Rating: 
Summary: Wow...just wow...
Review: "Demon Wars" will always hold a very special place in my heart. I had checked out "The Demon Awakens" from the small town library I work at, because the description on the inside cover sounded made the book sound interesting. The book sat in my room for about a week unread. Then came the great blizzard of '03 that blanketed the East coast under a lot of snow. With nothing else to do, I delved into Mr. Salvatore's first book of the "Demon War" saga. I was totally blown away by what I read! The only other time I have ever had such a reaction to a book was the first time I read "The Lord of the Rings."For the entire winter I read nothing but "Demon Wars" and I loved each book just as much as the first. Even the death of Elbryan couldn't keep me away from continuing on in the Corona series. I guess I started reading this series at a perfect time, because by the time I finished "Transcendence", "Immortalis" was about to be released. I pre-ordered my copy from Amazon and impatiently awaited its arrival. When the book showed up I delved into it in a frenzy...wanting so much to know how "Demon Wars" was going to end, but yet...not wanting it to end. "Immortalis" has everything readers of "Demon Wars" and R.A. Salvatore have come to expect from him over the years: emotion, spectacular battles and characters you never want to part with. I don't think I could ever imagine a better end to my SECOND favorite fantasy series of all time.
Rating: 
Summary: Exciting conclusion with great emotional depth
Review: Aydrian, son of Jilesponie and the long-dead ranger Elbryan, has seized the thrown of Honce the Bear and now seeks immortality in the form of perpetual fame. Supported by the great nobles and armies of Honce, Aydrian sets off on a mission of conquest. Not content with posessing the kingdom that he has usurped, Aydrian sends armies into the unsettled southern kingdom of Behren and martials his forces against the established church of Honce--the Abellicans. Although Aydrian has clearly overreached, his opponents are scattered and disorganized. His mother, the only other mortal with anything close to Aydrian's skill with the magical jewels, is reluctant to do anything to oppose her own son. The church is torn between the orthodox and heretics who follow the teachings of Aydrian's mentors Marcalo De-Unnero and Abot Olin. And the legitimate heir to the late king has no armies, no strong base of support. Aydrian's march across Honce and the world seems likely to be uncontested. Except that Aydrian's former mentor Olin overreaches in the south, attacking the one country that Aydrian had specifically ordered him to avoid. And Aydrian's own attack on the elves who raised him--and abused him according to his lights--finally convinces his mother that she must act. After a series of battles that fill IMMORTALIS without really advancing the cause of rebel Prince Midalis, the final battle pits martial arts and magic against the most powerful force in the world--the demon that has never given up its dream to regain control of the planet. R.A. Salvatore writes an exciting adventure story, tapping into powerful and universal emotions of mother-love, love between man and woman, and love for conquest and fame. Aydrian makes a great anti-hero. Although Jilesponie is clearly the hero, I found myself wishing that Aydrian would win and wipe the increasingly whiny Jilesponie out of the story. The were-tiger De-Unnero too becomes a partially sympathetic character as he pursues his true beliefs about the future of the church he loves. I wouldn't be honest if I didn't admit to a few quibbles. First, IMMORTALIS spends too much time not advancing the central story line. All of the adventures in the south are simply unnecessary--Midalis wins nothing by victory and risks everything through defeat. Second, the book badly needs more editing. There is too much repetition--admittedly, in the real world we really do have discussions that go on forever and repeat themselves, but do we need these in a novel? And Salvatore seems to find a few favorite words to beat into the dirt. Fans of this series (including me) will ignore these quibbles--but, I think, join me in hoping that Salvatore will address them in future novels.
Rating:
Summary: A great book
Review: If you were dissapointed of the tradgedy in the Demon Apostile then you will love this book because all the problems of that book are mended. In fact for a short while Elbryan comes back to life!
