Customer Reviews

The Emerald Cavern

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Along with several other customer reviewers, I have no idea which book Publisher's World was reading when they wrote the review for The Emerald Cavern. The very things PW complained about made this book more enjoyable for me. With the power available to the main character, is it a surprise that he would be drawn into political intrigues?

The character development in this second novel of the series is both realistic and in-depth. Mathew's transformation from akward teenager into manhood is believable and touching. The characters in this novel are actually likeable! I know this is a step backward from more recent popular fantasy, but I found it charming. There is also plenty of action, so get a copy and dig in!

After a long wait I finally picked up a copy of THE EMERALD CAVERN, author Mitchell Graham's sequel to THE FIFTH RING.

I agree with the reviewer who wrote that it's a departure of sorts from his earlier work. On the whole I enjoyed it. In fact, I enjoyed it very much. I found the pace good and the charaters interesting. The story was easy to follow and held my interest all the way through.

My only complaint is that it ended with a cliff hanger. The publisher hasn't announced when the last book will be coming out. According to the author's web site it should be in early January. This, of course, is one of the drawbacks of reading a work-in-progress as this trilogy is.

THE EMERALD CAVERN certainly qualifies as a stand-alone book, but I think a reader will be better served, if they start with THE FIFTH RING and then move on. Simply seeing the changes that take place with the principal characters is compelling.

I have become an admirer of Mitchell Graham's style of writing. It's clear, concise,to the point, and very entertaining.

My "final verdict" is that this is a solid story, packed with high adventrure, a fitting successor to THE FIFTH RING.

I got hooked on "The Fifth Ring" during a plane ride to Sydney, Australia and was pleased to find that author Graham already had a sequel out. (The publisher really should label them book 1; book 2, etc.)

In "The Emerald Cavern" we see Mathew as older, wiser, and more worldly. In many ways this is a departure from Mr. Graham's first book in that he throws in a murder mystery for the hero to solve. The second part ends in a cliffhanger.

I found each of the characters to have matured and grown since book one. It was delightful to see it happen instead of a repackaging of the first story. My conclusion is that Mitchell Graham is an extremely talented writer who bears watching.

Before picking up this series I had pretty much exhausted my local bookstore's fantasy section and had almost give up on the genre. I would have no hesitation in putting these books up against anything out there. They're written with style and intelligence with just a hint of science fiction lurking in the background.

If Graham writes it, I'm buying.

Phillip

Mitchell Graham is one of the most talented writers out there. His EMERALD CAVERN is the second book in the FIFTH RING series and takes place nine months after the close of the final battle in book one.

I love the way he has developed his characters and the world he builds. It's a far cry from anything in middle earth. The people there seem just like people. They're three dimensional and interesting to be with.

Graham has a wonderfully succinct style that is unique amoung science fiction and fantasy writers. Iwould hae to say that THE EMERALD CAVERN is definitely a faster book than THE FIFTH RING was, but it will keep you glued to your seat. Once I picked it up I couldn't put it down.

I was also pleased to see that the author separated himself from the archetypes used in the first book. Yes, it's an epic, and yes, it involves a boy from a remote area of the country under the guidance of an older, wiser man, but that's where it ends.

What makes this book a standout is the charming way Graham can weave a story and the characters.

"Cavern' is more two separate stories roled into one. The first PART is a murder mystery and the second is closer to a traditional fantasy.

This is an excellent read for anyone looking for a good old fashioned yarn.

THE EMERALD CAVERN is an excellent follow up to THE FIFTH RING. It takes place some months after the events in the first book. Matthew is studying in the library at the Abbey of Barcora to try and learn more about his ancient ring, how it was created and why it almost destroyed the world in centuries past.

However, Matthews past is just about to catch up with him. Constable Jeram Quinn has come to take Matthew back to Elgaria to be tried for murder and to top it off two murders have taken place at the Abbey for which Matthew is the prime suspect. Matthew's enemies have also come for a day of reckoning with Princess Teanna and her cousin Eric Duran coming to Sennia with plans that will surprise everyone.

The characters in these novels are well written and pragmatic and they are continually growing throughout the books. This novel builds up to a great climax that marks a real turning point for all the characters. It makes you wish book 3 was available to read NOW. These are outstanding fantasy novels with a "magic" that is based on science but it just as scary for all involved as it has the proven capacity to destroy the world and has already done so once - and as Matthew has found out power without knowledge (and experience) is dangerous to its possessor. However, to get the most out of this novel it is recommended that you read THE FIFTH RING first.

