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

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

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

5/5 ( )

Review at http://silverpenpub.net/books/dragons... ( )

The third and final book in the DragonLance Chronicle trilogy. Another decent read from Weis and Hickman. Not as good as the first two, but quite enjoyable. The ending is rushed, but that's normal. Not ever book can consume pages like "The Stand". ( )

More of the same to end the trilogy. Despite reading three of these books, I did not sit in my basement playing Dungeons and Dragons. ( )

Long years of desperate warfare are now nearing an end; the eternal battle between good and evil has long been waged over the face of Krynn and now the tumultuous emotions of a lifetime are crashing around our beleaguered cast of characters. Some will be tempted to join the ranks of the dark side, others will loose their life warring against the forces of evil, and still others will continue to fight against the minions of Takhisis, goddess of destruction. Along the way, our characters must overcome treachery, despair, and one of the bleakest winters of their lives. Will the power of good overcome, or will the dragons inherit the eart?. For good or evil the dye is cast and all of Krynn must pay the eternal price.

Once again, the reader reunites with their favourite characters. Tanis, Raistlin, Strum, Caramon, Tas, Flint, Laurana, Riverwind, Goldmoon, and the delightfully doddery old mage, the enigmatic Fizban all meet once again to battle the forces of darkness and console each other along the way. However, there are many surprises in store for our careworn group of heroes. Tanis is torn between his love for Laurana, the gentle elf maiden and Kitiara, the ambitions dragon highlord and follower of Takhisis. Meanwhile, Raistlin has discovered a new magical talent that could be the key to his future, or the destruction of everything. Loyalties are stretched and breached, love is tried to the utmost, hatred is kindled, as the entire force of Krynn is rallied to fight the coming onslaught of dragons, our characters must not only confront these beasts of doom, but their own inner turmoils and disloyalties as well. The war is not only for the salvation of Krynn, but for the redemption of the soul. Nothing will ever be the same again.

Not only do we, the public of readers, become drawn into the story by the fast paced action and the stunning revelations, but the sheer emotional depth and the realistic nature of the cast of vivid characters is what truly makes this tale classic literature. While the war rages on the outside, we are allowed to not only witness its irrevocable destruction of Krynn, but to see first hand how this degeneration of the world effects the characters we have come to love as family. How can we not weep as Raistlin begins his long fall from grace? How can we not experience Tanis's emotional turmoil over his love life? How can we not respect and admire Laurana, the Golden General, who risks everything for a man who no longer loves her? All these things and more culminate to produce an astoundingly complex and highly emotional tale that will leave the reader crying during many segments. Unforeseen betrayals, love lost, hopes destroyed, magic discovered, all these things must have their toll on the characters that we have come to love and admire. While they may not all be human, they have distinctly human emotion and desires creating what can truly be called modern literature at its finest. It would be impossible for the reader to remain unaffected by the emotions of Dragonlance. It would also be equally impossible for the reader to even begin to guess what outcome, whether good or evil, would come from our characters' actions and reactions. Truly, Dragons of Spring Dawning is as emotional as it is unpredictable. This is one story that cannot fail to draw the reader in.

The sheer ingenuity of the plot and the extreme emotional depth displayed, is complemented by a rich and complex storyline, edge-of-the-seat action and suspense, and a terrifying cast of vitriolic villains. While the protagonists are deeply cherished by the reader, the villains make an equal, although opposite impression, truly engaging all of the reader's emotions, both love and hate. What could be more epic! Once again, we are treated to modern literature at its finest.

Also, Dragons of Spring Dawning, is complemented with a wonderful rich and descriptive writing style that brings the magical world of Krynn vividly to life. Yet another virtue that Dragonlance can boast.

In Conclusion: This is to be Krynn's bleakest hour. An hour when the decisions of a moment will affect a lifetime. An hour when sides must be chosen forever. An hour when love and hate, desire and despair, culminate into one heady brew to create an unforgettable epic that is just as emotionally demanding as it is imaginatively captivating. All of Krynn hangs in the balance and it is up to our beleaguered group of heroes to save their lost and dying world. Rich in characterization, writing, imagination, and epic in scope and storytelling, this is one tale not to be missed. Highly recommended.

- Crysania Majere

In balance all purity is destroyed,
But in voluptuous darkness lies the truth.

- Raistlin's Farewell ( )