Book Review: Kendermore by Mary Kirchoff

Kendermore by Mary Kirchoff


Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 342
Acquired: ???
Book of Your Shelf? Yes
Why I read it: Re-read of older books
Series: DragonLance, Preludes (2)

Tasslehoff Burrfoot is a kender, a race known for their light-fighers, fearlessness, and love of a good story. Tasslehoff has been summoned back home to marry, but he's really not too interested in settling down just yet. The mayor sends a bounty hunter off after him and on their way back, they encounter quite an adventure. They travel across the world of Krynn to encountering freak storms on the sea, mad wizards that want to pickle him for their museum, treasure hunters, and a sinister force out to stop them.

Tasslehoff has always been one of my favorite characters in the DragonLance world and he doesn't disappoint in this story. It is a fun romp through the world from a kender's perspective. While reading previous books in the series may help understand some of the finer points of the story, it is not necessary in order to enjoy the story.

4/5

Book Review: Darkness & Light by Paul B. Thompson & Tonya R. Carter

37. Darkness & Light by Paul B. Thompson and Tonya R. Carter
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 376
Acquired: Prior to 1998
Book of Your Shelf? Yes
Why I have it: Park of DragonLance World
Series: DragonLance Preludes (1)

Back to the world of Krynn in the first book of the Preludes Trilogy. The series follows the main characters from the DragonLance Chronicles trilogy in the years before the series starts. Darkness & Light follows Kitiara, the feisty female mercenary, and Sturm Brightblade, the honorable Solamnic knight, as they set off on an adventure to find Sturm's home and family. A home which was ravaged and burned when we was a small child, a family that has scattered to the winds. Along the way they run into an interesting group of gnomes and their flying ship. The flying ship, a gnomish invention that actually works, whisks them off and up even better and further than anyone suspected it could....right up to one of the moons. The moon, called Lunitari, is full of surprises and its own brand of magic. As the group tries to find its way home, they are put to the test physically and mentally.

This story could have been fantastic. It's all there. The crazy storyline and the unique characters should have been a slam dunk of a book. Unfortunately it wasn't. The writing style was a little choppy, with lots of action happening far too quickly and down time that seems strangely out of place. The conflicts between the characters are almost comical at times, but it lacked a serious side that I had become used to in the series.

2.5/5

Book Review: Weasel's Luck by Michael Williams

Weasel's Luck (Dragonlance: Heroes Volume Three) by Michael Williams

Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 347
Acquired: Prior to 1998
Book of Your Shelf? Yes
Why I have it: Part of DragonLance world/series, Reread
Series: DragonLance, Heroes (3)

Galen Pathwarder, not so affectionately referred to as Weasel, is the third son of a noble family of Solomnic Knights (think uber honorable and a bit uptight). He isn't the son his father always wanted. Instead he lies, cheats, and occasionally sets something on fire. His older brothers aren't much better. The oldest is rather stupid and is always up to no good, while the middle brother seems to be some sort of a priest or monkish type, always meditating and trying to live among the animals.

One night Galen is approached by an entity of sorts he refers to as the Scorpion. Now the Scorpion is a very foul character that only lead Galen even further astray from the path his father hopes he will someday follow. Little do any of them know that the seemingly dark path Galen finds himself now on is far more important than they can imagine.

Galen is faced with a multitude of trials as he travels through satyr and centaur infested swamps, ogres in the mountains, and curses in the castle. He handles each situation with his own version of knightly duty - namely hiding and claiming to be keeping look out. But the journey changes him along the way and he finds himself the unlikely hero several times.

Another DragonLance novel that can be read as a stand alone book. It fills in some of the history and culture of the world without directly relating to any of the other stories.

3.5/5

Book Review: Stormblade by Nancy Varian Berberick

Stormblade (Dragonlance: Heroes) by Nancy Varian Berberick

10. Stormblade by Nancy Varian Berberick
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 347
Acquired: 1999-ish
Book of Your Shelf? Yes
Why I have/read it: Part of DragonLance world (re-reading all)
Series: DragonLance, Heroes (2)

A king sword, named Stormblade, has been forged in the mountain kingdom of Thorbardin, home of the dwarves. The sword seems to come at a much needed time. War is quickly approaching the dwarves will not be able to hide behind their stone walls much longer. But in the midst of the excitement, betrayal brews, and Stormblade is stolen and removed from the dwarven kingdom.

