Eddings, David

The Belgariad, Vol. 2 (Books 4 & 5): Castle of Wizardry, Enchanters' End Game

Average customer rating:

This may be another save the world story, but worth reading
Wondrous
The Belgariad
Great Reading
The best series ever

The Belgariad, Vol. 2 (Books 4 & 5): Castle of Wizardry, Enchanters' End Game
David Eddings
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Epic | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Magic & Wizards | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Science Fiction & Fantasy Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

The Belgariad, Vol. 1 (Books 1-3): Pawn of Prophecy, Queen of Sorcery, Magician's Gambit
The Malloreon, Vol. 1 (Books 1-3): Guardians of the West, King of the Murgos, Demon Lord of Karanda
The Malloreon, Vol. 2 (Books 4 & 5): Sorceress of Darshiva, The Seeress of Kell
Belgarath the Sorcerer
Polgara the Sorceress (Malloreon (Paperback Random House))

ASIN: 0345456319
Release Date: 2002-08-27

Book Description

David Eddings’ acclaimed series, The Belgariad, reaches its stunning conclusion in these final two gripping novels. Continue on this magnificent journey and be entranced by a saga of strange lands and peoples, of prophecy and strife set against the background of a seven-thousand-year war of men, Kings, and Gods.

The quest may be nearing its end, but the danger continues. After discovering a shocking secret about himself he never could have imagined—all in pursuit of the legendary Orb—Garion and his fellow adventurers must escape a crumbling enemy fortress and flee across a vast desert filled with ruthless soldiers whose only aim is to destroy them. But even when the quest is complete, Garion’s destiny is far from fulfilled. For the evil God Torak is about to awaken and seek dominion. Somehow, Garion has to face the God, to kill or be killed. On the outcome of this dread duel rests the future of the world. But how can one man destroy an immortal God?

“Fabulous . . . Eddings has a marvelous storyteller style . . . exceedingly well portrayed and complex people. . . . More! More! More!”
—ANNE MCCAFFREY

Customer Reviews:

This may be another save the world story, but worth reading.......2007-06-25

This is the second installment of the Belgariad, finishing out the tale of Garion and his group of friends. Though the Belgariad Volume One is somewhat stronger and a better read, This second half of the tale finishes the story in a way that keeps the readers attention. He develops the characters even more, and they were my favorite part of the entire story.

At the end of Volume One, Garion and his friends have defeated Ctuchik and in the process caused Rak Thol to destroy itself. This book picks up right where that last one left off and continues with the groups travels to get to Riva on the Isle of the Winds. The beginning of the story is quite engaging, but it tends to get a bit tedious towards the middle. But the ending comes back around and grabs the reader refusing to let go until the last page is turned. We follow along as Garion decides to go off on his own with Silk and Belgarath for his meeting with the evil god Torak, and leaves Aunt Pol and Ce'Nedra behind to deal with the Kings of the lands of the West. They are forced to raise an army, mostly of Ce'Nedra's doing. This is where the story begins to slow. Once the army is formed and the marching finally comes to an end, a battle begins at Thull Mardu, and from then on the reading is fast and entertaining.

I thought this book was a great ending to this enjoyable series. I gave it three stars only because I enjoyed volume one slightly more. I plan on tackling the next series The Mallorean in the near future. Hopefully it will be just as entertaining as this story was!

Wondrous.......2007-05-22

Part 2 of a wondrous series of books. The author is amazing at captivating his audience.

The Belgariad.......2007-01-21

The books were in excellent condition. David Eddings's story of Belgarion keeps the reader enchanted throughout the series.

Great Reading.......2006-11-13

I was introduced to this series a couple of years ago and I've been in love with it ever since. I can't believe I never came across it sooner. Of course now that I've read it I come across it in book stores all the time now. This series is a beautiful series for all readers. I wouldn't limit it to fantasy lovers because it is simply a terrific series. It has everything you can ever want to read in a book - humour, fear, action and satisfaction that good does indeed have a say in what goes on in the world. The characters come alive in your head without even trying, the storyline is addictive so it's best to either buy all the books in the series from the start or make plans to get it as soon as you can.

It was great to get these books in 4 books instead of 10. I still re-read this series and I've recently bought them as christmas presents. It's an excellant buy for any avid reader or even for those you might want to encourage to read. For all those who do buy this series, check out Belgarath and Polgara - the companion editions.

The best series ever.......2006-11-10

The Belgariad is what started me reading when I was in my late 20's. I became addicted to Eddings in the first few pages. I started my daughter off on this series. She is now a book addict. I have recently re-bought the whole Eddings series as they have worn out over the years.

The Malloreon, Vol. 1 (Books 1-3): Guardians of the West, King of the Murgos, Demon Lord of Karanda

Average customer rating:

Amazing
A wonderful series to read and reread
One of the best Fantasy series since Tolkein!
Beautifully done
Always Enjoyable

The Malloreon, Vol. 1 (Books 1-3): Guardians of the West, King of the Murgos, Demon Lord of Karanda
David Eddings
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Anthologies | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Anthologies | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Science Fiction & Fantasy Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

The Malloreon, Vol. 2 (Books 4 & 5): Sorceress of Darshiva, The Seeress of Kell
The Belgariad, Vol. 2 (Books 4 & 5): Castle of Wizardry, Enchanters' End Game
The Belgariad, Vol. 1 (Books 1-3): Pawn of Prophecy, Queen of Sorcery, Magician's Gambit
Belgarath the Sorcerer
Polgara the Sorceress (Malloreon (Paperback Random House))

ASIN: 0345483863
Release Date: 2005-08-30

Book Description

Discover the magic of The Malloreon–David Eddings’s acclaimed series, the sequel to his bestselling The Belgariad. Now the first three Malloreon books appear in a single volume, taking us on an epic quest across strange lands among gods, kings, sorcerers, and ordinary men. It is a gripping tale of two ancient warring destinies fighting a battle of good against evil.

Garion has slain the evil God Torak and is now the King of Riva. The prophecy has been fulfilled–or so it seems. For there is a dire warning, as a great evil brews in the East. Now Garion once again finds himself with the fate of the world resting on his shoulders. When Garion’s infant son is kidnapped by Zandramas, the Child of Dark, a great quest begins to rescue the child. Among those on the dangerous mission are Garion and his wife, Queen Ce’Nedra, and the immortal Belgarath the Sorcerer and his daughter, Polgara. They must make their way through the foul swamps of Nyissa, then into the lands of the Murgos. Along the way, they will face grave dangers–captivity, a horde of demons, a fatal plague–while Zandramas plots to use Garion’s son in a chilling ritual that will make the Dark Prophecy supreme. . .

Customer Reviews:

Amazing.......2007-05-20

I've read alot of fantasy books from all kinds of authors. High fantasy and Epics and light fantasy. Usually in a series, the first 3 books are the best and if there are any after that they decline. I started out reading the Belgaraid knowing that this series was "light fantasy" and I didn't expect anything more than that. Then I get to the Mallorean and not only did it surprised me but it was actually better than the Belgaraid. Even the 3rd book in the Mallorean was better than the first. It seems that the author got better as he wrote and had a story to tell instead of stretching out a shorter story just to sell more books.

A wonderful series to read and reread.......2007-04-29

I first picked up Guardians of the West in the Library while I waited for my three children to finish their homework assignments. I couldn't put it down. Then I discovered there were five previous books. I immediately went and checked out Eddings first book The Pawn Of Prophecy and I was hooked. I was especially intrigued by their world and the numerous societies they developed to fill it. The background story was always intriguing. As Tolkin said about Bilbo's home, `There was always something more to discover'.
The landscape is rich in detail and their characters are warm and real. I enjoyed the surprises David and Leigh build into their stories. I was especially entertained by twist that the Murgo King and Silk were half brothers. While I love all the characters, I was fascinated by Polgara. I loved Beldin's character as a foil to Belgarath. I was surprised, happy, and saddened by his departure at the series finale. I have all the books in my collection and I have reread them many times. I go there to escape or find inspiration. This is truly one of the great works of fiction by a truly distinguished writing team.

One of the best Fantasy series since Tolkein!.......2007-03-31

In most cases, it seems, sequels tend to lose the punch and energy found in the origanal series. This is far from the truth when it comes to The Mallorean, by David Eddings. In his first series,The Belgariad, Vol. 1 (Books 1-3): Pawn of Prophecy, Queen of Sorcery, Magician's Gambit andThe Belgariad, Vol. 2 (Books 4 & 5): Castle of Wizardry, Enchanters' End Game Eddings spins a tale of good and evil that is worthy of J.R.R. Tolkein, without being a slavish copy of the masterwork of Fantasy fiction.

