5 comments about Enchanters' End Game.

1. 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!



2. 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.



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. 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. This is the fifth and final book in the Belgariad (after Pawn of Prophecy, Queen of Sorcery, Magician's Gambit and Castle of Wizardry).
   
   In this volume, Garion, accompanied by Silk and Belgarath, makes his way through Drasnia and Gar Og Nadrak, and finally crosses the Sea of the East to Mallorea. There in Cthol Mishrak, the evil god Torak is stirring from his endless sleep and waiting for their prophesied battle, the outcome of which will decide the fate of the world.
   
   Meanwhile, Ce'Nedra, self-proclaimed Queen of Riva in Garion's absence, is travelling across Arendia and Tolnedra, raising an army with her speeches. Although it breaks her heart to know that it will be badly outnumbered and that it won't stand a chance against the hordes of Thulls, Murgos and Malloreans, she knows this is a necessary sacrifice to create the diversion Garion needs to reach Mallorea.
   
   The part I preferred in this final volume is when Ce'Nedra's army is encamped in Algaria. There Durnik and the Alorn Kings engineer clever contraptions to carry King Anheg's fleet up the mile-high Eastern Escarpment. I also enjoyed reading about the battle of Thull Mardu, where all plans start to go awry, not to mention the final encounter between Garion and Torak, where all the pieces of the Prophecy click into place. All in all, a pleasant, if not tremendously mind-boggling, conclusion to the series. On to the Malloreon now!

5 comments about Castle of Wizardry.

1. 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



2. 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.



3. Once again I wish for a "half-star" rating, as this deserves a 3 1/2. I love the series, but this was the weakest of the five books in my opinion. There were interesting parts, and the dialogue, the sense of humor and even some of the twists and events are really enjoyable. I like the interaction between the kings as well, which is quite interesting.
   
   I will say that if there were an area of criticism for Eddings it is in the lack of variety of some of the people. I have heard others call it his "Star-Trek Worldbuilding". All Alorns are "this way" all Mimbrates are "this way". A little more depth in this area would have made this a masterful series and book.
   
   Even without it though this is a series that should not be missed.



4. This is the fourth book in the Belgariad (after Pawn of Prophecy, Queen of Sorcery and Magician's Gambit, and before Enchanter's End Game).
   
   After Ctuchik accidentally destroyed himself in Rak Cthol, the rock pinnacle upon which the city is built has started crumbling on itself and our heroes have to flee through the caves, taking the small boy Errand and the Marag slave woman Taiba with them.
   
   Back on solid ground, they make for Algaria where Hettar is waiting with reinforcements. For that they have to cross the Eastern Escarpment, go down its deep ravines, and the entire Murgo nation is now pursuing them. After his ordeal in Rak Cthol, and protecting his crew from rocks thrown at them for several days, Belgarath collapses.
   
   Yet there is no time to lose, as all protagonists must now converge to the island of Riva, to be there before Erastide in order to fulfill the Prophecy. There both Garion and Ce'Nedra will finally understand their role and embrace their heritage.
   
   But when Garion touches the Orb, the slumbering evil god Torak awakes, and the Prophecy says that Garion is the only one who can confront him, alone. He has no choice but to secretly leave, with just Silk and a recovering Belgarath as company. Meanwhile, Ce' Nedra eavesdrops on the Alorn Kings' discussions and realizes she's the only one who can unite the armies of the West in the oncoming war with the invading Angaraks.
   
   There isn't much to say about this volume which would differ from the previous ones, but it was nice to see some loose ends finally tied up. I enjoyed the flight through the caves of Rak Cthol and the meeting in boggy Sendaria with Vordai and her cute otter-like creatures, the Fenlings. I am now looking forward to reading what lies in store for Garion in the final volume, and also to seeing which hints will be dropped about the sequel, the Malloreon.



5. The first half of the book promised to be the best in the series so far, but once they reached the mysterious orb, the book seemed to climax and then meander to the end. (Which by the way, was hardly an end, but more a chapter break.) This time out it's really Garion's story for the first half, and Ce'Nedra's for the second, and as interesting as she's become, the politics and posturing to set up the final act dragged me down a bit. Hopefully the last book will finish with a bang and not a whimper.