Years later rumor emerge of a sword that fits the description of Stormblade trickle into the mountains. Two rival clans quickly send search teams to retrieve the blade for whoever hold Stormblade will rule in Thorbardin.

In the truest sense of an adventure, we find an unlikely group of "companions" that struggle to protect the blade and return it its rightful owner and keep it out of the hands of evil. We find a young dwarf blacksmith, a human warrior, an elven ranger, and of course, the barmaid turned warrior woman (of a sort).

While much of this sounds typical of a fantasy novel, the story is put together in an amazing way that makes what could have been very stereotypical characters to life. We have love, hate, friends turned rivals, and rivals turned friends. There is of course magic and dragons and battle galore. My only real complaint was the ending. It opens the story up for so much more, but no more is ever written (at least not that I have been able to find).

4/5

Book Review: The Legend of Huma by Richard A Knaak

The Legend of Huma (Dragonlance: Heroes) by Richard A. Knaak

8.The Legend of Huma by Rihard A. Knaak

Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 379
Acquired: Prior to 1999
Book of Your Shelf? Yes
Why I have/read it: Part of DragonLance world (rereading all)
Series: DragonLance, Heroies (1)

Huma is a knight of legend among all the races of Krynn. He came from humble beginnings, fought through great challenges, and finally faced the dark goddess herself and prevailed...in a way. This is finally the telling of his story, the true story, without all the gloss and shine the ages have placed on it over the years.

Huma is a knight of Solamnia...an order dedicated to honor, truth, and loyalty. Known throughout the world for following their strict code. As the Queen of Darkness herself begins a war to conquer to world, nothing seems to be able to stop her. The knights fight valiantly to hold her back, but are losing ground little by little. As what must be the final battle approaches all seems lost. But Paladine, the god of good has a little something up his sleeve, but only if Huma can pass the tests put before him to test not only his mind and body, but his soul. And he must be willing to give up much to save the world.

I love this entire series, and this story has long been one of my favorites. It can be read independently of the rest since it is more of a history than a continuation of the world. The story is face paced and full of surprises, even to someone who has read it before. There is love, betrayal, respect won, and strange friends made. It is full of dragons, magic, knights, and the ever present battle of good vs evil.

5/5

Book Review: Love and War edited by Margaret Weis

Love and War (Dragonlance: Tales) edited by Margaret Weis

4. Love and War edited by Margaret Weis
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 365
Acquired: Prior to 1999
Book of Your Shelf? Yes
Why I have/read it: Part of DragonLance world (rereading all), Third in a series, January 2011 TIOLI
Series: DragonLance, Tales #3

A book of short stories about...you guessed it....love and war, and occasionally both at the same time. Most of the stories were entertaining and a few were quite nice to read.

I would not recommend this book/series as a place to start if you have not read any other DragonLance books, as you may not recognize the people or events. This would greatly take away from the stories. However, if you have read a few and you would like a quick peak into the characters' lives before and after their novel worthy deeds, I'm sure you would enjoy this.

3/5

Book Review: The Magic of Krynn by various authors

The Magic of Krynn Book 1 in the Tales Trilogy of DragonLance

The Magic of Krynn is the first in a series of books with short stories about the lives of the characters in the previous two trilogies of DragonLance. Some of the stories are about the main characters (the Majere twins) and some give background to some of the more popular side characters that we grew to love as we read the earlier books. This is a set of short stories that can be read as a stand alone, but having read the previous books does enhance all the tales. The short novella at the end written by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman is a great story. We visit Caramon and his family, his wife and 5 kids. We get a small glimpse into how his life is effecting the relationship with his three sons as they become adults and go to have their own adventures.

My favorite story is probably the one about Tasslehoff Burrfoot, the curious kender who is incapable of fear. Hearing about one of his crazy little adventures is always a treat.

3.5/5

Book Review: Test of the Twins by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman

The third and final book of the Legends trilogy finishes off the series with quite the epic conclusion. Raistlin and his brother Caraman, Tasslehoff, and Lady Crysania have split ways. Raistlin and Lady Crysania enter the abyss to do battle with the dark queen, Takhisis. Meanwhile Caramon and Tasslehoff are thrust forward in time to bear witness to the effects of Raistlin and Crysania's actions. Not particularly liking what they see, they rush back to the present to try and change the future and save the world they love.


