jennifer Fallon does a great job of creating a half human, half Harshini with wit, irreverence, charm and yet somebody you do not ever want to cross. She also does an exceptional job with Elezaar, the dwarf court'esa. Now this is a man whose motives are so clear and so believable that you cannot help but hope that his endeavors prove successful. What this unobtrusive little slave does with a confused and amazingly naive young girl is nothing short of miraculous. It was fun watching the Marla you meet in the beginning of the story become the woman you met in the Demon Child Trilogy. I enjoyed it immensely!

As far as content, there are adult themes. Some slaves are trained as court'esas and young men and women are encouraged to make free use of them prior to getting married. Both partners of a marriage are expected to come to the marriage bed well skilled in the arts of lovemaking. Even after marriage, use of a court'esa is not considered infidelity - they are only slaves afterall - though in most cases a husband will not allow his wife's court'esa to join his household. There is very little violence in this first book of the series, the focus is on politics instead. I am sure though that we will see more violence as Damin develops in later books. I feel safe saying that this is readable for 16+, the themes are adult, but the details are handled with tact.

If you love politics, great characterization, detailed, and varied social, economic, and religious world building plus a believable magic system, you will love this book. If you have already read the first three, you can be assured you will like the added details to the back-story that this book provides. If you have not read the first three yet, I highly recommend that you do so. Awesome series and one of my all time favorites!

Series Summary
Other books in the trilogy
All the books in the series
Ratings, Reviews, Similar Reads, Buy Books

Shelfari Rating 4/5

Librarything Rating 4.19/5

Amazon Rating 4 out of 5 stars
(14 Customer Reviews)

What Should I Read Next?

Kindle: No

Ebook: No

Buy Book: B&N - Powells - Abe Books

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Warrior (Hyrthun Chronicles: Wolfblade Trilogy: Book 2)

2009-03-03T22:45:00.019-05:00

A Fantasy Series Book Review

By Jennifer Fallon

Genre: Epic Fantasy, 16+
ISBN: 0765348705
Publisher: Tor Fantasy (July 31, 2007)
Mass Market Paperback: 576 pages
Read an Excerpt

Publisher's Blurb:

It is eight years since Marla Wolfblade buried her second husband. In that time, she has become the power behind Hythria's throne -- as much from a desire to control her own destiny in any way she can, as to protect her son, young Damin.

But while Marla plays the games of politics and diplomacy, the High Arrion of the Sorcerers' Collective is plotting to destroy her -- and the entire Wolfblade line.

And while Marla's power and fortune are great, they may yet not be enough to protect herself and her family from the High Arrion's wrath -- and her only ally and confidant, Elezaar the Fool, is toying with the idea of betrayal.

For he has discovered that the infamous Rules of Gaining and Wielding Power are not so useful when his own family is involved.

The second installment of the Wolfblade Trilogy changes focus and centers more on the children of Marla Wolfblade. I have to admit, it was fun watching Damin, his siblings and companions grow up in the wonderfully complex world that Jennifer Fallon has created for them. Just as they did for Marla Wolfblade, the challenges of surviving the political climate of Hythria mold and temper each of the children involved in this tale. Even better then that, it does so in very believable ways. Each character is very different and yet they mesh beautifully resulting in a very well rounded group. This is not to say that the adults do not continue to play an important role. Marla and Alija play an intriguing game of cat and mouse, with both firmly believing that the other is the mouse. Brak and Wrayan have their parts to play and Elezaar is one of the most intriguing characters I have ever had the pleasure of reading about. Of them all, he has the most understandable motives plus they are so true to his character and situation it is scary. This is character driven fantasy at its finest.

As with most good character driven fantasy, this book will take you on an emotional roller coaster ride of grand proportions. There is tragedy that is painful beyond imagining, there is love and loyalty that knows no boundaries and there are triumphs both heartwarming and bittersweet. That just covers the good guys. The other side of the coin covers every degree of evil from morally disgusting to blatantly cruel with a bit of true insanity and misguided loyalty thrown in to even things out. Talk about your page turner! Add in some unexpected twists, and political intrigue that makes Nixon look like a rank amateur and you have a book you just cannot put down. Gone is the occasional slow pacing of book one, this book just flies by!

