Martin, Thomas K. - Books - Magic Bean Dip

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House of Bairn (Magelord Trilogy #3)

Thomas K. Martin

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 16 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Depends 3 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

This book was rather predictable, as many of the previous reviews have stated. And the book's out of print, so unless you were a big fan of the other two who couldn't find a new copy, such as myself, you probably won't hunt this down. But I still think it was worth it. The book has better descriptions of magic and its workings than just about any other fantasy. The battles are riveting, and the characters are interesting enough to get your attention. That being said, it IS predictable. You know how it's going to go, almost step-by-step. In the book, the world is divided into the Northern and Southern Alliances, composed of men and women respectively, yet gender roles aren't explored extensively. And perhaps most of all, the book didn't appeal to me (and it seems, many others) on an idealogical level. The main character assumes power equal to that of a god, and wields it indiscriminately, forcefully creating equality between magi and ungifted humans. While this ended well for everyone, in real life this is rarely the case. I think it naive that the author assumed equality could be created in such a manner, and the ending was unsatisfying. I ordinarily try not to spoil the ending as I have done, but upon opening the book you'll realize that I've only spelled out what would have become apparent anyway. Now lastly: Please don't let the negative aspects of the book overwhelm you. The truth is, it's a straightforward trilogy, and it doesn't try to disguise itself otherwise. I would reccomend it, but I wouldn't necessarily put it on top of the list. If you want more complex fare, I heavily reccomend A Song of Ice and Fire, by George RR Martin.

Editorial Review:

The enthralling conclusion to the Magelord Trilogy!

An ancient legend of fear still holds the land in its grip. While those with the Power flee King Gavin's wrath, Bjorn, a simple hunter, discovers that he has this same outlawed ability. Persued by the king's legions, Bjorn conjures an escape--and is transported into the past. Now he must marshal his ancestors in order to bring those held down by fear to a new future. For the pain and anguish of his memories must never be repeated...

"Good fantasy ... this book should appeal to many." --Kliatt

Magelord trilogy book 2: the time of madness (Magelord Trilogy)

Thomas K. Martin

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

The Time of Madness is a great book. 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

This book follows up the original, but follows a completly different charcter. (Which I liked more than Bjorn or Gavin from the first book). I liked the entire book except for the fact that it ended on a cliffhanger that is to be finished up in the third book of the set. I would not suggest reading this one until T. K. Martin publishes the third book in the series. Over all this book has an original style that is only seen in the first book of the trigiloy. I wuold suggest this book to any one that liked the forst one.

A surpurb followup for The Awakening 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

An excellent followup for MageLord: The Awakening. A changing of main characters for this book does nothing to hamper the vivid storytelling and intriguing plot of this sequal. This story focus' more on the aftermath of the battle that ended with the first book and how it affects magi in general. This book goes to show that mages are not mankinds worst enemy. Another book I couldn't put down. Definately recommended reading.

Editorial Review:

The Magelord is defeated; the dragon is dead. But a new evil is alive in the land. The king is crippled and helpless by his fear of the Power, and his First Knight, Mathen, delights in hunting down and destroying all those who possess that which is forbidden.
All fall victim to Mathen's unreasoning wrath. But a young noble named Ian risks all to forge a route of escape for those in danger--and on his perilous journey, discovers the Power within himself...

Two-edged Sword

Thomas K. Martin

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 6 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Woohoo!!! Great great great book!!! 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

I've never been really into the 'alternate universe' type of fantasy stories. I guess I just watched way too much Star Trek. But this was so totally different. The characters were believeable, and the descriptions of the area were so good that it made you feel as though you were in Delgroth with poor Steve. Now why can't this sort of stuff happen in real life?

He Was the Dreamer of Prophecy ~ Now What? 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

Steve Wilkinson volunteers to participate in a sleep experiment at his college, but something goes terribly wrong. As his spirit is wandering in the land of dreams, he is called through to another world/dimension by a wizard. In this world, there are the traditional fantasy races: Olvir/elves, Umbrian/humans, etc. The enemy is the Morvir, a country where male children are taken from their homes at age 5 and trained for war. Only the best become officers and soliders, the rest are castrated and sent back to work the fields and do other menial labor. They are ruled by the Dark Queen who wants to take over the land. The only one who can stop her is the Dreamer...
Unfortunately, Steve has no idea what is going on. He is a typical college student and understands little about battle, honor and such. However, he is a fast learner. He quickly becomes one of Erelvar's legir (sworn man) and becomes embroiled in the conflict between the races.
This is a fast paced fantasy adventure. The world was familiar, yet slightly different than a traditional fantasy setting, which was fun. The characters were well-drawn. All of them learned, developed and matured throughout the novel. Martin spent some time showing the war through all of the different races so that the reader could understand how they viewed the conflict. Each of the characters had weaknesses and all suffered crippling losses. Steve's knowledge of technology helped, but he didn't single-handedly save the world. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fantasy. Even though it is rather typical in the premise (person from modern world sucked into another world where he is the only one who can save them from destruction, etc.), Martin's writing style makes this book a great read. Highly recommended for any readers of fantasy.

Editorial Review:

A volunteer in a sleep research experiment, Steve Wilkinson gets more than the dreams the researchers promised when he is transported to a magical realm where warring armies clash in a battle between forces of Darkness and Light.

Magelord: The Awakening (Magelord Trilogy)

Thomas K. Martin

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 13 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Excellent! 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 7 people found this review helpful.

This happens to be one of my favorite books - it's falling apart, I've read it so much! To tell the truth, this is the book that got me involved in heavier fantasy. Thomas K. Martin did a very good job with this one!

