The Shattered Alliance (Ice Age Cycle, Book III, A Magic: The Gathering(r) Novel)

Rating:
Summary: One of the best
Review: I don't want to give away the plot, but be prepared for numerous plot twists. The best since the Gathering Dark.

Rating:
Summary: Closure for the Ice Age
Review: The 3rd book in the Ice Age cycle is quite good. What develops in this novel is two distinct threads of story, the conclusion of Jodah's lifestory and the continuity tale that binds the trilogy's landscape into the greater series of Magic novels. This makes it a very intersting read, especially if you've been reading the Urza series and the Weatherlight Saga. Because of the way the books have been published after the Brothers' War story, we are left to wonder what happened on Terisare(the place where most of the action is) after the Brother's War. The focus has been on the Phyrexians' imminent invasion, but this series has allowed us to finally know what has been heppening to get us to the present. Jodah's story is great for character development, and perhaps moreso than the previous novel, it allows to get a greater understanding of the character's concerns and thoughts. Even others, like Jaya and Gerda, have more focus time than before on who they are. The story this time follows good contiuity, but after a while you realize that the plot is pretty much going to go in a certain direction. The revelations involving Lim-Dul aren't that much of a surprise by the time the story reaches its climax. Also, fans of the card game will know what certain key events involving Soldev and Krov are coming in the story. Rather the story gives us a chance to spotlight notable characters and all this doesn't take away terribly from the dramatic conclusion and resolution that follows. If there is any problem with the novel is that in striving for closure of the Ice Age, it seems to leave more questions for devlopment. Without giving too much away, one does ask what will become of our heroes. Given the ending, you have to wonder what happened to Jodah; when will we see Jaya again; what became of the school of the Unseen; and even how Argive will develop into this all. Some of this has been mentioned by causality in other Magic novels, and the story seems to end on a firm note. But frankly there is room speculation and another story.

Rating:
Summary: good, 4.6 maybe
Review: this was a good book to say the least. while i did not like loosing sima from the dark, jaya was a nice replacement. mr. grubb did not do a very good job on who lim-dul was possessing. =D this book though had one of the best duels i have ever read. lots of detail in the mental mansion idea, the mental mansion idea was one of my favorite idea's in magic. this book though, had a good balance of going to the different parts of the world. going back to tresserhorn to express the darkness, the part of the world that is still frozen. going to the school of the unseen, to show the development of the world, the foremost place of magic development. going to soldev (i think) to show the artifact reliant people. it worked out well. i think the best part in the book, by far is the jodah- lim dul fight. the giant jaya, kinda wierd, but okay. whats nice is that lim dul knew about jodahs mirror, made a strategy around it. im done.
go forth, wreak havoc

Rating:
Summary: good, 4.6 maybe
Review: this was a good book to say the least. while i did not like loosing sima from the dark, jaya was a nice replacement. mr. grubb did not do a very good job on who lim-dul was possessing. =D this book though had one of the best duels i have ever read. lots of detail in the mental mansion idea, the mental mansion idea was one of my favorite idea's in magic. this book though, had a good balance of going to the different parts of the world. going back to tresserhorn to express the darkness, the part of the world that is still frozen. going to the school of the unseen, to show the development of the world, the foremost place of magic development. going to soldev (i think) to show the artifact reliant people. it worked out well. i think the best part in the book, by far is the jodah- lim dul fight. the giant jaya, kinda wierd, but okay. whats nice is that lim dul knew about jodahs mirror, made a strategy around it. im done.
go forth, wreak havoc

Rating:
Summary: Breathtaking
Review: This was surely the best book since the Gathering Dark. I loved the end and how they rapped up Jodah's life and how they concluded the Ice Age. It was an amazing book that I will never forget. All three books have been the best books I've ever read, and I can assure you that I've read MANY books.