Rating: 
Summary: Just amazing
Review: This was as exciting a fantasy novel as I have ever read. The action/fighting scenes just knocked me out. I've probably read ever major fantasy to come along in the last thirty years, but this one was special. The pace of the book was great. There was poignancy and high adventure and humor. Mathew Lewin is a marvelous character who reminds me of Horatio Hornblower and Father Thomas has got to be one of the best fiction characters to come along in years and years.I'm hoping the author will write a sequel quickly, because everyone I know has been talking about this book. I can't wait for the next installment.
Rating:
Summary: Top Honors
Review: One of the best books I've ever read. Definitely a favorite. I laughed, got teary eyes, and stayed up until the wee hours of the morning. I've been a fantasy reader all my life and can absolutely recommend "The Fifth Ring" to anyone who enjoys a sterling action adventure with superb characters.
Rating:
Summary: Great New Fantasy Epic
Review: I met the author at a signing recently and was really impressed by him, so I bought the book. It has quickly become one of my favorites. In my opinion, Mr. Graham is the equal of Raymond Feist or David Weber any day in the week. His style of writing is clear and conscice, without the overue of adjectives and adverbs. The plot got me right away and kept me interested throughout. One of my buddies who also read the book complained that it's just standard fantasy stuff, and to some extent I'd have to agree. Where we differ is in Graham's ability to tell a story. The guy is simply top notch. I loved the characters, particularly Father Thomas and Gawl. The fight scenes will knock you out. If there's a sequel in store, I'm definitely buying. This gets my top rating. Vern
Rating: 
Summary: Go to the library..
Review: This novel is at best average. I hate not being complimentary of a novel. However, it's hard to find much good to say about this one, since it has no originality to it. Every major plot device and character is ripped from other better novels. I felt i was reading a combination of Jordan, HG Wells, Donaldson and Tolkien all wrapped up in one. So the bad guys are Orlocks, not Morlocks. But they still live underground, still eat people, still have the same basic description as HG Wells characters. So there are 8 rings of power instead of nine that give great powers to the wearers. The main characters are taken directly from Jordans wheel of time. Matthew is Rand, Collin is Mat, Daniel is Perrin, Lara is Egwene, Father Thomas is Thom...They flee a small village where they grew up after its been attacked by Trollocs, i mean orlocks, because someone is being searched for. Matthews control of his ring is eeerily similar to Thomas Covenants struggle with his ring, although he becomes very adapt at using it in an unbelieveably short time period (oh, matthews ring is rose gold not white gold). All in all, the actual events that take place, especially the swordfights and battles, are well done, interesting enough to keep you reading. Certain events are completely unbelieveable, and completely unexplained, but i suppose thats fantasy for you. This is a nice light book that is a very fast read and good to kill some time. But if you are looking for some well thought out, unique fantasy, this is certainly not it. The author shows he can write, he just needs to come up with some original thoughts to write about...
Rating:
Summary: A Great Book
Review: "The Fifth Ring" is a great book in many ways. The characters are alive and the world is rich in detail. I truly enjoyed the story. It wa sfast paced and hooked me from the get go. The females are not as interesting or as colorful as the males, but there is lots of room for them to grow in the sequels. Being a writer myself, the highest compliment I can give a book is when I put down my own stuff to read someone else's work. That's what happened here. What are you waiting for? Go get this book now and enjoy!
Rating: 
Summary: Great Fun for all
Review: One of the better books I have read in a long, long while. New writer Graham is on a par with Goodkind and Feist. Comparisons to LOTR are inevitable, but quite wrong, as this work can stand on its own nicely. I might have awarded 4.5 stars, but the theme is a common one, so I rounded down instead of up. Nevertheless, it was an extrmemly entertaining book.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: There are a few things I can say about this book. First, I really enjoyed it and read it quickly. Mitchell Graham's style is smooth, polished and flows well. Second,it has very little nothing to do with the Lord of the Rings except in the broadest sense. There is magic of a sort, but it's based on a machine the Ancients created. There is a dark lord and the tale is an epi, but that's where it ends. One of the best things about THE FIFTH RING is the detailed world-building --really excellent. Another is the interesting relationships between characters. They're fun and enjoyable. Several things I liked a lot were the touches of humor (very well placed) and the fight scenes. If there's a writer out there who can do it better than Graham (he's a champion fencer himself) I've yet to meet them. I'd have no trouble strongly recommending this book to anyone.
Rating:
Summary: Top Honors
Review: I've been reading fantasy books since I was a kid and was blown away by this one. The humor was a hoot and the soaring action scenes are just amazing. I'd also have to say everything about the story worked really well from the characters' friendships to the villians. The plot isn't anything new, but it was fun and enjoyable to read. The only problem is that it's a trilogy and I have to figure out a way to hold my breath until the next installment. According to the publisher that will be in December. I couldn't find any negatives in new author Graham's work and can recommend it without reservation
Rating:
Summary: Just Super
Review: Got this one on the recommendation of a friend in my reading group and loved it. The battles and fights are the best I've ever come across. Graham's style of writing is defintiely on a par with such great as Raymond Feist or Terry Brooks. Since it's a trilogy, I'll be looking for the sequel.
Rating:
Summary: A really good book
Review: To be honest, I never read fantasy and I picked this one up on a whim. I found it fun to read and it held my interest throughout. The world Mitchell Graham created is detailed and elaborate.
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