Rating: 
Summary: OUSTANDING! (So real! Is it historical fiction?)
Review: This is probably the best series of books I have ever read (I haven't read Tolkien yet. I KNOW, I'm sorry!). I just cannot say enough good things about this book series. I literally read it 3 times through, and each time I can relate to a different character and come to see it from their perspective.The way that Tracy and Margaret bring the characters to life significantly contributes to the reason this series of books is so great. By the end of the 1st book, Hugh the Hand (Best Assassin in the world), Alfred(Sartan Mage), Haplo(Patryn Mage), Bane(son of most powerful human mage alive), and the rest of the characters have almost come to life in your mind. If you're going to read Fantasy(Or SciFi) start with this! The sense of depth these books have to them makes you wonder if it's actually historical fiction that Margaret and Tracy are writing about and the index each book has is absolutely amazing. Whenever you're confused about something the characters are making reference to (or if you 'missed' [skipped, lol] the part when the character's were discussing it) you can simply look it up in the back index and you'll understand it better than you would have just reading straight through. (THEY EVEN HAVE DIAGRAMS OF EVERYTHING!) Margaret and Tracy together are unparalleled writers equal to only a few such as Tolkien, Piers Anthony, Knaak, Louis Lamour(SP?) and the like. I won't be suprised when this series becomes the next movie series. Except for the fact that since the book's environs are so diverse (they 'literally' create whole worlds with flora and fauna and a whole system of language [actually I think it might be latin]) the movie industry right now might not be up to it. Finally, if you're worried about it being too advanced or too intellectual, don't. The characters are incredably deep, but like real people, are revealed to you slowly through the actions they take and throughout the series, so you're not overwhelmed all at once. All the books are great, and I will read the series a 4th, 5th, and maybe a 6th time. Although one of the middle books does drag a little because it's mostly about the humans, dwarves, and elves (Mensch: Patryn/Sartan(Magus) word for humans, dwarves, and elves or anyone else who doesn't live thousands of years).
Rating: 
Summary: thought it was a joke
Review: Well all I have to say is that,"what the heck were they thinking when they wrote this book." The characters were very bland, Stupid,annoying,and couldnt even stand up to a fight. They had a assasian leading there party that was stupid enoguh to drink some kind of liquid that he didnt know what it was from a bowl that somone else gave him, Hmmm... let me think would such a excperinced assasian do that of course not, But this one dose and gets poisoned , almost dies.thats one example of a dumb character.There is also a monk/wizard that is banes (the little annoying,stubborn prince child ,that you wish would just keep quiet.)servant that is constantly fainting from being frightend and screwwing everything up.He eventully starts to show his powers at the end of the book, why the heck didnt you use your powers in the begning you moron. Well other than the terrible characters that just complian and run away from every fight, the plot is another dribble of an aspect to look at.I'm not going to get into that because i can go on for ever about how every chapter was boring and ridculous.oh and one more thing the so called dwarves in this book,but known as gegs in this one are more like the dwarves from snow white,so if your used to the stubborn,arragont,kick somenes but with big battle axes and warhammers, dont read this because these dwarves are scared,wimpy beings that live in one of the lower realms and refuse to revolt and fight for freedom,what kind of dwarves are those?.well to pretty much some it all up this book totaly goes againsnt all other fantasy creations.Basically its the oppisite of all others.
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