In The Mallorean, Eddings successfully creats a new story, resurecting most of the old characters. He creates a story that shows that even though everything seemed to come to a successfull conclusion, fate often needs to go full circle. His characters are immensely believable; the reluctant king of an island kingdom, Belgarion, who also is one of the world's most powerful wizards, to his Queen, headstrong and with a short-fused temper. Add in the Emperor of the largest land, who must forge a reluctant reliance with Belgarion to save his people, and the young child destined to take his place as the newest god. The story is wonderfully crafted to carry this tale. Add in the final bookThe Malloreon, Vol. 2 (Books 4 & 5): Sorceress of Darshiva, The Seeress of Kell to tie all the ends together and you have the perfect series in the world of Fantasy literature.

Every year or so, regardless of where I am in my reading list, I make the time to reread The Lord Of The Rings by Tolkein, Eddings' Belgariad and Mallorian, and the works of Raymond FeistMagician: Apprentice (Riftwar Saga), et al. These are, in my opinion, the benchmarks of all Fantasy. If you haven't read Eddings yet, do so at your earliest oppurtunity. You won't be dissappointed.

Beautifully done.......2007-03-09

In the Mallorean Mr. and Mrs. Eddings continue and close the wonderful story they began in the Belgariad. The combination of high adventure and wonderful wit are a joy to read. With characters you will never forget (and probably notice traces of in your own friends!) these books are a must have for any fantasy library.

Always Enjoyable.......2007-02-14

As always, I love the books by David Eddings. It was a real treat to get this this series in 2 omnibus volumes. The story itself is engaging and the pacing is good. While some might not like the stereotying of the different races or nationalities, I find them quite humerous. All in all, The Mallorean is a nice followup to the Belgariad. It isn't all that complex a read so for those of you looking for convoluted plots and serious, complicated characters, this might not be your cup of tea. Personally, I have read both of the Begarion series as well as Belgarath the Sorceror and Plogara the Sorceress several times and have enjoyed them each time just as much as I did the first time through.

My only complaint really has nothing to do with the stories, but has more to do with the fact that the binding in this particular volume was a bit off... as in there was a gap in the spine between the cover and the actual pages.

The Belgariad, Vol. 1 (Books 1-3): Pawn of Prophecy, Queen of Sorcery, Magician's Gambit

Average customer rating:

A good, simple read!
The Belgariad
Great Book
Fantasy at its best
The tastiest mental bubble gum you'll ever have

The Belgariad, Vol. 1 (Books 1-3): Pawn of Prophecy, Queen of Sorcery, Magician's Gambit
David Eddings
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Epic | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Magic & Wizards | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Science Fiction & Fantasy Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

The Belgariad, Vol. 2 (Books 4 & 5): Castle of Wizardry, Enchanters' End Game
The Malloreon, Vol. 1 (Books 1-3): Guardians of the West, King of the Murgos, Demon Lord of Karanda
The Malloreon, Vol. 2 (Books 4 & 5): Sorceress of Darshiva, The Seeress of Kell
Belgarath the Sorcerer
Polgara the Sorceress (Malloreon (Paperback Random House))

ASIN: 0345456327
Release Date: 2002-08-27

Book Description

Millions of readers have discovered the magic of David Eddings’ New York Times bestselling series The Belgariad. Now the first three books in this monumental epic appear in a single volume. Here, long-time fans can rediscover the wonder—and the uninitiated can embark upon a thrilling new journey of fantasy and adventure.

It all begins with the theft of the Orb that for so long protected the West from an evil god. As long as the Orb was at Riva, the prophecy went, its people would be safe from this corrupting power. Garion, a simple farm boy, is familiar with the legend of the Orb, but skeptical in matters of magic. Until, through a twist of fate, he learns not only that the story of the Orb is true, but that he must set out on a quest of unparalleled magic and danger to help recover it. For Garion is a child of destiny, and fate itself is leading him far from his home, sweeping him irrevocably toward a distant tower—and a cataclysmic confrontation with a master of the darkest magic.

Customer Reviews:

A good, simple read!.......2007-06-21

I have to admit that when I started reading these stories, I felt the plot was somewhat slow. But keep going! the books are not all that long. You need to read through at least book 3, which is my favorite so far. Eddings writing gets better the further you read. Some people have complained that these stories are cliche. They are not exactly original, but if the writing is good, it's worth it to read them. Why can't we every now and then just read a good book and not worry about its originality, how deep is the story? Just once in awhile read a book and enjoy it for the journey it takes you on. This is one of those books!

The Belgariad.......2007-05-31

I regret that I was forced to give it 1 star. If I had to write Cliff Notes for book one It would say "They went from here to there." Over the course of 5 books this kid casts 4 spells and at the end he is Fencing with a God and wins! I will say Eddings writes a character like no one. They really have a personality, but I found the entire experience of reading the Belgariad to be a waste of time.

Great Book.......2007-05-22

A very uplifting and captivating book. I've read it multiple times and still I love it!

Fantasy at its best.......2007-05-19

I am an avid fantasy reader and am always looking for another good book. This one did it. Great set of books to keep you in the world of imagination.

The tastiest mental bubble gum you'll ever have.......2007-05-15

If you view reading as a competitive intellectual sport and wouldn't be caught dead with any book less intellectually stimulating that "A Brief History of Time", this series isn't for you. However, if you love a well told story with memorable characters, excellent dialoge and exciting settings, you should buy this series. I have loved and read and re-read this series for nearly 20 years. After wearing out three sets of paperbacks, I finally bought a hardbound copy. The characters are as well defined as any in fantasy, the plot moves along quite nicely and the dialoge is crisp and clean. I highly recommend this series to anyone who wants to loose themselves in a delightful and exciting fantasy world.

The Malloreon, Vol. 2 (Books 4 & 5): Sorceress of Darshiva, The Seeress of Kell

Average customer rating:

Excellent, gripping conclusion
Beautifully done
Great Reading
One of the best
A good read!

The Malloreon, Vol. 2 (Books 4 & 5): Sorceress of Darshiva, The Seeress of Kell
David Eddings
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Book of Kells | Bible & Other Sacred Texts | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Anthologies | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Anthologies | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Religion & Spirituality Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Science Fiction & Fantasy Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

The Malloreon, Vol. 1 (Books 1-3): Guardians of the West, King of the Murgos, Demon Lord of Karanda
The Belgariad, Vol. 2 (Books 4 & 5): Castle of Wizardry, Enchanters' End Game
The Belgariad, Vol. 1 (Books 1-3): Pawn of Prophecy, Queen of Sorcery, Magician's Gambit
Belgarath the Sorcerer
Polgara the Sorceress (Malloreon (Paperback Random House))

ASIN: 0345483871
Release Date: 2005-08-30

Book Description

Here is the epic conclusion of David Eddings’s enthralling series The Malloreon–two magnificent novels in one volume. This monumental fantasy follows the story of two age-old opposing destinies locked in a seven-thousand-year war for control of the world, its gods, and its men. Indeed the victor will determine nothing less than the fate of all creation.

Troubles mount as King Garion, Belgarath, and Polgara pursue Zandramas, the Child of Dark, across the known world. The wicked creature has abducted the King’s infant son for sinister purposes. If Garion and his companions cannot reach the Place Which Is No More, as the Seeress of Kell has warned, then Zandramas will use Garion’s son in a rite that will raise the Dark Prophecy to eternal dominion over the universe. Only the Seeress of Kell can reveal the mysterious locale, but first Garion and Polgara must fulfill an ancient prophecy in the mountain fastness of the Seers. Although Kell is closed to Zandramas, her dark magic can forcefully extract the intelligence she needs from one of Garion’s party. Setting traps and dispatching her foul minions, she is determined to claim the world for the Dark Prophecy. But Garion will let nothing stand between himself and his son. . . .

Customer Reviews:

Excellent, gripping conclusion.......2007-05-15

The Malloreon took a little getting used to - new characters, and most of the ones from the Bellgariad weren't allowed on this trip. All in all a good read that made me have to purchase the Belgarath and Polgara books to prolong the wonder the Eddings created.

Beautifully done.......2007-03-09

Great Reading.......2006-11-13

One of the best.......2006-08-15

I read these books about every four or so years, and I am thrilled that they were re-issued as a bound set.

A good read!.......2005-09-27

I read the two books that are contained in this single volume when they were originally released. It was difficult waiting the 12-18 months between volumes. Each book is well-written, fast-paced, resolves things for the reader -- and then creates another dilemma which leaves the reader hanging -- until the next book hit the bookstores.

The Malloreon Epic Series is the sequel to the equally gripping trilogy, The Belgariad. Eddings creates a mythical world -- the kingdoms of the West and the Angaraks and populates it with noble people you will come to love -- and villains you will justly despise. Good is represented by Garion, farm boy turned warrior king, Belagarath, the 7,000 year old immortal sorcerer, and Belgarath's daughter, the Sorceress Polgara.

