Rating: 
Summary: Become a McKiernan Reader....
Review: ALong with his first book in this series, he has once again been able to take my mind and transport it into a new world. The characters are believable and make you wish that you could be there, fighting right next to them. All of his books are this way, if you love a great story to get away from your boring life. Jump into any of his wonderful books, the world of Mithgar awaits.
Rating: 
Summary: Never disappointed!
Review: As a long time McKiernan fan, I briefly strayed for some years but found my way back and was not disappointed. I couldn't put the book down and cannot wait until the last book is on the shelves! By the way when will that be?
Rating: 
Summary: Great characters, who deserve a better book
Review: Dennis McKiernan has a talent for creating likable characters who catch your interest and make you care for them. He has done that in this book. Unfortunately, he takes them nowhere, very slowly. I read fantasy for escapism. When it reads more like an essay on the dichotomy between good and evil, it is time to re-think the basic premises. Introspection and soul-searchng are wonderful, character-developing tools. Mr. McKiernan has mis-used them, and sold out; he could have written a much bettter book in one volume, but sold out for the bucks. This leaves me on the horns of a dilemma; do I just ignore the next volume (Into the Fire), or take a chance that he got it together and go on? I probably will read the next book, but I will reserve judgement. . . .
Rating:
Summary: Great Twists
Review: Dennis McKiernan has never disappointed over the years as I have kept up with his books from the beginning. Into the Fire does not disappoint. This tale envelopes the reader and carries them through the journey with the characters. Lots of suspense right up to the very end. This duology is a must read for any Tolkien fanatic.
Rating:
Summary: Great Twists
Review: Dennis McKiernan has never disappointed over the years as I have kept up with his books from the beginning. Into the Fire does not disappoint. This tale envelopes the reader and carries them through the journey with the characters. Lots of suspense right up to the very end. This duology is a must read for any Tolkien fanatic.
Rating:
Summary: Loved it.
Review: I cannot express the sheer joy that Denis books bring me. Yes, there is a mulitude of fantasy out there, and each can be unique. What I find appealing bout McKiernan's books that I feel a true sense of 'home' to his books. I truly love going back to the wonderful world he has created. The previous reviewer said he felt McKiernan has sold out by spreading this tale over two books. Hardly. Sold out, never. Authors such as Goodkind and Jordan are more of a sell out by spreading there tales over countless novels. No, this tale is amazing.
Rating:
Summary: Such cruel comments about a wonderful book!
Review: I find it hard to believe that anyone could ever comment negatively on Dennis McKiernan! Although this book wasn't my favorite, it's still a very good, very well-written one! I'm shocked to see so many bad reviews on one of today's most marvellous writers! His characters are lively, plus Dennis delves into philosophical subjects, such as eternal life, fate, and many other things. A definite must for fantasy lovers everywhere.
Rating: 
Summary: What's the plot?
Review: I found this second book of Dennis's to be very lacking, which moved me to write this review. The excellent storylines found in his previous work is nonexistant here in this duology. The characters are shake-and-bake "hobbits" with flat personalities. There is no realism in the characters, either. No personality conflicts, no passion, just a sugary goodness that is hard to believe. The badguys are always off-camera, except for the seemingly endless battle scenes that are boring because they are the same each time: the goodguys always lose troops, but never "key" goodguys, and the enemy is always *cleverly* outsmarted. The second book is bereft of plot, as well. Halfway through the book, the Silver Sword is mentioned in the hands of an unknown character, Galarun, who is promtly killed. This book went to the printer as a first draft, and I hope the quality of McKieran's future releases makes it over the bar instead of doing the limbo. One last thought on this book: "Barn rats!"
Rating: 
Summary: One of the worst i have ever read!