Rating:
Summary: The Bear and the Dragon
Review: Immortalis is the third, and concluding, novel in the Second DemonWars Saga, following Ascendance and Transcendence. In the previous volumes, the conspiracy of Aydrian Boudabras, Marcalo De'Unnero and Abbot Olin has brought about the death of King Danube and Aydrian has claimed the throne. Aydrian has defeated Duke Kalas in single combat and then brought him back from death, assuring Kalas that immortality can be his. With Duke Kalas, the Allheart Knights and the Kingsmen behind him, Aydrian has overawed the remaining nobles and has exiled his mother, Queen Jilseponie, from Ursal. Moreover, he has ordered the secret death of Torrence, King Danube's son by Constance Pemblebury. In Behren, Pagonel and Merwan Ma have exposed the deception of Yatol Douan and the other Yatols have concluded the Transcendence ceremony without a soul stone. Yatol Wadon travels to Dharyan to break the siege and to initiate peace talks with Brynn, which conclude with Dharyan-Dharielle in To-gai-ru hands. In this novel, Jilseponie has traveled to Palmaris to bring the news to Bishop Braumin Herde and to ask Roger Lockless and Dainsey to go with her to Dundalis and then on to Andur'Blough Inninness to confront Dasslerond. She also participates in the planning of the monks as to how to resist the taking of Palmaris and St. Precious abbey by Aydrian and Marcalo De'Unnero. Belli'mar Juraviel is also returning to Andur'Blough Inninness with a new wife and news of the Doc'alfar, but turns aside to Honce-the-Bear when he hears of the death of King Danube. In Ursal, King Aydrian sends Abbot Olin, with a fleet and 10,000 soldiers, to Behren to take advantage to the chaos and to bring that nation under the sway of the Abellican Church and the rule of the throne of Honce-the-Bear. In Behren, Pagonel delays his return to Jhesta Tu to visit Jacinta in order to learn the situation in Behren. There he hears of the rise of Yatol Bardoh, the man who killed Brynn's father and mother, against Yatol Wadon. Pagonel then travels with emissaries from Yatol Wadon to Dahdah Oasis, where they find hundreds of Jacintha legion soldiers marching to join Yatol Bardoh. In To-gai, Pagonel informs Brynn of the troubles in Behren and she decides to ask the dragon Agradeleous for assistance once again. This novel describes the massive and deliberate maneuvering of Aydrian and his fellow conspirators to gain control of Palmaris and all the other cities and towns of Honce-the-Bear and of the Abellican Church. All fall before the usurpers, until only St.-Mere-Abelle is left. In Behren and To-gai, Abbot Olin seems to have gained control of Yatol Wadon and has sent Yatol De Hamman to take control of the other Behren cities. The allies against Aydrian win a few small victories, but nothing seems to stop Aydrian. Not only is he much stronger in gem magic that anyone else and a much better swordsman, Aydrian also has control of the largest army in that part of the world. All looks hopeless, but Jilseponie does not give up, for she knows Elbryan is supporting her somehow. This series has become complex enough to need a dramatis personae. Maybe the author could add one to future works of this complexity. Highly recommended for Salvatore fans and anyone else who enjoys sword and sorcery tales with a strong vein of political intrigue.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding heroic fantasy.
Review: RA Salvatore is a master writer at the top of his game with the release of the final chapter in the Demon Wars Saga. Immortalis is lush, cathartic, and wonderfully paced. Mr. Salvatore has outdone himself yet again in producing a story that grips the reader until the final climactic end. The entire story is fantastic, but this closing book brings the entire cast together and does it so well you will finish the book begging for more. Thank you again for a wonderful trip to the world of Corona Mr. Salvatore. Hopefully it will not be this readers last chance to visit.