This volume is a fast paced epic conclusion that keeps you turning pages up until the very end. All four are faced with decisions that, if made incorrect, could lead to the end of the world. The end shows us that not everything is at it seems, and that people will suprise up until the very last. The only way for a hero to save this day is make an ultimate sacrifice for eternity. Who will be the one willing to give everything they have and could have to stop the end of time?

I am continuely amazed at the characters in these books. They come to life in a way that is seen so rarely. They become your friends and family. You cheer when they succeed and would do anything to stop them from making the mistakes they do. Their development is so seamless and natural that I am continually surprised to find they are not real. As this part of their story ends, we look forward with what is rest of the world to better days, and grieve for those that were lost along the way.

5/5

Book Review: War of the Twins by Margaret Weis

There's not much more you could ask for from a second book in a series. We return to the watch the brothers Caramon and Raistlin Majere in the next step in their adventures through time. Only now things are really starting to get interesting. Crysania and Tasslehoff haven't gone anywhere...in fact all four friends seem to be going everywhere and everywhen! We travel backwards and forwards through time as they desparately try to alter the past and there's even a trip or two into the depths of the the Dark Queen's real, The Abyss.


As this story of loyalty and betrayal comes to a point at the end of this book and I can't wait to dive into the next. Throughout the building up of the atmosphere, our characters continue to develope and progess, although if they are going in the right direction is still up for discussion. After all, what would a pure cleric of good be doing working with the black robed evil mage?

4.5/5

Book Review: Time of the Twins by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman

The first in the Legends Trilogy from the realms of DragonLance. The series starts up several years after the Chronicles Trilogy. We are revisited by three old friends, the twins, Raistlin and Caramon, and the kender, Tasslehoff. The war has changed all of them over the short time since its conclusion and the world feels at peace. But some feel otherwise, such as the cleric, Crysania, a new character that is introduced.


Raistlin has grand plans, more ambitious than anyone suspects, but he needs help. Through his manipulations, the group finds themselves magically transported to a previous age...the age of the Cataclysm where all will be forced to make the difficult choice between their lives or their soul.

The book follows the characters back in time, allowing the reader to see a point in the world's history that was often mentioned in the previous series. In the distant time the stage is set for a bottle between ambitious evil and pure goodness. The first book ends with such a cliff hanger that I just about screamed because it took so long to go grab the next one off my shelves.

5/5

Book Review: Dragons of Spring Dawning by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman

The final book in the Chronicles Trilogy. The epic battle of gods, dragons, and the humans whose choices will decide the outcome and fate of all. The characters will make their final choices of good or bad...each with their own personal reasons driving them. Some will suprise us, while others seem inevitable. We lose some friends, gain others, and are suprised by the identities of a few.


I cried, I laughed, and even though I knew the outcome from past readings, I held my breath and prayed the good guys would win.

After finishing this book, I remembered why it is one of my all time favorite series. There have been more stories written in this world, I plan on rereading those as well.

5/5

Dragons of Autumn Twilight by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman

The story of a group of friends reunited after 5 years. Hoping for a peaceful homecoming and reunion they are shocked to find trouble literally on their doorstep. Enter some entrancing new friends to add plenty of extra story and crazy magician to liven things up. Throw a few dragons, and plenty of icky baddies into the mix for an epic tale of good vs evil, where the difference isn't always so easy to see.

The characters all take turns being your favorite, they are not just fictional names, they are brought to life in full color. The good, the bad, and the parts we just aren't sure about yet. They interact with each other and people outside the group in ways that only enhance their personalities. Characters are dynamic, constantly changing, but doing it slowly enough that the reader is able to follow and understand every new trait that emerges. Even the dragons, while each is only shown for a short period of time, scream into the story larger than life (which they should be).

This is a series I come back to every couple years and each time I read it I find myself locked to the pages in suspense, devouring words to see what is going to happen next.

This is a must read for any fan of high fantasy and epic tales. I'll be starting book 2, Dragons of Winter Night, as soon as I can find my copy!!!! I must be in one of the "lost" boxes that are still in my car trunk.

5/5