I want to take a minute to highlight one of my favorite things about Jennifer Fallon's writing style. I love her sense of humor. Mingled in with the love and loss, betrayal and triumph are little gems of humor that make me laugh with delight. I do not believe that humor in the written form is easy to pull off, especially knowing when to use it as a tension breaker without interrupting the flow of events. Jennifer Fallon does a great job of inserting humor into various situations in ways that are both hilarious and natural. The interactions between Brak and the primal gods are a great example of this. I am not sure which is funnier, Brak's irreverence for the gods or their irritation at not being able to make him treat them with the respect they feel they deserve. Either way, it all adds a dimension of fun to these books that is just priceless.

Content wise, this is one of those stories that is adult in tone and content, regardless of the fact that this is very much a coming of age story. However, it is fine for older teens who do not mind some violence. The love scenes are not overly explicit and the violent deaths that take place, while fairly detailed, do not cross that line of being gory just for the sake of shock value. Compared to book one, there is less sword and more politics. However, the world is on the brink of a major war though so if you are looking for more fight scenes, I have a feeling that book three will have plenty.

I want to add one more opinion, and I am going to try to do this in a way that gives no spoilers. I have read reviews of this series where the readers recommend that you read the Wolfblade Trilogy first since it takes place before the events in the Demon Child Trilogy. I strongly disagree. You will have to decide if you want to trust me on this but there are events in this series that will make no sense unless you read the Demon Child Trilogy first. I understand the reasoning behind their advice. Yes, having read the Demon Child Trilogy, you already know how this series will end, but that is not the purpose of these books. This series simply gives the Demon Child Trilogy, which was published first, more depth and if you think about it, it is hard to give more depth to something you have not even read yet. The Demon Child Trilogy reads like a complete story - which it is - this reads like the back-story that it is. Here you get to learn more about the characters you admired in the Demon Child Trilogy and you get to view the world and the events from a different perspective. Wolfblade is essentially a behind the scenes look at some of the characters and events leading up to the Demon Child Trilogy. You might say it is the story behind the story.

If anything, this book was a bit better then Wolfblade, it moved along at a smoother pace and it is a good thing that all three books are in print now because you are going to want to jump right into book three. I highly recommend this book!

Series Summary
Other books in the trilogy
All the books in the series
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Shelfari Rating 4+/5

Librarything Rating 4.16/5

Amazon Rating 5 out of 5 stars
(14 Customer Reviews)

What Should I Read Next?

Kindle: Warrior

Ebook: No

Buy Book: B&N - Powells - Abe Books

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Warlord (Hyrthun Chronicles: Wolfblade Trilogy: Book 3)

2009-02-26T13:10:00.004-05:00

A Fantasy Series Book Review

By Jennifer Fallon

Genre: Epic Fantasy, 16+
ISBN: 0765348713
Publisher: Tor Fantasy (April 29, 2008)
Mass Market Paperback: 640 pages
Read an Excerpt

Publisher's Blurb:

Marla Wolfblade is reeling from the loss of her closest confidant, Elizaar the Fool, who taught her the Rules of Gaining and Wielding Power, and helped shape her into a force in Hythria. But Marla's plans for revenge are disrupted when she discovers she has a dangerous adversary....

On the border, Fardohnya has massed its troops for an invasion, and Marla's eldest son, Damin Wolfblade, heir to the throne of Hythria, finds his ability to fight back is thwarted by tradition, politics, and the foolishness of the High Prince...

Back in Krakandar, Mahkas Damaran awaits news of the battle and has sealed the city against Damin's return. With the city on the brink of starvation, it seems only theft on an unprecedented scale can free Krakandar from Mahkas's madness and tyranny... and destroy Hythria's web of secrets and lies.

For the life of me, I cannot understand the lack of reviews on this book, three on Amazon, and only two on LibraryThing? People! If you have not read this series, you are missing a great fantasy read!

Jennifer Fallon does it again as she wraps up the Wolfblade Trilogy in a very satisfying way. There is only one problem, now I want to go back and reread the Demon Child Trilogy! Damin turns out to be everything you could hope for in a hero, Marla unsheathes her claws and gets down and dirty while everything falls nicely in line for the events in the Demon Child Trilogy. As usual, I was blown away.

I love three things about Jennifer Fallon's writing. First is her characters, they waltz right into your mind and take over. Secondly is her political savvy. If Jennifer Fallon ever runs for a political office, we are all in deep trouble. Thirdly is the easy way she writes humor into her stories. Not only does it feel natural but also at times, it is flat out hilarious. All of this combines to provide the reader with true immersion. This book got me through a snowstorm, no power, no water, no phone, and a tooth extraction with my sanity intact! Does it get any better then that?

