5 comments about The Shining Ones: Book Two of The Tamuli (Book Two of the Tamuli).

1. I wish I hadn't purchased this book. The first series, the Belgariad, which starts with Pawn of Prophecy is wonderful. The second series, the Malloreon, is interesting. The first Tamuli series with Sparhawk and Ehlana is interesting. However, this second book of the second Tamuli series which started with Domes of Fire is predictable and boring. The plot rehashes plots from the earlier books. Occasionally there will be an enjoyable sequence but overall not. I will finish the series (The Hidden City) because I enjoy the characters.



2. This book as an OK story if you can stand reading it long enough to get to some of the good parts. All they do for most of the time is talk about strategies and the past and other boring topics that sometimes don't even matter. The jokes aren't even funny in this book. I've read some good books by David Eddings but this is DEFINITELY not one of them.



3. I love the Tamuli books, if there is any way in which you have reached this point without having read anything by David Eddings, you must convert. He has enjoyed the sort of universal acclaim of the Harry Potter novels, and with much better reason & writing.
   
   Whilst it is true that by the time he wrote the Rivan Codex and more co-authored with Leigh Eddings they seem a little over impressed with themselves, this is a stand alone Eddings and well worth the read.
   
   Satisfying & occasionally silly go ahead and read it - if you haven't already, congratulations it's a great book, a great series and I am confident that you will enjoy yourselves.
   
   So I believe that David Eddings can do no wrong -- unless you rate Polgara the Sorceress as a grevious sin...



4. This adventure wouldn't be the same without the reappearance of Bhelliom, the rose with a bite. Sparhawk threw it in an unknown ocean at the end of the Elenium, hoping to never see it again. But events in Matherion have convinced the visiting Elenes that the situation is a bit too dire for a small company of knights, a mage, and a goddess. Trolls are massing against the Atan legions, revolution dogs the steps of the Tamul empire, and everywhere you look legendary heroes and resurrected dead are raising chaos everywhere. With it clear that at least one god is working on world conquest it is time to bring Bhelliom back into the fray.
   
   The reader will be surprised to discover that the Blue Rose is a great deal more than a powerful trollish toy. In fact, it has its own personality and agenda and Sparhawk plays a very central part in its plans. With Bhelliom on their side, the Elenes have a chance, but the odds still aren't very good. Somehow the enemy seems to be able to counter everything they try, as well as throw in a few punches on their own.
   
   As the plot moves toward an earth-shattering crisis, Ehlana provides much of the comic relief as she instructs an emperor almost twice her age in the fine art of overthrowing his own government. Also a source of comic relief is the courtship of Mirtai and Kring. But the seriousness of the main plot sets the mood. The more Sparhawk and Ehlana discover about the convolute plots around them, the more desperate the struggle becomes. They face old enemies and new, betrayal and old hatreds will either kill them or make them stronger.
   
   This volume bogs down a bit in the middle as Eddings seizes an opportunity to inform the reader of a great deal of the history behind the current problems in a narration that borders on tedious and isn't absolutely necessary. Even so the overall work is good with a conclusion that is flashier than Eddings' norm. The characters flesh out a bit more (although one has a habit of speaking in dialect that makes my eyes cross. If nothing else, one can say that this is a much better followup series than the Malloreon, which was at least a volume too long.



5. This second book of the Tamuli is again a little bit less interesting then the first book, which in turn is less then the Elenium books, which are less then the Belgariad and the Malloreon ... Still, an easy and fun enough read to give it 4 stars. The large number of characters introduced make things a bit hard to follow, with all the different governments, positions, kingdoms etc.

No comments about Castle of Wizardry (Book Four of the Belgariad).

5 comments about Domes of Fire (The Tamuli, Book 1).

1. Awww, I was wishing for something great like the previous series, The Elenium, but I guess goddess Aphrael didnt answer my prayer correctly. This book was horrible, it made me want to stop at every chapter and just burn it or something. But I work hard for my money during the summer so I just couldn't do it. I have no idea why I went through the book so fast, because nothing was exciting... at all! So I take back what I said in my last review, that Eddings could maintain his talent and never go boring. The only good parts of this book are when Talen comes into the plot which is not very often... more like never.
   Instead of buying this book, I suggest you go to the library and rent it and read chapter 22, because they are the only 17 pages worth reading. So why 2 stars?? Because I still have faith in Eddings, although I probably wont read `The Shining Ones.`

   Read the Elenium again, and the Belgariad and Malloreon, because this book was a complete let down. Makes me wanna shed some tears...