5 comments about Sorceress of Darshiva.

1. [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.



2. 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.



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.
   
   If you want to read simply to get to the finish line---Eddings is not for you.



4. 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. This is the fourth book in the Malloreon (after Guardians of the West and King of the Murgos, and Demon Lord of Karanda, and Seeress of Kell).
   
   In this volume our companions keep heading further East, as far as the island of Melcene, and start heading towards Kell where should be revealed the location of the Place Which Is No More.
   
   Too few things of note happen in this volume. Our heroes are still tailing Zandramas and dodging various conflicts taking place around Mallorea (between Urvon's Karand army, Zandramas's Darshivans, their demons, Dals, Gandahar and their war elephants...). A couple of passages were enjoyable though: in the University of Melcene when Garion and company meet Senji, a clubfooted alchemist and untrained sorcerer who tells them more about the Sardion, and when the party is finally caught up by Zakath, the emperor of Mallorea, whom they gave the slip in the previous book.

5 comments about The Seeress of Kell.

1. 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.



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. This is the fifth and final book in the Malloreon (after Guardians of the West, King of the Murgos, Demon Lord of Karanda and Sorceress of Darshiva).
   
   In this volume, the heroes first make their way to Kell and the place of the Seers to learn the location of the Place Which Is No More, where the final meeting between Garion and Zandramas must take place.
   
   They then sail to the Island of Perivor and its very Arendish society, and finally to the Turim Reef in the middle of the Sea of the East.
   
   I found this final volume rather anticlimactic. Even though Zandramas does everything to hinder Garion and his friends, trying to prevent them from reaching the appointed place at the appointed time, I knew (and not only because I've already read these books) that the Prophecy that's been dictating their lives and the destiny of the world for eons would get them there eventually, so I wasn't even worried about the outcome. The final chapters were a little too mushy for my liking too.



4. that sums up the whole Malloreon series - cheap.
   The battles are cheap - the good guys ALWAYS win and come through unscathed. I didn't really see the point after the 27th time they slaughter a party of ______ that is three times their number.
   
   The plot is cheap - "Let's go on a quest to rescue the kidnapped baby!".
   
   The dialogue is cheap (don't know if it is the author's fault or the editor's)- the sarcasm and recycled conversations got old REAL quick. I lost count of how many times it read:
   1. Would I do that?
   2. I really need to talk to ____ about _____.
   3. Why, thank you! _____said while making a mocking bow.
   4. _____ sighed and rolled his/her eyes towards the sky.
   5. I knew you would see it my way.
   6. If I use sorcery now, every Grolim from miles around will hear us.
   
   The author obviously disdains organized religion and has some nice messages about family.
   
   I read all the books because I had to find out what happened at the end. I kept hoping for something fresh to pop out of the pages, but the staleness stayed.
   
   One of the characters has to die near the end. It didn't take me long to begin thinking, "Just one?!". I disdain most of the 'heroes' so much that I would have been very happy if Garion's wenchy wife Cenedra, Silk, Sadi, Velvet, Beldin, and even Belgarath were to all kick the bucket.
   
   Do not buy these books. Be cheap like me and check them out from the library if you feel you must read them. I'm done with Eddings.



5. I am very pleased with my purchase. My book was delivered in good time and was in good condition. I have no complaints at all.

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

1. This transaction went very smoothly and was completed in a timely fashion. I would certainly do business with this company again!



2. Well, yet another book in the series down, and this one is by far the best one yet. Good action, the outstanding dialogue continues, there's a lot that is, as far as I'm concerned, fairly original and unique that he presents us with here. Although he's not my favorite character I absolutely love the abilities and the characterization of Relg. And what a cliff-hanger of an ending. Great book, great series.



3. This is the third book in the Belgariad (after Pawn of Prophecy and Queen of Sorcery, and before Castle of Wizardry and Enchanter's End Game).
   
   In this volume we follow our heroes as they try to catch up with the Grolim Ctuchik, who's bringing the Orb to Torak, while Garion learns more about his powers and about the dry voice in his head.
   
