McKiernan, Dennis Books

City of Jade: A Novel of Mithgar

Dennis L. McKiernan

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 2.5 of 5

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

Legend talks of a City of Jade hidden in the jungle. Probably more likely myth than a real lost city, as no one has ever returned from the quest of finding this fabled locale though many have tried across Mithgar.

In the Final Year of the Fifth Era, with the Dragonstone War ended when the Black Mage God Gyphon was slain by the elf, passages have opened between realms while wards have been used to close those leading to and from the the creations of the late Dark God. In that seemingly peaceful environment, Elven Captain Aravan learns of the City of Jade and wants to find this precious legend. He brings together a crew of elves, dwarfs, men, and other species to sail into the sunset on the fabled Eroean. Accompanying him on his quest is his beloved mage, Aylis the seer. Even without Aylis' predictions all of the crew of the Eroean knows the journey will be dangerous and many if any will not return; they volunteer because the lure of adventure is greater than their safety; most are used to a world at war. Few perhaps would have signed on if they knew the dark necromantic sorcerer Nunde seeking vengeance is lurking everywhere they are sailing.

As explained in the "afterword" to this engaging fantasy, the events in the CITY OF JADE occur at the end of SILVER WOLF, BLACK FALCON and the beginning of the RED SLIPPERS: MORE TALES OF MITHGAR anthology. The thriller starts off as more of an interrelated anthology catching up with what has happened to the good, the bad, and the nasty since the demise of the Dark God. Once the crew is set and prepares to sail, the story line converges into an entertaining adventure tale with a fuming vengeful Nunde stalking the Eroean over each horizon. Fans will relish this terrific tweener while new readers should first peruse SILVER WOLF, BLACK FALCON to better comprehend the citations to the war.

Harriet Klausner

Editorial Review:

The national bestselling author presents the long-awaited new fantasy novel set in the world of Mithgar—his most renowned and acclaimed creation.

The myth of a lost city carved of precious jade has proven irresistible to many in Mithgar. Now Aravan, captain of the Elven ship Eroean, has undertaken a quest to find it. With his true love Aylis, the Magekind Seeress, beside him and a crew of men and dwarves, he sets sail to follow the lure of legend.

The journey will be long and perilous—and the voyagers will find more than treasure awaiting them in the City of Jade. They will find dark sorcery and great danger, and some among them will find death.

Once Upon A Dreadful Time

Dennis L. McKiernan

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Return of the Evil Wizard 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

Once Upon a Dreadful Time (2007) is the fifth fantasy novel in the Faery series, following Once Upon a Spring Morn. In the previous volume, Celeste killed the Gorgon, restored Avelaine's shadow, and then shot Nefasi dead with the gray arrow. The Changeling Lord invoked a protective circle and taunted Roel just before the knight slashed through the magical shield with Coeur d'Acier and took off his head.

The Gorgon's death freed Laurent and Blaise from her enchantment and these two knights joined with their brother to fight the Changelings. The three knights and two women fled the castle, but were eventually forced to stand and fight. The Changelings were about to overwhelm them when the warbands of the Forests of the Seasons and the crewmen of the Sea Eagle charged to their rescue.

In this novel, Hradian has been living in a vile swamp while seeking a way to wreck vengeance upon the killers of her sisters. For the past four years, the witch has been observing King Valeray, Queen Saissa and their children, wondering how she can destroy these murderers without losing her own life. Then suddenly she conceives a dreadful plan.

King Valeray and Queen Saissa are holding a tournament in their domain and have invited their children and spouses as well as other guests to the Palace of the Seasons. This domain can only be reached through the surrounding domains. Yet it is starwise -- north -- of Winterwood, Summerwood, Autumnwood and Springwood, although at the center of these four Forests of the Seasons.

Their guests include Prince Borel and his wife Michelle, Prince Alain and his wife Camille and their son Duran, Princess Liaze and her husband Luc, and Princess Celeste and her husband Roel. They also invite Roel's parents -- Sieur Emile and Lady Simone -- and his siblings Laurent, Blaise and Avelaine. Vicomte Chevell --Avelaine's husband -- is unable to attend due to other commitments.

Even before they arrive, Queen Saissa and the princesses have been feeling sensations of malevolent presences around themselves and their spouses. Only the females -- and the male wolf Slate -- have these feelings. Moreover, Michelle and Camille only sense this evil presence while in the company of their husbands.

