Hey Jared,

I am so behind on getting some reviews out. There’s no real excuse for it. In general I’ve just been oddly stressed and life here in Washington state has just been very, very different than Phoenix. I’ve found myself either fixating on something or needing to push relentlessly to get something finished. But enough about me!

Title: The Second Generation
Series: Dragonlance Second Generation; Book 1
Author: Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Adult
ROTS Setting: UU, Medieval, Higher Magic, Dragons
Synopsis: Years have passed since the end of the War of the Lance. The people of Ansalon have rebuilt their lives, their houses, their families. The Companions of the Lance, too, have returned to their homes, raising children and putting the days of their heroic deeds behind them. But peace on Krynn comes at a price. The forces of darkness are ever vigilant, searching for ways to erode the balance of power and take control. When subtle changes begin to permeate the fragile peace, new lives are drawn into the web of fate woven around all the races. The time has come to pass the sword — or the staff — to the children of the Lance. They are the Second Generation. 
Recommendation: Adult, maybe late teens. Any admirer of high fantasy should be familiar with this series.

Continue reading “Dragonlance Second Generation – Book 1: The Second Generation – By Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman” →

Hey Jared,

It’s taken me too many months, but I’ve finally gotten around to finishing this trilogy. It was shorter than I thought. Only two books more and I’ve finished the Classic novels, then on to the Fifth Age which I have never attempted.

Title: Dragons of the Hourglass Mage
Series: Dragonlance Lost Chronicles; Vol. 3
Author: Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Adult
ROTS Setting: UU, Medieval, Higher Magic, Dragons
Synopsis: Raistlin Majere has become a Black Robe wizard and travels to Neraka, the lord city of the Dark Queen, ostensibly to work for her, though in reality he means to further his own quest for power. But Takhisis finds out that the dragon orb has entered her city and sends her draconians to find and destroy the wizard who has it in his possession. Before her agents can strike, though, Raistlin finds out that Takhisis means to take control of all wizardly magic. She has ordered Kitiara to set a trap for the Gods of Magic on the Night of the Eye, when all the high-ranking wizards will be in Neraka to celebrate. As the forces of light, with help from the good dragons, are turning the tide of battle, Raistlin is forced to flee, for his foes are closing in on him. As the Dragon Highlords vie for the Crown of Power in the Temple of the Dark Queen, Raistlin Majere wages his own desperate battle against Takhisis in the dungeons below and meets again the brother he betrayed. The fate of the world hangs in the balance.
Recommendation: Adult, maybe late teens. Any admirer of high fantasy should be familiar with this series.

Continue reading “Dragonlance Lost Chronicles – Book 3: Dragons of the Hourglass Mage – By Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman” →

Hello again Jared,

Ok, this took longer to finish than I thought it would. I might be reaching my limit for Dragonlance, so after the next one I’ll be taking a break for a couple of months.

Title: Dragons of the Highlord Skies
Series: Dragonlance Lost Chronicles; Vol. 2
Author: Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Adult
ROTS Setting: UU, Medieval, Higher Magic, Dragons
Synopsis: The story starts in Neraka, where Kitiara uth Matar and Emperor Ariakas hatch a plan to retrieve a dragon orb and thereby destroy Solamnia and the Companions in one fell swoop. But the guardian of the dragon orb, Highlord Feal-Thas, disagrees with this plan. Kitiara must go to Ice Wall to force him to accept Ariakas’ will, but her journey does not end there. Thrown out of favor, she conceives a daring plan to enlist the aid of the most feared beings on Krynn–Lord Soth and the Dark Queen. Meanwhile, Laurana and the Companions retrieve the dragon orb and take it back to Solamnia–not knowing that they bring their allies’ doom with them.
Recommendation: Adult, maybe late teens. Any admirer of high fantasy should be familiar with this series.

Continue reading “Dragonlance Lost Chronicles – Book 2: Dragons of the Highlord Skies – By Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman” →

Hey Jared,

In the original trilogy there were fairly large gaps in events of the world, some of them quite significant. So this trilogy helps fill in those gaps.

Title: Dragons of the Dwarven Depths
Series: Dragonlance Lost Chronicles; Vol. 1
Author: Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Adult
ROTS Setting: UU, Medieval, Higher Magic, Dragons
Synopsis: Tanis and Flint seek out a haven in the dwarven kingdom of Thorbardin while Raistlin is strangely drawn to the haunted fortress known as Skullcap. Sturm seeks the legendary Hammer of Kharas, and Tika embarks on a perilous journey to rescue those she loves from certain death. But it is the Dwarf, Flint Fireforge, who faces the most crucial test. The heroes race against time to save the lives of those dependent on them and Flint is forced to make a difficult choice, one on which the future of mankind may rest.
Recommendation: Adult, maybe late teens. Any admirer of high fantasy should be familiar with this series.

Continue reading “Dragonlance Lost Chronicles – Vol.1: Dragons of the Dwarven Depths – By Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman” →

Hey Jared,

This has been pushed back way too many times but no longer! This is a part of my renewed effort to get back in the habit. This was a great book to start with.

