Rating: 
Summary: Wide appeal, unlimited imagination, and classy
Review: I was fortunate enough to get a glimpse of this book as an advance copy, and could hardly contain my enthusiasm for it then. Now, seeing it finished, it is even more beautiful than I remembered. Great care has gone into every detail of this book, from the writing which is among the best I have read in any genre to the cover art, maps and even the color of the paper and binding. The result is a spellbinding book which truly is a rhapsody, like its title suggests.The three main characters, and some of the others as well, as so real, so multi-faceted, that you feel as if you know them almost immediately. Their moods are changeable, they get on each other's nerves, they disagree. They are foretold to possibly save the world, but not all of them are sure they want to. Thank heavens for a unique plotline! An earlier reviewer suggested they needed to come together for a higher goal--please! This was much more entertaining, and not the same old-same old fantasy revisited. The sense of history and folklore and exquisite attention to detail in this book may not be for everyone. The fantasy of Tolkien's era demanded patience and an interest in linguistics to fully be appreciated. In some ways, so does Rhapsody. Fantasy today [at least the stuff on the bestseller list] is often childish, simple, full of one dimensional action and no depth. Rhapsody has the best of the action and modern influences combined with the scholarship and love of language that Tolkien and his contemporaries had. It can appeal to everyone who has the brain and the heart to read and dream really good fantasy. I cannot think of a book I have loved more, and I recommend it without reservation.
Rating:
Summary: Highly recommended
Review: This is a tremendous book. I am a fifteen year old high school student and read fantay all the time. It is much better than omost of the stuff out there. I am outragged that anyone would say it is slow. how can anyone read the scene in the field with Michel's men and say there is no action? I could not put this book down for more than the time to eat dinner or sleep, and even them I dreamed about it. I will keep dreaming til the sequel comes out, and then I will have something else wonderful to dream about.
Rating: 
Summary: An blindingly bad book.
Review: While derivative post-Tolkien fantasy continues to predominate in the marketplace, it is heartening to see someone who has done away with Tolkien altogether and derives only from Ray Feist, Anne McCaffrey, R. A. Salvatore, and Robert Jordan. Unintentionally funny in its badness, the only fantasy work I have read that made me laugh this much was The Eye of Argon. I was utterly finished by the "proud, insolent thrusting" of the Bad Guy's one-eyed obelisk (who *did* he get for design-build??), and the author's willingess to wallow in multigenre cliches means that this will set a new standard for swill. Apparently it is not possible to award zero or negative stars here, but this book merits a thumping minus-ten. With this book, Tor insults the intelligence of its readers, and raises questions about the role of the publisher in shaping the field and public perception of it.
Rating:
Summary: I gave up after reading half of this book.
Review: Someone else suggested getting this novel from the library, before buying it. I couldn't agree more. That is what I did, and I am glad of it now. "Rhapsody" is very slow moving. There is little action, at least in the first half of the book. The main characters, Achmed, Grunthor, and Rhapsody herself, are interesting, even charming, but they never do much, and as far as I read, they didn't really achieve much together either. It is clear the author means this to be an epic tale, and so she is pacing herself. I have a lot of respect for writing, I know how tough it is to do, but I think this book would have been more interesting had the main characters come together as a group to some higher purpose or something like that. When i left off, they were basically still acquaintances who happened to be traveling together. Therefore, because of the slow movement and lack of development between the characters, I have no interest in reading anything further in this series.
Rating:
Summary: Thank You for this book
Review: This book is the best gift I have received in years. This note is my official thank you to the sender and to the author. I couldn't stop reading it. I was thrilled and scared and shivering all night while I finished it. I love the characters. For once there's a heroine that has some independence, who works without a net, and still manages to survive, even win. And even though Grunthor reminds me of my favorite guy, so I have a real picture in my head, I still say He is the most engaging cannibal you will ever read about. Looks like you'll know what to send for next birthday too. Thanks
Rating:
Summary: Best American Fantasy ever
Review: This is a terrific read. One of the best features is the style, which is not forced or stilted at all, a problem common especially in fantasy books. Readers in my native England may find her building of characters through the shorthand of dialogue troubling, but they will have to admit it is dead on. I bought two, one to send to a friend I know will love it. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Lyrical and magnificently written
Review: I logged on to Amazon to sing the praises of Elizabeth Haydon's Rhapsody, a book I picked up while traveling in America, and was astonished at one of the reviewers' comments. This is a book of rich brilliance, of stellar characterization and marvelous use of the language. Miss Haydon, allow me to be your champion and defend your honour: I recommend this book without condition or hesitation to anyone who has a deep love for fantasy; you will not be disappointed. I recommend it for anyone who has a passing interest in well-used language; you will be amazed. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys discovering a word artist with a vazt pallet of colours to paint with. You will be drawn in irrevocably. And to anyone who is wondering whether or not this book is worth your time and money, I recommend you avoid negative book reviews by people who can't spell. It's a sign of the quality of the review. Anyone who can say the characters are too good/bad or the writing style is horrible hasn't read this book.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic!
Review: A friend gave me this as a gift, and now I'm really in his debt. Elizabeth Hayden has brought back the magic so long missing in fantasy. If you love a good yarn, give this a spin!
Rating:
Summary: Good PLot, Horribal Writing style
Review: I do not know if it is because I read fantasy as a young man and didn't know good writing from a good plot or what, but This woman has alot of maturing to do with her writing style, I found it to be rather childish, though the concept I thought was good, I however will not buy the sequel and regrett buying the hardcover... If your going to buy this then please check it out from the library, save your money for a better book.
Rating:
Summary: Original and engrossing.
Review: This is one of the few truly original fantasy stories of recentvintage, and one whose path is unpredictable as you are reading. Icould not put it down and did not finish until 5:00 a.m. this morning. Ms Haydon is an artful storyteller. Hope we do not have to wait too long for the sequel.
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