5 comments about Castle of Wizardry.

1. As much as I hate to do it, I have to compare this book to Eragon's sequel Eldest by Christopher Paolini. However, Castle of Wizardry to me is what young CP should have aspired to do with his title character (Eragon). Eddings is masterful at creating challenges that advance as the lead character matures. In my opinion this is the finest of the series thus far.
   
   I also recommend Jason Rider's Tucker O'Doyle series.



2. I purchased these tapes for my son who can not read very quickly. The other four of my teenager/young adult kids had read the books and really liked them.



3. For people who enjoy reading for the purpose of getting into the story. The books written by David Eddings' are for people who get attached to characters and love to immerse themselves in reading. To me his books are like coming home for a visit.
   
   If you want to read simply to get to the finish line---Eddings is not for you.



4. Magic boy takes control.
   
   
   With grumpy old wizard Belgarath and daughter out of action due to overindulgence in magic keeping everyone in one piece, it is up to Gation to be head mojo maker.
   
   Not only that, but this farm boy seems to have grown up to be a sorcerer and a king (don't injure your eyes rolling them, here).
   
   The whole king thing is maybe not so cool when you find out you have to fight a god, even with a princess with the hots for you and the army she has put together.
   
   
   2 out of 5



5. Here we have the fourth book of David Eddings' Belgariad. This book has many things going for it: action, comedy, romance, and surprise. Guess what it doesn't have? A castle of wizardry.
   
   Maybe I missed it, but I don't recall any such place. There is a castle. And a few folks who know something of sorcery stop by there for a while. But with that logic, they could also call this book: "Boat of Wizardry", "Swamp of Wizardry", or even "Horse of Wizardry". And who wouldn't want to read a book called "Horse of Wizardry"?
   
   Now that I have gotten that out of the way, let's move to the story. The knock on this book is that nothing much happens and thus this installment needlessly delays the climax.
   
   I don't agree. There's not as much action as the other books, but some critical things do happen regarding Garion and Ce'Nedra. Don't look for much from Barak or Mandorallen in this book. They're around but hardly do anything significant. Polgara and Belgarath have plenty to do and their banter is top notch as usual. Silk is more prominent than in past books and we get a brief glimpse into his back-story.
   
   And I was surprised that I enjoyed chapters with Ce'Nedra in it. In previous books, her character was somewhere between annoying and pain-inducingly annoying. In this book, she is more often than not one of the best sources of comedy. I laughed quite a bit.
   
   This is a decent book, but I only give it three stars simply because nothing about this installment is extraordinary. The few twists in the story are fairly predictable, and with little action, the meat of this book is just dialogue. Fortunately for us, this plays to the greatest strength of David Eddings.

5 comments about Magician's Gambit (The Belgariad, Book 3).

1. 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)



2. 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.



3. As a fantasy reader, you can never actually give anything but Lord of the Rings a 5 star. However, the Belgariad comes pretty close! Filled with adventures and wonderful insights into the minds of his character, David Eddings, has really created a world that I can get lost in. This series is one worth owning, one that needs to be read again and again!



4. For people who enjoy reading for the purpose of getting into the story. The books written by David Eddings' are for people who get attached to characters and love to immerse themselves in reading. To me his books are like coming home for a visit.
   
   If you want to read simply to get to the finish line---Eddings is not for you.



5. Necromancer less than Nine.
   
   
   Garion's magical powers are getting stronger, it seems, as he now has the ability to raise the dead. Even if not particularly a useful example when you can only do it to a horse.
   
   They still have orb retrieval issues, as more than one bad guy would be happy to have this handy little trinket.
   
   War, ghosts, shadowcat like stunts, and a good old epic magic duel to end.

5 comments about Enchanters' End Game.

1. It just doesn't get better than David Eddings, the Belgariad and the 5 books that follow called the Mallorean. All are a must read for adults and children alike. I love Harry Potter, but even he takes a back seat to the magic of David Eddings.



