Not Exactly the Three Musketeers

Rating:
Summary: Half-hearted at best
Review: Another Great book for the Gaurdian of the Flame series. I was a little disipointed it didn't continue with Jason. I would have given 5 stars if the book would of continued with the original characters. Ahira was not even mention and Walter and Ellegon did not have a big enough roll. Yet the book was a good filler until the next book in the series comes out!!!

To the readers who liked the book, but did not read any of the prior books in the series I think you would be diong your self a favor to try and get a hold of the hole set if possible.

Rating:
Summary: Not Exactly the Three Musketeers
Review: Another Great book for the Gaurdian of the Flame series. I was a little disipointed it didn't continue with Jason. I would have given 5 stars if the book would of continued with the original characters. Ahira was not even mention and Walter and Ellegon did not have a big enough roll. Yet the book was a good filler until the next book in the series comes out!!!

To the readers who liked the book, but did not read any of the prior books in the series I think you would be diong your self a favor to try and get a hold of the hole set if possible.

Rating:
Summary: Without options! This will force you to call in sick to work
Review: As so many others who have read these books I too find myself locked away in the linen closet till the book is done. Wow what a great way to compose a story from three supporting characters of past novels! However I must admitt that I am stuck on Jason and his epic tale to come. This one was a good buffer to wet our taste buds but I was a little dissapointed to find out that this was not the Jason story! Oh well, I still really enjoyed this book and Rosenberg is now the only fantasy author that I will read! Just because his stuff is: THAT GOOD! So do yourself a favor and pick this up or you will miss out on an inportant part of the GUARDIANS saga.

Rating:
Summary: Definitely an enjoyable book.
Review: I actually started the series by reading this book (thank you, Andy, for the gift. Good call) and I enjoyed it quite a bit.

Summary: Three soldiers are dragged into a political argument and ordered to investigate a minor dispute in the outreaches of the realm, which leads to more than anyone had bargained for.

Pretty good opening concept, although I never read the backs of the books (it ruins the surprise for me). What interested me more than anything else was the pure grittiness of the world that Joel, whom I'm sure doesn't mind being on a first-name basis from me, captured and dropped into my hands. In a land of magic, legends and dragons, one wouldn't expect there to be hardship in simply travelling or even danger in getting a simple drink.
If life were so simple, there wouldn't be much of a story. So the attention to detail, the dangers of everyday life in a world without constant police presence, was impressive.

The characters are hardened veterans, having fought, bled and watched those they've known fall in battle, or even in a street fight. They're honorable without being fanatical about it, exceptionally practical and utterly dedicated to their lord. Joel captures and keeps the societal differences between our world and theirs, and the consistency of it was well done indeed.

The characters are Pirojil, ugly as can be and never is he portrayed otherwise, Durine, large and dangerous and distant, and Kethol, heroic and not too bright but humble. Despite their weaknesses, they are engaging and make for some plausible interaction. It seems obvious that people who have worked together for a long time would know each other, but Joel makes it a point to note some of their conversational short-cuts, and includes some failings among friends that are understandable.

Summary: Great characterizations, a good story and some creative solutions to tricky problems. If you liked Glory Road, Outlaws of Sherwood and/or the Deed of Paksenarrion series, you'll like Not Exactly the Three Musketeers.

Rating:
Summary: good book...
Review: I didn't exactly ROFLOL, but there are funny places in the book that at least made me chuckle, and all the rest of the literary requirements (plot, characterization, not overusing cliches, etc.) were there.

I had not read any of the other Guardians of the Flame novels, but that probably made it better for me--I get tired of unedited books that insist on telling *everything*. "The protagonist breathed in and while breathing out noticed the gnat whirring to and fro. Finishing that complete cycle, the protagonist breathed in again." It was nice to think that there was something I didn't know--histories, alliances, hates, stories.

Of course, I now plan to read the rest of those books :)

Rating:
Summary: Not bad, but not great
Review: I didn't realize when I bought this book that it was part of an ongoing series. I was disappointed because the author didn't really seem to make any effort to bring the reader in to his world, so I was screwed because I'd never read the other books in the series. The characters and plot had potential, but they seemed empty and cold, and I found myself longing for deeper characterization, especially of the "heroes" and their relationships with each other. How did they meet? Why did they become friends? What keeps them together? These and other questions all seemed inadequately addressed and made me wonder, at times, if they weren't characters carried over from some other book (which indeed they are). If you're a fan, maybe you'll like it, I couldn't really say, but don't try to read it with no knowledge of the world.

Rating:
Summary: Not bad, but not great
Review: I didn't realize when I bought this book that it was part of an ongoing series. I was disappointed because the author didn't really seem to make any effort to bring the reader in to his world, so I was screwed because I'd never read the other books in the series. The characters and plot had potential, but they seemed empty and cold, and I found myself longing for deeper characterization, especially of the "heroes" and their relationships with each other. How did they meet? Why did they become friends? What keeps them together? These and other questions all seemed inadequately addressed and made me wonder, at times, if they weren't characters carried over from some other book (which indeed they are). If you're a fan, maybe you'll like it, I couldn't really say, but don't try to read it with no knowledge of the world.

Rating:
Summary: The Rosenberg Magic Continues...
Review: I got on board 16 years ago, with thinking the cover was cool on the Sleeping Dragon. Ever since, I drop in a local store to see if Mr. Rosenberg happened to do a new book. The latest 'Not Exactly the Three Musketeers' captures the gritty, funny, REAL, fantasy, edge of what I come to know as Mr. Rosenberg's works. A little toung in cheek, but hammers home characters (ALWAYS the strength of his novels!) with SUCH lifelike style. I am already salivating for the next one, especially if he explains the Arta Myrdhyn mystery some time.

Rating:
Summary: Please stop the madness.
Review: I have read ALL of the previous Guardian Novels and can say this one follows nicely... To [e-mail], if you want a description of the past characters, read the previous books. :) You have to understand that they have gone through generations, not just years. Walter is now 50 years old and most of the Othersiders are dead or old.

Rating:
Summary: The Man has Style........
Review: I have to admit when I started this book I was upset that it did not delve into his past characters from the Gaudian's series more. By the time chapter two rolled around I was eagerly turning the pages and regretting the fact that I had to work the next day and needed sleep.

What can I say.....Rosenberg has style. His characters are likeable and real. He has a way of turning a phrase that shows his intelligence. Rosenberg comes up with surprises when you need them and his dialogue sizzles.

What more can you ask for?

Another book by Joel Rosenberg please :)