Series Books - Page 9

Heir of Kayolin: Dwarf Home, Volume Two (Dwarf Home)

Douglas Niles

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Great beginning, not so good middle, decent conclusion 4 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

The Heir of Kayolin by Douglas Niles is the second book in the Dwarf Home trilogy set in the DragonLance universe. The first book is titled The Secret of Pax Tharkas (Dragonlance: Dwarf Home, Vol. 1) and the third book is titled The Fate of Thorbardin which is set to be released in September, 2009. This trilogy focuses exclusively on the dwarven nation and the political climate within that nation. Fans of dwarfs, particularly Krynn dwarves, have been waiting for a trilogy like this for a long time now. The first novel in this trilogy, in my opinion was average - some things I liked and some things I could have done without. Here are my thoughts on this particular volume.

The plot of this novel is actually a couple larger plots combined, but both leading to a larger climax. The first section of the book focuses on a civil war that is occurring in Thorbardin. Who is leading the coup; I will leave the reader to discover. I will say the person who is the mastermind behind it, is ruthless and has little concern for those around him. This section of the book actually surprised me, not for what was occurring but how it was written. It was much darker and grittier than the vast majority of the DragonLance novels out there. The second section of the novel focuses on another semi-coup, but this one is occurring in Kayolin which is another dwarven settlement. This one is more of a political, backstabbing, type of story arc. The third section of the novel is basically bringing together the above two story lines into one interlinked thread. Personally, I really enjoyed the first section of the book, if the entire book had been like that (and followed that story arc) this would have easily been a five star novel. The second section of the book seemed really slow and longer then necessary. The third section was slightly redeeming, but no where near the level of the first section. As a whole, the plot was inconsistent and felt like a roller coaster with great ups and down. A decent overall story, but a little more consistency would have been nice.

The majority of the characters in this novel appeared, in some part, in the first novel. Brandon, Gretchan, Gus, and William to name a few. One thing I like about continuing series, is the author does not need to focus on explaining everything to the reader. Instead they can focus on plot elements and character development. That holds true with this novel. The opening pages immediately thrust the reader into the story. For the most part I enjoyed the characters and thought they were well written. However, a couple things stuck out to me. In the beginning of what I call the second section the dialogue between Brandon and Gretchen is so contrived it literally made me groan several times. It did not feel natural in anyway. It was really frustrating to me, partly because these are two characters from the first book that I had trouble connecting with, so I felt like this made it even more difficult. One of my criticisms about the first book revolved around the character Gus. In that halfway through the book he long his `gully dwarf-ness'. That is not the case in this book. I enjoyed him throughout the book and thought he added a lot to the overall story. One character that I really enjoyed was William. I don't think this character could have been written any better. There is significant character development for most of the main characters, as well as some setup for the third book. Aside from the dialogue between Gretchan and Brandon I thought the characters were well done.

A couple criticisms about this novel:

1 - As I said above, that section of dialogue between Gretchan and Brandon was so disappointing. Partly because of the build-up from the first section, and partly because I was trying hard to like these two characters and this dialogue did not help at all.

2 - Descriptions. There were some very good descriptions in this book, and then other times when I felt like I needed a little more it simply was not there. Maybe I am being too nitpicky here, but when the descriptions ebb and flow like this in one novel it becomes an issue.

Some things I liked about this novel.

1 - The first things that comes to mind is the first section of the book. I can not begin to say how much I enjoyed it. The entire one hundred forty eight pages was fantastic. It flowed smoothly, was action packed, had good drama, and made sense. I only wish the entire novel was like that.

2 - The character of William. I do not want to spoil anything about his character, but I will say that his character was probably the best written character in this novel. Great dialogue, good motivations, and more importantly everything about him was explained really well.

Overall, I felt this novel had its ups and downs but definitely more ups than downs. As I mentioned above there were a few things that I would have liked to have seen changed, but there were so many other things that I enjoyed. This novel certainly sets up a, what should be, fantastic climax to the trilogy. I can only imagine what will happen, and how it will happen. DragonLance fans definitely need to check this book out, along with the first in the series, as it is a long awaited story of the dwarves. General fans of the fantasy genre may also enjoy this one as it seems to have something for everyone. I for one am eagerly awaiting the conclusion to this story and what it holds for the overall DL universe.

Editorial Review:

If they can stay alive long enough, they can find the way to a new future.

