Rating: 
Summary: Very disappointing.
Review: I have been a fan of the Eddings' series since The Belgariad, but I find the quality of the work has been going downhill since the conclusion of the Tamuli. David and Leigh Eddings proudly published their formula for writing fantasy, and now it no longer seems like a good thing, as they have been sticking to it with dwindling success.The Elder Gods feels mostly like a rush job. The characters are both recycled and sketchy: you have the Champion (Sparhawk, reborn as Longbow), the wily Sidekick (Silk/Rabbit), the irresistibly charming and childlike younger Deity (Errand/Danae/Eleria), the repulsive and not really smart enemy, and many others. This story skipped any working of the characters and setting, made a half-hearted feint at exposition, and headed straight to the Banter of the Gods, after which it took the express train to The Battle Campaign. All the characters, tribes, and countries have run together in my mind and I can't get interested in any of them. There's no drama, no character conflict, no theological issues to ponder, and no reason to care. All the characters speak with the same classic, laconic Eddings voice, which was refreshing in the early stories but has now just become rote. I'd recommend that new readers avoid this one and go back to the beginning, with the Belgariad and the Malloreon. Here's hoping that The Dreamers redeems itself in the next book, if its authors can be convinced to step off their rigid path into more varied territory.
Rating: 
Summary: Can't always be perfect
Review: I have been reading Eddings' books for years now. I have never seen such a mass of negative reactions to a book for them ever. I have to admit though this book it not the best. The characters a not fully developed nor are they given enough time to banter with each other. I do not like the bland names that they have given them. The book needs more. I would say around two hundred pages more of plot, description, and build up. The plot goes quickly and the book is over.
Now, on the other side. I love the Eddings' books. I think that this book was rather forced. I happen to notice that is was not with Del Rey. I do not know why but I have to give this as a excuse for the lack of indepthedness (good word). Like I said the book seems forced and relying upon the past readers to know the characters for what they are. Characters get no real past. Longbow gets a quickly made one as does the Talen character. I have a feeling that the publishers were pressuring for David to write a story. This one is not to their typical standard. I know that many are upset with this book, but I must ask you to think about all of the other awesome series that David and Leigh have sucked you into unable to escape. Honestly, I hope that David takes his time and tells this new publisher to shut up so I can finish all the elaboration. I know the next one will make this more like a long prologe.
Subnote, to those who think that "Redemption of Althalus" was a poor book I have to disagree. That is one of the best stand alone fantasy novels I have read in a very long time. I would recommend that book to all who have enjoyed Garion and Sparhawks adventures. The plots is quick and indepth and the characters are not just the Barak,Silk,Garion combinations. They have newness if you will. The concept of time travel was unique. Also, the ending was perfect and the characters were balanced with thoughtful endings. That is what is missing from "The Elder Gods" more thought.
I believe that this is a long enough response.
Write on Eddings! Write on. As long as you write, I will read. Read the Codex. The intro is one of the most amusing things I have ever read. Helpful to writers.
Rating: 
Summary: Very good!
Review: Very good book! I usually read very rarely, because of my work, but when I read, I need a cool book and this is one. It is just like a faerie tale, told by your close friend...
Brilliant!
Rating:
Summary: Give this one a chance
Review: This is more an arguemnt for giving the book a try than it is a review. After reading all the negative reviews I was reluctant to buy this book, but did anyway because David Eddings is one of my favorite authors. I find the negative reviews short-sighted and look at the "Elder Gods" as a stepping stone to something great! In fact, I can't wait to buy Book 2 and enjoyed reading Book 1. Would I recommend it? Definitely and without hesitation!
Rating:
Summary: An atrocious copy
Review: I was so looking forward to reading the new book of this set but after the first few chapters I have given up in disgust. The storyline - what there is of it - is predictable, the characters are so recognizable from previous sets it is laughable!
Has anyone else spotted Silk from the other series crudely reworked as a character in this book?
The group of people the Maags - only one letter from the Marags. Pink dolphins - the earth banishing a god to the moon for suggesting that sea would look better with stripes.
Am I under the false assumption that this book is for the under 7 year olds? What an utter dissappointment after his previous books. Needless to say I won't be looking for any of his books again. Pity as i enjoyed the other sets. Off to find a new author!
