Rating: 
Summary: Absolutely first-rate
Review: Laura Resnick has one terrific future ahead of her in fantasy. The writing, world-building, and characterization are all very strong, but what I particularly liked was the way ILB touched on very primal issues of freedom, and the cost of freedom. Underneath the magic and waterlords and the other elements that make fantasy novels fun is a story of truly epic scope. Can't wait for the next book to come out!
Rating:
Summary: A wonderful epic of breadth and depth
Review: Laura Resnick's fantasy debut, IN LEGEND BORN, is wondrously crafted with a seasoned professional's skill with plot and characterization, and a natural-born-writer's gift with language. This is a book of deep, rich color, with a no-holds-barred attitude that delves deep and produces a treaure of words. I recommend it to anyone who wants a breathtaking read.
Rating: 
Summary: Kind of a Disappointment
Review: Resnick starts out strong and sets up an interesting, unique world populated by compelling characters -- loved the den of the water wizard -- but it all falls apart in the second half of the book. It's hard for me to discuss exactly what I disliked without giving away a ton of spoiler information, but in general, I found the book anticlimactic. Events that seem key at the time appear to have absolutely no repercussions, and I could stay up all night talking about the problems I have with where Josarian is at the end of the book. Also, the "hot" love scenes betray Resnick's roots as a romance novelist just a little too much. Perhaps some of the loose ends I had such problems with will be tied up in the sequel -- but I got the feeling that with this one, Resnick meticulously created a fascinating world, only to allow that world to spin out of her control. Three stars.
Rating:
Summary: It was fantastic. A new star and an epic story are born.
Review: Romance. Intrigue. Non-Stop Action. Magic. Thrilling Suspense. Laura Resnick rates up there with all the best Fantasy writers. I can't wait to read In Fire Forged.
Rating: 
Summary: The enemy of my enemy...
Review: The first book in a new series by an author new to the fantasy genre, In Legend Born has the makings of a classic.
Sileria, an occupied land with an ancient heritage of powerful fire and water magic, starves under the oppression of an expansionist empire, its tough mountain people afraid to raise voices or take action in discontent for fear of terrible punishments, death by slow torture being their conquerors' favourite method of execution. Nonetheless, there is a code of fierce loyalty and absolute silence among the oppressed Shallaheen, and the cruel Valdani find themselves faced with a tougher situation than they had anticipated in this beleagured, half-starved land.
A hero arises from nowhere: suddenly, one man with nothing to live for takes upon himself the burden of his people and teaches them to fight for their freedom.
Meanwhile the rebellious Shallaheen must make alliances with the Waterlords, those who hold the priceless power of water and therefore the lifeblood of the land in their hands, and their lethally trained assassins; the Guardians, once the rulers of Sileria by virtue of their fire magic but now outcasts living in caves and hiding from the conquerors, and the Alliance, a resistance movement operating secretly among the Silerian nobility.
It is perhaps not a case of: will loyalties be betrayed?, but: who will betray whom first, and when? Every character has an agenda, most have impeccable motivations, but all have differing views or ambitions, and, as with every rebellion, points of doctrine often become matters of life and death.
The characters in this novel are very human: Resnick is skilful enough even to make us feel some sympathy for the ruthless Valdani leader who has to deal with the problem of a totally unexpected local uprising. Neither does she shy from the failings of the heroes. The plot is compelling and the moral dilemmas contained therein good substance for debate. Every action has consequences and, even with the best motivation in the world, the means necessary to achieve the desired end are often painful, distasteful, or simply wrong. Resnick paints a harsh and unforgiving world, where heroes must put not only their lives but their very souls on the line to eradicate the suffering of their people.
Rating:
Summary: outstanding
Review: The first person to get me into a book since R.A. Salvatore. I read the book, Loved it. I have been searching for the second part in legend born in fire forged. I am assuming since I have never found the book it was never finished. Sad. I thought it one of the best, and most original story lines ever in Fantasy. Hopefully one day Laura Resnick will finish that book up for me so I can see how the guardians and the Water lords and the rest of them finish the battle. Laura if you ever read this review I beg you to finish this book for me. If it is already out someone please tell me where I can get it. The only other set of books outside of Mr. Salvatores genius that I desire. Jeff
Rating:
Summary: Amazing, draws you in.
Review: The first thing I must say is that the world found in this book is rich with history and details as are the characters. They all have a past which seriously influences the story and of which only details are revealed once and a while leaving you in suspense the entire time. It takes a little while to get used to the names or titles which are often said in Silerian, their language but once you do you do not even think about it but read as if it were in English. the story line is much more complexe than one could inmagine and the land is riddled with corruption, betrayal and alliances which keeps the story moving and interesting at all times. the story is set in Sileria an island in the middle of the sea, dominated by the valdani empire and suffering from it as they have suffered under every foreingn rule. THE valdani keep them in line easily enough since they fight among themselves instead of against them and adding. such divided and unarmed by Valdani law Sileria has littel hope. but all that is changed. Josarian a Shallaheen who has comitted the worst crime in the eyes of the Valdani, killing one of them, must run or suffer death by slow torture. the valdani search for him insistantly, his act having aroused the rest of sileria slightly from their submission and also emboldened them. they hire Tansen, a Shatai, a warrior, who was born a shaleheen and has lived nine years in exile. with his help Josarian involuntarily begins a rebellion and is pushed on by Mirabar, a young guardian. the guardians snet into hiding by Valdani law and mirabar considered a demon by all because of her flame red hair. And aided by Elelar, who has worked all her life to see the Valdani expelled from sileria and Kiloran a waterlord, sworn enemy to the guardians. Not sure whether they can trust each other they must work together towards their common dream.
This book was full of twists and turns and a shock at the end. it was well written and I was turning pages late into teh night. the characters a human and interesting, the heros not perfect, the villains not pure evil. I felt drawn into the book very early on and although it takes a chapter for you to click into what is happeaning the moment you do you feel an entire new world opening around you. The end more than suggested a sequel and i await it eagerly.
Rating:
Summary: Only Two Words : Future Classic
Review: There is NO doubt that this book (and its future sequels) will one day be a classic book, like Tolkien this days. One of the best books ive ever read!
Rating:
Summary: Resnick's "In Legend Born" is quite interesting.
Review: This book contains a fascinating combination of both politics and fantasy. In the island of Sileria, the conquered Silerians hoped for a sovereign nation where they could live freely. As a result of one man, the islanders rose up in protest against the Valdanis. Guardians, assasins, commoners, and waterlords together fought off the overwhelming Valdanis. But at the same time, betrayals within the Silerians occur. This book is very interesting and easy to read, but the negative thing I can say about this book is the lack of suspenseful events.
Rating:
Summary: This is a book you will keep those pages turning!!!
Review: This book got me hooked on the very first page. It is worth your book time to read it. It has a mixture of romance (who will get who), survival, and total comitment. This book will totally blow your socks off. Read it and you won't regret it. The characters stay human in this wonderful book. They have flaws, feelings, addittude, hopes, wants, and goals. Each character is it's own and you will have not just one favorite character, but you will fall in love with all of them. I'm 14 years old and female and I read alot and this is one book you must pick up and read!
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