April 18, 2015

Stronghold by Melanie Rawn

Title:  Stronghold
Author:  Melanie Rawn
Pages:  587
Genre:  Fantasy
Publisher:  DAW, 1991
Series:  Dragon Star, Book 1

Synopsis:  A generation of peace is about to be shattered as a seemingly unstoppable invasion force lays siege to High Prince Rohan's realm. For Andry, the Sunrunner Lord, the invasion is a fulfillment of his long-ago visions of disaster to come. This is the first book in the "Dragon Star" trilogy.

Review:  I am here to tell you, these books are among some of the best I've ever read.  They keep getting better, just when I'm sure they cannot possibly do so.

Excitement, magic, dragons.  Drama, family and death.  This book has all of these and more.  I've already grabbed the next one and can't wait to start it.

This book made me sad.  One generation of the family is aging, including Rohan and Sioned and Chay, but their children are becoming adults and continuing the story in their own, unique ways.  I wasn't expecting to lose one of the main characters with two more books still in the series, but I suppose it was time.

These books may be long, but they don't feel long.  I loved this story.

Rating:  10 / 10


April 5, 2015

Sun-Runner's Fire by Melanie Rawn

Title:  Sun-Runner's Fire
Author:  Melanie Rawn
Pages:  479
Genre:  Fantasy
Publisher:  DAW, 1990
Series:  Dragon Prince, Book 3

Synopsis:  IT BEGAN WITH THE DISCOVERY OF THE STAR SCROLL -- the last repository of forgotten spells of sorcery, the only surviving record of the ancient foe who in times past had nearly destroyed the Sunrunners and their magic. Now, as Andry, the new Sunrunner Lord of Goddess Keep, begins to master this potentially deadly knowledge, while Pol, son of High Prince Rohan, seeks to touch the minds of dragons, the long-vanquished enemy is mobilizing to strike again, drawing on forbidden lore to play an ever-shifting game of treachery and betrayal - and secretly infiltrating even the most strongly protected of citadels.

And soon, Pol, Andry, Rohan, his Sunrunner wife Sioned, and all whom they hold dear will find it hard to tell friend from foe as spell wars threaten to devastate the land - and dragons soar the skies, inexorable lured by magic's fiery call...

Review:  These books just keep getting better and better.  I keep expecting a let-down because it's so unusual to find a series that stays as good as the first all the way through, but Ms. Rawn has overdone herself.  This book is even better than the last and equal (if not better than) the first.  I simply cannot wait to read the next one.

The characters are so rich, the land so real, and the dragons so incredible that I cannot fathom what took me so long to get around to these novels.  I hope the next three are half as good as this one.  I know I won't be disappointed.

Rating:  10 / 10
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