Rating:
Summary: Oh, how the mighty have fallen
Review: David (and Leigh) Eddings created two of the more powerful stories, with his 10 books about Garion, and 6 books with Sparkhawk. He also wrote 2 outstanding fiction novels in "The Losers" and "Regina's Song". Then, he has written "The Redemption of Althalus", which was basically a Reader's Digest condensed book of his first 4 series. It was awful. Now this. Again, the Eddings have fallen into a cookie cutter plot/story writing disaster. In this book, the Gods make everything happen, and their human counterparts are just pawns they move about. Your armies aren't in position? We will fill the mountain pass with snow for 3 weeks, and the convienent run-off can be used to your advantage, when all that melts. ARGH! I am tired of reading about Gods who can make just about anything happen to help their sides, and characters that are SO good, they never fail. They aren't people, when you read them. They are automatons. The characters are so wooden, they make Pinocchio look like a child with ADHD! Longbow, who NEVER misses with an arrow. Who cares about an infallable character? Rabbit, who is a more boring version of Talen/Silk. I am sure there are others, but I just can't care about this book enough to dredge them up. Lastly, this book, while supposedly 404 pages, is really more like 300. Why? It is printed in a large font, and the spacing is 1.5 to 1.75. I am glad I didn't buy this book, but got it from the library. If I had bought it, I would be selling it, right away.
Rating:
Summary: Well-written and exciting fantasy book.
Review: This is the first book by Eddings I have read and I liked it very much. So far I have read only Terry Brooks, Robert Stanek and this book, but now I'll buy "The Belgariad".
Eddings is a wonderful storyletller. The magic is unique and original, the characters are fun, the plot - interesting. Very good book, I can't wait for the second one, "Treasured One".
Rating:
Summary: Tired, worn-out concept
Review: It is regrettable that David and Leigh Eddings, authors of the remarkable "Belgariad" and "Mallorean" series, have chosen to ride the diminishing wave of this creative concept for so long. What was brilliant, witty and vastly entertaining for the first 10 books was still usable for the 2-part, 6 book series that began with "The Diamond Throne." It was passable for the stand-alone "The Redemption of Althalus." By the time we reach a *fourth* series using the same, barely disguised characters, concepts, and plot line, it is obvious to a dissapointed reader that the authors are just phoning in their performance. This type of copy-cat writing does more to anger long-time fans than it does to spark new enthusiasm for the authors' offerings. If you enjoyed any of the previous Eddings' works, do yourself a favor: go re-read the books you already own and save yourself the waste of twenty-odd dollars.
Rating:
Summary: This hurts...
Review: ...a lot. I have loved David Eddings for a long time, first reading "Pawn of Prophecy" in 1986. I look at his last two books and can only think, "What happened?" Gone are characters so real that closing the book is like their deaths. Gone is an adaptive storyline with promises and possiblities. Gone is the depth that created two magical worlds and fleshed them with Gods, Goddesses, and countries, each rich with their own histories and traditions. Instead we have characters one page in depth. No sardonic witticisms from Silk. No sage advice from Kurik or Khalad. We aren't given the chance to watch an innocent character grow to his birthright as we did with Garion, or see the iron discipline of the Church Knights as they confront the evil of an Elder God. Instead we are given a story in which the "good guys" suddenly start preparing for a war in which there are no indications of hostilities from the "bad guys". We are shown the (apparently) carefully laid plans of the bad guys thwarted at every turn by a run of incredible, and incredibly BORING, good luck for the good guys. Much as "The Redemption of Althalus" did, this book stagnates. Characters tell and retell things that don't need retelling. The storyline is a rehash of things we have seen before. The saddest part of this series is the knowledge that the Eddingses have forgotten the first rule of creative storytelling: stories are about PEOPLE. The "Belgariad" was about young Garion's maturation and growth into the boots of the Rivan King-- not about the "War of the Gods". The "Mallorean" was about Garion's realization of his responsibilities to his destiny, and the growth that made two bitter enemies (Angarak and Alorn) realize their common ground, as seen in 'Zakath's acceptance of his own destiny and friendship with Garion. After reading "The Elder Gods", there isn't a single character in the book that feels even remotely 'real' to me. Not one character has the depth and scope of Sephrenia or Barak. Not one character has the wit of Prince Kheldar or Talin. Not one character has the nobility of purpose that led Immortal Belgarath to shed his ways of dissipation and lead the war between gods. Not one character was even likable. Why are Stephen King's books so powerful? Because his characters are real to the reader. So were, in fact, the first four series by the Eddingses: Belgariad, Mallorean, Elenium, and Tamuli. Why then, have the Eddings forgotten how to write good fiction? What HAPPENED? This book is a bunch of random names, doing random things, to further a random plot. And you have no idea how much that saddens me.
Rating:
Summary: A Mediocre Book
Review: At first I had hoped that this was just a slow beginning. Sort of like "Pawn of Prophecy" where Eddings went slowly to draw out his characters. I am still hoping that this is true and his next three books go more in depth. I can imagine that this style of writing from different points of view would be hard, but if Dawn Cook can pull it off, so can Eddings. Mr. Eddings, please, please give the next books more depth! I did enjoy the "voice" of the story, though. Reading Eddings is like being told a story by an old, familiar friend!
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