Rating: 
Summary: Excellent and enveloping
Review: I've read both The Ruins of Ambrai and The Mageborn Traitor, and I can say without a doubt that these two books (they will be three soon! I can't wait! ) are my all-time favorites out of the hundreds I have read. The tangled mystery and political intrigue that is present throughout this book is quite nerve-wracking and definitely draws you in. When reading the two books I got to care deeply about the characters, and this is the first book that I've actually cried shamelessly when one of them dies... When you're through, you'll feel like you are a part of this world, and even a part of every character. Rawn is an excellent writer, imaginative, descriptive and thorough. Her plotlines are unpredictable and exciting. These books will envelop you and you won't be able to put them down! I only hope that she extends the triliogy to a series!
Rating:
Summary: Loved It!
Review: When I read the first book in this series I was completely taken aback--this was a book I could not put down! I was completely engrossed in the world of Lenfell from start to finish. I read and reread it until the cover fell off and when the second volume in the series came out I ran out to the bookstore and snapped it up. I must say that even though the plot moved along at a much slower pace, I found that I enjoyed this book as much as the first. The storytelling style of Ms. Rawn is quite compelling and articulate and I find that even the drier descriptions of places and people are important to the story for me. I also find that I still am DYING to know Who Collan Is. Why was he so important? Why was it necessary to conceal his identity from all the citizens of Lenfell? I can't wait for the next volume of the series. I haven't found an author that I enjoyed so much since I read Roger Zelazny's Amber Series as a child. Thank you Melanie Rawn for creating the perfect "Fantasy" world in your novels.
Rating: 
Summary: The Mageborn Traitor
Review: Melanie Rawn seems to have weaved a complicated web she can't control on The Mageborn Traitor. The book follows up on The ruins of Amrbai, after caithlin(with the aid of other's) as the new captal defeat Glenin. Anyway this book losses the concept of the main storyline as pages after pages are spent more on the political and social structure of lenfell. And how sara attempt's for a social and political reform while ompletely ignoreing the threat to her children even though they were attacked a couple of times. The battle between Mage Guardians and Malerrisi become an oversight. As well as characters displaying no concept of what is happening. ex: The twins mikel and teggie seem to display no emotional loss after the attack on the mage school and the loss of thier numerous classmates. IMO the readers are given no attachement to the characters that i find myself closing the book numerous times. But alas i spent $8 on the book so i have to finish reading it... even though i find my self laughing at the stupidy of how the characters are protrayed on different situations...
Rating: 
Summary: I hope The Captal's Tower is better than this!!!
Review: The Mageborn Traitor is a good book, and probably worth reading. However, it does not even come close to Exiles in terms of plot, character development, and the use of subtle details that turn out to be important. I had to read Exiles at least five times before I understood every detail and reference. In The Mageborn Traitor, there aren't any references, and most of the details seem to serve no purpose other than to take up space. In this book, Melanie Rawn kills off several characters that were interesting, just after she was starting to develop them. Like Granon Isidor- so he loves Sarra, but too bad, let's break his neck!!! Also, what is going to happen in the third book with no sufficiently evil villian? Glenins's son was never fully developed enough to be evil. Sure, he's bad, but we aren't given any hint as to the pure evilness of his nature, like we were with Glenin. As to Collan, well, it was stupid to kill off one of the most engaging and entertaining characters. As to his herritage - I think some clues are in Exiles, but I'm not sure. Like in the magic safehouse, Sarra' s bathrobe is black and turquiose - for Ambrai. So if Collan's robe had two specific colors . . . Anyway, the mageborn traitor is a good read, but it tends to drag and isn't half as exiting as Exiles. I'm willing to wait a long time for The Captal's Tower, if Melanie Rawn can just produce a really good book.
Rating: 
Summary: Speculation...
Review: After reading the previous comments, I wanted to share some speculation of my own. And in heart with people who HAVEN'T read this volume yet, SPOILERS AHEAD! Several people have wondered who Collan really is and what happened. I read that two page section several times (stunned and trying to comprehend all of the information in it -- 685 & 686 US publctn). Although Collan was a favorite, it would cheapen his sacrifice for it to have 'been a dream or not quite dead.' He died to conceal some truth from Glenin (not knowing that she would soon be following). Perhaps it was some truth about the war that formed the Waste. Dunno. But, I believe that Melanie Rawn has provided clues for the contientious reader to piece together some of the backstory on Collan. Starting from the beginning of that chapter, the wards are peeling from Collan's mind -- the result of Glenin's mental attacks and the diminition of his barriers. The memories that flood back are of Collan's family, who were all MageBorns and highly powerful Names. The 'wind' was actually a blast of magical energy (from a battle?) which knocked him down. My challenge is for the more observant reader than I is to take the small clue that Rawn has given of Collan's mother: silver braclet set with a blue onyx with a sliver of gold and match it with family colors that are so prevalent in the series (possibly of lines that were described to have died out). The metaphor of the sliver of gold resembling a candleflame might reference to the saint Miryenne The Guardian, patron of light, candles, magic & Mage guardians. It someone has time to reread and watch for such clues earlier in the two novels, post here and send a copy to me by email. I eagerly await further revelations in the third novel. (I wonder which is worse...waiting for the end of the story/next installment or trying to write it with all of the nuances and complexities that you(the writer) desires.
