Rating: 
Summary: Not recommended
Review: Haydon has created an intricate and interesting world in this series (of which this book of the first). Yet while her style is polished and readable, I found too much of this book and its sequels to be eomtionally overdone. Since I don't want to give away actual story elements for those who wish to read the books, I'll try to explain without specific story examples.Several times, I found myself wishing to have more plot explanation and less examination of the characters' overwrought emotions. The characters' endless agonizing over internal struggles, continual repetitions (without progress) of the same character conflicts, and repeated, overblown emotionalism severely damaged an otherwise excellent story. These effects are less noticeable in this first book, but by book three, I found myself saying, "Get it over with, already. Yeah, yeah, we know all about your issues with your lover/demons/friends/losses/whatever. Get ON with it." In fact, I ended up skipping half of the last book and reading simply the last chapter, without apparently losing anything. If I didn't have an absurd need for closure, I wouldn't have bothered with that much. After all, from chapter one of book one, it was pretty clear how the series would end. At the same time, there were several plot devices that simply didn't work for me. Haydon spent countless pages on the heroine's internal conflicts (which don't move the story at all), but the final major decision of this book, on which the second book is entirely based, gets half a page. A certain amount of characterization is key to engaging the reader, but the characters' emotional struggles in these books don't seem to affect the actual story in the least. Yet repeatedly in the series, pivotal plot advances were simply injected in the story, as if Haydon suddenly realized she needed to move things along. If I had to guess, I'd say there was some confusion over characters' motives (which directly drive the story) and characters' feelings (which merely fill in who the characters are). I can't recommend buying this book or its sequels. Read the first chapter of the first book and the last chapter of the last book, and you'll get the point.
Rating: 
Summary: Two dimensional
Review: Despite the fact that our heroine and her accomplices spend a large amount of time underground, the story is entirely two-dimensional. It certainly held my attention, though; I couldn't help wondering what silly episode the young Rhapsody would find herself in next. Isn't this supposed to be Fantasy, not something from a latter-day Cabinets des Fees with teenage dialog?
Rating: 
Summary: A fun book!
Review: Rhapsody is a fun book to read, set with subtle humor that is just wonderful. Rhapsody is a wonderfully strong, stubborn woman who winds up finding herself in the "company" of two very different, but eventually very likeable, shady characters. Their story kept me glued to the book until the very end, and now I can't wait to go and get the 2nd in this series.
Rating:
Summary: Boring, Romantic Drivel
Review: I found this book tedious and annoying. It was like reading a romance novel put into the Sci-fi fantasy format. A-la Mills & Boone.
Some of the adventures were fun, but overall the book just went on, and on, and on...
Rating: 
Summary: Original ideas, but...
Review: I must admit that the plot ideas in this book are pretty nice and original. I'm a fantasy writer, too, and I know how hard it is to make a plot not make you remind of some other book. But although the plot was pretty good, the book was dull. Every single charachter in this book is a regular stereotype of a fantasy charachter. Grunthor. Big strong ugly guy, but very kind and humorous. Achmed - a silent and secretive assasin, the best of his kind. Llauron - an old, wise man. Finally, look at Rhapsody. She's an idiotic woman (but for some reason sometimes she's just sooo smart) who's so beautiful everyone wants her. It's another kind of a stereotype. Besides, all these sex scenes are not needed. Although Haydon does seem to be more descriptive in those parts than in others, the book would've been much better without them. Basically, this book is good, and from a writer's point of a view, something very original, but the charachters really need more work. Besides, every good guy in the book is way too invincible.
Rating:
Summary: I'm conflicted ...
Review: This book is great! The whole trilogy is great! I love the rising female fantasy writers because of the emotion they build into their stories. But what I don't understand (and maybe this is bacause I am a male) is why some of the up and coming female fantasy authors seem to be hanging on to sexually explicit scenes (or at least scenes with overly explicit descriptions and conversation) such as what one would find in a pulp fiction lust novel. Juliet Marillier is another such author who wrote a wonderful trilogy, a wonderful heart-ripping love story, but cheapened it with such imagery. Isn't it possible to have lots of emotion, reveal the evil side of humanity, and still keep it rated PG?
Rating: 
Summary: Great Read
Review: I did not know what to expect when I picked up this book, but wow what a great story. Unlike many fantacy novals there isen't a big fight that everything is leading up to, it is just an amazing story. Their isen't anything gripping about this book, yet I could not put it down. Also a warning to any who feel the need for 'closer' at the end of a book, you are not going to get it here. The book just ends and leaves you wanting more. I sugest buying Prophecy along with Rhapsody, as it imeadatly picks up the thread of the story.
Rating:
Summary: Antifeminist Tripe
Review: I thought this was going to be a good book. However, I couldn't get over the "something-about-Mary" gag factor. The main character, Rhapsody, is so beautiful & perfect that every man wants her, though she, of course, doesn't realize it--or if she does, she sweetly charms him into losing desire. Moreover, the pandering to male sexual fantasy is disgusting: Rhapsody is beautiful, blonde, skinny, and rather unintelligent (instinctual kowledge is acceptable). Moreover--and here's the kicker--she's an experienced prostitute who manages to become revirginated. What an antifeminst fantasy. Why would men want a real woman when they could fantasize about Rhapsody? I am horrified that a woman wrote this [stuff].
Rating:
Summary: I'm so glad I checked this out at the library...
Review: ..instead of actually wasting money on this slop. Perhaps my review may be a little skewered, because after reading all the glowing five-star reviews, I dove into this with high expectations, and needless to say, I was horribly disappointed. The book starts off with a seemingly pointless chapter of googly-eyed romance that is quickly forgotten and never mentioned again until some 500+ pages later. It took me some time to get past this part of the book, as it was full of cheesy, contrived dialoge topped off with smoldering soap opera-esque melodrama. Then, we get into the real meat of the story, as we are introduced to the main character, Rhapsody. If anyone has ever read fanfiction, you will know what I mean when I say that she is a cookie-cutter Mary Sue. The same pretty much applies for all the other characters that inhabit Rhapsody's cliched world. Although there are some enjoyable parts to the book, those moments are kept to a bare minimum. The rare sparks of creativity are choked under the incredible tediousness of the book; it completely lacked in suspense and it was bursting with so many flat characters that it is the first book I have failed to finish. I would not reccomend reading this, as it is far too long for a light read and far too annoying for a serious one.
Rating:
Summary: Very good effort!
Review: Rhapsody starts with an amazingly compelling introduction. I-- a veteran of Jordan, Goodkin, Lawhead, Weiss & Hickman, etc-- was immediately drawn into the series by the 'Overture' section. Had the book continued at the level of the 'overture', the book would've warranted more than 5 stars. Instead, it bogs down in a few places, shows a 'Goodkin' tendency to make 'supermen' out of the main characters, and doesn't have an overtly taught plot line. Be that as it may, the book *is* a very good read. I very much liked Rhapsody and Gunthor and, ultimately, Ashe. Achmed? Perhaps. Frankly, Haydon excels at inter-character banter and emotive descriptions. Achmed's soliloquies, though infrequent, near the end of the book seemed estranged. For example, I found myself asking, is he in love with Rhapsody? Or does he just love her as a Brother? I suppose the uncertainty of knowledge is a good thing. It even ties into some of the thematic elements in the book. The bottom line: As Haydon's first work, it's excellent. I'm looking forward to reading the remainder of the series. Buy it and read it today.
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