The writing in this book was a bit tighter, if that is even possible. Alot needs to take place to conclude all the plot points and it does so beautifully. There is more focus and the timeline is narrowed considerably so the pacing is flawless. Better yet, the pacing flows naturally, and unlike some final books in a trilogy, it does not seem rushed.

There is less character development. The characters do not really "grow" so much as reveal the true scope of their personalities. There is more swordplay and military strategy but the main focus remains on the politics of war more so then the actual fighting of it. Despite Jennifer Fallon's clever use of humor, this is not a light read. Insanity, depravity, infidelity, murder, and tragedy comprise a large portion of this story. However, she balances this with humor, love, loyalty, and heroics, all in good measure. All in all, a very well rounded book.

I highly recommend this novel, and this series, to anyone who loves character driven fantasy with a large dose of backstabbing politics, dry wit, and personal triumphs. Jennifer Fallon has not disappointed me yet!

Series Summary
Other books in the trilogy
All the books in the series
Ratings, Reviews, Similar Reads, Buy Books

Shelfari Rating 4/5

Librarything Rating 4.1/5

Amazon Rating 5 out of 5 stars
(3 Customer Reviews)

What Should I Read Next?

Kindle: No

Ebook: No

Buy Book: B&N - Powells - Abe Books

Amazon: US Canada UK

The Saga of Mithgar: The Iron Tower Trilogy (Series Summary)

2009-02-18T18:00:00.015-05:00

An Epic Fantasy Series Review

By Dennis L. McKiernan

Genre: Epic Fantasy, Heroes, YA 13+
Series: The Saga of Mithgar: Books 1-3
ISBN: 0451458109
Publisher: Roc (December 12, 2000)
Paperback: 672 pages
Books: The Dark Tide - Shadows of Dooom - The Darkest Day

Fantastic Fiction's Blurb of Dark Tide:

Tuck Underbank is a Warrow -- think a hobbit with shoes and "large jewel-like eyes" -- living in the peaceful Boskydells. When an unnaturally cold winter strikes and the evil Modru threatens the world, he and a number of his fellow Thornwalkers go to the High King's aid. But a vast expanse of lightless blizzard called the Dimmendark (sounds bad, doesn't it?) is spreading over the land, and Tuck soon finds that the "dark tide" is going to swamp them all.

Despite the fact that they're tiny and temperamental, the Warrows get included in the military forces. But the High King doesn't have enough warriors to hold off the horde of slobbering monsters who are coming to attack. And the battle goes horribly wrong, separating the friends from one another and possibly dooming them all.

I am going to break with tradition (it is my tradition so I can break it right?) Normally I review each book in a series, and then write the summary but not this time. There are two reasons for this. One, the author never intended for this to be 3 separate books - that was the publisher's idea - the author always intended for it to be read as one continuous story. Two, combined, the entire omnibus totals 672 pages, which is in line with what I am used to reading in a single book anyway. One more important note. This series is readily available in omnibus form but the individual books appear to be out of print. I could not find an excerpt at all and I was fortunate to find a blurb of the first book! The publisher's site is sadly lacking in any information, it lists the omnibus but little else.

This series has spawned alot of controversy over the years; readers either love it because of its close resemblance to Lord of the Rings or hate it for that same reason. I fall in the first category. Yes, it contains just about every high fantasy trope there is and yes, it is basically LoTR minus Gandalf but those are the very reasons why I love it. Besides that, it is virtually impossible for an author to duplicate exactly another's work. No matter who retells a story, they are going to imprint on it their own personality and voice. Which leads me to the third objection to this series, some think it does not resemble LoTR enough! Sigh.

Personally, I love this series. Now even I am aware of some flaws, this is Dennis L. McKiernan's first effort and like most new authors, his writing could stand some improvement, and happily, his later works do. However, as I have done in the past, I am always going to start at the beginning of a series, regardless of how much better succeeding books are (or are not). Not that it is badly written but later works are tighter and more developed, eventually losing most of the LoTR influences and truly becoming a world of its own.