Rating:
Summary: A conclusion that is top notch, and open for more
Review: The beginning of the book was obviously build up for the end of the DemonWar, but gave you a sense of who the characters where, and brought back some old characters as well. All your great heroes are in this book (that are still alive of course), so there isn't any excuse not to read it. I believe that the fast pace action and build up finally exploded in the last 48 pages. It was amazing, I continued reading and getting close to the end going "um, how can Salvatore wrap this up in 48 pages?" and believe it or not he did it. Without giving away anything I will describe it like this: "Imagine taking all the greatest heros of two wars, two generations, many powerful novels, and combining them into a tragic explosive conflict within only 48 pages of text" Its intense. I was up till 3am "just finishing the last 30 pages." As the end gets closer I continue to ask myself "Ok, now who's going to die?" You never want to see a great Hero die, but with as many characters in a book its hard to keep them all alive without the reader starting to disbelieve :) Expect to say goodbye to some, and hello to others. Salvatore seems to make sure this war is really wrapped up this time. However, the classic salvatore move is pulled.... leave out vital information when you finally hit that last page. Asking what happens to [n] people? Where does [y] go after that occurs? Could [z] become who they have always wanted to be? I have a feeling Salvatore left some room for growth with some of the characters to fit them into their own advantures. Time will tell.
Rating:
Summary: Good, but too tightly packed with too much predictability.
Review: The subplots in the book that went into making the last 50-100 pages were developed too quickly. There's so much more I wish to know about the land in the south, especially the Jhesta-Tu. I wish Salvatore could have even developed Pagonel beyond his role as translator/advisor. I understand he was pivotal in the subplot, but I wished to see him fight De'Unnero. These are probably the most proficient "hand-to-hand" combatants Salvatore has developed to date (with the exception of Danica in the Cleric Quintet). It almost seems that this one book could have been subjugated into at least two more books. Aside from my complaints about the book (which are few compared with some other fantasy authors) I really did enjoy the book, and the whole series for that matter. This is by far the best short series I've read: Where magic, brains, brawn, politics, and church are mixed evenly to create a very enticing and believable story. I do feel like Salvatore's action is comparable to any's, but if you'd like to read more good books, check out The Sword of Truth series, which has the same protaganist feel with as much action as you can handle. Overall, this rates a 4 out of 5 because of the predictability of the book, the "too many good guys were left in the end" ending, and all the raising from the dead.
Rating:
Summary: Good, but too tightly packed with too much predictability.
Review: The subplots in the book that went into making the last 50-100 pages were developed too quickly. There's so much more I wish to know about the land in the south, especially the Jhesta-Tu. I wish Salvatore could have even developed Pagonel beyond his role as translator/advisor. I understand he was pivotal in the subplot, but I wished to see him fight De'Unnero. These are probably the most proficient "hand-to-hand" combatants Salvatore has developed to date (with the exception of Danica in the Cleric Quintet). It almost seems that this one book could have been subjugated into at least two more books. Aside from my complaints about the book (which are few compared with some other fantasy authors) I really did enjoy the book, and the whole series for that matter. This is by far the best short series I've read: Where magic, brains, brawn, politics, and church are mixed evenly to create a very enticing and believable story. I do feel like Salvatore's action is comparable to any's, but if you'd like to read more good books, check out The Sword of Truth series, which has the same protaganist feel with as much action as you can handle. Overall, this rates a 4 out of 5 because of the predictability of the book, the "too many good guys were left in the end" ending, and all the raising from the dead.
Rating:
Summary: Topps off a great series
Review: This book brings one of the best series I have ever read to a close, with all the excitement you would expect from Salvatore.
Rating:
Summary: WOW!!!
Review: This book is maybe the best I have read of R.A. Salvatore (with the possible the exception of Mortalis). To me Immortalis combines all of the best qualities of the Demonwars series into one exceptional package. The politcal intrigue of Honce-the-Bear from Ascendence, the spiritual side of the world of Corona from Mortalis, and the exotic setting of Transendence.
Because of this fitting conclusion to the amazing Demonwars series, it makes me rank this series up there with A Song Of Ice and Fire and the first few Wheel of Time books (the last 7 or so were horrible). Buy this book, though be warned: to get the full (amazing) experience, start from the beginning with The Demon Awakens and read all 7 books. It is well worth your time!
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