Dragons of the Highlord Skies: The Lost Chronicles, Volume II [Abridged, Audiobook, CD] [Audio CD]

Dragons of the Highlord Skies is the second novel in the Lost Chronicles trilogy by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. The first book in this trilogy is Dragons of the Dwarven Depths (Dragonlance: The Lost Chronicles, Vol. 1) and tells of tale if the companions as they attempt to recover the lost hammer of Kharas. This book focuses mostly on the journey Kitiara takes as she rises in the ranks of the Dragon Army, it also tells of the tale of Laurana as she slowly emerges into what she becomes in the later books of the Dragonlance Chronicles. Fans of the Dragonlance Chronicles will no doubt find this novel very interesting. However, if you have not yet experienced the Dragonlance Chronicles Trilogy Gift Set and are thinking of reading this book, I would highly suggest that you read the Chronicles first. I say this simply because some of the events that happen in this book will be so much more clear after reading the firs trilogy.

The plot of this books fills in a major gap of events that occurred during Dragons of Winter Twilight, and a little into Dragons of Spring Dawning. The plot of this book is a little different than most Weis and Hickman books. In that it is a very involved plot and has several shifts in perspective and following main characters. Some of the plot points in this book are things such as Kitiara's rise through the dragon Army, her interactions with Highlord Ariakas, Sturm's interacting with Derek Crownguard, the battle of the Ice Wall, and several other things. This book is chalk full of plot points and story arc points. Fans of the original Chronicles will appreciate the depth that this story is explored and the answers it gives for how characters behave later in books and stories. Weis and Hickman have obviously had this story idea in their heads for a long time. It's great to see that this story has finally seen the printed page.

The characters in this book will be largely familiar to fans of the original chronicles. There are a few additions, but for the most part all the `big players' will be known to readers. Unlike the first Lost Chronicles book, Dragons of the Dwarven Depths, there is a substantial amount of character development in this novel. Almost every one of the major characters has some level of development. Kitiaria, Laurana, Derek Crownguard, and several other characters all grow as characters in this book. It seems that Weis and Hickman put more thought behind developing the characters in this book than they did in the first. It was very refreshing to see.

My main point of contention with the first Lost Chronicles book was that the character dialog seemed `off' ad wrong at times. I am very pleased to say that that issue seems to be completely resolved. The dialog in this book is exactly what I read in the first chronicles. Sturm, Tasselhoff, Derek, Laurana, and Kitiara all have spot on dialog and hold true to the characters I came to love more than twenty years ago. After the last book, I was slightly worried that those things would be repeated, I was very pleased to see they were not.

This novel fits nicely into the stories that have come before it. Reading this novel was like putting on an old pair of shoes. It was comforting and I knew just what I was getting myself into. I can't say enough good things about the original Chronicles and now I have another book to add to that saga. Fans of the Chronicles will fall in love with the companions all over again. Hopefully, this also brings more readers to the original Chronicles and allows others to discover the wonderful books I grew up with.

The last book in the Lost Chronicles is scheduled to be released in the summer of 2008, and is titled Dragons of the Hourglass Mage. This is certainly a book I am looking forward to. In regards to this book, I have no doubt I will find myself recommending it to countless Dragonlance fans. It truly was a great read.

After the somewhat sub-par writing present in the first book of 'The Lost Chronicles,' I bought this book with a mild sense of trepidation. Like many, many avid fantasy readers I fell utterly in love with the characters of the original Chronicles, which remains a classic text of contemporary fantasy writing. The prospect of revisiting old friends and experiencing untold tales was seductive and intoxicating (when I first read about the upcoming 'Lost Chronicles' I performed a fairly silly dance of joy in my living room).
The second text in the series shores up Weis and Hickman's signature style of prose. These are the fine writers who spelled out the epic of Raistlin's fall and redemption. These are the great storytellers who guided us through the horrors of the Chaos War. Derek and his fellow knights are brought to the fore, fleshed out as excellent and sympathetic protagonists caught in the tide of war. Kitiara has returned, crooked smile resplendant. And Laurana finds her footing as a leader, paving the route to her stint as the Golden General.
Weis and Hickman have successfully emulated the tone of the original Chornicles, spelling out a twisted tale of intrigue, sorcery and friendship. I'm eagerly awaiting the 2008 publication of the series finale.

While Potter mania peters out in the fantasy literary world, Dragonlance fans were treated with what can only be called a return to the stories that started it all. Dragonlance Chronicles was probably one of the first few stories that introduced us to the world of Krynn. When news came that Weis and Hickman planned to revisit the original trilogy, I was elated but wary at the same time. My trepidation was warranted when I read the first entry of the Lost Chronicles; it was an average Dragonlance story at best but coming from Weis & Hickman, I expected better.

Right of the bat, there are very few scene featuring the Companions. Don't believe the blurbs. Yes, Tassslehoff is back (sigh...) along with grumpy Flint and the emerging Laurana. From what I gathered, the story took place right after Dwarven Depths and runs all the way to the first 3rd of Winter Night; focusing primarily on the other group of Companions adventures in Icereach and the political intrigue and rise of Kitiara.) The relationship between the 3 primary protagonists Knights (first introduced in Winter Night: Derek Crownguard, Brian Donner & Aran Tallbow), and later Sturm Brightblade, is a microcosm of the schism engendered by the Solamnics in this era. The authors did a great job fleshing out the said Knights (aside from Derek & Sturm, the other Knights had paltry roles in Winter Night) as multi-dimensional characters rather than the archetypes we are all too familiar with. Kitiara... is still Kitiara. Those hoping to read more about her and Soth will be disappointed. The venerable Lord Soth appears in one chapter at the start of the book and 3 chapters at the end of the book while Kit spends most of the novel plotting and scheming her way to ever-more dizzying heights of power and of course, obsessing over Tanis (who can resist a red head?). Simply put, the authors could've done more with Soth than cameo the poor fellow.

As with any Weis and Hickman novels, it's the side characters that often catch my attention. Toede makes his groveling appearance while Ariakas is still a tower of power. The scheming witch Iolanthe is too similar to Kitiara but the Aesthetics the knights met in Tarsis are a breath of fresh air. Again, too bad the authors did not make full use of the other Highlords that made cameo appearances that were all too brief. Feal-Thas, the primary antagonist, is markedly different from the megalomaniacal villains that reside in every pocket of Krynn. He's intelligent, aloof, cold, calculating, powerful and vicious. His agendas are murky but his reasoning and thoughts are smartly translated. With some touch-ups, he could have been a memorable Dragonlance villain.

Most readers will have no doubt know how this story ends (if you don't... well, piece it together.) That being said, I found myself wondering about the what-ifs as I read the novel; what if some one DID NOT do that or happen on THAT? You've got to give Weis and Hickman for threading together multiple ongoing story lines that interweave in this period. References to past events and ominous portents of things to come are liberally scattered throughout the book, making it a joy to read and recollect some of the past and future stories IF you have been an avid fan. The authors even included a little reference page at the end to help sort out some (but not all) aspects of the narrative. I considered the writing style for the Dwarven Depths to be ham-handed and clunky but the authors have refined the prose in this volume. The pacing was generally acceptable but it seemed rushed towards the end. That is frankly disappointing because by golly, THE FIRST MEETING BETWEEN LORD SOTH AND KITIARA merited more than just 18 pages. What a waste of literary exposition.

So, why 4 stars? Despite my criticisms, most of us will enjoy this book for what it is: a trip down memory lane. How many of us were thinking this while reading any of the Lost Chronicles: What we were doing and where we were when we first read the original Chronicles?

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