Rating: 
Summary: Good light reading
Review: This is a fun story like his other novels. Not monumental emotion-laden works of art, just fun reads if you have nothing else. I would recommend Dragondoom or the first two Mithgar books as his best. This one is fine but as compared to his other stuff and numerous other writers, this is worth a 3.
Rating: 
Summary: The Last Tale of Mithgar
Review: This is,perhaps,the last book of Mithgar. I, for one, am saddened by the end of an Era. Dennis McKiernan has brought to a world magic, passion, and excitement . . . but more important, he taught us lessons. In this book many lessons are brought to the forefront . . . discover the truth behind prophecy, and always test your faith, to discover the truth. In Silver Wolf, Black Falcon, we explore the world of Bair, son of Riatha and Urus, discovering origins, horrors, and ties of love and loss. No matter what happens, the true blessing Dennis McKiernan gave were those funny Warrows!It's all connected in this book, but several stories are left out of the loop. For a story supposedly ending, he's left it open for more! Let us wait for the Second Tales of Mithgar, yes?
Rating:
Summary: A little slow for newbies to Mithgar
Review: Very Tolkien like. Also very slow. The build up to where any part of the action takes place takes most of the book, which is surprising seeing as the first chapter is from a part that doesn't happen till 3/4 of the book. Why McKiernan decided to do that is beyond me. He only breaks the chronology of the book for that one chapter. The book is also called by the author the sequel to all the others so that may have been why I didn't get into it as much, not having read any of the other books. I give this book a C.
Rating: 
Summary: McKiernan is wonderful as usual!
Review: Well, I was a little afraid to read this book, knowing that it was going to be the last Mithgar book. Once I picked it up however, McKiernan's magic started working on me again. I loved the chance to find out more about some of the old standard characters, including Urus, Faeril, Riatha, Dalavar, and Aravan. All in all, I would say that Dennis McKiernan has created a very fitting "end" to his Mithgar books, although I wouldn't be surprised if he came out with more books filling in the holes, as he made at least one good opportunity for himself to do so in this book!!!
Rating:
Summary: Prophecy is in the Scrye of the Beholder
Review: _Silver Wolf, Black Falcon_ by Dennis L. McKiernan. Roc, 2000, hardback, 474 pp. The meaning of a prophecy is in the scrye of the beholder. The actual meaning of a prophesy might be quite different from the first perception. _Silver Wolf, Black Falcon_ is the fourteenth Mithgar book. It draws upon four visions of the future gathered from the previous books. These prophecies may or may not be true, and may or may not be related. The fact that the final prophesy did not end as I had expected was a delightful surprise. This book starts where the _Eye of the Hunter_ ends. There is about a three chapter overlap to set the stage for this epic and bring new readers up to speed. The Elves of Arden decide all these visions might refer to the newborn Bair, a shapeshifter with a wolf alter-ego. They raise Bair for his role, to open the pathways between dimensions and lead the fight in a world-spanning war. Aravan, Bair's mentor and a principle character from _Voyage of the Fox Rider_, is back, seeking revenge for the murder of Galarun and trying to master a crystal containing a black falcon figure. Bair and Aravan do an admirable job of living their destiny-ridden lives, without being paralyzed by indecision or being grief-stricken over the outcome of their deeds. The best aspect of _Silver Wolf, Black Falcon_ is the smooth manner in which it gathers, interweaves and resolves many of the loose ends from the previous books: what happened to the Mages of Rwn, who killed Galarun, how did the Dragonstone escape the destruction of Rwn, and where do little Rucks come from? If you are a new traveler to Mithgar, do not be overwhelmed by the vast amount of history creeping through the first few chapters. As young Bair grows up, his kinfolk and teachers explain the history and customs of the Elves, Dwarves, Dragons and Humans that populate Mithgar. As Bair gains awareness of his world, you too will come to know Mithgar. As a veteran traveler to Mithgar, I am greatly amused by the references to the past books. As Bair speculates on the history of an old ruined mill (pp. 97-98), I remembered that mill was in the first few chapters and on the cover of _Into the Forge_. I could see what was coming and I was tempted to use a score card to tally the number of references. It was delightful to visit with all my old friends from the previous books. Lord Gildor Goldbranch, from "The Dark Tower Trilogy", makes a cameo appearance (p. 357). Lady Arin Flameseer, the principle character from _The Dragonstone_, arranges for a hunting party to be in the right place, at exactly the right time, to provide food and horses to the wolf and the falcon (p. 360). You might say her planning showed a great "foresight". I assume the "Red Slipper" Inn (p. 451) is an inside joke, based on the author's forward from _The Dragonstone_. Many red slippers clutter the landscape of Mithgar, each with a tale to tell. When you pick up one of the slippers, another slipper may fall out, revealing a story within a story. I am saddened this will likely be the last Mithgar book, because I feel I've actually been there. It's a wild and beautiful world to visit, with a complex, well-woven history. I've enjoyed my journeys, but I may travel back and re-visit some of those places to refresh my memory, relive the experiences and improve my understanding of the intermingled events. Dennis McKiernan's parting words sum up my perception of _Silver Wolf, Black Falcon_ and the other Mithgar books: "It's all connected, you know".
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