Review: Fun read!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 11 9, 2012
I tore through this book, worriedly looking down at the progress bar on my Kindle which seemed to scurry across the screen too quickly. It took a lot of discipline to finish my other book before diving into this, as I couldn't wait to see what happened next after book one. This book picks up RIGHT after the end of book 1, as the characters begin to face the coming onslaught that was shunted so far to the background of the first book that I hardly remembered it.This book is derivative of several books that I've read. The druid-animal bonding, the "tour" of the land to gather the different races, the Druss-the-legend defense against impossible odds.. but again, I really enjoyed it. As in the first book, there were several instances where I thought I could foresee cliched problems that would arise, especially with Broan. These problems seem almost like they HAVE to come up, but the author, again, really just skirts by it without apology. I enjoy that sort of straight-ahead story-telling. It may sound like a criticism, but it really isn't. I enjoy that the characters are powerful and capable, and as the books go on, I think it plays into the theme that everyone is important and has a purpose. Broan and Taryn and the rest of the characters aren't there by chance, but rather there by design. That pre-assumption allows Hale to have things go just right for them without it feeling too Deus ex machina-y since obviously there is indeed a higher power tugging at strings.I thought that maybe the book was glossing a little too much over the strain of the situation on the characters, but by the end I thought it was handled well as both Broan and Taryn are definitely feeling the weight of responsibility and all of the lives counting on them to produce. That self-doubt, the stress, and yet the irrepressible attraction that blooms despite the calamity heading their way all help to make the characters more human. The small acts of heroism that went unsung, the sacrifice of so many to try and buy time for others were touching and put a face to the cost of the war beyond abstract numbers.I can't wait for the next book. I'm hoping to see more of the Sri Rosen masters, more of the three remaining Horsemen (of course), and more dragons. And.. will the conflict end like we'd expect at this point? I'm looking forward to the next book in December.