Thorbardin remains closed against the world as two violent factions of dwarves clash in a brutal civil war. Neither side can prevail, and violence threatens destruction of the entire kingdom. Brandon Bluestone returns home to Kayolin to find himself a wanted fugitive. His nation has changed drastically since his departure. Bolstered by the courage of a beautiful dwarf priestess, he battles an ancient enemy, struggles to right a great wrong, and tries to take the only step that allows for a peaceful and prosperous future for all the dwarves of Krynn. And with the fate of two nations hanging in the balance, it falls to the lowest of the low to put the wheels of history in motion.

Unfinished Tales: The Lost Lore of Middle-earth

J.R.R. Tolkien

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 82 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Not Free SF Reader 2 out of 5 stars.
5 of 8 people found this review helpful.

Unfinished tales is a hodge-podge of stuff. There are bits and pieces
of lots of things, and it is not all fiction. You get notes, backstory,
comments, the odd essay type piece of writing, and other stuff. You
really want to be a pretty hardcore Tolkien type to want to buy this,
rather than borrow to flip through. A lot of people will find it very
dull.

fast shipping, but damaged goods 3 out of 5 stars.
1 of 3 people found this review helpful.

i was very happy with the turnaround on shipping, considering i elected to have the book shipped with amazon's free supersaver option. unfortunately, the (hardcover) book arrived with the upper right corners of both the front and back covers smooshed, as if someone dropped it from a considerable height. it is not bad enough to warrant all the hassle of trying to obtain a replacement, yet it is disappointing nonetheless.

therefore, the three start rating is for the condition in which the book arrived. as for the content--well, it's tolkien. and as much as I loved The Silmarillion (I daresay it is my favorite book of all time), I can't imagine that i will not thoroughly enjoy it as well.

Editorial Review:

An extraordinary discovery is waiting for you on these pages. Mythic lore and forgotten legends unearthed by Christopher Tolkien from his father's archives unveil never-before-told stories of the three ages of ancient Middle-earth.

Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time 2009 Calendar (Wheel of Time)

Robert Jordan

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 9 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Good Original Fan Art 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Thankfully, it's not a reproduction of the cover art from the books! It is a collection of fan art that Robert Jordan picked before his untimely death. Part of the proceeds go to research on the disease that killed him (I'd have to look on the inside cover of the calendar to spell it correctly and I don't have it with me as I write this.). That is reason enough for fans to buy this calendar. The artwork is generally very good. I liked some more than others, as would be the case for anyone. Each person has their own tastes. Overall, I would rate it as very good.

Editorial Review:

Since its debut in 1990, Robert Jordan’s beloved Wheel of Time® series has become an international phenomenon topping bestseller lists all over the globe. With well over fifteen million books in print, readers have been enjoying Jordan’s lush storytelling for nearly twenty years.

Selected by Robert Jordan himself out of submissions received from Wheel of Time enthusiasts, the twelve pieces of art included in this calendar symbolize the devotion that readers have to Robert Jordan and to the rich world he created.

This calendar is a new way for fans to experience their favorite stories and characters and will be a must-have for Robert Jordan’s millions of fans.

Grass for His Pillow (Tales of the Otori, Book 2)

Lian Hearn

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 36 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Lian Hearn's second novel in the Tales of the Otori, Grass For His Pillow continues to enrich and expand his mystical imaginings of feudal Japan. Picking up where Across the Nightingale Floor left off, Takeo fulfills his debt of honor and accepts his heritage as a member of the superhuman cabal of assassins known as "The Tribe," and is thus ingested into their plots. But his heart yearns for Kaede, his one true love, and secretly wishes to fulfill the final wishes of his adopted father, Otori Shigaru. Meanwhile, Kaede returns to her homeland to find her father's estate in ruin and her inheritance in jeopardy. The two each encounter vast political machinations and deadly consequences as they unconsciously move toward their overwhelming urges to reunite and defy (or perhaps embrace) fate.

Hearn's second book into the Tales of the Otori series is a more poignant tale than the first, painfully examining the lines between honor, duty, and love. With its calming and satisfying conclusion, the landscape of Hearn's mythical vision of Japan braces for a dazzling storm in the book to come. --Jeremy Pugh

Soul of the Fire (Sword of Truth, Book 5)

Terry Goodkind

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 646 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Soul of the Fire is the fifth book in Terry Goodkind's wildly popular Sword of Truth saga. The previous books are: Wizard's First Rule, Stone of Tears, Blood of the Fold, and Temple of the Winds.

