Rating: Summary: Book 3 Please! Review: Like the first book, The First Rider's Call was addictive. This book even more so, due to the twists in the plot, which tied together nicely. Our heroine finds herself yet again tied in the fray as destiny demands her acquiescence and she fights to travel her own road. All the while, these forces teach her more about herself then even she wants to know. Despite it's length, this book felt like a stepping stone because of where it leaves off. So, I'm anxiously awaiting the next one, to see what happens and how she will deal with the challenges she now faces, both emotionally and politically.
Rating: Summary: Great Sequel! Review: Wow!! I was really anticipating this one after having read Britain's first novel, Green Rider, and I wasn't totally disapointed. It was a little confusing at times because of so many characters' points of views but over all very well put together. I'm hoping a third one will come out because I wasn't satisfied with the ending, but I won't say anything about that in case you're going to read it :) Yes, but overall very good and I recommend this one to anyone who likes fantasy, although, read 'Green Rider' first so you understand who's who.
Rating: Summary: This ghost is getting *really* annoying Review: Kristin Britain came on to the fantasy scene in 2001 with Green Rider. I thought that she was a talented writer that resorted to too many fantasy cliches, and hoped that her second book (which was supposed to come out a year later) would move away from those. 2002 came and went with no book. Finally, in August 2003, First Rider's Call came out. With her first book not being the greatest, would the sophomore jinx kill Britain's writing? Thankfully, no. First Rider's Call is a rich story with vivid characterization and a surprising depth. She still uses a few too many cliches, but it's nothing like Green Rider in that respect.Kerigan G'ladheon thought she had left the call of the Green Rider behind her after saving the king from an Eletian plot. However, returning to her merchant family's business doesn't provide the rest that she had expected. She is haunted by the ghost of the First Rider, who is endeavoring to convince Kerigan to follow her destiny and resume the King's service. Reluctantly, she does so, and just in time. Danger is threatening the kingdom of Sacoridia once again. Blackveil Forest, sequestered behind the D'Yer wall for thousands of years, is stirring once again. Evil forces from a long ago time are threatening to get through a breach in the wall, with some having already succeeded. Havoc is sweeping the countryside, people turned to stone and crops withered. Refugees from up north are flooding into other provinces, creating internal strife. King Zachary must balance all of these situations together, keeping his people from panicking and trying to find out what's going on. Other things are going wild as well. The magic of the Green Riders is becoming unpredictable. Captain Mapstone's magical ability attacks her, forcing her to confine herself when she's needed most. Kerigan's ability is sending her wildly into the past and future, as she learns the secret of the First Rider and what happened all those generations ago, when people from across the sea came and tried to colonize the wild land. In doing so, she discovers the haunting truth of her own heritage, as well as the secrets of the Wall. Hopefully, she'll live to tell the tale. While this isn't the most original plot around, Britain does try to do some new things with the familiar tropes she is using. The story is deep and rich, with the prose working much better than Green Rider. Britain really seems to have honed her craft with this one. She does suffer from a few cliches (Eletians are basically elves with the pointy-ears filed down, for example), but for the most part she avoids the potential landmines in her path. She has an interesting cast of characters as well. Kerigan makes a vivid viewpoint character. She's matured since Green Rider, but she's still unsure of herself at times. Unfortunately, she's much too passive, with too many events occurring around her rather than her being the main cause of them. Part of this is explained by the unique relationship between Kerigan and the First Rider, but it's still not enough. While Kerigan's involved in the climax of the story, she doesn't actually figure much in the resolution. Still, despite this fault, I did grow to care about what happened to her, especially as things start to deteriorate in the kingdom. Then there's King Zachary. He's actually very good, but he brings up another problem with the story. There is a lot of romantic tension between Kerigan and him, and it's completely unnecessary to the book. It doesn't add anything to the story, and the consummation of the relationship (and that *doesn't* mean that they sleep together in this case) makes it even more superfluous. At over 600 pages, the book is long enough already. This relationship just drags it out more, making the denouement of the story more tedious than it needs to be. I realize that Britain may be setting up something for the next book, but I think she should have also made it mean something in this one as well. Otherwise, Zachary is extremely well done, being a fair ruler who is not above getting his hands dirty when the situation warrants it. The plot of First Rider's Call is much more intricate