Rating: 
Summary: Two sides
Review: You will either love this book or dread it. Some do not understand that they are reading FANTASY. The book was overall well written if a little long but addicting. The characters have a good dialogue between them that keeps it interesting. If you skip this book you probably will lose out.
Rating:
Summary: The Best Fantasy
Review: This is a fantasy thriller that will keep you up content and excited. From the beginning to end,Elizabeth Haydon, absorbs the readers thoughts and emotions.
Rating:
Summary: Terrific Read!
Review: Rhapsody was full of humor, suspense and suprises. I suspect it would make a fabulous movie, though the romantic scene early in the story would probably never make it to the theatre. The main character, Rhapsody, is a well-rounded heroine. She ran from home to find her true love and ended up a courtesan running from an evil larger than she could have imagined. She runs into two unlikely strangers, large creatures known for cannabalism, and ends up starting on an adventure through time. Relationships are closely explained, thoughts revealed, as you watch each character learn his or her LORE, and gaining power through their journey. The ONLY thing I didnt like about it was the ending. I MUST FIND THE NEXT BOOK!
Rating: 
Summary: Waste of time
Review: I love sci-fi/fantasy and I was suckered in by many of the good reviews here. It did sound interesting, three people transported hundreds of years into the future, so I gave it a shot. I still can't believe I wasted two days on this book and the two following it. I curse the fact that I'm one of the sort of people that needs resolution, even if it means wading through three books of complete drivel.
Achmed and Grunthor were the only reasons I didn't use this book to start a bonfire. Those two are actually interesting characters, even if they're turned into metaphorical eunuchs later on. I skipped pages to read more about them and to get away from Mary Sue--oh, sorry, I mean Rhapsody.Let's talk about Rhapsody. How perfect does a character really need to be? This woman is blond, thin, beautiful beyond description, modest, magically talented, an expert swordswoman, loves all children -- excuse me while I go retch. She started out fairly well, a former prostitute trying to escape from an over-attentive client, but it all went downhill after that. When she's "reborn" in the fire and becomes Ms. I'm So Perfect, she becomes utterly unbearable. Page after page is spent talking about her beauty and the affect it has on everyone around her -- which she, of course, has no knowledge of. I was grinding my teeth before I even made it a third of the way through the book. The horror that is Rhapsody herself aside, this book has way too many other flaws for me to recommend it. How much of a history lesson do we really need? Personally, I was almost put to sleep every time a character felt the need to lecture us for pages on end about their world's history and politics. It's boring. In fact that pretty much sums up the majority of this book. Even Achmed and Grunthor start to become a little worn by the end of the book. What made them fun is slowly stripped away by their mindless devotion to Rhapsody and their increasingly out-of-character behavior. This book, the whole trilogy, actually, is little more than a romance novel wrapped in the thin disguise of a fantasy book. If that's your sort of thing and you don't mind nauseatingly perfect, sugarcoated heroines, then you'll probably like this. If, however, you're looking for an intelligent book with a believable plot, well-rounded characters and gripping dialogue, you'll want to look elsewhere.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Source of Creativity. (also an RPG player's dream)
Review: At first glance, this book seems like another long fantasy set novel; another author-created universe with its own aspect of time, faith, and life. In a way this can be said of this book, however its far much more than a mere creation of imagination. Being the first in this series, Rhapsody must introduce so much within the story, and its in doing this that Haydon shows her talent as an author. The book retains the essence of storytelling while avoiding a boring textbook equal in definition. Through this way, things are explained while not leaving the action or the current setting. The main plot in short summary is the adventures of two shady figures (one a mysterious assassin, the other an ex-military warrior) and their encounter with the main character Rhapsody. Rhapsody, being hunted down by the villan of this tale literally bumps into the other two, and its from this encounter that paths combine and the story continues on its long trail. The characters all have seperate traits which are helpful as well as unique and its from this base of character ability that reminders of great RPG's (Role Playing Games) like Final Fantasy or the Chrono Series come to mind (Thus, those who are fans of these type of games will love a book series like this). For example, the differences in all three characters are well shown as one uses an aspect of stealth and ranged weaponry, one fierce melee, and one a mystical faith of singing (more on that later). This can be compared to something of Chrono Trigger, Radical Dreamers, or Chrono Cross in the sense of each character having a strict stregnth, and weakness as to support teamwork (i.e. Rhapsody's singing as a stregnth, and swordsmanship as a weakness at first). Also like an RPG the characters undergo transitions throughout the tale in skill or weapons which is obviously important as the story progresses. The final comparison is the battle sequences that are unpredictable, long and very detailed. On the topic of detail, the biggest thing which really defines this tale is that detail level. Haydon adds an outstanding amount of this detail toward scenes of importance, and its these details that not only explain things further, but also give the reader a better image of the situation. What is good about this detail is that analyzing the book for hidden answers is not a problem, as everything is defined along the flow of the tale. However, why would there be so much of this detail? Remember this is an alternate universe, and everything must be explained. Face it, creating a new universe is not simple. Everything from background, creatures, faiths, and all that good stuff must be created as to not base too much on Earth-like qualities. Haydon passes this test with flying colors with the diversity of races, locations, weapons, and faiths. If you like stories of travel and a large cast of creatures at every turn then this is your kind of book. Everything in this book from Rhapsody's singing faith (which by the way is the belief of song as the universal control of all matter), to Achmed's (the assassin) weapon is literally modeled for a new creative version that can be easily understood, but is still questionable and interesting. Achmed's weapon for example is a crossbow. Plain and simple yes? (*yawn*). Haydon though steps in and creates a newtype enigmatic weapon called a cwellan. Its with these transitions that a feeling of something new appears with every scene. As the first in an exciting series, this book does everything an introduction is supposed to do. It not only entertains the reader with a great start, but also lures readers into the world that Elizabeth Haydon created in this series.
