Rating: 
Summary: They just get better!
Review: And by that I don't mean this is the best so far, although it's great. I mean reading THE FIRE DRAGON didn't just keep me on the edge of my seat, it sent me back to read over all the rest--and, as readers of these books know, they just get better and better (and more nuanced and layered) with each read. If you haven't read a Deverry book yet, start today with DAGGERSPELL. (If you know me and have any interest in fantasy at all, I have already bought you a copy; for the rest of the world, I will have to be satisfied with urging you to buy it yourself.) If you've read the books before, don't wait! This book's incredible and, I promise, it will send you scurrying back to every book in the series to pay closer attention to plots you *never knew were there*... plots I now *can't wait* for the next book to follow... esp. this 'falcon' book... we all know who that must be! Or I hope we do! But I digress. My perspective? I was a little worried after A TIME OF OMENS and more recently that the books were losing a bit of their momentum--but I couldn't have been more wrong. The events of those books will take on new significance and now I'm ready to protest that two more books will not be enough! What can I say? I loved it. I feel like I'm discovering this series and the characters all over again, and I think everyone else should too! Happy reading!
Rating: 
Summary: Splendid language, uneven characters
Review: As a longtime fan of the Deverry series, I usually rush right out to buy each new volume the day it's released. This latest installment is in no way a disappointment; it still contains Kerr's wonderful use of dialogue and the intriguing mysticism of the dweomer. One aspect of this book, however, is less than satisfying. The section set during the Civil Wars contains infinetely more developed characters than the section set in "the present;" Kerr seems far more engaged and in tune with Nevyn, Lilli, Bellyra and Maryn than she does with Dallandra, Niffa, Raena and Rhodry. This has been a problem throughout the Dragon Mage series. As a result, the second half of this book feels flat compared to the first, and its characters seem strangely unrealistic when placed against the tortured, complex, wonderfully human characters described during the Civil Wars. Despite the imagination that has gone into the Horsekin, the Guardians and the dragon, these elements of blatant unreality detract a lot from one of the series' main strengths. However, one shouldn't complain too loudly about a novel that's just "very good" instead of "brilliant." Anything by Kerr is usually vastly superior to the majority of fantasy novels out there (many of which seem to have been written on autopilot by authors trying to make condo payments). Deverry fans will find no reason here to stop loving the series!
Rating:
Summary: What finally happened with the curse tablet
Review: Finally, in Kerr's usual braided, nonlinear storytelling style, we have not only some decisive events in the 'present', where Ebany's madness and Evandar's resolution of the Guardians' fate are coming to a head, but the conclusion of the Time of Troubles thread, providing the connection between the events of _The Black Raven_ and Maddyn the bard's final fate as shown in _A Time of Exile_. In the Time of Troubles (first third of the book), Maryn has finally taken the Holy City of Dun Deverry, and is putting the finishing touches on the defeat of the Boar clan to end the generations of civil wars that have raged among the various claimants for the high kingship. But despite Nevyn's best efforts, this man who's been shaped to be high king has a serious flaw: he's a womanizer who hasn't got sense enough to stay away from the wives, daughters, and sisters of some of his most loyal supporters; his current mistress, Nevyn's apprentice, sister of an influential tieryn, and betrothed to one of the silver daggers of Maryn's personal guard, is all three. Worse; Maryn's wife Bellyra truly loves him, and is too perceptive not to notice his affairs, but regardless of her feelings, she must stay with him for the kingdom's sake, being his claim on the Cerrmor side of the great conflict. The curse tablet's spell on Maryn is still in effect, despite Nevyn's best efforts, but he's getting the nasty impression that he can see its subtle effects all around him, as Bellyra's distress is increased not only by her usual severe postpartum depression, but by another pregnancy only a few weeks after her last son's birth. In the present, Evandar may have finally resolved not only the fate of his own people, the mysterious Guardians, but may provide the answers to some ancient riddles about the fall of the elven kingdoms of the West, as well as a chance for those great cities (the first love of his life) to be reborn. As part of one of his long-laid schemes, he's working on getting Ebany out of Bardek and back home to the Westlands, where his 'madness' can be cured. Rhodry, meanwhile, is working on keeping his oath to take Jahdo home to the northlands and catching the dark dweomermaster who kept taking the form of a raven and stirring up trouble among the Horsekin. The ending of this book isn't the end of the series - there's one more volume to come - but Rhodry's final confrontation uses a very neat twist: something that a reader should have known for ages, but won't be expecting to see come into play. Very cool.
Rating:
Summary: The penultimate knot of the series, and excellent!