The men and the women separately discuss these feelings of malevolent presence. In the process, Roel's family members are brought up to date on the encounters of King Valeray and his children with the evil wizard Orbane and his acolytes. All decide that the sensations are probably caused by the workings of the witch Hradian, the last living acolyte of the imprisoned wizard.

In this story, the tournament and other festivities are enjoyed by a great crowd from the local domains, from elsewhere in Faery, and even from the mortal lands beyond. The games include the caber toss, the hammer throw, the discus hurl and many others. Finally come the epee duels, the melee and the joust.

In the echecs matches, Borel is pitted against Regar of the Wyldwood. While playing the stranger, Borel learns that Regar is the illegitimate grandson of the Fairy King. After Borel loses, he offers Regar a drink and then introduces him to the royal family.

Hradian prepares an odious potion and uses it to steal the key to the Castle of Shadows. She flies her broom to the Black Wall of the world and into the darkness. Crossing to the Castle, she frees Orbane and takes him away.

Orbane starts raising his armies among the Trolls, Changelings, Bogles, Goblins and other foul creatures. He raises a dark cloud to cover the land and a great pestilence from the swamp. Then he marches toward the River of Time.

King Valeray musters all his levies and allies and asks Sieur Emile to command the army. The warbands gather at the castle in the domain of the seasons and then march toward their enemy. On the way, their allies join them here and there.

Regar travels with Flic, Fleurette and Buzzer to the Halls Under the Hill to warn his grandfather. He is introduced to the whole court, but Queen Gloriana is cold to his presence. The Fairy King summons his army and they set out the next day, but two months have passed in the outside world.

This tale is the conclusion of the Faery series. The machinations of the acolytes of Orbane have been thwarted in the previous four volumes, but now the wizard has been freed from the Castle of Shadows. The whole of Faery and the mortal world is threatened with disruption of time itself. Enjoy!

Highly recommended for McKiernan fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of black and white magic, heroic courage, and joyous romance.

-Arthur W. Jordin

Editorial Review:

The vile witch Hradian sets events in motion to free her master, the wizard Orbane, trapped in the Castle of Shadows. Rising to challenge this threat, the heroes and heroines of Winterwood, Summerwood, Springwood, and Autumnwood rally humans and Fey alike to a cause that may be lost before it begins.

Once Upon A Spring Morn

Dennis L. McKiernan

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Total reviews: 6 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Quest for a Stolen Sister 5 out of 5 stars.
9 of 9 people found this review helpful.

Once Upon a Spring Morn (2006) is the fourth Fantasy novel in the Faery series, following Once Upon An Autumn Eve. In the previous volume, Liaze enterred the Chateau Bleu with forged documents and informed the comtessa of Luc's return. The next day, the guards selected by the comtessa admitted Luc onto the grounds and he issued a challenge to Guillaume for trial by combat. Afterwards, Luc gave the survivors a day to flee the domain.

In this novel, Princess Celeste of Springwood rests in a fork among the huge branches of her Companion of Quietness, a massive oak tree. Here she comes whenever she feels uneasy and today she is here to brood over the absence of her sister Liaze. When she hears the sound of a horn, she frowns, for she has not sanctioned a hunt that day.

When the hunters appear below her, she confronts them and finds that they are hunting for HER. As they move on the tree to pull her down, she lets fly an arrow into the leader's breast. Just then a lone knight rides up and attacks her wouldbe kidnappers and she picks off the ones attacking from his rear.

The armed men are led by a raven, who flees into the forest crying "Revenge". Celeste's own guardsmen ride up just as the few surviving outlaws are fleeing and they gallop after them. The knight defender introduces himself as Sieur Roel and declares that he is questing for his missing sister and his two brothers, who had gone looking for her.

After his wounds are tended, Sieur Roel tells the full story of how his sister Avelaine was taken by the Lord of Changelings. Then he tells how his brother Laurent left to consult with the sage Geron before continuing onward in search for Avelaine. After Laurent had failed to return in three years, the second brother Blaise had ridden off to consult with Geron and then search for Avelaine.

Blaise had also failed to return for three years. Since Roel has now earned his spurs, he too went to consult with Geron and received Couer d'Acier to take with him on his quest. The older brothers had not wanted to wait for the sword to be fabricated, but it was ready when Roel came for advice.

The Heart of Steel had a steel core flashed over with silver and constructed with runes to suppress its steel aura. After Roel left Geron, he had to exchange all his steel weapons and appurtenances for bronze equivalents before he could enter Faery, but he was allowed to take the sword with him. It was this weapon that he used against the outlaws.