This is one of those series that I consider a "fun" read. After reading so many dark tales lately with deep issues, unique magic systems and blurred lines between good and evil, I was in the mood for some traditional fantasy where the "bad" people are pure evil and the "good" people were shining examples of honor, loyalty, and high moral standards. This series fit the bill. I really loved reading a tale where I knew exactly who was what and knew that good must triumph and evil will be defeated. Another thing that I thoroughly enjoyed was that this series is written in a "storytelling" type style. As I read it, I could easily imagine myself sitting around a fire listening as a talented storyteller or bard related this tale to a group of wide-eyed kids and equally wide-eyed adults. Might not cut it against today's gritty, personal and darkly emotional stories but to me it was a delight. In addition, the ending is both poignant and sweet, wrapping up what can only be described as a classic fantasy tale.

As far as content, this is very readable by young adults. There is war, monsters, death, betrayal, and tragedy with the normal types of violence that go with them but nothing too graphic. It is not aimed at young adults, the characters are late teens at best, right on the cusp of adulthood or full adults, but there is no lovemaking or harsh language, and the violence falls within PG-13 standards. There is a bit of romance too, however the two main couples stay separated by war for the majority of the series.

If you want an alternate to a reread of Lord of the Rings, written by an author who openly admits that this series was patterned, atleast in part, after those works; you cannot go wrong with this series. However, go in with your mind open and read it for itself. It is like and yet unlike Lord of the Rings. In and of itself it is a delightful story but if you compare it too closely, you are going to be disappointed. Personally, it is and will continue to be one of my all time favorites, hopefully, if it is not already, it will someday become one of yours!

Ratings, Reviews, Similar Reads, Buy Books

Shelfari Rating 3+/5

Librarything Rating 3.19/5

Amazon Rating 3+ out of 5 stars
(59 Customer Reviews)

Similar Reads from Librarything
Or What Should I Read Next?

Kindle: No

Ebook: No

Buy Book: B&N - Powells - Abe Books

Amazon: US Canada UK

Read an Interview with Dennis L. McKiernan From:
Fiction Factor
Other Reviews: (Some with mild spoilers but more plot detail)
SFF World - SF Reader
Author's Web Presence
Website

Chronicles of The Black Company (Series Summary)

2009-02-12T23:00:00.012-05:00

An Epic Fantasy Series Review

Author: Glen Cook
Genre: Epic Fantasy, Adult
Series: The Black Company: Books 1-3
Publisher: Tor Fantasy
Book Reviews of: The Black Company - Shadows Linger - The White Rose
Buy Omnibus Edition: US Canada UK

My best description of the Black Company series is unique. Absent are gritty assassins, bold princes, beautiful maidens and hapless orphans who grow up to be powerful mages. Instead, you will find common foot soldiers, feuding wizards (who just do it for fun), paid mercenaries, and lots of war between bad people and worse people. Sound interesting so far? How about a story told from the viewpoint of the company medic who is also the keeper of the history of the Black Company. Croaker is the official Annalist for the company and he relates only the parts of the tale he intends to include in the official history. Still sound interesting? Well read on!

Glen Cook took most of the fantasy tropes and threw them right out the window when he created this series. Most mind you, but not all. You still have the fight of good (White Rose) against evil (the Dominator) but in addition you have every shade of gray imaginable. In true mercenary form, the Black Company does not fight for a cause, they do not even care which side is right - or wrong. No, they fight for only two reasons, money, and loyalty to their oaths. Once you have contracted the Black Company you not only control the best troops in the land, but you know that they will fight and die for you down to the very last man. That is what they take pride in, being the best, and staying true to their oaths.

Now this style of storytelling may not be for everybody. You will need to have a love for military fantasy and an appreciation for dark worlds. If you do, you will find plenty to enjoy. By reading the story from a grunt's point of view, you get to experience the brotherhood of a tightly knit group of soldiers. You will experience the horror of war, the difficulty in following orders that you probably should question, but you will not because you are not being paid to ask questions. You will see good people do bad things and bad people do good things, all depending on the situation. You will see hard soldiers show compassion, and then watch those same men brutally kill. Before it is over you will question the difference between right and wrong, good and evil, cruelty and justice and come up with no right answers. It is good stuff.

There are fantastic creatures, a vivid world, incredibly real characters, many forms of magic, both humorous and evil, and an exploration into every form of emotion there is from love to hate, loyalty to betrayal, apathy to empathy, and fear to bravery. You will discover yourself involved in a fast-paced story that jumps rapidly from one event to the other, no fluff, no info dumps; you get all your information straight from the hip. Like I said a truly unique style, viewpoint, and delivery. While this series is adult in tone, none of it is offensive; it all flows very naturally and true to what I would imagine a mercenary group at war would be like. If you are in the mood for a change of pace from typical heroes, royal families and a clear division between right and wrong, I highly suggest this series. For more information, I think you would enjoy reading the individual reviews.

