Rating: 
Summary: A valiant, albeit humble, beginning
Review: Throughout "The Fifth Sorceress", there are many instances where Robert Newcomb's inexperience diminishes the overall quality of the book; having written the majority of the book from the seat of his pants being the most obvious; deciding to tell, rather than show, being the second. But amidst Newcomb's numerous flaws (and most are to be expected, being that this is his first book), he possesses possibly the most important quality needed in a good writer: the ability to tell a story. Make no mistake about it, Newcomb is a promising storyteller. I suppose some of the blame for Newcomb's various inadequacies should be placed upon the shoulders of his editor. Described by Newcomb himself as "gentle", I'm afraid that that is an vast understatement. I can't bring myself to believe that an editor would actually "go easy" on a writer simply due to his inexperience, but there are times, when reading "The Fifth Sorceress", that I would almost believe it. A big problem with Newcomb's writing is that he leaves nothing to the imagination. Everything that he is thinking, or the character is thinking, is told. His exposition is often repeated, often dumbed down, as is his dialogue. Newcomb could have benefited greatly from a technique that is known as "Show, don't tell." This means to show the reader something, rather than tell the reader something. This results in more creative, more intellectual writing, and will leave the reader more connected to the story because there are little things that they can fill in for themselves. Regarding details, sometimes less is more. Another problem is that Newcomb admitted to writing the majority of the novel not knowing where exactly he was going next. This results in some rather shaky escapes from certain situations, usually solved by Newcomb's often god-like magic system. I believe that if Newcomb had outlined the book before he had begun writing it, the end product would have been better. I am torn between liking Newcomb's magic and despising it. While I like the innovative system and consistency of it, it is sometimes used too much, and in too powerful degrees. The high-level wizards and sorceresses can almost do anything they please, which can be boring and the characters depend too heavily on it. I am under the philosophy that while magic is impressive, there are many situations that can and must be solved without magic. But there are many times where his use of magic is fun and exciting, and I understand that the book's sequel, "The Gates of Dawn", fleshes out the magic system. I wait eagerly to find out. Seeing that this is Newcomb's first novel (and also by the fact that he had only read one fantasy novel in his entire life), I must admit that I was pleasantly surprised by his creativity regarding the world and the characters who inhabit it. Newcomb has created a very real-feeling realm, and also very life-like characters that have their flaws. To me, a hero isn't interesting unless he has flaws, and the novel's protagonist, Tristan, is just that. He suffers from an extremely quick temper and often lacks the wisdom expected of the future king of his kingdom. The enemies of the book, the sorceresses, are great villains as far as I am concerned. They are malicious, intelligent, and sexy. I was left wanting to read more about them. My favorite aspect of the book was the action sequences. Newcomb doesn't sugar-coat his battle scenes for anyone. He is raw, he is real, and he is enticing. Limbs go flying, heads are torn from their bodies, and hearts are ripped from their cases. There is rape, slaughter, and destruction, which all leads to an intriguing amount of realism. I applaud Newcomb for his bravery. When all is said and done, the reader is left wanting to know more; more about Prince Tristan, more of ruined Eutracia, more of the future of endowed blood. And most of all, more about what transpires in the novel's epilogue. I, in particular, salivate in anticipation for what is to come. Let us all see how Robert Newcomb has grown, shall we? Let us visit "The Gates of Dawn".
Rating: 
Summary: I threw this book away after 80-some pages
Review: Okay, I'm not much of a review writer, but I found this book to be so bad that I felt compelled to tell you about it. I'm a fantasy/scifi fan, but I'll admit to being fairly picky. I was browsing and found 5th Sorceress. The back of the book (paperback) compared it to George R.R. Martin ("Song of Ice and Fire") and called it 'realistic fantasy'- whatever that is. I got through about 80 pages of this book and couldn't take it anymore- the characters are without exception cardboard at best, and pages and pages are spent in exposition about the 'world' he's created (and it's not impressive) rather than revealing it through action and dialogue. I actually THREW THIS BOOK AWAY. I haven't hated a book this much since... well, I was going to say since Sara Douglass' "StarMan" (a series that started with at least SOME promise), but really... I've never hated a book this much. Bottom line: total hack job; avoid this book.
Course, I also didn't like Goodkind, or Jordan after about book 6 (and I think I'm generous there). Since I've been sooo negative, here are a few books I would wholeheartedly recommend:
Martin: Game of Thrones; Clash of Kings; Storm of Swords
Guy Gavriel Kay: Tigana
William Gibson: Neuromancer; Count Zero; Mona Lisa Overdrive
Rating: 
Summary: A great book.
Review: Even though the weight of this book might suggest long winded accounts and descriptions of insignificant details, I was pleasently surprised. The author did a magnificent job moving the plot along. Once I started, I could not put it down. If you enjoy a fast paced novel that avoids lengthy descriptions of every plant and tree in the forest then I would reccomend this book.