Garion becomes King of Riva after slaying the evil God Torak. You will admire his sense of justice and right and wrong as the series evolves. Garion and his wife, Queen CeNedra have an infant son who is kidnapped by Zandramas, the Child of Dark. If he cannot be rescued the boy will be used in a ritual that will make Dark Destiny supreme forever.

In these final two volumes Garion and his companions must reach The Place Which is No More to rescue Garion's son and prevent the Dark Prophecy from being fulfilled. The Seeress of Kell is the only one who can reveal the location, but first Garion and Polgara must fulfill an ancient prophecy.

And the more that Garion and his party learn and accomplish in order to defeat Zandramas, save the world, and rescue the Garion's son, the more they are at risk of having Zandrama's dark magic extract what the group has learned by entering the mind of one of them.

Once again Eddings has continues to spin story lines that keep you reading past the time when you'd promised yourself you would stop. And because the series is now complete you don't have to ration yourself because it will be a long wait for the next installment -- read on, the next and final installment is in the back of the volume.

I highly recommend this series to anyone who loves to see good triumph over evil and sacrifice justly rewarded.

Armchair Interviews says: These are novels that won't disappoint you.

The Diamond Throne: (#1) (Eddings, David//Elenium)

Average customer rating:

Sparhawk is Back
OVERALL SCORE: (A-/B+)
Too simple
Meeting Mr. Eddings
Magical!

The Diamond Throne: (#1) (Eddings, David//Elenium)
David Eddings
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Science Fiction & Fantasy Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

The Ruby Knight (Book Two of the Elenium)
Sapphire Rose (Elenium)
Hidden City (The Tamuli Book, No 3)
Domes of Fire (Tamuli)
Shining Ones

ASIN: 0345356918
Release Date: 1989-04-22

Book Description

Sparhawk, Pandion Knight, and Queen's Champion have returned to Elenia after ten years of exile, only to find young Queen Ehlanda trapped in a block of ensorcelled crystal. As Sparhawk sets out to find a cure for Ehlana, he discovers that only he can defeat the evil plots that threaten her rule....

Customer Reviews:

Sparhawk is Back.......2007-04-27

The Diamond Throne (1989) is the first fantasy novel of the Elenium series. At the dawn of time, a dwarfed and misshaped Troll named Ghwerig dwelt in a cavern beneath the perpetual snows of northern Thalesia. This ugly creature spent decades creating the Bhelliom, a sapphire blue gem in the shape of a rose, and infusing it with the power of the Troll-Gods.

Then the Younger Goddess Aphrael of Styricum stole the rings that controlled its power. Later the hero Adian of Thalesia stole the Bhelliom itself and incorporated it into the Thalesian crown. But this crown was lost over five hundred years ago.

In this novel, Sparhawk returns to Cimmura after ten long years of exile in Rendor. He almost gets a chance to dispose of Krager, but is interrupted by a courtier, who gains himself a case of the boils by his yapping. Eventually Sparhawk reaches the inn run by the Pandion Knights, leaves Faran in the hands of the knight porter, and is admitted into his room by the eldest -- and maybe the last -- Pandion squire.

Sparhawk inherited the responsibility for Kurik from his father. The Pandion Preceptor, Vanion, questions whether he should let the squire retire to his farm and family, but Sparhawk is very reluctant to bring up the subject with Kurik for fear of hurt feelings. Besides, Kurik has been keeping Sparhawk alive for a good long while and intends to keep doing it for the foreseeable future.

While removing his watersoaked clothing, Kurik briefs Sparhawk on the latest news. He tells Sparhawk of the illness that befell Queen Ehlana and the magic that keeps her alive, yet trapped upon the throne within a diamond casement. He also brings Sparhawk up to date on the machinations of the Cimmuran Primate Annias and Prince Regent Lycheas.

The next morning Sparhawk attends court and quickly establishes his justification for returning from exile. Since he is the hereditary court champion, the queen is obviously in danger, and he has a signed and sealed order from the queen to return to Cimmura, all objections are crushed handily. Naturally, his enemies still want to get rid of him.

In this story, the Elene Church is nearing a crisis point, for the Archprelate is old, senile and unwell. Primate Annias now has control of the Cimmuran court treasury and is buying all available votes in the Hierocracy that will soon elect the next Archprelate. Obviously he has aspirations for that position.

Annias is the power behind the throne of Prince Lycheas, a whining, ineffectual fool. Annias has hired Martel -- an expelled Pandion Knight -- to neutralize the Church Knights while he is making his bid for the Archprelature. Martel has tried several times to kill Sparhawk and will try again. Martel also has other plans to keep the Knights busy.

Sparhawk confers with Vanion and Sephrenia -- the Pandion instructor in Styric secrets -- and learns more about Ehlana's illness and the time limits on the magic. They decide that he should travel to Borrata to consult with the medical faculty at the university. Sephrenia will accompany him to describe the symptoms and they also will take Flute, a young Styric girl who does not speak. However, Flute can accomplish amazing thing with her panpipes.

This story differs from the Belgariad/Malloreon series in at least one respect: Sparhawk is a tough character who hides his noble feeling beneath a rough exterior. He is much like his horse Faran, who delights in biting his handlers. In fact, Sparhawk and Faran seem to be able to read each other's mind; naturally, that is impossible, but still . . .

Highly recommended for Eddings fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of working knights, sardonic friends and high magic.

-Arthur W. Jordin

OVERALL SCORE: (A-/B+).......2007-04-17

The Diamond Throne (Book 1 of the Elenium)

OVERALL SCORE: (A-/B+)
READABILITY: (A-), PLOT: (B+), CHARATERS: (A), DIALOGUE: (B-), SETTING: (A+), ACTION/COMBAT: (B-), MONSTERS/ANTAGONISTS: (A-), ROMANCE: (C+), SEX: (Light), AGE LEVEL: (PG13)

This is a very entertaining fantasy story, by one of the best fantasy writers of today, while it may not be quite as good as his "Belgariad" or "Malloreon" series, it comes close.

The main character is Sparhawk, a militant knight, who is erasable and direct, (kind of like John Wayne playing a paladin). He and a group of Church Knights, his squire, a young thief, and a styric mystic, embark on a just to save the beautiful young queen, who has been poisoned by the evil Prelate. God's get involved and things get complex for poor SparHawk!

CONS:
Some of the characters actions aren't logical. They are very quick to kill minor character without much provocation, but major ones they let live when they should kill.

Too simple.......2006-10-02

With a book that's 400+ pages, you would think that there would be some depth to the plot of 'Diamond Throne'. But no - it's just 'go out and find this thing'. The villains in the book are too simple. They hatch the simplest plots, which are always intercepted or reasoned out within a matter of pages. And the reader sees the villains' schemes a mile away, though it usually takes a room full of characters to reason them out in the book. And those plots usually get thwarted in a page or so. All ambushes are easily seen or defeated. I expected some grand fight, a large battle, or a complex task that had the hero doing different tasks that led to a cure in the end. However, in this book, all he does is go from one place to another asking the same question - 'do you have the cure?' Also, every good guy in this book wants to kill Annais, and they have proof that he gave the poison to Ehlana, but nobody actually kills him or brings him to trial. If Eddings wanted to keep Annias around for the next book, he should have come up with a good, reasonable way for Annias to escape justice. Instead we get a token excuse for not killing him, which seems like it was almost put in there as an afterthought. By comparison, the part in the end with the meeting of Sparhawk and Martel is much better, as the reason for not fighting is a good one.
The reason I gave it even 2 stars is that Eddings does do a good job in describing the scene. There is adaquate detail in his book to make the reader feel he/she is there.

Meeting Mr. Eddings.......2005-10-15

This was the first fantasy book I read as a child. I remember sitting at my mother's bright red kitchen table and reading this for the first time. The very first page grabbed me. It was the description of the rain and the smoke; the beauty of the writing entranced me. I went on to read all about Sparhawk, Flute, Sephrenia and Kurik, and they became as close to me as any family. I still carry them fondly around in my head. The Elenium is David Eddings' finest work-and I'm glad I read it first. It's here that his stock characters come to life as vivid, breathing people-it's here where the setting is real and the danger is omnipresent.

As I read his other books, it was difficult not to draw parallels between corresponding characters-Sephrenia and Polgara, anyone? But in The Elenium, David Eddings did it right. It's not high literature, but it's a fun story, and it's compelling. If you haven't read it yet, you should take with you to the beach or on your next road trip. Have it keep you company at the airport. You'll have a blast-I know I did, and I still read the occasional fantasy because of this book.

