Rating: 
Summary: Rich, like good chocolate
Review: I finished this book in just over a day, which is fast for me. The story seems to be centered mostly around a red-headed princess, a woodsman and a Pauper turned Knight, though time will tell with the coming of the rest of the series.The most believable part of the story followed the woodsman, which was also the most classically fantastic, complete with an excursion into what amounts to a classic dungeon adventure. Though the Woodsman is a somewhat aged, and his connection to one of the villains seems a bit contrived, the overall quality of the story is so outstanding that it outshines all flaws. What is intriguing are the refferences to Virginia (presumably as in the State of) which start at the very beginning of the book but remain only in passing and enigmatic toward the end. Needed is a better explanation of the races, but, as I said, I barely noticed as I turned pages...
Rating:
Summary: Good read.
Review: Short and to the point... this is as good as any series I've read in as long as I can remember... and I've read Hobb, Feist, Jordan, Tolkien, Martin, Eddings, Weiss and Hickman, and more others than I can easily recall. This one is definitely worth a read or two.
Rating: 
Summary: Good Old Fashioned Fantasy
Review: Having never read anything by Keyes before, this reader picked up his book having no qualms or preset judgements on his writing skills. Needless to say I was plesantly surprised. Keyes has himself a well developed fantasy oozing with the potential of Martin yet decidedly lacking that sparkling edge that Martin manages to capture in his novel though Keyes definately has himself a keeper of a fantasy novel. Telling first the rather sketchy history of humanity in a world where all of human kind were slaves to the demonic creatures that were eventually destoryed by a mytical demon fighting queen of flame red hair. As the story falls into legend we are swept years into the future of this world where the ruling family of the kingdom of Crothney, the Dare family decendent of that famous queen, are fighting to keep a war from errupting in their land. Keyes's pace is that of a tiny bit slow yet in no way lacking in enjoyment department creating likable, realistic characters who in their human selfishness end up getting flashes of become well rounded individuals. Though a bit cliche and predictable, Keyes manages to create a plot that is extremely appealling. Though not as gruesome as Martin nor as long winded and poorly written as Jordan Keyes has himself a wonderful story in a quartet of fantasy series that has excellent potential. Definately one to pick up and read, or even buy.
Rating:
Summary: A pleasant supprise!
Review: I don't often write reviews, so I'll keep it short. I'm a big fan of fantasy and read just about everything out there. I'm also picky and don't like most of it. But Keyes actually supprised me with this work and pulled off a winner. I'd recommend it to anyone.
Rating:
Summary: Good, not great
Review: I very much enjoyed this book despite feeling slightly let down by it at the same time. The problems:
I found the lack of details on the map frustrating, trying to figure out where places that had been referrred to were. There is no glossary of terms or people, which can also be frustrating in a book that throws names and new words around with astonishing frequency. The abundance of your typical fantasy characters. My last criticism may be unfair, but the past history of the world is very murky and not well explained, yet is key to the story. However, it may be a case where to much explanation now would reveal to much of what will happen in the future... Hopefully the history will be fleshed out more in the upcoming books. The good: A few characters who seem unique, not just rehashing of your typical fantasy storyline characters...if only they were all like that. A pretty good storyline that holds alot of promise. Very good writing. Keyes gives us enough to understand the characters, but doesnt overdo it with to much information that just bores the reader. It is certainly a book worth reading, but it is not on par with efforts such as Martins A Song of Fire and Ice, to which many have compared this. One can expect an effort more like Jordans works. Good solid fantasy, but not one where you find yourself counting the days until the next volume is released...although i will keep my eyes and ears open...
Rating:
Summary: Another epic fantasy series is off to a good start
Review: Mr. Keyes has opened up his new series with a fast-paced and frantic volume. As is typical of many epic fantasy works, the first volume of the Kingdoms of Thorn and Bone is filled with character and location introductions. That doesn't detract from the story as the book, while being the first of a four-part series, is a novel unto itself.
Rating:
Summary: A very good start to a new fantasy series
Review: This was a very good, although, in my opinion, not great book. It's does, however, bode well for the series. I won't delve into the plot, per se, except to highlight what I feel to be the author's strong point(s). Namely, his inter-character dialogue and plot-pacing. He does not, for good or ill, spend quantities of space detailing places, or even people. Rather, as an 'impressionist', he merely outlines them and allows the mind's eye of each reader to fill in the rest. This is markedly different then, say, Jordan or Martin (to whom this author/book is most frequently compared). In closing, I will state that Cazio is a 5 '*' character. I looked forward to reading his section(s) as I have few others in recent memory. Frequently, I found myself laughing at loud. Excellent! Beyond excellent: fantastic!
Rating:
Summary: A step below Martin and much better than Jordan
Review: I'm sorry to have to rate this book at 4, but the simple fact of the matter is that it is not in the same class as a George R.R. Martin novel. George Keyes has a wonderful book and I would highly recommend it to any fantasy lover, but you will see certain similarities to the graphic nature of a Martin novel, but at times the similarities are too much (in the sense that he istrying too hard). He needs to develop the characters just a tad bit more so that when they are killed you are shocked and horrified because of the time you have spent with them. I can't say anything poor about the book because it is an awesome springboard into the next novel. He is in the same vein as Martin but not quite there yet (he is the closest thing we have). RECOMMENDATION: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED AND A MUST READ
Rating:
Summary: Excellent, lives up to the praise
Review: This is on par with Martin. All the intrigue without the swearing and overly done sex. Fast flowing story that takes off and never lands. The pages flew by with characters that are worth following, each with plot lines that are enjoyable. Grab this book, no worries! Enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: Wow, this was good.
Review: As someone who has spent a lot of time reading high end fantasy, this was very, very good. Some of the created language might be difficult for some, but man has Keyes got a great story to tell. Wonderful characters, vivid imagery and a great vehicle to tell the story. Better than Jordan and Goodkind's work, and equal with Martin's, Hobbs' and Marco's. Well done and a must read.
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