Review: For those who have complained that the plot threads of THE RED WYVERN and THE BLACK RAVEN were left dangling---it is time to stop. THE FIRE DRAGON draws together all the major threads of its companion volumes and ties them into a beautiful knot. In the past, Prince Maryn's forces hold Dun Deverry, and the spring's campaign may well bring Deverry to peace. But the peace that Nevyn himself has schemed and sacrificed for may demand yet another price from those he loves, not only on the battlefield, but in the subtler intrigues of a newborn court. In the present, also, Rhodry, Dallandra and Evandar have survived a war won only by a terrible sacrifice, only to find that,once again, peace may demand an even higher cost than victory. Past and present resonate as the fates of characters both old and new converge, and even the compulsively careful reader may find a few surprises in store. Well worth the read.
Rating:
Summary: Another adventure in Deverry!
Review: I have been following this series for a very long time. And I have been waiting for this book since I finished the Black Raven. The Fire Dragon Does a great job of picking up where the Black Raven left off. I must admit that there were more than a few shocks while reading this latest volume. I wish that there were more epics out there that are as colorful and detailed as this one. Ms. Kerr has done a wonderful job of keeping her reader's interest. Bravo! One slight little problem though. I have to wait for the next one...
Rating: 
Summary: Bitter
Review: I have read all of Katherine Kerr's Deverry books since I was in highschool and they have generally given me great pleasure. However this book seemed to fulfill a general trend of the series in which every charcter turns into a bitter person exhausted with the annoyingness of humanity. Nevyn immersed himself in people but now the charcters consider it a relief to focus entirely on their studies. All good people become hermits? Whats wrong with having a life? And the final musical question, are ANY of the characters allowed to die happy or must they all become bitter, tired and disillusioned?
Rating:
Summary: Another Wonderful Book
Review: I have read all of The Dragon Mage part of the Deverry series so far. You get really into the characters. At first I liked Prince Maryn, but in this book you see a different side of him. I nearly cried with all the tragedy at the end of that part. I can't wait to find out what will happen to Salamander, as well as Dallandra and her apprentice, Niffa. All in all, it was another great book!
Rating:
Summary: Splendid language, uneven characters
Review: I just visited Katherine Kerr's web site, and got some horrible news: Bantam has decided it will not publish the next two novels of the series in the United States. Even though ALL TEN books so far are still sellers, a rare event in serialized novels, the last few novels have not sold "enough". Bantam will continue to publish the first 10 novels for as long as they sell. Let's hope Ms. Kerr's agent can find another U.S. publisher for the next two. The good news is that the next two books WILL come out in the United Kingdom, so loyal readers won't get left hanging. Thank you, Ms. Kerr, for writing such great novels, and creating such memorable characters. I can't wait to see Jill again! One final thought. I realize that life isn't fair, but I still feel the need to point out that Goodkind (eh), Feist (double eh) and Eddings (shame, shame) are all wildly succesful. There's a place for these authors (male, teenage; basically me 15 years ago), but I wish they wouldn't crowd out intelligent fantasy for more demanding readers.
Rating:
Summary: great sadness and suchlike, truly
Review: I just visited Katherine Kerr's web site, and got some horrible news: Bantam has decided it will not publish the next two novels of the series in the United States. Even though ALL TEN books so far are still sellers, a rare event in serialized novels, the last few novels have not sold "enough". Bantam will continue to publish the first 10 novels for as long as they sell. Let's hope Ms. Kerr's agent can find another U.S. publisher for the next two. The good news is that the next two books WILL come out in the United Kingdom, so loyal readers won't get left hanging. Thank you, Ms. Kerr, for writing such great novels, and creating such memorable characters. I can't wait to see Jill again! One final thought. I realize that life isn't fair, but I still feel the need to point out that Goodkind (eh), Feist (double eh) and Eddings (shame, shame) are all wildly succesful. There's a place for these authors (male, teenage; basically me 15 years ago), but I wish they wouldn't crowd out intelligent fantasy for more demanding readers.
Rating: 
Summary: Milking this story to get another few books out
Review: If you are hooked on this series, you will probably read it no matter what. But I have to tell you, it is not that great. I greatly enjoyed the first few books of this series... but then the plot began to sloooow down and d r a g out and I got the distinct impression the author was trying to milk a few more books out of the over all story. I miss the plot pace and detailed descriptions of magic in the first books. Now it seems like a repetitive and plodding soap opera dragging on to a terribly foreseeable conclusion. I see the other reviewers of the Fire Dragon herald it as some kind of masterpiece. It is better than the last 2 books but no where as good as the first 2. Plus, the main "plot development" of this book had been hinted at so often in previous books it was pretty obvious what would happen. And there is an increasing element of misogyny in the books that disturbs me. Women are more and more frequently sacrificed, confused, weak, powerless, the victim, and /or the evil one and always always subordinate to their male counterparts. I loved the early books for their strong female lead (which is certainly rare in this genre.) I also think it is unrealistic that a reader would start with book #11 of a 12 part series, yet the author drags us through tedious repeition IN CASE we are new to the story or characters or plot device of reincarnation. Readers who have made it through the last 10 books will probably plow through to the bitter end. I would like to see the author do some editing and make a better, smaller series from all of this when she has fulfilled her contract or desire to complete 12 movels.
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