Roel had a long and difficult recovery, for the worst cut was also poisoned. While he rested in Celeste's chateau, Roel came to know the princess and gradually fell in love with her. Before he leaves, Celeste announces their betrothal to her retainers. By this time, Roel is well liked by all.

Although Roel objects, Celeste accompanies him on his quest. For the journey to Mizon, the first part of their travels, Celeste's warband escorts them. As they approach the port town, the group is attacked by Goblins, Ogres and Trolls and both Roel and Celeste flee through the twilight wall to the next land. When they cannot be found on either side of the wall, the warband returns to her chateau thinking that the couple are dead.

In this story, Roel and Celeste meet King's Captain Chevell of Mizon after they fall onto his ship, the Sea Eagle. The King's ship is pursuing corsairs who have stolen a rare map. When Roel and Celeste realize that this map is the one that they were going to Mizon to use in his quest, they join forces with Chevell and sail across the sea after the remaining freebooter ship.

Roel and Celeste have many other adventures as they travel toward the land of the Changelings. Along the way Celeste encounters the three Fates. After Roel complains that he hasn't meet any of them, Lady Doom appears to them both. As in the other Faery tales, Celeste acquires gifts from each of the Fates and uses them to complete the quest.

This Faery tale is based on two ancient stories: Le Bel Inconnu and Childe Rowland. The first is Arthurian and the second is a later English tale. As usual, the author adds embellishments that were surely in the original tales.

Highly recommended for McKiernan fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of the Faery lands, loyal knights and true love.

-Arthur W. Jordin

Editorial Review:

The gallant knight Roel and his great love Celeste, princess of the Springwood, embark on a desperate odyssey across the shadowlands to save Roel's sister from the forces of darkness threatening her very soul...

Once Upon an Autumn Eve

Dennis L. McKiernan

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 6 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Quest for an Abducted Knight 5 out of 5 stars.
11 of 11 people found this review helpful.

Once Upon an Autumn Eve (2006) is the third Fantasy novel in the Faery series, following Once Upon A Summer Day. In the previous volume, Prince Borel rescued Lady Michelle from the sleeping castle. Even as they were returning to Borel's home, a demon tried to kill Chelle. Then Rhensibe attacked Borel and Slate brought her down. After the witch's death, Borel and Chelle finally reached Winterwood Manor.

In this novel, Princess Liaze is bathing in a calm pool within the branches of a large willow grove when she hears a horn call. Then several others blare in response and draw nearer. A horse rushes within the branches and sits back on his haunches to avoid falling into the pool. Liaze hurries toward the horse as the rider slips down and falls to the sward.

After Liaze reaches the fallen man, she sees that he is bleeding copiously from his forehead. She rolls him over, he calls her "Ange" and then falls unconscious. Horns blat outside the grove and then a redcap comes within the branches. Liaze skewers him with the warrior's broken sword, but the goblin gets off one shriek. The running feet outside turn back and start to come through the branches.

Liaze gets the warrior back onto his horse and they both flee. As more goblins and a Troll appear, she charges at them with the broken sword in her hand. Beyond the branches, she sees her warband riding over the greensward toward her. She rushes through them and the warband start slaying the goblinkin.

The next morn, Liaze learns that the warrior is named Luc. He claims that he is not yet a knight, but Liaze borrows a sword and knights him on the spot, for he has saved many lives with his warning and valiant defense. Over the next few days, he recuperates from his wounds and becomes a favorite of the warriors and staff.

Liaze has loved him from his first word to her, but she has enough experience, including a gold digging comte, that she is very reluctant to give in to the feeling. Her maid Zoe sees through her denials and encourages her to pursue her desires. Eventually she learns that Luc has loved her from his very first glance, although he then believed her to be an angel. Finally she admits her own feelings and they become lovers.

Luc asks Liaze to marry him and she assents. They have yet to post the banns, but she announces the betrothal to her retinue. They celebrate with a formal banquet and dance to the enjoyment of all. Yet that night a shadowy hand comes through the window, seizes Luc and carries him away.

In this story, none in her household know where the shadowy hand went. Liaze thinks to consult a seer, but the only one in the Autumnwood is a fraud. She returns to the willow grove to think and meets Lady Skuld. The Sister of Fate gives her a rede that says she should ride out alone; her only companion should be the howling one. When one of the searchers finds a goblin camp with one caged crow, Liaze equips herself and then has the crow released so that she can follow its path.

