Rating: 
Summary: Utterly amazing; a new classic
Review: This is the first series with installments I have read, and I've read 'em all. At first I wondered how that would work, because God knows I am sick of the never ending sagas of Goodkind, Jordan, Martin, and Brooks, whose new stuff is less retread than the earlier Shannara garbage but still poorly written. In Rhapsody, Haydon managed to craft a universe that seems perfectly devised. It has a workable, unique and fascinating magic system, a history that makes sense and that resonates, science and architecture that ring real, and characters that you both love and are infuriated by. What a remarkable accomplishment. What is most remarkable is that this series, like history, has epochs and eras. It could conceivably have as many books as Jordan, but the storylines are told in satisfying bites. So this trilogy told a complete and engrossing story, leaving me and everyone else I know who read it DYING for more of the history, either what comes after, or what came before. This is a new variant in fantasy, giving readers the best of all possible worlds--a continuing story to be invested in, that doesn't string you along. BRAVO, Ms. Haydon!
Rating: 
Summary: A turn for the worse
Review: The second book in this series was fantastic, and I gave it a five star rating and I feel that it's one of the 10 best books I've ever read. Well, I just finished the 3rd book, and I gotta tell you, it was a hard read. Whereas the 2nd book followed a story line that I appreciate, the 3rd book took an almost masochistic turn, which I don't like. actually had to skip about 200 pages in the middle because I was just getting so mad. I was able to finally read the middle part, and while it was OK, it was just too much. In my opinion, Ms. Haydon made several serious mistakes in this book. First, she waited to long to bring Rhapsody and Ashe back together, and it got really frustrating after a while. Second, Rhapsody just simply will not grow up. While this may be an endearing trait in an innocent peasant girl, it is a major liability in the types of positions that Rhapsody is put in, and is also VERY frustrating to read. One of my friends aptly stated that the book was just "ick" on top of "ewww" on top of "yuck....", and I cannot truly disagree with it, as it is very masochistic. Really a shame, as the world and characters that Ms. Haydon had created had incredible potential.
Rating:
Summary: Hadyon finishes her series with a bang
Review: Haydon three books which started with rhapsody and with prophecy in the middle all had a common tie. It was all about finding your true self. The end was very well done and left real no questions about how the Rhapsody would spend the rest of her life doing. Great character development even at the end of the book lead me to believe that Haydon knew what she was doing.
Rating:
Summary: Destined to be A Classic!
Review: I just finished the awesome final to Haydon's epic fantasy trilogy,Rhapsody.Haydon saves the best for last in this saga.Our heroes: Rhapsody, Aschmed and Grunthor who are prophecized in ridding their world of the evil F'dor demon must round up all of the offspring of their enemy in hopes that their blood will locate the demon. Haydon's world-building skills are incredible as once again she gives you history of her make-believe world.This series has it all:lyrical prose that literally sings on the pages.Plot twists as you watch the moving love story between Rhapsody and Ash comes to it's conclusion.This novel also has some harrowing action scenes as f'dor manipulates various forces to his own ends.Another thing I love about this novel is that Haydon answers all of these questions like who is the time editor? You will find out and the answer will surprise you! Rhapsody's world comes alive in these pages like never before in scenes of haunting beauty and romance and scenes of unspeakable evil with those f'dor.Haydon also knows how to lighten up with some witty bandering between Rhapsody and lovable and also quite lethal Bolg, Grunthor.Unforgettable climax to a saga that is Destined to greatness!
Rating:
Summary: Truly deserving of the rating
Review: I admit it, I am a tough grader [college English professor] and I don't think I've ever written a review and given a 5 before, not even on Rhapsody and Prophecy. I thought those were two of the best books in the fantasy genre I had read in a decade or more, but still couldn't bear to break a 4. But with Destiny, this book really deserves it. I wholeheartedly assign it a 5 and urge anyone who loves mystery, riddles, suspense, action and the poignancy and nobility of spirit to lose yourself in this book. It has been a joy watching the characters of the Three evolve. Perhaps that should be two of the Three--Grunthor, the beloved Sergeant Major/cannibal, remains his lovable stalwart self. Rhapsody has grown from a clueless girl into a strong and capable woman, and Achmed had learned that there are things that matter in the world, something he didn't know when the trilogy began. The Meridion tie-in is perhaps the most amazing aspect of the book. Incredibly well written. Finally, let me say that Haydon is an evil genius. She has a penchant for tweaking the nose of the genre, by putting it through twists and turns and flipping it upside down, resulting in a completely fresh angle. She rehabilitates one character, moves that character along, and sets it up for what you know surely is death, then snatches the scene away to another character It's master-level work, worthy of Martin or Tolkien wrapped up with Agatha Christie. Simply put, do yourself a favor: read this series, because it ends with a BANG!
