Rating: 
Summary: Please! I couldn't even bring myself to read the last 20 pgs
Review: Since I am obviously in the minority in seeing this book as lacking, let me affirm that I am an enormous fan of modern fantasy. Sadly, though, there are certain characteristics of fantasy writing today, which many fantasy authors cannot help but include in their work, that I cannot stand. If nothing else, this book helped me to verbalize and understand these.First, Rhapsody is shallow and unsophisticated as a character. Her motivations are so purely "good" and "selfless" that after a point you get fed up with it- it can be nauseating, at times. Second, Rhapsody seems able to cough up some new mystical power every other day. You're never particularly worried at a "close call," because you know the author will come up with some unbelievable stretch to get everyone out of it. Please. Third, the romance... my God!!! If you have a strong enough stomach to put up with the lovey-dubby companionship and "perfect lovemaking" that takes all night (and she spares no details), I take my hat off to you. Lastly, the book plays out like a morality lesson, or a treatise on feminism. It almost reminds me of one of those "made for Lifetime TV" movies. This book is for those who read fantasy to look for a flowery world with unbelievably perfect and invincible characters. If you're after something else, try George RR Martin or, better yet, Ursula Le Guin (from whom Haydon heavily borrows).
Rating: 
Summary: Brilliant
Review: I can't think of the last time I read a book that kept me as entranced as this one and its predecessor, Rhapsody, did. This is an absolutely great series.
Rating:
Summary: Better Than the First!
Review: This second installment in the series moves at a fast pace, and has many elements which will satisfy all readers. While Haydon spends alot of time on the romance, that romance is plot critical and the way it's set up you can't help waiting for it. But just as you thought Haydon had gone mushy, she brings out action scene after action scene, all written well. She also shows that she doesn't share Jordan's inability to kill even a semi-main character.....Overall a good job!
Rating: 
Summary: Good to hold you over
Review: Certainly not Jorden or Brooks but good enough to hold you over till the heavy hitters are ready. The Characters are interesting and well fleshed out....a little detail of the history of the world and inhabitants would be helpful...some chapters could be eliminated all together...Harlequin Romance stuff.......overall I would buy again
Rating:
Summary: OldSciFiDog
Review: Prophecy: Child of Earth:
This trilogy has gotten a lot of good praise and so it is hard to write something not redundant. As I have said before, you will NOT glean any specific plot lines, or characters from this review. What I try to do is indicate whether or not this author and tale is worth your time and money. This series is unique, in my experience, in that the interleaved within the in tire plot lines, characters, and events is a musical base, of which I found fascinating. Also I thoroughly enjoyed the numerous songs and poetry. Each of these books made me laugh out loud, and cry at times. This is the second part of the epic tale and as such gives you further insight, and understanding to the cast of characters introduced in the first book. I definitely felt that this book has a purpose in the trilogy and was very pleased that there are NO "cliff hanging" scenes at end of each part. Each book tells a portion of the over all epic tale, but is complete within the parameters of that part. Prophecy also proves that Rhapsody was NOT a flash in the pan (sorry for the cliche). I found my self totally absorbed in the characters and plot lines and found nothing missing in the quality and effort compared to the first book If you have not already read Rhapsody, you could read this first, as it is pretty much stand-alone. BUT WHY WOULD YOU! You would just get Rhapsody, read it, and kick yourself. I got the impression that the author went an extra 10 miles in doing her homework for this series and in keeping it consistent. Bravo, I say. In summery, this book has made up my mind to purchase all the hardback copies (this is something because not only am I old, but I am old and cheep). I am excited about this author, and look forward to reading the last book of this trilogy plus anything else she writes.
Rating:
Summary: Ashe-Rhapsody romance overdone.
Review: The first half of the book was excellent. Grunthor and Achmed are very appealing characters and it's pretty cool to have them do their thing. Rhapsody's growing skill in battle and the use of her song magic has some appeal as well. I agree with some of the other reviewers though, Haydon goes on and on about how Rhapsody's beauty just overwhelms everyone she comes into contact with, and she's so friggin' perfect, she doesn't even know it. The fact that she was formerly a prostitiute is the only thing that gives her character any sense of realism. The romance with Ashe took up most of the second half of the book. Rediculous filler. I will also read the 3rd book, I'm anxious to find out how Rhapsody can overcome the F'dor [...].