2. In Enchanter's Endgame David Eddings draws the Belgariad to a much anticipated conclusion. As the armies of the West invade Mishrak ac Thull to stave off two huge armies of Angaraks, Garion, Belgarath, and Silk jounrney to the heart of Torak's dominions, Cthol Mishrak, City of Darkness. Both the allied armies and Garion's small company will face challenges and a few suprises that the sleeping God Torak has up his sleeve.
   
   Edding's stories are nothing terribly new, but they are fun and witty. This book especially showcased Eddings ability to weave some really fun characters into a familiar fantasy setting while not being cliche. Enjoy!



3. This is a great a really good traditional fantasy series that was my favorite when I first started reading fantasy books. Enchanters' End Game is as good as the others in the series. The books are great for people just starting to read fantasy to see what good traditional fantasy is like. It might seem a little boring for people who have read a lot of fantasy.



4. For people who enjoy reading for the purpose of getting into the story. The books written by David Eddings' are for people who get attached to characters and love to immerse themselves in reading. To me his books are like coming home for a visit.
   
   If you want to read simply to get to the finish line---Eddings is not for you.



5. What's love got to do with turning to the dark side, anyway?
   
   
   Even the god Torak thinks Polgara is a babe it seems, trying to convince her and wizard boy that his ideas are pretty cool.
   
   Needless to say, they disagree, and the heart of the matter will be a giant-sized magic sword fight between Belgarion, our hero, and the dark lord.
   
   Or, this is the end of an archetypal completely light, fluffy, devoid of consequence and disposable fantasy series for younger readers where the major characters are generally clearly stamped with 'not going to be hurt' markers, and all will be good in the end.

5 comments about Queen of Sorcery.

1. I love this series, but I haven't been able to read it for a few years. This brings a whole new experience to the book and I can revisit what I recall from reading it.



2. For people who enjoy reading for the purpose of getting into the story. The books written by David Eddings' are for people who get attached to characters and love to immerse themselves in reading. To me his books are like coming home for a visit.
   
   If you want to read simply to get to the finish line---Eddings is not for you.



3. Once again, Eddings succeeds in boring the reader to tears. Yes, there are new characters, but sadly, they are once again predictable and one dimensional. Book 2 is again a monotonous drawn out journey with the same pompous conversation repeated at each stop. More whining and amazingly predictable perfect timing from the irritating and completely unlikable main character. Even if you had never read another fantasy book, or seen any Hollywood movies, I am sure you would still be able to predict everything in this book. Eddings has the remarkable ability to take small hints and turn them into large cement blocks that he repeatedly bashes you in the head with. Then he expects you to be surprised when he reveals whatever the hint was leading up to. Honestly, he insults the reader.
   
   My only solace in forcing myself through these ghastly reads is that I did not buy the books.



4. Orb chase.
   
   
   A knight, an archer, a telepathic horse whisperer, a bratty princess, a couple of grumpy sorcerers, and, of course, the farm boy with super powers.
   
   A-questing they will go. For many books to come, it seems.
   
   Very light fantasy still.



5. I read these books as a kid so I will always love them. The guy who reads the books I tollerated because I really wanted to listen to the story, but he took some getting used to.

5 comments about King of the Murgos.

1. Having started out this series with several attempted (and successful) murders and a kidnapping it's no surprise that Eddings quickly starts Belgarion and his friends out on another extended quest - once again to confront the child of the dark and reunite the prophecies. This time is supposed to be the 'last' time though and whoever wins, it is forever. Eddings uses more of a puzzle format for the Mallorean, though. Belgarion, Belgarath and the rest of the group are seeking a place that 'is no more,' and their clues are buried in ancient books of prophecy and legends. That and a sparse handful of hints from Cyradis, Seeress of Kell.
   
   It should be no surprise that an early stop is Nyissa where betrayal is standard operating procedure. Zandramas, the kidnapper of Belgarion and C'Nedra's son, was traveling in the company of Nyissan diplomats, and Polgara want to find out why. In clearing that up Sadi, once Salmonissra's chief eunich, joins the group and they are off the the next stop, the land of the Murgos, where they are due for a meeting with Urgit, the Murgo king.
   
