The Magic of Recluce (Recluce series, Book 1)

Rating:
Summary: The philosophy is fascinating the writing not so captivating
Review: I've been reading all of the books in the series, and I'd have to say no matter which book you read first, it will probably be the best one. After the first you will quickly learn that much of the writing is burdened with redundant and trivial detail. The philosophy behind the story is fascinating; the writing, not so captivating. Yet the story continues to evolve with fresh ideas, angles, and principals that you may find worth the read.

Rating:
Summary: Review
Review: I really liked this book because I have read a lot of scifi/fantasy books and this was one of the better ones. This book was exciting and full of great imagination. The only bad part about this book is that it had way too many sound effects.

Rating:
Summary: A Great Book
Review: This is one of best books I ever rea

Rating:
Summary: Started out with promise...
Review: Keyword: "Started" after the quest actually starts, the book starts to stop entertaining. Basically a young boy named Lerris is put on a quest. Apparently the book is based on stupidity. Lerris is thrown out because he's bored. There is also something about Chaos and Order. Early on it is explained that Choas is not nessecarily evil. Unfortunately just about everything in the story contradicts this: Choas-masters have to possess, therefore kill, others so that using magic won't kill them, all the Choas-filled people are usually mean, etc. whereas orderly people are all nicey-nice. Also everything in this book is just rediculus, since when is random girl #2236 off the street suddenly made a commander of an army? And why is a supposedly all-powerful magician killed just by being touched? Lets not forget the tendancy of this book to introcue a new character, keep him/her/them around for about five to ten chapters, then drop them, and only four of them end up returning later on. On the up side, Lerris is rather interesting and sometimes even funny. Other than that there is little reason to pick up this book. Now if you'll excuse me, someone has his gun to my head, I think I'll fill it with complete order so it'll burn his hand and kill him...

Rating:
Summary: Comic-book style coming of age story
Review: A novel full of oddities. The author shows a strange habit for carefully developing characters, then abruptly leaving them by the wayside (several of Lerris's classmates). Lerris wastes time and energy on pursuing obvious puzzles while ignoring more intriguing ones. ('Hey! I think my father just read my mind! Oh well'). Modestti takes just as callous a David Eddings-like approach to his villains (build up, build up, build up - thunk, dead). Occasionally entertaining, but mostly pointless.

Rating:
Summary: Better the second time
Review: The first time I read this book I thought it was OK. However, I read again and realized what a really wonderful story it was. The storyline is quite fresh compared to many fantasy novels. I enjoyed seeing Lerris' character evolve. The only thing that I didn't like was the author's "sound effects." I found it distracting. ("Thunk", "Slap", "Plop"; I felt like I was watching the old "Batman" series!) But I would definitely recommend the book.

Rating:
Summary: A great book, but I advise reading them in chrono. order
Review: This is a great series, with captivating characters, I believe that there might be a little too much violence and some people might squirm with this.I believe that you, the reader should read the fall of angels first then the chaos balance, then towers of sunset, then Magic Engineer(sorry but this might help you figure stuff out) then the Order War, and then the Magic of Recluse. I really enjoy this author's novels, and I am an avid reader of fantasy/sf I recommend this to all.

Rating:
Summary: A book well worth the read
Review: This is the beginning of a series that I just can't get enough of. And I read a lot. Well worth the time to read it, and the rest of them also.

Rating:
Summary: Wow!
Review: I can't believe some of you guys gave one star! Its magnificant, superb and a great read!

Rating:
Summary: A bevy of original ideas balked by a halting storyline.
Review: There was much about this book that I liked: A unique world unlike any other in fantasy fiction; an original approach to magic and its presence. However, at times I found his characterizations one dimensional, some of the same appeared and disappeared with disconcerting precipitance, and the plot line could shift just as abruptly. And, overall, there was a dissatisfying lack of closure and discontinuity to much of the story. I won't say this is the last book I will read of the "Recluse" series - the book did have moments of genuine interest - but I will wait until nothing of greater interest is on the reading horizon.