Rating: 
Summary: excellent battles and character development [no spoilers]
Review: "When Dragons Rage" is the second novel in The DragonCrown War Cycle series approximately one generation following "The Dark Glory War" prelude novel. It is an impressive book filled with creative battles, detailed descriptions, and interesting characters.
The progressions of Kerrigan and Wilburforce throughout the book are remarkable, especially the combat improvements by the two youngsters. The camaraderie between Resolute and Kedyn's Crow isn't as dominate as in the prior volume but is complimented with a romantic relationship delivering less fighting, which I find slightly disappointing. Given the audacious origin of General Androgans, he is one of my favorite characters, implementing impressive strategies and tactics.
Characters and countries overwhelmed me by the end of the novel and a glossary would have been worthwhile along with a more detailed map of the significant terrains.
I highly recommend this series to any fan of the fantasy genre and look forward to reading the final novel.
Thank you.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding!
Review: "When Dragons Rage" is another spectacular effort from the most underrated fantasy author of today. Michael Stackpole turns up the heat in this second book of his Dragoncrown War Cycle. There is more action, more intrigue, more romance, just plain more of everything than the two previous books in the series(counting the prequel), and in this case quantity does equal quality.There are few authors who can match Stackpole at anything, let alone surpass him, he truly is a gem. These(as well as all of his other works)books should be in hardcover. I am honestly shocked that his publisher has not given him hardcovers, and even more so that they hardly promote him. To anyone who loves epic fantasy, these books are for you.
Rating: 
Summary: Exciting Continuation
Review: "When Dragons Rage" picks up right after Stackopol's last cliffhanger ending in "Fortress Draconis" and continues the saga of Will, Kerrigan, Alexia, Crow, and Resolute. (Not to mention quite a few other interesting characters including Erlestoke, Sebcia, the princess of Muroso, and Dranae, whose identity we finally discover.)For those who might not remember, the last book ended with Crow's arrest. He was charged with being the treasonous Tarrant Hawkins; something that I hope didn't take too many readers by surprise. This ending of "When Dragons Rage", however, is not predictable at all. Stackpol manages not, one, not two, but THREE surprising twists to the story, ending in a way you would never expect. It is this kind of thing that makes me like Stackpol so much as a writer, but I hope that these sorts of cliffhanger endings are not becoming a habit. (Please tell me they aren't, Mr. Stackpol! *plaintive voice*)
Anyhow, I won't spoil any of the action for those of you who haven't read the book, except to say that its packed with as much adventure and romance as you could hope for, and well worth your time and your money.
For those of you who haven't read this series yet, I highly recommend it. Start with "The Dark Glory War" and prepare for an experience you will never forget!
Rating:
Summary: One of Stackpole's Best
Review: After reading all of Mike Stackpole's original books, and as of late, the DragonCrown War Cycle, I could barely wait to see what happened after the dour events of "Fortress Draconis." Fortunately, unlike when "Fortress Draconis" came out based twenty years after "The Dark Glory War," "When Dragons Rage" picks up right where we left off. Unlike the two prequels, this book has surprisingly little in the form of actual battles, and really makes up for it in character developement. What Stackpole did was what we were all hoping for in "Fortress Draconis" which is delved back in to the story of Tarrant Hawkins a.k.a. Kedyn's Crow. He finally explains in depth what happened to Tarrant after the cliffhanger at the end of "The Dark Glory War" and really pulls the character out of the mud. Also, Will is written very well and shows how much he has grown from the bratty thief from Yslin to the person fated to save the world. The Love story between Crow and Princess Alexia is developed in a superb way, conveying how much these two people love and respect each other without being overly mushy. It is somewhat awkward at times, but still very good. Then there is the portly young mage, Kerrigan Reese who is loosing his incredible naivette, and gaining knowledge about the world as well as his unusual powers. And finally, for the first time in the series, the main villain Chytrine gets more page time than just a few paragraphs at the end so you really get a sense of her goals and what kind of character she is. And "the heroes who would be the villains" from "The Dark Glory War" get some face time so you see that some may be playing two games where others are just obvious hero fodder. There is of course an entire horde of new characters introduced in addition to the old ones that all contribute in one way or another to make the story fly by. So, all in all an excellent book that ties up some loose threads from previous books and unravels even more for the final one. The few battles there are are of course very well done, but as I said, the focus is on the character developement. Usually, this would chase me away from a book, but Mike Stackpole actually pulls it off with flying colors. But in the customary way for this series, a huge chunk that had been built up is ripped apart at the end, leaving you needing the next book more than the previous. Truly, this is an incredible work that even the truest of Tolkien/Jordan/(Insert popular Fantasy author name here) fans could appreciate. I can't recommend it highly enough. If this series doesn't put Michael A. Stackpole up in the category of "Fantasy Legends" nothing will. Enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: One of Stackpole's Best