Rating:
Summary: Misogyny? Please!
Review: Any time a writer has the main villian as a female, if she dosen't act in a already tiresome preditable way, the quickest way to attack the writer is..... hey!, a woman hater!! Please! Finially a book comes along with some gumption and not afraid to show some real adult themes and not some pretty tale about unicorns and lovable, simpleton little people to get all warm and mushy about. Truth be told I'm not much of a fantasy reader for most of the reasons stated but I really like how everything was turned on it head for this story and I'm waiting and not without much patience for the next tale in the trilogy. I like a lady villian, personally I would love to see one in the next James Bond film, since he has never had a worthly woman adversary but when she meets her doom as the villians usually do we will never hear the end of it. Sorry if this report sounds more like that of an attack then a review, I really thought this book did some wonderful new options in a tired genre and wanted to have my say on that. I know I'm going to get a hit for this observation but I'm wondering if this novel had been written by woman writer if the tone would be different. Deal with it.
Rating: 
Summary: Too easy to predict what happens
Review: I have no idea why the dustjacket claims this is the next Terry Goodkind! The storyline was simple and shallow. Easy to predict doesn't even begin to describe this book. It is almost as if he is ripping off ideas from other writers (a.k.a. Terry Goodkind). Women dressed in red leather ring a bell? He takes pages to describe what could have been said in a sentence or two or at most a paragraph. If you have nothing better to do than to turn your brain off for a couple of days then read this one. I am hoping that his next one will have a little more substance.
Rating:
Summary: An interesting read, IF you can get past certain aspects
Review: Yikes. I don't write a lot of reviews, but I'm a little surprised by all the negative response this book has generated. Unfortunately I think a lot of this springs from a few aspects of the book, namely:
--The major villians are female sorceresses
--These sorceresses are portrayed as lesbian/bisexual/sexual deviants
--Parts of the book have strong sexual content, including deviant behavior The response has been to portray Newcomb as misogynist, and many readers have been offended by aspects of this book. However, I really don't think this book deserves the villification it has received. Granted, it's not groundbreaking, it's not for the easily offended, and the quality of the writing is not the best. But it does have a compelling cast of characters and does a nice job of developing them. The heroes are the kind you can really cheer for, and are also multidimensional. The author also does a good job in fleshing out his fantasy world while keeping the plot moving, unlike a lot of "epic" fantasy these days (*cough* Jordan). The bottom line is twofold: first, if you're going to blame someone for the flaws in this book, blame Del Rey. This could have been an exceptional book with proper editing. Second, even with all its flaws, this book kept me turning pages and provided a very enjoyable read. And to me, that's what really matters.
Rating: 
Summary: I think some of you read a different book than I did.
Review: Was this supposed to be Martin or Jordan? No (although far better than Jordan's last 4 1/2 books). Was it supposed to be far more imaginative twist on the young orphan who suddenly obtains great power and saves the world? Yes. I think a great many of these reviewers spend far too much time in the minutia of very, very minor spelling errors (Don't blame the writer, blame the editor), rather than focusing on the tale that's being told and the vehicle for that tale. In my estimation, Newcomb came up with something far more interesting than most, and displayed an excellent ability to twist the stereotypical fantasy plot. Frankly, I enjoyed the characters far more than most books, in particular the villians. Indeed, Newcomb spends, and rightfully so, a considerable amount of time developing the threat level of these women. My only criticism is that they were wiped out in a matter of few pages. Nonetheless, I was thrilled to not experience the following: (1) Orphan boy comes into great power; (2) the lack of permanent tragedy that befalls the hero; (3) the lack of consequences or finality; and (4)lack of pacing. Great read and it is a fast read. Would love to see a prequel with these characters. Oh yeah, for those that made critiques about dangling plotlines, etc., a modicum of patience would do you well
Rating:
Summary: Feel sorry for Newcomb
Review: You have to feel sorry for Robert Newcomb. Like so many others, he thought it would be fun to write a book, and undoubtedly had a great time while composing his story. Then he got an agent (wow!), a publisher (double wow!), and a contract that included heavy-duty promotion. That's when it all started to fall apart. The book has received a very negative response from the fans, and unless sales pick up Del Rey may want to drop him after he fulfills his contract for the proposed trilogy. In the meantime, writing the 2nd and 3rd volumes, that should have been a joyous occasion, must have become a very unhappy experience. In a way it's not even his fault. It was Del Rey's, for over-promoting him, trying to find The Next Big Thing instead of just seeking to publish quality fiction. They should be ashamed of themselves.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely deadly
