Rating: 
Summary: Excellent Follow-Up
Review: I got hooked on "The Fifth Ring" during a plane ride to Sydney, Australia and was pleased to find that author Graham already had a sequel out. (The publisher really should label them book 1; book 2, etc.)In "The Emerald Cavern" we see Mathew as older, wiser, and more worldly. In many ways this is a departure from Mr. Graham's first book in that he throws in a murder mystery for the hero to solve. The second part ends in a cliffhanger. I found each of the characters to have matured and grown since book one. It was delightful to see it happen instead of a repackaging of the first story. My conclusion is that Mitchell Graham is an extremely talented writer who bears watching. Before picking up this series I had pretty much exhausted my local bookstore's fantasy section and had almost give up on the genre. I would have no hesitation in putting these books up against anything out there. They're written with style and intelligence with just a hint of science fiction lurking in the background. If Graham writes it, I'm buying. Phillip
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding
Review: I got this book two days ago and couldn't put it down. Basically this is a continuation of Graham's Fifth Ring trilogy, the second installment in the series. In all candor, I found it to be a departure from the author's earlier style. The charactes are definitely more developed and Sennia, where Mathew Lewin goes for refuge, is a very different place from the more rural Elgaria in the first book. Since the war Mathew has become a very recognizable figure throughout the country, something he has a good deal of trouble dealing with. Lara is definitely more mature and Gawl's character more expanded. Readers will certainly find there's a lot about the giant they haven't seen before and its all fun. Father Thomas is back and as wonderful as ever. "The Emerald Cavern" brings a great deal more political complexity to the story than merely continuing the story of a battle between good and evil. This is what a fantasy is about. Characters get to visit far away places and meet interesting people. While this book is not a classic quest, it falls nicely into the epic journey category. Graham is wonderful writer who is capable of keeping the reader on the edge of his or her seat. I found the book to be quite fast paced, intel;ligently put together, and it held my interest throughout. Some people will say that Graham has thrown a murder mystery in the middle of a fantasy and they wouldn't be far from wrong. The fun part comes in seeing how MAthew solves it. Of course the battles are still there as is the humor Graham so deftly wove into "The Fifth Ring." I waited a year for this book and I wasn't disappointed by any means. This one get top marks.
Rating:
Summary: Loved it!
Review: I highly recommend this book. I found it very entertaining and a quick read. The pages just flew by. I felt myself drawn into the story right away. The descriptions were vivid, but not overblown. Personally, I thought the characters were quite easy to relate to. I'd like to know where the author gets some of his ideas, because I thought they were great. This is a wonderful story that I'll read again and again as the years go by.
Rating:
Summary: A Totally Fun Read
Review: I've been reading fantasy for the last twenty years and I have yet to find a better set of books. Mitchell Graham is a master at crafting a fight scene and developing characters with all too human qualities.
The Emerald Cavern is a sequel to The Fifth Ring. Lest you start comparing them to Tolkien . . . STOP. Outside of the heroic journey and an older man guiding a younger one, they don't touch on many levels. What makes these books go are the characters and their incredible friendships.
Mathew Lewin, the story's hero, appears here as older, wiser, and less naive. Like most teenagers he is growing into his own, yet he doesn't do it without bumping his head, as we all do from time to time.
The book has high action, a dragon that can't exist, and even a murder mystery thrown in. To top it off it has an ending that will leave your mouth open.
I give this one top marks.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderfully Done
Review: Mitchell Graham has a way of weaving a story that just keeps you coming back and back. This is his second book in The Fifth Ring series. It was a great follow-up. I thoroughly enjoyed it and am anxiously awating the concluding novel. All of the characters were easy to relate to and just plain fun. You could read this as a stand-alone novel, but I reccommend getting The Fifth Ring first. Easily one of my top ten favorites now.
Rating:
Summary: Top Notch Fun
Review: Mitchell Graham is one of the most talented writers out there. His EMERALD CAVERN is the second book in the FIFTH RING series and takes place nine months after the close of the final battle in book one. I love the way he has developed his characters and the world he builds. It's a far cry from anything in middle earth. The people there seem just like people. They're three dimensional and interesting to be with. Graham has a wonderfully succinct style that is unique amoung science fiction and fantasy writers. Iwould hae to say that THE EMERALD CAVERN is definitely a faster book than THE FIFTH RING was, but it will keep you glued to your seat. Once I picked it up I couldn't put it down. I was also pleased to see that the author separated himself from the archetypes used in the first book. Yes, it's an epic, and yes, it involves a boy from a remote area of the country under the guidance of an older, wiser man, but that's where it ends. What makes this book a standout is the charming way Graham can weave a story and the characters. "Cavern' is more two separate stories roled into one. The first PART is a murder mystery and the second is closer to a traditional fantasy. This is an excellent read for anyone looking for a good old fashioned yarn.
