Rating: 
Summary: An excellent and (deceptively) different Swords & Sorcerers
Review: I've been reading SF and fantasy/swords & sorcery for about 50 years, and welcome new and good authors. This is such a writer. The initial premise, of the "Chosen One", seems "formula" at first but plays out in unusual ways. The exploration of Devlin's reasons for seeking to become the Chosen One, scattered throughout the book, are an insight into a character with an overactive conscience (but not self-righteous) and with what one might consider good character traits that can be a handicap to him as he carries out the role and tasks of the Chosen One. The events through which he begins to return this role to its former high value are real page-turners, as you explore the internal and external political factions and factors and the ways in which events play out. The supporting characters, including the villains, are distinct and not cardboard cutout characters, with their own lives, motives, and generally with real personalities. I'd like to get to know some of them, and am eager to find out how they develop - especially the originally weak and hapless king who, at the end of this volume, seems to have the possibility of developing strength and purpose. I found this an excellent "first" book, except that it is not a first book. I was surprised to learn that the author has published a couple of Regency Romances, and we all know how difficult it is to change genres and how few do it successfully. Ms. Bray has, I think, written an excellent "first" in this swords & sorcery story, which deserves to be successful, and I look forward eagerly to the next volume.
(I add, because it is important to me, that I never felt compelled to reach for a blue pencil. Ms. Bray's writing skills are excellent. Her plot flows well and with consistency, never leaving me saying "but I thought you said earlier that ....". If you read enough bad or mediocre stories, you will understand just how important this is.)
Rating:
Summary: Surprisingly gripping!
Review: If anything makes this book look like standard fantasy, it would be the cover, which put me off slightly. However, as soon as I started reading, the novel pulled me in and, like another of the reviewers, I stayed up past my bedtime to finish it. It's really a well-told tale.
My only gripe is that Devlin's Honour will only be out in Summer 2003!! However, the publishers were nice enough to provide the impatient reader with a preview of book 2.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Beginning!
Review: Patricia Bray has managed to start up a convincing and well written Fantasy world based not off amazing magics, nor off the defeat of some uber "dark god," but off characters and their interactions with their world. Devlin Stonehand is a very well written character and all of the other minor characters from Stephen and Captain Drakken are as equally well formed... The story doesn't drag and simply proceeds onwards in a concise and tight manner. Well done!
Rating: 
Summary: A bit flat...
Review: Possibly my expectactions were inappropriate, from the cover blurb I expect the hero to be a man suicidal with survivor's guilt who would be recklessly successful in his search for an honorable way to throw his life away. I was hoping for some deep soul searching and psychological insight. Instead I got a basic story about someone becoming a hero against long odds because of great internal resourcfulness. Nothing wrong with that, it's often done, but it's often done. So it seems a little flat. There's some interesting insight into the nature of free will and psychology courtesy of the geas, but that was the main differentness of this book. To me it was just same old-same old.
Rating:
Summary: Forgettable
Review: The plot was overall rather nice, nothing special about it. What I liked the least though, was the Devlin himself. He seemed too snob and not nice enough to the few friends he has to earn my respect. Just after a few pages he started getting on my nerves. Other than that, it's a good book and I'll probably read the next one if it falls under my fingers.
Rating: 
Summary: Look! It's Exactly Like You Thought it Was!
Review: This book is fun, but mostly because it's such an easy, easy read - it requires very little thought, and if you're in the mood for a fantasy book, it fills that need quite ably. I found it quite amusing on several levels, not the least being that while reading it, you'll be thinking to yourself, "You know, Devlin's kind of a stereotypical fantasy guy. Not a lot of depth there," and a paragraph later she'll switch to another character's viewpoint who will agonize over misjudging the man, and recognizing what an amazing resevoir of depth Devlin has. The world and characters are sometimes clumsily realized, but to be honest, that's a large part of the appeal. Not that I don't expect her to improve, but it's a win win situation - this book is good because it's good (and bad), but as she gets better the sequels, hopefully, will get to be just be good (and good). I got tired of plodding through Robert Jordan's works a while ago; thankfully, this book, and hopefully the series, is simple, straightforward, and fun. Worth buying if you're a big fantasy fan, and it might even be eye-opening if you're new to the genre. I'd probably give it 3 stars (maybe more) for talent, but for simple, pretty delightful entertainment, what the heck. 4's about right.
Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable Read
Review: This book starts a bit on the slow side, but I was intrigued by the main character, Devlin, whom we learn about as the story unfolds. However, the story picks up as Devlin comes to grips with his destiny and earns respect as Chosen One. I enjoyed the author's writing style, while this story is a bit on the simple side. There a but a handful of characters, which is refreshing in this case.
Rating:
Summary: This book Rocks!
Review: This book was really awsome. Patricia Bray is a brilliant author. Devlin along with the other charecters were formed through the story awsomely. The whole story was like a thrillling rollercoster that doesn't stop when you reach the end. When you do reach the end you only want more! If you havn't read this book, buy it right now!
Rating:
Summary: Should be rated more than 5 stars
Review: This is an incredible story of a man who has lost his family and because he feels he has nothing to lose, accepts the post of the "Chosen One". However, unlike other "chosen ones" in other tales, this guy has a death wish. No one expects him to survive his trials, and yet he does!! I really like the fact that this character is plain speaking,and how the story just "flows", to the place where I was never bored. I really liked this no-nonsense character and I can't wait for the sequel!! I think her style of writing is equal to Robin Hobb and Carol Berg--very nice style of writing!! Good characters, good everything!!
Rating:
Summary: A fairly engaging read.
Review: This was a fairly entertaining, easy read. I found it to be a little forced, maybe even a bit cliche, but it was fun to read nonetheless. Not to spoil the surprise, but I have read all three of the Sword of Change novels, and I have been less impressed with each compared to its successor. The series as a whole puts me in mind of a beginning roller skater who is rolling along quite nicely until he reaches a hill, and is unable to stop before plunging down at rapidly increasing speeds with his arms failing and a look of terror on his face. Time in the novels doesn't flow naturally, character development is lacking, and -- especially in the final book -- Bray skips over most of the excitement that the reader hungers for. Entertaining, but not one of the better books I've read. The first was definitely the bets of the three, though.
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