Rating: Summary: is this it??? Review: A dark, foreboding land of fear and death. What a scene! That is, until you read the book. I found that the story followed the life of a much gifted young woman and her adopted family. The main backbone of the plot was the family's inability to accept differences in others. I have not read many horror books (this being my first and last) and have found the genre not worth my time. This book is quite a let down after reading Ms. Hamilton's Anita Blake books. It lacks a leading character and a plot. The only saving grace of this book would be Ms. Hamilton's writing style. Still, it is not a book I would invest my time in again if I had the chance.
Rating: Summary: A story with no end. Review: According to the back cover of the book, the story is about Jonathan Ambrose, mage finder and mage hater, having to investigate a plague of undead in a village. Well, he does, but quite at the end of the book. Instead, Laurell K. Hamilton focuses more of the story on the teaching of his stepdaughter trying to learn the ways of magic. She swears she is not evil, and all people, even her teacher, another mage, do too. But Jonathan is not completely convinced, and he may be very right... I expected more of the book, rather than reading about a girl having visions becoming a mage. The end is very open, actually the book does not quite have an end, and I suspect, I even hope, that a follow-up comes.
Rating: Summary: Great addition to Ravenloft. Review: Having read this book shortly after finishing Heart of Midnight, I was very into Harkon Lukas, whom I thought played a prominent role in this novel. He does, but not until the near end. The story mostly focuses on a group of adventurers tied to a society that combats Evil in Kartakass. They are sent to the village of Cortton to cure the plague of undead that walks the streets. Along the way, they must contend with one of their own slowly becoming a wizard (their leader hates magic) and some newcomers to the land who seem to be able to raise the dead to true life, something unheard of in the domain.The beginning (most of the book) was slow, and the travel seemed to take-up most of the story, but once they got to the village, Laurell K. Hamilton showed me that she could write a good tale. The ending was near-perfect in its setup, and leaves the reader wondering what happened to more than one of the characters (however, if they know anything about Kartakass and Luk as in general, they could figure it out) and if there will be a sequel (here's hoping). In all, a good read.
Rating: Summary: A slow beginning, but a dynamite finish! Review: Having read this book shortly after finishing Heart of Midnight, I was very into Harkon Lukas, whom I thought played a prominent role in this novel. He does, but not until the near end. The story mostly focuses on a group of adventurers tied to a society that combats Evil in Kartakass. They are sent to the village of Cortton to cure the plague of undead that walks the streets. Along the way, they must contend with one of their own slowly becoming a wizard (their leader hates magic) and some newcomers to the land who seem to be able to raise the dead to true life, something unheard of in the domain. The beginning (most of the book) was slow, and the travel seemed to take-up most of the story, but once they got to the village, Laurell K. Hamilton showed me that she could write a good tale. The ending was near-perfect in its setup, and leaves the reader wondering what happened to more than one of the characters (however, if they know anything about Kartakass and Luk as in general, they could figure it out) and if there will be a sequel (here's hoping). In all, a good read.
Rating: Summary: What is this?!? Review: I generally avoid book series based on consumer goods, but I made an exception for Laurel Hamilton. I was extremely disappointed! I don't think I'm simply spoiled by the rich character development in her Anita Blake books. Hamilton does action & tension well enough, but the plot...where was it going? Why introduce the reader to characters, then sloppily kill them off? It was like a really bad made-for-TV movie on paper. I finished the book only because I though Hamilton would redeem herself. She failed.
Rating: Summary: she strikes again Review: I have read Laurell K. Hamiltons Anita blakes series. when thirst for more of her writing I borrowed an old copy of this story from a friend.Her attention to detail and way of describing the emotions her character goes through are intense and well written out. Hamilton is an amazingly talented writer and if you like this amazing story you'll love her other books as her skills develop. if you don't like fantasy/mystery don't pick it up...but if you do don't you dare walk away!
Rating: Summary: One of the best Ravenloft Novels! Review: I really enjoyed reading this book! A young girl discovers she has the ability to control magic. The novel describes excactly what she feels when working with magic and what the magic does to her. I experienced that whats on the backside of the book is not the core of the novel; the magic itself is! Another great thing of the book is the beginning and the ending. The start of the book has (almost) nothing to do with the core of the book. Only in the end everything falls in place. If you like reading Ravenloft, this is the one!
Rating: Summary: The worst Ravenloft book in the series... Review: I've read the majority of this series and this one is by far the worst. It's painfully obvious that Laurell K. Hamilton has never played D&D and has little to no idea how Ravenloft has been portrayed by her fellow authors. The first Ravenloft book that I read concerning Harkon Lukas was "Heart of Midnight," which was excellent. In that book, Lukas was suave, sophisticated and subtle in his evil. Here, he's just plain bloodthirty and cruel, not at all how I pictured him after reading HOM. Maybe LKH is a decent author. I don't know, since this is the only novel of hers I've ever read. All I know is that she has no clue how to write for D&D.
Rating: Summary: The worst Ravenloft book in the series... Review: I've read the majority of this series and this one is by far the worst. It's painfully obvious that Laurell K. Hamilton has never played D&D and has little to no idea how Ravenloft has been portrayed by her fellow authors. The first Ravenloft book that I read concerning Harkon Lukas was "Heart of Midnight," which was excellent. In that book, Lukas was suave, sophisticated and subtle in his evil. Here, he's just plain bloodthirty and cruel, not at all how I pictured him after reading HOM. Maybe LKH is a decent author. I don't know, since this is the only novel of hers I've ever read. All I know is that she has no clue how to write for D&D.
Rating: Summary: The worst Ravenloft book in the series... Review: I've read the majority of this series and this one is by far the worst. It's painfully obvious that Laurell K. Hamilton has never played D&D and has little to no idea how Ravenloft has been portrayed by her fellow authors. The first Ravenloft book that I read concerning Harkon Lukas was "Heart of Midnight," which was excellent. In that book, Lukas was suave, sophisticated and subtle in his evil. Here, he's just plain bloodthirty and cruel, not at all how I pictured him after reading HOM. Maybe LKH is a decent author. I don't know, since this is the only novel of hers I've ever read. All I know is that she has no clue how to write for D&D.
|