Magical!.......2005-08-29

This was the first David Eddings book I have read so I am probably going to be a little biased. I loved it! This book seemlessly blends action, romance, drama and comedy. I was left in stiches by the things that were written and caught up in a world filled with intrigue. I won't be able to capture with words what this book is about, so I won't even try. Aside from the fact that this is obviously a fantasy novel, I really connected with the characters and felt like I really understood them. By the time I had finished reading this book, I was left hanging, wanting, waiting for more. I thoroughly enjoyed it and would REALLY recommend this to ANYONE who was thinking about reading this book.

Average customer rating:

Appalling - really a zero star performance
Everyone else has nailed it.
"What a Shame"
Rarely have I been so disappointed by a series
Lame

The Younger Gods (The Dreamers, Book 4)
David Eddings , and Leigh Eddings
Manufacturer: Grand Central Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Epic | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Science Fiction & Fantasy Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Crystal Gorge (The Dreamers, Book 3)
The Treasured One (The Dreamers, Book 2)
The Elder Gods (The Dreamers, Book 1)
Honored Enemy: Legends of the Riftwar, Book 1 (Legends of the Riftwar)
Into a Dark Realm (The Darkwar Saga, Book 2)

ASIN: 0446613320

Customer Reviews:

Appalling - really a zero star performance.......2007-06-18

If only there were "no stars".

The Younger Gods is a terrible book and a massive let down, if not betrayal, for all of us who held on through the series. Finally, after reading all the many, many, books in their various series, I give up on David & Leigh Eddings. If I give away too much below, sorry.

So, after winning three consecutive battles by mysterious divine intervention (anyone with half a brain cell worked out that Ara was that mystery), once again the protagonists line up in the face of the children of the Vlagh for the final showdown. Forts are built - why I don't know because they could just hang out together until the next act of god wipes out the enemy (oh, wait, one does), Aracia, the maverick self-adoring godlet is extinguished in exactly the same manner as Kal Torak in the Belgariad, oh look - one of the bugs is really her high (and only) priestess and is controlling her with scent spray, and once again the bugs are mowed down en mass is what is probably the most trival battle ever written into a fantasy epic- that is those that haven't been frozen to death by a massive and convenient snowstorm.

What else...? Oh yes, finally Omago wakes up to his own uber-god status, strolls into the Vlagh's nest, and casually wipes out the entire next bug generation and makes it impossible for her to produce any more viable eggs. Job done, everyone can go home. Oh, but wait! Now we'll do it back in time before any battles were fought and anyone in the three previous books got together - changing history so no one actually meets and the story we've followed for so long never happens. Ta da! And you're totally cheated. Why oh why didn't Ara wake Omago up in book one, chapter one, and just get it done without bothering to put any of the Elder Gods, Dreamers, Maags, or Trogites (and us) through the whole pointless exercise.

The trademark banter between characters is banal, tedious, and repetitive. Realistic conversational interplay among quest members was invented in the Belgariad, but I suppose over the course of 20+ books it gets hard to find new characters with different personalities.

It is badly written, anemically plotted, and frankly I think the authors were tired of the story and wanted to wrap it up as soon as possible. Thankfully they have closed the door on any sequels - unl;ess they insist on taking us through how Narasen and Trenicia are going to get together despite having their whole raison d'etre removed. And anyway - who cares?

Everyone else has nailed it........2007-05-18

Not alot to add, except I wish I could somehow blot this series out of my memory so I can go back to loving Eddings writing the way I used to. Start in the beginning, new readers, and stop before this garbage!

"What a Shame".......2007-04-26

David and Leigh Eddings final installment of the Dreamers series, The Younger Gods, is a welcome end to what turned out to be a disastrous story. Don't get me wrong here; I mean that in a very bad way.

I have to say this because I cannot say anything negative about anything from David Eddings without feeling terrible in doing so: I've been a David Eddings fan since the Elenium series. I've read the Belgariad and Malloreon (all 13 books), The Elenium and The Tamuli, as well as The Redemption of Althalus. I have to say, that the Dreamers was so poorly written, it's hard to say that David had anything to do with this series. A turn-for-the-worst type of pattern has developed ever since Leigh was labeled as co-author. Is she to blame? I can't truly say, but when the author was "just David", the stories flowed wonderfully, were humorous, had great characters, and were serious all at the same time. It's terribly noticeable when Leigh's been involved that: the female characters are horribly annoying, not one character is funny, there's too much "let's get married" and "what's for dinner" nonsense, and contains too much kiss-kiss-lovey-dovey stuff that belongs in children's novels. Sure there was Ce'Nedra and Flute, but they were tolerable; not like the annoying female characters in the Althalus book and this entire series.

The Dreamers series started out good, not great, but good nonetheless. The second, third, and now fourth books ruined anything good that was going to come about from the first installment. The plot just became a mess and the story kept on repeating itself over and over again. The whole series became so confusing that it seems as if the author(s) became lost in writing the story themselves. Characters and situations would get involved at points, then everything would hit a snag or a brick wall, and the only way the author would go about getting through the mess would be "hey, by the way, he/she's a God and can do anything". David Eddings ONLY novels never did that.

The Younger Gods follows suit to the second and third books of the Dreamers series. The book makes no sense at all, the actual younger gods are practically non-existent, and the protagonists are never in any danger even with going up against overwhelming odds. There's way too much kiss-kiss hug-hug nonsense that adds to the horrible dialog.

"You said what?"

Yes--Horrible. The characters say the same lame punch-lines and they all talk the same. Ridiculous surprises (hey, this character is a God. Oh, and by-the-way, this other character is also a God because she used to play with dolphins) plague this novel. Too much jumping around, not enough action sequences (there is, though, a graphic death involving a gutting and beheading), too many nicknames and name-calling, and an overall story that is just far too poorly written to be any good. Far too many times you will want the author to get on with the story, but there is no story--everything in the end turns out to be totally meaningless. One example is the antagonist--the Vlagh and her servants are totally useless and rarely mentioned until the end of the book where we discover that the strongest and most violent creatures are just sitting in a cave doing nothing.

The ending is really disappointing--just like the entire series. Thankfully, it's over. I hope this is the last book from David and Leigh Eddings, but not the last book from David Eddings. This series is summed up with these overly used three words from all four books:

"What a shame".

Rarely have I been so disappointed by a series.......2007-04-19

I've loved David Eddings books since I devoured Pawn of prophecy almost in one sitting and think Sparhawk is one of the greats of fantasy fiction. But I've been hugely disappointed with the entire Dreamers set, I'm afraid David and Leigh have got themselves in a rut. Too many of the characters are now pale imitations of things we've seen done much better before. The dour hero, emotional child goddess etc. Yet even with this feeling of deja vu, I could have lived with the stories, but they're just, dare I say it not that good. With small variations of plot and location, each volume of the dreamers has much the same story line as all the other volumes in the arc. The heroic characters aren't as well realised as those from the Beligariad or the Elenium and the bad guys are complete cyphers, where are the Zedars and Annias of this world ? Without sophisticated three dimensional opponents the whole thing's unbalanced and I'm afraid a bug with a name that sounds like I've stuck a finger down my throat can't cut it.
Yet being a fan I persist and the denouement is truly ghastly, a new divinity appears out of the woodwork and solves all their problems almost overnight. Then to ensure everybody has a happy end, a bit of time travel fixing goes on and the events of the past four volumes are annulled, despite numerous plot holes big enough to drive a herd of elephants through and a paradox issue that gets ignored. The whole thing is deeply unsatisfying, it didn't work when Bobby Ewing stepped out of the shower after being dead for an entire series and it's equally silly now. I've read all their books to date several times over, sad to say I doubt I'll be saying the same of the Dreamers.
I'd hate to think of the Eddings as being burned out, but hope they pause for thought before writing the next series. They've done other genres before, maybe they need to leave fantasy alone and branch out again until they get their mojo back.

Lame.......2007-04-16

I have been a fan for a while now, but this series, especially the ending is absolute garbage. The way he left everything made me wonder what the point was in reading the series in the first place. It was just moronic. I also must say that his works have gotten progressively worse since he began including his wife in the author's credits. Send her back to what ever she was doing before David, couples don't need to share everything. Her contributions since you and she began sharing credit certainly aren't doing your career any good. To put it bluntly, your writing has sucked big time ever since she began helping you.