Review: I gave the first book in this duology a tepid 3 stars, more for potential than anything. But it all unravels in the 2nd book. I cannot begin to tell you just how awful a mess this is, but I will do my best. My theory on this series is this: I think McKiernan had a decent idea for a single book and his editors told him to stretch the story out to two books to make more money. The story is padded with long periods where the characters just sit around and do nothing because the weather is too bad to travel. And it really seems like McKiernan was making it up as he went. Some major points: 1) In the first book two warrows (i.e. halflings) went on a quest to deliver a mysterious token to who knows where or who. We don't know what it's for, what it does, or why it's so important. When it's finally delivered some 600 pages into the story, well, to say the coins purpose was underwhelming would be an enourmous understatement. 2) We are never given any view from the antagonists point of view. It seems like they started a war just because they are "evil" and that's what evil people do. 3) The two warrows are weak characters incapable of carrying a story for almost 1000 pages. The two are constantly bursting into tears whenever something bad happens. 4) 2/3 of the way through this book, we find out there is a silver sword that can kill the evil God Gyphon. Huh?? That's like Frodo finding out in Return of the King that the One Ring can be destroyed by throwing it into Mt. Doom. 5) The charcters often discuss the length of their journey in leagues, but quickly another translates it into miles. Why? Why not just use one or the other? Don't you think we could have figured out the miles after three or four times? 6) Very clumsy writing. The characters to not eat "breakfast' they eat 'Break of fast". Word origins asided, this is very clumsy phrasing that is used over and over again. Even worse is another phrase that is used probably 50 times in the two books, "Of a sudden". As in, "Of a sudden the monster attacked", or "Of a sudden the rains came." I mean, coundn't McKiernan come up with something else like "Suddenly" or "Without warning". And where the hell was the editor? Why did he let the same phrase be used over and over? 7) It seems all the different races of the world have different words for the same thing. This gets very confusing when you have over a half dozen races all referring to the same thing with a different word. Ever heard of a common tongue? 8) The map included is almost useless. You go almost 500 pages before any of the locations described in the story actually show up on the maps. You have no idea where the characters start out from. 9) considering the amount of time they sit around waiting for the weather to improve, you'd think that they would have lost the war a long time ago. Seriously, the characters sit around for months at a time waiting out the weather and doing nothing. 10) McKiernan's rep for being a Tolkein swipe is deserved. These are Tolkein elements essentially renamed. Hobbits become Warrors, Orcs become Rucks, Urak hai become Hloks, Worgs become Vargs, and on and on...I mean even if you cannot come up with an original idea, at least change the names enough to avoid unflattering comparisons. I really wanted to like this series as i am a sucker for a good quest story, but there is just so much that is bad about this that it's impossible to overlook. I think this will be my last experience with Mr. McKiernan.
Rating:
Summary: One of the worst i have ever read!
Review: I gave the first book in this duology a tepid 3 stars, more for potential than anything. But it all unravels in the 2nd book. I cannot begin to tell you just how awful a mess this is, but I will do my best. My theory on this series is this: I think McKiernan had a decent idea for a single book and his editors told him to stretch the story out to two books to make more money. The story is padded with long periods where the characters just sit around and do nothing because the weather is too bad to travel. And it really seems like McKiernan was making it up as he went. Some major points: 1) In the first book two warrows (i.e. halflings) went on a quest to deliver a mysterious token to who knows where or who. We don't know what it's for, what it does, or why it's so important. When it's finally delivered some 600 pages into the story, well, to say the coins purpose was underwhelming would be an enourmous understatement. 2) We are never given any view from the antagonists point of view. It seems like they started a war just because they are "evil" and that's what evil people do. 3) The two warrows are weak characters incapable of carrying a story for almost 1000 pages. The two are constantly bursting into tears whenever something bad happens. 4) 2/3 of the way through this book, we find out there is a silver sword that can kill the evil God Gyphon. Huh?? That's like Frodo finding out in Return of the King that the One Ring can be destroyed by throwing it into Mt. Doom. 5) The charcters often discuss the length of their journey in leagues, but quickly another translates it into miles. Why? Why not just use one or the other? Don't you think we could have figured out the miles after three or four times? 6) Very clumsy writing. The characters to not eat "breakfast' they eat 'Break of fast". Word origins asided, this is very clumsy phrasing that is used over and over again. Even worse is another phrase that is used probably 50 times in the two books, "Of a sudden". As in, "Of a sudden the monster attacked", or "Of a sudden the rains came." I mean, coundn't McKiernan come up with something else like "Suddenly" or "Without warning". And where the hell was the editor? Why did he let the same phrase be used over and over? 7) It seems all the different races of the world have different words for the same thing. This gets very confusing when you have over a half dozen races all referring to the same thing with a different word. Ever heard of a common tongue? 8) The map included is almost useless. You go almost 500 pages before any of the locations described in the story actually show up on the maps. You have no idea where the characters start out from. 9) considering the amount of time they sit around waiting for the weather to improve, you'd think that they would have lost the war a long time ago. Seriously, the characters sit around for months at a time waiting out the weather and doing nothing. 10) McKiernan's rep for being a Tolkein swipe is deserved. These are Tolkein elements essentially renamed. Hobbits become Warrors, Orcs become Rucks, Urak hai become Hloks, Worgs become Vargs, and on and on...I mean even if you cannot come up with an original idea, at least change the names enough to avoid unflattering comparisons. I really wanted to like this series as i am a sucker for a good quest story, but there is just so much that is bad about this that it's impossible to overlook. I think this will be my last experience with Mr. McKiernan.
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