Hack & Slash, with a Dash of Pentagonese 1 out of 5 stars.
1 of 9 people found this review helpful.

If page after yawn-inducing page of descriptions of fighting (a sort of videogame in text) thrill you, run out and buy this book. You will be entranced. If you don't find modern phrases suitable to a Pentagon press briefing jarring and out of place in a fantasy novel, the prose will sing to your soul. If characters with all the depth of 20# Laser paper satisfy you, this is *your* book.

Is it the best? Maybe..... 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Is this book the best fantasy I've ever read? Damn right. So far no compair to this books massive appeal or heroic characters. I've seen many books but never have a seen a book where a person takes magic and turns it into something so interesting that your curious about it. Not only does the action take its toll but the characters themselves, who you feel you could relate because of their fears and desires to be not only great but heroic. Is this a book I would recommend to someone? Yes, very much so. If there is anything better I would sure be interested in knowing what.

Editorial Review:

Remembering the tales of the human-scorning MageLords, prince Gavin fears he has unleashed a horrible power on the kingdom he loves, while a hunter named Bjorn carries within himself a forbidden power.

A Call to Arms

Thomas K. Martin

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Superb Ending to a Fabulous Trilogy! 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful.

This is the third and, unfortunately, final book in the Steve Wilkinson Dreamer series. Steve has just returned to Quarin after killing Belevairn on Earth. Sadly, he was not in time to stop a tank and several trucks of ammunition from being transported to Quarin. He knows that Earth's techologically advanced weapons will decimate the medieval land. He isn't sure what he can do to help, but he knows that he has to try. Steve fulfills part of the prophecy by accidentally killing the Dark Queen with some rocket launchers while he tries to escape her fortress. From there, he immediately sets out to find Erelvar, because he know that he will be leading the resistance, and finds that Erelvar's city has been leveled by the tank or "the Dragon." But, Erelvar and his allies are still ready to fight. Steve uses his knowledge, personality, as well as his power as the Dreamer of prophecy to help save the world of Quarin.
This book is absolutely action packed and is a very fast, easy read. Readers will immediately indentify with Steve and will be cheering him on all the way. Yes, he does have great powers, but he is still a man and he has a man's weaknesses and a great sense of humor. He is just an unassuming, normal kind of guy who still can't really understand how he ended up doing all of this. Steve is the most fully-fleshed out character, but readers will enjoy learning what happened to other characters from A Two-Edged Sword.
Martin has beautifully described the different lands that Steve chances upon and the differences between the character races. I especially enjoyed Steve's interaction with the Olvir (an elvish-type race) and their rituals including the Way of Parting. This ritual enables the dead to come back for a day to say goodbye to their loved ones through the use of a living "host."
My only complaint with the book is that many of the characters displayed hitherto unknown powers near the book. They were very cool powers and not typical magical gifts, but I kind of felt as if Martin were pulling them out randomly to finish the book off. Still, it was a nice ending and sets the trilogy up for another sequel. I am hoping that one day we will get one...

Editorial Review:

Returning to his modern-day life as an everyday college student, Steve Wilkinson, alias the Dreamer, is unaware that he is followed by the evil wizard Belevairn, who hopes to obtain modern weaponry to defeat ancient Delgroth.

Matter of Honor

Thomas K. Martin

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

In Dreams, He Wielded a Two-Edged Sword ~ Now He's Awake... 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

A Matter of Honor is the sequel to A Two-Edged Sword and continues the adventures of Steve Wilkinson. Steve's spirit was forced out of the alternate reality, Quarin, back into his body on Earth. He tries to convince himself that the whole experience was just a dream, but then he sees a picture of one of the Dread Lords, Belevairn, in a supermarket tabloid. So Steve drops out of college and sets out to discover what Belevairn is up to. His trip takes him all across the country and then into South America. Steve finds out that the Morvir (the bad guys in Quarin) are coming to Earth and becoming mercenaries to become trained with our technologically advanced weapons. The Dread Lords use our places of Power to transport between their world and Earth. These places of power include an ancient Mayan temple, a Pueblo kiva, and others. But, in order to do this, there have to be many, many blood sacrifices - so they use the drug trade in Nicaragua. They raze whole villages and take only women and children as camp servants/slaves. All of them end up being sacrificed on the top of the temple. As bad as this is, Steve knows that it will be worse if the Morvir can make it back to Quarin with their tanks and guns - Quarin will be utterly destroyed. It is up to him to stop them...
This book has a great plot - bad guys come to earth to take our higher level of technology back to their medieval alternate reality. There are a lot of books about people from our time going to other times/realities, but this is what happens when one of the bad guys follows you home. The characters were very interesting and Martin gave the reader the opportunity to see the events from several different angles: from Steve, the Dreamer & hero; from Dick, a tabloid reporter who will do anything for a story; from Belevairn, an undead warrior with powerful magic; from Maria, a South American woman captured in a raid by the Morvir; from Garth, a Morvir lieutenant, and many more. All of the characters were well developed and the reader instantly feels a kinship with them. All have hopes and dreams, fears and failures, and triumphs - both good and bad.
Although this book was not as good as A Two-Edged Sword, I still thought that it was excellent. Martin keeps things very fast paced and I sat down and read the book in less than a day. I am looking forwarding to reading A Call to Arms, the last book in the trilogy and seeing how the drama plays out.

Editorial Review:

Awakening from a strange coma during which he dreamed of a battle against evil in a magical world, college student Steve Wilkinson quickly realizes that his nightmare has not ended when his dream enemy appears on Earth.