   What you expect is a repeat of the original confrontation with Urgit's father, the mad king Taur Urgas. What you get is Urgit, mild tempered, and sick to death of the pomp and ritual of kingship. Urgit isn't precisely a weak king, but he is caught between Grolim disciples and a Mallorean king determined to wipe his whole family out in revenge for past insults. Urgit wants to be king of a nice, quiet kingdom, and nobody will give hime the change.
   
   Eddings, I've realized, is weak in character development (Belgarion is the only one who changes, and even he grinds to a halt. What the author does instead is introduce characters to the narrative who a complex enough to fill narrative space pleasantly. Thus Sadi and Urgit are both interesting characters in turn, but gradually, they each settle into a predictable pattern. At which point other characters move onto the stage. Between puzzles, new characters, and a certain amount of action, the plot moves forward enjoyably, even if it never plumbs great depths.



2. Flawed though they may be, this continuation of the ten volume saga is a fun read for Eddings fans. This is the second to the last in "The Malloreon" and takes our friends through previously covered ground and into new. While the character developement is rather stinted, Eddings never-the-less packs a lot of action into each chapter the the story keep moving at a nice brisk pace. There are a couple of nice, predictable twists and some not so predictable. All in all, Eddings fans will enjoy the work. Those who are not fans probably won't. Either way, if you have read this far into the series, why stop now? All in all, recommend.



3. That's exactly what this book is: full of surprises. Searching for his and Ce'Nedra's son, (Bel)Garion and the people travelling with him find themselves in Cthol Murgos.
   The story has some very funny twists and turns that you could never expect. It had me laughing at points, some of it was so funny. Don't mistake me, the book has some very serious and sad parts, but when...I'm not telling you. It would ruin the surprise. You'll have to find out yourself.
   But I'll warn you, Garion meets some very odd people while travelling. He ends up having friends in the oddest places, literally. So if you like a book with a completely new story line, you should read this one. I'm sure you'll like it.



4. This book bring in the focus of the conflict of the East and West. Some of the secerts that come out will be very usefull
   in finding the answers that our party is looking for.



5. For people who enjoy reading for the purpose of getting into the story. The books written by David Eddings' are for people who get attached to characters and love to immerse themselves in reading. To me his books are like coming home for a visit.
   
   If you want to read simply to get to the finish line---Eddings is not for you.

5 comments about The Seeress of Kell.

1. 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.



2. 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.



3. I just thought this ending was so bad. But, hey, at least it did end ! So, I give him credit for that. There was just no final battle. I really wanted a battle. I agree that the lack of "choice" in the characters made it a little borring. Still liked it, but just not there.



4. I too could not wait for this climax. So much buildup for this final conflict to decide the fate of the universe, and it fizzled. I know my expectations were unreasonable but they were set by Mr. Eddings and the let down was no fun. I wish I hadn't started the series.



5. For people who enjoy reading for the purpose of getting into the story. The books written by David Eddings' are for people who get attached to characters and love to immerse themselves in reading. To me his books are like coming home for a visit.
   
   If you want to read simply to get to the finish line---Eddings is not for you.

5 comments about Demon Lord of Karanda.

1. David Edding is a wonderful fantasy/advnture writer. The depth of his characters and his intertwined plots makes all of his books hard to put down. This series of books was one of the best yet from David Eddings. I am looking forward to see where he can lead us to next.



2. The Malloreon continues with this third volume. Again, it is simply a fun read, flawed though it may be. This and "The Belgriad" are of course linked and "The Maloreon" is simply a continuation. The story twists and turns. There are new characters added and the story moves on at a nice pace. Like the rest of this author's work, you either like it or you don't. To each his own. I personally enjoy the series and have read it several times. These are the type of books I read for pure relaxation and they fill the bill completely for me. If you are an Eddings fan, then I highly recommend. If you are not..hey, you have read this far and might as well finish the series anyway. Enjoy!



