The Ruins of Ambrai (Exiles, Vol. 1)

Rating:
Summary: Thuroughly disappointed
Review: I came to know Rawn through her "Dragon" books, and I would easily give 5 stars to every one of them. However, I was saddened when I opened this book. I found it to be very hard to follow, and rather uninteresting. None of the characters caught my attention, and I quite often got totally lost in the political structre. Maybe someday I'll crack it open again and try to re-read it, but I never made it more than halfway through before putting it down.

Rating:
Summary: I can't get enough of this book!
Review: I've never been one that read "fantasy" books and wouldn't even have looked at one if I'd had my choice! One year for Christmas my mother gave me this book and it was love at first sight! I read it once and 3 days later I picked it up and read it again! I read it religiously once or twice a year and I NEVER get sick of it! I've read it so often that I've had to duct tape the sleeve back together! Twice! The plot and the characters are simply magical! I can't wait to read the last one!

Rating:
Summary: worthy of the highest praise!
Review: In my opinion Melanie Rawn is the best female fantasy writer. She is so much more better than the detestable Janny Wurst. For some reason, Melanie refrains from adding a glactic starship in all her books. For that I have to applaud her! Admittedly I read the second volume first, as this book was so hard to get hold of. It is a treasure that will keep me in awe of this woman till the end of days. Melanie Rawn has done what few other writers have done - added a fresh and a bit of realism to a fantastical genre. I was enthralled from the first chapter till the end and from there I developed an instense dislike towards Glenin Ambrai. To me, that is one of Melanie's masterpieces - creating a character so manipulative and duplicitous, and yet at the same time, absolutely adore her (within limits). Melanie has gone against the grain in her writing. Incorporating lesbianism and open gay male relationships is something that the world has not been privy to in many fantasy genre books. I simply loved the naked emotion displayed when she announced She was First Lord and not some pompous dolt in the castle. The book is one of few possessions I truly treasure and I thank Melanie for granting us an insight into the way she thinks and writes. Sergio Ben - Cape Town.

Rating:
Summary: Brillant!
Review: Loved this book. Melanie Rawn has invented a world where women are in charge, and does it with more conviction than anyone has ever managed before. I liked the characters, was drawn into the story, and wait on pins and needles for the next one!

Rating:
Summary: Best series I've ever read.
Review: Normally I wouldn't bother writing a review for a book. Unless it's as good as Melanie Rawn's Exiles series. I love it! It's definetly kept my full attention since I started reading it. Once I start it's hard to put down. I highly recommend reading this series, and it'll be hard to wait for the third one to come out. Keep it up Melanie!

Rating:
Summary: I love this book.
Review: I love all Melanie Rawn books and I own them all. The only problem that I have is that I know that there is another book, the Captals Tower but I cannot get hold of it and every bookshop that I go to has never heard of it. I would love to know if it is coming out in the near future. I must admit that I didn't think that Exiles was as good as the Sunrunner books also by Melanie Rawn, those were the books that changed my life. I have never felt so involved in a set of books before or since, but this is different it doesn't have the depth of the sunrunner books, you do not become so deeply involved with the characters but it is a lot darker and I like that. This is one of the best fantasy books of all time.

Rating:
Summary: One of the best fantisy books of today!!!
Review: I thought that this book was a little boring at first, but after a while I got drawn in. Now I have read it about 14 times and have a hardcover and a paperback for when I am traviling. I also have the second of this series and it was the same. I loved it!!! I hope there is more to come for this series, cause it isn't finished, I hope, I hope, I hope!!!!

Rating:
Summary: Perhaps a new "trend?"
Review: Melanie Rawn is one of the few fantasy writers trying to get away from what has been referred to as "campaign fantasy," i.e., fantasy that basically reads like an AD&D game with a bit more description, following a cast of characters whose purpose is clearly defined and the outcome fairly predictable. I can understand how many people, who have inundated themselves in modern fantasy, would dislike this change in style; it creates a broader "world view," the multiple sides being shown not being classified (as most fantasy authors, even some of the best, tend to do) as good and evil, white and black, right and wrong -- something distinctly different from those used to a vast majority of modern fantasy writers, and even a few not-so-modern ones. It is an admittedly complicated story politically -- but I don't see how people can say it is predictable! The fans of the Exiles series, as a whole, are still left entirely puzzled about key issues in the book (and sadly, will likely have to wait until 2001 for Captal's Tower (Exiles III) to come out). As well, I have noted fans of the Exiles series tend to be distinctly different than her Dragon Prince/Dragon Star novels. While both works are excellent examples of prose fantasy, and beautiful in their own right, they fall somewhat more into the mold of traditional fantasy; the plot is, while not entirely predictable, fairly linear and the characters fitting standard fantasy standards. With Exiles, though Rawn has not entirely broken the mold of modern fantasy, she is taking definite, emphatic, and excellently done steps in a new direction -- the effect is rather like comparing any biography to a Tuchman-esque work.

Rating:
Summary: Awesome, I love it!!!!
Review: This book is one of her best. I liked her Dragon Prince and Dragon Start Trilogies, but her Exiles Trilogy is my favorite because it's the women in charge. I read this one first, then her Dragon Prince/Star Trilogies. I own all of her books, and wouldn't trade them for anything. Melanie Rawn is my favorite author, and I would reccomend her books to anyone. Except of course, those who despise reading and would continually degrade her books. They may be long, but they are WELL worth the length. I'm looking forward to the Captal's Tower. I just want to read everything she's ever written. :)

Rating:
Summary: poor fantasy
Review: I'm not sure which book the reviewer from Cincinatti read, but it couldn't have been this one. Exiles read like an incomplete and very boring textbook. I would, however, recommend reading Ms. Rawn's Dragon Prince and Dragon Star trilogies.