Having finished re-reading Baptism of Fire, it is once again hard for me to believe that I once held this series in such high esteem. I would like to give a short summary of the plot but, unfortunately, there isn’t much plot to speak of. It is surprising how little actually happens in Baptism of…
Category: Fantasy
Monster Hunter Legion
While still a fun read, Monster Hunter Legion was my least favorite of the series so far. It’s not that it’s bad, but I felt that it just didn’t live up to the previous novels. I think my major complaint was the antagonist. I didn’t find the monster or its abilities to be interesting at…
Monster Hunter Alpha
Monster Hunter Alpha is definitely a departure from the first two books, but honestly I believe it’s the best one so far. I don’t know if it’s Correia escaping from Owen’s character, or if he simply improved his craft, but his writing here is much better than the previous novels. The plot of Monster Hunter…
Monster Hunter Vendetta
I really enjoyed this book, though not quite as much as Monster Hunter International. I liked that the plot was more complex, with some genuinely good twists, but at times it seemed like there was too much going on. I didn’t care for the gnomes or the friendly Shoggoth, and found them kind of stupid…
Monster Hunter International
I loved this book. The world is cool, the monsters are awesome, the action is fun. I really enjoyed the Lovecraftian aspect, as well. The characters are memorable and there are some genuine laughs and sad situations to be had.
Dragons of Spring Dawning
With the events of the war coming to a head and a confrontation between the forces of good and evil inevitable, Dragons of Spring Dawning begins with the companions still separated and contributing their own efforts to the struggle. By the end, they’ll be reunited and the conflict will be resolved one way or another, for good…
The Empress of Salt and Fortune
Everything is worth remembering. The details in life that are often overlooked or considered irrelevant are the very details that make something what it is, that tell the story of its passage through the world. There are no insignificant people, just as there are no meaningless memories. This is the philosophy of the clerics of…
Dragons of Winter Night
With the war between the draconic armies and the rest of Krynn heating up, Dragons of Winter Night begins with the companions having recovered a relic for the Dwarves in order to assure their aid in the battles to come. Through the course of events our heroes are separated and set along their own individual paths, some…
Dragons of Autumn Twilight
What happened to fantasy novels like Dragons of Autumn Twilight? There is something to be said for stories devoid of complex political machinations, endless lineages, and inscrutable character motivations. The straightforward approach allows the reader to focus solely on the journey and wonder, to become enveloped in a fantastical world rather than concerned about retaining a…
The Time of Contempt
Apparently I was a much less discerning reader when I was younger. I have been touting The Witcher books as peak fantasy ever since reading them many years ago. Re-reading them now has opened my eyes to to the fact that, unfortunately, these books are not as great as I once thought. The Last Wish remains amazing and, most…
Last Argument of Kings
As I read the last page of Before They Are Hanged, my enthusiasm for the series had waned considerably. It’s not that the second entry in The First Law trilogy was bad, just merely disappointing. It took me a while to pick up the third and final book, Last Argument of Kings, but I am certainly glad that I…
Before They Are Hanged
When I finished Abercrombie’s The Blade Itself, I felt that I had a good grasp on the characters he had crafted. I understood the world, the politics, and had a vague notion of what Bayaz’s quest entailed. I was satisfied, and eager to continue the journey with Before They Are Hanged. That said, this second installment is…
Quite Literary 