Rating:
Summary: Top Notch Fun
Review: Mitchell Graham is one of the most talented writers out there. His EMERALD CAVERN is the second book in the FIFTH RING series and takes place nine months after the close of the final battle in book one. I love the way he has developed his characters and the world he builds. It's a far cry from anything in middle earth. The people there seem just like people. They're three dimensional and interesting to be with. Graham has a wonderfully succinct style that is unique amoung science fiction and fantasy writers. Iwould hae to say that THE EMERALD CAVERN is definitely a faster book than THE FIFTH RING was, but it will keep you glued to your seat. Once I picked it up I couldn't put it down. I was also pleased to see that the author separated himself from the archetypes used in the first book. Yes, it's an epic, and yes, it involves a boy from a remote area of the country under the guidance of an older, wiser man, but that's where it ends. What makes this book a standout is the charming way Graham can weave a story and the characters. "Cavern' is more two separate stories roled into one. The first PART is a murder mystery and the second is closer to a traditional fantasy. This is an excellent read for anyone looking for a good old fashioned yarn.
Rating:
Summary: terrific fantasy
Review: Nobody knows much about the Ancients except that their minds were so powerful that they had the mental ability to change energy into matter. However with all their power they still ended up destroying themselves. All that is left of them are some ancient ruins and eight rose gold rings that give the wearer the ability to use their minds in ways similar to the ancients. Thanks to the rose gold ring that Matthew Lewin wore, he was able to stop Karas Duren and his minions, the Orlocks, from conquering his country. Matthew is in Sennia where King Gaul and his counterpart in Elgaria try to keep the ring wearer out of jail for killing the man who murdered his father. While at the palace, statues come to life and try to kill Matthew. He reasons that an unknown enemy has a ring and his fears are confirmed when the ring the church was guarding turns up missing. When traitors to the crown plan to overthrow the king, the only hope to see justice prevail rests on Matthew's shoulders, a burden that would break a lesser man. Matthew has matured from the time he first used the ring to stop a war (see THE FIFTH RING). His current trials and tribulations in THE EMERALD CAVERN make him even stronger and wiser than he was before he reached Sennia. There is plenty of action but author Mitchell Graham doesn't ignore his characters. They are well-developed and easily understood, heroes and villains alike. It is going to be hard to wait for the next book in this trilogy because there are questions the audience wants answered now. Mr. Graham is a superb storyteller with a colorful imagination. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: An enjoyable follow up novel
Review: THE EMERALD CAVERN is an excellent follow up to THE FIFTH RING. It takes place some months after the events in the first book. Matthew is studying in the library at the Abbey of Barcora to try and learn more about his ancient ring, how it was created and why it almost destroyed the world in centuries past. However, Matthews past is just about to catch up with him. Constable Jeram Quinn has come to take Matthew back to Elgaria to be tried for murder and to top it off two murders have taken place at the Abbey for which Matthew is the prime suspect. Matthew's enemies have also come for a day of reckoning with Princess Teanna and her cousin Eric Duran coming to Sennia with plans that will surprise everyone. The characters in these novels are well written and pragmatic and they are continually growing throughout the books. This novel builds up to a great climax that marks a real turning point for all the characters. It makes you wish book 3 was available to read NOW. These are outstanding fantasy novels with a "magic" that is based on science but it just as scary for all involved as it has the proven capacity to destroy the world and has already done so once - and as Matthew has found out power without knowledge (and experience) is dangerous to its possessor. However, to get the most out of this novel it is recommended that you read THE FIFTH RING first.
Rating:
Summary: An enjoyable follow up novel
Review: THE EMERALD CAVERN is an excellent follow up to THE FIFTH RING. It takes place some months after the events in the first book. Matthew is studying in the library at the Abbey of Barcora to try and learn more about his ancient ring, how it was created and why it almost destroyed the world in centuries past. However, Matthews past is just about to catch up with him. Constable Jeram Quinn has come to take Matthew back to Elgaria to be tried for murder and to top it off two murders have taken place at the Abbey for which Matthew is the prime suspect. Matthew's enemies have also come for a day of reckoning with Princess Teanna and her cousin Eric Duran coming to Sennia with plans that will surprise everyone. The characters in these novels are well written and pragmatic and they are continually growing throughout the books. This novel builds up to a great climax that marks a real turning point for all the characters. It makes you wish book 3 was available to read NOW. These are outstanding fantasy novels with a "magic" that is based on science but it just as scary for all involved as it has the proven capacity to destroy the world and has already done so once - and as Matthew has found out power without knowledge (and experience) is dangerous to its possessor. However, to get the most out of this novel it is recommended that you read THE FIFTH RING first.
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