Magician's Gambit (The Belgariad, Book 3)

Average customer rating:

My favorite so far
Eddings is Finally Gellin'
A good book, This review isn't a spoiler.
Decent, but a bit repetitive
Decent read and continuation of the story

Magician's Gambit (The Belgariad, Book 3)
David Eddings
Manufacturer: Books In Motion
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

Look Inside Science Fiction & Fantasy Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

General | Books on CD | Formats | Books
Similar Items:

Castle of Wizardry (The Belgariad, Book 4)
Queen of Sorcery (The Belgariad, Book 2)
Enchanters' End Game (The Belgariad, Book 5)
Pawn of Prophecy (Belgariad)
Guardians of the West (The Malloreon, Book 1)

ASIN: 1581168268

Book Description

The Belgariad Book #3

Ce'Nedra, Imperial Princess of Tolnedra, was confused. Everyone knows the tales of the Orb protecting the West from the evil God Torak are just silly legends. But here she is, forced to join a dangerous quest to recover that stolen Orb. No one believes in sorcery, but Garion's aunt and grandfather seem to be the fabled sorcerers Polgara and Belgarath. Even young Garion is learning to do socerey. Garion, a farm boy is totally unsuitable for an Imperial Princess. Yet, for some reason she has the urge to brush back his hair, and comfort him. Now he is going to a strange evil tower to face some horrible, powerful magician, and she cannot be there to watch over him. He might be killed, and she may never see him again. Read by Cameron Beierle. 11 CD's 11.3 Hrs.

Customer Reviews:

My favorite so far.......2007-03-13

Garion and friends journey toward the Vale of Aldur after near catastrophe in Nyissa. Along the way Garion and Ce' Nedra's relationship grows more complex, they have to brave the dangers of the haunted realm of Maragor, and seek help from unlikely places to penetate Rak Cthol, stronghold of the evil magician who holds the Orb of Aldur.

In "Magician's Gambit" David Eddings turns the creativity and adventure up a notch. His adventurous and fun epic, the Belgariad, up to this point has been a well written and witty rehashing of fantasy novels like "The Lord of the Rings." However, the plot takes some very unexpected turns in this volume and we are introduced to some ingenious new characters and races. Eddings has Garion wrestling with the heavy issues of adoloescence while discovering a huge potential for magic that can both help and destroy. Ce' Nedra, along with other characters, becomes a more nuanced and complex person in this volume as she wrestles with her own issues. This series gets better as Eddings takes us toward a world shattering climax. I think I know how it will end, but it is fun to ride along to see what route he takes in getting there.

Eddings is Finally Gellin'.......2006-07-20

Alright.. sorry but I had to do that.
Ahead there be SPOILERS

The Belgariad is an odd series in that it is five books long but really should ultimately consist of two trilogies. The first trilogy would consist of books 1,2 and 3 and the second would consist of books 3,4 and 5. Now there are going to be some people that look at that statement and say "Yeah I get it" and others that say "That guy makes absolutely no sense" so let me explain.

First off let me say that I think that Magician's Gambit is the tightest and most focused book in the series. We (the readers) and the characters now both know what the goal is, they know WHERE the goal is and they are now actively headed to get the Ring..ahem I mean Orb so there is a feeling that finally everyone is on the page to some extent. Yes there are surprises along the way and yes there is a fair amount of just sitting around yaking it up but for the firt time the story is moving in a solid direction. (The first two books were very much like "Oh.. we're going here? Oh.. no? Let's go talk to these people? Ok.. Where are we going? Hey look I just blew a guy up.. was that supposed to happen?" and so on)

Now, if you read the first paragraph of my review you can see that 3 is an overlap point. This book has the properties of both the first AND last books of a trilogy.

It feels like it's the last book because by the end the companions are finally all with the company, the Orb has been gotten and one of our principal villains has blown himself into oblivion. There is the obligitory fantasy pyrotechnic moment where a city is blown off of a mountain. By this point we have met all of the main characters and kings (Brand being a major exception). We're familiar with most of the culture and we've even met a god or two. In some fantasy series this would be enough and we could go home (It is even in Eddings other series The Elennium).

It feels like the beginning of a trilogy.. actually for some of the same reasons. With the addition of Relg, Errand and the Marag girl Taiba this kind of feels like Act I where we introduce new characters. We also see Garion start stepping up to fill his newly acquired role as a sorcerer. If you know where this series goes then you know he'll be moving on to become a king and "Overlord of the West" and that path begins in earnest in this book.

Anyone who has read my reviews for the previous books has seen me rail against Eddings writing of female characters. While my feelings about Polgara haven't changed, C'Nedra has definately grown here and Taiba, while only being introduced briefly here is my favorite Eddings female up to this point. But more on that in the next review.

So the upshot is: If you didn't like this book.. you might as well give up on this series (Or at least not expect much better from it)

A good book, This review isn't a spoiler........2006-01-31

First, everyone is a critic, few get paid to do so.

Any work had rave reviews and negative reviews. Take a chance and read it for yourself to be the final judge.

Well, Unlike most reviews, I'm not going to 'book report' it and summize what happened. The story continues nicely, and a tension that started in the first book continues to build.

If you've read the first 2, then, you'll want to finish!

I would recommend it! A+

Decent, but a bit repetitive.......2006-01-18

David Eddings does many things well in this book. As usual his characters are unique and very likable. There's much adventure, with many memorable scenes. My favorite part of the story is their run in with a weeping God who lost all his people. This was a very original scene that effectively tugs at the heartstrings. I loved it. I wish I could say this book is filled with such scenes.

Magician's Gambit shares the repetitive patterns of the first book in the series (Pawn of Prophecy). The group goes from place to place. They fight different creatures at each stop and always win rather easily. Along the way they share playful dialogue and Garion learns more about magic. And to me the climax of this book is just another stop, like all the others. Same thing happens, over and over.

Some say this is to build the characters, but now in the third book, I believe these characters are already well established. It's time to move on. There is more cliche' in this book as well as David Eddings does his best to explain what it's like for a young girl to have a crush. I winced while reading a few of these. It seemed a bit stereotypical.

This installment in the five-book series doesn't really bring anything too new to the table. It's easy enough to read, and folks who want a fun and fast-paced old-school fantasy will probably enjoy this. It's not a bad book, but I expected more after how much I enjoyed the previous book in the series.

I also would like to recommend Greg Keyes' The Kingdoms of Thorn and Bone series. (The Briar King) I believe this series offers a little more, but maintains the fun that David Eddings is so good at.

Decent read and continuation of the story.......2005-12-28

Magician's Gambit by David Eddings is the 3rd book in the Belgariad saga.

Being that this is the third installment of this saga, the reader should pretty much know what they are getting into with Eddings. Admittedly I was fairly critical of the first book, Pawn of Prophecy, but was pleasantly surprised by the 2nd book Queen of Sorcery. So, I went into this book with a little bit higher expectations than what I went into the 2nd book.

There are usually two sections that I touch on in my reviews, those regarding the plot and those regarding the character development as I think those are two of the most important parts of any story. So with that said, here we go.

The plot in this one seems to be rather linear, in that there is not a lot of deviation from the main plot line. I am not sure if Eddings doesn't like subplots, or he simply wanted to fully concentrate on the main characters in this book. At times the plot in this book seems a little too `easy' for lack of a better word. Fans of the genre will be able to see what is going to take place chapters before it happens. This is partly due to Eddings not adding many twists and turns within the story. This is not to say this is a `bad' story, it's just not up to the level I am used to reading as many fantasy books as I have read. The main plot line is actually pretty decent in that it does a good job at setting the stage for the next book while also advancing the characters. Yet, I got the feeling, several times while reading this, that the 2nd and 3rd books could have been combined into one book and saved some time. While there are big events in books 2 and 3 I think 1 book combined would have been just as effective. As I said before, this is not a bad story it just (at least so far anyway) doesn't encompass everything I am used to in fantasy novels.

The character development again takes center stage. The main character Garion continues to be more and more fleshed out. He continues the trend of slowly discovering himself with the help of Pol and Mr. Wolf. I will continue to say though that the character of Silk continues to steal scenes left and right, that's not necessarily a negative, just an observation. I will say though that the characters in this book are beginning to become more and more memorable. I am not to the point yet of `needing' to know what happens yet, but I am intrigued at the story and where it may lead.

All in all I think this is another decent book by Eddings and one I would most likely recommend to fans who are just starting to get into the fantasy genre. I would also recommend it to long standing fans of the genre with the caveat of what to expect and that these books should not be considered a deep all encompassing read or else they will be disappointed. It's not the greatest fantasy work out there, but certainly not the worst either.

The Seeress of Kell: (#5) (Malloreon, Book 5)

Average customer rating:

As bad as it gets for epic, formulaic fantasy
Enjoyable, but flawed
Game, Set, and Match
um.......WOW talk about a good ending
a fitting conclusion

The Seeress of Kell: (#5) (Malloreon, Book 5)
David Eddings
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Book of Kells | Bible & Other Sacred Texts | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Religion & Spirituality Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Science Fiction & Fantasy Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Sorceress of Darshiva (The Malloreon, Book 4)
Demon Lord of Karanda (The Malloreon, Book 3)
King of the Murgos (The Malloreon, Book 2)
Guardians of the West (The Malloreon, Book 1)
Enchanters' End Game (The Belgariad, Book 5)

ASIN: 0345330064
Release Date: 1991-04-03

Product Description

Book Five of the Melloreon. Time was running out for Garion and his companions in their quest to recover Garion's infant son and heir. If they could not locate the Place which Is No More, then Zandramas, the Child of Dark, would use Garion's son in a rite that would raise the Dark Prophecy to eternal domination over the universe. Read by Cameron Beierle. 15 CD's 16.9 Hrs.

