Rating: 
Summary: Rather sad copy of others
Review: I picked this book up at the library and I must admit that I am very pleased that I did not pay for it. I would have to agree with the other negative reviews in that this is a clear copy of Stephen King (any), Stephen Donaldson's (Thomas Covenant series), with a bit of David Edding's and Tolkien thrown in for good measure. Unfortunately without the skill of the above writers.It starts off as a King type story and then gets very annoying. The writing is quite annoying and I would have to say immature. I found it lacked a major plus for me in that I could not relate to any of the characters. They are definitely two dimensional, and are never developed (nor is the plot). The parts where 'Grace' is talking with the King are laughable, and Travis was a pain in his response to everything - possibly an attempt to copy Thomas Covenant and his inability to relate/believe in what was happening to him? I checked a couple of times to see if the author was a male or a female. It was that type of writing that made me think of a woman who can not understand how a male thinks? This is not an attack on women; some male and female writers have this problem. Some of the 'logic' is quite silly in that at times the characters have certain powers and at others they appear to be quite useless, with no explanation why. How can a rune user simply fix things by saying 'Be Whole'? What happened to the training? There is a hell of a lot better out there if you have an interest in SF. If not sure - check out your library and save a few dollars.
Rating: 
Summary: Very entertaining fantasy
Review: I picked this book up on a whim...the cover looked interesting and in a matter of hours was hooked. This book was a very enjoyable read. I thought about the characters during the day and pondered which way the action would turn. Reading a chapter or 2 was my treat for a successful day's work. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes complex fantasy novels and bears a secret wish to have some "special" talent of their own, just waiting to be discovered. The only flaw was a just-too-neatly-tied-up ending but I'll be anxiously awaiting the next installment in the series.
Rating:
Summary: Great even for people who don't like fantasy novels!
Review: I picked up this book when I desperately needed something to do and had $3.00 in my pocket (enough to pay for the book at the 2nd hand shop in our strip mall). I was amazed! I don't usually go for the fantasy genre, but I was immediately drawn in by the intricate plot and interesting characters. I've remained loyal to the Last Rune series ever since. Still working on the 3rd one, but Beyond the Pale and The Keep of Fire were excellent.
Rating: 
Summary: Nothing to recommend
Review: I'll admit it: I'm addicted to Baldur's Gate. After my son goes to bed at night, I shirk my household duties and sit myself down in front of the computer for an hour or two of playing. It's engrossing. But the net result is that, instead of finishing the game in a week or so, it's taking me quite a long time indeed. Which just feeds the addiction, I'm afraid. What's this got to do with Beyond the Pale? you ask. A legitimate question. The answer is simply this: Cover Art. I was in the bookstore a few weeks back looking for something new to read. As you can imagine from my enjoyment of RPG's, I like a good fantasy or sci-fi tale. I noticed Beyond the Pale not because I recognized the author (which I didn't) or that it was recommended to me (which it wasn't) but because of the cover art. The cover has a central image with 'icons' down the left hand side. Very similar to the Baldur's Gate layout on my computer's monitor. So I bought it, and never mind that they were runestones and not icons. Mark down one sale for Stephen Youll, the cover artist. Then I started to read it. And I decided from there on out that I would solicit recommendations before buying another book. The main problem is that the first few chapters read like they came out of Creative Writing 101. You know: the one where the students give an adjective or two to every single noun, and come up with similies that are jarring and awkward. After 12 chapters of this (which span 60 pages), it becomes almost difficult to avoid laughing at a line like, "She watched transfixed as the [elevator] doors rolled to either side, like an opening eye turned on its side." Anthony does settle down after a while. A few dozen chapters in and the adjectives are more well-behaved, the similies become few and far between. At that point, you can stop chuckling and start paying attention to the plot. Is the plot any good? Well, from a strict fantasy point of view, it borrows a lot of elements from other, more well-established, works. People have compared Travis, one of the two fish-out-of-water characters, to Donaldson's Thomas Covenant and, to be honest, I did think of Covenant as I read the book. But mostly these thoughts took the form of "at least Travis isn't as annoying as". So, point for Anthony. Melia, a sorceress, can be likened to one of David Eddings' matriarchal characters and we can go as far back as Tolkien to see an object (a rune stone) which has a mind of its own. The biggest problem Anthony has with these story elements is that he's inconsistent in their use. Partway through the book, the aforementioned rune stone suddenly loses it's free will, and not by some means that is evident in the book. It just stops acting out. Again: in one scene Melia is comfortably in charge and, in another, she's being led around a castle, being told where to go, by a character with no clear plan of what to do. The story could really benefit from a rewrite; cleaning up the first part of it, and making the characters and story elements consistent throughout. Changing one or two ideas here and there would also help in distancing the more obvious "idea borrowing". This is the first part of a trilogy of books (at least, so far. Trilogies these days have a tendency to go on and on). Unfortunately, there wasn't enough here to make me want to read beyond Beyond the Pale. Anthony wrapped up enough of the plot to leave me comfortable with the idea of not finding out what happens after this. So that kind of answers the question I asked a few paragraphs ago about the plot. Is it any good? If it were good, if Anthony were a better writer, I'd probably want to read more of it. Maybe after he's gotten his style worked out and he starts coming up with his own stories, I'll give him another shot. Until then, I'm looking forward to more of Stephen Youll's cover art.