3. I've found this simply added to the other books in the Belgariad and the Malloreon.



4. I like David Eddings anyway, so the second half of the Belgariad was a must read for me. You join all your favorite characters from the Belgariad on a second meeting of the Child of Light and the Child of Dark. This time it will be the last meeting. If you like fantasy, this is a great read. Check out Eddings other books too.



5. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters, while not as complex as I would have wanted, are fun. By this point (after reading Belgariad and the first 2 books of the Mallorean)you know all the characters well and can sit back and enjoy the dialogue. That, to me, is what this is all about. The characters don't get very much closer to the end of their epic fantasy quest, but who cares? This book is not so much plot-driven as character driven. I love the character of (Kal) Zakath, and have always liked Belgarath, Polgara, Silk, and especially Beldin. As another reviewer said, reading this is like spending time with friends. You enjoy the wit, and don't really worry about exactly what is going on.

5 comments about Guardians of the West.

1. This book is absolutely amazing! I would have to give it a five star rating (and that's rare). You keep the old characters, the old beginning, the old story, but you get a new destiny, a new destination, a new prophecy. You get to see people who you never saw in The Belgariad. You get to meat new characters that weren't in previous books. This book tells you a bit about Errand, and explains his thoughts and way of thinking. You'd be amazed how he thinks about things.
   In the Belgariad, you had a prophecy. Either dark would triumph, of light would. Then they all thought it was over. But it wasn't. Light had won, but it had not triumphed. So now they need to find the Child of Dark, so (Bel)Garion, the Child of Light, can fight him. The prophecy said so.
   In the Belgariad, Garion fought against Torak, one of the Gods. Torak was the Child of Dark. Now Zandramas is the Child of Dark, and Garion is going to have to fight him. But first he'll have to find him.
   This time Garion has some idea of what he is supposed to do, but that isn't exactly helpful when some attempts to murder his wife, Ce'Nedra, when his son is kidnapped, or when he finds out that one of his companions will die on his journey.
   I definitely recommend this book to fantasy lovers who don't like being over-loaded. I know that I loved this book and story from the moment I first opened it.



2. When Garion finds that his son was abducted, he was in a rage. He just solved his marriage problems but he now has to deal with another. Will he get his son back? Or will he have to wait? Read the series to find out. I would recommend the book to teenage fantasy lovers.
   
   The first reason I would recommend this book is for its magical and mythical world. People can turn into animals. Not only that, they can cast very powerful spells and talk to animals. There are many different magical races. Each race have their own unique qualities.
   
   The second reason I would recommend this book is for the different races and different lands. For example, Urgo's live in caves and their eyes are sensible to the sun. Another example is the Disciples of the God's. Each Disciple of Aldur has a tower but disciples of Torak get picked off one by one because they are descendants of an evil god.
   
   The final reason I would recommend this book is because it has unique and cool names for people. One example of a unique name is Belgarath. Each name suits its character very well. They also tell you what they are. For example, Belgarion is a name fit for a king, and guess what, it is.
   
   All teenage fantasy lovers will greatly enjoy this book. With each and every chapter, you get further interested and it gets harder to put the book down. I would also strongly recommend the rest of this wonderful series. Not only is this a series, it is a series in a series. These books keep their readers interested and faithful.
   
   N. Koester



3. I have found that you can't go wrong, when you read David
   Ennings. I was caught up in the story from page 1. I just could not put it down, and when I finished I could not wait too read
   the next book.



4. Possible spoilers ahead
   
   This book (and series) is the center of a lot of controversy among fantasy fans. The main issue hinges on whether this is a new and fresh series or if it's repetitious drek. The answer to this daunting question is... yes.
   
