Rating: 
Summary: Too much reminiscing, and what was the point?
Review: Any reader can tell that Jeff Crook loves the Dragonlance Chronicles. Lord Gunthar is by now a senile old coot who is constantly reminiscing about events in Dragons of Winter Night, and the gully dwarf joke about "not more than two" gets just a LITTLE overused. For a novel so thin on content, Jeff Crook wastes too much time on allusions to past events, especially when they have little bearing on the present. I thought the book would be about the Knights of Solamnia and Takhisis banding together. Of course, treachery amongst the knights is to be expected in the plot. But by the ending, nothing is resolved, and that really brought down a book that was going OK. The novel is a good first effort, but with so little content and such a thin and disappointing conclusion (Jeff Crook or his editor's fault, we'll never know), the Rose and the Skull is an unsatisfying read.
Rating:
Summary: It was missing something
Review: Don't get me wrong, this book was worth reading but there were a few things that bugged me in it. First of all the Gully Dwarves were in a full half of this book and after awhile the jokes about the number two got old and annoying. And then there were the fight scenes; they really weren't there. When I picked up this book I expected to have some really big battles play out in front of me, but that's not how it worked out. Crook used past tense on the battles so you really didn't get to read about any huge action scenes, just a small fight here or there. There are pluses to this book however. The Dark Elf Knight of Takhisis Valian Escu was an interesting character and I personally would like to see a Dragonlance book that focuses only on him and his life after the Rose and the Skull. And also it was nice to see some of Pyrothraxus the Great Red Dragon of Mt. Nevermind.
Rating:
Summary: It was missing something
Review: Don't get me wrong, this book was worth reading but there were a few things that bugged me in it. First of all the Gully Dwarves were in a full half of this book and after awhile the jokes about the number two got old and annoying. And then there were the fight scenes; they really weren't there. When I picked up this book I expected to have some really big battles play out in front of me, but that's not how it worked out. Crook used past tense on the battles so you really didn't get to read about any huge action scenes, just a small fight here or there. There are pluses to this book however. The Dark Elf Knight of Takhisis Valian Escu was an interesting character and I personally would like to see a Dragonlance book that focuses only on him and his life after the Rose and the Skull. And also it was nice to see some of Pyrothraxus the Great Red Dragon of Mt. Nevermind.
Rating: 
Summary: This is one of the best 5th Age Books I've read!
Review: Great book, great plot. It's filled with action, mystry, suspense. Gives you all you ever wanted to know about the knighthood and some much more. It's definity worth your money.
Rating:
Summary: An Entertaining Read...
Review: I enjoyed Jeff Crook's Rose and the Skull, so much I finished it in nearly a day. Jeff managed to keep the novel serious and at times preserve the fantasy flavor of previous Dragonlance titles. Character development is Jeff's strength.. I sympathized with nearly all the characters for various reasons. Particularly likeed the Dark Elf Valian. (Would LOVE to see a future novel with him or Lady Jessica or Liam.) Glad the novel didn't revert to cheesy romance or stray too far from the Dragonlance mythos. High Points: Can't critique this novel without mentioning the cover art. The cover art is great and really attracted me to this book, at least initially. (Recently Dragonlance novel covers have had really bad art....) Not so here... No bulbish-nosed-jaundiced looking-dwarfish-humans grace this cover, thank you. Artist Elmore portrays not one but ten of the books characters in a poignant scene that was really quite emotional. Quite a stretch from the usual 'action' or 'posing swords person' scene. The only bad thing is Valian is on the spine and hard to see! (Sigh). Back to the Author: Jeff deserves kudos for his excellent work with a multiple character perspective. I really felt each of the characters had an individual personality and individual thought patterns. Jeff handled the multiple characters without going overboard and getting too hung up on details. Good Job! The plot was unique and interesting. I liked the changes in the Solamnics. Sometimes the Knights can be characterized as a little to stern and preachy and Jeff does this well... Excellent handling of the bad guys. Really enjoyed their chacterization and charm. Nothing like a charming villain and Lord Tohr \was\ charming. Pet Peeves: I only have minor peeves with this novel. Mostly: Ditch the gully dwarves. Didn't care for the plot thread involving the Gully Dwarf inheriting the Solamnic Castle, (kind of stupid), or the long extended scenes with the gully dwarves going to 'Town'. With Gully Dwarves.... Less is more.... =-) Overall, a rousing good read in the realm of Dragonlance with a great new author!! I hope to see many more to come.