Rating:
Summary: Destiny: An epic saga of love, revenge and power
Review: In the last year I've read over 40 Fantasy titles in my free time. The Symphony of Ages is the most pleasurable reading I've picked up since David Gemmell's "White Wolf". After defeating the Shing and Rhakshas, Rhapsody,Achmed, Grunthor, and Ashe still have on final task to peform in order to fulfill the prophecy of the 3 and bring peace to the land of Roland: Find and kill the F'dor!
Pursued by enemies and with her friends at each others throats, Rhapsody is forced to take much of the battle on to herself in a final showdown where she must confront her greatest enemy and her worst fear. I couldn't put this book down, if you loved the other two then this is a must read.
Rating:
Summary: Sensational!
Review: An overall positively stunning read. In several other reviews, people complained it was too detailed, but one must ask if there is such a thing! The minute aspects pull you deeply into the plot and make you feel as though you're standing right next to the characters. Another reader complains Rhapsody is becoming "Ms Incredibly Immortal, Perfect And Powerful," a point to which I must disagree. She still has fears and makes mistakes (Ashe, AKA whining possessive crybaby, being the worst). Grunthor and Achmed do seem to play smaller parts in this tale, but what little you see of them just makes you love them even more!
I must also admit to extreme annoyance with Rhapsody giving Achmed the cold shoulder and running off with maniacal dragon boy. Ashe's character is rash, boring, and highly irritating. I find it distasteful that he sometimes thinks of Rhapsody as his "treasure." On the other hand, there's Achmed, with his wry sense of humor and fascinating character. He, coupled with Grunthor, was one of the only reasons I managed to endure Ashe and control my urge to seize a pen and scribble over his name. The hope that there would eventually be something between the Assassin and Rhapsody forces me to slave over bookstore shelves, hunting in vain for the next novel in this exquisite series.
This last book is bursting to the seams with twists and turns, including an ending that satisfyingly concludes the trilogy, yet leaves you hungering for more. PHENOMENAL!
Rating:
Summary: The third book in this great series lived up to expectations
Review: This is the third book in the Symphony of Ages series which began with Rhapsody and Prophecy and will continue with Requiem for the Sun a few more on the way! This book finishes the origional "Rhapsody" series. It clears up some issues and leaves some others unresolved. The only way it disappointed me was that I thought it was over! This is a great series for people newly interested in Fantasy...there is a lot of lore, a little magic, some romance and a lot of plot. I will be first in line for the rest of the books in this series! Check them out!
Rating: 
Summary: More Fairy Tale than Fantasy
Review: Once you get past the male-bashing and the "Pretty Woman" Fairy tale its not too bad of a story. The story is very complex which I like but there is too much detail. For example I don't need to know the name of every tree in the forest or every herb on a healers shelf. Also wasn't it Achmed that invented the Cwellan and not Gwyilliam (that sentence confused me in the last battle scene.)
The other problem I had with this trilogy was that there was too much dialogue and too few battles. In the third book it wasn't until the middle that I saw any action.
Rating:
Summary: A superb ending to a fantastic trilogy
Review: Three of the most unforgettable charachters in fantasy fiction were introduced in Rhapsody, the first book of the Symphony of Ages series by Tor. I was impressed at the beginning, but I have to say I am even more impressed at the end. The battle scenes in these books, which were built with meticulous buildup, are horrifying, wondrous, and spare, without the sickening embellishments so many others indulge in, but rather show the stark, grim reality of war. The beauty of the world Elizabeth Haydon has created is palpable. A must read for anyone who appreciates stellar writing.
|