   The problem here is that most people (I feel) don't get what Edding was trying to do here. In my reviews for the Belgariad books I said that these books resemble nothing so much as a fantasy Sitcom, or if not a sitcom, at least some kind of serialized TV. If you've ever watched a TV program in your life you will realize that ideas are recycled constantly, that's one of the reasons I picked a sitcom to compare it to. The fun comes not out of the plot but the characters' reactions to the plot and character is what Eddings does best.
   
   Furthermore, Eddings made way for a second series in the Belgariad's last book by giving us ample signs. We met 'Zakath for the first time in the last quarter of the book for instance. There were also tantalizing hints as to Errand's identity. Enchanter's Endgame was clearly not meant to be the end of the story.
   
   As to the repetition of ideas and settings and such, it should be said that even the characters are aware of the cyclical universe they are in more than (or just as much as) the reader is. They begin a conversation in this book that lasts through the whole series about things repeating. This awareness on the part of the characters adds a layer of what might be called metafiction, Not too much of course, this isn't Dhalgren or anything, but it's interesting that it's there.
   
   As an individual book Guardians of the West has been criticised for its slow pacing. Those that close this book for that reason are missing out on an interesting concept. Think about this: We have Garion, the Godslayer, Lord of the West and all around megahero. We have followed him from birth to the killing of a god. Then we just leave him there.
   
   I like the fact that we get to see this world in a state that we see very few fantasy worlds in: Peace. We get to see how the kingdom runs when there isn't a universe-ending crisis happening. This aspect of the novel hit me when my 10 year old cousin asked me what Darth Vader and the Emperor did in their spare time. I didn't even know how to answer that. That made me start thinking about whether fantasy worlds could actually function as a society during peace time or just fall apart. Now there IS a threat about in the land but it takes several years to manifest so we get a chance to stretch our legs a bit.
   
   There is also the matter of Errand, he's going to become very important so we have to spend time with him and get to know him since, ut until now, hs's only said the word "Errand". While Errand is living with Polgara and Durnik in the vale Eddings gets to write more on one of his favorite themes which is family.
   
   In short, read this book when you have time to take a book in at a leisurely pace. I will say that there's a bit too much Polgara and a bit too much C'Nedra in this book. I've said before that Eddings has trouble writing female characters and it stands out in this book a bit more than usual but that's my only criticism of the book.
   
   Enjoy



5. For people who enjoy reading for the purpose of getting into the story. The books written by David Eddings' are for people who get attached to characters and love to immerse themselves in reading. To me his books are like coming home for a visit.
   
   If you want to read simply to get to the finish line---Eddings is not for you.

5 comments about Sorceress of Darshiva.

1. When I was given this book for my Fantasy Literature class I had no idea what I was getting into. Here I was geared up for another exciting reading adventure, I had my game face on, the thinking cap was in place, blast-off in 3, 2, 1-- Oh no! it looks like Eddings took a crap right in the engine. Honestly, it really represented something like taking candy from a stranger in a car: the initial sensation was exciting, but the following events left me scarred for life.
   
   Maybe I had just been spoiled by the wonderful worlds of Tolkein and Le Guinn, but it just seemed to me that Eddings has made it so I'll never be able to completely trust a fantasy author again. All the dialogue in his book just serves to reveal the crazy little quirks about the characters, and at the same time, makes you want to jump in a volcano. The quirks aren't crazy, and the characters are not interesting! Moreover, every woman in the novel is either a. making a snide comment, b. being angry, or c. being cute. That's it folks, nothing else, according to Eddings women have no depth at all; and the really scary part is that Eddings' wife helps him with his writing. Well, atleast from this book I was able to discover something revealing and inciteful from the story, right? Well yes, actually. First, that evil people are generally bad, and good people tend to fight bad people (however, the heroes are so stupid I wish they would just die); and secondly, and most imortantly, when anybody comes and offers you some tempting David Eddings fantasy literature, JUST SAY NO!



2. [wry smile] By this point you are either an Eddings fan or you aren't. I like him because of the things that often irritate other readers. He doesn't create continuous flows of action, but uses a picaresque style that leads the reader back and forth across a continent on a quest that is going to take exactly as long as it is supposed to, no matter how you feel about it. Edding's solution to writing a series that covers a nine month effort is to make it feel like it has been nine months. If you don't like a perpetual stream of distractions you aren't going to like this book.
   