Title: Test of the Twins
Series: Dragonlance Legends; Vol. 3
Author: Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Adult
ROTS Setting: UU, Medieval, Higher Magic, Dragons
Synopsis: Defying the fate that claimed his evil predecessor, Raistlin opens the Portal to the Abyss and passes through. With Crysania at his side, he engages the Queen of Darkness in a battle for the ultimate prize-a seat among the gods. At the same time, Caramon and Tasslehoff are transported to the future. There they come to understand the consequences of Raistlin’s quest-and Caramon at last realizes the painful sacrifice he must make to prevent his brother’s success. Old friends and strange allies come together to aid him, but Caramon must take the last, greatest step alone. The step into the Abyss.
Recommendation: Adult, maybe late teens. Any admirer of high fantasy should be familiar with this series.

Continue reading “Dragonlance Legends – Vol.3: Test of the Twins – By Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman” →

Jared,

This was not as good as the first one. It took me far too long to get through it as a result.

Title: War of the Twins
Series: Dragonlance Legends; Vol. 2
Author: Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Adult
ROTS Setting: UU, Medieval, Higher Magic, Dragons
Synopsis: One hundred years have passed since the fiery Cataclysm that changed the face of Krynn forever. For one hundred years, the people of Krynn have struggled to survive. But for some, those one hundred years have passed in the blink of an eye. Catapulted forward in time by Raistlin’s powerful magic, Caramon and Crysania find themselves aiding the mage’s unholy quest to master the Queen of Darkness. To his dismay, Raistlin discovers along the way that the annals of time are not so easily bent to his will. Neither are the longings of his heart.
Recommendation: Adult, maybe late teens. Any admirer of high fantasy should be familiar with this series.

Continue reading “Dragonlance Legends – Vol 2: War of the Twins – By Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman” →

Hey Jared,

I’m back in Dragonlance, with the Brother’s Majere. The whole time I was thinking about us as kids talking about these epic characters. If I remember correctly you really liked Caramon. I also recall thinking that, as kids, we were a lot like them…..expect for the sudden but inevitable betrayal part.

Title: Time of the Twins
Series: Dragonlance Legends; Vol. 1
Author: Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Adult
ROTS Setting: UU, Medieval, Higher Magic, Dragons
Synopsis: Sequestered in the blackness of the dreaded Tower of High Sorcery in Palanthas, surrounded by nameless creatures of evil, Raistlin Majere weaves a plan to conquer the darkness–to bring it under his control. Crysania, a beautiful and devoted cleric of Paladine, tries to use her faith to lead Raistlin from the darkness. She is blind to his shadowed designs, and he draws her slowly into his neatly woven trap. Made aware of Raistlin’s plan, a distraught Caramon travels back in time to the doomed city of Istar in the days before the Cataclysm. There, together with the ever-present kender Tasslehoff, Caramon will make his stand to save Raistlin’s soul. Or so he believes.
Recommendation: Adult, maybe late teens. Any admirer of high fantasy should be familiar with this series.

Continue reading “Dragonlance Legends – Vol 1: Time of the Twins – By Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman” →

Hey Jared,

I am deep in the nostalgia having finished this book. I don’t think I’ve ever read this trilogy in such quick succession. Which has given me a good perspective on them as a whole. Now it’s on to Dragonlance Legends.

Title: Dragons of Spring Dawning
Series: Dragonlance Chronicles; Vol. 3
Author: Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman
Genre: Fantasy, High Fantasy, Epic Fantasy
Audience: Adult
ROTS Setting: UU, Medieval, Higher Magic, Dragons
Synopsis: The conclusion of the first Dragonlance trilogy. The companions are still separated but fate would see them together at the end, just as they had been in the beginning. Will the plans of the Dark Queen come to fruition or will the balance be maintained?
Recommendation: Adult, maybe late teens. Any admirer of high fantasy should be familiar with this series.

Continue reading “Dragonlance Chronicles – Vol. 3: Dragons of Spring Dawning – By Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman” →

Jared,

My hesitation in starting this ambitious plan to read all of the core Dragonlance novels is nearly gone with this book. I feel the familiar fire that I had closely associated with this series and I can’t wait to read the next book.

Title: Dragons of Winter Night
Series: Dragonlance Chronicles; Vol. 2
Author: Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Adult
ROTS Setting: UU, Medieval, Higher Magic, Dragons
Synopsis: The companions have been separated and the war against the dragon armies is becoming ever more desperate. But hope still blossoms.
Recommendation: Adult, maybe late teens. Any admirer of high fantasy should be familiar with this series.

Continue reading “Dragonlance Chronicles – Vol. 2: Dragons of Winter Night – By Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman” →

Jared,

I’m glad you’ve read Hunter (Review/Reply) now, though. It’s a bit of a disappointment. You should definitely read the next one though. We need to know if it gets better or not…..plus, better you than me.

On a more immediate topic, first one down, too many to go. I knew this was going to be a long-term project reading Dragonlance, and I know that these books are hefty. Somehow I still wasn’t entirely prepared for the reality of it. This book was long, but still so good.

Title: Dragons of Autumn Twilight
Series: Dragonlance Chronicles; Vol. 1
Author: Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Adult
ROTS Setting: UU, Medieval, Higher Magic, Dragons
Synopsis: The companions return after five years apart. They’d separated to find an evil they’d felt growing in the world. Unbeknownst to them evil had crept into the home they’d left behind and it doesn’t take long before they become embroiled in an adventure with implications reaching the width and breadth on the universe.
Recommendation: Adult, maybe late teens. Any admirer of high fantasy should be familiar with this series.

Continue reading “Dragonlance Chronicles – Vol. 1: Dragons of Autumn Twilight – by Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman” →