The Way of Light (The Chronicles of Magravandias, Book 3)

Rating:
Summary: Enthralling book...
Review: ...and series. "The Way of Light" is an excellent conclusion to a brilliant series. Constantine specializes in beautiful and lyrical language and gorgeously lush descriptions that the bigger-named authors can only dream of; and this book (and series) is no exception. Plot-wise, however, I find the ending a little...anti-climatic, but the rest of the book is so good that it's worth the small disappointment. Anyone familiar with and appreciates Constantine's novels will find this book an absolute delight (...).

Rating:
Summary: another great trilogy by Storm!
Review: I have been a huge fantasy fan for years, as well as a fan of Storm Constatine. And I must say, that I personally think that this is one of Storm's best.

This is the third book of the Magravandian Chronicles that started with the amazing Sea Dragon Heir. The death of the king of Magrast, Leonid, sets in motion the events that began in the first book. Now the sons of the king battle over who will take his place and who will own the power of the Crown of Silence. The only problem? Only the True King may weild such a power, and the one destined to hold that title doesn't seemed to be to eager about it.

The thing that makes the Magravandian Chronicles stick out is the fact that it doesn't follow the same pattern as most fantasy novels. A genre that has grown rather acrid recently. Storm seems to focus mainly on things that are happening around the world now days, rather than a world of the past. The characters are well fleshed out and the plot is very well paced. The Way of Light spends most of its time laying the way for the final battle, but it never seems to go to slow. The tension it builds is more fufilling than the battle itself, which in itself covers a scant two paragraphs.

My only complaint about this book is the ending. Although it is satisfying on certain levels, there is still some loose ends that have yet to be covered. Ones that deal mainly with the characters.

I cannnot recommend the Magravandian Chronicles enough, whether you be a Storm follower or not. Those that have avoided the fantasy genre altogether should most certainly give this one a try because it has found a way to battle the cliches that often haunt these types of stories.

Rating:
Summary: The Way of Light
Review: If perversion is your bag, this is the book for you. All the male characters are gay or bi-sexual and all the female characters seem to have multiple lovers which seldom include their husbands. I was bored for most of the book, but stuck it out to the end hoping the big fight scene that is building throughout the book would save it. Talk about anticlimatic. The only reason I didn't give it 1 star was the villain. She did an excellent job creating a nasty, female villain.

Rating:
Summary: The Way of Light
Review: If perversion is your bag, this is the book for you. All the male characters are gay or bi-sexual and all the female characters seem to have multiple lovers which seldom include their husbands. I was bored for most of the book, but stuck it out to the end hoping the big fight scene that is building throughout the book would save it. Talk about anticlimatic. The only reason I didn't give it 1 star was the villain. She did an excellent job creating a nasty, female villain.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Conclusion
Review: Sea Dragon Heir was good. The Crown of Silence was outstanding. This one's even better.

The Way of Light concludes the Magravandias Trilogy. Despite what you think you know will happen here, there are still some suprises in store. I will not give anything away, thus this review will be much shorter than my usual.

Storm's gift for characterization has not failed her here. Rarely if ever in fantasy do you see such fully realized characters. I could easily strip the names from any given chapter of the book, re-read it, and know who is who just by their words and actions.

The one quibble I have with the book is actually with the jacket. The "synopsis" on the inside of the jacket is a) wrong, and b) gives too much away where it is right. Do yourself a favor and don't read it... just read the book.

Rating:
Summary: A bloody ending
Review: Storm's writing is great,her rendering of characters wonderful.But the conclusion is tainted by the awfully grisly massacre that preceded it. I loathed that chapter. I've been revolted by it. Why Storm had deemed it necessary to the story beats me. Surely, it has ruined for me the pleasure of reading an hitherto good trilogy.

Rating:
Summary: Disappointing >_<
Review: The Dragon Sea Heir was average. The Crown of Silence was very interesting (I love the Khaster and Tayven flashback... that's what got me hooked). I've been waiting to get my hands on the conclusion... and when I got my hands on it... I was disappointed. Very disappointed. I thought the story had taken a turn for the worst. One part of the ending was very very unneccessary. I mean, seriously. The way Ms. Constantine made everyone sleep with everyone else... made me lose interest in the character development department because they are all just too darn unfaithful. After I finished the book I really wanted to cry. I had a lot of questions in my head, wanting answers (plot holes). I wish to believe The Crown of Silence was just one book and had no sequel.... I really love the (past) Khaster and Tayven relationship ;_;

Only read it if you're a really really big fan of Ms. Constantine's works...

