The Spell-Bound Scholar (The Warlock Series)

Rating:
Summary: Wellllll, if your a fan of the Warlock series...
Review: Every once in a while a book comes along that is a must read...This one isn't.

Well, OK perhaps that is a little harsh, but unless your a diehard fan of the WARLOCK series, this is not the book to judge Christopher Stasheff by. As he says in his Note to the Reader, "The author is very much aware that the events in this book are extremely unlikely, if not downright impossible..."

Now with that out of the way it IS a fun book and if you follow the series, you can tell through the foreshadowing that there will be some interesting developments in the future. Keeping this in mind, (I did!) you will find that the book is best thought of as a transitional piece to allow certain plot line to emerge.

Rating:
Summary: A must-have for fans of the Warlock series...
Review: Okay, it must be understood that this is part of an ongoing series and as such has alot of back story holding it up. This book is the continuing story of the Gallowglass family that has it's origins in the book "Escape Velocity" and actually starts in "The Warlock In Spite Of Himself". This is the story of Gregory Gallowglass, the youngest of Rod & Gwen's four chuldren, and his first steps towards independance. This story also tracks the witch Finister who has been the nemesis of the Gallowglass children for five books now. The story begins where "Quicksilver's Knight" left off, with Gregory escorting the witch Finister to the Royal Coven. Stasheff, as always, recaps events from the previous books to fill in any reader who might not be reading the entire series. The story is a fun read, an excellent example of science-fantasy, where ESPers are seen as witches & warlocks and an entire future colony has gone SCA, for real.

Rating:
Summary: Stasheff really knows his stuff
Review: This is different from most of Stasheff's book's. It starts right after Quicksliver's Knight. With Gregory poised to fall in love with the most unexpected person. I think this book is extermly well written. Stasheff's knowledge of psychology really shined through. I was glad that Magnus was included in this book and not just mentioned. It' was also nice to see that he remebered some of the smaller details form previous books. This a book that I will be glad to read again and again. In fact I already have!