Rating: 
Summary: From frivolous to fantastic
Review: When I first started reading this book, I thought it was awful. I had just finished reading about Paksenarrion, a female palladin warrior, whose character is just the opposite of Rhapsody. Compared to Pak, Rhapsody seemed weakly and frivolous. I just wanted to scream at her, so what if you are underground, at least you're not being tortured. But somehow Rhapsody had a way of growing on me, and by the end of the series I had totally fallen in love with her. The second book is even better!
Rating:
Summary: Gezz people give Miss. Haydon a chance
Review: I read some of the reviews on this book while I was reading it and thought to myself these people "don't get it". We must remind ourself that Miss. Haydon has just started writing fantasy which by the way she does a great job in doing. I like the character building the best from the interactions of Achmed, Rhapsody, and Grunthor, I could not put down this book and felt bad when I had to go through finals and couldn't read it for more than a two weeks. Some parts did drag but every author let's say Robert Jordan did for sure drag but at least she ends it with a chilling cliff hanger which continues in Prophecy. So please people read the book before judging it. I did and found it to be a great piece of fantasy that I will keep on my many shelves in my home.
Rating:
Summary: The Language Reeks of Clashing
Review: i did not enjoy this book. it was dull in every way possible. maybe it may have been interesting if the author did not drone endlessly for half the book about Rhapsody what's her name and the assassin dude and the "gentle giant" going underneath a tree and exploring the "Root." also the plot is too used. beautiful girl meets handsome dude. they fall in love. they are, sadly, (sniff, sniff) torn away from each other and never meet for the remainder of the book. now, years later, the girl (aka Rhaps) is somewhat kidnapped by two characters that, in my opinion, are incredibly cliched. (i mean, what is up with that, a muscular but gentle giant and a coldfaced bloody assassin that doesn't even prove his assassin abilities.?) it reeked badly, especially the language. i think the author is a little beside herself if she thinks that adding present-day language ("Hey, dude, what's up") into a medieval-like, fantasy-world setting. completely unrealistic. my suggestions? read the REAL fantasy masters--such as George R.R. Martin, and maybe even Robert Jordan if you want a long series. whatever you do do not pick up this book or read it if you do you will regret it and it will probably end up in the flames. :(
Rating: 
Summary: Pretty good over all
Review: I bought this book on sale about six months ago, and just started reading... Got addicted to it and couldn't stop till the end. Over all it is a really good book for beginning fantasy readers, but for more experienced ones it isn't that good.
Just like many other people said, history lessons take for ever, and the most terrible thing is the "Miss Perfect".
I didn't skip a word till that happened and after - I skipped pages because all they had was how perfect Rhapsody is.
Characters are well developed, but again they get degradated toward the end. One more thing... she could definately use a bit less nightmare descriptions - i got sick of reading how she woke up skreaming and all that rubish!
Wish I could give it a five, but there is simply too many flaws. It could have been better.
Rating:
Summary: Addictive
Review: This trilogy is very well written and I've never really liked characters so much after the first 100 pages. Achmed and Grunthor are hardcore and there's no way your imagination won't enjoy thinking about the way they fight. All three books keep you on the egde and the suspense of Rhapsody's romantic situation will make you want to punch the wall, despite that I don't even care to much for the romantic parts of novels. Read it! You won't be let down.
|