Customer Reviews:

As bad as it gets for epic, formulaic fantasy.......2007-03-13

I read Belgariad and Mallorean, around the same age 16-17. Enjoyed Belgariad quite a bit and I still have fond memories of it. However, unlike the Belgariad, I was frustrated, disgusted and just plain annoyed by Mallorean.

I can't remember other examples when I had two such polar opposite reactions by works from the same author.

Everyone calling each other "dear" as a sign of affection really grated on me, mainly because the person using the word came off as a patronizing prissy. It was mostly Polgara doing it in The Belgariad, but in Mallorean, we find that everyone in David Eddings' world throws around "dear" as a sign of affection. I think I wanted to scream my lungs out every time Eddings had one of his characters use the word.

In the Mallorean, I remember hoping to see Garion and Ce'Nedra act like adults. No such luck, Eddings has 25-26 year-olds act like adolescent, imbecilic, incompetent and inept babies. The presence of Polgara, Belgarath and Poledra really made Garion & Ce'Nedra look dumb most of the time. Garion is constantly going OH-MY-GOD "What are we going to do, Grandfather?" or "Aunt Pol, do something!" or "Oh my god, they're blocking our way, what are we going to do?" C'mon, you're a king, you're an adult, can't you make some decisions on your own, Garion?! Don't get me started on Ce'Nedra, Eddings needs a helpless, stupid and just plain dumb girl in the Mallorean and Ce'Nedra fits the bill. Unlike other women in Eddings' novels, Ce'Nedra constantly needs protection, she's fragile, and Eddings uses her to ask the dumbest questions during banter to move the conversation forward (Polgara answers them with a "dear", of course). Don't get me wrong, I like Ce'Nedra's character best from Belgariad/Mallorean, and whenever Eddings deigns to write her perspective every now and then, I enjoy the story that much more. But she's completely useless besides breeding some kids for Garion. Even Velvet - who's younger than Ce'Nedra - is smarter and more competent than Ce'Nedra.

All the books in the Mallorean were just plain pointless. Eddings could have written the 5-book series in one 500-page book. There was a lot traveling, pointless banter to make Ce'Nedra look dumb, waking up in the morning, setting up camp, etc.

What I found most frustrating in the Mallorean was the lack of personal choice. The lack of choice was there on some level in the Belgariad, but Garion was more or less a teenager in the Belgariad so I didn't find it as bad. In the Mallorean, everyone has a =task= to do at a certain =time= and there's no wavering on that =task=. Everyone does what they're supposed to do, and the formulaic and predictable prophecy comes to fruition. What's funny is I remember the Mallorean hinging on a character's =Choice= at the end. Pfft, give me a break. Lamest ending ever. There's always a voice guiding Garion, or Belgarath or Polgara to help him, or if he wanted to do something that he wasn't supposed to do, his limbs become locked in place so he can't. Choice?!? Please...

In the Mallorean, the characterizations have exacerabated with age and the feeling of deja vu in the story is too strong to even acknowledge the Mallorean as a piece of literature.

Alright I'll stop whining now. In general, I do like Eddings, I think he writes acceptable literature for young adults, but you can only take so much of the same thing.

Enjoyable, but flawed .......2006-08-10

I must say that I literally had to drag myself through the Belgariad. Something about those books bored me beyond belief and I'm not even really sure why. So you can imagine my reluctance to start another five book series about the same characters. But I did, and boy, was I surprised by the outcome.
The Malloreon books are much better than the the Belgariad series (to me anyway). I was very pleased with this series despite the fact that the plot is stetched out to fill five books when it could have easily taken up only three.
The books are still flawed, however. I don't really like Ce'nedra or Polgara still. Polgara just seems very mean to Garion and Balgarath all the time. And Ce'nedra is angry with Garion one instant and in the next, starts laughing and says, "I do love you, Garion." and he says, "I certainly hope so." Talk about annnoying!
Mr. Eddings also left out some of my favorite characters from the last books. Barak and Silk's relationship was fun and funny and Mandorellan was comically dumb. Hettar was just cool. But they are hardly in these books and are replaced with characters that are pretty unimportant.
Also, very few of the minor characters had many lines. In fact, most of them spoke so rarely, you forget there are there! And I liked some of them (Velvet and Poledra, mostly).
The plot was predictable (did we really think Cyradis would chose the Darkness?), even the part with with Eriond (I think I guessed what would happen to him as soon as they said there was going to be a new God). The end was agonizing stretched out (both the Choice and the happy ending that summed everything up). Like another reviewer, I was a little annoyed that Garion killing Torak seemed utterly pointless. Oh, I was also upset that Beldin just left. I adored him and he was hilarious.
After all these negitive remarks, no one is going to believe I enjoyed this book, but I did. It was humorous and it was an enjoyable, light fantasy with a happy (if predictable) ending that made me a little sad because there won't be much more about the characters (I still have to read Belgarath and Polgara's stories, so I don't have to say goodbye yet). Anyway, this was a good book and I'm glad everything got all wrapped up.
The previous 9 books are an absolute necessity if this one is to make any sense so read those before.

Game, Set, and Match.......2005-07-17

It's with a sense of relief that I can finally turn to the last volume in this series. While the Malloreon is better written than the Belgariad, Eddings overplayed his hand in telling a story which is a derivative echo of its predecessor, and then using a repetitive architecture to expand the tale to five volumes. Had this series been whittled down to four, or even three volumes it would have been easier than on the reader.

Belgarion, C'Nedra, and the rest of those one the quest for their kidnapped child must now follow the last steps in fulfilling the prophecy that will enable Cyradis, Seeress of Kell, to make the final choice between alternate futures. Two candidates exist for the God who will replace Torak - who was slain by Belgarion in the first set of books. Errand, who has been in the care of Polgara and Durnik, will stand for Belgarion, the child of light, and Geran, Belgarion's own son is Zandramas's offer. If Geran is chosen darkness will fall and Belgarion will face having to kill his own child.

They voyage first to Kell, then to Perivor, and finally to Korim where the last clashes will be fought. There is a complex set of requirements to be fulfilled before Cyradis can make her choice, and Zandramas is intent on making sure that there really is no choice. Tense times come as Belgarath solves the last puzzles just in time and the find the altar in the place that is no more.

Seeress of Kell is noticeably better paced than Sorceress of Darshiva. It doesn't really bog down at all until after the choice is made, when Eddings proceeds to take 80 pages to wind down the tale in epilogue. Again, it's not Eddings writing ability that is at fault, but his inability to know when to stop. If you go on to the Elenium you will immediately discover that when Eddings keeps to three volumes and is carefully edited he is still capable of a story compels and entertains. Again, the best thing one can say about the Malloreon is that even with flaws it is much better than many attempts at epic fantasy, which is a far more difficult genre than you might believe.

um.......WOW talk about a good ending.......2005-05-28

I love this series, so I don't think I could just talk about this one book.

Once I started reading this series I couldn't stop I just had to keep getting the books and devouring each one. I read Belgarath and Polgara first so I already had the background and then I started the ten book series. I recomend this to first time Eddings Readers.

The characters are so complex and they all change through the whole series, matureing with Eddings. These books are so full of different emotions; battles, love stories, intrigue, friendship, immense power of hatred but love at the same time.

I must have read the whole series about three times already and I wish there was more to the story, more chapters so Belgarath and co will continue their adventures.

This is definately the greatest end to the series and I don't think it could've been any different. Well done guys for producing an amazing universe for us to see.

a fitting conclusion.......2004-04-24

Book 5 of the Mallorean

Finally we come to the conclusion of the adventures of Garion, Belgarath, Polgara, and everyone they traveled with. While this is specifically the conclusion to the 5 book series "The Mallorean", this is really the conclusion to the story that began 10 books ago with "Pawn of Prophecy". In this book, Garion will reach the end of the road in the quest to rescue his kidnapped son and also fulful for the final time the prophecies that have been shaping his world for more than 7000 years. Garion is nearing the end of the quest and if you have read the previous nine volumes, you have an idea of what to expect. This is still lighthearted, simplistic fantasy and is fairly enjoyable to read.