Rating:
Summary: Amazing nuances
Review: I think the most impressive thing about PROPHECY is the nuances in the writing. The character of Rhapsody, a somewhat clueless brat at the beginning of the trilogy, is undertaking the emotional transformation that follows up her trek through the physical one that occurred at the center of the Earth. Watching this character change and grow is a pleasure. In addition, those who can't handle the sex surprise me. There are no graphic body parts, and no use of the word "sex" to describe an anatomical area, thank God. It's much more subtle than other reviewers would lead you to believe, and much classier than Goodkind or even Martin. If you are limited to S&M in your taste, then you probably won't like this book. But if you can handle sex in different moods, all subtle, in other words, if you are a grown up, you probably will appreciate it in PROPHECY. I cannot WAIT til DESTINY.
Rating:
Summary: Just wasn't as good as the first book
Review: I had been dying to find out how Ashe and Rhapsody came together. That was easy to figure out the two would be together by this book. Ashe's reaction when he finds out who she is is great. Who wouldn't be upset when they were lead on with such a lie? What really disappointed me was Rhapsody's annoying ability to be intelligent and really dense at the same time while wielding all this enormous power. She coasts from event to event with little trouble. Its hard to identify with her in this book.
Rating:
Summary: Must have been a BIG bathtub!
Review: I liked _Prophecy_ A LOT better than I liked _Rhapsody_. Overall the writing was better and the plot actually moved. On the other hand, there were still a number of things I found annoying. The extended sex scenes were alltogether too much. That other reviewer wasn't exaggertaing when he said that 20 pages could easily have been cut. I found the details pretty voyeuristic, too, and I don't consiider myself a prude. The "bathtub" encounter especially was...well, when a scene makes you wonder about the size of the bathtub rather than anything relevant to the story, I really think the book could do without it.
Besides the sex, there were several other scenes that did nothing for the story, as well as several conversations that just seemed to prolong the inevitable. At several points, I found myself thinking, "Will you just get on with it!!" Rhapsody was much less annoying in this book, at least when seen through others' eyes. Whenever she opened her mouth, though, she seemed to come out with some idiocy. It also seems like the only emotion she really knows how to express is anger; she always seems to be getting pissed off at the most innocent comments. Her tantrums really make me have a hard time taking her seriously, and I keep wondering why the other characters always give in to her and admit to being wrong to have offended her delicate sensibilities, rather than slapping her. In fact, my main problem with Haydon's work is that her characters express such a limited range of emotion. Either everything is hunky-dory, or someone is throwing a fit. In one of the least understandable scenes of the book, an otherwise exceptional character suddenly suffers what seems to be a psychotic episode, verbally abusing Rhapsody and breaking her lute. WE find out that this behavior is triggered by its being the aniversary of her husband's death. But, I'm sorry, this just didn't seem real to me and I've seen a lot of expressions of grief. Haydon's biggest strength is in her supporting characters. One of the most genuine relationships in the book is between Tristan and Pru; Grunthor, Oelendra, and Elynsynos are all very interesting. Unfortunately, when she spends more time on them, Haydon loses them. It's as if she just doesn't know who they are past a certain point. Still, worth reading for the cosmology. BTW, I'd just like to point out to the person responsible for the cover art, and fantasy artists in general, that DESPITE the references to carrying one's bow "slung over one's back," You really can't carry a longbow that way and expect to be able to move or breathe. It actually causes a sensation akin to being stuck in a cheese slicer. It's not good for the bow, either.
Rating:
Summary: Impressive Work
Review: In the fantasy genre we have been muddled with banal works that are just lackluster in their need to regurgitate plots from past masters, second-rate writing, and overblown ego. Ms. Haydon, however, is a breath of fresh air with this new series. The work, although not completely original, is written beautifully. The enthraling plot draws the reader in because the author evokes a setting that is intensely redolent of scenes that you wish to escape to. The best part of all: the author actually completes this series. Yes in three books we are taking to a new realm and can be enraptured but, unlike Jordan's work we are not stuck in it for 11 billion pages and never left out. So pick up his series, pop open a drink, sit in your favorite, and get ready to be rapsodized!
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