than Green Rider, and Britain handles it deftly. There's so much going on that it would have been easy for her to lose her way. Instead, she is generally able to keep the flow of the story, with only the scenes in the Blackveil Forest slowing it down. The Alton sequences could have had a bit more punch to them, as he isn't that interesting of a character and I kept wanting to get back to Kerigan when he was on screen. Given the business of the plot, though, this is a small problem and I didn't have any trouble getting back into the story. I found the use of diaries from the past led beautifully to the revelation of Kerigan's heritage (though I did see it coming very early, there's no way the characters would have known about it). All in all, First Rider's Call is a very good sophomore effort, and I look forward to seeing more of Britain's writing. Whether it will be the third book in this series or if she'll try something else, I plan to follow her career and see how she does. David Roy
Rating: Summary: Best book I've ever read! Review: I'm seriously not kidding here, this is the best book I've ever read. I am a fantasy fan, and in this book I got everything. It has adventure, a strong female character, historical information of the plot and characters... it's just awesome. It's even got time travel in it. When I read Green Rider, I thought that it was going to be my long-time favorite. When I heard Kristen Britain had put out a sequal I was a little hesitant because sequals don't tend to do well, but I got it anyway. I was blown away by how complex and intriguing this story. I'd recommend this for anyone who loves an adventure story.
Rating: Summary: The best book on the planet!!! Review: The First Rider Call is exelent! during my libary time in 7th grade i was running out of time to find a book so i picked up and saw he cover. it looked cool so i started reading it. I couln't stop. This was the Green Rider. When i heard that there was a 2nd. one i was online as fast as posible to buy it. as soon as that one came i couldn't put that one down either. its like magnetice. it glues it self to your eyes. lol. Well any way. i would defintly reciment this book to anyone who loves a good magical/adventure book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)
Rating: Summary: The best sequel to the best book Review: I love this book!! I have read some of the other reviews, some said how that hate that love triangle that is going on with King Zachary and Karagin. I, my self, love the romance in this book!! I dont like the fact that Zachary ends up with Lady Estora, but the romance is exciting!!!!!!! I love the humor in this book. There is enough humor to keep you laughing but there is not so much that it get silly. The charators in FRC are exelent!! The original charators are more developed and the new ones are developed enough to keep everything rolling. :):) I love how Ms. Britain jumps from one persons view point to another's. This way you can hear "the both sides to story" This stroy even beats all 5 of the Harry Potter books!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rating: Summary: ONE OF THE BEST! Review: This book is of of those book that you just wan't to read again again. The only bad thing I can think about this book is that Btitain droops off the ending. She leave you with things still unancered. It is by far one of the best books I've read.
Rating: Summary: First Rider's Call Review: I love this book. I haven't quite finished the book yet but so far I am in love with the book. My favorite charector is Captian Laren Mapstone. Even though she doesn't have that big of a part in the first half of the book she is still my favorite person. The magic in the book is just enough to make it interesting and not so much that it makes it weird. The charectors are great and exsiting. The Green Rider series beats even Harry Potter. :)
Rating: Summary: My Opinion Review: I felt that this book was a very good sequel. The only problem I had with it was the abrupt ending! When will the next book be ready? I want answers!!!
Rating: Summary: Please no romance with Zachary.... Review: I loved the first Green Rider, have read it MANY times since I first bought it. This one, compared to that, blew big fat monkey chunks. It's still an okay fantasy book with an extremely typical plot line. That's okay, I like the girl heroine on horseback plotline. There is just one thing that I am soooo sick of that, if Ms. Britain continues with this, I will throw up. Why must their always be a frickin' love triangle with the King. Tamora Pierce did it first (as far as I know) and she did it best. Mindy Klasky follows more recently with the Glasswrights, and I had to stop reading the series. Kristen Britain apparently decided that this plot feature would be essential to her book, and made half of this book about Karigan and Zachary's feelings for each other. WHAT CRAP! The idea that our low-born heroine and the king, who have completely impossible feelings for each other, must always develop feelings they've been trained their whole life not to? In my opinion, Estora would be WAY better for Zachary than Karigan, because he's not in love with her, he's in love with the freedom she represents. Alton, if he can overcome his imagined betrayal by Karigan, would suit her much better. No more king love triangles please!
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