   They start by going through Maragor and meeting the mourning, inconsolable god Mara whose people became extinct following a Tolnedran gold rush. They are then summoned to the Vale of Aldur, where Belgarath grew up and became a sorcerer. There Garion visits his grandfather's tower and is taught how to use the magic. The party then makes for Ulgoland and its troglodyte people. They are joined by the zealot priest Relg, who has the ability to find secret underground passageways and can travel through solid rock. He will help them penetrate the Murgo capital of Rak Cthol, where Ctuchik awaits their arrival.
   
   What I enjoyed in this volume was watching Ce'Nedra becoming more and more infatuated with Garion, but also and mostly the variety of landscapes visited by the protagonists: the haunted land of Maragor and its terrifying ghosts, the peaceful and bucolic Vale of Aldur, the snowy peaks and claustrophobic caverns of Ulgoland, and the black sands of the Wasteland of Murgos.
   
   The monsters that are naturally sprinkled along the way are a little dangerouser and tougher than in the previous volumes, and Silk even gets captured, but thanks to the group's assortment of strengths, they always manage to come out unscathed.
   
   Again, this is a light and fast read, but very pleasant as well.



4. It's fine. I'm still feeling a bit like this was one large book that was broken into five separate ones. That said I felt a bit that this installment became a bit repetitive. I mean how many mountain passes can these characters go through? Still, my interest is still peaked to see how the series will turn out.



5. I found this to be even worse than the first book, as far as unrealistic human behavior goes. I understand it's fiction, with characters inhabiting another universe, but if they don't behave like real human beings, I might as well be reading Science Fiction, not fantasy.
   
   I read this after being recommended the series, and found this, the third one, the worst so far. There are some interesting aspects that have been added, such as the Ulgos, but I kept finding myself getting angry with the way everyone behaves.
   
   *** Spoiler Warning ***
   
   The worst example of this unbelievable characterization is when the main bad guy in the story, a sorcerer who is thousands of years old, breaks the single greatest law of magic, destroying himself in the process. I mean, come on! The guy would know better than that. As soon as he casts the ill-fated spell, he immediately says "No, wait! I didn't mean that!". Duh. Very disappointing.
   
   Anyway, some of the events of the story kept me reading, but if the next book doesn't have some kind of turnaround, I'm done with the series, and maybe the author.

5 comments about Pawn of Prophecy.

1. I am very happy with this purchase. The book was in great condition and arrived on the day expected. It is a book that I couldn't find anywhere else and the other one I had was falling apart so it is great to be able to get replacement books for some of my favorite reading.



2. I first pickup Eddings' book Guardians of the West while waiting at the public library for my children to make their selections. As I read I realized that there were books in the series before said title. I just didn't realize there were five. When the Librarian informed me of the five preceding books I checked out the Pawn of Prophecy. I was fascinated to find a book written that takes the reader from the hero's days as a toddler all the way through to adulthood. David and Leigh weave a masterful story with characters rich in personality, foibles, weaknesses and strengths. The humor woven into the stories and characters makes one keep turning the pages to see what's next. When I finished nine of the books I waited with the rest of the Fantasy Fiction community t read the Seeress of Kell. It was worth the wait. While there are many opening sentences in books that capture ones attention. The opening one in the Seeress of Kell is among my favorite.
   "The air was thin and cool and richly scented with the odor of trees that shed no leaves but stood dark green and resinous from one end of their lives to the other."
   The series has continued to entertain me over the years and now my children are reading them and finding the stories just as much fun.
   
   Richard Draude
   Author:
   The Adam Eradication



3. I was recommended the Belgariad series, and jumped right in, reading the first four books one right after the other. I have to say that they don't seem to be getting any better. I kept reading, waiting for something spectacular to happen, but nothing seems to.
   
   *** Spoiler Warning ***
   
   First off, the characters are not realistic at all. Garion, the young farmboy and main character of the story constantly has situations like, "I'm sorry Aunt Pol, I should have told you that this dark-hooded figure has been following me around since I was a toddler. Should I have said something?". There are other times where I kept saying, "Jeez if this was me, and they kept telling me to stop asking why we keep killing people." I'd have threatened to leave, or just run away. But no, Garion is not like a real human being. No real teenager would watch his Aunt (who was a cook at the manor house) perform feats of incredible magic, and not ask a bunch of questions, or let it drop when she says, "Not now dear, go to bed." Hello, McFly (knocks on forehead), is anybody home?
   
