Rating: 
Summary: A decent book
Review: After reading Beyond The Pale, I wrote an online review (not for amazon.com) stating that it was "a good start". I really enjoyed some of the aspects such as the iron hearts, the travails of modern Americans trying to adjust to medieval living, and the mysterious Child Samanda et. al.. But I was fearful that the subseqent books would be a letdown.In this second book of the series, Mr. Anthony continues some themes and introduces others. Once again, he focuses on a specific stone of power (this time it's the stone of fire). Our heroes work to prevent the misuse of the stone and the destruction of Earth and Eldh. We get more information about what it's like to live in medieval times. Child Samanda makes a brief appearance. The main characters finally have to face their inner demons. And so on. In addition, we get the character development that is typical of the second book of a trilogy, including the homosexual knight mentioned in other reviews. In general I like Keep of Fire and the series. It may be a ripoff from other epic fantasies (Tolkien, Eddings, Donaldson, Hambly), but there is a lot of new stuff as well. Mr. Anthony has given us a rich world and some interesting characters.
Rating:
Summary: A decent book
Review: After reading Beyond The Pale, I wrote an online review (not for amazon.com) stating that it was "a good start". I really enjoyed some of the aspects such as the iron hearts, the travails of modern Americans trying to adjust to medieval living, and the mysterious Child Samanda et. al.. But I was fearful that the subseqent books would be a letdown. In this second book of the series, Mr. Anthony continues some themes and introduces others. Once again, he focuses on a specific stone of power (this time it's the stone of fire). Our heroes work to prevent the misuse of the stone and the destruction of Earth and Eldh. We get more information about what it's like to live in medieval times. Child Samanda makes a brief appearance. The main characters finally have to face their inner demons. And so on. In addition, we get the character development that is typical of the second book of a trilogy, including the homosexual knight mentioned in other reviews. In general I like Keep of Fire and the series. It may be a ripoff from other epic fantasies (Tolkien, Eddings, Donaldson, Hambly), but there is a lot of new stuff as well. Mr. Anthony has given us a rich world and some interesting characters.
Rating:
Summary: A decent book
Review: After reading Beyond The Pale, I wrote an online review (not for amazon.com) stating that it was "a good start". I really enjoyed some of the aspects such as the iron hearts, the travails of modern Americans trying to adjust to medieval living, and the mysterious Child Samanda et. al.. But I was fearful that the subseqent books would be a letdown. In this second book of the series, Mr. Anthony continues some themes and introduces others. Once again, he focuses on a specific stone of power (this time it's the stone of fire). Our heroes work to prevent the misuse of the stone and the destruction of Earth and Eldh. We get more information about what it's like to live in medieval times. Child Samanda makes a brief appearance. The main characters finally have to face their inner demons. And so on. In addition, we get the character development that is typical of the second book of a trilogy, including the homosexual knight mentioned in other reviews. In general I like Keep of Fire and the series. It may be a ripoff from other epic fantasies (Tolkien, Eddings, Donaldson, Hambly), but there is a lot of new stuff as well. Mr. Anthony has given us a rich world and some interesting characters.
Rating: 
Summary: Another gripping masterpiece!
Review: Anthony has written another gripping fantasy in his darkly magical epic saga of his world of Eldh. One again Travis Wilder and Grace Beckett must saved this medieval world from a deadly plague that makes it's victims literally burn to death!This novel like Beyond the Pale has scenes of dark magic,suspense,plot twists and dripping with atmosphere.The only thing else I can say is bring on book 3!
Rating: 
Summary: I won't be able to make it to the third book
Review: Anthony's got a great voice and his dialogue is sharp, but that's about it for the story. The plot (what little there is)is tired and the characters lack any true depth. I don't mind the "reluctant hero" type, but Anthony's heroes flat out refuse to help. Think about it. You've come to this planet with the greatest power in the world and you tell these people who view you as demigods that you can't do anything - without even trying. You get the idea. You end up wanting to yell at the characters "Shut up and do it!" But they don't, until the other characters finally guilt them into action. By the way, if you're an action lover, pass this one over. Talking, talking and more talking. Yes, its sharp and often witty, but man, just make something happen! Don't be fooled by the dragon on the cover, either - the half-page-long encounter is just more talking. I've enjoyed these types of novels, where characters from Earth visit an alternate plane - Rosenberg's were great and Forstchen's "Lost Regiment" series is excellent reading - but the first book in this series was slow and the Keep of Fire is slower...I'm not going to stick around for slowest.