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating read!
Review: I'll admit that I was suckered into reading this book because of the cover (and such a gorgeous cover it is!). I normally can't stand the mixing of modern day with fantasy world--I avoid at them at all costs. But this one is different... Not only is the language fascinatingly beautiful (it feels like poetry in prose format--something I absolutely love). The characters were interesting: I wanted to find out what would happen to them, especially once Travis arrived on the planet of Eldh. The action starts quickly but smoothly and I felt like I was being swept away. Anyone who considers themselves a fan of fantasy should pick these up. I haven't been so thoroughly engrowsed in a series since Robin Hobb or Anne Bishop.
Rating: 
Summary: Still reading it but.......
Review: I'll start by saying I'm giving this book 3 stars because to be fair, I haven't finished it and I don't want to be too harsh since it isn't a bad book so far. I'm writing a preliminary review now because I was getting frustrated and I figured by writing this while it was fresh in my mind would give an idea of why. I have read only 79 pages of this book so far and I have already detected at least three blatent rip-offs. 1a. Strange, appocolyptic prophets from another world in modern, real world setting. (Stephen R. Donaldson's Thomas Covenent series)
1b. As an added bonus, the description of the leader of these prophets is a pale imitation of a Stephen King type character.
2.Cold and remote yet brilliant female doctor with mysterious past. (Thomas Covenent series AND Anne Rice's Mayfair Witch series)
3. Glimpse into the thoughts of a soon-to-be victim-of-a-horrible-death (very awkward aping of Stephen King's unique style)
4. Mysterious organization which studies strange phenomena. (almost of any of Anne Rice's books which feature the organization whose name has maddeningly escaped me at the moment). It was when I got to the scene introducing the erudite gentlemen of hard-to-place ethnic origins from the above mentioned organization that I decided to write this initial review. However, I plan to continue reading. The all-to-obvious influences are a bit distracting but for the moment the plot is diverting enough to capture my attention. The writing is skillful if not original. As others have pointed out, many classics have their origins in earlier works. It's too early for me to predict whether this series will be a classic (somehow I doubt it) but so far it is a decent summer read. Also, I found the name of the bar owned by the main character a bit revealing, particularly in light of the reviews of the next two books in the series. The bar is called, The Mine Shaft. HAR HAR HAR!
Rating: 
Summary: Love it! But it does sound awfully familiar...
Review: I'm incredibly fond of this book and fully intend to get the 2nd one. Where I utterly detested Brook's Sword of Shannara (he couldn't write, I tell you!) I find this book well written and the storyflow engaging, so much so that I can actually ignore the less than original plotline. The only problem I had with his writing style is that I found it rather difficult to identify the characters. Besides the two main characters, whenever a character reappeared after a certain period of absence in the book I had to flip back to the front just to figure out who it was. It's also true that some parts are terribly derivative. Melia is a Polgara clone, and that part about seals weakening just screams Robert Jordan at you. We've all seen this magic system somewhere before and the "off to save the world" theme is so prevalent it isn't even amusing anymore. For me, the bottom line is that Mr. Anthony can tell a good story. His descriptions of castle life imparted a certain feeling of reality to that episode, the characters are fleshed out well enough to make them believable. The book isn't profound or soul-grabbing, it'll never make you ponder the cosmos or the meaning of life, but it really reads well.
Rating:
Summary: Very rewarding, the beginning of great things from Anthony
Review: I'm not a fan of fantasy fiction. I can't remember ever reading anything from the genre before this. But I took the risk and it was worth the time. Sure, parts of it seem familiar. But think about it: certain themes and archetypes will show up again and again in great literature. I didn't much like the Grace character at first, but she really changes a lot and you eventually warm up to her. Personally, I think it's bad if you like every character in a novel. Travis is a little whiny, but then he gets to change a lot also. I'd much rather read a novel whose characters grow and change so that by the end I have come to like and appreciate those whom I I didn't like at first. Just like real life, huh? Anyway, I agree that the ending was a little too tight but I loved the mix of action and drama, and the thrill of solving a deadly mystery came through loud and clear in some very well-written scary passages. This is most definitely a page-turner once it hits its stride. I have the distinct pleasure to know Mark Anthony as an acquaintance. I have discussed the book at length with him face to face and I am decidedly impressed at this first novel of his and what his goals for this work were and how he went about achieving them. I am so eager to read the sequel I can't hardly stand it!
Rating:
Summary: Very well-written!
Review: I'm not usually much into fantasy--100% medieval action and 0% plot is not really my style--but this book is definitely a cut above the rest. The plot is intreaguing and thick, and the characters are unusual and well-developed. I originally bought this book just to have something to occupy my mind at work, but ended up taking it home and not being able to put it down. I will definately purchase the sequal, THE KEEP OF FIRE.
Rating:
Summary: AMAZING
Review: If your into wizards, magic etc... this is the book for you. Marc Anthony is the best author I have ever read, since JK Rowling, of course.... This is a book you'll want to read over and over again, so don't just rent it from the library, BUY IT!!!!
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