With the assistance of the Autumnwood sprites, and a Ghillie Dhu, Liaze follows the crow to the sunwise marge of her domain and beyond. The crow seems to be flying back along the path that Luc followed into her domain. At last, Liaze relinquishes control to Deadly Nightshade -- Luc's warhorse -- and lets him take her back toward his stable. Liaze rides through wind and rain and other discomforts and dangers until she finally finds the howler.

This story is an expansion and revision of the fairytale "The Glass Mountain". It features a heroine instead of a hero and depicts many hazards and adventures lacking in the present day tale. Yet this recreation is surely as enthralling as the original bardic tale. Enjoy!

Highly recommended for McKiernan fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of the Faery lands, parlous adventures and true love.

-Arthur W. Jordin

Editorial Review:

Once upon an autumn eve, a wounded knight named Sieur Luc rides into the Autumnwood-and into the heart of Princess Liaze. But even as love blooms between them, dark forces snatch him away. Guided by the enigmatic Fates, Liaze sets out on a desperate quest to follow the trail of her true love no matter what perils she may encounter.

Once Upon a Winter's Night (Once Upon)

Dennis L. McKiernan

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 30 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

And they were just so perfect.... 3 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Following the original (East of the Sun, West of the Moon), Once Upon a Winter's Night is the story of a girl, Camille, who unmasks her true love's face against all warnings, beginning a curse that will change her life. Prior to, Camille had been a poor maiden of the mortal world, one of six sisters (and one brother), children to parents both desolate and hopeless. One night, a large white bear knocks at the door, proposing that if Camille would marry Prince Alain of the Summerwood, the Prince in return would pay a goodly sum to the family for years to come. Knowing that the money was needed to keep her young brother alive, Camille gives her consent and is whisked away to Summerwood Manor on the back of the great bear.

Once there, Alain is revealed only during the night and even then wearing a mask. Despite, the two fall deeply in love, until Camille returns to the mortal world to visit her family. When there, her mother persuades Camille to light a candle in the night and reveal the Prince's face. Overcome with influence and curiosity after Camille's return to Summerwood, she lights the candle, and upon seeing her fiance's beautiful face, sends the Manor and all within into a whirlwind of magic, leaving Camille deserted in a foreign land. Determined to set all right again, she begins the task to find the place East of the Sun and West of the Moon where her true love lies at the risk of all peril.

Ah, me, to be a romantic. It's all about good adventure and love, yet the story is filled with such annoyances that I can't help but wish someone else had written it. The characters are extremely stereotypical with absolutely no depth (I mean, it's really bad), to the point where sometimes you'd wish something unanticipated would happen, like Camille forgetting a riddle, or one of her acquaintances forgetting about her, leaving her stranded and without aid. (But no, then she'd have to use her brain). It's actually pretty graphic (The sex scenes with all the unnecessary "Oh Mithras".), plus the over abused French (I took French and struggled with the absurdity of some of the phrases). Not to mention those really bad riddles...they weren't difficult at all, but I will refrain from bashing them. I think it was a good story line (obviously, someone else thought of it), but the characters were so lame that it ruined everything. By the end it was kind of funny, because the most interesting thing was the bird (which does not talk).

Having read the Blue Fairy Book, these little slips in the short story are standard. But because this is not just a story but also a novel, it seems quite unacceptable.

I'll admit, I liked the idea of this series, so I did continue the I, just finishing Once Upon a Summer Day the other day, finding that story a lot more enjoyable. (Though still flawed. Hmm...maybe the third book will be better?) Anyways, I have not given up hope. Though I don't recommend this book, it wasn't a complete waste of time. Well...not totally..(if you're into reading shoddy fairy-tales...)

Editorial Review:

From the bestselling author of the Mithgar novels comes a new version of a classic French fairy tale. A young woman marries a mysterious Prince, only to have magic steal him away-and, once upon a winter's night, her quest begins.

"McKiernan brews magic with an insightful blend of laughter, tears, and high courage." (Janny Wurts)

Once Upon a Summer Day (Once Upon A Time Series)

Dennis L. McKiernan

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 11 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Quest for a Sleeping Beauty 5 out of 5 stars.
5 of 6 people found this review helpful.

Once Upon a Summer Day (2005) is the second fantasy novel in the Faery series, following Once Upon a Winter's Night. In the previous volume, Camille challenged the marriage of the troll princess to Prince Alain and won all three contests. When the troll king refused to honor his terms and attacked Camille, the thralls rose up and, with a little help from the dwarf band, killed all the trolls and goblins. Upon returning to Summerwood Manor, Camille also solved the previous disappearance of Prince Alain's parents.

