Taking Flight: A Legend of Ethshar

Rating:
Summary: Sorry LWE, but . . . .
Review: I'd like to apologize to LWE for writing this, since he is by far my favorite author. I realize that this is his most beloved Ethshar novel, but I could barely get through this book both times I read it. I read it twice just to make sure I didn't gloss over some deeper hidden meaning. I didn't. This book is about a journey. A rather loooooong one. I felt like I was there, too, eating all the dust and sweating in the sun with them. I just missed all the fun that I really think LWE wanted in the tale. Try any of the other Ethshar stories, you won't be disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: Sorry LWE, but . . . .
Review: I'd like to apologize to LWE for writing this, since he is by far my favorite author. I realize that this is his most beloved Ethshar novel, but I could barely get through this book both times I read it. I read it twice just to make sure I didn't gloss over some deeper hidden meaning. I didn't. This book is about a journey. A rather loooooong one. I felt like I was there, too, eating all the dust and sweating in the sun with them. I just missed all the fun that I really think LWE wanted in the tale. Try any of the other Ethshar stories, you won't be disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: Not the best, but a good solid Ethshar book
Review: Kelder of Shulara (Kelder is a very common name in Ethshar) has spent his young life dreaming of leaving his small provincial town with its boring way of life. Now, armed with a fortuneteller's predictions, he sets off to find fame, magic and love. When he meets Irith, a magical young woman who can change her form, he finds that his future is coming together. But, there is something disturbing about Irith, and Kelder finds that he has a few questions that must be answered.

I must say, right off, that I am a huge fan of Lawrence Watt-Evans. Admittedly, this is not his best book, but it is a good solid Ethshar book, one that I enjoyed reading. I'm not sure about any hidden meanings, but I did find Kelder's interaction with this female Peter Pan to be absolutely fascinating.

If you are looking for a book of High Fantasy - of swords and magic, and kingdoms overthrown - then you will be disappointed in this book. However, if you interested in a fascinating book set in a magical milieu, then I highly recommend this book to you.

Rating:
Summary: Not his best work
Review: Overall the book is worth a read, if you want to read the whole Ethshire collection. But if you want to read a good story look at some of Watt-Evans other books. The story centers on a young man, going in search of his fortune, a tired old cliche, he runs across a young woman with wings who doesn't want to grow up and has the magic behind her to make it happen. He faces the problem of falling in love with the perpetual child as he himself grows up. Add to this situation an old man, magicly smitten with the adolescent angel. The best part is a cameo appearance of Valdar the innkeeper, from The Misenchanted Sword, a much better book.