Rating: 
Summary: Forget it .
Review: A long time fantasy reader , I have known Rawn as an average , wordy author from the Dragon series .
A short time ago I happened on the 2 Exiles volumes in an airport and loved the cover art .
As I had a long flight , I bought them .You can really forget it .
OK , the author has created a complex and interesting society and culture but there is no plot to speak of .
The characters are one dimensional and either white or black .
There are endless descriptions concerning the children of the main characters for which most readers won't care a bit and that neither make the story progress nor develop anything . But the most irritating point is that the characters are abysmally stupid .
Well , there is a traitor - hint : if a book is called Mageborn Traitor then there probably will be a traitor and it can't be excluded that he will even be mageborn .
So now everybody is warned , both the reader and the characters .
If the reader can't do anything about it , the characters should .
Do they try to find the traitor ?
To my big surprise they don't .
It is actually not a such big deal because you have only 2 suspects and one of them is making up his whole personal history .
It would take anybody not more than a couple of days to find out the traitor .
Even if it doesn't take a genius , Cailet who is supposed to be one never thinks about these basics .
So the "good guys" deserve what comes and it is only surprising that they don't get all killed what would stop the story . If you want to read some really good fantasy , buy G.R.R Martin , T.Williams or S.Erikson and you will see the difference .
Rating:
Summary: Decent.
Review: Not the best, but not the worst either. A few interesting twists and turns make it one to pass the time but not to write home about.
Rating:
Summary: ...
Review: (Skip if you haven't already read "Mageborn")
To me, one of the best parts of "Ruins of Ambrai" was the beginning, where we find out about Collan's childhood. In fact, it was Collan's story which kept me reading through the first book.(And there were some great scenes, like the magic house and the albadon.) I would have given "Ruins" 2 1/2 - 3 stars.
Book 2 had hundreds of pages of blather, interspersed with the odd dramatic incident. I agree with another reviewer who said that, because beloved main characters have children, Rawn expects the reader to be interested in those children -- just because they have been born. Didn't work for me. But I slogged away, hoping to find out *the truth about Collan*.
So finally, most of the way through Book 2, come the big revelations about Collan's background. Rather than be the one main character who achieved a lot with *no* magic and *no* family background (which was great)... guess what? He actually had this warm, loving, big-Name, powerful family who... sold him as a slave??? Huh? (Confusing AND illogical.) How much of what we thought we knew was a lie? How many layers of fake memories did this guy have?
Not to mention that this was all "revealed" in his Big Confrontation with Glenin... which took... maybe 30 seconds? What a letdown.
Plus, how are the baddies allowed to turn up at Council meetings etc. (not to mention being invited to cocktail parties!!?) Aren't the Malerrisi still the Mages' deadly enemies? The hunting scene was the equivalent of knowing someone is (literally) gunning for you, and inviting him to come practise with you at the rifle range. And speaking of Star Wars, did anybody else notice the direct quote from Han Solo?
I might read the reviews of Book 3, but I sure won't waste my time reading the book. The Rawn author for me.
Rating:
Summary: Ms. Rawn follows through again
Review: Mageborn Traitor picks up where Ruins leaves off. The main characters are more mature, and thier children are growing up. Life seems to have settled down a bit on Lenfell after the Rising. Glenin continues in her plot as the evil eldest sister in her passion for weaving for Chevasto. Cailet has grown into her position, and but her insecurities are played on by Glenin. Sarra has become so entwined in politics that she neglects her family. The climax of the story left me sobbing, and the ending made me wish it were October already. I can't wait to read The Captal's Tower, there is so much more left to this saga. Both books in this trilogy are awesome, almost overpowering in thier imagery. The world that is Lenfell is masterfully worked, and portrayed. A great read for anyone.
Rating:
Summary: Waiting.....
Review: As in all of Melanie's works I was completly submerged in the story and characters. I loved the Sunrunners series and was captivated once again in the Exiles books 1,2 and, as is becoming much more prevelent with authors today the next book in the series which is still not released. This is the second series in which Rawn has yet to produce a concluding book. What has it been now? Almost 4 years? We had a brief respite in the Golden Key which was published in 2000. The next book in that series has also been on hold. I know Rawn will probably never read these but just in case I will let my opinion be known. Another note, I sincerely hope that she does not kill off all of the main characters in the end as she did in the Sun-runner's series. This Author is a buyer be aware. You will love the books but become frustrated in the end.
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