In this novel, Prince Borel of Winterwood passes an enjoyable summer day with his brother, sisters and sister-to-be at Summerwood Manor. Lazing in the gazebo, he falls asleep and dreams of a Demoiselle within a stone chamber with a band of shadow across her eyes. Free-floating daggers are outside the tower facing inward at him. The young lady cries out "Aidez-moi" and he awakes with a jerk.

Prince Borel tells his siblings and Camille about his dream before supper and they discuss the possibilities. Borel is morose during the meal and Alain calls for a gala that evening to cheer him. Borel seems to enjoy the singing and dancing, as do all within the manor.

The next morning, Borel awakens early, dresses for the road, and leaves the manor with his wolves. For the next four days, they travel toward the Winterwood. After his arrival, Borel bathes, eats and sleeps until he has recovered from the travel, then he arms himself and sets out to consult a dream diviner.

On his way, Borel scouts the hut of the witch Hradian. Since the primitive hovel seems to be deserted, he searches inside for any indications of the witch's intentions. He stuffs scrolls and a memoire into a rucksack and departs the hut. Just then, the witch lands on her besom and sends him flying with a black wind.

In this story, Prince Borel escapes from a keep that is guarded by Red Caps and Trolls. In the process, he frees Flic, a meadow sprite, and Buzzer, a bumble bee. From what he has learned from the memoire, Borel seeks the lands of Duke Roulan and Buzzer leads the way.

This story is a greatly enhanced version of Sleeping Beauty. The author presents a compelling argument that the fairy tale is a condensed and simplified version of the original bardic tale. This version, however, is much too long to be told in a single evening, since verbal renditions have a very low data rate. Indeed, this novel would provide enough material for a cinema taking five or more hours.

Nonetheless, this fairy tale has much the same flavor as others in that genre. Like the previous work, the vocabulary and settings are enchanting and the story is so engrossing that the chapters seem to fly by. Putting this novel down takes true willpower or maybe just overwhelming sleep.

Highly recommended for McKiernan fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of faery lands, noble princes, evil witches, and magical creatures.

-Arthur W. Jordin

Editorial Review:

Borel, Prince of the Winterwood, has been dreaming of a beautiful, golden-haired maiden night after night. He believes that she truly exists-and that she is in terrible danger. To save her, Borel must journey through the land of Faery-and face the dark forces that await him...

Dragondoom (Mithgar)

Dennis L. McKiernan

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 27 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

derrick Stahl's "Dragondoom" Review 5 out of 5 stars.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful.

Elyn (human) and Thork (dwarf) search for a magic war-hammer to kill a dragon that is tormenting both of their homelands.

Story - 3 out of 5 (Standard "small group searches for something to save the day" story. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it's done a lot. The grade is for a few very clichéd "love" parts. A poem at the beginning of the book, which is meant to be heart wrenching, caused me to laugh out loud. The book is claimed to be a "love story," but the "love" sections are written too corny to be taken seriously. The novel switches between "the present" and "the past" every two dozen pages or so, but it's done in a way that actually adds to the reading experience.)

Style - 4 out of 5 (His long, period-needing sentences take about 25 pages to get used to. But once you learn how to read Mr. McKiernan's run-ons, the pages really start to come alive.)

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Sex - 1 out of 5 (A single kiss and a nude scene, but nothing descriptive.)
Violence - 4 out of 5 (War, war, and more war. There is also a fair amount of one-on-one fighting.)
Blood / Gore - 3 out of 5 (Brief descriptions of dead bodies and skin / bodily disfigurations.)
Language - 2 out of 5 (A few bad words here and there, but nothing to cry about.)

---

Overall - 5 out of 5 (Despite its minor setbacks, "Dragondoom" is one of the best titles I've read this year. I recommend it to everyone.)

Editorial Review:

A thousand years before the Winter War, two sworn enemies each set forth to find the warhammer that could challenge their most terrible foes. But neither of them could know of the perils that lay ahead-perils to life, and limb, and heart.

The Iron Tower Omnibus (Mithgar)

Dennis L. McKiernan

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 57 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Tolkien's world and themes but . . . 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 7 people found this review helpful.