The Mallorean (and Belgariad) is an epic series of Good vs Evil, Light vs Darkness, and of Gods, Kings, and Men (not to mention women, but I meant humans). There is magic a plenty, an abundance of sword play, a long epic quest, humor, action, and drama. One can accuse this series (and Eddings) of telling the same story twice, as the plotlines do follow those of The Belgariad, just in a different location, but Eddings actually built that into the story so well that events are supposed to be repeating themselves. Rather than blatantly rip himself off, Eddings set up his world and the events in it such that some repetition is necessary. To be honest, if you are a fan of the Belgariad, you are likely going to have enjoyed reading through the Mallorean. The ending, though anti-climactic, is nice, pleasant, and a good way to say goodbye to the friends you have made over the course of reading 10 books set in one world dealing with the same set of characters. They may be cliché and repeat themselves and tell the same jokes, but these are characters you can come to care for and they are familiar like family.

After reading nine novels set in this world, nothing anybody can say will convince you to either like or dislike this book any more than you already will. The opinion the reader will have of this novel depends entirely on his or her enjoyment of the first 9 books (if one makes it that far). This is fast reading fantasy, but is enjoyable all the same. At one time these were my favorite characters and my favorite world, and while this is no longer true, I have a certain amount of fondness for Silk, and Polgara, and Zakath and everyone else in this world. To me, this was a fitting way to conclude the series.

Polgara the Sorceress (Malloreon (Paperback Random House))
Average customer rating:

Terrific

Believable narrator, but she's too powerful

great book

Polgara the Sorceress, Aunt Pol, Duchess of Erat and Mistress Pol

Monta docks - Fantasy review

Polgara the Sorceress (Malloreon (Paperback Random House))
David Eddings , and Leigh Eddings
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Eddings, David | ( E ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Epic | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Series | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Look Inside Science Fiction & Fantasy Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
( E ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Epic | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Series | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Belgarath the Sorcerer

The Malloreon, Vol. 2 (Books 4 & 5): Sorceress of Darshiva, The Seeress of Kell

The Malloreon, Vol. 1 (Books 1-3): Guardians of the West, King of the Murgos, Demon Lord of Karanda

The Belgariad, Vol. 2 (Books 4 & 5): Castle of Wizardry, Enchanters' End Game

The Rivan Codex: Ancient Texts of THE BELGARIAD and THE MALLOREON

ASIN: 0345422554
Release Date: 1998-12-26

Book Description

She soars above a world of warriors, kings, and priests. The daughter of Belgarath and the shape-shifter Poledra, she has fought wars, plotted palace coups, and worked her powerful magic for three thousand years. Now, Polgara looks back at her magnificent life, in this fitting crown jewel to the saga that is the Eddings' Belgariad and Mallorean cycles.

Her hair streaked white by her father's first touch, her mind guided by a mother she will not see again for centuries, Polgara begins life in her Uncle Beldin's tower, and in the prehistorical, magical Tree that stands in the middle of the Vale. There, she first learns the reaches of her powers. There she assumes the bird shapes that will serve her on her adventures. And there she starts on the path toward her destiny as Duchess of Erat, shepherdess of the cause of good, adversary of Torak the One-Eyed Dragon God, and guardian of the world's last, best hope: the heir to the Rivan throne.

Here is the legendary life story of a woman of wit, passion, and complex emotions, a woman born of two majestic parents who could not have been more unlike one another. Ordained to make peace and make war, to gain love and lose love, Polgara lives out her family's rich prophecy in the ceaseless struggle between the Light and the Dark.

Polgara is the epic culmination of a magnificent saga, and a fitting farewell to a world which, once experienced, will never be forgotten.

Customer Reviews:

Terrific.......2006-11-10

I enjoy this book. This is my second copy. I have re-bought all of the Eddings series as they have worn out over the years. I prefer Belgarath the Sorcerer, but I cant read that without reading this immediately after.

Believable narrator, but she's too powerful.......2006-07-15

Believe it or not, this is the first Eddings novel I've read. A friend recommended it to me, so I gave it a shot, even though I was rather confused several times. But I think I'm glad I was busy trying to figure out who was who, so that Polgara's repetition didn't wear on me as much as it might have. I enjoyed the earliest parts of the book the most, the parts when I was most confused, actually! When I no longer had to struggle to figure out who was who, then the basic problem of the book came out--Polgara is just too powerful. There's never really any danger to her. Her heart is broken when loved ones die, but with her rudeness to her father and her frequent dismissal of her mother's advice, I'm not sure why anyone would want to be around her! She's condescending to the humans whose lives she controls. However, all that said, the character of the narrator is consistent and believable, even at her obnoxious moments! I haven't yet decided if I will go back to read the other books in the serious or not.

great book.......2006-04-28

Having read both the Belgariad and Mallorean series, I thoroughly enjoyed this historical account of what took place prior to the 2 series. If you have not read the aforementioned series, I seriously reccomend that you read them before you read Polgara the Soceress as they are vital towards a greater comprehension of this novel. I am obviously a bit biased towards these books as I have read the entire series 15 or so times through, but that just shows how enjoyable they are. I profess that they may not be "classical"/good literature for reading, but all in all, it is for those times when you simply want a mindless read for an escape to another world.
This is basically the 3000 year old autobiography of Polgara's life. Whereas the series narrarated in a more third person perspective, this and Belgarath offer a more personal touch to the narrative. Although the male/female relationships are all seemingly the same(boy meets girl, boy fights girl, boy saves girl and boy wins girl), Polgara offers additional aspects of personality to the relationships. As with any autobiography, it takes a while to get started, especially with 3000 years to work with, but once the action starts, the book is quite difficult to put down. At times, it is rather repititive, especially when you have the same Rivan king names over and over and somewhat hard to discern if a new king has arrived, but for the most part goes by pretty fast.
David Eddings seems to like to reiterate a few emotions throughout the book and seems to want to pound it into your head. Perhaps the most prevalent one in this book is the idea of losing loved ones if one is immortal. The pain and loss that comes with each passing age is something that I could feel sympathetic, but when it is said over and over throughout, it gets a bit annoying.

Polgara the Sorceress, Aunt Pol, Duchess of Erat and Mistress Pol.......2006-03-15

In this book, Polgara goes back in time and speaks about her life before The Belgariad. It fills in many gaps left by Belgarath the Sorcerer. In Belgarath the Sorcerer I felt as though Belgarath was an onlooker, involved but not feeling. In Polgara the Sorceress, I got a better glimpse into who she really was. I read into her regrets, her triumphs, and who she was. During the Belgariad and the Mallorean, Polgara is this all-powerful, scolding figure whom Garion thinks cannot be broken down. Personally, I did not need to read the Belgariad or the Mallorean to understand it, but I do think that some of Polgara jokes, areas where she talks directly out to her readers, are better understandable when one has read the Belgariad and the Mallorean. What I found interesting was the two very different outlooks Belgarath and Polgara saw in a situation. Although Polgara is considered to be "the responsible one," in many ways she is more of the party person than Belgarath. I enjoyed this book immensely, and I would recommend it to most.

Monta docks - Fantasy review.......2006-03-04

The book, Polgara the Sorceress, is a tale of a woman who experiences three thousand years of triumphs and heartbreaks. Who devoted herself to the continuation of her sister's line and the service of the God Aldur. Here in this book we see the legendary Polgara the Sorceress and the great figures of history. We see the parts of the story that Belgarath the Sorcerer left out and feel the years that Polgara experienced. Once again David and Leigh Eddings prove themselves the masters of the Character fantasy which draws you in and make you never want to put it down.

Average customer rating:

THIS IS A GREAT BOOK!
Won't disappoint
A Rose is a Rose is a Rose
My favorite Eddings book ever!
A fantasy finale, but wait thereýs more!!

Sapphire Rose (Elenium)
David Eddings
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Science Fiction & Fantasy Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

The Ruby Knight (Book Two of the Elenium)
The Diamond Throne
Hidden City (The Tamuli Book, No 3)
Domes of Fire (Tamuli)
Shining Ones

ASIN: 034537472X
Release Date: 1992-11-23

Book Description

Finally the knight Sparhawk had come to possess Bhellion, the legendary jewel of magic. With it, he frees Queen Ehalana from the crystalline cocoon that preserves her life, but Bhellion carries dangers of its own. And now Sparkhawk is being stalked by a dark lurking menace that is only the beginning of his troubles....

Customer Reviews:

THIS IS A GREAT BOOK! .......2007-04-17

Sapphire Rose (Book 3 of the Elenium)

OVERALL SCORE: (A+)
READABILITY: (A), PLOT: (A+), CHARATERS: (A), DIALOGUE: (B), SETTING: (A+), ACTION/COMBAT: (B+), MONSTERS/ANTAGONISTS: (A-), ROMANCE: (C+), SEX: (Light), AGE LEVEL: (PG13)

This is a very entertaining fantasy story, by one of the best fantasy writers of today, while it may not be quite as good as his "Belgariad" or "Malloreon" series, it comes close.