   (I lied, I have to read the Shining Ones, because The Diamond Throne of the Elenium series was also really boring. Thank God for the Ruby Knight. Hopefully the Shining Ones will be like the Ruby Knight....)




2. David Eddings made a name for himself in the fantasy fiction arena with the release of his epic series the Belgariad, which had some very memorable characters, some interesting concepts, and spirited dialogue, but stuck pretty close to the staples of the genre - orphan boy finding out he is the focus of an ancient prophecy, gods fighting over a powerful talisman, wizards & sorceresses, etc. The series was a hit, and Eddings obviously liked the characters enough to bring them all back for the 5-book Malloreon series. Unfortunately for the readers, the series fell short of the standard achieved by the Belgariad.
   Eddings then turned his attention to a new series, the Elenium. Like the Belgariad, the Elenium had some very memorable characters and some more interesting concepts. The series focused on militant orders of Church Knights who were trained in various forms of magic. Familiar concepts like gods fighting over magical objects, prophecy, and wizards & sorceresses once again featured prominently, but the series proved to be quite enjoyable. Once again, Eddings seems to take pleasure in the spirited dialogue between the main characters.
   True to form, Eddings couldn't help but bring the characters from the Elenium back for another trilogy, or which Domes of Fire is the first volume. The Tamuli series is basically the Elenium all over again with a different evil god as the man foe. The storyline is very weak, and there is almost no sense of urgency to the series. It was a struggle to make it all the way through, since there really wasn't any motivation to do so. The whole series seemed to be thrown together just so Eddings could have his characters banter back and forth for three more books. By this time, the dialogue that was once fresh and clever is tired and stale. One can only read the phrases "Be nice" and "Isn't he a nice boy" so many times before they wear quite thin (long time Eddings readers will know what I'm talking about).
   While I would recommend reading the Belgariad and the Elenium, I just can't say the same about the Malloreon and this series, the Tamuli. It is just repeating what has already been done to death. Hopefully Eddings will realize this and try something new soon. Otherwise there will be no need for me to bother reading his future works.



3. I do not argue that Eddings repeat a general plot of fantasy again and again in all of his works. The template of his is always character-centered stories based on interesting dialogue and adventure. One will notice that he avoids dwelling into too much combat action where he could, most of his battles are fought before and after the actual bloodshed (which is in fact reality).

   However, the same format means BY NO MEANS the same book. In the Sapphire Rose he again introduces a new set of settings and satiric jokes.

   For those that like these types of books, they would enjoy every one of Eddings' books, for those that feel his books duplicate themselves (which I feel is really untrue), at least read a few of his works, and the Elenium + the Tamuli is a nice option.




4. The Tamuli is the follow series to the Elenium, Eddings' first essay into the world of the Elenes, It is some six years later, Sparhawk is now Ehlana's husband and Prince Consort, Sephrenia and Vanion have withdrawn from the Elene kingdoms back to the Styric homeland, and Aphrael is incarnated as Ehlana's child Danae. For a while things have been peaceful, but something strange is happening in the kingdom of Lamork.
   
   Suddenly ancient heroes start reappearing, agents are fomenting rebellion, and not a few mythical monsters are reappearing. Sparhawk investigates and realized that the problem is even more widespread than was believed. When he reports back to the Archprelate he discovers that the wave of trouble that is starting in the Elene kingdoms is under full steam in the Tamuli continent of Daresia. He finds himself invited to Matherion to come to the aid of the Emperor. Ehlana isn't about to let Sparhawk wander off by himself and Emperor Sarabian's invitation is used as the excuse for a full state visit. Everyone goes.
   
   Once again Eddings starts out by using the plot device of a long journey across the kingdoms of Daresia as a time for some adventures, a lot of background filling, and the deployment of a new set of charaters. He has become quite exper at this and this grand tour manages to be interesting and avoid repeating itself. The last part of the book takes place in Matherion where immediate problems come to a head, old enemies return to the fray and, as an appetizer, we get one last battle to end the first volume.
   
   Domes of Fire is very nicely done. It avoids the overdone repetitiveness that kept the Malloreon from being a success. It is, so far, the best piece of writing that Eddings has done. There is a great deal that is new, even though the core novel is straight out of the author's stylebook. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series.



5. Not as good as the Belgariad and the Malloreon and a bit less interesting then the Elenium. I guess there's not really so much more to tell about Sir Sparhawk and friends. Still the Tamuli is a worthwhile read and this first book is easy to get through. I still find myself laughing at the understated style of speech used and all the 'be nices'.