Read an Interview with Glen Cook
Similar Reads from LibraryThing
Not available in Kindle except in omnibus edition
Chronicles of the Black Company
Not available in ebook.
See individual reviews for more information.

The Black Company (Chronicles of The Black Company: Book 1)

2009-02-10T15:00:00.002-05:00

A Fantasy Series Book Review

By Glen Cook

Genre: Epic Fantasy, Adult
ISBN: 0812521390
Publisher: Tor Fantasy (March 15, 1992)
Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
Read an Excerpt

Publisher's Blurb:

Some feel the Lady, newly risen from centuries in thrall, stands between humankind and evil. Some feel she is evil itself. The hardbitten men of the Black Company take their pay and do what they must, burying their doubts with their dead.

Until the prophesy: The White Rose has been reborn, somewhere, to embody good once more.

There must be a way for the Black Company to find her...

The Black Company is a pleasant change from your typical heroic epic fantasy. This is the story of a band of mercenaries who (in the nature of all mercenaries) is not concerned about the morals of a war, just how much it pays! Croaker who is both doctor and annalist (current keeper of the extensive annals of the Black Company) tells the story. I have to admit, it was fun reading a story as told by the peons and as told by the "bad guys!"

This first story (I hear they get better) was hard for me to get into at first. I felt like I had been dropped into the middle of a conversation where everybody knew what was going on but me. The geographic references threw me off, the references to the countries, governments and people involved took me a bit to put in their proper places. Once I did sort of figure things out (Glen Cook does not believe in maps so that could not help me) I realized that the war itself was a case of evil verses lesser evil, and even then you are not sure which side is worse! Like I said, definitely a different type of story.

The characters are great. Each has a very distinct personality. The wizards that travel with the company are simply priceless and at times hilarious. It can be dark and tragic; it is war after all, people die and often in horrible ways. The current employers of the Black Company are also very dark and have a large range of both benign and destructive powers. This tale literally bristles with battles both magical and mundane. It also does a good job of portraying the human side of war. The fear, the disgust for what they sometimes have to do or witness, the tension, and the politics from inside a military unit all come across naturally. So does the loyalty and unity that is created by living with men whose very lives depend each other daily. It is a very well written portrait of the day-to-day life of a mercenary band.

The plot has promise. Aside from the war between what appears to be two evil forces, there is a prophecy that promises hope and hints that before it is over, the Black Company will find itself trapped between honoring its oaths to the Lady and her henchmen and the prophecy that could save them all. I will have to wait and see if my take is correct!

Definitely adult in tone and content. Plenty of profanity, death, black magic, and gallows humor, as benefit the subject matter. For most of this story, the balance of power between the two forces who are at war shifts, keeping the tension high. There is mystery, humor, and brotherhood combined with horror, death, and hardship. If you are looking for something different and engrossing to read, I recommend this series. Great read for military fantasy fans who like a dark tale where the protagonists are not trying to be heroes, they feel lucky if they just manage to survive; where it is not about right, and wrong, it is about honoring your oaths.

Series Summary
Other books in the series
Ratings, Reviews, Similar Reads, Buy Books

Shelfari Rating 4+/5

Librarything Rating 4.01/5

Amazon Rating 4 out of 5 stars
(150 Customer Reviews)

What Should I Read Next?

Kindle: No

Ebook: No

Buy Book: B&N - Powells - Abe Books

Amazon: US Canada UK

Shadows Linger (Chronicles of The Black Company: Book 2)

2009-02-04T22:50:00.010-05:00

A Fantasy Series Book Review

By Glen Cook

Genre: Epic Fantasy, Adult
ISBN: 0812508424
Publisher: Tor Fantasy (April 15, 1990)
Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
Read an Excerpt

Publisher's Blurb:

Mercenary soldiers in the service of the Lady, the Black Company stands against the rebels of the White Rose. They are tough men, proud of honoring their contracts. The Lady is evil, but so, too, are those who falsely profess to follow the White Rose, reincarnation of a centuries-dead heroine. Yet now some of the Company have discovered that the mute girl they rescued and sheltered is truly the White Rose reborn. Now there may be a path to the light, even for such as they.

If they can survive it.

