Rating: 
Summary: Eqyptians et al.
Review: A take off on the Eqgyptians (Tians) and some of their old foes -- not sure where the Altans come from, but then, I was never a big fan of Eqyptian history. A good book, and well done. Better than some of her more recent ones -- I would recommend this, although you might want to wait for the paperback if you've read a lot of dragon stories. This had a lot of parallels with Anne McCaffery's Dragon series -- mainly in the care and feeding of dragons.
Rating:
Summary: not up to the Valdemar series
Review: Although I didn't enjoy the Owlflight series (the second book was devoted to knitting sweaters and growing herbs), I had really liked several of Ms. Lackey's earlier books, so I thought I'd give this new series a try. But after three chapters, I noticed we were still in THE SAME DAY! The main character, Vetch, a captured serf boy who gets to look after a dragon, hadn't even eaten dinner and it was chapter 4! Talk about tedious, over-wordy, repetitious ramblings! But the action had to pick up, I reasoned. I mean, it was titled "Joust"--there must be SOME action, soon. Not so. There was not one joust in the whole book. Not one fight, battle, and very little conflict, except for that described that had already taken place(such as the story of Vetch's family that we get in little pieces), and the conflict over Vetch's former master, which really didn't amount to much. There were some tense moments when I thought, "Now we'll see something happen," only to be treated to yet another description of some dragon's coloration or Vetch's breakfast (or those dang pen awnings!). Anyone who reads this better not be looking for exciting action scenes, for there are few here. Or romance, of which there was zilch (there were exactly NO female characters, unless you count the dragon ones.) You would REALLY have to love books abounding in details of dragons and dragon life, or stories set in Egypt to appreciate this one. The last couple of chapters did contain more action, and a winding-up of sorts. Maybe the next book will provide more for the characters to do other than talk to their dragons and mend harnesses. It is to be hoped for.
Rating:
Summary: Repetitive
Review: As the first book I've read by Mercedes Lackey, I'm not too impressed. First, as some others mentioned, the action is incredibly slow with way too much description bogging it down. Some of it would actually be interesting if the author didn't launch every five paragraphs into a comparison to Vetch's former life with Khefti. Most readers understand after the first few pages that Khefti is the stereotypical cruel master. Enough said. I enjoyed a few of the moments when the book showed some of the character's memories of his family, but then it would simply lapse back into Khefti, who, after ten pages, seemed rather trivial. Throughout the book I felt that the main character should just get over it and MOVE ON. The idea of the dragons is interesting, but it could be done with less cliche and in about 50 less pages.
Rating: 
Summary: I had hoped for better..
Review: but this was good enough. As a fan of Mercedes Lackey, I was slightly disappointed with this book. Slightly is the key word- it still earns four stars [if there were half stars, it would have been given three and a half]. I love the way this author writes, it's easy to get into and her books often seem to come to life. This book, however, isn't the same. The story wasn't as intriguing as I'm used to, so it took a little longer to finish it. At the end, I just had a feeling of, "this is it? This is what she was building up to?". If you're a fan of Lackey, the book is worth picking up and adding to your collection. If this is where you're starting.. I hope it doesn't turn anyone away. There are better books [such as Take a Thief] that would keep you with her.
Rating: 
Summary: Bright Beginning In a New Series!!
Review: Huzzah for Mercedes Lackey!! Joust is a cracking good beginning to a new series from this established fantasy writer. In it she takes on a new world *a great adaptation of Ancient Egyptian blended with her own ideas* and focuses on the great war between two nations: Tia and Alta. The book's protagonist, Vetch, is a young Altan serf who is taken from his master and made to serve the Tian Jousters, soldiers who ride great dragons into aerial combat against Alta. Vetch's new master, Jouster Ari, is the only dragon soldier in either country to have hatched and raised his own dragon. During his time with Ari, Vetch comes to appreciate the strength and beauty of the dragons and manages to steal an egg to raise on his own. He also learns that not all Tians are the "Great Enemy" of Alta and must come to terms with what his life will have to be once his dragon hatches. Lackey shines with this new series and with fresh material and characters I cannot wait to see what further adventures Vetch has in store for him. Buy This Book!!!
Rating:
Summary: Bright Beginning In a New Series!!
Review: Huzzah for Mercedes Lackey!! Joust is a cracking good beginning to a new series from this established fantasy writer. In it she takes on a new world *a great adaptation of Ancient Egyptian blended with her own ideas* and focuses on the great war between two nations: Tia and Alta. The book's protagonist, Vetch, is a young Altan serf who is taken from his master and made to serve the Tian Jousters, soldiers who ride great dragons into aerial combat against Alta. Vetch's new master, Jouster Ari, is the only dragon soldier in either country to have hatched and raised his own dragon. During his time with Ari, Vetch comes to appreciate the strength and beauty of the dragons and manages to steal an egg to raise on his own. He also learns that not all Tians are the "Great Enemy" of Alta and must come to terms with what his life will have to be once his dragon hatches. Lackey shines with this new series and with fresh material and characters I cannot wait to see what further adventures Vetch has in store for him. Buy This Book!!!
Rating:
Summary: A very nicely done novel
Review: I am a fan of Mercedes Lackey, and also of dragons, so I had great expectations of this book when I purchased it. Thankfully, I was not disappointed. It's easy to identify with the main character, Vetch, and the tale itself is as well-told as usual. The best part, however, was the dragons. Their appearances and habits, the methods used by humans to deal with them, and their effect on the world they live on is meticulously outlined. The depth of the detail is astonishing, as well as the originality--these are not just Pernese dragons set in Egypt. All in all, it was a fascinating read, and definitely up to, perhaps even surpassing, the standards set by her previous novels.
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Summary: Wonderful Dragons!
Review: I bought this book because I'm a fan of Anne McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern series, and this looked like it might be in that vein. I was not disappointed. The dragons themselves were characters along with the more traditonal human ones, something that Lackey shares with McCaffrey. This is the first of Mercedes Lackey's books that I've read, and I was really impressed with her attention to characters and details. I'm assuming that this is the first in a new series, as the book ends leaving the reader wanting to know more about Vetch (or Kiron) and his dragon Avartre. I'm looking forward to further adventures.
Rating:
Summary: Another great one by Lackey
Review: I could not wait for the book to come out and bought it as soon as it appeared on the shelf. Then I read the book in less than 48 hours and loved it! I literally could not put it down and even dragged the book to work to read on my lunch break. Okay, so it's like, the same old dragon story but it was the characters that kept me attached and reading. I have always been a fan of Mercedes Lackey since the time I picked up The Black Gryphon in a bookstore on a whim and have never been disappointed. For anyone who has read The Elvenbane, these are not the same thinking, talking dragons, they are more like tamed animals, but are still very lovable in their own way. Joust is a must read for any Mercedes Lackey fan. God bless America and all the Armed Forces who are risking their lives to ensure our safety and freedom. Our prayers are with you and your loved ones until you come safely home...
Rating:
Summary: Liked it but very close to Jane Yolan's Dragons Blood
Review: I enjoyed the story very much but I'm concerned by how closely it paralles Yolan's Dragon's blood. I'm sure it wasn't deliberate and I look forward to a sequel. I didn't see much comparison with McCaffrey's dragons at all. The similarities between this one and Dragon's blood are basically that a bond servent / slave steals a dragons egg and raises it to adulthood to gain his freedom. In Dragons Blood the dragons are used for arena fighting and in Joust they are used for airial combat in a war.
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