**SPIOLERS IF YOU HAVENT READ BOOKS 1& 2 YET!**

In Book 3, Sparhawk the Knight Militant of the order of Pandion Knights and Queens Champion, has finally cured his Queen Ehlana, and restored her to her throne. But Annias is still close to taking the Archprelate Throne of the Elene Church, with the help of Martel and the evil god Azash. This story revolves around the election and the politics behind it for the first have of the book, and it is fascinating and very entertaining! Then Sparhawk must go and use the Sapphire Rose to complete the quest in a dramatic ending.

Won't disappoint.......2005-08-29

This is the last book in The Elenium and so all loose ends are getting tied. Sparhawk must save his pretty, young Queen, and this is accomplished pretty much in the first five minutes and for the rest of the book we watch as Sparhawk must save the world from the evil God, Azash and his underlings, Adus, Krager and Sparhawks sworn enemy, and one time friend, Martel. He must play a game he doesn't like, waiting for Martel to make his move and to follow him and try to stop him. He must do this without getting killed (his wife would NOT appreciate that) or allwing Azash to get his hands on the Sapphire Rose, or Bhelliom, the most powerful object in the world. Surprisingly, there is also a moment towards the end of the novel when you will need a tissue or two. All in all, this was a great book and has firmly cemented its place as one of my all time favourite books. If you're thinking about reading this book, then stop thinking and start doing, you don't know what you are missing out on.

A Rose is a Rose is a Rose.......2005-07-24

With Bhelliom in hand Devid Eddings takes the plot of the Elenium into its final stanzas - curing Ehlana, undoing of Annias' plot to gain control of the Elene church, and the final defeat of the schemes of the god Azash. Each of these is a story in itself, and the book is densely plotted as the final phase of Sparhawk's efforts falls into place.

There is really only one serious problem with this book. The weakest character in the series makes her debut - Ehlana. Edding's, for some reason, tends to make his female romantic leads a strange combination of domineering and fluttery. C'nedra, in the first two series, is the perfect example of a woman who is stuck the stereotype of the devious female. Selfish, manipulative, irritating, and then occasionally she will step out of character. Elhana could be C'nedra's sister. She waken, maneuvers Sparhawk into marrying her, directly interferes in church politics like a pro, and then settles into a kind of wishy-washy background character. Go figure. The good news is that while Ehlana has a prominent role in the story, she actually doesn't have a very big part.

The most interesting part of the book is really the struggle for control of the church, which is pure politics and sneakiness. Annias' plans must be undone. This means that Sparhawk and the church leaders opposed to Annias must play a complicated waiting game in the hope that enough evidence will be found to expose the priest as in league with Azash. As Annias has managed to bribe himself into possession of a simple majority, this becomes a game of inches.

Once the politics are over, Sparhawk is free to perform his real duty. The world's only hope is that the Pandion knight can use his control of Bhelliom to work the end of Azash. Not an easy task, and Sparhawk must overcome not only the Sapphire Rose, the the ancient troll gods before he can enter the city of Zemoch and confront Otha and Martell for the last time. His companions once again are his squire Kurik, his friend Kalten, Sephrenia, the first knights of the Elene orders, and Talen, the thief. The interplay of the characters is as good as always, but this is the third quest of the series and it gets a bit familiar at times.

As usual, Eddings wraps things up tidily with a strong climax, throws some curious hints in the epilogue and then the curtain descends. Of the three different series so far, this is both the shortest and the best written. The Belgarion is, perhaps, the most original, but the Elenium is the work of a mature writer, and it shows. As you might expect, this is only a temporary stopping point - we are promised yet another sequel.

My favorite Eddings book ever!.......2004-06-03

The "Sapphire Rose", of course, is the Bhelliom, an object of such enormous power that worlds literally revolve around it and Gods have fought wars for it. All Sparhawk cares about, though, is that it is the one thing that can save the life of his poisoned Queen, Ehlana.
Ehlana's healed pretty early in, which leaves the rest of the book for Sparhawk to vanquish evil, destroy the Bad Guys, etc etc. See, once the Bhelliom resurfaces, Azash, the evil God of the Zemochs, knows who's got it. Since Bhelliom is the one thing Azash needs to free himself from his prison and take over the world, he's a little interested in getting Sparhawk to give it to him - or wresting it from his cold, dead hands, whichever's easiest. To that extent, there's a long, protracted section of the book devoted to the election of the Archprelate (the equivalent of the Pope) in the Holy City. If Annias, who secretly worships Azash, can buy enough votes, he wins, and Azash gets Bhelliom. So before Sparhawk can go off and kick immortal butt, he and his buddies have to head off this impending disaster first. It's political, it's complicated, and there are long sections where nothing happens but debate and voting. But it's also intelligent, witty, and gives several characters (including Ehlana) a chance to shine. Put it this way - if you think the political stuff in "Star Wars" is too complicated, you'll hate this part of the book. But if you enjoy that stuff, as I do, and seeing how wars are won by more than sword-waving, this book is fantastic.
Of course, there's real action, too - Sparhawk does face down Azash, with some help (of course). Ehlana and Sparhawk get married - their love story is both awkward and romantic, and quite cute. And someone dies - I can't say who, but I cried when I read it. (And there's no "Man-with-two-lives" business as in the Belgariad.)
The best book in a great series!

A fantasy finale, but wait thereýs more!!.......2004-05-10

Since I was first introduced to the writings of David Eddings, through the best selling series, The Belgariad, at the age of 11, I have had a real affection for the seemingly realistic characters and simple yet exciting writing style that Eddings had so cleverly utilised to draw the reader into his fantasy world. Since then, I have come to think of Eddings as the king of modern fantasy writing, and I feel that the final book, The Sapphire Rose, in his series The Elenium, has upheld his title.

The world that Eddings has created in the series The Elenium, has a complex series of religions and races that are spherically different yet are interactive with each other. The religious zealots that are inherent with any religions, be they fantasy or in the real world, are the story keys and can simply described as good and evil, dependent on the religions and their role in the aiding or thwarting of the heroes journey.

The Sapphire Rose continues from the first two books in the trilogy, The Diamond Throne and The Ruby Knight telling the story of the short-tempered, Sparhawk, the Queens Champion and member of legendary Pandion Knights. The trilogy follows Sparhawk and his quest to find the magical jewel Bhelliom to cure his poisoned queen, along with the help of his band of companions, including, the powerful and wise Sephrenia of the Styric religion, her goddess Aphrael.

The medium paced and predictable plot of the first two books is spiced up quiet a bit in The Sapphire Rose. Eddings simple writing style enables the reader to keep track of the action and the characters, yet creates many twists and turns, adding surprises, that even the most critical fantasy reader would not anticipate. This is demonstrated in the plot intrigue when Sparhawk, having managed to retrieve the Bhelliom and cure his queen, the logical end to the trilogy, finds that he now must wage a war on the evil Styric god Azash and his followers, and must demonstrate his faith, which he is sceptical of, by taking the Bhelliom right into Azashs' hands.

One of the main things that I have enjoyed about David Eddings' writing is that all readers will find a character that they identify with. Each of the characters, although written very simply and perhaps a little two dimensional in the first of the series, are fully developed near the end of the second book. It is a pity that in the third book the characters, having been well developed in the second of the trilogy appear to have changed in The Sapphire Rose, suddenly presenting with different values. This is demonstrated particularly in Eddings need to make his descriptions more violent then I would consider necessary. Even though I understand that the characters were fighting a war, did everyone have to be constantly dripping with blood?

The impact of the violence in the story line is minimal, and it leaves one wondering why the change of the characterisation was seen as necessary for the author, and if the author was writing to a new formula to attract new readers to his slow selling trilogy. Compared to the Belgariad series, the Elenium series was not as quick to move off the shelves, and this is a possible reason for the change in the authors' direction. The slow development of the characters throughout the trilogy leaves one with a lack of empathy for the characters and their motives, and the new direction of the writing style makes this writer wonder if Eddings was attempting to hang on to the die hard fans, and attract new ones to his series.

It is interesting to note that two prequels to the Belgariad series were released after the slower selling Elenium series, thus demonstrating an attempt to recapture the audience that might have been lost to the author from the change of formula and the unneeded violence of The Sapphire Rose.

Even though the book was slow moving at times, and certain characters were not developed to their best, and with the added element of the incongruous violence, The Sapphire Rose maintains Eddings wit and offbeat humour that has made many readers addicts to his style of writing. The book is written specifically for lovers of the fantasy genre, however it does relate to many aspects of the real world, particularly in the areas of diversity of religion and culture. It does not match Eddings previous submissions, and is a bit of a disappointment, to those anticipating a revisit to the Belgariad world. Sparhawks world is darker, and a little more mature than the gentle and innocent world of Begariad, yet, Eddings still maintains his ability to spin a good story, and in this writers opinion maintains his regal position in the world of fantasy writers.

Authors:

Authors

Authors