Rating: 
Summary: Interesting characters but slow to mature
Review: ...The Ring is more of a three-and-a-half star book than either a four or three. The Ring is as engrossing a read as its predecessor, The Sword. However, once the last page is read, you can't help but think that not very much happened after the first hundred pages (almost the exact opposite of The Sword, where not very much happened *during* the first hundred pages). There are many bright spots here, nevertheless. The secondary plot involving Alexeika becomes more interesting. Prince Gavril's character becomes more complex and less an object of loathing. And the hero Dain comes into his own in a way that leaves the reader on the edge of the seat. The series remains very much worthwhile.
Rating: 
Summary: Very Good, But a Little Empty
Review: ...The Ring is more of a three-and-a-half star book than either a four or three. The Ring is as engrossing a read as its predecessor, The Sword. However, once the last page is read, you can't help but think that not very much happened after the first hundred pages (almost the exact opposite of The Sword, where not very much happened *during* the first hundred pages). There are many bright spots here, nevertheless. The secondary plot involving Alexeika becomes more interesting. Prince Gavril's character becomes more complex and less an object of loathing. And the hero Dain comes into his own in a way that leaves the reader on the edge of the seat. The series remains very much worthwhile.
Rating:
Summary: Thought it would be better
Review: A little disappointing after the first book. The plot seems to take a detour and really leaves you wondering if you care to continue. Perhaps the last book will bring it all together, but I don't know if I want to waste the time.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting characters but slow to mature
Review: I enjoyed the first book in this series. The primary characters were young and energetic, irresponsible, but maturing. This book (The Ring), though, and the final book (The Chalice) were a dissapointment to me. The leading character, a maturing king, never seem to mature at all except in size, and I was confused to why others in the story would support his rise to power. Many of the emotions were lost to me as I watched powerful leaders of armys follow, what I considered to be, a relatively shallow and petty "would be king" with powerful weapons.
I do believe the author is a gifted writer. In many ways, though, this series gave me the same feeling as the Clan of the Cave Bears series, where I lost touch with the rational of the characters after the first book and started skipping pages just to get through.
Rating: 
Summary: Overwhelming Experience
Review: I have been a fan of Debra Chesters books for a long time. And I have to say they are just getting better and better!!! She describes everything so vividly that I cant stop reading. I feel that im really there. The characters are so well developed... along with all the wonderfull views of there surrondings!!! I feel I know these characters as if I was the character myself. I recommend these books to anyone who will listen. THey inspire and grow on you. I can hardly wait for "The Chalice" to come out. Been searching for a release date but still no outcome=) Hopefully very soon!!!
Rating:
Summary: not quite as good as the first, but still worth it
Review: I was pleasantly surprised by the first book in this trilogy (The Sword), so I had high hopes for the second. Unfortunately, it was a bit of a let-down. This isn't to say that it wasn't a good book--which it was--but I didn't think it was up to the same standards as The Sword. The Ring is a good follow-up to its predecessor in that it expands on many of the characters, Gavril & Pheresa in particular. Chester creates very vivid characters, and succeeds in forcing the reader to re-think their initial reactions. A good example of this is Pheresa, whom you may not like as much by the end (of course, that's assuming you liked her to begin with!). I still wanted to smack Gavril, but even with him there are times when I was undecided about his motives and real feelings. Dain & Alexeika continue to be likeable heroes, though I thought Dain seemed a little overly naive at times. Besides the characters, Ms Chester's action scenes continue to be excellent in pace and description. So what exactly made me rate this book four stars? Well, partly because the story just wasn't long enough. The amount of character development and action just doesn't quite fit into the narrow span of time the story actually covers. Sometimes the characters' changes of feeling seemed a bit rushed, as if the author was trying to cram it all in an allowed word count. I wish that Ms Chester had written a longer book and extended the amount of time within the novel's world. It's the subtle, almost intangible things in the book which made me rate it lower than The Sword, but still I lost myself in the world of Mandria and Nether. This is an enjoyable book, and I recommend it to anyone who likes fast-paced action fantasy.
