Brothers in Arms (Dragonlance: Raistlin Chronicles, Book 2)

Rating:
Summary: This book Rox!!!!
Review: I read this book and the Soulforge and i was completely blown away by them. Raistlin and Caramon are by far the best dragonlance characters ever created. This book really gives you insight into the iron-wills of Raistlin, Caramon, and even Kitiara. Raistlin will do anything for his magic, Caramon will do anything for his brother, and Kitiara will do anything in her neverending quest for power. This book does a fantastic job of illustrating these three points, as well as foreshadowing the final years between the end of this book and the beginning of the Chronicles Trilogy. As a stand-alone book, it also does very well. A deep story line that is easy to follow, yet devilishly complex at the same time. A little help from a snob of a red dragon, and other supporting characters, this has become one of my favorite dragonlance books to date.

Rating:
Summary: Great insight into Raistlin Majere
Review: I had to write after reading all the complaints! It's wrong to expect Raistlin at this young age and level of experience to be casting amazing new spells. Part of what makes him so great is his ability to draw on all his skills to get himself out of a tight spot (sleight of hand, ventriloquism, flash powder, cleverly crafted lies). The "Brothers Majere" and the original chronicles have instances of this. How boring he'd be if he was always powerful! This book depicted Raistlin in an extremely believable way that only adds new threads to the tapestry of his character. If anything, the original books offer a more monochromatic Raistlin. The feeling of the Raistlin Chronicles is not as formal as the previous works. This makes them feel more realistic. (Case in point, Soulforge is the only Dragonlance book I've read where the characters actually go to the bathroom!) It's a nice change to have the characters NOT acting like myths or legends, just as growing, changing people. When I read it I worried that people would be put off by Raistlin's somewhat geeky nature. How else could he be? He's like the kid in math class that always aces the tests and blows the curve! I loved the contrast of this young man, terrified to the point of nausea by a dragon, and the man he'll become - someone who can command a dragon! He's got alot to learn before that and he knows it. I look forward to seeing his continuing development.

Rating:
Summary: A big disappointment!
Review: Brothers In Arms picks up where The Soulforge left off. Following Raistlin and his, ever present, brother Caramon as they enlist in an army prior to the War of the Lance. Raistlin begins to grow in his power and learns to adjust to the condition the fateful test left him in. I found the book to be completely unnecessary and in the end, a big disappointment. Why was the book unnecessary? Because we already know how it turns out. While we may not know the intimate details, we don't need to. We meet Raistlin and his brother at the beginning of the original Chronicles series and learn about the fate the twins eventually succumb to. When we are introduced to the characters at the beginning of Chronicles they are pretty much as we see them in this book. So what does that leave the reader with. Plot, Plot, Plot. And some more plot. Basically a story that doesn't add anything to the legend that has become Raistlin Majere. There were also a plethora of inconsistencies with the Chronicles and Legends books that were hard to overcome. The names of the true gods were thrown around in this book as if they were common knowledge and we know that to be untrue. I have read all of the Dragonlance novels by the Weis and Hickman duo and count them among my favourites. So why was this book a disappointment? For the most part, by the end of the Legends series,my favourite character is Caramon. Caramon undergoes the most profound change and growth among the characters through the entire series. He breaks free from his brothers shadow, shows that he is a brilliant, kind and caring man on top of his obvious physical brawn. Again, Caramon in this book is how we are first introduced to him. So there is no potential for growth of the character. Caramon is reduced to a side character and oft minor iratance to Raistlin. Digger thinks this cheapens Caramon's character and does not do justice to the man that is lurking within. Maragaret Weis, and TSR/WOTC for that matter (who obviously are out for the buck here), should move on and let Caramon and Raistlin rest in peace. Their story has been told and they should be remembered for their legacy.

Rating:
Summary: Brothers in Arms is great.
Review: The main reason that Brothers in Arms is so good is that it shows some of the hardships Raistlin goes through after his test at the Tower of High Sorcery. Even though Raistlin is left very weak and sick after his test, the magic that he posesses is shown to be his true strength. This book is a must read for any Raistlin, or Dragonlance, fan. This book is also so easy to follow that someone new to the world of Krynn will have no trouble enjoying or following along with the storyline, but at the same time a longtime adventurer in Krynn will not be offended by the simple explanations for every detail.

Rating:
Summary: One of the better ones
Review: This was one of the better Dragonlance books that I have read. It had a good story, some interesting and new characters (I happened to like the half-kender), and it alluded well to some of the other books. But I have to say i was a little disapointed with the lack of magic. Raistlin only has a few things going for him, and even though he is not the most powerful mage out there (yet), I was expecting him to use his magic a little more in his schemes. I thought the ending was good though. It had a conclusion to every different aspect of the story, and even hinted at some change in Raistlin. Good book, I recomend it.

Rating:
Summary: If you're in to DragonLance, buy this right...NOW!
Review: I have to admit that I haven't quite finished the book (only about 100 more pages to go), but I already am enjoying this book just as much, if not more than Soulforge. Margaret Weis once again stakes her claim as one of the best authors around (my personal fave). Also, in reference to the reader from Sydney, who claimed that "Raistlin don't seem to be 'The Master of Past and of Prensence' that I like so much," the point was missed. This book takes place well before he ever became the mega-archmagus that tried to become a god. He isn't quite the "Master of Past and Present." Not yet. While this book isn't quite up to par with the Chronicles Trilogy (but then again, what is?) it is still a must-read for any Weis/DragonLance/Raistlin fan.

Rating:
Summary: Pretty Nifty. Swell, even.
Review: A lot of reviews I have read seem to think the characters are weak in this book. I have never come across a series with such strong character development and background. This book is one of the best. Sure, some things such as scrounger could have used a little less time, but I think it overall helped the storyline. You can't expect a story about Raist battling it out using wack spells, he was only as powerful as this book made him out to be. It was the PERFECT dipiction of what I always invisioned Raistlin to be at that time of his life. Books such as "Brothers Majere," I think, dipicted Raistlin's power and additude wrongly. I can't wait to read this book again, and I hopefully await the next book in the series. It better come.

Rating:
Summary: great
Review: i'd read brothers majere before i got this and had been rereading the chrocnicles as well and this kinda filled in some of the gaps there. it was really good. i've always loved raistlin and caramon and the way these two and intertwined.

Rating:
Summary: It'd be hard for the next book in the series to top this...
Review: I just finished BiA and I am awed once again. This time by the DUO of Weis and Perrin. I'm not sure how Perrin helped with the novel, but I don't care; The two of them now married I take it, did a masterful job with this part of the Raistlin Chronicles. Without a doubt, the funniest parts of the novel were the scenes with the Mad Baron. I don't want to give anything away, but this is without a doubt one of the most original and unique characters I have ever read. Simply put, this book was awesome and was better than the Soulforge. I await the next book! (THERE BETTER BE ONE!)

Rating:
Summary: Now that's what I call a Dragonlance book!
Review: This book was one of my favorites! Even though there wasn't much (if any) "Magic with steel" in it, I'd say it was a really good book. The details were supurb and I couldn't put this book down untill I finished it! I would recomend this book to any Dragonlace fan! Margaret Weis did a great job on this one. Margaret, you rock the house!