Rating: 
Summary: Maintaining the decline
Review: The positive: Affable characters, fast moving, easy to read.
The negative: Uninteresting plot.Although slightly better than the previous book in this series, Card still doesn't manage to recreate the magic of the first two. In this book, the bulk of the tale is involved in Alvin facing trial for being wrongly accused of theft. Many characters are introduced based on characters created in an AOL chatroom by Card's fans and this book gives the impression much of it was written to coddle those fans and feature their characters. Not an entire waste of time but don't go into this series thinking each of the books will be as entertaining as the others.
Rating:
Summary: Maintaining the decline
Review: The positive: Affable characters, fast moving, easy to read.
The negative: Uninteresting plot. Although slightly better than the previous book in this series, Card still doesn't manage to recreate the magic of the first two. In this book, the bulk of the tale is involved in Alvin facing trial for being wrongly accused of theft. Many characters are introduced based on characters created in an AOL chatroom by Card's fans and this book gives the impression much of it was written to coddle those fans and feature their characters. Not an entire waste of time but don't go into this series thinking each of the books will be as entertaining as the others.
Rating: 
Summary: The whole Alvin Maker series comprises Card'sbest work
Review: These books are some of Card's best work. In my opinion they are better books than his more famous Ender series. They do for North America what The Lord of the Rings did for England - they create a new mythology for a geographical area (although in this case the mythology is also an alternate history). Card weaves an invented fantasy universe with American folklore of all kinds, from native tribal religion to European superstition and sorcery.
Alvin, a young immigrant, is born under a host of omens and signs. He is the seventh son of a seventh son, and becomes intertwined with the destiny of the American frontier. He finds that he is the most important figure in the battle against that which he calls the Unmaker. Throughout the course of the book he attempts to quell the tide of entropy by "making" things. He unites people of many races, and tries to bind humanity together as he becomes increasingly aware of the spirit around him that ties everything - the land, the people, and the unfolding of history - together
Rating:
Summary: Best book and series you'll ever read
Review: This book was fantastic, Card sure knows how to write he spins these tales so you are there you see what is there every small thing is noted. A great book from a great writer!
Rating: 
Summary: Leaves you hungry for more.
Review: This is a satisfying continuation of the tale of Alvin Journeyman on his way to becoming Alvin Maker and the creation of his Crystal City dream. Alvin is now an adult, free of his onerous apprenticeship, and returns home for the first time in years. There he becomes re-acquainted with his family, and attempts to teach Making, with mixed results. One result is a false accusation of sexual misconduct by a young lady infatuated with him. He flees to Hatrack, where he was born and apprenticed. There his bitter ending with the smith who trained him develops into a trial, not only for a specific charge of theft, but also of his character. Alvin's estranged brother and fellow maker, Calvin, has gone to Europe and studies how to control people from Napoleon, and inadvertently is the catalyst that sends the right attorney from England to Hatrack, where he can defend Alvin. Once again, the alternate history is fascinating. This time we not only see America (but not much more than we've seen before), but we see how England and France have fared in this world of small and large magicks. My only complaint: it felt like a middle book in a series, which it is. It seems less a complete story than a continuation. It introduces new characters that obviously have more to do (having a torch around helps the author give glimpses of the possible futures). I wouldn't start anyone with this book. And I want to get more than just a hint as to how the Crystal City will be created. I want more in general. So I guess I'll go read Heartfire and then wait like everyone else for the culmination of the series. I suspect Card won't let us down: he hasn't so far.
Rating:
Summary: definitely the best so far
Review: this is in my opinion the best book so far in the alvin maker series. although i wish card would just get to the crystal city, this book still had suspense and excitement. the only thing i have to complain about is the way card can draw out scenes to last pages when the only need about 1/2 a page to explain. but still one of the best books card has written.
Rating:
Summary: Slow but worth it
Review: This novel was an interesting story to the Alvin Maker series. I did enjoy the story and the adventures that Card told but I felt that this story was a stopping point-a temporary detour as he regrouped. I felt that this tale was an attempt to finish the story he started and gather the characters he needed to reach the Crystal City.
This is a very important book in the series. It introduces characters that I feel are going to be fundamental to the conclusion of the Alvin Maker series. If have been enjoying this gift from Card, you need to pick this book up and struggle through the slight lulls and finish this one.
Rating:
Summary: A must-read for anyone!
Review: This series is the most well written and entertaining works I've ever come across. Card brilliantly ties American history to this delightful tale of an endearing man with unusual powers. As we watch Alvin grow from a child exploring his own powers to a grown man sharing his "knack" with others, you find yourself unable to pause without knowing what is next for Alvin
Rating:
Summary: Excellent but too many years between sequels!
Review: This series will be a joy to someone starting to read it 15-20 years from now. This is an excellent continuation of the Alvin Maker series - a truly fantastic fantasy/historical series of books. If history books had read anywhere near this I may have actually learned something in those classes instead of somehow getting A's while learning nothing long-term!! Please be aware that this is NOT the last book in this series - like some previously ticked off reviewer thought. The series published: 1st in '87 2nd in '88 (not bad!) 3rd in '89 (kinda bad) 4th in '95 (Yikes! Why so long!) 5th one forthcoming in '98... There's probably at least a 6th coming, maybe a seventh. Can Card finish this series before he dies? Well, let's hope for no more pauses like the one before this one was published...
Rating: 
Summary: Ummm...not his best work
Review: Well, I loved Ender Game, in fact I've just read it again for the umpteenth time, but even ignoring what this wirter is actually capable of, this is not a good book. The problem is, and it's true of the rest of this series and of the Wiggin books subsequent to Ender's Game, is that the main character is just boring. I found that the 'goodies' were just sooo good and the 'bad guys' just so bad that I really had no sympathy for any of them. In fact, by the time I had read about two thirds of my way through I only kept reading out of a sense of obligation, not because there was any real interest in seeing it through. The only thing I really enjoyed was speculating about whether there were really homosexual overtones in the feelings of the lawyer (I can't even remember his name) toward Alvin. If you're determined to read Card, read Ender's Game or The Lost Boys (a short story that he published in one of his collections and is brilliant) instead
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