   The idea of the story is good, but the characters and execution of it leave it at three stars for me.



4. The book was torn up all across the bottom back. Listed as "good condition" but NOT. DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS SELLER - EVER.



5. This is the first book that I seriously read as an adolescent. At the time, I absolutely loved the series. I re-read it several times and it lead me into reading books quite often, especially in the fantasy genre. I very much recommend it to any parents looking to get something for their kids to read if they're finally sick of re-reading Harry Potter.
   
   For adults, it is a decent read though a bit cliche. Young farm boy grows up to learn he is the chosen one (referred to by Eddings as the Child of Light) and also a king who must face and defeat the evil god Torak. If you've run out of things to read and want something light, then by all means, read this series and the follow-up, the Mallorean. I personally can no longer read the series anymore, as I know the story too well and having grown up since falling in love with it and having read many, many other fantasy novels, have come to realize its not so great. But, it is decent.

5 comments about Guardians of the West.

1. 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



2. 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.



3. 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



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. This is the first book in the Malloreon (before King of the Murgos, Demon Lord of Karanda, Sorceress of Darshiva, and Seeress of Kell).
   
   In this volume we first follow Errand, Polgara and Durnik as they settle for a quiet life in the Vale of Aldur, doing up Poledra's cottage, Errand growing up and playing in the river, until they get news from Riva that Garion and Ce'Nedra barely speak to each other anymore. This can't go on, so they travel to the Isle of the Wind to put an end to the King and Queen of the West's squabble.
   
   One evening, the Orb glows red instead of blue. The Voice of the Prophecy warns Errand and Garion to "Beware Zandramas!", and that there'll be yet another meeting between the Childs of Light and Dark. Garion needs to start looking for explanations and answers in the codices.
   
   Meanwhile, the Alorns are getting impatient for an heir to the Rivan throne. With the help of her Dryad cousins, at long last Ce'Nedra becomes pregnant. But this baby is also a threat to some people's ambitions, and Geran soon becomes the target of numerous attacks.
   
   I found the beginning of this second pentalogy, with its drawn-out accounts of day-to-day life in both the Vale and Riva, rather tedious and slow to get going. In contrast, the end comprises so many rash, inordinate assaults all over the place and so many twists, that instead of relishing some long-awaited action, I was overwhelmed by it and lost interest. The last chapters thankfully heralded the real outset of Garion and his companions' new quest, let's hope it gets more read-worthy, and more focused.

5 comments about King of the Murgos.

1. 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.



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. I am very happy with this purchase. The book was in great condition and arrived on the day expected. It is a book that I couldn't find anywhere else and the other one I had was falling apart so it is great to be able to get replacement books for some of my favorite reading.



4. This is the second book in the Malloreon (after Guardians of the West, and before Demon Lord of Karanda, Sorceress of Darshiva, and Seeress of Kell).
   
   In this volume we follow Garion and Ce'Nedra as they pursue Zandramas, who abducted their infant son Geran, heir to the throne of Riva, and follow the prophecy announcing yet another meeting between the Child of Light and the Child of Dark.
   
   Accompanied by Belgarath and his daughter Polgara, Silk and Velvet the spies, Durnik the smith, the giant mute Toth, and Sadi the eunuch, their route leads from Ulgoland to Tolnedra, then through the Wood of the Dryads into the swamps of Nyissa, and finally across the kingdom of the Murgos to the Isle of Verkat.
   
   Even though I was glad to see our companions hitting the road again after the tiresome first volume, the account of their adventures gave me a strong sense of déjà vu. Thankfully, mid-book, the story picked up again as they started exploring new territories. I particularly enjoyed the meeting with the Murgo king Urgit and his court. I hope we meet this interesting character again in the future.



5. Book was recieved in a timely manner, and was everything that it was supposed to be: a first edition hardback in great shape. Thank you.

5 comments about Queen of Sorcery.

1. This is the second book in the Belgariad (after Pawn of Prophecy, and before Magician's Gambit, Castle of Wizardry, and Enchanter's End Game).
   