Croaker continues to add to the Annals of the Black Company in this second book of the first trilogy. My hunch was right. The Black company will be forced to decide if keeping its oaths to the Lady is a good idea; it was what forces them to choose that I was surprised by. (No, I am not telling!) As I think back on what I read in those few 300+ pages, I stand amazed. So much happens, so many things change, the action is so relentless, only I never noticed! It all flowed along that perfectly.

There is alot of running and fighting and running and fighting in this installment. The war continues and this time the odds seem to be favoring the Lady. There is only one problem, her husband, who by all accounts is more evil then she is, is reaching out from his grave again. (Some guys just refuse to stay dead!) Therefore, her elite troops, the tenacious and highly successful Black Company, are called in. Across the continent they go - again - right into the path of Raven and Darling who think they are safe. Raven has been trying to come up with vast sums of money so he and Darling can escape to the south. Croaker and his friends must not only root out the trouble originating from the Dominator's grave, but also protect Raven who is unknowingly up to his neck right in the middle of it! Fun stuff.

Good fast read, plenty of dark moments, some interesting monsters, some great worldbuilding and I cannot say enough good things (or bad) about the characters. Same refreshing change as book one, maybe even better in some respects. The characters felt a bit more developed to me this time and they were pretty darn good the first time! Adult content without a doubt. Plenty of violence, dark magic, murder, and betrayal. There is also humor, brotherhood, and loyalty. This series so far has met and exceeded my expectations. I think I will get to see more about Darling and her role as the second coming of the White Rose in book three. I am looking forward to it.

Series Summary
Other books in the series
Ratings, Reviews, Similar Reads, Buy Books

Shelfari Rating 4/5

Librarything Rating 3.93/5

Amazon Rating 4+ out of 5 stars
(25 Customer Reviews)

What Should I Read Next?

Kindle: No

Ebook: No

Buy Book: B&N - Powells - Abe Books

Amazon: US Canada UK

Dragons, Heroes and Wizards: Fantasy Series Book Reviews

The Dragon Revenant: Deverry Act One: Book 4 (Review)

By Katharine Kerr

Genre: Sword & Sorcery, 16+ ISBN: 0553289098 Publisher: Spectra (March 1, 1991) Mass Market Paperback: 432 pages

The Bristling Wood: Dawnspell: Deverry Act One: Book 3 (Review)

By Katharine Kerr

Genre: Sword & Sorcery, 16+ ISBN: 0553285815 Publisher: Spectra (April 1, 1990) Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages

Darkspell: Deverry Act One: Book 2 (Review)

By Katharine Kerr

Genre: Sword & Sorcery, 16+ISBN: 0553568884Publisher: Spectra Revised edition (November 10, 1994) Paperback: 432 pages

Daggerspell: Deverry Act One: Book 1 (Review)

By Katharine Kerr

Genre: Sword & Sorcery, 16+ISBN: 0553565214Publisher: Spectra (November 1, 1993)Mass Market Paperback: 480 pages

Worldweavers (Series Summary)

A Fantasy Series Summary

Author: Alma AlexanderSeries: WorldweaversGenre: Young Adult Fantasy, 12+Publisher: Harper TeenBook Reviews of: Gift of the Unmage - Spellspam - Cybermage

Gift of the Unmage: Worldweavers: Book 1 (Review)

By Alma Alexander

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy, 12+ISBN: 0060839554Publisher: HarperTeen (March 13, 2007)Hardcover: 400 pagesRead an Excerpt

Spellspam: Worldweavers: Book 2 (Review)

By Alma Alexander

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy, 12+ISBN: 0060839600Publisher: HarperTeen (February 10, 2009)Paperback: 480 pagesRead an Excerpt

Cybermage: Worldweavers: Book 3 (Review)

By Alma Alexander

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy, 12+ISBN: 0060839619Publisher: HarperTeen (February 10, 2009) Hardcover: 432 pagesRead an Excerpt

Kingdoms of Thorn and Bone (Series Summary)

An Epic Fantasy Series

Author: Greg KeyesSeries: Kingdoms of Thorn and BoneGenre: Epic FantasyPublisher: Del ReyBook Reviews of: The Briar King - The Charnel Prince - The Blood Knight - The Born Queen

The Briar King: The Kingdoms of Thorn and Bone: Book 1 (Review)

By Greg Keyes

Genre: Epic Fantasy, 16+ISBN: 0345440706Publisher: Del Rey (March 30, 2004)Mass Market Paperback: 608 pagesRead an Excerpt