When last we saw our heroes--Richard Cypher (Lord Rahl) and Kahlan Amnell--they each had made enormous sacrifices to save one another from certain doom. To save her beloved, Khalan, Mother Confessor of the Midlands, had spoken the three chimes, summoning these chaotic beings from the world beyond and unwittingly releasing incredibly destructive power. Now the chimes are stealing souls, and malevolent forces are reshaping the world itself. To save everything from almost certain doom, Richard, Kahlan, and the wizard Zedd must hunt the elusive chimes and reharness them before it's too late.

Although comparisons to Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series are inevitable, there's obviously enough room in the world for more than one blockbuster swords and sorcery series. With Soul of the Fire, fans of epic sagas will get their fill of adventure, magic, strange beings, and struggles for power as Goodkind delivers another thrilling episode of the Sword of Truth, with all the complexity and taut characterization we've come to expect from this master of fantasy. --Adam Fisher

The Sword of Shannara

Terry Brooks

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 543 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

"I'm putting down this huge, long, overly-written, derivative, dull, long, book" 2 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

The Sword of Shannara was a very popular book back in the 70s right after the huge success of The Lord of the Rings when everyone wanted to read more fantasy. I wasn't old enough to read it back then, so I came to it much later. I read part of the first book and, knowing how popular it had been, and feeling like it was a classic, I was prepared to enjoy it. About half way through I gave it to my ten year old son.

The weird thing is, it's so like The Lord of the Rings, at the same time that it's not. I don't mind a few common fantasy elements (especially in works written before they were cliché), but Brooks' plot and characters come almost straight out of Tolkien. This may have been acceptable if the writing had come straight out of Tolkien, too, but Brooks' style is clunky, wordy, and awkward. Adjectives and adverbs are used without restraint. I mean there are constant repetitive superfluous unnecessary redundant profligate excessive numbers of adjectives. And did I mention the weirdly-placed adverbs which are used unsparingly, unrestrainedly, extravagantly, and immoderately? And annoyingly? . . . When I couldn't care less whether Shea and Flick (they're the hobbits-- I mean the heroes) live or die, then the characterization is weak. Actually, I was kind of hoping that they would die. If they died, the book would have to end, right?

Conclusion: These are fine for kids (at least this one is, I can't say if all of the later Shannara books are -- probably not). But, do you really want to teach them to write like that? If not, give them C.S. Lewis, J.K. Rowling, Susan Cooper, and Lloyd Alexander. To be fair: This series is wildly popular. Perhaps the writing gets better (it has been 30 years, after all). I have heard that only the first book is too much like Tolkien. But I'll never know for sure because I can't make it through the first one. --FanLit.net

Editorial Review:

Living in peaceful Shady Vale, Shea Ohmsford knew little of the troubles that plagued the rest of the world. Then the giant, forbidding Allanon revaled that the supposedly dead Warlock Lord was plotting to destory the world. The sole weapon against this Power of Darkness was the Sword of Shannara, which could only be used by a true heir of Shannara--Shea being the last of the bloodline, upon whom all hope rested. Soon a Skull Bearer, dread minion of Evil, flew into the Vale, seeking to destroy Shea. To save the Vale, Shea fled, drawing the Skull Bearer after him....

The Last Hero: A Discworld Fable

Terry Pratchett, Paul Kidby

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 77 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

A new Discworld story is always an event. Terry Pratchett's The Last Hero is unusually short, a 40,000-word "Discworld Fable" rather than a full novel, but is illustrated throughout in sumptuous color by Paul Kidby.

The 160 pages cover the series' longest and most awesome (but still comic) journey yet, a mission to save all Discworld from a new threat. An old threat, actually. Aged warrior Cohen the Barbarian has decided to go out with a bang and take the gods with him. So, with the remnants of his geriatric Silver Horde, he's climbing to the divine retirement home Dunmanifestin with the Discworld equivalent of a nuke--a fifty-pound keg of Agatean Thunder Clay.

This will, for excellent magical reasons, destroy the world.

It's up to Leonard of Quirm, Discworld's da Vinci, to invent the technology that might just beat Cohen to his goal. His unlikely vessel is powered by dragons, crewed by himself and two popular regular characters, and secretly harbors a stowaway. Before long we hear the Discworld version of "Houston, we have a problem...."

Kidby rises splendidly to the challenge of painting both funny faces and cosmic vistas. As Pratchett puts it, The Last Hero "has an extra dimension: some parts of it are written in paint!" New characters include Evil Dark Lord Harry Dread, who started out with "just two lads and his Shed of Doom," and a god so tiresome that his worshippers are forbidden chocolate, ginger, mushrooms and garlic.

