Rating: 
Summary: Well written and completely engrossing
Review: After reading dozens of the "same old same old" story in Fantasy fiction, this book was a breath of fresh air. I picked it up one night and didn't put it down until I finished it! Douglass' characters are richly written and the mythology surrounding her story is very unique. I can't wait until the rest of the series is available in the US.
Rating: 
Summary: Merciful Heavens!
Review: This was stultifyingly bad. I'm sorry. I don't get all the positive reviews. My 10 year old daughter could have come up with a better prophecy than the one that appears in the beginning of the book, and I bet she would have written better dialog too. Skip this, unless you're willing to overlook a LOT.
Rating:
Summary: The Wayfarer Redemption
Review: This is an amazing fantasy novel! Any fans of Terry Goodkind or Robert Jordan will love Douglass's style of writing. It is a must read for any fan of fantasy. The novel follows the Starman and his quest to unite the people of Tencenor to save them from the Destroyer. This first novel really allows the reader to become attached to the charaters as more information is revealed regarding their involvment in the prophecy. I can't wait to read the next book in the series!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Mediocre fantasy
Review: This book held my interest sufficiently to pass the time, but did not inspire me. Numerous elements of the novel came across to me as pale imitations of George R.R. Martin's epic series, for example the coming winter, the cold-aided enemies, the illigetimate hero... The prophecy and the plot "twists" were fairly predictable - ain't no surprises in this book! The characters are not terribly interesting, either - haven't we heard the "love-triangle" plot just a few too many times? Oh well! Maybe the next books will be an improvement, but I'll just wait to check them out from the library.
Rating:
Summary: Ok, if you say so..
Review: I guess there is just a big divide over the quality of this book. Unlike other books that I have seen divide audiences before, I cannot really comprehend the people who are raving about it. It really is a pretty silly book and a VERY cliched premise. The lore starts out with some interesting thought processes, but unlike the better writers of fantasy, there is no follow through. It's like it was made up to sound good, but the logic circuit is not complete, esepcially in the Icarii race. Which, by the way, is an example I have not seen mentioned of the gratingly stupid names. Come on! Ms. Douglass is this alleged medieval scholar. So she makes up names like Stardrifter Sunglow or some such rot, and calls the winged race Icarii, a seventh grade level [at best] theft of a Greek myth. That one made my head hurt. Thank goodness the people of the forest were not the Dryadii. This is a silly book. It is not so bad that it needs to be torn into shreds. The problem is with the ridiculous hype. Fantastic! Excellent! Oh, Bravo, Ms. Douglass! Nonsense. It's second rate fantasy. Better then nothing, but not much.
Rating:
Summary: A wonderful read
Review: This is Fantasy in its truest form - a peculiarly "Douglass" combination of folk tale, mystery, flight of fancy and pure brilliant storytelling that will have you aching to read the rest of the series. Sara Douglass' writing is vivid, beautiful and thoroughly engrossing. The world she creates is real, based in sound background knowledge of Mediaeval society - and yet sufficiently removed from our own to make this a terrific escapist adventure. Do yourself a favour and discover this brilliant writer!
Rating:
Summary: Well planned and well written
Review: The Wayfarer Redemption: Battle Axe better than average. Others have mentioned that she sometimes uses familiar symbols and labels such as ... the "icarii" and "Icarri Strike Force". I noticed other familiar elements within the writing. Amazingly, her use of these known items does not detract from her work, but instead focuses our attention in different directions. How many fantasy authors come up with a new vocabulary and system of magic, but then re-write the same story again, again, and again? Very successfully fantasy authors in the United States slap on new names, throw in a couple different plot twists, but .... their book is very similar to the last one. THAT is cliché. Sara Douglas does not do that. I ordered and read the next two books in her collection, "Enchanter" and "Star Man". Each book was increasingly sophisticated and more insightful than the previous. It is obvious that she planned this series from the beginning. What this gives us are deep characters, who become incredibly round as the story unfolds. As the series develops, I find the emotional reactions of her characters incredibly familiar to real people. I have recently been involved in a ... love complication ... similar to one described through the first three books. Sarah Douglas is either very observant of human behavior or has experienced this herself. Either way, her characters are true, not cartoons. If you are interested in a long battle scene, don't buy this book. If you are interested in an author who pushes the edges, seldom repeating herself.... an author dedicated to honest character development ... an author who plans a series rather than gluing one to the end... then give Sara Douglas a try.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Fantasy
Review: The book is easy to read and quality fantasy. It might not be Tolkien, but it's imaginative, interesting and great reading. The next 5 books are just as good, or better, set in the same area without becoming dull, repetitive and gloomy. Her characters remain appealing (except Faraday - and there are reasons for that!), and the events don't grow stale. She keeps things moving at a good rate, not dragging things out or moving too quickly. Overall a great read! (try her website: www.saradouglass.com)
Rating: 
Summary: Not - a must read, but a good read.
Review: Overall, good character development and an interesting history of three races. However, the author lacks the development of the world itself. For example, she tries to focus on how the Plough Men have "axed" down the sacred forests and killed its creatures, but she doesn't build the forest up to be more than just a bunch of trees. Unlike Stephen Donaldson's Covenant series that makes you fall in love with the Land. The main character, Axis, is built as an honorable commander and an underdog, bastard child. Some of the development is predictable, but overall the author still sucks you into feeling emotions like revenge and spite - to make a reader feel and not just read is good! The bad guys in this book are bad enough with their flesh ripping, eating, etc to make you really want good to win, but they need more development as well. Perhaps as another review stated, the following books will develop it, but right now you just have the ol' Eddings type prophecy pushing along some players in an epic struggle against a bad sorcerer. Overall, if you're done with Jordan, Eddings, Weis, and Donaldson, this isn't a bad book to read, but save your money and get it in paperback - unless you collect like me. One final note - don't think the woman with the sword on her back is in the novel - I guess she's supposed to be Faraday, but Faraday never carried a sword - no woman in the book carries a sword! Artist messup.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding - very entertaining
Review: I'm a big fan of authors such as McKiernan, Martin, Goodkind & Farland. I would now add Sara Douglass to the list with this wonderfully entertaining story. I'm hoping we won't have to wait too long for the sequel.
| 