This book was a blast to read. I just love Mitchell Graham. He has a way of making you care about all of his characters and keeps you hooked right from the start.

I've read everything that Raymond Feist and Terry Goodkind have written and I think Mitchell Graham is every bit as good. I could just see the expression on Mathew's face when he finds out about Lara's statue. It was too good.

The Emerald Cavern definitely moves along faster than The Fifth Ring did, though it was about as enjoyable for me. Mathew and Lara are definitely more mature in this book, which really makes sense since they're older. I also found the plot easy to understand along with the differences in Senninan society.

If you're looking for a good book to curl up with on a Sunday morning, you won't go far astray picking this one up.

I could be wrong, but I'm betting Mitchell Graham becomes one of the top names in the field.

I almost didn't pick up this book because of Publishers Weekly. I'm glad I did. I completely agree with the reviewer who said, "whenever the (PW) guy gets out of the mental ward he might want to reread it." All I can say it we obvioulsy read two different novels or have completely divergent tastes.

"The Fifth Ring" was a main selection of our SF book club, so I had high hopes for the sequel. In the end, I found The Emerald Cavern highly enjoyable and packed with wonderful action. There is also a pretty neat mystery that author Graham has thrown in.

I felt the writing was tight and the plot solid. personally, I saw nothing at all rambling in the dialogue. In fact it may be among the most realistic I've ever come across, fantasy and main stream included. It's simple and to the pointand you know exactly what's going on in the characters' heads. Often what they say says more about them.

And speaking of the characters I was pleaed to see that Mathew and Lara are taking on more dimensions as they become more worldly and get older. I also liked the "different flavor" of Sennia. As one reviewer has remarked, not everywhere you go should be middle earth. Graham's world is incredibly detailed and the countries have their own set of values. This is as it should be.

Being candid, I would have to say there are weaknesses, but the strength of the narrative and marvelous characters far outweigh them. Did anyone happen to notice the brief byplay between Father Thomas and Teanna? Or Father Thomas's passing remark, that he knew Marsa d'Elso? Our club argued about that for an hour and we can't wait to see what Graham does with it.

The Emerald Cavern was a solid, action oriented tale that you won't go wrong picking up. If Graham didn't become an author, I suspect he'd be a gypsy telling stories from the back of a wagon with a crowd around him. Definitely watch this guy.

A fine, enjoyable novel that held my interest all the way through. The author has a marvelous style and is a very gifted story-teller.

If you're looking for a mere continuation of The Fifth Ring, forget it. The country of Sennina is as different from Elgaria in its customs and mores as England is from Italy. This is part of Graham's genius, we don't simply get a rehash of middle earth.

As far as I'm concerned the characters keep getting better and better and they seem like old friends by now. There is rolicking action, humor, intrigue, and passion enough to keep you smiling all the way through. I was sorry to put this one down.

After years of waiting for the Jordan series to end I gave up. The last book was a complete loser. A friend of mine previously gave me a copy of "The Fifth Ring" which has been sitting in my "to be read" pile and languishing there. Anyway, I gave it a try and it blew me away. Having fallen fell in love with the book I quickly checked the author's web site to see what else he had written (the site rocks by the way), and was pleased to find the sequel was already out.

"The Emerald Cavern" is a fine book and picks up a little after "The Fifth Ring" concludes. I thought this book was extremely well written. I enjoyed the humor as well as the court intrigues and mystery. I thought the relationships between Father Thomas and Teanna d'Elso and between Mathew and Teanna were extremely interesting. There's a lot percolating beneath the surface. Also, the more I read about Gawl the more I like him.

"The Emerald Cavern" has a number of aspects to it that are essential to a good novel: Solid writing; excellent characters; and a plot that keeps you hooked.

I highly recommend this book.

I highly recommend this book. I found it very entertaining and a quick read. The pages just flew by. I felt myself drawn into the story right away. The descriptions were vivid, but not overblown. Personally, I thought the characters were quite easy to relate to.

I'd like to know where the author gets some of his ideas, because I thought they were great. This is a wonderful story that I'll read again and again as the years go by.