The Charnel Prince: The Kingdoms of Thorn and Bone: Book 2 (Review)

By Greg Keyes

Genre: Epic Fantasy, 16+ISBN: 0345440714Publisher: Del Rey (October 25, 2005)Mass Market Paperback: 512 pagesRead an Excerpt

The Blood Knight: The Kingdoms of Thorn and Bone: Book 3 (Review)

By Greg Keyes

Genre: Epic Fantasy, 16+ISBN: 0345440722Publisher: Del Rey (May 1, 2007)Mass Market Paperback: 576 pagesRead an Excerpt

The Born Queen: Kingdoms of Thorn and Bone: Book 4 (Review)

By Greg Keyes

Genre: Epic Fantasy, 16+ISBN: 0345440730Publisher: Del Rey (January 27, 2009)Mass Market Paperback: 496 pagesRead an Excerpt

Path of Fate Trilogy (Series Summary)

An Epic Fantasy Series Summary

Author: Diana Pharaoh FrancisSeries: Path of Fate SeriesGenre: Epic Fantasy, 16+Publisher: RocBook Reviews of: Path of Fate - Path of Honor - Path of Blood

Path of Fate (Path Series: Book 1)

A Fantasy Series Book Review

By Diana Pharaoh Francis

Genre: Epic Fantasy, 16+ISBN: 0451459504Publisher: Roc (November 4, 2003) Paperback: 384 pages Read an Excerpt

Path of Honor (Path Series: Book 2)

A Fantasy Series Book Review

By Diana Pharaoh Francis

Genre: Epic Fantasy, 16+ISBN: 0451459911Publisher: Roc (December 7, 2004) Paperback: 400 pages Read an Excerpt

Path of Blood (Path Series: Book 3)

A Fantasy Series Book Review

By Diana Pharaoh Francis

Genre: Epic Fantasy, 16+ISBN: 0451459911Publisher: Roc (May 2, 2006) Paperback: 464 pages Read an Excerpt

Hythrun Chronicles: Wolfblade Trilogy (Series Summary)

An Epic Fantasy Series Review

Author: Jennifer FallonSeries: Wolfblade Trilogy: Hythrun Chronicles Books 4-6Genre: Epic Fantasy, 16+Publisher: Tor FantasyBook Reviews of: Wolfblade - Warrior - Warlord

Wolfblade (Hythrun Chronicles: Wolfblade Trilogy: Book 1)

A Fantasy Series Book Review

By Jennifer Fallon

Genre: Epic Fantasy, 16+ISBN: 0765348691Publisher: Tor Fantasy (August 29, 2006) Mass Market Paperback: 640 pages Read an Excerpt

Warrior (Hyrthun Chronicles: Wolfblade Trilogy: Book 2)

A Fantasy Series Book Review

By Jennifer Fallon

Genre: Epic Fantasy, 16+ISBN: 0765348705Publisher: Tor Fantasy (July 31, 2007) Mass Market Paperback: 576 pages Read an Excerpt

Warlord (Hyrthun Chronicles: Wolfblade Trilogy: Book 3)

A Fantasy Series Book Review

By Jennifer Fallon

Genre: Epic Fantasy, 16+ISBN: 0765348713Publisher: Tor Fantasy (April 29, 2008) Mass Market Paperback: 640 pages Read an Excerpt

The Saga of Mithgar: The Iron Tower Trilogy (Series Summary)

An Epic Fantasy Series Review

By Dennis L. McKiernan

Genre: Epic Fantasy, Heroes, YA 13+Series: The Saga of Mithgar: Books 1-3ISBN: 0451458109Publisher: Roc (December 12, 2000) Paperback: 672 pagesBooks: The Dark Tide - Shadows of Dooom - The Darkest Day

Chronicles of The Black Company (Series Summary)

An Epic Fantasy Series Review

Author: Glen CookGenre: Epic Fantasy, AdultSeries: The Black Company: Books 1-3Publisher: Tor FantasyBook Reviews of: The Black Company - Shadows Linger - The White RoseBuy Omnibus Edition: US Canada UK

The Black Company (Chronicles of The Black Company: Book 1)

A Fantasy Series Book Review

By Glen Cook

Genre: Sword & Sorcery, 16+
ISBN: 0553289098
Publisher: Spectra (March 1, 1991)
Mass Market Paperback: 432 pages

