Rating: 
Summary: No Wow factor in it....
Review: If you like to keep track of all the gazilion names in this book, this is it for you. And I realize people are going to hate my review but it is my opinion. And yes people will be thinking that I have a small memory not being able to remember names but that's not the case because as a physician I have to remember a billion things myself. But when I'm leisure reading I dont want to feel like that I have to remember a billion things.I simply have a low boredom threshold and the book just stretches out the story way too much for me to enjoy it much. Ok we go here and discover that the orb isnt there and we go here and be sneaky when all the bad guys know where we are anyways and ok UGGGHH BORING!!!! Then the characters choose what is a seemingly good disguise and they end up being found anways. Ya ya of course, way to slow down the story and a truly failed attempt to keep it suspensful. However, I do have to commend the author David Eddings for doing as good as a job as he could with an all background book (which usually is very boring type of style of writting) which I assume will set up plot for the next books. Unfortunately I am not going to read the rest of the series because I just dont have the time to read a style of writing that bores me to death. His creative ideas arent bad. So I give him one star for that. The overall characters are interesting and the dialogue is rather good, which deserves another two stars. This is why I give the book 3 stars.
Rating: 
Summary: One of the First Fantasy Series I Read
Review: I'm re-reading this series as I wait for the latest George R R Martin book to come out. I first read this book 20 years ago-before I read any Tolkien (I know, I know). I really enjoy the banter between the characters, as well as the descriptions of the lay of the land and the different cultures. The story is about a young boy Garion growing up at a farm. One day, he and his aunt, with the help of an old storyteller, must leave on a dangerous mission. I don't want to give too much away because part of the fun is that you discover things the same time as Garion does in the book. I will say that the tone of the book is unlike most fantasy novels. These characters are pretty sarcastic and confident of themselves, unlike most of the other series that I have read (Tad Williams, George R R Martin, Robert Jordan, Tolkien, Donaldson, etc.). It makes the book (and the series) a bit lighthearted and humorous at times. If you haven't read it yet, I would highly recommend not only the book, but also the entire series.
Rating: 
Summary: Great books that are character and dialogue-oriented
Review: The "Pawn of Prophecy" was the first fantasy book I ever read, and I enjoyed it immensely. I would *really* reccommend it for people who are thinking about reading fantasy books to start with this one. I really love the entire "Belgariad" series. These books are full of sarcastic humor, which kept me laughing out loud. One thing about the entire series, and actually an observation of the way the Eddings' write: these books are *extremely* character-oriented, which I found fascinating. You feel as though you know the characters as "real" people. This does make for a complicated approach to the genre of fantasy, where the worlds usually take priority over the characters, but I thought Eddings did a fantastic job. To be fair, though, this book isn't nearly as good as the rest. My reccommendation: Get through this one, and read the rest. You won't regret it.
Rating:
Summary: Best of the Best
Review: This is my favorite series of fantasy books! Nothing I have read can compare to the simple wonder and joy that these books create. The world is rich and vibrant, full of interesting places and people that give a wonderful depth to "The Belgariad" (books 1-5).
The plot is full and moves at a comfortable pace, never slow, yet never so quick that you feel rushed about. There is action, but it is not gratuitously bloody.
This is the perfect story for young readers (9-14), who want more excitement than "Harry Potter", and who's parents don't want them having nightmares!
Rating: 
Summary: Complex world, slow action detract from good dialogue
Review: I will admit right away, I never finished this book. I got about 3/4 through it and realized that I would not continue the series, so I just cut my losses. The reason I did not find this book especially enjoyable mainly comes down to the world that Eddings has created. He spends enormous energy trying to convey the idiosyncracies of the different factions and Gods of his fantasy world. All seven of them (I think it was seven...) However, as a reader in the first book, I found it difficult to relate to this fantasy world, and even more difficult to care. The characters themselves were rather interesting, and Eddings is actually a good writer. The dialogue wasn't bad at all, and I enjoyed his writing style. I just couldn't bring myself to care about this overly-complex world he was placing too much focus on. I'm now interested in finding other non-Belgariad writings by Eddings, and hoping he's managed to create a much more interesting setting, because as an author I still think he has potential.
Rating:
Summary: A book review by a 5th grader who loves to read.
Review: The Belgariad is a series of fantasy books that are full of magic and adventure. It tells the story of a time of stuggle between Gods and Kings and men.