Rating:
Summary: not quite as good as the first, but still worth it
Review: I was pleasantly surprised by the first book in this trilogy (The Sword), so I had high hopes for the second. Unfortunately, it was a bit of a let-down. This isn't to say that it wasn't a good book--which it was--but I didn't think it was up to the same standards as The Sword. The Ring is a good follow-up to its predecessor in that it expands on many of the characters, Gavril & Pheresa in particular. Chester creates very vivid characters, and succeeds in forcing the reader to re-think their initial reactions. A good example of this is Pheresa, whom you may not like as much by the end (of course, that's assuming you liked her to begin with!). I still wanted to smack Gavril, but even with him there are times when I was undecided about his motives and real feelings. Dain & Alexeika continue to be likeable heroes, though I thought Dain seemed a little overly naive at times. Besides the characters, Ms Chester's action scenes continue to be excellent in pace and description. So what exactly made me rate this book four stars? Well, partly because the story just wasn't long enough. The amount of character development and action just doesn't quite fit into the narrow span of time the story actually covers. Sometimes the characters' changes of feeling seemed a bit rushed, as if the author was trying to cram it all in an allowed word count. I wish that Ms Chester had written a longer book and extended the amount of time within the novel's world. It's the subtle, almost intangible things in the book which made me rate it lower than The Sword, but still I lost myself in the world of Mandria and Nether. This is an enjoyable book, and I recommend it to anyone who likes fast-paced action fantasy.
Rating:
Summary: The amazing trilogy continues...
Review: In, The Sword, we were introduced to many characters including; Gavril, the spoiled prince with dark ambitions; Alexeika, the strong princesses with hopes and dreams to overthrow an evil usurper King; Pheresa, the tentative bride-to-be of prince Gavril who is not used to courtly life; and Dain, the part eldin boy destined to things greater than he could ever imagine. The second thrilling, but flawed, book picks up pretty much exactly where The Sword Left off. Dain is now the Chevards adoptive son, although the adoption won't be considered legal until Dain gets permission from the King. To fulfill this quest Dain travels to the city with the spoiled Prince Gavril and his new and beloved farther. Unfortunately tragedy strikes on the way to the castle and Dain realizes that only he can meet the King and ask for his signature. Dain travels to the castle and immediately finds himself facing culture shock. Life in the city is not the same as his simple country life. People are both fascinated and fearful because of his eldin blood and alien ways. Just when Dain thinks he may eventually fit into court and be able to handle life as a chevard, he gets a message in the form of a dream. This one is from his real father, the former half-eldin King of Nether whose thrown was usurped by his own brother and Dain's uncle. Dain now knows that he is Faldain, and it's his duty to reclaim his throne. Unfortunately it's not that easy. Meanwhile Princess and warrior Alexeika's only hope for a rebellion is shattered when her camp is attacked by nonkind. She is kidnapped and tortured as a prisoner to the nonkind. She knows she must escape. More than her own life depends on it. At court Princess Pheresa faces a much different trouble. Princess Gavril is her betrothed but it appears he'll never officially propose to her. And Prince Gavril ... he's up to something dark and dangerous that he could never really control. I actually enjoyed this a little more than the last book but I still couldn't give it a 5 star rating. It's more of a 4.5 star rating than anything. The book was great, the characters are developing quite nicely, and the plot is surprisingly original for such a common story line. The only thing I have a problem is that the book is almost unbalanced. You hear a lot about Dain's story but not so much about everyone else. Gavril gets his fair share of screen time but Alexeika, who is supposed to be the big female hero of the series, kind of disappears part way through the book. Pheresa gets a very small part considering she is a very important character. That can all be amended though in the final book of the series, The Chalice. I can't wait to get my hands on it and finish this entertaining trilogy.
Rating:
Summary: Refreshing
Review: It has been a while since I have read a book as good as this. Although there are a few annoying habbits (someone mentioned how everyone turned red with anger), I find these to be minor. She keeps the plot running and suprised me at many times with the outcome of situations. She painted her scenes well without going into mind numbing detail which seems to be fad of late with many authors. I would say this is so far one of the best series I have read in a long time (I am half way through book three at the moment).
Rating:
Summary: so-so
Review: its an all-right book, but not as good as the first. Doesnt stand out paticularly.
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