Rating: 
Summary: Redemption!
Review: Thank you! I have read & enjoyed Belgariad / Mallorean Series. But this was a light, enjoyable read. I know that many fans except the same EVERY Book but it is refreshing to read a light epic. Multi-Book Series tend to get bogged in description and this allowed more left to the imagination without losing any of the story. Enjoyable read.
Rating: 
Summary: Thrilling but Cliche
Review: I must say that Yes! Eddings has done it again! Anyone even the slightest bit familiar with The Bellgariad or The Mallorean will once again be launched into a new and mystical world filled with magic and suspense. However, I must give this book 4 stars mainly because Eddings "style" is pretty predictable. You have the mystical object intended to kill the enemy, an evil God seeking the destruction of the world, and a diverse group of companions along the way. It basically follows the same outline of all his other books, so not many new surprises. Anyways, I am sure that all true avid readers of Eddings will enjoy this new addition to his GREAT collection (too bad it's not part of a series!).
Rating:
Summary: Eddings delivers a wonderful work again
Review: Although I agree with some of the other readers who pointed out that some of the plot was a bit over-used (Andine and Ce'Nedra are identical; Dweia and Flute could be sisters; much of the same dialogue can be seen in his other books) but all in all, it is a very entertaining read. Regarding such harsh reviewers as Nassir Isaf, I must conclude that, having abused Leigh Eddings and their collaborative effort of "Polgara the Sorceress" (his only work that revolves around a female character, and a book I thought was absolutely amazing) that your problem rests in the fact that you are most likely a sexist male that would much rather read about a male hero, rather than a strong, empowered woman. I recommend that anyone, a die-hard Eddings fan like me, or simply someone who enjoys writing, read this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Can you plagiarize yourself? Eddings seems to be trying!
Review: I've read, and enjoyed almost everything that David Eddings has written. What was so enjoyable in the Belgeriad and Mallorean became stale and flat after being rehashed in Belgarath and Polgara. The Riven Codex was nothing more than a monument to pride and greed. What happened to artistic pride, and actually coming up with new material for a story?When I first picked up 'Redemption', I was extremely hopeful that the sorry rut had come to an end. Sadly, I was mistaken. 'The Redemption of Althalus' is nothing more than a pale ghost of a writer who once had compelling epics to share. The characters are lacking in depth, believability, and totally fail to make you care whether they live or die. To my dismay, this is a failing that seems to be running rampant among the fantasy authors who I have enjoyed for so many years. Robert Jordan hasn't really moved his story along in 4+ books (can we say money?), Raymond Feist is mired in Midkemia without hope of ever telling a new story, Terry Brooks can't even seem to do Shannara right anymore (flying ships?!?), and Terry Goodkind seems to have developed some sort of fetish for sexual innuendo and leather. Even Robert Salvatore has abandoned his most popular Dark Elf character for a sorry tale of a Wulfgar the drunk barbarian. Of all the series I look forward to, only George R.R. Martin has remained true to the original feel and promise of his series. With 3 books out now, I can only hope he will keep The Song of Ice and Fire from becoming Yellow snow and soggy ashes. The Redemption of Althalus is a moderately good read, especially for those new to the work of David Eddings. But make no mistake - this is the same tired old story, in Readers Digest condensed version.
Rating: 
Summary: bland
Review: I agree with the guy who totally trashed it. I enjoyed Belgariad/ Mallorean some years ago, but this latest effort is really terrible. Stale stereotyped characters who ALL exhibit that smug, sarcastic sense of humor that gets old fast. Nearly every group of paragraphs ends with a several lines of this rubbish between two characters. I've only reached half way through the book and I might not bother with the rest - I find myself cringing every page at the latest repeated bland description or crappy piece of dialog. I'd recommend this book only to people who LOVE this Eddings style. To anyone else, try Hugh Cook or Tolkien. I haven't read these for a few years so it might be time for a refresher on what excellent story writing is like.
Rating:
Summary: Don't know what these other folks read, but...
Review: This is an excellent book, in which the unique entertaining dialogue present in most of the Eddings' previous works carry the day. It is true that the characters and the plot are like every other good fantasy book written since Tolkien, but that is what I like. It is often overlooked that none of those previous books were original either. Sometimes nostalgia poisons a person's enjoyment of things, and I think that is where the bad reviews are coming from. Memory is perfect and surreal while reality is mundane. The Belgariad was great. So were the Malloreon and Elenium. They all had the same tone and feel. This one does too, and I really enjoyed how the book flows. I think the Eddings had fun writing this one, and I know I had fun reading it.
Rating:
Summary: THE WORST!!
Review: I have read all the Eddings books and looked forward to this new epic. Sadly, it is a poorly written, thoughtless book that is not worth reading. This is the worst book I read in 2000 and the only one in years that I didn't even finish!! Shame on the Eddings for selling this trash. The other reviews giving this book a one-star are correct so I won't rehash their views. Don't buy this book - it is a waste of time and paper!!
Rating:
Summary: I didn't think that David was capable of this...
Review: and apparently he wasn't. I am confident that Leigh had the lion's share of involvement with this work and is trying to use her husband's fame to elevate sales of this abysmal book. For a first-time reader, DO NOT allow this poorly written excuse for literature to turn you away from David's earlier work, particularly the Belgariad and Mallorean. I have never before been in a position in which I have truly despised a book I bought for myself. Enough vituperations...you get the point.
Rating:
Summary: Ode to Reviewer: Nassir Isaf
Review: If one calls everyone who has a different opinion a liar, then everyone would be a "liar" in one way or another. Learn some manners.
Rating:
Summary: Typical Eddings fare
Review: I purchased this book mainly because I am a fan of David Eddings. Eddings can by no means be compared to the great Fantasy writers such as Tolkien, Guy Kay, etc., but he does tell a fairly entertaining yarn.. Redemtion of Althalus (RoA) caught my interest because of what seemed to be a very intriguing story line. Unfortunately, after the first chapter, the story turned into typical Eddings-fare with some repetitive reparte between characters that are almost identical to the ones in his previous works, which are identical to the ones in his first works, the Belgariad and the Mallorean. One can't blame Eddings and his wife for rehashing what appears to be a formula guaranteeing a bestseller spot. What is most disappointing about the story is the mistreatment of Althalus, who begins the story with the potential to become a very interesting character. Any reader of Eddings' previous books will see the resemeblance to Belgarath, another thief who becomes a servant of the only "endearing" god of a pantheon, finds some sort of immortality, and is one of the oldest humans in existance. Althalus displays no real growth as a character. Despite being one of the dregs of humanity in his life as a thief, there is no attempt to contrast his prior experiences and ideals with the new ones that his God teaches... This is because his character never fundamentaly changes! Despite 2500 years spent studying the Book of Light, the fount of all goodness and creation, he emerges the same person he was when he walks in! Of course, he doesn't steal very much anymore, this is because one of the great mysteries of the universe that the book teaches him is how to create things by speaking "special" words. Regardless, as all of Eddings' work, this book, when released in paperback, will make for a good read during a long commute. If you're looking for something engrossing to read, look elsewhere.
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