Rating: 
Summary: Flat Static Characters from Central Casting
Review: After having read several of the reviews for this book, I decided to give it a try. Never before have I read a book with such cookie cutter characters. They are simple and unchanging, with no depths, thoughts, or emotions (the one exception is the knight's mother, she displays her everlasting sadness, but even then, that is her only emotion.) The young knight, the loyal squire, the recluse sorcerers, the nonspecific seer, etc. You needn't waste your time reading this book. Halfway through, you'll throw it down and say "Who cares?"
Rating: 
Summary: Exquisite Fairy Tale
Review: As a jaded fantasy reader, I immediately recognized the character types I'd seen in a hundred other fantasy novels. What Eisenstein did is take characters that could easily have been cliches and made them live. These people seem real and human, and the story -- the wonderful, absorbing, unique story is so well told I couldn't put the book down. Some scenes were classic fantasy novel moments but they were so well done they seemed fresh, like I was reading the book the others had been imitating. The plot itself was original and satisfying; it kept me guessing/hoping/wondering without relying on illogical, artificial twists, and I can't remember the last time a fantasy novel achieved that.
Rating:
Summary: Exquisite Fairy Tale
Review: As a jaded fantasy reader, I immediately recognized the character types I'd seen in a hundred other fantasy novels. What Eisenstein did is take characters that could easily have been cliches and made them live. These people seem real and human, and the story -- the wonderful, absorbing, unique story is so well told I couldn't put the book down. Some scenes were classic fantasy novel moments but they were so well done they seemed fresh, like I was reading the book the others had been imitating. The plot itself was original and satisfying; it kept me guessing/hoping/wondering without relying on illogical, artificial twists, and I can't remember the last time a fantasy novel achieved that.
Rating: 
Summary: A very interesting book that makes use of few characters...
Review: Born in magic and raised with sorcery, Cray Ormoru dwelt in a world of happiness within the walls of Castle Spinweb....
Cray set out upon a journey which would take him from town to castle to a fortress of bronze, totally unprepared for the sorrows and dangers that lay ahead. For the fate of Cray's father would only be discovered in the light of demon fire...
"I couldn't stop reading Sorcorer's Son, from it's intriguing beginning to it's thunderous close."-Roger Zelazny, Author of The Chronicles Of Amber
---If you like demons, you'll love this. The book takes a turn in which Cray becomes a demonologists, and lives upon the demon plane... Decidedly interesting
Rating:
Summary: A truly enjoyable fantasy
Review: I first read this book years ago as a library copy--the title and the smarmy cover painting did not look promising. To my delighted surprise, the story is full of marvelously inventive yet logical plot turns, settings, and details as well as a variety of appealing characters and an appropriately vile villain. Instead of cloying sentiment , there is an underlying warmth that feels honest. There is also suspense, heartbreak and a story that always pulls you on and keeps you guessing. Since the plot extends over a generation, there is space to develop the characters, the story line, and the many unexpected ramifications of magic. There is also a uniquely humanistic depiction of demons (four kinds!) including a tour of their home domains. The ending is exciting and satisfying, but I kept checking to see how many pages I still had left to enjoy and was sorry when they ran out.Though my first copy was from the library, I've bought multiple copies since then for myself and friends. So far, they've all reacted to this book the same way I did. I recently read it for the fourth time and enjoyed it all over again.
Rating:
Summary: Loved it
Review: I found this to be a surprisingly good book (and I am not a big fantasy novel reader). It was just lovely! The romance between Delevev and Gildrum was the highlight for me though. Gildrum, he can pass out at my front door anytime!
Rating:
Summary: Great book!
Review: I love the world Eisenstein has created here, one where nature and magic interact, and where demons have their own worlds far from the call of man. It is one of the few books that I can start rereading as soon as I finish the last page, because it is always new and refreshing to me!
Rating:
Summary: A truly enjoyable fantasy
Review: Phyllis's writing style flows effortlessly, breaking through the duldrums of setting descriptions and character portrayals like a rose through thinly shaved ice. Remembering the heart-warming trek of tragic and personal discovery re-awakens my mind to the fringe of fantasy and the beauty of free creative impulse. I am still in love with this story.
Rating:
Summary: Bold and heart-felt
Review: Phyllis's writing style flows effortlessly, breaking through the duldrums of setting descriptions and character portrayals like a rose through thinly shaved ice. Remembering the heart-warming trek of tragic and personal discovery re-awakens my mind to the fringe of fantasy and the beauty of free creative impulse. I am still in love with this story.
Rating:
Summary: Flat Static Characters from Central Casting
Review: This book was published in 1979, a few years after the original Ballantine Adult Fantasy series had ended and right before the amazing fantasy fiction boom of the 1980's. As a result I've always considered this book a major transitional work in Fantasy fiction. The story of Cray (the son of the title) is a great coming of age story and shows how an author can create a Fantasy novel that does not require huge armies or huge casts of characters but focuses on a boy trying to find out something about himself. The love between son and mother is also heartwarming and quite a feel good. The writing is clean and descriptive with no false dialog or emotions. The ending is satisfying and touching (I love to re-read the ending). A book on a small scale that grows into a large wonderful read.
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