   This time the questers are following Zandramas through Melcena. With and without Zakath, harried by demons and grolim, and generally perplexed by the mystery of finding a place that 'is no more.' This book rises and falls on the banter between the characters as they alternatively criticize themselves and the people around them. There are plenty of moments of humor and a few plot twists, but, like the third volume of the Belgariad, this is where the story bogs down.
   
   My theory is that Eddings always overwrites by one full volume. He loves quests and he wrings every detail out of them. It is only when he realizes that his characters have begun to parody themselves that he changes pace and finally heads for a conclusion. This is an admitted flaw in a writer whose imagination I generally appreciate. Parts of what he has done have extended the epic genre, and his decision to use approachable and even weak characters has made fantasy more appealing to those of use who are put off by flowery language.
   
   If you've gotten here, you have read eight full volumes of the author's work. You are considering to reading the ninth, and I promise you that nothing much is going to change. If you like Eddings you will have fun reading that, if not, you won't. But if you don't read it, you will miss Ziss's pregnancy and Vella's teasing.



3. I am surprised that there are still so many complaints about repetition and and slow plot by the fourth book, if you dislike this kind of writing you might have stopped at the second or third.
   Eddings makes it very clear in the beginning exactly how long the quest is going to be, how many characters will die, and even whether or not the heroes will succeed (at least in reaching their destination). I've never seen another author manage to do that and still keep a grip on his readers.
   There is definitely a sense of humour in how he lets things happen over and over again in opportune moments. Even those who complain about the repetition probably haven't noticed half the things in the book that ties back and forth and even across to other series. Noting some of these is really quite fun.
   Thirdly, this is obviously not a book about gory battles of demons and clashing armies. All of us enjoy those books at times, but we also need something to read under lamplight just before sleep. Eddings usually keeps me awake for hours.
   If there is one complaint I have to make, it is that Eddings needs to work on his olde English, it's not very convincing.



4. For people who enjoy reading for the purpose of getting into the story. The books written by David Eddings' are for people who get attached to characters and love to immerse themselves in reading.
   
   If you want to read simply to get to the finish line---Eddings is not for you.



5. As you can readily see by the reviews posted here, there are two camps; those that absolutely cannot stand Eddings and this series, and those that love it. Now I am one of those that love this series, but possibly for different reasons than some. Yes, I admit that I have read literally hundreds upon hundreds of books in this genre and, others that, that were and are much better. No doubt about it. These are not literary masterpieces. That being said, I have to admit to having read them over and over again. For me, these books are what I call my "comfort" books. I can mindlessly read them, enjoy them, and almost always have one in the process being read constantly. I read a lot of history, biographies, etc. Some of these books are a pain and a strain to get through, even though I love reading them. I am one of those individuals that have anywhere from five to ten books going at any given time. These books by Eddings give me a break, clear my mind, and to be quite frank, tickle me.
   
   Now if you have gotten this far in the series, you only have one book to go after this one, so you might as well suck it up and finish them off. This entire fantasy epic started with Book One: Pawn of Prophecy and went through five books in The Belgriad. You think you are finished at this point, but no....now you have The Malloreon to read through, another five books (this book being reviewed is the next to the last in The Malloreon). There are ten in all. Again, to be honest, other than the very first book of The Belgariad, none of these books has the ability to stand alone. It is almost impossible to understand the story unless you start from the beginning. That is the nature of selling a book series and making some money out of them (reference the Wheel of Time series.)
   
   This particular work, Sorceress of Darshiva, takes our band characters (somewhat reduced from the first series) on their continuing quest to find the Place Which Is No More and their ultimate battle with the Child of Dark, Zandramas. To be honest, this book is absolutely no different than the previous books. It is quite predictable, same characters appear and reappear and the same banter takes place between the various members of the quest. I will say that this particular book, the one being reviewed here, the second series, as a whole, certainly has it's share of "fillers." This book ends, and.....well, I will let you read that for yourself.
   