Genre: Sword & Sorcery, 16+
ISBN: 0553285815
Publisher: Spectra (April 1, 1990)
Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages

Genre: Sword & Sorcery, 16+
ISBN: 0553568884
Publisher: Spectra Revised edition (November 10, 1994)
Paperback: 432 pages

Genre: Sword & Sorcery, 16+
ISBN: 0553565214
Publisher: Spectra (November 1, 1993)
Mass Market Paperback: 480 pages

Author: Alma Alexander
Series: Worldweavers
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy, 12+
Publisher: Harper Teen
Book Reviews of: Gift of the Unmage - Spellspam - Cybermage

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy, 12+
ISBN: 0060839554
Publisher: HarperTeen (March 13, 2007)
Hardcover: 400 pages
Read an Excerpt

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy, 12+
ISBN: 0060839600
Publisher: HarperTeen (February 10, 2009)
Paperback: 480 pages
Read an Excerpt

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy, 12+
ISBN: 0060839619
Publisher: HarperTeen (February 10, 2009)
Hardcover: 432 pages
Read an Excerpt

Author: Greg Keyes
Series: Kingdoms of Thorn and Bone
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Publisher: Del Rey
Book Reviews of: The Briar King - The Charnel Prince - The Blood Knight - The Born Queen

Genre: Epic Fantasy, 16+
ISBN: 0345440706
Publisher: Del Rey (March 30, 2004)
Mass Market Paperback: 608 pages
Read an Excerpt

Genre: Epic Fantasy, 16+
ISBN: 0345440714
Publisher: Del Rey (October 25, 2005)
Mass Market Paperback: 512 pages
Read an Excerpt

Genre: Epic Fantasy, 16+
ISBN: 0345440722
Publisher: Del Rey (May 1, 2007)
Mass Market Paperback: 576 pages
Read an Excerpt

Genre: Epic Fantasy, 16+
ISBN: 0345440730
Publisher: Del Rey (January 27, 2009)
Mass Market Paperback: 496 pages
Read an Excerpt

Author: Diana Pharaoh Francis
Series: Path of Fate Series
Genre: Epic Fantasy, 16+
Publisher: Roc
Book Reviews of: Path of Fate - Path of Honor - Path of Blood

Genre: Epic Fantasy, 16+
ISBN: 0451459504
Publisher: Roc (November 4, 2003)
Paperback: 384 pages
Read an Excerpt

Genre: Epic Fantasy, 16+
ISBN: 0451459911
Publisher: Roc (December 7, 2004)
Paperback: 400 pages
Read an Excerpt

Genre: Epic Fantasy, 16+
ISBN: 0451459911
Publisher: Roc (May 2, 2006)
Paperback: 464 pages
Read an Excerpt

Author: Jennifer Fallon
Series: Wolfblade Trilogy: Hythrun Chronicles Books 4-6
Genre: Epic Fantasy, 16+
Publisher: Tor Fantasy
Book Reviews of: Wolfblade - Warrior - Warlord

Genre: Epic Fantasy, 16+
ISBN: 0765348691
Publisher: Tor Fantasy (August 29, 2006)
Mass Market Paperback: 640 pages
Read an Excerpt

Genre: Epic Fantasy, 16+
ISBN: 0765348705
Publisher: Tor Fantasy (July 31, 2007)
Mass Market Paperback: 576 pages
Read an Excerpt

Genre: Epic Fantasy, 16+
ISBN: 0765348713
Publisher: Tor Fantasy (April 29, 2008)
Mass Market Paperback: 640 pages
Read an Excerpt

Genre: Epic Fantasy, Heroes, YA 13+
Series: The Saga of Mithgar: Books 1-3
ISBN: 0451458109
Publisher: Roc (December 12, 2000)
Paperback: 672 pages
Books: The Dark Tide - Shadows of Dooom - The Darkest Day

Author: Glen Cook
Genre: Epic Fantasy, Adult
Series: The Black Company: Books 1-3
Publisher: Tor Fantasy
Book Reviews of: The Black Company - Shadows Linger - The White Rose
Buy Omnibus Edition: US Canada UK

Genre: Epic Fantasy, Adult
ISBN: 0812521390
Publisher: Tor Fantasy (March 15, 1992)
Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
Read an Excerpt

Genre: Epic Fantasy, Adult
ISBN: 0812508424
Publisher: Tor Fantasy (April 15, 1990)
Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
Read an Excerpt