Review: After reading all of Mike Stackpole's original books, and as of late, the DragonCrown War Cycle, I could barely wait to see what happened after the dour events of "Fortress Draconis." Fortunately, unlike when "Fortress Draconis" came out based twenty years after "The Dark Glory War," "When Dragons Rage" picks up right where we left off. Unlike the two prequels, this book has surprisingly little in the form of actual battles, and really makes up for it in character developement. What Stackpole did was what we were all hoping for in "Fortress Draconis" which is delved back in to the story of Tarrant Hawkins a.k.a. Kedyn's Crow. He finally explains in depth what happened to Tarrant after the cliffhanger at the end of "The Dark Glory War" and really pulls the character out of the mud. Also, Will is written very well and shows how much he has grown from the bratty thief from Yslin to the person fated to save the world. The Love story between Crow and Princess Alexia is developed in a superb way, conveying how much these two people love and respect each other without being overly mushy. It is somewhat awkward at times, but still very good. Then there is the portly young mage, Kerrigan Reese who is loosing his incredible naivette, and gaining knowledge about the world as well as his unusual powers. And finally, for the first time in the series, the main villain Chytrine gets more page time than just a few paragraphs at the end so you really get a sense of her goals and what kind of character she is. And "the heroes who would be the villains" from "The Dark Glory War" get some face time so you see that some may be playing two games where others are just obvious hero fodder. There is of course an entire horde of new characters introduced in addition to the old ones that all contribute in one way or another to make the story fly by. So, all in all an excellent book that ties up some loose threads from previous books and unravels even more for the final one. The few battles there are are of course very well done, but as I said, the focus is on the character developement. Usually, this would chase me away from a book, but Mike Stackpole actually pulls it off with flying colors. But in the customary way for this series, a huge chunk that had been built up is ripped apart at the end, leaving you needing the next book more than the previous. Truly, this is an incredible work that even the truest of Tolkien/Jordan/(Insert popular Fantasy author name here) fans could appreciate. I can't recommend it highly enough. If this series doesn't put Michael A. Stackpole up in the category of "Fantasy Legends" nothing will. Enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: Great fun!!!
Review: Excellent novel. This is the 3rd novel in the serious (including the prequel). It has some interesting developments which I will not ruin for any readers. In my opinion, this is best series written by Mr. Stackpole. He has not let up on the pace and detail which is good.
Rating:
Summary: Great fun!!!
Review: Excellent novel. This is the 3rd novel in the serious (including the prequel). It has some interesting developments which I will not ruin for any readers. In my opinion, this is best series written by Mr. Stackpole. He has not let up on the pace and detail which is good.
Rating:
Summary: Yeah, it's really THAT good.
Review: First off, the disclaimer: If you're biased about Michael's non-Star Wars or non-Battletech books, don't branch out with this one. It picks up in the middle of a three book (so far) series and you'd miss out on a lot. Onwards. When Dragons Rage does a fantastic job of not only continuing an intense, high fantasy saga, but you get to see characters from Fortress Draconis grow, develop and learn. Nobody really hogs the limelight, with the possible exception of Will, but as THE Norrington, what else would one expect? (What'd I say? Read the first book first)
So if you don't like story lines where many things happen at once, you might want to pass on this. There's a lot happening, even though Michael does a magnificent job of working us back into a scene we left behind a chapter or two ago. The action picks up in this book, taking us from battle to battle, confrontation to mystery and back into battle, very smoothly. Nothing feels forced, and the characterizations are very well done. Nobody speaks with somebody else's voice. Final note: By the end of the book, I was reading and turning pages as quickly as I could, anxious to find out what happened next... and dreading that final page. When I got to it... well, Michael warned us with his Author's Bio. "...has gone into hiding for fear of being lynched because of the ending of this book."