   Leaving Cherek after the council of Alorn kings, Belgarath, Polgaria, Garion and their companions set off in pursuit of Zedar the Apostate, who stole the Orb of Aldur to bring it to the evil god Torak.
   
   Following the corrupt disciple's trail will bring them across Arendia, then Tolnedra and finally to Nyissa via the Wood of the Dryads. They will meet new companions along the way: Lelldorin the rash Arendish archer, Mandorallen the bold Arendish knight, and Ce' Nedra the spoilt red-haired Tolnedran princess.
   
   All the while, various enemies such as Murgos, Grolim priests and assorted monsters make their best to hinder their progression, but thanks to Polgara's, Belgarath's, and eventually Garion's powers, those are usually quickly brushed aside with the flick of a hand.
   
   After the exciting reunion with a world I had enjoyed 11 years ago, while reading this second volume I finally realized how annoyingly stereotyped some of the characters are and how repetitive the plot is: move to a new kingdom - meet new allies - encounter baddies - fight - win - move on to the next kingdom - ... while Garion wonders about his past and reluctantly discovers his abilities. However, these books manage to stay entertaining, thanks to some of the characters' traits intended for comic relief, such as Silk's knavery or Ce'Nedra's willfulness. All in all they're not that bad.



2. I had a rough time getting into this--didn't care overmuch about the characters, too many names introduced in too short a period to distinguish them, contradictions (though, to be fair, the contradiction that bothered me most--saying magic was too exhausting to use casually, and then proceeding to do just that--appears to have been deliberate).
   
   The repeated ploy of the main character asking for clarification only to be told it was none of his business, or something he didn't need to know got very, very tedious. Which could also have been deliberate, to show how frustrated he was getting, but the only way you can do that without irritating the readers as well is to let the reader in on some of the secrets. Instead, it just looked like the author didn't know the answers either.
   
   The last third of the book went a little faster, but I read this over 4 days. Unheard-of for me, particularly for a book that was only 300+ pages. It was just too easy to put down, and I was never really interested in picking it up again.



3. I am very happy with this purchase. The book was in great condition and arrived on the day expected. It is a book that I couldn't find anywhere else and the other one I had was falling apart so it is great to be able to get replacement books for some of my favorite reading.



4. More of his ultimate destiny is revealed as Garion under the protection of his Aunt Pol begins to grapple with the extraordinary powers that are at his beck and call. Filled with action and political intrigue, Wolf and Pol struggle desperately to stop the Orb of Aldur from reaching the wrong hands and destroying the world. Sure at times some of the minor characters become interchangeable and a bit one dimensional, and Garion seems beyond naive and almost dumb sometimes with his wide eyed innocence. Still, the formula works, and in this book the plot has finally taken off with a shot.



5. I love this series and was excited to see it on audio form, but the guy who narrates the book (Cameron Beierle) is ghastly. His male characters all sound pretty much the same and he's made up an accent that at times sounds faintly German and at others faintly British. C'Nedra amazingly enough is either Italian or Spanish and is almost painful to listen to. If he narrates the entire saga, I'm not going to listen to it.

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



3. 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.



4. 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. This is the third book in the Malloreon (after Guardians of the West and King of the Murgos, and berfore Sorceress of Darshiva and Seeress of Kell).
   
   The first half of the book takes place in the immense Mallorean capital Mal Zeth, where Garion, Ce'Nedra, Belgarath and Polgara, Durnik, Toth, Silk and Velvet, Sadi and Eriond are spending spring as reluctant guests in the imperial palace, trying to convince Kal Zakath to let them leave again on their quest.
   
   In the second half, after finally managing to escape with the help of Silk's associate Yarblek, the Nadrak merchant, Vella and a voluble juggler named Feldegast, our heroes make for Ashaba where, according to Cyradis the seeress, they might catch up with Zandramas.
   
   What I enjoyed the most in this volume was discovering, alongside Garion, Kal Zakath's complex and as it turned out, even friendly personality. In the same vein as with Urgit, the Murgo king, I liked finding out that there was more to him than met the eye. I hope to see more of them both before the end.