Pawn of Prophecy is the 1st in the series. This story has many different settings. Garion and his Aunt Pol and four others go on a very important journey. They start out in Sendaria at a farm, then they go to Darine, Muros, Camaar and then back to Sendaria and finally Val Alorn. The book starts out with a child named Garion, and his Aunt Pol. They live at Faldor's farm. Aunt Pol is the cook for the workers at the farm. Many people come to dinner because her food is so good. Garion is Aunt Pol's nephew. His parents died so he lives with her. Mister Wolf is a story teller that travels around to different farms. He stays for a few days and then goes on to other farms. Everyone loves when he comes because he is such a good story teller. Durnik is a blacksmith, he accompanies them on their journey. Barak and Silk are both Mister Wolf's friends. They also go on the journey. The excitement of the story comes when it is discovered that someone has taken something very special (I won't tell you what is is) and if that person uses it to wake someone, the world will be forever doomed. Garion, his Aunt Pol, Mister Wolf, Silk and Barak start out on their journey to get it back and get it back quick. This book was very good. I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys an adventure. In most books that are magical or that have fantasy, the characters just use magic words to make things happen. In this book, the characters have to have the "will" or the "heart" to get things to happen. The action and suspense really begins after page 100 - so stick with it and I think you will love it.
Rating:
Summary: Another great beginning to a series
Review: Eddings knows how to write great fantasy. In the first book which starts a eight book series Eddings does a great job to build Garion into a character from his childhood to his teenage years. The length of the book was very appropriate and made you want to read the second book in the series.
Rating:
Summary: A good read, but a bit used
Review: A friend at work let me borrow this book and after about a week I finally got around to reading it. I was fairly impressed. I thought it had good character development, and moved along very quickly. The only downfall I think this book has is it's plot is so over used it's not funny anymore, i.e. boy is the hero of the story but he doesn't know it, yet, all of his peers are aware of it but choose not to say anything to him, an ancient, evil villain is waiting for something to be brought to him so that he may plunge the world into utter darkness and evil, there is an ancient sorcerer who knows so much but seems to delight in the fact that he frustrates the other characters by keeping the knowledge to himself, etc..... I'm not saying that this book was bad, as I did give it four stars, I'm just saying that I've read so many books with the same or a very similar plot that it would be nice to see a change. All in all I thought this book was well written, without all the fighting and wizardry scenes that plague so many of the fantasy books out there, and I would recommend it to any one who is looking for a good book they can finish in a day. I can also say that it was good enough for me to want to read the next book in the series.
Rating:
Summary: Great Start to a Great Series
Review: If you like books where you can actually see the character grow from Peon to Powerful, you will love the Belgariad Series. This is the first in a series of five, though it does move on to the Mallorean series almost immediately after. The main character is a boy named Garrion. Though Garrion travels with a wide range of characters, every character has their own unique capabilities (for those who are familiar with role-playing games, this is much like an adventuring party). He starts off as a seemingly ordinary boy who later finds out he has a great destiny ahead of him... a pawn of prophecy, if you will. The mysterious quest behind the entire series slowly unfolds with each book. As they travel, you go through different lands, each as unique as the characters. This is certainly one of the best representations of environment influencing character. In terms of character growth and interaction, I would also recommend Feist's Riftwar Saga. Both have similar pace and style without being overly flamboyant.
Rating:
Summary: Love it or Hate it, still a great story w/ great characters
Review: I started reading this series from the time it was first being released in the 80's and have reread it several times, including an out loud reading to my daughter (she loved it). I personally think this is one of the best series in modern fantasy.
What this series is NOT is a deep, dark epic along the lines of Tolkien. If that is what you are looking for, do not read this, or any Eddings book.
If you want a lightly written story that still encompasses "high fantasy" ideas, this is a great book and a great series.
This book starts off developing the characters before the quest is upon them. Garion is just your average kid growing up on a farm. Little does he know what is going on in the world around him. His world obviously begins to change when little glimpses of the enormity of the situation are revealed to him.
Based on many of the other reviews I read here, you either LOVE or HATE this book and series. Know going in that this is not Tolkien, nor was it ever meant to be. If that is your want, look somewhere else. If you want great characters that develop over the whole series along with witty dialogue, you should give this book a try. Stick with this series to the end and you will be well rewarded with having made the journey with a group of characters that you would like to sit down and have dinner with.
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