Of course this series borrows heavily from Tolkien, the Author acknowledges this upfront.
I find that this series has far more warm and humanity than Tolkien has ever shown.
The more work you read from Dennis L. McKiernan, the more you appreciate his talents,
I highly recommend every book that follows these. Try not to be as blind and shallow as the "Tolkein Purists".

Iron Tower Fan 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 6 people found this review helpful.

I read these novels when they came out in the 80's and a decade before I ever read LOR. I found out later it was intended to be a sequel to LOR. Nevetheless, going into it without any LOR background I had a blast reading this book. So much so that I reread it again after finding out about the LOR sequel and then read the LOR books just prior to the movies coming out.
While I really enjoyed both IT and LOR, I must admit that I prefer The Iron Tower to the LOR books as there is a hell of a lot better handling of large battles.

Editorial Review:

Dennis L. McKiernan's Mithgar books are among the most beloved in all of fantasy fiction. The Iron Tower includes the first three novels set in the world of Mithgar-collected in a single volume for the first time-with an all-new introduction by the author.

Voyage of the Fox Rider (Mithgar)

Dennis L. McKiernan

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Total reviews: 25 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

A nice work 4 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

Voyage of the Fox Rider is a good work, for those who enjoy a book focused on more than action. A basic fantasy work, it includes Elves, Dwarves, Humans, Fox Riders, Mages, and about anything else you can ask for. It starts out well, with the Pysk Jinnarin asking the Mage Alamar for help in finding her mate.

The book does have its lulls, in which characters discuss moral issues, sail, and travel. This only adds to the book in my opinion, rather than going wildly unrealistic in a fantasy, it includes enough elements to make the characters and conflicts much more believable. The archiac speech of Aravan can be a little hard to get into or believe, but after a while you become used to it. For the hardcore Mithgar fans, a lot of the beginning of the book is repetitive, telling you things you already know about the world of Mithgar. However, it quickly moves from explaining everything to getting on with the plot.

If you are a person who likes books that are high-paced the entire time, you probably own't enjot it. I think the book does a good job of balancing fights and dialouge, and a reader who doesn't mind the occasional lull or moral debate will probably find this a good read.

Editorial Review:

Meeting the frantic Lady Jinnarin, a foot-tall member of the legendary Pysk race, Mage Alamar embarks on a quest for Jinnarin's missing mate, Farrix, who is in grave danger and to whom Alamar owes a life debt. Reprint.

The Dragonstone (Mithgar)

Dennis L. McKiernan

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 29 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Don't bother 1 out of 5 stars.
4 of 5 people found this review helpful.

I don't think words can convey how much I disliked this book, but I will try nevertheless. Basically, there is no reason why you should read this book. The story isn't interesting. The characters aren't interesting. The quest is not original. With all the good fantasy out there, and the fact that this one weighs in at nearly 600 pages, there is no compelling reason to pick this book up.

One of my biggest complaints is the characters. The elf is utterly humorless about everything, the pseudo Japanese warrior girl is a worn out warrior stereotype, and the drunk is an irritating whiner. Okay, he likes his booze. We understand this, but the author feels the need to remind us every other page. The quest revolves around a prophecy in which the elf is supposed to gather a group of heroes, each of whom is classified with a description such as "The mad queen's rutting peacock." Inexplicably, contrary to all logic, the characters take these lines literally, actually looking for a peacock and a ferret, as if those would somehow help them defeat an evil wizard. Everyone acts so stupid, and no one catches on to anything remotely subtle for the entire book.

With so many pages, you would think that at least there would be character development, but you'd be wrong. Most of the novel is just blather about travel. "They rode through the hills of Dardoth Ungol, past the River Argol, through the Plains of Tallack.." It's a list of empty Tolkienesque place names, and you never get caught up in the world itself. The plot develops through a series of lucky guesses - they are looking for a mad queen, and one of the characters says "Hey, I know a mad queen", and wouldn't you know it, that's the one they needed. Every plot point is the result of a random guess that turns out to be correct. Some of the characters are likable, but they never say or do enough for the reader to get attached to them. The author also throws in philosophical discussions at one point, but it is all really basic stuff (Do you believe in fate?) and doesn't contribute anything new.

When all is said and done, the only reason I finished the book was out of habit, and it was tough. If you consider yourself to be an intelligent reader, you won't be able to stand this. There are a million better fantasy novels out there - pass on this one.

Editorial Review:

Haunted by visions of a terrifying war, Arin the elf embarks on a perilous quest to obtain the one relic that can turn back the rough beast slouching his way toward the land of Mithgar--the Dragonstone. Reprint."