Review: Like some writers, Robert Newcomb labors under the illusion that adding violence and sex to his novel will make it an "adult" fantasy. And he also believes that making his novel hundreds of pages long and promising a sequel makes it an "epic" fantasy. Instead of creating an epic adult fantasy in the mould of Tolkien, Tad Williams, Carol Berg, or even ... Terry Goodkind, Robert Newcomb has merely created a long fantasy novel filled with violence and sex. Before the violence and sex get added, the novel itself features characters straight from Central Casting. Archetypes, of course, are a staple of fantasy writing. However, Robert Newcomb has failed to make his archetypes compelling, instead turning them almost into parodies of themselves. Wigg is the Wise Old Wizard. (Gandalf refused to return Newcomb's phone calls). Tristan is the Reluctant Hero With A Destiny. (Aragorn would have loved to star, but was washing his hair.) Shailiha is the Innocent Sister. (Princess Leia took out a restraining order on Newcomb). The villains include Vona, the lead sorceress, Succiu, the number-two nymphomaniac sorceress, and a pair of cardboard cutouts named Sorceress Three and Sorceress Four. Filling the position of Disgruntled Henchman is Krug, a winged warrior with a thing for wheels, unwinged women, and needlepoint. The villains aren't evil. They're EEEEEEVIL. The beat their lovers! They unleash plagues! The kill people! They enslave people! They kick puppies, tear tags off mattresses, and like Kinky Lesbian Sex! They're EEEEEEVIL! With the Middle Earth sets booked and the Sword of Truth setting preparing for war, Eutracia hosts these sorry characters. Picture Standard Fantasy Kingdom Number Six, and you pretty much have it. Eutracia's ruled by Tristan's father, who's going to step down, turn the throne over to Tristan, and become part of the Directorate, the wizards who run the show. (Directorate?? Directorate??? Did I suddenly pick up a corporate training manual???) Rounding out the Standard Fantasy Plot Pieces is a 300-year-old war, where the wizards whooped sorceress..., but left the sorceresses to die at sea rather than kill them outright. They'll die at sea, right? Their lives will never be saved, right? Obviously, the wizards don't read very many fantasy novels. .... The plot itself unfolds with planned mediocrity. There's the big attack. The epic quest. Turning Shailiha to the Dark Si ... I mean ... making her practice the Vagaries. I sincerely hope the EEEEEEVIL lesbian sorceresses are his own invention. I'd hate to think that any other fantasy writer would be so blatantly misogynistic. ...
Rating:
Summary: WAR OF THE WORDS
Review: This book is an exciting account of a death-struggle between two mortal foes. Only one cam triumph. These deadly adversaries are the author and the English language. English loses. THE ADVERB PLAGUE! Good writers know that you don't tell your readers what you just said. Mr. Newcomb has yet to learn this. So we have gems like "Go around it,' Shannon said quickly."
"You'll soon find out,' he said sternly." "Gnomes,' he said simply." These examples are all from pp. 318 and 319, and there are two more in the same place. The first quote in the book is "Bring them up,' Wigg said simply."
Mr. Newcomb should find out what a "Tom Swifty" is. HOWLERS? Oh, yes. "Swinging one leg over the pommel of his saddle, he slipped quickly to the ground." (still p. 318) I'm sure he did, if he tried to dismount by swinging his leg over his horse's head. Nice image, though.
"Don't get any ideas about stealing our horses.' He narrowed his eyes and smiled ruefully." (318 yet again!) I wonder what the author thinks 'ruefully' means? REPETITION? Let's see...
(260) "reached out at the last possible instant"
(262) "help me wait until the last instant"
(262, 6 lines lower) "At the last possible second, Tristan..."
No editor could have been assigned to the book. WONDERFUL NAMES! So ingenious, like Tristan (where's Isolde?), Natasha (where's Boris?), Wigg (Wigg??), Lillith (where's Eve?) Lillith's father is named Agamedes, and her brother is Chauncey. Obviously an Anglo-Greek lass. (Chauncey??) I could go on, but it's hardly necessary. The amazing thing is that, not being a masochist, I didn't read the whole book. I did not need to scrutinize the work for occasional lapses. I found these almost at random. This is just plain bad writing. It is a weak first draft. How could such a thing be accepted by an agent and a publisher? The biggest loser in all of this is the author, who, with this thing on the shelves, may never learn to write at all. Please, someone, send him a copy of Browne and King's "Self-Editing for Fiction Writers," quick. Or maybe his publisher will buy him a copy. It's the least Del Rey could do, seeing that they wouldn't give him an editor. FINALLY: I pass over in silence, since others have covered them here, the unpleasing scenes of ghastly, gratuitous gore and silly, sadistic sex that the author inserts, perhaps in a desperate effort to keep his readers awake. But I can't resist mentioning that Mr. Newcomb manages to mess up even his dedication! It reads, "For Joyce, mon raison d'etre." But 'raison' is feminine, and the phrase should be 'ma raison.' Please, Monsieur Newcomb, stay away from foreign languages. You have enough trouble with English!
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