Rating: 
Summary: Not bad, but not great either.
Review: I ordered "The Wayfarer Redemption" on recommendation of a glowing review in a brochure from a major bookselling chain. The cover copy made it sound cliched and boring, though. The "truth" of the book for me lies somewhere between these two extremes, but perhaps more towards the latter. Ms. Douglass, in her first novel, (perhaps unknowingly) peppers her book with situations and character types that have become uber-cliched in the genre: a prophecy, a woman torn between two half-brothers who hate each other, ancient magical peoples driven to the wilds away from civilization, a supernatural evil threat from the frozen wastes. Actually these cliches wouldn't be too bad if the author had a better style. Unfortunately she has a bad habit of telling us how her characters are feeling, instead of letting their actions speak for themselves. Adult, supposedly competent males hiss and scratch like tribal schoolgirls. Our heroine, supposedly intelligent as well as beautiful (or so we're told several times), rolls with every situation she's in without thinking, almost completely passive. You can argue that it's "about" story rather than character or writing style, but it was hard to find anyone to pin my interest or empathy on, hard to enjoy the story with so many beginning writer's problems staring at me. The story itself, the epic of an evil threat menacing the land, is involving and exciting, despite the fact that (or perhaps because) it's so archetypal. I definitely think Ms. Douglass has potential, but I don't think "The Wayfarer Redemption" was worth hardcover purchase price.
Rating:
Summary: Marginal
Review: I was looking for some originality here, based on the reviews, but I have to say that this is pretty much a rehash of concepts, characters, plot devices and tropes that I have seen before. The writing style is maddening from time to time, shifting focus several times within a single paragraph. And the use of prophecy as a plot device in unoriginal and lame. I also found the dialog to be particularly grating. In fairness to the author, perhaps I was expecting more because of all the hype these books have received, since they have a track record in Australia. Some parts of them are even interesting, but the problem is that as soon as I was starting to think ok. this is getting better, something extremely dumb comes along and throws us back to square one. I cannot imagine wanting to read any more of these.
Rating: 
Summary: An exccellent and exciting fantasy epic
Review: Fearing the return of Gorgrael and his icy minions that feed on human flesh, Duke Borneheld leads the Kingdom of Anchar's army into battle. At the same the King sends Borneheld's half-brother Axis to find some texts that might tell how to defeat the powerful Ice Lord. Borneheld's fiancee, Faraday accompanies Axis on his quest. On their trek to find the ancient tomes, Faraday and Axis fall in love. Meanwhile she begins to learn more of the truth about her people after years of believing lies. She knows her love for Axis is forbidden and that the truth about her people is also taboo. Either event means certain death. Gorgrael realizes that Axis is the bigger threat so sends his troops to kill him. However, Axis discovers a prophecy that if true could save the kingdom. Faraday realizes she is a key player if the prophecy is to occur, but Gorgrael is devious and deadly, and her betrothed may prove likewise too. THE WAYFARER REDEMPTION: BATTLEAXE is an exciting fantasy epic that is like the beginning of a roller coaster ride. It goes up the incline ever so slow but at the apix, it takes off like the speed of light. The story line is well written and the characters including the Ice Lord seem genuine. Fans of epic fantasy will find Sara Douglass' first tale in her new series (first published in Australia in 1995) to be quite good and will want future tales released rather quickly. Harriet Klausner
Rating: 
Summary: Engaging, Well-Paced Fantasy That Left Me Anticipating More
Review: Obtained an advanced readers copy of this book in the States, and upon completion immediately placed an order for the rest of the trilogy through the UK. Very engaging first work that kept my interest, despite lacking the depth of some of the best high fantasy work by Hobb, Jordan, or Martin. Despite a rather awkward start in the prologue, marred by the intrusion of the inset of a largely unnecessary and distracting chronology, the book soon takes off with a well told, at times inventive, and for the most part well written tale. I find the invented language somewhat inelegant, and references at times---the Icarii, the Charonites, the Wing Strike Force---rather bald and obvious, lacking in creativity and originality, but if one is able to read over these detracting elements, the story has much to offer, and for high fantasy is far better than most of the usual sword and sorcery fare. The world is well built, with good descriptive and character development, and its derivative elements are less pronounced than those that have been recontextualized or represent original contributions. As far as an earlier review that found the plot slow and tiring, I would assume this reader prefers his stories short on plot and character development and long on non-stop action. As this is not my preference, those reading this can determine for themselves which style of work they would prefer. Despite my qualifications, my immediate ordering of the next books in the series says it all. I look forward to continuing the saga, and hope the upcoming works are as captivating as the first. Recommended.
Rating:
Summary: A realistic fantasy
Review: This was great! The characters show more complexity than is usual in fantasy. They grapple with questions we all face, and answer them as we do -- that is to say, not always well! I can hardly wait until the rest of the series is available.
Rating:
Summary: Overhyped
Review: The glowing description and review made me interested checking this book out ~ I read everything in fantasy, especially new stuff. I have to say that perhaps being the most successful fantasy author from Australia has not helped Sara Douglass here in America. The plot is standard stuff, and reads like a bad cartoon, with Faraday being a wimpish heroine that makes some pretty patheric choices. I also hate prophecys that just out of nowhere predict things as plot devices. On the whole, this is a pretty amateurish book. It does not live up to the hype.
Rating: 
Summary: Pretty Awful, not worth the money
Review: This book has a nice piece of Royo art on the cover. That's the only really good thing I can say about it. I thought the plot was standard, and the characters flat and annoying. The names are silly and prose amateurish. For all that Douglass has spent a good deal of time creating "new" races, they are bad.
Rating:
Summary: Hang in There, It'll Grab You!
Review: I'm always on the lookout for interesting new authors to add to my collection, and I believe Sara Douglass fits the bill! If you can stick with the development of the storyline for about the first hundred pages or so, this book REALLY takes off and doesn't let you go! The hero, Axis, has enough vulnerabilities and mitigating circumstances to make you really become attached to him, as does the heroine, Faraday. Besides these two, there is a supporting cast of many other interesting characters to flesh out the story. The second book in this series picks right up with the action without making you slog through a long rehash and character build-up. I do not want to give anything away, so if you like fantasy I believe you'll be pleased with the books in this series.
Rating:
Summary: Epic waste of time
Review: Don't kill time trying to wade the horrible drivel of Sara Douglass's Wayfarer Redemption or the other two books in her Axis trilogy. They're way too long and there's no way the author can make you care any these characters. Most of the main characters, including and especially, Axis act like jerks. This makes it very hard to like this book. The hero or heroine discovering some kind of lost or secret heritage is a tired fantasy cliche beaten into the reader's head in this book. Go read something by Elizabeth Hayden or Elaine Cummings if you want a good book by a woman fantasy author.
Rating:
Summary: LOVED IT!!
Review: This book has everything! A disgruntled jealouse older brother....romance...war...mystery....and non-stop adventure. With enchanting characters and a chilling prophesy of ruin and despair this will be a book you cant put down.
Axis had it all. He was the leader of the axe weilders: the battle axe. Growing up with The Way of The Plow, he believd like all others that trees were evil and the exiled forbidden who lost the War of the Axe were evil magic weilding monsters. But when he is charged to visit the Silent Woman's Wood, he meets two people who will turn his way of life upside down and against the Senechal.
I loved this book. I've always been an avid reader of fantasy and science fiction and this is the BEST SERIES I HAVE EVER READ!!! While some parts move slowly they are essential in the development of the characters. Sycik with it and i gaurantee Sarah douglas won't leave you wanting.
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