I don't blame him a bit. "Cliffhanger" is a good word for it. When Dragons Rage is definitely a page-turner, and the characters are all compelling. The writing style is solid and the plot line... overwhelming at times. Truly a grand saga, and well worth the read.
Rating:
Summary: Another Stackpole masterpiece
Review: First, I think that the title is a bit misleading, given that there are no actual dragon appearances until the latter 20% or so of the book, and considering the length of the book, this makes for little dragon rage. Picking up nearly immediately after the end of Fortress Draconis (FD), Stackpole spends the first few chapters refreshing the reader's memory of what transpired in the previous book. As with FD, the story is told via focusing on a different character each chapter. As with FD, we see things from the viewpoint of Will the thief and prophesied savior, Alexia the warrior princess, Kerrigan the wizard and Adrogans the general. We also are introduced to several new players, including Isaura, the adopted daughter of the southlands' scourge, Chytrine, and one of the two sons of the despicable King Scrainwood. Hawkins, the narrator of Dark Glory War (DGW) and the pariah of the South, and Resolute are again relegated to supporting roles. This novel comprises another fantastic effort of prose. The classic Stackpole action and suspense and political maneuvering is a major factor. Some of the history and philosophy of the world is also addressed, which I found rewarding. There is also a pair of love stories that crop up, and they are very well done without seeming to be tacked on as in some other fantasy novels. Will, in particular, is VERY well written, especially as regards his acceptance of his foretold path and, basically, his growth as a person and a leader of men. Again in this series, the ending leaves something of a foul taste in the mouth. While neither FD nor this book are as stunning as the end of DGW, the lack of closure is frustrating in light of needing to wait a year for any resolution. Many of the things that in other reviews are listed as surprises really should not be considering the foreshadowing throughout both FD and this book. And I think that the seemingly tragic occurrence near the end might be easily resolved when one considers the Norrington Prophecy (in the front of the book). So, while I have a few complaints, this book is a must-read, not only for those who have started the series, but for any readers of the highest quality epic fantasy available.
Rating: 
Summary: Yet again
Review: Here we are, at the end of the year, and yet I fear, this book may again bring a tear. I have finally realized why I was so dissappointed from the last novel, Fortress Draconis (read my review for the last book), and it is because of the way the story is presented; as with this novel. More on this later. If your looking for a synopsis read the editorial reviews or another review. First off this novel begins exactly where the last one left off, and since it's been a year you might feel a little confused when you start reading. Due to the amount of characters, races, and magic I'm suprised there wasn't a glossary or hierarchy to help out. (I was too frustrated with the last novel to refresh my memory) This book is definitely what I'd recommend to Stackpole's Battletech and Starwars fan since it's told in such grand fashion. But if you are a fan of his fantasy novels (i.e. Once a Hero, Talion:Revenant) you might want to read a chapter or two before buying. The reason being that it is told in a totally different style. The main reason why I was so disappointed is that his writing style has changed in these last two novels. He has switched from his brilliant first person narratives to third person narratives that are reminiscent of his Battletech novels. With so many main characters his last novel jumps back and forth losing focus. I would agree that this novel was a cut above Fortress Draconis and did develop the characters more. With characters being fleshed out readers will start enjoying the banter and character interactions. The only character that didn't get much if any limelight was Crow (Hawkings). Although the novel did discuss what happened to him since The Dark Glory War novel, it barely has him staring in a chapter or two. Being a huge Tarrant Hawkings fan I'm very much crushed that Stackpole is doing him such disservice (as you can tell this review might be biased :) ... I enjoyed Dark Glory War much more due to the fact that it was in Stackpole's grade A first person style, which helped readers identify and care for the characters. This is evident in almost all of his fantasy novels. With his third person narrative it just isn't the same, which can be seen in his recent "cliff-hanger" endings. Both Dragoncrown War novel's ending don't have the same hair-raising effect like Dark Glory War, which I would credit to his classic first narrative style. Since Fortress Draconis and When Dragons Rage lacks Stackpole's old pizazz, I still feel cheated and abused since the end of Dark Glory War. Hopefully Stackpole might give a tribute to Crow in the next novel and write a couple of chapters in his good'o first narrative style. Overall When Dragons Rage is a definitive improvement over Fortress Draconis and should be bought so Stackpole can start working on some more first person narratives ;)
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