   Do not short change David Eddings and his wife, who was actually the coauthor of this and previous works, though. The author has done a pretty good job of creating a complete different world, based of course, on past civilizations in our own world. The society they build and world they create is full of Gods, Wizards, monsters and truly strange folks. There is plenty of magic, plenty of mild action (nothing too descriptive or bloody) and the story moves along quite nicely. (Sorry folks, no sex in these books although there is plenty of flirting). Eddings was one of the first in this genre to actually give women a leading role and made many of these women quite powerful. He also made most of his characters dumb as a fence posts at times, including all the leading characters. This is sort of refreshing. My wife, children and grandsons tease me about one of my habits which I indulge in while reading this series. I check it for errors. Not just nuts and bolts errors such as typos, but errors in plot, contradictions, impossibilities in the story line, etc. I actually cross reference these errors in my "about to fall apart" set of books. So far I have identified 233 of these errors and have conscientiously noted them and cross referenced them. This is a fun game within itself. No, I don't need a life, it is no worse than working a cross word or other such game. Sort of compulsive behavior disorder working here,I admit, but hey, we all have our little problems.
   
   Recommend you read the first book in the series. If you like it, push on. If you don't like it, dump it and go on to something different as there are just too many good books out there and life is far too short to read something you do not like and enjoy.

5 comments about Pawn of Prophecy.

1. For people who enjoy reading for the purpose of getting into the story. The books written by David Eddings' are for people who get attached to characters and love to immerse themselves in reading. To me his books are like coming home for a visit.
   
   If you want to read simply to get to the finish line---Eddings is not for you.



2. I honestly do not even remotely understand the appeal of this book. Everything is totally predictable and the characters are one dimensional and incredibly uninteresting. Not to mention, nothing actually happens in this book - and I mean NOTHING. The entire book is a slow meandering journey which only stops for long repetitive dialogues that do absolutely nothing but take up space. The main character is not only purposely kept in the dark, but Eddings view of women in general is extremely degrading and condescending.
   
   I read this book on the recommendation of a friend. Luckily they are short and easily forgotten.



3. The book is definately worth 5 stars, but this audiobook is barely worth 1. The narrator has a dull, monotone voice, very hard to listen to, and the CD won't work in ordinary CD players, and only worked when played on a PC, which since I wanted to listen to it in bed and in the car was rather useless.



4. I read this series as a kid and really enjoyed it. I still like it as an adult. The guy who reads the books takes a little getting used too and even then hes no Jim Dale.



5. I had first been introduced to the Belgariad Series when i was about 13 years old, around the same time that the books had just come out. I remember vividly because i was able to buy the first 4 books then had to wait almost a year to get the last in the series.
   
   It was the first fantasy series that I can recall reading, even though i had watched the Lord of the Rings Trilogy as a cartoon.
   
   I distinctly recall being totally enthralled by the books. In fact, as a former "special ed" student, i can defintely say that if it wasnt for "Babysitter's Club" and "Belgariad" I wouldnt have gotten into reading that much.
   
   I became an avid David Eddings supporter, and eventually bought all of his books (gave away High Hunt, and The Losers though, werent worth keeping).
   
   That being said, since I was introduced to the books as an impressionable adolescent, I may tend to have a more romanticised view of the series.
   
   Now having read a few more series in the same area, I must admit that the story line is a little bit predictable, and the characters are sometimes either all one dimensional or all very witty.
   
   Despite all of that however, the books are still enjoyable. They are not so far "into the dark side" that you cant let your younger audience read it (and i think the younger audience is who it is aimed at anyway).
   
   I have read the series at least twice a year for the last 16 years, i skip to my favourite parts, i read it cover to cover, whatever makes me happy.
   
   I know that there will be several who will not like the books, but then, there is enjoyment there for more to come.