I think in this day and age to find a book that is interesting and a short series is something good. Although I enjoy long series....I hate waiting for them.....this book was refreshing. Thank you Tom!

I loved this story of Tir-Nan-Og...as all the others. This whole series is great for the simple reason each can stand alone...in an age where books are constantly "to be continued" his works are fresh and the characters as strong as ever.

Once again Tom Dietz has managed to combine an insight into the lives of the average young American with a truly fantastic world of magic and fantasy. As with all of his books, this was a true delight to read, and I honestly did stay up all night until I finished reading it

Tom Deitz has definetly got me hooked with this brilliant novel. The man is a GENIUS, and I'm not just saying that cause I know him.

The story of Kevin, Carolyn and Thunderbird is an enthralling one. An engrossing read that leaves you wanting more...as with other works by Mr. Deitz, this story can stand alone. Powerfully and extremely well written, you will find yourself unable to put it down. Well worth the time and money!

Mr. Deitz again takes us to the enchanting world of fairie with this story. As Calvin's tale unfolds you are caught up in Mr Diets' ability to weave a tale so suspensful it keeps you rapt until the end. Well worth the effort to locate!

This is a very readable book in a down to earth sort of way. You can follow the main characters as they come together in their adventure with sympathy and conviction. The characters are realistic and believable for their ordinaryness in handling situations both everyday and out of this world.

A good enjoyable book to consume.

Tom Deitz became one of my favorite fantasy writers when I read this book, and he has only amplified that standing with each of his successive novels. Since then I've never failed to buy his new books as they come out, and I've read six of the novels in this series, which I'll call the Sullivan's Cove novels. In this one, his very first book, Deitz introduces us to the high schooler David Sullivan and his friends, as stalwart a band of adventurers as there ever was. David, a fantasy and medievalist fan, stumbles across a rare book called The Secret Commonwealth. He buys it, and when he takes it home, he accidentally casts a spell he finds inside. The resulting ability he receives is to see the Golden Roads of Faerie that crisscross the Blue Ridge Mountains. This leads him to Tir-Nan-Og, the land of the ancient faerie gods of Ireland. A frustrating geas of secrecy placed upon him by these warriors creates dramatic tension in a tale where his little brother is swapped for a Changeling, and in which he adventures both within the borders of our world, and beyond.

_Windmaster's Bane_ has all the elements that you'd expect from the first volume of a fantasy series. Magic, wish fulfillment for the reader (a normal guy turns out to be a hero), mythology and fairies. David Sullivan is a likable ordinary hero, and Deitz does a brilliant job of weaving together local Tenessee color and Irish mythology.

I unfortunately found that the series went downhill from here- somehow it got sidetracked into something for the real D&D crowd, but I really enjoyed this first book both on reading and re-reading.

This is one of the best series ever written. His character development is one of his best writing traits. I really enjoy the way he weaves the characters and settings in this world into that of another. A great many readers will have denied themselves a very special world if they choose to pass up this author. I'm a very picky reader and he has never let me down. Check it out. You won't be sorry...

I think that Deitz is a wonderful writer, but I just didn't get into this book. I wanted to see a little more action. It seemed to me that part of the time the characters just sat around and talked instead of doing anything. I have to admit that the end hooked me and I was upset because I want to know what is going to happen! When the next book comes out I'm going to read it. I hope that Mr. Deitz hurries.

This book ends leaving the reader hanging. Ahhhh! Help Mister Deitz. We are all waiting now over a year for the sequel! Needless to say the whole series is well worth the read. The characters are absolutely memorable! Hilarious! A laught a minute. I love David Sullivan. I wish he were my son and I'd explore all those things in Faerie with him without second though. Afterall, no matter what the tangle he always seems to come out on top! Great book! EVen better series!

Just when you thought the love of Alex's life stuck in enfield form for good...OOPS, don't want to spoil! What I do want to know is WHEN THE HECK IS THE NEXT BOOK COMING OUT?

This is my first Tom Deitz book, and I was very impressed. The author wrote about the creative process in artists so well that I came away with the feeling of being able to achieve my own goals with more confidence.

The villians in the book were expertly portrayed, with enough background given to show them as being all too human in their weaknesses. Anson is very real--a psychotic bully who is led along by his own greed. With the support of Matthew Welch, the Master of Cardalba, these two make a very sinister pair.

Ron Dillon, as the reluctant teenaged hero, was very believable. His dreams were shattered along with his body; and all he really wanted to do was get on with his life in a new high school as unobtrusively as possible. Deitz doesn't let Ron rest for very long, and proceeds to lead his protagonist through a dark maze of mental and physical pain, the discovery of an incestuous past, and a familial confrontation involving magic and violence. Ron's weapons: the application of the Luck that is his birthright, and the development of his gift for smithing under the bizarre tutelage of the enigmatic Road Man.

A dark read without the cutsey fluff of other books.

Like Tom's books involving David Sullivan (Windmaster'Bane, ect ), Tom does an incredible job bringing fantasy to the current times. I love reading Tolkien-type fantasy, but when a story is written in the 'real' world, it makes you think about the possibilities. The Soulsmith trilogy is involves fantasy that could be reality without streching your imagination too far. I'm not sure how Tom comes up with his ideas, but they not only entertain, but make you think. I have read all three books again and again and am always waiting for another Deitz novel to come out.

I really enjoyed this sequel to Bloodwinter.Dietz returns us to his fantasy world of conflict and magic as forces both good and evil vie possession of the magical gems. Ixia's brutal king Barrax invades Eron and sinister priest clans plots treason.Dietz's atmospheric writing style is evident in describing use of this magical stones and some gripping battle scenes.Now bring on book 3!

Deitz has once again created a fantasy masterpiece. I find Deitz's ability to present villians as heroes when it is neccesary quite stunning. Also the rationale behind each characters motives draw the reader ever further and further into this novel. I would recommend this series to any serious fantasy reader.

Tom Deitz' books always have a little bit of the feel of justification for the SCA set. I read the first few books that he wrote with considerable interest and enjoyment, but most of what's followed it has seemed stuck in the same old groove. Even though this book isn't in the David Sullivan series, it honestly felt as though it might have been. When characters are truly in love in Deitz' books, you never feel as though there were anything at stake. For instance, even though the Gryphon King attempts to raise the question of whether Jay and Dal really love each other or whether their involvement is centered around Jay's brother Rob, there's never any serious entertainment of the possibility that they don't love each other. This is a graduate school where true lovers find true love and hold it, and that's perhaps the most fantastic part about the book. Character flaws aside, Deitz does his usual credible job of anchoring the book in mythology and folklore (although the roots aren't as deep as they are in the early Sullivan books). I enjoyed the work that he did with the miracle plays, although even that wasn't nearly as well developed as I would have liked. He's a talented author, and it makes me sad to have such a feeling of pastiche from reading this book.

I live in Athens, GA. I think it is a great place. I like the way he combines ordinary places I see everyday and things that don't exist. I didn't give it 5 stars just because I save them for my absolute favorites.

Tom Deitz is one of my favorite authors and the Gryphon king is a great stand alone book. This was the first book I read by Tom Deitz and have gone on to read many of his others. His character always seem real even when faced with not of this world situations. The characters in this book later participate in the last few books of the David Sullivan series. So if you are a fan of the Windmaster's Bane series of books this is a must read if you can find it used.