Rating: 
Summary: It's okay, and worth a look.
Review: I love to read Dragonlance Books, and I either buy everyone that comes out or borrow them from friends. This one was a borrow. The writing wasn't too bad--especially since I believe this was the author's first book. That means his next ones should be better. The plot started slow, but it picked up by the end of the first quarter of the book. I would have liked to see a little more development with some of the secondary characters. Anyway, it's worth a look!
Rating: 
Summary: Great starting point for future books
Review: I was very impressed by this book since I have yet to find a fifth age one worth reading. The characters were very vibrant and well written I was especially pleased with the character of Valian Escu. The plot was well chosen and answered a question that many of us fans have been waiting to hear. I would highly recommend this book to any Dragonlance fan, especially those wanting to read about new characters.
Rating:
Summary: Roses for Crook
Review: I'm new to the entire fantasy Dragonlance series but after accidentally stumbling across Jeff Crook's, The Rose and the Skull, it appears I have some reading to do. Of course, I didn't get all the past references and probably missed half of the inside jokes but hey, you gotta start somewhere. Crook captured me with his sly humor and tongue-in-cheek descriptions but then was quite the craftsman with the plot and character developments. Lady Jessica was a worthy heroine and I would like to see a book with her and Liam. Not much romance but still, a brooding tension that bordered on romance. Sometimes, less is better anyway. I loved the Gully Dwarves, especially Uhoh, but, what do I know? It seems other reviewers hated that plot line but it appeals to the underdog in me, always a chance. At any rate, I'm looking forward to reading more in the Dragonlance series, both past and future. Especially ones by Mr.Crook.
Rating:
Summary: Roses for Crook
Review: I'm new to the entire fantasy Dragonlance series but after accidentally stumbling across Jeff Crook's, The Rose and the Skull, it appears I have some reading to do. Of course, I didn't get all the past references and probably missed half of the inside jokes but hey, you gotta start somewhere. Crook captured me with his sly humor and tongue-in-cheek descriptions but then was quite the craftsman with the plot and character developments. Lady Jessica was a worthy heroine and I would like to see a book with her and Liam. Not much romance but still, a brooding tension that bordered on romance. Sometimes, less is better anyway. I loved the Gully Dwarves, especially Uhoh, but, what do I know? It seems other reviewers hated that plot line but it appeals to the underdog in me, always a chance. At any rate, I'm looking forward to reading more in the Dragonlance series, both past and future. Especially ones by Mr.Crook.
Rating: 
Summary: Hanging by a thread held in the grimy hand of a gully dwarf
Review: Nine years have passed since the Chaos War, and the Knights of Solamnia have yet to fully rebuild their forces. Huge dragons from across the sea have invaded Krynn, upsetting the delicate balance of power salvaged from the destruction of the forces of Chaos. Lord Gunthar uth Wistan, the elderly Grandmaster of the Knights of Solamnia, proposes a bold plan which could make the Knighthood the most powerful force on Krynn. But before he can fully set his schemes in motion, tragedy strikes, leaving the ancient order of knighthood vulnerable to destruction without even the fall of a single swordstroke. The fate of the Knights, perhaps the fate of Krynn, hinges on a dread secret known only by a frightened gully dwarf. Ten years have passed since first I read the Dragonlance Chronicles, and little did I suspect, as I read of the adventures of Tanis and Tasslehoff and Raistlin, that I would one day be telling my own tales of the world of Krynn. I am glad to be here, and I hope to stay for a bit - it's a good place, whether you like food or sleep or story-telling or singing, or just sitting and thinking best, or a pleasant mixture of them all.
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