Dragons of a Lost Star [Hardcover]

 

 

Create your own review

It took me a few chapters to become absolutely hooked, perhaps more than most books seasoned with thick prose. The language of the author was very eloquent, almost ethereal at times. Not wishing to be hyperbolic, it was a bit like reading Shakespear in that you must find the rhythm of the writer, but when you do it comes to you in a natural and pleasant fashion.

The characters, especially Mina, are multi-faceted and well-developed throughout the trilogy. I mention Mina because it is tempting to see her initially as flat and unidimensional. But she is not. To demonstrate this, most readers will find themselves rooting for her and fearing her simultaneously. By the end of the trilogy you're concept of her will take another, quite unexpected turn - sympathy or pity. (You'll have to find out why).

I bought this compulsively from a HB bargain bin and it sat on my shelf for more than a year and finally read it when I got bored. I missed out. This has become one of my favorite series and I am willing to try other series from Weis.

This was well worth the purchase and serious fantasy fans should try it.

The second volume in Weis & Hickman's newest pure dragonlance trilogy, The War of Souls, finds us deep in Silvanesti, Qualinesti, the Citadel and Solanthus as we follow the four plot threads. By the end more and more reader suspicions are clarified as the authors begin let us understand what is truly happening here and it comes as no surprise to find the hand of Takhisis amongst it all.
The novel focuses on Tasslehoff and Palin's fleeing of the green dragon's, Beryl, sack of the Citadel and rescue by Dalamar who has literally uprooted the Tower of High Sorcery and transplanted it in Lord Soth's old residence. There is stands, surrounded by a forest inhabited by the souls of the dead who crave magic. Magic, in return for release to the next life as promised by the The One God, so naively championed by Mina, Goldmoon's foster daughter.
Meanwhile in Qualinesti the besotted General Medan converts truly to the elven cause, in no small part due to his love for Laurana and sets about organising the fleeing of the Qualinesti elves through the dwarven kingdom of Thorbardin. This they achieve after a titanic battle with Beryl, but the cost is high - the destruction of Qualinost and Laurana has her own sun shattered on a parapet with a dragonlance.
Over in Silvanesti, with Cyan Bloodbane dead, the shield gone, Mina enters the capital, eagerly welcomed by the besotted Silvanoshei and is 'murdered' by the framed king only to arise again with a Death dragon-like phoenix from the ashes as she appears to be one of the few able to wield magic in a world that is absent of it.
With Silvanesti under attack the plot gathers inexorable pace as Mina storms Solanthus, ably defended by the luckless Gerard and his new partner, Odila (who brings fresh breath of character life whilst all around are dying), Tasslehoff escapes the Tower after thinking Dalamar and Palin want to kill him but then returns with Goldmoon in tow for her confrontation with Mina in front of the portal to the Abyss - the same portal that Weis and Hickman return to so often as it really is the key to all knowledge.
By the end we have a denouement of sorts as the truth behind the One God comes out (but not to the parties that really need to know) and more established characters are removed from the board, leaving Tasselhoff as the key to it all.
It is difficult to praise Weis and Hickman in a manner that they haven't rightly heard before. Over the last twenty years Dragonlance has become a huge phenomenon with lots of spin offs and development of the world of Krynn on a scale that is truly exhilarating. However, one thing that is noticeable is that, amongst all the necessary surrounding dragonlance novels, a book from the pens of the creators stands head and shoulders above the rest and it is perhaps right that it should do so. Dragonlance has defined a generation of fantasy fans and any book produced by this peerless duo deserves six stars and beyond.

The 2nd book in the "War of Souls" continues. New characters are fleshed out (Gerard, Mina, Medan) and old characters are included (Tasselhoff, Palin, Laurana, Dalamar, Cyan Bloodbane). All this and no intrigue. This book bored me, much the way part 1 did. Mina's knights continue their amazing success in battle and the origin of the Silvanesti shield is revealed. Mina defeating the Solamnics by scaring them with the dead souls was lame in my opinion, and the revelation of who the One God is was so very predictable. Not my favorite by these 2 authors.

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review

› See all 117 customer reviews on Amazon.ca

 

5.0 out of 5 stars They're Back!
It took Weis and Hickman some time to warm up in the first book, but now they're all back. The characters that lacked depth in the first book, are now a lot better, and the plot... Read more

Published on Nov 15 2003 by Nimrod

3.0 out of 5 stars Trilogy is slowly getting better (slowly)
If you are a Dragonlance fan, you know you have to read anything by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. They are the core novels, and generally the best (not always). Read more

Published on Nov 12 2003 by Aaron Lohr

4.0 out of 5 stars THE WORST IN THE TRILOGY BUT STILL A GOOD READ
THE SECOND NOVEL IN THE WAR OF SOULS TRILOGY, DRAGONS OF A LOST STAR, IS THE LOW POINT IN THE TRILOGY BUT STILL A PRETTY GOOD BOOK. Read more

Published on Jun 28 2003 by I*chase*butterflies

3.0 out of 5 stars An decent middle installment.
Fans of the Dragonlance series might have bittersweet experience reading this book. It is excellent and true to form but looking back I can't help but feel some resentment... Read more

Published on Jun 18 2003 by Surface to Air Missle

4.0 out of 5 stars Mostly Good, Some Boring Parts...
To Start with.. We open this book with Beryl moving in on the citadel of light. Goodmoon was transformed into a beautiful maiden on the night of the Magic Storm, which, has yet to... Read more

Published on Jun 10 2003 by Dj Toasty

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific!!!
This whole series is creepy as hell!! DOSF showed W&H's ability to insert bone-chilling curiosity into their fantasy but they take it to the extreme in this trilogy. Read more

Published on May 18 2003 by Andy. Gillum

5.0 out of 5 stars Great bok from a great series.
This is one that I would recommend any fantasy readers. This is a great series by two great authors.

Published on Mar 5 2003

4.0 out of 5 stars Lives up to expectations
Pretty good book. A bit sad the way it turns out for a few of the characters, but such was to be expected. Definitely a must read for fans of Weis and Hickman.

Published on Feb 26 2003

4.0 out of 5 stars The New Dragonlance- Continued
The story of the newest addition to the Dragonlance Universe is fleshed out more, the plot thickens, and events begin to slowly form a pattern. Read more

Published on Dec 19 2002

3.0 out of 5 stars Depression
I have read all of the other Dragonlance books by Weis and Hickman. The quality of this book is up to par with the rest of them, but I must say this book was filled with... Read more

Published on Nov 22 2002 by Laura Bell

Search Customer Reviews
Only search this product's reviews

› See all 117 customer reviews on Amazon.ca

Search Listmania!