Pratchett's story alone is strong and effective, with several hair-raising frissons contrasting with high comedy; Kidby's paintings make it something very special. Not to be missed. --David Langford, Amazon.co.uk

Wizard's First Rule (Sword of Truth, Book 1)

Terry Goodkind

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1364 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

The masterpiece that started The New York Times bestselling epic Sword of Truth

In the aftermath of the brutal murder of his father, a mysterious woman, Kahlan Amnell, appears in Richard Cypher's forest sanctuary seeking help . . . and more. His world, his very beliefs, are shattered when ancient debts come due with thundering violence.

In a dark age it takes courage to live, and more than mere courage to challenge those who hold dominion, Richard and Kahlan must take up that challenge or become the next victims. Beyond awaits a bewitching land where even the best of their hearts could betray them. Yet, Richard fears nothing so much as what secrets his sword might reveal about his own soul. Falling in love would destroy them--for reasons Richard can't imagine and Kahlan dare not say.
In their darkest hour, hunted relentlessly, tormented by treachery and loss, Kahlan calls upon Richard to reach beyond his sword--to invoke within himself something more noble. Neither knows that the rules of battle have just changed . . . or that their time has run out.
This is the beginning. One book. One Rule. Witness the birth of a legend.

A Crown of Swords (The Wheel of Time, Book 7)

Robert Jordan

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 660 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Still strong, but Jordan begins to milk it 4 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

While I rate this book highly, this is the first book in the series where I really began to feel that the story was being stretched out deliberately to yield more books in the future. Many of the subplots advance slowly and more subplots are introduced, leaving more loose ends to tie up later. Don't get me wrong, this is still a wonderful book and worth your time. If you're a fan of the series, this is a book you need to read, just prepare yourself for a story that is still as long as previous volumes but not as deep.

Starting to think this series is a train wreck... 1 out of 5 stars.
2 of 3 people found this review helpful.

This is the most disappointing book yet of the series. I hate to spoil all the surprises, but here I go:

- The Aes Sedai are still so arrogant and annoying that you actually start hoping they'll all be stilled. Better yet, collared and whipped mercilessly. All hail the Seanchan!

- Rand, Mat, and Perrin continue to regard women as The Grand Mystery of the Universe. Not to mention them acting like a bunch of chaste catholic school girls about sex. Well, with women anyway. Maybe Two Rivers is a place where the sheep are more nervous than the women. Come on guys grow a pair or get out of the closet already.

- Infinitely more insignificant characters are introduced that you will never remember if you spend any time between this book and the next. Don't worry, none of the assistants to the Assistant Peon are relevant.

- For all the women with low cut attire and men running around with swords, where's the senseless violence or gratuitous sex? Someone kill somebody already! Not even much sensible sex and necessary violence. Even Rand's one duel with another blademaster is over before it begins, with a remarkable lack of description. Tragic

- These books are getting cookie-cutter. Hmm, only 5 or so Forsaken left...and 4 more books? Gosh, who could possibly get killed in the last chapters of this and the next 4 books? Rand skulks around talking to himself. A Forsaken plots against Rand. Rand kills Forsaken.

- Just skip the last chapter and make up your own climax, you'll probably be more satisfied than with what Jordan wrote.

If, like me, you have concluded that the majority of Jordan's writing is fluff, just start skimming for dialog, you won't miss anything important and it will trim this book down from 855 pages to about 55 pages.

Editorial Review:

Robert Jordan has created a rich and intricate tapestry of characters in his Wheel of Time series. In this seventh volume, Rand al'Thor--the Dragon Reborn--draws ever closer to the Last Battle as a stifling heat grips the world.

A Spell for Chameleon (Xanth, Book 1)

Piers Anthony

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 162 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Though already developing a successful career in SF with such heady novels as Chthon and Omnivore, Piers Anthony did not reach brand-name status until he cooked up some fantasy in 1977. And it was cheerful, humorous fantasy at that, as in his first Xanth series novel, A Spell for Chameleon. The book's young hero, Bink, is without magical powers in a world ruled entirely by magic. Worse still, if he doesn't discover his own magical talent soon, he will be forever banished from his homeland. Naturally, it takes an epic quest for Bink to learn what his unique talent truly is--and perhaps to win the girl of his dreams as well. A Spell for Chameleon was the very first of Anthony's bestselling (and still ongoing) humorous fantasy series. Noteworthy for their outrageous word puns and bizarre characters, the Xanth books are a light yet often satisfying brew, especially when compared with the author's sometimes nihilistic and ultraviolent hard SF. --Stanley Wiater