I love her books. But the sex... the unfaithfulness (of everyone!).. and the ending... of The Way of Light...was too much for me.

Rating:
Summary: Powerful fantasy
Review: The Emperor Leonid's death causes a succession crisis that sends the Magravandias Empire on the verge of civil war as conflicting elements squabble over the throne. The Firemages have their own puppet they want to succeed Leonid. Others believe opening the WAY OF LIGHT will point to the truth. Desperate to avoid genocide, Dragon Lord Valraven Palindrake reluctantly supports Prince Gastern to ascend to the crown. His decision delays a war, but the rivalry remains hot and any stumble will turn the empire into a sea of red.

Valraven's sea-wife Varencienne, worrying about the future of her adopted people, begins an odyssey to confer with her mother, Empress Tatrini, but fails to reach her destination. Instead dark magus, enemies of her husband, take her prisoner. These malevolent beings' plans do not care about body counts only the success of their endeavor. Valraven must find a way to save his spouse and his world even if he must go through the dark to obtain THE WAY OF THE LIGHT.

The final novel in Storm Constantine's powerful Chronicles of Magravandias fantasy trilogy, THE WAY OF THE LIGHT, is a thrilling tale. The story line stays true to its predecessors (SEA DRAGON HEIR and THE CROWN OF SILENCE) while allowing the key cast to grow as major events have impacted them. The vividly described story line is loaded with action that enables the reader to feel the empire is genuine, but it is the strong personality-driven cast that makes this tale and the other two books worth reading by epic fantasy fans.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: Powerful Chronicles of Magravandias fantasy tale
Review: The Emperor Leonid's death causes a succession crisis that sends the Magravandias Empire on the verge of civil war as conflicting elements squabble over the throne. The Firemages have their own puppet they want to succeed Leonid. Others believe opening the WAY OF LIGHT will point to the truth. Desperate to avoid genocide, Dragon Lord Valraven Palindrake reluctantly supports Prince Gastern to ascend to the crown. His decision delays a war, but the rivalry remains hot and any stumble will turn the empire into a sea of red.

Valraven's sea-wife Varencienne, worrying about the future of her adopted people, begins an odyssey to confer with her mother, Empress Tatrini, but fails to reach her destination. Instead dark magus, enemies of her husband, take her prisoner. These malevolent beings' plans do not care about body counts only the success of their endeavor. Valraven must find a way to save his spouse and his world even if he must go through the dark to obtain THE WAY OF THE LIGHT.

The final novel in Storm Constantine's powerful Chronicles of Magravandias fantasy trilogy, THE WAY OF THE LIGHT, is a thrilling tale. The story line stays true to its predecessors (SEA DRAGON HEIR and THE CROWN OF SILENCE) while allowing the key cast to grow as major events have impacted them. The vividly described story line is loaded with action that enables the reader to feel the empire is genuine, but it is the strong personality-driven cast that makes this tale and the other two books worth reading by epic fantasy fans.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: Convergence
Review: The third book in the Magravandias chronicles brings all the political and sexual intrigue to a resounding finale. When the emperor of Magravandias finally dies, his sons and other factions maneuver to be the one to inherit the throne. The emperor's daughter Varencienne does not side with her brothers, but instead with her husband Valraven Palindrake, the heir to the reawakening sea dragon's power. The emperor's widow Tatrini has plans of her own, and brings forth the other elemental powers, setting in motion more than any of the various players could have imagined. The wizard Taropat returns, but his loyalties are muddled, until he's forced to confront his own shadowed past and mistakes, just like his former friend Valraven must do. As Tatrini and her powerful sons chase the Palindrake clan and finally corner them at the site where the Palindrakes's power was first muted, the Palindrake children determine the outcome of the battle. Storm Constantine outshines herself in this final book in the trilogy with a delightful and mesmerizing blend of machinations, personal enlightenment, and sexualities. The dénouement is a bit rushed, but it doesn't detract from the massive scope Constantine presents for the reader. Instead it leaves the reader with a stunned sense of survival, just like the characters in the trilogy, and with a sense of satisfaction in being witness to the characters' various journeys through tragedies to peace.