Rating: 
Summary: Not great but I couldn't put it down
Review: I wouldn't say it's as good as L.E. Modesitt's Towers of the Sunset, but I enjoyed this book. Yes, I was confused when I found that Jack was suddenly 17 and not 9 anymore in the beginning of the first chapter, but it wasn't a drastic and maddening change. I found it was hard to put down because the characters are contagious. They make you want to find out what happens to them, and I finished the book in 3 days. I would recommend it to a novice in sci-fi/fantasy books, but I'm pretty sure a veteran of this genre wouldn't be inpressed.
Rating: 
Summary: Baker's Boy burnt to a crisp
Review: I finished reading this trash after thoroughly enjoying Robin Hobb's Farseer Trilogy and I must say that it was comparable to gulping rat poison after sipping sweet wine. Besides having THE worst cover in the history of all fantasy novels, the ending was preposterous, the characters idiotic, the plot.....what plot!? I was constantly looking over my shoulder to see if anyone caught me reading this swill. I'm embarassed to say I actually finished it. I fear for the future of fantasy, God help us all.
Rating:
Summary: A NICE FANTASY BOOK
Review: I previously though fantasy literature was already dead because of the inexistent quality in most of the books I read. Mrs. Jones (and others -like Tad Williams-) give new life to the gener. They are not Tolkien but I am enjoying reading the entire series of "The Book of Words"
Rating:
Summary: A reasonable book, but...
Review: I found the story quite good, or at least not as bad as some I have had the misfortune to read. The plot was at times difficult to follow as the story jumped between the various sites within chapters: I feel to would have been better if Julie had kept the two main storylines (Jack/Melli and Tawl) in separate chapters. A vague timeline (eg five years later) at the start of a chapter would also have helped: at one point I was two pages into the chapter before I realised the nine-year-old Jack was now nearer 17!. I agree that the ending was a bit loose but it was always stated to be part of a series of books (after having read Piers Anthony and Terry Pratchett, I find a 3-book trilogy unusual). I certainly will want to read the rest of the series.
Rating:
Summary: good trashy fiction
Review: So far as trashy fantasy goes, this book ain't bad. The Luke Skywalker-ish coming of age thing is a tried and true fantasy device, and Jones adds interest by setting this against an idealist's fall and disillusionment in another character. Good escapist read, if you're into that kinda thing. Many male readers I know avoid female fantasy authors (for the most part with good reason). Women don't seem to quite capture the adolescent escapist fantasies that men/boys desire. (I'm not talking about sex.) Jones presents a likable main character that a geeky guy like me can identify with. I was pleasantly surprised. Is Jones really a woman? I only give this three stars because despite it being a good read it's still fluffy drivel. Let's just say if Tolkein is a 5 and the Thomas Covenant series rank 4, then this is really like a 1 star. But since the fantasy world has been pretty dry lately, I'll be generous and give it a 3. I'll still read the rest of the series though.
Rating: 
Summary: VERY VERY INTERESTING
Review: I HAVE READ THIS BOOK AND I WOULD RECOMED IT TO ONE AND ALL. THIS AUTHOR HAS A BRILLIANT MIND IF NOT A LITTLE DISTURBING. JUST KIDDING! HER DETAILS AND THE WAY IT MAKES YOU FEEL A PART OF THE STORY IS AMAZING. I CAN JUST PICTURE MYSELF SAILING WITH A BUNCH OF CRUSTY OLD SAILORS TO AN ISLAND OF ??????? I LOVE YOUR WORK JULIE . KEEP IT UP.
Rating:
Summary: Extremely disappointing - don't waste your time
Review: Although it can be rather cheesy at times I enjoyed this book until the ending. The ending totally frustrated me. There was no real climax and it left you completely hanging on all of the plot lines. There was no wrap up. I felt like JV Jones wrote one really big book and then just divided it up into pieces. I haven't read the other books in the series and I doubt I'll bother. I was very disappointed. Since one of the other reviewers hated the ending of the series itself, I don't think I'll bother reading any more. for a point of reference on my taste, I love Terry Pratchett, Nancy Collins, and Christopher Moore, to name a few.
Rating: 
Summary: A very good and entertaining book. Worth looking for!
Review: Baker's Boy is a very good book to read but the author's promise of powerful knowledge learned by the baker's boy is unfulfilled. If not for that this would be a 5 star book in my opinion.
Rating:
Summary: Good story, but disjointed.
Review: It is a good story and an easy read. Ms. Jones weaves many subplots, but at the end of the first book they are all still separate threads. We still do not know what Jack is supposed to save the world from, we don't know what happened on Larn, we don't even know if we are supposed to like Melli or Tawl. And how can there be all those tunnels in the castle that no one knows about? I do want to find out what happens with Jack, so I will have to read the next book in the series. One more comment: there are way too many villains here. (I count four.)
Rating:
Summary: Great ideas, interesting characters, fun to read.
Review: A very worth while reading that has some very interesting characters and novel plot. My only criticism is that the story jumped around too much from character to character and never really let them fully develop with the story. I was disappointed that the ending of the book didn't tie up any loose ends at all. I realize the idea is to encourage the reader to buy the next installment of the trilogy, but I think the author goes a little too far here.
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