Rating: 
Summary: A pale successor
Review: Beyond the Pale was a well and carefully written book. Its hallmark, in my opinion, was the patience which the author displayed in introducing and fleshing out characters, as well as the meticulous care he spent crafting a strong physical presence that made the world of Eldh tangible and solid. Strong fantasy was mixed with horror, mystery and intrigue that gave the story a terrific cadence. So strong was the writing, in fact, that some of the cliches (character and plotting) were easily forgiven. Good writing can make even a bad idea sound good. The Keep of Fire, unfortunately, possesses none of the qualities of the former. It is my hope that the book was written quickly, perhaps due to contractual obligations, for (as George R. R. Martin has said) your second book should be better than your first, your tenth better than your second, and so on and so forth. Sadly, however, the end of the book could not have come quicker; if not for the strength of Beyond the Pale I would have put The Keep of Fire down and scratched Mark Anthony off the list of authors whose works I choose to follow. Mr. Anthony, for reasons that puzzle me, chose to skim lightly over material that, if fleshed out, would have made for exciting reading. Case in point: the time spent with the Necromancer. Robert Jordan, in a classic case of overwriting, could have written 500 pages on that alone. Mark Anthony should have, in my opinion, written at least 200. So much potential was there! Yet it ended in such disappointment. I applaud the author for tackling issues that have long been taboo in fantasy: specifically homosexuality. Too often homosexual men have been seen as effete, useless fops. In the real world, we know this not to be true. Kudos. NOW...let's see the third book be stronger than the second, and at least as strong as the first.
Rating: 
Summary: Kind of refreshing, but empty calories
Review: Hey, we can't eat broccoli all the time! We need to enjoy something relatively non-nutritive from time to time. This, the 2nd book in the Last Rune series, is the literary equivalent of jalapeno poppers! Lots of dramatic action--the lead characters are constantly imperiled! People are always getting nearly killed. Travis and Grace, the transplants from Earth to the magical realm of Eldh, are remarkably resilient when plopped into a somewhat inconsistent world. (For example, what is the real difference between maddok and coffee? Why even bother? Horses, sheep, bread and clothes are are medieval style. Why create a drink exactly like coffee, (only better) and call it maddok?) These little things can be irritating--almost as irritating as the fairly bad illustrations on the cover. (Can we have the characters depicted to match their descriptions in the book?) Despite all this, I enjoyed the action and energy. The author is not afraid of completely bizarre and unforseen plot twists dropping out of nowhere. Enjoyable, but leaves you wanting something a little more filling.
Rating:
Summary: Another bait and switch job...
Review: His first installment was a quick, and engrossing read, and I enjoyed some of the more subtle undertones of Beyond the Pale, however... all gloves come off in this second installment much to my extreme disappointment. Any doubts about the political bent of the author are COMPLETELY put to rest in this second installment. I guess someone HAD to write a politically correct fantasy epic, complete with horrible corporations wanting to use the new world for profit, openly gay characters, and even a handicapped witch, parts of which are even set in (drum roll please) Denver Colorado! Anthony even goes so far as to trot out the old Earth-As-Mother-Spirit anology (his goddess is Sia instead of Gaia). For those who bend hard to left... enjoy... all others should take a pass... on this and the third installment.
Rating:
Summary: reminds me of.........
Review: I have just finished The keep of fire, which I ran out and bought after reading the first book Beyond the Pale, I thought the first an excellent read, and the second a good one too, although there whhere, I thought, certain simularaties between these books and that of David Eddings Belgariade series. But on the whole a very enjoyable read, keeping a swift pace in most of the chapters and hooking you into the story. There where times when I thought that certain parts in the story where kind of slow and maybe didnt need to be in there. But pushing past these bits (and to be honest there wasnt that many of them) it opened up into an intresting and exciting story, I hope the 3rd book comes soon...........
Rating:
Summary: Great Book and write faster!
Review: I read both books in the series and they were great! Anthony has all the talent to be someone to reckon with in the fantasy field.These novels are the real deal and has all the trimmings for a major fantasy epic:magic,intrigue,menace and it is dripping with atmosphere.While other fantasy authors write continue to crank out books that are clones to the original(like Robert Jordan) Anthony's books are unique to each other and only share the same characters.Do yourself a favor and read these books!The only thing else I have to say I hope the author writes faster because I can't wait to get my hands on book 3!
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