Nancy Varian Berberick

I love this book- for the way it introduces a completely new set of characters and wraps your heart around them instantly, for the way it draws the different people from their homes and twines their lives together- but most of all for the brilliant, beautiful, and simply spectacular prolouge. It details the creation of a Masterblade, a process that so closely mirrors the creation of a story I was entranced. To quote, "As the bard hears, faint but clear, the elusive melody and secret show more harmonies of the song he was given his voice to sing, as the storyteller knows, deep within his bones, the words and silences of the tale he was born to tell…" Simply beautiful, don't you think? A must-read. show less

A king sword, named Stormblade, has been forged in the mountain kingdom of Thorbardin, home of the dwarves. The sword seems to come at a much needed time. War is quickly approaching the dwarves will not be able to hide behind their stone walls much longer. But in the midst of the excitement, betrayal brews, and Stormblade is stolen and removed from the dwarven kingdom.

Years later rumor emerge of a sword that fits the description of Stormblade trickle into the mountains. Two rival clans show more quickly send search teams to retrieve the blade for whoever hold Stormblade will rule in Thorbardin.

In the truest sense of an adventure, we find an unlikely group of "companions" that struggle to protect the blade and return it its rightful owner and keep it out of the hands of evil. We find a young dwarf blacksmith, a human warrior, an elven ranger, and of course, the barmaid turned warrior woman (of a sort).

While much of this sounds typical of a fantasy novel, the story is put together in an amazing way that makes what could have been very stereotypical characters to life. We have love, hate, friends turned rivals, and rivals turned friends. There is of course magic and dragons and battle galore. My only real complaint was the ending. It opens the story up for so much more, but no more is ever written (at least not that I have been able to find).

4/5 show less

Mixed feelings about this one. Not just is the quest of the stones important here, but also the aspect of love between Crysania and her advisor/mage Valin. Like before, it's a story about love, friendship, trust, betrayal, greed, perseverance, faith, ...

The gods are indeed battling each other, or rather, Chaos, the god of all and nothing. Therefore they don't have time to deal with the peoples' pleas, wishes, and worries. All of Ansalon is hot, burning hot. Rivers and streams are drying up show more or have dried up, crops are lost because of the heat, and so on. The forces of darkness and evil have gathered to conquer the continent.

And that heat is very much present. The number of times this is written is unbelievable. Repetition is vital here, apparently, also for other elements. To make sure you can easily follow the story, the events.

Mixed feelings because the first part (say 1/3 or so) is ok, but not very good. But I decided to read on. It does get better, more exciting, but then the curve drops again a little, and so the flow goes a bit up and a bit down, until there are fights, for example. Then things become more interesting again and you want to read on.

Also, I didn't know Crysania was... well, I thought she would be more daring somehow. Then again, it has been many years since I last read the "Legends" trilogy. On the other hand, considering what she's been through, and how strongly she relies on Paladine, it's understandable. Also, in a way, kudos to Valin for showing his love in such a way and taking the risk.

I was also a bit surprised to see Tanis being featured, knowing he is no longer among the living. But then I checked the dates on dragonlancenexus.com and it seems "Dragons Of Summer Flame" and "Tears Of The Night Sky" are set in the year and sort of overlap each other, as they recount what happened via different viewpoints and events.

The ending is rather mellow, bland, ... And somehow predictable, though not in those details. On the other hand, considering the importance of the aspect relationship in the story, it makes more sense.

All in all, an entertaining story. A little better, I thought, than "The Last Thane". show less

Sometimes it's tough to read a backstory of a well-established character. You know they aren't gong to die because they appear later in the series. Even having to tick some boxes as far as Dalamar's past, this was an enjoyable read. It was really two stories with a montage in the middle to tie them together. I really enjoyed Nancy Varian Berberick's contributions to several of the anthologies, and the first novel of hers that I read did not disappoint. I look forward to reading more of her show more books. show less